Experience is not Enough, You need the Message

In I Timothy, Paul says he was put in the ministry when he was a blasphemous persecutor and an insolent man; in fact it could be said that Jesus did this because Paul was such a person, not because of his rabbinic tradition and his high education. Paul says in this section of Timothy that he obtained mercy because he did this ignorantly and in unbelief. He then says he obtained mercy in order to become an example to others. For surely, if Paul could be forgiven, so could they. In I Cor. 15 Paul says Jesus appeared to the 12 and to 500 and after to James and other apostles and finally to him. And God asked him to become a vessel for preaching the gospel. In Acts 9, Paul talks about his conversion and says that he saw a light and fell to the ground, and God talked to him. Now many people today have a similar experience to Paul’s – they see an angel or some other experience changes their lives. They think this experience is the truth, and say: “now I am a believer”.

Like Paul, such a person becomes a vessel. However, he has no direction. Having one experience does not give you this. When God spoke with Paul, Paul asked Him what he needed to do, but got no answer except, “Go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”

One problem today is that people come to Jesus, but after that have no direction. It is not because of a personal experience that we leave behind anything but our ignorance - we have gotten rid of this. We still, however, need belief. Now we know that faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the Word of God, but this makes us a vessel only, it does not give us direction. When Paul asked, “Who are you?” He was told, “I am Jesus.” This is faith based on knowledge that there is now a God, Jesus, and He lives, but does not answer Paul’s question “what do I do.” Acts says Paul was in a room for three days without food or water, blind. However, he did pray. And in prayer he received a vision that a man named Ananias would come and restore his sight. This was still not a direction.

Even though he knew to expect Ananias, he still did not know what he needed to do. He prayed, he fasted, but no one gave him an answer more than: “Ananias will come.” Only this prophet had the Word of God and the direction and the faith for Paul. Jesus told Ananias the answer. He told him to go to see Paul, told him exactly where Paul was, told him to lay hands on Paul’s eyes, and that Paul was a chosen vessel to bring Jesus’ Name before gentiles, kings and Israelites, and that Jesus would show Paul all the things Paul would suffer for Him.

Paul did not know this plan; he only expected his sight; but Ananias knew. He came to Paul, told him the message, laid his hands on Paul’s eyes and Paul was cured; Ananias told him he also needed to receive the Holy Spirit. After Paul’s sight was restored, he was immediately baptized and began to preach. Now, not only did he have knowledge that there was a God and His Name was Jesus, but he also believed.

Today many Christians know Jesus saved them, and that He has a plan for them. This is a knowledge they have; but this does not make them believers. But when Ananias comes, that is, the prophet, and lays on his hands, and they have their sight restored and are baptized in the Holy Spirit, then they have direction, because they have received the message. Now, they know the direction and have the message from the prophet. The Word of God always comes by the prophet. Paul was to be an apostle, but he needed to hear this from the prophet.

So today, many Christians are confused because they have the same experience as Paul, but are still blind, still without direction, still without the Holy Spirit, depressed, unsure, wondering – because their prophet has not come. They have not received their message. This is a frequent blindness in the church today in many denominations.

Jesus even said, “I do nothing that My Father has not shown Me.” By this He wanted to show He was a prophet and that what we need to do cannot be known by tradition, or by simply attending a church, big or small; or even from the exercise of the gifts; it is from the prophet.

All the work of Paul issued from that one man’s visit on one street and from one prophecy. Now he is not only no longer ignorant, he is a believer. He continues in I Cor 15 that he obtained mercy despite his condition, indeed, because of it, that he might be an example for all.

This was true of all the prophets – from Abraham on down. All the 12 disciples were apostles, but still had to await their impartation of the Holy Ghost after going home and waiting as they were told.

In your life, God talks to you, so you know, but you all the time commit the same sin, because you have knowledge, but not belief. Now, you need to receive belief, and therefore life. Paul says I can have all the gifts, but if I have no Love, I have nothing. Love is the baptism of the Holy Spirit. You can do miracles and speak in tongues, but if you don’t have the message of God, you cannot go to perfection, and will be stuck in your old nature. You must go into Christ by Grace. God, rich in mercy, gives us knowledge and faith, and the greatest of all - Love.

Now, you’re thinking to yourself, “Great, but where do I find this prophet to give me my direction?” Don’t worry, Jesus, who began a good work in you will complete it. He may tell you to go somewhere and wait, or He may turn you aside from where you are and send you somewhere else – like Paul, who had to change utterly all he had been taught. But Jesus will send that one to you to give you your direction. Don’t as so many do today, try to determine your own path, try to make up a plan for yourself for God, no. In Acts 13, Paul and Barnabas receive their next direction from the Holy Spirit by the other prophets and teachers in the church at Antioch. He will send one to you! But be careful that you don’t do as the Pharisees did in Jesus’ day – they killed the prophets sent to them because they chose their tradition over the Word of God – DON’T make this mistake!! Trust your Lord – He will send you a messenger – watch and wait.

Now many these days say they are prophets, so how are we to know? Again, don’t worry, the Holy Spirit will reveal your prophet to you. Watch and wait.