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WHEN RIGHT ANSWERS AREN’T ENOUGH This past weekend I had a dream with a very clear message to the Church: Walking in the Truth cannot be achieved by simply challenging false teachings or proving one’s doctrinal accuracy. We need a fresh baptism and infilling power of the Holy Spirit in order to rightly discern spiritual matters. In the dream, I was in a new house and had invited friends over for a housewarming. Some were part of our worship ministry, and we were listening to new songs for an upcoming season of ministry. I had also invited a well-known Bible teacher. I knew he had publicly criticized certain expressions of worship because of their emotional appeal and perceived lack of theological substance. Even so, I hoped he might recognize the genuine presence of God in our midst. As we listened, a simple song began playing called “What a God We Serve.” I had never heard it before. It wasn't musically or lyrically complicated, but it beautifully expressed the greatness of God. I was immediately drawn into worship, and the presence of Holy Spirit became tangible. When the song ended, I eagerly turned to the Bible teacher for his response. He replied without hesitation, “I don't like it.” He had listened carefully and wasn't angry or unkind, but he was visibly agitated. Rather than discussing it further, he abruptly announced that he needed to leave. And as he walked out, I realized he may have come merely to make an appearance as he didn't seem genuinely interested in what God might be doing in this new house. He headed towards his vehicle—a large semi-truck—and as he went he jumped in the air as if to express his own brand of freedom. I was sad and then even embarrassed as I had assumed he enjoyed the worship as much as I had. As I woke up, I felt the disappointment of the Lord over a leader so focused on giving the right answers that he could no longer recognize the right Spirit. Several Scriptures came to mind the next morning. When the Pharisees told Jesus to rebuke His disciples for their exuberant praise, Jesus answered, “I tell you, if these were silent, the very stones would cry out” (Luke 19:40). I doubt if it was the worship style that upset the Pharisees as much as the disciples’ heartfelt freedom of expression. Anything that could not be controlled or contained was an apparent threat to the teachers of the law. But the key passage that interprets this dream is 1 Corinthians 2:14-16: “The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned. The spiritual person judges all things, but is himself to be judged by no one. ‘For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct Him?’ But we have the mind of Christ.” There is a healthy place for correcting doctrinal error and scriptural violation. There is a time when we need to carefully examine what we believe and why. But if we want to rightly discern spiritual things, we must have a firsthand encounter and relationship with Holy Spirit. Just like Paul on the Damascus Road, we may know all the theological arguments and believe we are defending the ways of God, but actually be spiritually blind, unable to see The Truth standing right in front of us. The Body of Christ has been walking through a season of exposures these last few years, especially concerning spiritual malpractice regarding prophecy and the ministry of Holy Spirit. And though painful, there has been a need for theological examination and doctrinal correction. But criticism does not bring about truth and correction is never a destination. I believe this season of examination must shift to a time of hungering for a fresh baptism of Holy Spirit. The only way we can truly judge, discern, and know the fullness of Truth is through the eyes of the Spirit and not through the eyes of men. I feel the cry of the Father’s heart to stir up some hunger for a fresh fire of the Spirit that will burn up the disillusionment and disappointment of the past and make way for something new. We cannot give in to the fear of men or the voices of doubt concerning the ministry of Holy Spirit. We cannot settle for a man-made version based on either a fear of failure or a need to control the outcome. After His resurrection, Jesus didn't simply tell His disciples to remember everything He had taught them and go preach it. He told them to wait until they were “clothed with power from on high” (Luke 24:49). They knew His teachings. They had witnessed His miracles. They had heard His parables firsthand. They had even seen the risen Christ. But Jesus knew that without the infilling of Holy Spirit and the fire of God on their lives, their mission would fail. This is what we need to contend for in this season. I know many are feeling the discouragement of past seasons and a weariness from all the public conflicts and confrontations. The enemy has, unfortunately, inserted himself into many conversations and caused some to believe that the ministry of Holy Spirit is not safe. A false narrative has spread that has fueled speculation, mistrust, and hesitation concerning anything supernatural. But heaven’s appeal is to reject these lies and stir up a hunger for even MORE of His Spirit, not less! Jesus declared that if we do not give Him praise, testify to His greatness, and pursue Him with our whole hearts—creation itself will begin to rise up. Certainly, we need sound doctrine, but we also need some holy fire. We need scriptural integrity, but we also need the power of God to back it up. I want to be anchored in biblical truth, but I also want to know the power of His resurrection. I cannot be satisfied with any speech or message that rests in “plausible words of wisdom” but are void of the Spirit’s power (1 Corinthians 2:4-5). I want the full package. Holy Spirit wants to reveal even more of Himself in the coming days and He’s looking for those who are willing to contend for a corporate baptism of His Spirit and a fire that will cause a holy disruption to human reasoning and religious debate. If this resonates with you, let Him stir up a hunger in your heart to encounter the presence and power of His Spirit. He’s poured out His Spirit in myriads of ways in times past and has no intention of backing down. He’s looking for those who are willing to stop watching from the sidelines and dare to believe that He can do it again. “But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship Him. God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” (John 4:23-24) (I’ll be sharing more interpretative details to this dream on my YouTube channel. Be sure to subscribe and get notifications!)

The Christian Post just published an excerpt from my new book, ORACLES OF WISDOM. For those wondering which voices to listen to, this is where we start… christianpost.com/voices/how…

Proximity to spiritual things does not guarantee spiritual perception. We can read the Bible and still miss what Holy Spirit wants us to understand. We can hear a sermon and retain the information without receiving the revelation. We can participate in worship while our hearts remain distracted. We can become familiar with Christian language, prophetic terminology, and spiritual experiences and still misunderstand the heart of the Father. This is why we need the eyes of our hearts enlightened. We need more than information. We need illumination. One of the clearest pictures of this occurs after the resurrection when two disciples encounter Jesus on the road to Emmaus. They walk with Him without recognizing Him. They are confused by everything that has happened and are trying to make sense of events that seem to contradict everything they had hoped. Then Jesus begins explaining the Scriptures. Beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, He interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself. (Luke 24:27) Later they say to one another: “Did not our hearts burn within us... while He opened to us the Scriptures?” (Luke 24:32). The Scriptures hadn't changed. Their understanding had. The truth had been there all along. But suddenly they could see how everything pointed to Christ. This is biblical enlightenment. Holy Spirit does not lead us beyond Scripture into some superior realm of truth. He opens our understanding so that we can recognize more clearly the truth God has already revealed. Sometimes we have read a passage dozens of times when suddenly something becomes clear. Connections appear that we never noticed. A familiar truth moves from our head into our heart. Something we knew intellectually becomes something we now see. The Word hasn't changed. The light has come on. "...having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe." (Ephesians 1:18-19) Paul doesn't leave us guessing about what he wants believers to perceive. In Ephesians 1:18–19, he names three realities he wants the light of God to reveal: The hope of His calling. The riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints. The immeasurable greatness of His power toward us who believe. Hope. Inheritance. Power. This is significant because these are realities believers already possess in Christ. Paul isn't praying that God will create them. He is praying that believers will see what is already theirs. We can belong to Christ and still live without much hope. We can possess a spiritual inheritance and live as though we have nothing. We can have the resurrection power of Christ available to us and still see ourselves primarily through our weakness. This is why enlightenment matters. God wants our inner vision to come into agreement with what He has already accomplished. Biblical enlightenment does not inflate our importance. It increases our confidence in His. Once the eyes of our hearts are enlightened, circumstances begin to look different. Not because the circumstances have necessarily changed, but because we have. We begin to recognize hope where we once saw only uncertainty. We begin to understand our inheritance where we once felt spiritually impoverished. We begin to trust His power where we once felt overwhelmed by our limitations. This doesn't mean we ignore problems or pretend difficulties don't exist. Enlightenment isn't denial. It is the ability to view what is happening in light of a greater truth. And this kind of sight requires surrender. Sometimes the greatest obstacle to revelation isn't that God isn't speaking. It's that we've already decided what something means. We have named it. Judged it. Categorized it. And reached our conclusion. Then the Spirit of wisdom and revelation comes and turns on the light. Suddenly, we see something we didn't see before. A Scripture takes on new meaning. We recognize God's hand where we previously saw only disruption. We understand something about His character that corrects a long-held assumption. Or we realize that the Father has been working in us all along. This is the enlightenment we should hunger for. Not some higher consciousness. Not secret knowledge. Not spiritual superiority. But the Spirit of God illuminating our hearts so that we can recognize Christ more clearly and understand the realities of His Kingdom. The ultimate goal of revelation has never been simply to see more. It is to see Him more clearly. (From “Oracles of Wisdom: A Journey into the Father’s Heart” Releasing October 19. PRE-ORDER Special offer begins September 28).

MY DREAM ABOUT AI Yesterday I posted a word about the use of AI. In preparing for a podcast this weekend with some other prophetic voices, I asked the Lord last night to give me a dream about it. I wanted to know if there was anything He wanted us to be aware of. Not only did He give me a dream - He specifically responded to my previous post:-). I dreamt I was at home and heard something at the front door. I saw that it was slightly ajar so I opened it further to see what was there. I looked around the corner and saw a huge shaggy brown dog right outside the door sniffing around as if looking for a way in. Not knowing how tame or friendly it was, I quickly tried to shut the door without it noticing. But it saw me and tried to stick its nose in the door so I couldn’t close it. I didn’t necessarily sense any danger, but I didn’t like the fact this dog was trying to get inside. Thankfully, even though the dog kept pressing, I was able to get the door shut. At that point, I called my husband to come check it out as it seemed our front door may not be very secure. Then the scene shifted and instead of the regular wooden door, I now saw the entire front entrance to my house as one thick glass wall with a huge glass door in front of me that could easily swing out. My hand was still on the handle. But it wasn’t the turn knob of the other wooden door, but a push lever that could be opened by simple pressing down. And now instead of the large brown shaggy dog, I saw another large dog that looked familiar. It looked just like our daughter’s large white standard poodle. It had the same shaggy hair on its head with a shaved neck and body. It also acted like her dog in that he was very happy to see me and insistent on coming inside. It was clear that he had been running around the house looking for a way in to be with us. He wasn’t an aggressive pet, but he was large enough to cause some damage without supervision. Because of his size, his eagerness to please could easily knock things over and even topple small children. I could also see that he was fully capable of reaching up and pulling down the door handle to get in. That’s why I had to keep my hand on the handle until we could find a better way to secure the entrance. Then, out from behind the house came, what appeared to be, this dogs owner. The man was clearly tracking this dog and aware of its activities. What struck me was how much the man looked like the dog with white shaggy hair on top. They almost looked like a pair of twins. He was reserved and aloof, and seemed to be following his pet to monitor its activities and whereabouts. I didn’t sense any immediate danger, but also didn’t feel comfortable with this level of familiarity with my home. I knew I needed to secure things better. That was the dream. For those who read my post yesterday about AI, I had described it like “an unruly pet” that needed training. So, maybe that’s why the Holy Spirit chose to use this same analogy to answer my question about AI? Here are some thoughts that immediately came to mind in interpreting this dream: THE DOG represents AI technology. Currently, there is no major threat to people, but we need to be intentional in how we are going to deal with its presence. AI is sniffing around our hearts and homes, looking for a way in. And just like a family pet, it can be trained and directed if we take the time to do it. But AI definitely wants to gain access and become familiar with us. And it has the potential to cause serious damage if we aren’t prepared to direct it and maintain our authority over it. And based on how the Lord is presenting this, I believe He wants to assure us that WE are the ones with the upper hand here, and that this technology needs to be contained and directed properly. THE LARGE GLASS WALL illustrates how online activities bring greater transparency to our lives. The level of our interactions and the kinds of things we share will ultimately determine what is seen and known to those looking in. This is not a right or wrong issue as much as an awareness and the alert to plan accordingly. The issue in the dream was not necessarily the glass wall (as I could tell it was very thick and solid), but the lack of security in gaining entrance. THE DOG’S OWNER confirms that AI does not act on its own. AI is being monitored and tracked to watch its progress in how it moves and functions among the populace. And AI is reflecting the image of its masters and creators, acting according to how it is programmed and trained. Thus, the focus should not be solely on the technology itself, but on those who are behind it. They are the true source of any potential threat. THE DOOR HANDLE is the primary focus of this dream. Ultimately, it is our responsibility to secure our hearts and our homes from any unwanted intrusion of AI. We need to get a handle on how to interact with AI in a way that is beneficial and not detrimental. We must put safeguards in place in how much access we give to it. We must be intentional in the directions we give it and establish clear boundaries in how much freedom it has within our lives. I did not sense any fear in the dream. But I believe it is an alert. Just as a pet can be a meaningful addition to a home, it can also become a nuisance if it is not given direction. The Lord is urging us to take note and determine practical steps in how we interact with AI, fully acknowledging its benefits and its risks. Regardless of any intended nefarious purpose in the future, WE are the ones who will determine its impact on our own lives right now. There’s no question that AI will continually evolve as it is being watched and monitored. There are various theories and prophetic warnings being given about its ultimate goal. Yet, if those predictions stir up fear, I would be slow to embrace them. Our God is much bigger than AI or any beast system. The Lord is reminding us of the authority He has given us to “…rule in the midst of your enemies.” (Psalm 110:2 ESV) We will always have unseen enemies who are intent on opposing God and deceiving the masses. But the authority is already ours. The question is whether or not we will use it.

SOME HONEST PROCESSING ABOUT THE USE OF AI… Let’s open a can of worms. Not as any definitive statement, but as a personal process I'm walking through... I understand the concerns about the use of artificial intelligence and its potential manipulation of information and impact on the collective psyche. I understand the concerns that AI will become some agent of insight that goes beyond scriptural boundaries and safe practices for believers. I understand the concerns of creative artists whose skills and talents are being outsourced and copied with no credit or financial renumeration given. And I acknowledge the potential fallout given the possibilities of spiritual doors being opened, blurring the lines between what is real, what is perceived, and that which is totally alien/non-human. And yet... As a believer and one who knows the authority I have in Christ, I will never give in to any fear that AI is going to somehow “take over.” I will never view AI as some big bad monster that I need to keep at arms length for fear of being overtaken. I will never let AI get bigger than my God. And I will never defer my Spirit-led discernment to a manufactured intelligence port. IT works for ME. Not the other way around. Since starting to use ChatGPT for research and editing purposes in my writing, I have determined that AI must bow to the one and true Spirit who is All Truth and All Intelligence. I actually believe God is greater than AI. I am solid in my convictions and have made the Word of God and the Spirit of Truth my standard – not what Google or ChatGPT tells me. The fact is, Chat has become a tremendous support to me when it comes to research, collecting data, and listings of scriptural references, stories, and other information that I’ve needed for articles, study guides, and teachings. It has also saved me countless hours in editing and proof-reading my materials. Based on the perimeters I have given it (my theological foundations, biblical beliefs, and scriptural convictions), it has actually served me. Because that’s how I’ve trained it. Just like an unruly pet, I don't let it determine my course. I train it to yield to my instructions. I’ve actually been able to focus my time more strategically on what the Lord has called me to steward because of the technological tools now at my disposal. And that’s because I’ve drawn the lines clearly. Regardless of how personal Chat begins to sound (“Wanda, I personally believe this would be a better approach"), I will never yield to its opinion. No thank you--I didn't ask for your take. And yet, given its vast potential to provide me with endless sources of information, organizational tools, and new creative possibilities in writing and presentation, I’m going to use it for good. I've determined it’s going to serve Kingdom purposes. In terms of creative use—I am not only a writer and speaker, but a musician. Having written and produced three music albums in my earlier years, I understand the frustration of those with creative gifts who are feeling sidelined. And it is a problem. There is an entire industry of graphic artists, publishers, writers, and musicians who are on the losing end of this whole thing. Even in the last month, I have seen more and more AI-generated “Soaking Worship” channels pop up. And one would never be able to tell it was AI apart from the label under the video. But that’s only from a musical standpoint. For anyone looking for authentic “anointed” worship music—there’s a clear difference. It's one thing to manipulate notes and instruments. It's another to try and mimic the Spirit of God. And maybe this is where the crux of the issue is. Perhaps the real problem isn’t that non-human sources are creating all this stuff. Perhaps the real issue is that we can’t recognize the source when it matters most. As Spirit-filled believers, we should be the first ones to detect when a non-human source is trying to “minister” to us or teach us something. There should be a clear difference between fast and convenient inspiration, and in-depth wisdom and Spirit-fueled revelation from on high. Especially when it comes to spiritual matters, AI will never be able to copy, manipulate, or “use” Holy Spirit for its own agenda. The more you spend time with Holy Spirit and learn to recognize HIS voice, HIS sound, and HIS presence, the more you’ll recognize any counterfeit. This alone should be a primary safeguard for any concern. The reality is that Christians have been using Google Search engines for years. We’ve never had a problem with looking for information online when a question arises. We’ve relished the instructions and detailed steps to countless tasks and projects by searching for things online. Information we never thought we’d have access to is now at our fingertips. And we’ve all used it. The difference now is not just the information we're getting. It's how we're depending on it for direction, listening to it for guidance, and asking it for counsel. This is where boundary lines must be established and Truth must be guarded. Just as in any other form of “revelation” received, Scripture says we’re supposed to weigh and test things according to the Word and SPIRIT of God. It doesn't mean we shut down these technological tools as much as interpret them rightly and steward them wisely. One more consideration. As a prophetic “seer” who has seen and experienced supernatural realities in dreams and visions, AI has actually opened up possibilities never imagined before. I don’t know how many times I’ve wished I could SHOW someone what I SAW in that dream or vision—but totally lacked the artistic ability to do so. Now it’s possible. We’ve already seen this at work in major movies coming out—even from faith based companies. Spiritual realities can now be imagined on screen through AI and presented in a way that stirs us and even inspires us to consider realms unseen. Yes, these capabilities are also being used for the dark side. But that’s always been the case. The enemy has always sought to use anything the Creator makes for its own evil and wicked purposes. So what else is new. My point is this. AI is not going away. It’s going to continue to advance. The good news is that God is not going away. And His Kingdom will continue to advance. And the King will makes ALL things bow to Him. Including AI. Regardless of the godless men who seek to manipulate this tool for their own purposes—God will use it for His. So instead of fearing artificial intelligence, I’m choosing to make it yield to the only Creative Intelligence there is. I will stay anchored in the Word of God and the Spirit of Truth, and follow the only Voice that truly matters. And AI will simply have to follow.

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AN UNTAPPED SOURCE OF STRENGTH There are times when surrender leaves us feeling strangely vulnerable. Once we have released the things we were holding onto—the familiar assignment, the comfortable role, the carefully constructed plan—we can suddenly feel exposed. Without those things to give us a sense of security, moving forward can seem risky. This is especially true if we have been disappointed before. After experiencing enough unexpected turns, painful losses, or unanswered expectations, we can begin protecting ourselves without even realizing it. We become more cautious. Less willing to take risks. Less inclined to dream as boldly as we once did. What we call wisdom may actually be Fear quietly establishing the boundaries of our future. I believe spirits of Fear and Self-Protection are whispering into many ears and leading them toward a dead end. If this is you, God wants to reintroduce you to His grace as an untapped source of power and strength. “For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age.” (Titus 2:11–12) We often think of grace primarily as God’s unmerited favor—the gift of salvation we could never earn. And certainly, it is that. But grace is also an active power at work in our lives. It not only saves us; it trains us. Strengthens us. Enables us. Grace empowers us to live what God has called us to live. Recently, the Lord gave me a revelation about grace for those longing to shake off the pain of their past and get out of their wilderness. Because of unresolved hurts and disappointments, the enemy can cause us to fear discomfort and disappointment even more than we fear the Lord. And it’s a trap. When self-protection becomes our priority, fear begins making our decisions. We stop asking, “Where is God leading?” and begin asking, “Where will I be safest?” We stop considering what might be possible and focus instead on everything that might go wrong. If your goal has become guarding and protecting yourself from any further unexpected changes, your ability to dream and believe for the impossible will eventually shut down. Continuing that cycle will only chain you to your past and limit any vision for your future. The Lord wants to break those chains and empower you to walk confidently into whatever He has prepared next. And He wants grace to lead the way. The grace of the Lord is not compelled by fear nor driven by pressure. God’s grace is content to stop and wait without fearing what’s next. Grace provides the precise measure of inspiration, motivation, and energy needed to do only that which is assigned for the current hour. It is a very specific allotment of enablement for an immediate role and assignment. So much of our exhaustion comes from trying to live outside that measure. We take responsibility for tomorrow before tomorrow arrives. We carry assignments God has given to someone else. We compare our pace with those around us and conclude we should be doing more. We look at everything that needs to happen and assume we must somehow find the strength to accomplish it. Grace does not work that way. Grace does not compare with others or compete for a greater portion. It is not fixed on the past or preoccupied with the future. Grace rests secure in the present, embracing each moment for the unique treasure that it holds. “The Lord is my chosen portion and my cup; You hold my lot. The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance.” (Psalm 16:5–6) There is tremendous freedom in knowing that God has assigned each of us a portion. We do not have to occupy everyone else’s territory. We do not have to carry every burden, respond to every need, or walk through every open door. God’s grace assigns us boundary lines that define our measure of anointing for a particular purpose. Those lines surround us with His protection, provision, and power. That which we do inside His boundaries of grace breathes life and bears fruit because He supplies what is needed to accomplish it. But when we continually push beyond those boundaries, something begins to change. Peace disappears. Joy diminishes. What once felt life-giving begins to feel heavy. We may immediately assume the enemy is attacking, but sometimes we have simply stepped beyond the measure God has given us for the moment. We are asking grace to empower something He never assigned. This is why learning our boundaries is not weakness. It is wisdom. Fear tells us not to move because something might go wrong. Striving tells us we must keep moving because everything depends on us. Grace does neither. Grace listens. Grace waits. And when God says move, grace supplies the strength to move. If God has truly assigned something to us, our natural limitations are not the final measure of what is possible. His grace is. (Excerpt from ORACLES OF WISDOM: A Journey into the Father’s Heart – soon to be released!)

WHAT KIND OF FIRE DO WE NEED? “You do not know what manner of spirit you are of; for the Son of Man came not to destroy people’s lives but to save them.” (Luke 9:55) There is a time to confront sin. There is a time to expose error, challenge hypocrisy, and courageously defend the truth. Jesus Himself did all of these things. But even when our convictions are right, our approach may be wrong. If Jesus were responding to some of the online comments and reactions in recent days concerning differing beliefs and practices about spiritual gifts and prophecy, I wonder if He might give the same warning He gave James and John. These were faithful disciples, fully devoted to Christ. Their passion and zeal were well-known. They were willing to do anything for Jesus and the message He came to bring. But when a Samaritan village rejected Jesus, their response was, “Lord, do You want us to tell fire to come down from heaven and consume them?” Jesus rebuked them. But He wasn’t correcting their commitment to truth. He wasn’t suggesting they should never confront wrongdoing or hypocrisy. His own rebukes of the Pharisees proved otherwise. He was rebuking their response because they were listening to another voice –not His. Their zeal may have been noteworthy, but they had missed His heart. They were so focused on the wrong they saw that they lost sight of the larger mission. Jesus came to save people, not simply correct them. On social media, ideas and opinions are exchanged freely, as are convictions and personal beliefs. That’s the beauty of free speech. But as followers of Christ, maybe we need to ask ourselves: What spirit are we of? We can be passionate about Scripture, courageous in confronting sin, and absolutely convinced we are right—and still miss the mark. Jesus’ rebuke to His disciples was not focused on what they believed. He rebuked them for their response to those who didn’t. They needed to back up and remember the larger assignment. Instead of burning a bridge, Jesus was preparing to build one. The ironic twist in this story, is that this same John who wanted to send fire on this village of unbelievers, returned years later with Peter to this very same region to bring the fire of Holy Spirit (Acts 8:5-8, 25, 9:31). The entire region of Samaria would later be transformed through the power and outworking of Holy Spirit. Jesus wasn't blind to their rejection. He simply had a bigger plan. In our online debates there are certainly errors that need to be confronted and truths worth defending, but maybe a heated response isn’t what Jesus is looking for. He simply may have another kind of fire in mind—one that doesn't consume people, but consumes everything keeping them from Him. That’s the kind of fire I’m contending for.

“As we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.” (2 Corinthians 4:18) There is something almost contradictory about Paul's instruction to fix our eyes on what cannot be seen. How do we look at something that is invisible? Yet this is one of the fundamental invitations of faith. Scripture continually reminds us that the world we perceive with our natural senses is not the only realm that exists. There are spiritual realities that cannot be measured, explained, or observed with natural eyes, and yet they are no less real. God Himself is Spirit. His Kingdom is spiritual. Angels are real. The presence of Holy Spirit is real. The resurrection power of Christ is real. The gifts of the Spirit are real. The authority Jesus has given His people is real. Heaven is real. The glory of God is real. We may not fully understand how all these realities operate, but Scripture does not ask us to understand everything before we believe. It simply asks us to believe. To have faith. But there is a kind of unbelief that doesn't necessarily reject God outright. It simply reduces Him to what the natural mind can comfortably explain. It accepts biblical truths as theological principles but becomes uncomfortable when those truths become experiential. It believes in Holy Spirit but hesitates when His presence becomes tangible. It acknowledges the supernatural accounts of Scripture while quietly assuming that life with God today should be much more predictable. Before long, mystery becomes suspect, wonder is replaced by analysis, and our expectations shrink to the boundaries of what we already understand. This is one of the dangers of a Religious Spirit. It can leave us with the language of faith while slowly closing our eyes to the realities of the Spirit. It doesn't always deny God's power; sometimes it simply confines that power to what feels safe, explainable, and familiar. But Jesus never invited us into a merely theoretical Kingdom. He said, “The Kingdom of God does not consist in talk but in power” (1 Corinthians 4:20). Paul prayed that believers would know the love of Christ that “surpasses knowledge” (Ephesians 3:19). Jesus told Nicodemus that the work of the Spirit is like the wind: we recognize its effects even when we cannot explain where it comes from or where it goes (John 3:8). There are mysteries in God that our minds will never fully contain. That should not frighten us. It should fill us with wonder. God isn’t calling us to believe every supernatural claim or accept every spiritual experience without testing it. Scripture is clear that we are to test the spirits, weigh prophetic words, and rightly handle the Word of truth. But discernment and unbelief are not the same thing. True discernment helps us recognize the Spirit. Unbelief gives us reasons not to expect Him. The Word continually introduces us to a God who makes Himself known. He spoke from a burning bush. He led His people with cloud and fire. His glory filled the tabernacle. Angels appeared to ordinary people. Prophets saw visions. The sick were healed. Demons fled. Jesus was transfigured before His disciples. The risen Christ appeared to His followers. Holy Spirit came with the sound of a rushing wind and tongues of fire. Peter received a vision. Paul was caught up into heaven and heard things he could scarcely describe. The biblical world is filled with mystery, Presence, power, and wonder. Why would we read these accounts and then assume that mature faith should expect God to become increasingly less experiential? Certainly we must guard against chasing experiences for their own sake. Signs and wonders are never the goal. Jesus is. But neither should fear of excess cause us to settle for less than the relationship He offers. God wants to be known. Not merely studied. Not merely explained. KNOWN. There are dimensions of His character we discover through Scripture. There are truths Holy Spirit illuminates in our hearts. And there are moments when His Presence becomes so tangible that we simply know He is near. But we don't worship the experience. We worship the One making Himself known. (excerpt from my upcoming book, "ORACLES OF WISDOM: A Journey into the Father's Heart.)