I’m not sure if you know this, but when a believer receives the Holy Spirit, it is the Spirit that guides, not the believer. If you don’t think the same thing about the Bible as you did 20 years ago, don’t worry. The Holy Spirit will lead you into all truth. If you are lead away due to some confusion, it’s the work of the Holy Spirit to get you back on track. Why? Because you belong to Christ, and none can be lost, John 6:39 KJV, nor can the gates of hell prevail, Matthew 16:18 KJV.
I will give an example of something that happened to me. I know I received the Spirit when I was baptized because of the many tears I cried uncontrollably, where I knew God’s power overshadowed me. At that time, I was not living a completely righteous life. Some people would say I could not have received the Spirit if I was still living a sinful life. But that’s not true. Because, when we come to Jesus, we come as sinners needing the Spirit to transform us, so there has to be a starting point of transformation, and that starting point is from sinning to renewing our minds to walk holy.
For me it was years later that I learned the importance of God’s word; through many trials. Although I was really confused, the Spirit never left me. This became apparent to me when I ended up with a religious group that taught we must keep the Mosiac law. These people would not baptize their members unless the men were circumcised, and a woman had to wait until after her minstrel - claiming each situation was unclean based on the cleanliness law of Moses, and claiming an unclean person could not come to Jesus. Women were even told to go through the separation after childbearing, but realizing this presented a problem for some women, a letter was circulated excusing this practice. Now all of this was absolutely against the gospel of Christ, and an outright denial of Jesus. And, when I questioned the teachings, I was starting to feel I was hated. I was a threat to those teachers’ authority who controlled the members. A clique formed against me. Even the closest person to me joined in. These people said they believed in Jesus because they said “in the name of Jesus” at the end of their prayers. But they believed the law made them righteous, not Christ.
Each week traveling to church I suffered panic attacks. I would be calming my breathing and prayed all the way there - and I still had not made the decision to leave. Finally, I saw a program on false teaching where the Holy Spirit revealed to me that those I was worshiping with were the same as those in Galatians 3:1 KJV, and they had been bewitched. I saw it clearly. I was given the courage to leave that church.
Of course I felt lonely and had no one to worship with, and everywhere I turned, I saw people were not speaking the truth of the Bible. I was very disheartened by this, and cried a lot. Finally, through the compassion, patience, and comfort of the Holy Spirit, Who was always in control, I was given the revelation that I must go outside the camp.
Outside the camp: Hebrews 13:12-13 KJV, which is patterned after Exodus 33:7 KJV
We must go outside the camp to learn of God, and the Holy Spirit will show up mightily in our lives. Our lives are patterned after Jesus. Just as Jesus sanctified the people with His blood outside the gate, we must also go outside the camp for our individual sanctification.
Another resource that is so profound and absolutely true. Praise God Almighty for our coming King Jesus Christ.
The establishment of Jesus Church
When the gospel of Christ speaks of the church or the body of Christ, this is not a church building, a denomination, nor is it a group. The church is “all” believers; all those who belong to Christ no matter where they are located or scattered. Believers go to church services alongside people who profess to be believers - all in the same building under a paricular denomination. But, It is not the church organization or denomination that matters to God. Only the true believers matter. Jesus said let the wheat grow with the tares and He will separate them in the end, Matthew 13:30 KJV.
The church was already established, and understanding Revelation gives us the answer. This gets to be a little long to explain, but I will try to shorten it:
Believers are called the “church” and the church that belong to Jesus represents the seven golden candlesticks, Revelation 1:12 KJV, Revelation 1:20 KJV, and the seven stars in Jesus right hand, Revelation 1:16 KJV, Revelation 1:20 KJV.
There were originally seven churches that spread the “light” (seven Golden Candlesticks) of the gospel,” Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum,Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea. It is these seven churches that the “church” - all believers all over the world was established from.
The seven churches that spread the gospel is patterned after the golden candlesticks in the temple that stayed lit, Exodus 27:20-21 KJV, Leviticus 6:13 KJV. So, the spreading of the gospel throughout the ages stays lit through the Devine Light of the Spirit, in the hearts of believers who are the temple of God, 1 Corinthians 3:16 KJV, 1 Corinthians 6:19 KJV, and who continuously spread the gospel and convert the hearts of men.
The temple was rent in twin at Jesus death, the seven churches where the gospel was spread is no longer standing but their representatives still live, that is, the seven stars in Jesus right hand, who are the angels over the seven churches.
We cannot understand the Bible without the Holy Spirit’s help. He will show you His truth through revelation as you read and pray for understanding. The work of the Holy Spirit is unmistakable- you will know! It’s the Power of the Most High operating in your heart and mind to bring you the truth of the word. We are given discernment to know what’s true and what’s not true so don’t worry. Jesus said my sheep hear my voice - because Jesus said it, it’s prophesied to be so. That’s our guarantee.
The Holy Spirit is given to each individual, and He guides us individually, Ephesians 1:13 KJV.
