I have been watching posts on Facebook for the last few weeks about a so-called "awakening" in our city supposedly authored by the Holy Spirit. My heart grieves over what I see. I say supposedly, because I am familiar with what goes on in these types of meetings, and I know the author of these meetings is definitely not the Holy Spirit.

How I could I be so bold as to say this? Easy, the behaviour of whatever supernatural force that is guiding these meetings acts nothing like the Spirit of God as described in the Bible. The so-called prophesying which takes place sounds nothing like actual biblical prophesy. If God is not a man that He should change His mind, and if He is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow; then why is "He" acting so out of character at these meetings to the point where there is a direct contradiction between what goes on and God's holy word.

A friend gave this explanation of the meetings as to how she knew they were from God. She said that people come out of those meetings completely "drunk in the Spirit". Since when did spiritual drunkeness become the standard for the whether or not something is of God? What happened to everything being in accordance to Scripture? We are to "test all things, hold fast to that which is good". The apostle John admonishes us also to test everything. "Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world." (1Jn 4:1). Besides, if drunkeness is condemned in numerous places throughout the bible, why would God show himself by having His followers behave in ways he detests? Instead, the Bible states that we are to be sober minded and self-controlled.

During these meetings, chaos reigns. But isn't God a God of order? Sanctuaries lined with writhing bodies, passed out people and sardonic laughter are common elsewhere - in occult religions (forbidden by the bible). Also, the music with choruses sung over and over again, put people in a hyper-suggestible state which makes them prone to immediately accept whatever comes into their minds, regardless of whether it makes any sense. The rational mind is seen as an obstacle to what "God really wants to do". Yoga and other new age practices also try to bypass or destroy the rational mind in order to be able to accept some "higher spiritual truth." People are also warned against speaking out against anything unseemly taking place during a meeting, accusing them of "quenching the Spirit" if they do, and in some cases, threatening them with death. But the Bible says that if anyone, be it even an angel, preaches another gospel than our Lord Jesus Christ crucified, than he is to be accursed! Now if angels are a higher order of created beings than we are, what will our punishment be??

One final thing, there is a party-like atmosphere at most of these meetings, saying that God just wants to have fun with his people. Funny, but the only party that is mentioned in Scripture that God will throw for his poeple is the marriage supper of the Lamb! (which follows the millenial reign, which in turn follows the great tribulation which we have not even entered yet).

I was duped for years into believing meetings of these types were on the "cutting edge of what God wants to do". I was drawn in by the fun and the emotion of it all, but in the end, I was nearly destroyed by it. After a season of being heavily involved in the charismatic movement, I didn't want to read my Bible, pray, or go to church anymore. If the Holy Spirit is the one directing this movement, why would He want to cut me off from the three main ways we hear from God?

Beloved, God's holy word is with us for a reason. Use it as your trustworthy guide which will never steer you wrong. "All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teachng, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work". (2 Tim 3:16). "Let no one keep defruading you of your prize by delighting in self-abasement and the worship of angels, taking his stand on visions he has seen, inflated without cause by his fleshly mind, and not holding fast to the head, from which the entire body, being supplied and held together by the joints and ligaments, grows with a growth which is from God." (Col 2:18-19)

Finally, keep in mind what Paul said in his first letter to the Thessalonians:
 "For our exhortation does not come from error or impurity or by way of deceit; but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God who examines our hearts. For we never came with flattering speech, as you know, nor with a pretext for greed - God is witness - nor did we seek glory from men, either from you or from others, even though as apostles of Christ we might have asserted our authority. But we proved to be gentle among you, as a nursing mother tenderly cares for her own children. (1 Thess 2:3-7)