3. DISTINCTION BETWEEN NATURAL AND SUPERNATURAL IS POSSIBLE

Jack Deere: Surprised By The Power of the Spirit. Published by Kingsway Trust Group Ltd., E. Sussex, England (Copyright 1993): "The Holy Spirit's ministry will sometimes produce physical reactions in people. These include weeping, trembling, trances, symptoms of drunkenness, and physical collapse. But in some cases the physical manifestations may be due to some aspect of human nature or even demonic causes. The genuine will always be counterfeited."

We need to distinguish between human reaction or response, and Holy Spirit manifestation. People will always react or respond in different ways to the Lord's presence in power. Down through the millenniums this has always been the case. Scripture records many examples, revivals of the past bear testimony to instances of people being physically affected by divine activity. Varied responses should come as no surprise to us now, nor in any other future move of God. What is important is that the spontaneous, unusual actions of people should not be confused with the divine manifestation. We need to distinguish between the two activities.

We can see in Scripture, examples how the human response is faithfully recorded alongside the distinctive heavenly vision, divine manifestation, or revelation. ISAIAH saw the Lord, the King of kings with every accompaniment of majestic glory - stressing the Lord's burning holiness (Isaiah 6:1-5; John 12:39-41 ). To this manifestation of the Lord there was a human reaction and response. Listed they are:

	His eyes saw the Lord (Isaiah 6:1 )
	His human spirit was alarmed (Isaiah 6:5 )
	His lips were felt to be dirty (Isaiah 6:5 )
	His awareness that he lived among unclean people became acute (Isaiah 6:5 )

EZEKIEL saw "the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord" (Ezekiel 1:28 KJV). He recorded his human reaction: "And when I saw it, I fell upon my face" (Ezekiel 1:28 KJV). His body responded to the empowering of the Spirit,

Ezekiel 2:2 "Then the Spirit entered me when He spoke to me, and set me on my feet" (NKJV)

The manifestation was a vision of the awe-inspiring, majestic glory of God. His human response was spontaneous and appropriate before such an awesome manifestation. This resulted in Ezekiel being called and commissioned. Again we can clearly distinguish between the human response and the divine manifestation.

DANIEL had a physical reaction to the vision that concerned the distant future and its interpretation by Gabriel. He became exhausted and lay ill for several days (Daniel 8:27). The manifestation was a vision of the future. The human reaction: exhaustion - illness - astonishment and perplexity. Daniel was accompanied by men when he was given a vision of the glorified Lord like that given to John ( Daniel 10:5-6; Cf Revelation 1:12-16 ). Though his companions did not see the vision they were affected by the supernatural manifestation Daniel was receiving.

Daniel 10:7 "And I Daniel alone saw the vision: for the men that were with me saw not the vision; but a great quaking fell upon them, so that they fled to hide themselves." (KJV)

They were greatly affected by just being in the place where the divine manifestation was granted to Daniel. The two experiences were distinct - Daniel had the divine manifestation - his companions had a fearful reaction that made them flee and hide. Daniel testifies to his own human response; "No strength remained in me." ( Daniel 10:8 NKJV)

Daniel 10:9,10,15 "...I was in a deep sleep on my face, with my face to the ground. Suddenly, a hand touched me, which made me tremble on my knees and on the palms of my hands ... When he had spoken such words to me, I turned my face toward the ground and became speechless." (NKJV)

Daniel made no mistake in thinking his own human reactions were anything other than just that. Neither did that admission detract from the greatness and glory of the divine manifestation. SAUL, who became Paul the apostle to the Gentiles, had a heavenly vision of the risen, glorified Lord. His human response was like that of Ezekiel and Daniel.

Acts 9:4 "Then he fell to the ground..." (NKJV)

When told that it was Jesus who was confronting him, his reaction is described as "trembling and astonished" (Acts 9:6 KJV). He acknowledged Jesus as Lord and committed himself to do what the Lord wanted done (Acts 9:6 ). Mark a principle emphasised here: any manifestation from God will lead to glorifying Jesus as Lord, and to obedience to Him. He was physically affected by the brightness of the glory.

Acts 9:9 "And he was three days without sight, and neither did eat nor drink. " (KJV)

He spent his time in fasting and prayer, patiently waiting the promised specifics of his calling (Acts 9:6,9,11 ). There was personal co-operation on the part of Saul both in the vision, and in obedience to the vision, for the rest of his life (Acts 26:19 ).

JOHN the apostle recorded his experience of hearing and seeing the Lord

Revelation 1:10 "I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet," (KJV)

In the Spirit, John's ear became a receptive and instructed ear. The voice being "loud as a trumpet" indicated that the words spoken to him were uttered distinctly as one would hear the clear notes of a trumpet. John heard every word because they were not whispered, but loud. But more, he co-operated fully with his own spirit and mind.

It is easy to attribute hearing entirely to being "in the Spirit", but when people "in the Spirit" today hear, their testimony when related, indicates limited hearing, reception and comprehension. There is a need to exercise the ear of our human spirit so as to hear what the Lord is clearly saying. Neither should we shut our minds, but concentrate on what is said "in the Spirit", meditating on the Word. This aspect of distinguishing between the natural hearing and the supernatural message is very important.

Revelation 1:12 "Then I turned to see the voice that spoke with me." (NKJV)

Revelation 1:17 "And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. ..." (KJV)

He saw the glorified Lord in the office of High Priest and Judge - he saw the mighty, majestic Christ of the revelation, who is the coming one (Revelation 1:12-16 ). The human response was to fall at His feet. There was awe and respect in this action. Of the twenty four elders it is said that they fell down and worshipped (Revelation 4:10; Cf 7:11 ). In contrast to them, John fell at the Lord's feet "as dead" (Revelation 1:17 KJV). He was stunned and inactive before the awesome Lord, his mind closed by fear. The Lord placed His right hand on him telling him not to be afraid. We may understand from this that the Lord required the co-operative alertness of John.

In certain instances the human response, distinguishable from the spiritual manifestation, is actually necessary and encouraged. Particularly it would seem, when the manifestation is of the communication or revelation kind. Personal experiences or responses should be discerned individually. Certainly the meeting should not be focused on personal reactions, neither should such displays be permitted to interfere with, nor replace, the teaching of the anointed Word. Insistence on others conforming to certain experiences, or the manipulation by suggestion that failure to conform is an indication of not being spiritual, or implying that not so responding indicates a stubborn, even rebellious resistance of the Holy Spirit, has no warrantee in Scripture. Such manipulation to perform must be grieving to the Holy Spirit.