How do you handle the Spirit's leading?

Big Moose

Big Moose

This came to me while considering another thread.
Let's look at these questions, this may be a good exercise for all of us to ponder.
What are your answers?

Question: when the Spirit is guiding you to Truth, are you always pleased with the answers? Possible answers: "Yes, since I have the Spirit of God inside of me and in control, all of His leading pleases me." Or: "No, on a few occasions my fleshy desires were convicted by the leading of the Spirit. I was shown my error and I repented."

How often are you displeased with the results? Are you ever upset with the leading? Kinda the same question. Possible answers: "I am never displeased nor upset by the Spirit's leading. I am a child of God and, therefore, I always desire and agree with what the Spirit has shown me." Or: "There have been times when I needed to be corrected on an issue because I only had part of the Truth, or my own opinion or the way I was brought up in the Church clouded my understanding."

Do we take these unwanted feelings or opposition as a sign that they must be ungodly or man's teaching? This question addresses what we do or how we react to the presentation of opposing views or undiscovered knowledge presented by either the Spirit directly in our studies or by the Spirit through our interactions with other believers. Possible answers could be: "The Spirit is in me and controls my thinking. He will show me all Truth as Truth, and all deceit as deceit. If any teaching grieves me, it is because it grieves the Holy Spirit inside of me and therefore is ungodly and man's teaching." Or: "I try to take any teaching which has been shown to me in the Word of God, whether thru my own studies or by another believer, as something to consider and measure against all scripture I can find which relates to the teaching or issue. I have learned that my own understanding has jaded and limited my ability to know all Truth, for I must rely on God."

The litmus test is agreement with the Word. Not what may offend our sensibilities. This statement is what I believe must be the tie breaker. For the Spirit is in all believers, and as such, any differences in interpretation must be from our own opinions. Therefore, our carnal nature wars with the Spirit and we must ALL be aware of this and not insist on putting what we have been shown, or led to believe, as on par (equally authoritative) with the Word of God. If someone disagrees with you and is using scripture to support it, then you should have the scripture to back you up. After all, that is what the Spirit used to lead you to the Truth as you know it, right? Share this scripture with others so they may learn also. :)
 
The "mind of Christ" which dwells with in the new born again spirit of man, and his "carnal" unrenewed mind that dwells with in man's head are always at odds with each other. Not until both are in agreement can man have faith to receive from the Lord. Being double minded, that man will never receive anything of the Lord, and will be unstable in all of his ways. It is the carnal mind that hinders one from receiving the truth, and it will not relinquish it's control over the man until it has been renewed. The war a Christian is fighting as to do not only with spiritual wickedness in high places, but also that which is inside mans carnal mind.

2Co 10:3.. For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:
2Co 10:4.. (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)
2Co 10:5.. Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

Imaginations, and thoughts are "strongholds" that must be pulled down using the spiritual weapons of the Word of God. These things reside in the carnal mind of man. The human brain will not let go of what it thinks to be true, it must to be forced to change it's thinking. The person who holds on to wrong thinking has decided to stick with what it knows as truth, and is unwilling to let God the Father to teach him what is right, by which the Father confirms his teaching using the Word of God, and the Holy Spirit always bears wittiness to the truth. Without having all three witnesses we do not have the truth. Even though might see things in the Bible that seems to say a certain things, and sure enough that what it says according to my logical thinking, then it must be true. But, If we do not have all three witnesses, then what we thought was true is not.

Learning new truth is not easy, because it requires us to go back and reassess other truths that became affected by what we just learned. This takes time, and it is work which most Christians do not want to do. It is much easier to stay where we are than to move forward spiritually. It would be nice if every thing was easy, and seamless in the learning process. Unfortunately there are growing pains in growing spiritually.
 
CCW95A said:
The "mind of Christ" which dwells with in the new born again spirit of man, and his "carnal" unrenewed mind that dwells with in man's head are always at odds with each other. Not until both are in agreement can man have faith to receive from the Lord. Being double minded, that man will never receive anything of the Lord, and will be unstable in all of his ways. It is the carnal mind that hinders one from receiving the truth, and it will not relinquish it's control over the man until it has been renewed. The war a Christian is fighting as to do not only with spiritual wickedness in high places, but also that which is inside mans carnal mind.

2Co 10:3.. For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:
2Co 10:4.. (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)
2Co 10:5.. Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

Imaginations, and thoughts are "strongholds" that must be pulled down using the spiritual weapons of the Word of God. These things reside in the carnal mind of man. The human brain will not let go of what it thinks to be true, it must to be forced to change it's thinking. The person who holds on to wrong thinking has decided to stick with what it knows as truth, and is unwilling to let God the Father to teach him what is right, by which the Father confirms his teaching using the Word of God, and the Holy Spirit always bears wittiness to the truth. Without having all three witnesses we do not have the truth. Even though might see things in the Bible that seems to say a certain things, and sure enough that what it says according to my logical thinking, then it must be true. But, If we do not have all three witnesses, then what we thought was true is not.

Learning new truth is not easy, because it requires us to go back and reassess other truths that became affected by what we just learned. This takes time, and it is work which most Christians do not want to do. It is much easier to stay where we are than to move forward spiritually. It would be nice if every thing was easy, and seamless in the learning process. Unfortunately there are growing pains in growing spiritually.
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Big AMEN!
 
Good post. The flesh is always warring against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh.
This is why we are told to deny the flesh; for it lust after itself and the pride of this life. In order for Him to increase, I must decrease.
We can walk with Him in Spirit and in Truth, but we must lay down self, this world's stuff and the pride of this life; only then can we walk in the fullness of Him.
So, are we pleased with His leading? I assure us of this, it doesn't seem so bad when we have made our choice to serve Him. His light does shine bright through us. Amen
Yes they will persecute, afflict, falsely accuse, call you the devil, but have they harmed me? I tell you no, they have not. I pray that God have mercy and not being greater destruction upon them. What comes out of the mouth is what defile the man; for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.
Once we have been taught, by the Holy Ghost, the character of God; He also points out the character of the devil, bitterness, anger, hate, deceit, jealousy, envy, strife... We could go on and on. For this character we know very well, the world is full of it, it is the norm. Are we one with it? Or one with God?
When we are opposed do we fight back with the same vanity of words? Or be Christ like? We have to enter in through Him to be like Him. He continues to lead us in the Way of His righteousness, not our own.
Be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to wrath.
He uses His rock solid people to stand in Him and be a beacon of light to those who think they know Him, in effort to show us self. It is hard kicking against the pricks. Judge self first, if we be in the Way, the Truth and the Life. Amen
All praise, glory and honor be unto God.
 
CCW95A said:
Being double minded, that man will never receive anything of the Lord, and will be unstable in all of his ways.
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No Christian is double minded to the extent that they would not receive anything of the Lord.

If we use this phrase for the unsaved it makes a lot more sense. They are cold or neither hot nor cold. A Christian is hot, period. Else they would not be a Christian.

Josh 24:15 But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve. = A Christian has chosen.

John 9:31 We know that God does not listen to sinners. He listens to the godly person who does his will. = A Christian does this.
 
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KingJ said:
No Christian is double minded to the extent that they would not receive anything of the Lord.
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Jas 1:6 .. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.
Jas 1:7.. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.
Jas 1:8.. A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.
 
So the seven churches in Revelations... Wow KingJ... What comes out of the mouth is what defiles a man.
So those 7 churches God was pleased with? Not according to the Word.

Your rant is ..... Well, all you.
God bless you.
 
CCW95A said:
Jas 1:6 .. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.
Jas 1:7.. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.
Jas 1:8.. A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.
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I can also cherry pick scripture ....look: We must all stone each other to death asap!!

Matt 5:28 But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.

Lev 20:10 "'If a man commits adultery with another man's wife--with the wife of his neighbor--both the adulterer and the adulteress are to be put to death.

No sir. Our positive mental state is about as relevant to a Christian as mud on my shoe is.
 
KingJ said:
I can also cherry pick scripture ....look: We must all stone each other to death asap!!

Matt 5:28 But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.

Lev 20:10 "'If a man commits adultery with another man's wife--with the wife of his neighbor--both the adulterer and the adulteress are to be put to death.

No sir. Our positive mental state is about as relevant to a Christian as mud on my shoe is.
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Obviously speaking without first knowing the truth is not wise. You should always study before answering or replying to a statement.
 
crownoflife said:
So the seven churches in Revelations... Wow KingJ... What comes out of the mouth is what defiles a man.
So those 7 churches God was pleased with? Not according to the Word.

Your rant is ..... Well, all you.
God bless you.
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I don't think either of you have fully grasped what exactly a Christian is.

Would you ever say to your newly wedded husband ... unless he loves you unwaveringly, he will not get food tonight?

Wake up and smell the coffee people. Our spouse's decision to marry us is evidence of them having great love for us. It is as close to perfect love as it gets. That is them laying down their lives for us.

This is what we did when we first got saved. Suggesting we need to do anything more.......is absolutely mocking the cross and our heart lead decision that God judged as worthy Jer 17:10.
 
CCW95A said:
Obviously speaking without first knowing the truth is not wise. You should always study before answering or replying to a statement.
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And you should read a full post. I discussed the scripture you bolded and underlined. Your reply is to simply re quote the scripture. You are mocking the cross and every ones Christianity, bar yours. Do you even realize that?
 
Unfortunately, the author of the OP can already see that some lead themselves into greater destruction. Another good post tainted by worldly rant.
 
crownoflife said:
Unfortunately, the author of the OP can already see that some lead themselves into greater destruction. Another good post tainted by worldly rant.
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Discussing selective citing is inline with the OP.

The word is our litmus test. The whole word and not just two verses out of context.
 
Big Moose said:
The litmus test is agreement with the Word. Not what may offend our sensibilities.
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I agree fully with the first section. The second I feel needs to be better qualified. The issue is '''feelings''. ''I feel the Holy Spirit told me this''. That is the risk. Not impeccable logic. Impeccable logic is attainable by everyone of us with a working brain. It is to work in harmony with scripture.

Notice how God is crystal clear in scripture that he wants us to know, His love Eph 3:18. He wants us to judge ourselves 1 Cor 11:31. Outside of scripture we have working brains that know right from wrong. Bar idolatry and certain sexual sins (sins directly mocking God not just fellow man). Hence I believe heresy will to some degree always be ilogical.

So I would say the first litmus test is common sense / impeccable logic. The second and final is the word.

I mean we have to decide to serve God or not Josh 24:15. We only decide to serve God because our brains are convinced that He is good and righteous Psalm 136:1. Hence by deciding to serve God we are deciding to agree with what is good and righteous. Not simply serving / obeying the word from the god who happens to be in charge.
 
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Hang on to your intellect and logic; I choose the Lord.
May God humble you before greater destruction come upon you. God bless you on your journey.
 
KingJ said:
No Christian is double minded to the extent that they would not receive anything of the Lord.
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God says otherwise, and I believe Him:

James 1:6-8
But when you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind. 7 Such people should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. 8 Their loyalty is divided between God and the world, and they are unstable in everything they do.


If we use this phrase for the unsaved it makes a lot more sense. They are cold or neither hot nor cold. A Christian is hot, period. Else they would not be a Christian.
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That comes from a very weak understanding of Jesus' words. He says He wants us to be either hot or cold, both being preferable to insipid lukewarmness. Do a study on the churches that Jesus is speaking to, and derive truth from the cities in which they are located, and come to comprehend why Jesus would prefer us to be cold or hot, but not lukewarm. Cold and hot are both GOOD---for a reason!
 
Big Moose said:
For the Spirit is in all believers, and as such, any differences in interpretation must be from our own opinions.
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That is a FALSE statement. It is simply not true.
I know enough about "Christianity" to observe and experience that the great majority of those professing to be "believers"
do NOT have the Holy Spirit. Most believers - whoever this vague population is - simply are not obedient to the one and only gospel
preached in the New Testament. Most believers argue and are contentious with the Word of God, denying the teachings and commandments
of Jesus himself and the Apostles.
And the Americans are no less guilty than Rome in perverting the gospel and reducing it to a product unrecognizable against what is
actually written in the Gospels and the Epistles...
Romans 10:9-10 is NOT the gospel, it is simply a summation of faith when a "believer" is ready for water baptism (Romans 6) and is
ready for Holy Spirit baptism (Romans 8).
And whether you like it or not the New Testament clearly demonstrates over and over again and again that the Bible evidence for
receiving or being in-filled with the Holy Spirit is speaking in tongues (praying in the Spirit).
WHY is this so? Because Jesus knew that people would invent alternative gospels denying the scriptures.
And also because praying in tongues is a pure undefiled spiritual language that expresses so so much more that the smallness of our own
minds and earthly languages.

Jude 1:19 These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit.
1:20 But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost,
1:21 Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.

Isaiah 28:11 For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people.
 
@Waggles, all believers have the indwelling Holy Spirit in measure, but we are invited to experience the fullness of His presence in His baptism, where we will receive Him to overflowing, without measure. Far too many believers miss this great opportunity, and so they mix the spiritual with their head knowledge and that is why we have so many divisions.
 
Euphemia said:
all believers have the indwelling Holy Spirit in measure,
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All believers covers a very broad spectrum - a multitude of denominations from the JWs who actually deny the Holy Spirit through to
the Mormons who got their doctrine from the same source as Mohammed.
All believers ??? That doesn't leave out anybody. But it is not what the scriptures state.
The gospels, Acts and the epistles are very specific in what constitutes the gospel and what one must do to be saved.

2Corinthians 11:13 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.
2Co 11:14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.
2Co 11:15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness;
whose end shall be according to their works.

Galatians 1:6 I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:
Gal 1:7 Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.
Gal 1:8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached
unto you, let him be accursed.
Gal 1:9 As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye
have received, let him be accursed.

Jude 1:3 Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you,
and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.
 
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