EXPERIENCE VERSUS SCRIPTURES

MONDAY, MARCH 28, 2011
EXPERIENCE VERSUS SCRIPTURES by David Wilkerson

I read a statement written over 150 years ago made by missionary George Bowen:

“ALL HUMAN EXPERIENCES OF CHRISTIANS MUST BE PUT TO THE TEST OF SCRIPTURE.”

He was saying, for example, do our deepening fears stand the test of Scripture? Does our wavering faith stand the test of Scripture? Is there any form of doubting that stands the same test?

When circumstances become overwhelming and doubts enter our hearts, we have a tendency to justify them because of trying experiences. We experience pain, afflictions of all kinds and testings that are crushing. The question is: How do we react to it all? Will our reaction stand the test of Scripture?

What are you facing in your life today? Financial troubles? Unemployment? Bad health problems? Anxiety attacks? How are you dealing with it? Does your present reaction measure up to Scripture?

For example, Scripture says, “He that wavereth is like a ship tossed by waves.” Do you pass over this Scripture and go on wavering because of dire experiences?

I have wavered many times when my experience looked hopeless, but more and more I trust the Holy Spirit to conform my experience to the test of Scripture. Scripture trumps all experience.

God help us all to test our feelings by the Word of God. Ask yourself, “Is this reaction Scriptural? Do my emotions measure up to the Word?” If not, pray for strength to admit it and make changes.

Keep the faith!

Off-course, the other side of this truth is that the promises of Scriptue must be made reality to me by faith.

I could believe with my mind that God so loved the world that He sent His only Begotton Son, that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have everlasting life." But only until this promise is made a reality to me and I truly experience that promise, it will continue to be a mere promise. How can some one own the promises of God. It is an 18" journey from the head to the heart.

I could believe with my mind that God so loved the world that He sent His only Begotton Son, that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have everlasting life." But only until this promise is made a reality to me and I truly experience that promise, it will continue to be a mere promise. How can some one own the promises of God. It is an 18" journey from the head to the heart.

I think this highlights the principle of a Gate and a Path that Watchman Nee wrote about in The Normal Christian Life. The phases of Christian life do not always occur in the same order but they are marked by certain re-occuring steps. First 'revelation' (objective), this always precedes faith and experience. Second 'experience' (subjective), when in faith we accept the objectives facts for ourselves, it becomes actual in experience. Such experience usually takes the form of a crisis in our life (like Bunyan's wicket gate), which then leads to the narrow path.

So, for example, justification and new birth begin with a revelation of the atoning work of Christ on the cross; there follows the gate of repentance and faith, whereby we enter into a walk of fellowship with God.

In Christ,

Ron