I’ve been thinking of new ways to appreciate, expect, and desire the Holy Spirit’s warnings and corrections. I’m well aware of how easy it is to try to escape the discomfort it brings. I have been praying for years to have and keep a teachable heart.

In 1980, at a Sunday morning church gathering where thousands of people were present at Faith Center in Eugene, Oregon, I received a prophecy from a well-known guest preacher. As he was preaching, he suddenly interrupted his sermon and singled me out—just me. The prophecy was very encouraging, speaking about my future, but I only remembered the warning. He said, “Be aware of what is going on around you in the spiritual realm. Don’t put your head in the sand.” Then the preacher returned to his message.

It was the first public prophetic word that was directed toward me. Months before, I had just begun a serious walk with Jesus. I was also a police officer at the time. I was trained and wired to go into a hyper-awareness mode, with every one of my senses on high alert. In that moment, it felt like God Himself shone a spotlight on me, exposing me. Though unsettling, even scary, I did not reject the prophecy.

As a cop, I was situationally aware in the physical realm because it was a matter of life and death. In the realm of the Spirit, I was just beginning to understand. This warning left me feeling unprepared, and it did not feel good.

In the physical realm, we want to be warned of danger, even for something as simple as a malfunction that needs correction or replacement. Warnings and corrections are responsible, caring actions, even to the saving of lives.

It is wisdom to test and discern any warning to see if it is from God. It’s wisdom to hear God’s warnings and corrective words as an act of love.

Paul said some strong words to the Corinthian church. “I fear that somehow your pure and undivided devotion to Christ will be corrupted, just as Eve was deceived by the cunning ways of the serpent. You happily put up with whatever anyone tells you, even if they preach a different Jesus than the one we preach, or a different kind of Spirit than the one you received, or a different kind of gospel than the one you believed” (II Corinthians 11:3-4).

Unlike a false apostle, Paul wasn’t manipulative and controlling. He didn’t tear people down to make a point. His authority as an apostle built up the Church.

Paul went on to say, “But I will continue doing what I have always done. This will undermine those looking to boast that their work is just like ours. These people are false apostles. They are deceitful workers who disguise themselves as apostles of Christ. Even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. So, it is no wonder that his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. In the end, they will get the punishment their wicked deeds deserve” (vs.12-15).

Over the years, I learned to thank God for warnings. We can’t stick our heads in the sand and remain situationally unaware. We can allow the Comforter to hold us in our brokenness and to form His nature in us. When we learn to welcome warnings, admonitions, and corrections as an act of love, we will not be so susceptible and blind to demonic activity. Warnings and corrections are part of God’s extravagant mercy.