“All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works,” 2 Timothy 3:16-17.

“But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God,” Matthew 4:4.

Many years ago I had a very deep and meaningful spiritual experience that set the road map for my life and future.

In the fall of 1975 I had been searching for several years to find what the meaning of life was through other religious forms and I had also finally realized that these were hollow and did not give me substance or joy.

After a lonely night with a friend, I walked back to my dorm in the small town that I had grown up in.

Somehow the sidewalk loomed out long and lonely in front of me as I traveled back. Behind me a dog followed me somehow sensing my loneliness and demeanor.

I finally arrived back at my dorm and closed the door to my room. I immediately raised my hand in the air and cried out in my voice, “Jesus,” and to my surprise, somehow the sky above and everything in the room had taken on another hue and it was as if another dimension had opened up all around me.

I was enraptured and yet couldn’t quite put words to my experience. For I had grown up in a Christian home, but the rites and substance of the faith had only become meaningless and were only something to do and not experience in real life.

After a few weeks of living in this new experience, I finally decided that I needed to pin point exactly what had happened to me.

Finally a voice from above and yet also within, began speaking to me, and telling me certain things about my encounter.

Soon afterwards, I decided to meet with some friends and joined a bible study that met every week — and out of these meetings my spiritual encounter then took form and allowed more substance to what I had experienced.

I soon found out about the calling of God that had been placed upon me and sought out more meaning and direction to this.

You see, without the written word, the road map so to speak; I wouldn’t have been able to draw reference to what had really occurred in my life.

I had studied various religions, particularly those in the east, but this had become real and alive to me.

When one takes a trip or a vacation, they need a map to know where they are going. Their journey could take them miles and miles away somewhere, and yet they could easily get lost without knowing the roads, the cities and towns, and rivers that they needed to cross.

In the same way, without the word of God, our experiences, no matter how deep or enraptured they might be, need to have the anchor and substance that is found in the written Word.

Throughout the ages various men and women have had spiritual encounters, and yet many then went on to writing their own belief system and religion based upon the experiences that they had.

But you see, some have proven to be hollow and without substance because within their pages there is not the person, the living God who breathes through those pages.

So I’m saying here to value those encounters and experiences that you have had with the living God, but anchor them with the written word so that those experiences have meaning and are not lost to the wind of time.

 

Selah,
~ Stephen Hanson

---

Stephen Hanson of In His Truth Ministries came to the LORD is a special way in 1975 and has prophesied regularly since. In these end-time birthing pangs we are reminded that judgment must first begin with the household of God. Will we be prepared and ready?

Back to Top