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In today's article Ms. Prata will assert the Holy Spirit brings information to the believer, but denies this information is revelation. She will call it "illumination," but will not tell us where the Bible describes this distinction. Her intent is to limit the Holy Spirit's work to illumination because she doesn't believe God speaks to people in our day apart from the Bible.
Her position is that revelation is direct information from God, which the apostles then wrote down in the form of what became the Scriptures we have today. Since that is finished, she would therefore deny contemporary Christians can receive any sort of revelation from God. The Holy Spirit now only illuminates, which is the making clear of the words of Scripture.
Unfortunately, there isn't a single Bible quote in this article. Ms. Prata wants to teach about the Bible without using it. This is a widespread phenomena among these Correctors Of Doctrine, troubling indeed. So she will never explain the biblical basis for her claims.
So let's go ahead and explore what the Bible actually says, to see if Ms. Prata's distinction between illumination and revelation exists. The Greek word "illumination" is
phótizó, bring to light, make evident, reveal
We find the word here, translated "enlightened:"
Ep. 1:17-18 I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. 18 I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know...
Notice that Paul also uses the word "revelation" in this passage. That word is
apokalupsis, revelation, unveiling
So Paul uses BOTH words in his prayer for the Ephesian church. He wants them illumined and he wants them to have the Spirit of revelation. And both things are so that they will "know." Lest we think that Paul was not referring to direct revelation, later in his letter he writes:
Ep. 3:2 Surely you have heard about the administration of God’s grace that was given to me for you, 3 that is, the mystery made known to me by revelation, as I have already written briefly.
This passage uses the same word, apokalupsis. Here Paul wants the Ephesian church understand the revelation he was given, which happens to be the same word he applied to them in Ep. 1:17-18. Thus it is clear that Paul does not claim that receiving revelation is unique to him. He wants the Ephesian church to have revelation as well.
And by the way, notice the definitions of apokalupsis and phótizó are very similar. However, Ms. Prata wants them to be very different, where being enlightened is restricted to obtaining understanding about Scripture, while revelation is for a former time and does not happen today. This is a forced distinction not justified by the word meanings themselves or the Bible.
Another word, closely related to apokalupsis, is
apokaluptó to take off the cover, i.e. Disclose -- reveal.
If revelation was restricted to apostles to write Scripture, then we would expect that the Bible would use this word only with regard to the apostles:
Ep. 3:5 which was not made known to men in other generations as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to God’s holy apostles and prophets.
But this isn't the only use of this word. It is also used in reference to other believers:
1Co. 14:30 And if a revelation comes to someone who is sitting down, the first speaker should stop.
1Co. 2:10 but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God.
When we actually examine the Bible, we see that Ms. Prata is wrong.
Lastly, we will find that Ms. Prata relies on bad teaching to form her opinions. She approvingly quotes this quote from an unnamed source:
How can I know the will of God? First, I need to realize that God’s revelation has been “once for all delivered” (Jude 3), which means no further revelation will be made. Second, I need to accept that God’s revealed will in His Word is complete and all-sufficient (2 Tim. 3:16-17), supplying me with everything I need to live and to serve God (2 Pet. 1:3). Third, I need to admit that if I believe God laid something on my heart, then someone else has an equal right to claim that God has laid the complete opposite on his heart, and who is to say who is “right” and who is “wrong”? That’s why God’s Word is the perfect, complete and final standard in all things (John 12:48)
There are several errors here. The first is the unnamed author's statement that Jude 3 means no further revelation will be made. Let's quote the verse:
Dear friends, although I was very eager to write to you about the salvation we share, I felt I had to write and urge you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints.
Notice right off the bat that the verse is not telling us about revelation. It is not discussing Scripture or the closed canon. It is referring to the faith. The faith is once delivered, i.e., the sum of what we believe. The faith is final. Since the Bible didn't exist at the time Jude was writing, it is impossible for him to be telling his readers that there will be no further revelation.
Second cited verse, 2Ti. 3:16:
All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness...
This Scripture does not say that His Word is complete. It says Scripture is useful.
Third cited verse, 2Pe. 1:3:
His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.
The unnamed author writes, His Word is complete and all-sufficient (2 Tim. 3:16-17), supplying me with everything I need to live and to serve God (2 Pet. 1:3). But wait! Peter wasn't writing about Scripture. It says it right in the verse. He was writing about God's divine power. This is a serious misrepresentation of Scripture, written by a Bible teacher and quoted by Ms. Prata. Something is quite amiss here.
Last is this vapid idea: ...if I believe God laid something on my heart, then someone else has an equal right to claim that God has laid the complete opposite on his heart, and who is to say who is “right” and who is “wrong”? We find that the unnamed author answers his "gotcha" question in his very next sentence: God’s Word is the perfect, complete and final standard in all things.
So by the unnamed author's own admission there is a standard. It is possible to tell which message is right and which message is wrong.
In addition to the Bible, we can also test the message with the gift of discernment, and we are to test the spirits as well. Further, we also have the counsel of the saints to assist us. There is little uncertainty regarding the correctness of a prophetic revelation to those whose counsel is rooted in Scripture.
We say this is a vapid assertion because the same criteria applies to doctrine. Doctrine is also subject to "he said/she said," and we have no problem testing those things in the exact same way. We don't simply dismiss it by saying we can't tell who's right and who's wrong.
Therefore there is no problem regarding competing claims about what God said.
Lastly, Ms. Prata provides a reference for further reading: Ligonier: The Holy Spirit’s Ministry We commented on this poorly-reasoned article here. This article has appeared at Ligonier at least three different times, sometimes with a different title.
I’ve been writing lately about how the constant barrage from female so-called Bible teachers claiming “God told me,” known as direct revelation, is building a foundation of sand rather than on the rock of biblical sufficiency. I’ve said many times not to accept someone’s claim of direct revelation. If they teach that, avoid the teacher.
But it does beg the question- HOW does God lead? We know He does. We know the indwelling Spirit in believers illuminates the scriptures, leads us in the path of holiness, and convicts us of sin. He is involved. But how?
I was asked this good question: “How do I respond when someone says ‘God laid it on my heart?’ “
First, understand that God, rather, the Holy Spirit, has a ministry of illumination. He brings light to your mind when you study the scriptures. He reveals wisdom and understanding to your mind, transforming it to a likeness of Jesus’ mind. When you read the Bible, then meditate on the scriptures, then apply them to your life, it is the Spirit sustaining you in this process. When you are reading the Bible another day and bazinga! something suddenly makes sense from something you read before, that is the Spirit’s illumination. When you are in a situation and bazinga! You suddenly know what to do based on a biblical principle, that is the Spirit illuminating the word to your mind.
When you feel something laid on your heart that convicts you, something you feel bad about, like harsh words, or a sin, or wounding another person, or even a secret sin- that is the Spirit ‘laying on your heart’ a conviction to repent.
The Spirit DOES ‘lay on our heart’ illumination and conviction. That is His ministry to our conscience and our mind.
If you feel ‘God laid it on my heart’ to tell someone a foretelling prophecy, or to move the family to another city, or to change jobs, or to drop out of college, or to take a trip, etc, well, that’s just your own decision making. You’re attributing your own personal decision to the Spirit, which is dangerous to do. We can’t put words in His mouth He didn’t say.
Here is an article excerpt explaining-
How can I know the will of God? First, I need to realize that God’s revelation has been “once for all delivered” (Jude 3), which means no further revelation will be made. Second, I need to accept that God’s revealed will in His Word is complete and all-sufficient (2 Tim. 3:16-17), supplying me with everything I need to live and to serve God (2 Pet. 1:3). Third, I need to admit that if I believe God laid something on my heart, then someone else has an equal right to claim that God has laid the complete opposite on his heart, and who is to say who is “right” and who is “wrong”? That’s why God’s Word is the perfect, complete and final standard in all things (John 12:48). ~SourceWe might feel an impression to do something, or have a feeling, or follow a leading, but we cannot know specifically that it is the Spirit impressing or leading in that particular instance. Here is Phil Johnson of Grace Community Church, speaking to that issue after the Strange Fire Conference held some years ago:
“The Bible is perfectly sufficient, and that means someone’s personal impression based on a dream or a vision or a voice in the head has no place in the church’s teaching ministry. Those things have no legitimate authority over the conscience of any believer. We are to order our lives by a more sure word of prophecy, namely Scripture.” ~Phil JohnsonSo to the question at hand: The following was asked at The Strange Fire Conference, answered by Phil Johnson:
Q. How do we distinguish between the legitimate prompting of the Holy Spirit and our own thoughts or will?
A. While God can prompt us to think or do something, He has not given a clear and objective mechanism to identify when He is doing that. Since no one can identify with absolute certainty the source of the impressions he experiences, he must not ascribe authority to them or rely upon them as direction from God. John MacArthur gives good advice on that point in this downloadable audio. Mistaking a personal impression for divine guidance can lead us far astray from God’s will and may cause serious problems in our lives. ~Phil Johnson
Q. How should a Christian respond to what he thinks might be a leading of the Holy Spirit?
By comparing the impression with the objective, authoritative revelation God gave us—the Scripture. So, does the thought you are having agree with biblical theology? Is the action condemned or condoned in God’s Word? Will that choice ultimately bring glory to God? As you answer these questions in light of biblical teaching, you can know whether you are walking in the will of God.
Look for the word “decided” in the New Testament. Paul decided to do this or that, decided to go here or there. He legitimately received direct instruction from the Holy Spirit, the canon was not written yet. But Paul also decided to do things. We do not leave our decision making faculties behind when we become a Christian.
Acts 16:4, Acts 20:3, Acts 20:16, Acts 27:1, Titus 3:12
So, ladies, if it is something you want to do and it’s aligned with the scriptures in principle, you do not have to say “God laid it on my heart.” That’s unnecessary. Just say, “I decided…” God’s will for your life is to obey Him where there are explicit commands and to obey Him to the best of your interprtation (sic) where there are implicit concepts. In between, just decide.
Further Resources
Ligonier: The Holy Spirit’s Ministry
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