What does an experience of the Holy Spirit actually look or feel like? Within the Christian tradition, there is often a sharp divide in how this question is answered. Some believe the Holy Spirit frequently acts independently of the Bible, providing direct instructions for specific life situations. Others maintain that the Spirit speaks exclusively through the written Word of Scripture. However, a closer look at the New Testament reveals that both positions capture a partial truth while risking a significant error.

• The Subjective Risk: Those who believe the Spirit always acts independently of Scripture run the risk of confusing their own emotions, bad attitudes, or selfish desires with the voice of God.
• The Restrictive Risk: Those who believe the Spirit only works through the reading of the Bible can inadvertently "imprison" the Holy Spirit, denying His power to lead and guide His people in their concrete, day‐to‐day lives.

In this episode, Chuck and Aaron explore why the work of the Spirit is almost always a "both‐and" reality. While God’s Word is our "more sure" and primary source of truth, God is not bound by the page; He often uses our conscience, our study, and our circumstances to apply His truth directly to our hearts.

Ultimately, discerning God's voice is not a mechanical three‐step process, but a relational one. To avoid deception, we must weigh our intuitions against the Bible and submit them to the wisdom of the Christian community.

Hosts: Aaron Mueller and Chuck Rathert

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