How can we know if God is speaking vs. our own minds?

[tturt]

posted: It looked to me initially that the first of these was the real issue; but later it looked like the issue was really whether or not God would guide his people in everyday, personal, decisions, not in amending the Bible (in effect). That's what 'tturt' was describing.

posted: If that's the idea, it wouldn't be about adding to or supplementing the Scriptures from which we, as Christians, take our doctrines."

YES That's the idea - exactly!

Not sitting around waiting for each and every decision that has to be made but just asking for His help - the "small" and "large" decisions. It's one way to pray throughout the day (I Thess 5:17). It's listening and praying.

 

[S.O.J.I.A.]

But if it does, can we be certain that it does?:

Let me give an example. A good cop bad spirit tells you everything Biblical except for the last thing it tells you, and just the last thing it tells you is really evil, to make you think it was all from God and God wants you to do X.

not from the LORD as the LORD does not lie nor is He deceptive in the way that you just described.

 

[Albion]

It has everything to to with faith.

I think the word you used should better have been "credulousness." Faith in the Biblical sense is not about trusting that the Holy Spirit arranged for you to get just the right Coca-cola bottle top.

 

[Emli]

I think the word you used should better have been "credulousness." Faith in the Biblical sense is not about trusting that the Holy Spirit arranged for you to get just the right Coca-cola bottle top.

Faith means to trust in God, His word and His promises. I trust that He can do anything. I trust that He will do anything for His children.

"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." Romans 8:28

If God does something beautiful and edifying for a believer who has been going through doubt and fear for a long time, and confirms it through the Holy Spirit, faith trusts that it was really God. I know that He would do anything to break us out of bondage, and I would never doubt it when He has done something good for one of my sisters or brothers. There is no cynicism in faith, or in love.

 

[Albion]

Faith means to trust in God, His word and His promises.

It means to believe in Jesus Christ as one's Lord and Savior. To the extent that "Savior" is part of that answer, it means to trust that his sacrifice, made once for all, is what makes possible the salvation of any of us.

 

[Emli]

It means to believe in Jesus Christ as one's Lord and Savior. To the extent that "Savior" is part of that answer, it means to trust that his sacrifice, made once for all, is what makes possible the salvation of any of us.

That is saving faith in Jesus. There are a lot of other truths and promises in the Bible that we can and should trust in. True faith means to believe that the entire Bible is true. It means to trust in God not only with your salvation, but with you life on Earth as well.
Please read Hebrews 11. It explains a lot.

 

[truefiction1]

Very well, the WHOLE church wasn't initially on the same page, but the councils were not gatherings of those people revered today as "the Church Fathers."

We don't agree.
The Holy Fathers of the First Ecumenical Council are commemorated on May 29 and also on the seventh Sunday after Pascha. They are also commemorated on the 9th Sunday after Pentecost, the Sunday of the Fathers of the First Six Councils.

Hymns
Troparion (Tone 8)

You are most glorious, O Christ our God!
You have established the Holy Fathers as lights on the earth!
Through them you have guided us to the true faith!
O greatly Compassionate One, glory to You!
Kontakion (Tone 8)

The Apostles' preaching and the Fathers' doctrines have established one faith for the Church.
Adorned with the robe of truth, woven from heavenly theology,
It defines and glorifies the great mystery of Orthodoxy!

 

[Albion]

That is saving faith in Jesus. There are a lot of other truths and promises in the Bible that we can and should trust in.

Then we call that "trust" or "believe."

 

[Emli]

Then we call that "trust" or "believe."

The word faith actually means to trust and believe.

"Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see." Hebrews 11:1

"And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm." Matthew 8:26

"And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith.” Matthew 21:22

You should do a Bible study about this.

 

[Albion]

The word faith actually means to trust and believe..

'
Certainly. That's why I was trying to direct you to the BIBLICAL meaning.

In ordinary conversation we all say "have faith in ____" and things like that, but this is not the Scriptural meaning of "Faith."

 

[Emli]

'
Certainly. That's why I was trying to direct you to the BIBLICAL meaning.

In ordinary conversation we all say "have faith in ____" and things like that, but this is not the Scriptural meaning of "Faith."

I am using the Biblical meaning. If I say "have faith in God's promises", what I mean is to believe and trust in His promises. That is Biblical. The word faith, as in a set of beliefs, is not Biblical. We place our trust in the person of God, and that encompasses all of His character and His promises. That is Biblical faith.

 

[Albion]

I am using the Biblical meaning. If I say "have faith in God's promises", what I mean is to believe and trust in His promises. That is Biblical.

To trust God is Biblical, yes. However, the word Faith, as used in the New Testament, in Romans and in James's epistle for example, means something much more specific and profound.

 

[Emli]

To trust God is Biblical, yes. However, the word Faith, as used in the New Testament, in Romans and in James's epistle for example, means something much more specific and profound.

I'm not talking about just trusting God. I'm talking about that undefinable trust and belief, where you commit your life to Him and live by His promises, without a doubt in your mind. It's the kind of faith where you start to see His hand in your life everyday. A strong, loving relationship where you understand just how close God is to those who love Him. I don't really know how else to define it. God is always rewarding my faith though, so I know that I'm at least living by true faith, even if I can't define it perfectly.

What verses are you referring to?

 

[Meowzltov]

I believe that all of the denominations exist simply because we rely on our own understanding, and do not seek God's voice.

No offense Emli, but that's just not fair to the people seeking to interpret. They pray before they read, and they actively listen. They may even pause to ask God, "What does this mean,Lord?" You really aren't being fair to them. Yes, they are mistaking their own feelings, thoughts, and intuitions for the voice of the Holy Spirit, but NOT for want of trying to hear God's voice.

 

[Daniel Quartararo]

I watched one of your videos. I will watch more later. I'm so glad to find another believer who is committed to Christ this way. What you are preaching is very close to what God has taught me.

No wonder you only had 12 subscribers though (so did Jesus at first ). People do not seem to want to live this way today. I'm not surprised, but it makes me sad.

In the words of John the Baptist:

29 The bride belongs to the bridegroom. The friend who attends the bridegroom waits and listens for him, and is full of joy when he hears the bridegroom’s voice. That joy is mine, and it is now complete. 30 He must become greater; I must become less.”

I thank you, truly, for the vote of confidence! It means a lot! And it is an honor to serve these 12 people, without a doubt! It brings me deep joy as I see God working and using the videos He's created to change lives and stir up the Holy Spirit in those who His ministry encounters!

And you might already know, but if not, you might be delighted to know, that when John was talking about him becoming less so Jesus could become greater, he was talking about the transition from the Old to the New Covenant! I only say this because many sight this passage as a way to say, "I must become less, so Jesus can be more," but truly Jesus asked for ALL of our life as a living and fragrant sacrifice, heart (desires), mind (thoughts and action), soul (will), and strength (time and energy), for His Father in Heaven! So, if that's a passage you enjoy, I figured I would indulge more to it's meaning and forgive me if you already knew it!

God bless you, in Jesus' mighty name and again, thank you for the support! Much love! -Daniel

 

[Emli]

I thank you, truly, for the vote of confidence! It means a lot! And it is an honor to sever these 12 people, without a doubt! It brings me deep joy as I see God working and using the videos He's created to change lives and stir up the Holy Spirit in those who His ministry encounters!

And you might already know, but if not, you might be delighted to know, that when John was talking about him becoming less so Jesus could become greater, he was talking about the transition from the Old to the New Covenant! I only say this because many sight this passage as a way to say, "I must become less, so Jesus can be more," but truly Jesus asked for ALL of our life as a living and fragrant sacrifice, heart (desires), mind (thoughts and action), soul (will), and strength (time and energy), for His Father in Heaven! So, if that's a passage you enjoy, I figured I would indulge more to it's meaning and forgive me if you already knew it!

God bless you, in Jesus' mighty name and again, thank you for the support! Much love! -Daniel

Thank you. I was about to ask you why you would interpret it like that, and then the Spirit changed my understanding. You truly know God, and I love it when He does something like that. I used to read it as us humans giving up our own ways for His ways, which we are to do, but then God reminded me of who John was and what he did. I do believe that I understand how we give all of our life to Jesus though. He has been pretty insistent on me involving Him in everything, to which I'll happily oblige.

Godbless. And again, it was a blessing to have met you.

 

[Emli]

No offense Emli, but that's just not fair to the people seeking to interpret. They pray before they read, and they actively listen. They may even pause to ask God, "What does this mean,Lord?" You really aren't being fair to them. Yes, they are mistaking their own feelings, thoughts, and intuitions for the voice of the Holy Spirit, but NOT for want of trying to hear God's voice.

I agree with you, and I don't judge the persons for doing it. I'm sorry if what I wrote was offensive in any way. It is how it happens though.

The problem is that Jesus wanted us the be united. Denominations and factions, doctrinal differences and different interpretations, causes nothing but disharmony among believers. Why? Because we quarrel over all of it. The focus changes from Jesus to ourselves, from God to humanity. There is no wisdom behind any of it. Total surrender to the Lord produces wisdom and peace. That is how He wants us to live, and not by our own understanding. The denominations are hung up on the smallest of details, often as if salvation depends on it, instead of on the sacrifice of Jesus. The flesh causes factions, not the Spirit. All I am saying is that those who causes them, rarely have tested their interpretation against the whole Bible, but instead rely on one or a few verses as the basis for their belief, or they base it on a feeling or a vision. If we don't continually and diligently search Scriptures, and allow God to search our hearts, we are not seeking His voice, but our own. The mind understands this, but our pride blinds us from seeing it, and instead we rationalize it in any way we can. I've done this, it's how I know.

I still love and respect anyone who fall into this trap, but that doesn't mean I will defend what they are doing.

 

[tturt]

Had come back to this thread to add to my previous posts but see Emli posted it "If we don't continually and diligently search Scriptures, and allow God to search our hearts, we are not seeking His voice, but our own." Didn't state that in earlier posts. Yes, Yahweh definitely speaks to us through Scripture.

 

[Daniel Quartararo]

Thank you. I was about to ask you why you would interpret it like that, and then the Spirit changed my understanding. You truly know God, and I love it when He does something like that. I used to read it as us humans giving up our own ways for His ways, which we are to do, but then God reminded me of who John was and what he did. I do believe that I understand how we give all of our life to Jesus though. He has been pretty insistent on me involving Him in everything, to which I'll happily oblige.

Godbless. And again, it was a blessing to have met you.

Yes! It is a pleasure to watch Him work moment, by moment all day, every day! I fully agree!

And yes, to me, because interpretation is of God's, it is all open to me until I know He has brought me His revelation on something, and this passage was one of the things where He did just that and I surely wanted to share! I'm glad it blessed you, and I'm glad to have met you as well! Stay in touch! https://www.facebook.com/djquart and may God bless you, in Jesus' mighty name!

 

[Emli]

Yes! It is a pleasure to watch Him work moment, by moment all day, every day! I fully agree!

And yes, to me, because interpretation is of God's, it is all open to me until I know He has brought me His revelation on something, and this passage was one of the things where He did just that and I surely wanted to share! I'm glad it blessed you, and I'm glad to have met you as well! Stay in touch! https://www.facebook.com/djquart and may God bless you, in Jesus' mighty name!

That's great! His ways are truly wonderful!

I don't have Facebook though. But feel free to PM me here. You should stick around. It's a great place!