Let’s get one thing straight: I’m all in for being Spirit-filled and Spirit-led. The Holy Spirit moves, guides, and speaks—scripture makes that clear (John 16:13). But here’s where things get dicey: some folks use “The Spirit told me…” as a spiritual get-out-of-jail-free card. It’s like slapping a divine stamp on their words to shut down any challenge or dodge accountability. Sound familiar? Maybe you’ve heard it in a church meeting, a heated argument, or even a casual conversation:
“Well, the Spirit told me…”
End of discussion. No questions allowed. Or so they think.
This isn’t just annoying—it’s dangerous. It’s Montanism reloaded, echoing a 2nd-century heresy that put personal revelations above scripture. In Part 1, we tackled how “don’t be offended” can excuse un-Christlike behavior. Now, we’re diving into how “The Spirit told me” gets weaponized to avoid hard truths, pursue self-serving agendas, or override biblical wisdom. Let’s unpack this with some scripture, a real-life story, and a practical test to keep us grounded.
The Problem: “The Spirit Told Me” as a Trump Card
When someone drops “The Spirit told me,” it’s often a conversation-ender. Disagree? You’re not just doubting them—you’re doubting God Himself. That’s the vibe they’re going for. Sometimes it’s to sidestep something uncomfortable, like owning up to a mistake. Other times, it’s to justify something self-serving—ambition, ego, or just wanting to be right. Either way, it’s spiritual deflection, and it’s not new.
Back in the 2nd century, a guy named Montanus, along with two prophetesses, Prisca and Maximilla, claimed to speak directly as the Holy Spirit. Their “revelations” often contradicted or added to scripture, setting themselves up as the ultimate authority. The early church called it heresy—Montanism—because it elevated personal claims over God’s established Word. As Hebrews 1:1–2 says:
“In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe.” (NIV)
The Greek lalēsas (spoken) emphasizes God’s definitive revelation through Jesus (logos, John 1:1), not ongoing new revelations that trump scripture (BDAG 2000, s.v. “λαλέω”). Montanus missed that memo, and so do modern folks who use “The Spirit told me” to override biblical truth or avoid correction.
This series has called out similar misuses—complementarians twisting sigatōsan to silence women (Parts 5–6), Calvinists forcing proorizō into determinism, or American Churchianity slapping cultural values onto scripture. “The Spirit told me” is another dodge, cloaking personal agendas in spiritual language, much like the Confederate States of America misused Philemon to justify slavery (Part 1). It’s not harmless—it can hurt people and distort the gospel.
A Real-Life Example: The Cost of False “Prophecies”
Let me share a story that hits close to home. In 2009, my wife and I faced a gut-wrenching reality: our unborn son was diagnosed with Potter Syndrome, a condition with no kidneys or bladder, deemed “incompatible with life.” We were crushed but chose to carry him to term, trusting God through the grief. During those months, well-meaning Christians approached us with “prophetic” words:
“The Spirit told me God’s going to heal your baby.”
“Your son will celebrate birthdays, go to school, live a full life.”
These words, though meant to comfort, added weight to our pain. They raised false hopes, making us question what God was actually saying. But one woman, Bernadine, was different. She came to us quietly and said the Spirit had shown her our son wouldn’t survive. It was a hard truth, but it resonated with what we already sensed. When our son, Chance Miracle, was born and passed away five hours later, we grieved deeply. But we were grateful for Bernadine’s honesty—it prepared us, aligned with reality, and reflected God’s voice in that moment.
The moral? Not every “Spirit told me” comes from the Holy Spirit. Sometimes, it’s human optimism or a need to say something “spiritual.” Other times, it’s worse—a way to gain influence or avoid hard truths. The Holy Spirit often speaks what we don’t want to hear, calling us to humility, repentance, or trust in God’s bigger plan.
Testing the Spirits: A Biblical Guardrail
Scripture doesn’t leave us guessing about how to handle claims of divine revelation. 1 John 4:1 is blunt:
“Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.” (NIV)
The Greek dokimazō (test) means to examine or scrutinize, like testing metal for purity (BDAG 2000, s.v. “δοκιμάζω”). We’re not supposed to swallow every “Spirit-led” claim hook, line, and sinker. Instead, we test them against God’s Word, which is our anchor. 2 Timothy 3:16–17 says:
“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (NIV)
Theopneustos (God-breathed) underscores scripture’s divine authority (BDAG 2000, s.v. “θεόπνευστος”). If a “revelation” contradicts scripture, it’s not from God. Period. Paul doubles down in Galatians 1:8:
“But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let them be under God’s curse!” (NIV)
The Greek anathema (curse) is a strong warning against distorting the gospel (BDAG 2000, s.v. “ἀνάθεμα”). Claiming “The Spirit told me” to push a message that clashes with Jesus’ teachings—like self-promotion over humility (Philippians 2:3–4) or greed over generosity (Luke 12:15)—is a red flag.
Here’s a practical test to spot a fake “Spirit-led” claim:
- Does it contradict scripture? If it doesn’t line up with God’s Word, it’s not the Spirit (1 John 4:1; 2 Timothy 3:16).
- Does it serve only your comfort, ambition, or ego? The Spirit leads to Christlikeness, not self-glory (John 16:14, “He will glorify me”).
- Does it build up the church or just spotlight you? True prophecy edifies (oikodomē, 1 Corinthians 14:4), not divides or elevates one person.
If the answer is yes to the first two or no to the third, it’s not the Holy Spirit—it’s human noise dressed up in spiritual clothes.
The Damage: Echoes of Montanism
Using “The Spirit told me” as a trump card isn’t just a personal quirk—it can wreck lives and churches. In my story, false “prophecies” about our son’s healing deepened our pain, making us wrestle with guilt and confusion when he passed. I’ve seen others hurt too: a friend was told “The Spirit says leave your job” by a self-proclaimed prophet, only to face financial ruin when the “promise” fell apart. Another was pressured into a bad marriage because “God confirmed it” through someone’s “word.” These aren’t hypotheticals—they’re real wounds caused by untested claims.
Montanism’s error was claiming direct revelation trumped scripture. Today’s version might look different—less togas, more megachurches—but the heart’s the same. When someone uses “The Spirit told me” to avoid accountability or push their agenda, they’re echoing Montanus, not Jesus. This connects to our series’ fight against misused theology: just as complementarians misread adelphoi to exclude women (Part 4) or prosperity preachers twist eudokēo to promise wealth, “Spirit-led” deflections distort the gospel’s call to humility and truth.
The Biblical Call: Discernment and Humility
The Holy Spirit doesn’t play favorites or hand out blank checks for our whims. He guides us to Jesus (John 16:13–14), aligns with scripture (2 Timothy 3:16), and builds up the church (1 Corinthians 12:7). When we claim His voice, we’d better be ready to test it. That means humility—admitting we might be wrong—and accountability, letting others weigh our words (1 Corinthians 14:29, “let the others judge”). Galatians 6:1, from Part 1, reminds us to restore gently (katartizō), not bulldoze with “divine” authority.
The church isn’t a stage for spiritual one-upmanship. It’s a family where we grow together, even when it’s messy. Jesus’ table-turning (Matthew 21:12–13, katharizō) shows it’s okay to call out nonsense, but it’s got to be for God’s glory, not ours. If your “Spirit-led” word leaves people hurt, confused, or far from Jesus, it’s not from the Spirit—it’s on you.
What’s Next?
Part 3, “That’s Just Who I Am” (No, It’s Not), is coming tomorrow. We’ll tackle the excuse of using “just as I am” to justify staying stuck in sin or bad habits, when God calls us to transformation (2 Corinthians 3:18). For now, let’s commit to testing every “Spirit told me” claim against scripture, humility, and love. The Holy Spirit speaks—but He’s not your personal hype man.
Bibliography
Bauer, Walter, Frederick W. Danker, William F. Arndt, and F. Wilbur Gingrich. 2000. A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature. 3rd ed. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
Rooted & Reckoned 
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