Matthew 12:5 Or have ye not read in the law, how that on the sabbath days the priests in the temple profane the sabbath, and are blameless?

Years ago I attended a type of charismatic church. It was not labeled as one in title but in function they believed in moving in the giftings. Much of their interests were centered around God’s supernatural ability. As one who was new to the idea, I observed more than took an active role.

There was an activity which caught the eye of the charismatics which was prominent in the state of Florida. It was reported that God was moving in a supernatural way in many non-denominational churches. Videos and articles began to be circulated and other churches tried to recreate the events of the Florida revivals of the Holy Spirit movement. Nearly all failed.

“Its wildfire, not of God, the devil’s deception.” Cried out the leaders of churches where the recreation efforts failed. For this novice charismatic, it became a little confusing. On the one side a claim of the Holy Spirit moving in power which was desired and on the other a claim of fakery and deception. What was I to believe? I did the only think that made sense at the moment for me and didn’t listen to either side of the argument.

As I grew in Christ I have come to believe that a strong wish that God would use me in certain ways does not mean that I understand God’s will. It is possible that God was working miracles in Florida. It is also possible that it was wildfire. But it is even more likely that certain people see notoriety and fame in a movement and want in on the actions without faith being involved.

Obedience of faith begins with God calling for us to be obedient in His will. What others do in obedience of faith or in vain imaginations is not for me to judge or participate. His will for me will come from my relationship with Him and not by what others do.

Matthew 12:6-7 But I say unto you, That in this place is one greater than the temple. But if ye had known what this meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice, ye would not have condemned the guiltless.

IJeremiah 49:16 Thy terribleness hath deceived thee, and the pride of thine heart, O thou that dwellest in the clefts of the rock, that holdest the height of the hill: though thou shouldest make thy nest as high as the eagle, I will bring thee down from thence, saith the Lord.

I have felt less than inspired these past few days. So I did a bible search for inspire or inspiration, neither of which I found in that search. This passage came up however, one that does not seem to speak to inspiration but yet spoke to me. It would seem that the Lord has brought me down. He has not let me down, He has brought me down.

God does all things with purpose. All I have to do to understand that is to look into my own actions, my own heart, to discover why. The mind is not the place to look. My mind will deceive me in vain imaginations. I will try to tie the results to the thoughts I had to the reason I began the search. I had a need to understand how to be inspired and to inspire others. It is vanity to believe that anything the Lord might show me has anything to do with my reasoning.

The very first thing found in this passage speaks to deception. Caution must be exercised when we are told that deception is a real possibility. The obvious must be examined closely to be seen for what it truly is at that moment. Am I seeing things for what they are, or what I wish? Actions are easily examined but the motivations of the heart as to why those actions occurred is not that easy.

2 Corinthians 13:5 Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?

A more gentle word for reprobate is phony. While perhaps gentler, it still means acting without faith.