LET'S LIMIT OURSELVES TO SCRIPTURE LET'S READ "All Scripture is *inspired by God* and *profitable* for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness" (2 Timothy 3:16). This, brothers, I have applied figuratively to myself and Apollos for your sakes, *so that you may learn through us not to go beyond what is written,* so that none of you may become arrogant in favoring one person over another. (1 Corinthians 4:6) --- 1. Believing in visions and personal revelations is dangerous. We live in times where the subjective and emotional are valued above objective truth. Many sincere Christians, seeking a deeper relationship with God, fall into the trap of placing their faith in dreams, visions, or supposed supernatural revelations. However, Scripture sternly warns us against this. The Apostle Paul said, "But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be under God's curse" (Galatians 1:8). Here Paul establishes a clear and unique authority: the gospel revealed by Jesus Christ and contained in the Word of God. Personal revelations, if they become a source of spiritual authority, can produce new doctrines, theological errors, and even heresies. This is what has caused so many divisions, sects, and false churches throughout history. Only the inspired Word is safe and sufficient to guide our faith. --- 2. There is a danger that we will dismiss Scripture and focus on the things and people of this world: When someone claims to have received a "revelation from God," there is a risk that this supposed voice will take on more weight than the written Word. Thus begins the subtle but deadly deviation: we substitute Scripture for human experiences. Peter, a witness to Christ's glorious transfiguration, said something remarkable: "And we also have the prophetic word made more sure, and you do well to heed it as a light shining in a dark place..." (2 Peter 1:19). Peter did not trust his experience, even though it was extraordinary. He pointed to the prophetic Word as "more sure." The believer who seeks visions runs the risk of living an unstable faith, based on sensations and manifestations, rather than on the solid rock of the Word. Even worse, they can be swept away by false teachers who manipulate and commercialize these "experiences." --- 3. Removing Christ from the center of the gospel to place our personal "visions" and "revelations" leads us to blaspheme God's eternal will in His Son. Christ is the absolute center of divine revelation. God, who spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets at many times and in various ways, has in these last days spoken to us by his Son..." (Hebrews 1:1-2). We no longer wait for new revelations: God has spoken definitively and perfectly in Jesus Christ. When we replace Christ—His person, His work, His Word—with our visions or mystical experiences, we are stealing the glory that belongs only to Him. We are implicitly saying that God's revelation in Jesus was not enough, that His Word is not enough, and that we need something "more." This is nothing other than blasphemy. The Holy Spirit glorifies Christ (John 16:14), and never glorifies Himself or focuses on human emotions. The true move of the Spirit is that which leads us to love, study, obey, and proclaim the Word, not to seek subjective signs. --- LET US PRAY Lord God Almighty, Forgive us for the times we have sought emotional experiences. Instead of seeking Your face in Scripture, help us to rest in the sufficiency of Your Word, to desire no novelty or revelations that do not come from You. Fill our hearts with Your truth, with a hunger for Christ, Your Son, who is the radiance of Your glory. Give us discernment to reject everything that diverts our faith from the pure gospel. Guard our hearts from all false doctrine, and keep us steadfast, nourished by Your living Word. Make us humble to submit to Your written revelation and fervent to share the eternal message of salvation in Christ. In Jesus' name, Amen. --- Sincerely, Germain Castellanos *COMMUNITY H242* www.communityh242.org _One People, One Church_ 👁️‍🗨️