Guided by feelings ???

Carl Emerson · Aug 7, 2022

Colossians 3:15
Let the peace of Christ, to which you were indeed called in one body, rule in your hearts; and be thankful.

Many bible teachers insist that feelings have no place in determining God's Will and Truth.

This may be because they are personally unfamiliar with His voice of Peace within.

However, heart peace, among other things, is a legitimate means of determining God's intended direction for us.

Some insist that only by reading scripture can we know God's will for us.

These folks seem to believe that the voice of the Spirit within believers fell silent when the Scripture was sealed.

For me hearing God in the person of the Holy Spirit within is critical and normative, and His peace is a confirming factor in determining His will and Truth.

Your thoughts welcome...

Pavel Mosko · Aug 7, 2022

Carl Emerson said:
Your thoughts welcome...

Yes I think this stuff is important. The Bible has stuff to say on conscience, Leaving your gift at the altar if you had a problem with your brother etc.

The Hebrew word for truth, emeth is a truth of integral wholeness, and structural strength and this pertains to one's own person, relationships, and whether or not someone is lying to themselves etc. When you do not have this truth, you build on foundations of sand, become a kingdom divided against yourself.

Emeth tends to lend itself to forthrightness the opposite of what we see after the fall, Adam and Eve hiding themselves from God, covering up their nakedness, making excuses for what they did etc.

Carl Emerson · Aug 7, 2022

Pavel Mosko said:
The Hebrew word for truth, emeth is a truth of integral wholeness

Yes I like this - I find many are afraid to speak out what they believe, and say what they consider will be acceptable.

The whole person speaks from the heart without fear at all times.

As the Heart is the dwelling place of the Spirit and His peace passes all understanding - this gift of revelation is a treasure.

We are considering a big commitment currently and are waiting on His confirming peace.

We usually wait for 5 things in guidance...

Inner peace

Agreement with Scripture

reasoned consideration

Circumstantial confirmation

Witness of the body in fellowship

Pavel Mosko · Aug 7, 2022

Lately I have had similar stuff and it seems like God's unspoken message was not to move. I can think of 4 big examples from my life, probably more. You often find out in the near future why that is...

For instance their was a church split that happened right after I stopped attending Saint Peter and Paul Ben Lomond and this made national news! (I was agonizing wanting to join the church but just did not have the leading to)

Ben Lomond: When Antiochian Orthodoxy Drove Away its Converts

Some other examples, I agonized how to invest money I had and could not get any peace on it as far as buying stocks etc. but I had a lot of dental work I needed done and had not seen a dentist in years, and had a lot of work needed not covered by insurance.

Recently I was really praying about moving to go to an area where a friend has a church, he is somebody I watch online his streaming service he is in the Charismatic Episcopal Church a small denomination where Charismatics took up traditional Christian liturgy going back to 1993 or so in the US and other parts of the world. I also thought that would be a good place for me, as far as the people who would like the stuff I tend to Blog on, do videos on etc. But it turns out my parents need my help, because they are in their mid 80s and got health issues and can use an extra hand.

And this kind of thing is good for me two, because I miss my friends and relatives out of California. And I need access to some cheaper living, and I previously did not think I could retire, I just turned 55 the minimum age for that normally in the US. So this kind of thing was a God send for me financially because my finances have been shrinking because where I moved to a few years back was not that great for me in the long term.

I think people can be an issue too. I have a best friend who is a spiritual asset and resource. But at times a source of problems too, when it comes to pushing for things that look good on paper or something that would be good for him, but not really what God is leading me to do. We have personalities that are both similar and opposite. We both are technical people, but opposite as far as introversion/ extroversion, and doing things planned vs. on the fly. I am planning, introvert, where he is very extroverted and makes up his plans as he goes along.

I tend to listen to him a lot because he was the one who got me into the Charismatic movement and into all the basic concepts of "Being led by the Spirit", following the inner witness etc. but I realize their were some problems or learning experiences that came from this. I encountered a lot of problems in the Word of Faith movement he plugged in the 90s etc. Anyway I guess, I am more prone to pay attention to more what God is leading me to do in personal prayer. But I do still consider what people say also as God sometimes speaking through other people about things I might be reticent against.

prodromos · Aug 7, 2022

It needs to be balanced with Jeremiah 17:9.
Feelings can be very subjective and far too many people claim they are being led by the Holy Spirit when they are more likely being led by their own feelings.

Landon Caeli · Aug 7, 2022

I've noticed one thing in life... When I try for something, and unforseen roadblocks prevent me from achieving it, if it be two roadblocks in a row, it's God's will that it not be done.

...I can tell, internally, where God's Grace is or is not, and I use His grace as my guide in life.

Gregory Thompson · Aug 7, 2022

God's presence is beyond all the emotional noise, he was not in the fire, or the earthquake, but Elijah paid heed when there was a quiet voice.

Landon Caeli · Aug 7, 2022

Carl Emerson said:
His peace is a confirming factor in determining His will and Truth.

I find this to be holy and true.

GoldenKingGaze · Aug 7, 2022

A feeling of peace or brokenness may not lead to perfect truth... but it makes a difference. What peace is it? Unrequited love may feel good...

I recall being determined to overcome sin years ago, after putting sin aside with deliberate hate of it, I hit my fist down at the foot of the cross in the physical using my bed post and put my sin of heart there. I stood up and was distanced from that sin a lot. As days went by I began to see lost peace, in my imagination and felt it, seeing it in others with a compassion. Then it became personal. I had visions of a concept of, my wife, although I was single, for various reasons committing adultery. The disturbance to my peace was great, I was set at large praying, tormented. I felt and saw honour as valuable like never before, it helped me meditate out repentances. I suffer from OCD.

Aussie Pete · Aug 7, 2022

Carl Emerson said:
Colossians 3:15
Let the peace of Christ, to which you were indeed called in one body, rule in your hearts; and be thankful.

Many bible teachers insist that feelings have no place in determining God's Will and Truth.

This may be because they are personally unfamiliar with His voice of Peace within.

However, heart peace, among other things, is a legitimate means of determining God's intended direction for us.

Some insist that only by reading scripture can we know God's will for us.

These folks seem to believe that the voice of the Spirit within believers fell silent when the Scripture was sealed.

For me hearing God in the person of the Holy Spirit within is critical and normative, and His peace is a confirming factor in determining His will and Truth.

Your thoughts welcome...

Agree entirely except for one thing. I do not believe peace is a feeling. Colossians 3:15 has been a guide many times in my life, helping me in some major decisions. One the worst times in my life was when I ignored my lack of peace and tried to obtain something outside of God's will. I had Bible verses to back up my venture. However, I forgot that Satan quoted the Bible to Jesus in the wilderness. It was a hard lesson that I'd never want to repeat.

By_the_Book · Aug 7, 2022

Carl Emerson said:
Colossians 3:15
Let the peace of Christ, to which you were indeed called in one body, rule in your hearts; and be thankful.

Many bible teachers insist that feelings have no place in determining God's Will and Truth.

This may be because they are personally unfamiliar with His voice of Peace within.

However, heart peace, among other things, is a legitimate means of determining God's intended direction for us.

Some insist that only by reading scripture can we know God's will for us.

These folks seem to believe that the voice of the Spirit within believers fell silent when the Scripture was sealed.

For me hearing God in the person of the Holy Spirit within is critical and normative, and His peace is a confirming factor in determining His will and Truth.

Your thoughts welcome...

I agree with pretty much everything you have to say exactly the way you said it, I believe it to be biblically accurate.

I do believe there needs to be a distinction made between having peace about doing something and being completely comfortable doing it. It is my belief that simply because you are not completely comfortable doing something that God wants you to do does not mean you do not have peace about the fact that you should do it, that God in fact wants you to do it.

Your thoughts on that?

Citizen of the Kingdom · Aug 7, 2022

His peace He leaves with us in the form of peace be still over the emotions, is what I'm learning lately. Not to stiffle feelings but to rise above them, like the walking above the waves to touch His hand. I have found that once that is understood then everything else makes sense. His yoke becomes easy and light because trust is in Him to be seated in a position above the roller coaster of everyday emotions. I don't have to control them, I just don't identify with them. Nature is in His hands too. The thoughts associated with the feelings are given to Him and I am but a witness to His glory so that my soul is lost to the chaos but found in the peace. Love joy and the other aspects of th Holy Spirit replace those feelings then.

By_the_Book · Aug 7, 2022

Citizen of the Kingdom said:
His peace He leaves with us in the form of peace be still over the emotions, is what I'm learning lately. Not to stiffle feelings but to rise above them, like the walking above the waves to touch His hand. I have found that once that is understood then everything else makes sense. His yoke becomes easy and light because trust is in Him to be seated in a position above the roller coaster of everyday emotions. I don't have to control them, I just don't identify with them. Nature is in His hands too. The thoughts associated with the feelings are given to Him and I am but a witness to His glory so that my soul is lost to the chaos but found in the peace.

Well said.

Citizen of the Kingdom · Aug 7, 2022

By_the_Book said:
Well said.

Thank you. I added this :Love joy and the other aspects of th Holy Spirit replace those feelings then. which I think is the important part.

frank sears · Aug 7, 2022

Number one above all else, is to be in God's truth as explained in the New Testament. To love truth is to reject the manipulation of scripture in order to produce a desired outcome. In my time I have witnessed Christians teach the Bible literal and in context UNTIL they come to a place where the Bible does not agree with their theology, then they resort to dishonest manipulation in order to make the Bible seem to agree with them. So, the NT is the final word, but it only works if you are truthful. Scary news, Satan can give a person a great spiritual sense of peace and of being right...always go by a truthful interpretation of the NT.

eleos1954 · Aug 7, 2022

Carl Emerson said:
Colossians 3:15
Let the peace of Christ, to which you were indeed called in one body, rule in your hearts; and be thankful.

Many bible teachers insist that feelings have no place in determining God's Will and Truth.

This may be because they are personally unfamiliar with His voice of Peace within.

However, heart peace, among other things, is a legitimate means of determining God's intended direction for us.

Some insist that only by reading scripture can we know God's will for us.

These folks seem to believe that the voice of the Spirit within believers fell silent when the Scripture was sealed.

For me hearing God in the person of the Holy Spirit within is critical and normative, and His peace is a confirming factor in determining His will and Truth.

Your thoughts welcome...

we listen to the small still voice of the Lord (that says repent and be changed) .... not the condemning voice of the accuser (that says you can not be changed).

Carl Emerson · Aug 7, 2022

Landon Caeli said:
I've noticed one thing in life... When I try for something, and unforseen roadblocks prevent me from achieving it, if it be two roadblocks in a row, it's God's will that it not be done.

Yes - that was #4. 'circumstantial confirmation'.

Carl Emerson · Aug 7, 2022

By_the_Book said:
I agree with pretty much everything you have to say exactly the way you said it, I believe it to be biblically accurate.

I do believe there needs to be a distinction made between having peace about doing something and being completely comfortable doing it. It is my belief that simply because you are not completely comfortable doing something that God wants you to do does not mean you do not have peace about the fact that you should do it, that God in fact wants you to do it.

Your thoughts on that?

Yes - agree...

James 4:17
So for one who knows the right thing to do and does not do it, for him it is sin.

Laziness or fear come to mind...

Carl Emerson · Aug 7, 2022

Citizen of the Kingdom said:
Thank you. I added this :Love joy and the other aspects of th Holy Spirit replace those feelings then. which I think is the important part.

This is a good contribution - thank you.

Carl Emerson · Aug 7, 2022

Michael Collum said:
God's presence is beyond all the emotional noise, he was not in the fire, or the earthquake, but Elijah paid heed when there was a quiet voice.

Yes this introduces a matter I didn't cover...

It is a fact that sometimes a new convert can have a keener ear on the Lord's Word than the veterans.

I love the verse which refers to allowing the least to decide on a matter when there is a dispute among brethren.

While the regeneration of the soul takes time and the invading noise of the world diminishes one must be careful to stay in humility as pride deafens His voice.

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