"I remember one time hearing someone teach something on TV and my spirit rejected it immediately. While discussing the issue with God, I remembered many scriptures and went back and forth with differing thoughts. Eventually, I concluded, that my initial reaction WAS correct and I consider that particular teaching wrong"
Hi Quaffie,
Actually, you have part of the answer here. It's called the inward witness of the Holy Spirit. Even when a Christian does not know the scriptures (or knows only a little) regarding a certain teaching, as long as he has the Holy Spirit and is sensitive to His leading, he can know if someting is not quite right with the message he is hearing.
Even if you know the sciptures and the other party knows the scriptures well and both sides are throwing up scripture proof (as we do here) with convincing arguments and interpretations, till you are not sure who's right anymore, you can still know by the inward witness....(ie listen to the belly area, not head)
So how does one know? It's actually simple and based on this verse:
Jas 3:17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.
A teaching that results in loss of peace, fear, is certainly not Holy Spirit inspired. Neither is a teaching that condemns or puts down the believer. When you hear something not quite right, there's a 'knot'/'no' in your gut. Some ppl have called it "gut-feel or intuition" -- that something just aint quite right.
And women are suppose to be a lot more sensitive here. ie They can pick up things better than men. You may not know how to explain it or put it in words, but your gut feel tells you something's not right.
The opposite is true. When you here a Holy Spirit inspired message, it's always very uplifting and encouraging, even if the guy is addressing your shortcomings. At the end of the service, you walk out feeling light and on your toes, and feel you are on top of your problems. Again, you may not have the words or scriptures but your belly is buzzing and jumping with what you are hearing, saying "that's it! -- I knew that all along, but he's put the words to it!"
That's how we make decisions in life too. eg: should I invest in this business deal? On paper it may look cool and wonderful, but if there's a red light in your gut/an uncomfortable feeling deep down, fear or the process has a lot of strife, dont do it! The Holy Spirit is warning you. Likewise, if there is a peace dep down, go with it, although rationally it may not look good.
That said, the 'problem' of course with this is knowing whether it's your gut feel or your personal emotions and biases. eg you think this preacher is wrong becos you dont like his face or style, or the denomination he comes from. So, it's not an overnight thing. As with other things, it comes with lots of practise.
Well, that's the jist of it and that's what we're taught in my church -- how to sense the Spirit's leading -- which as you can see, is very simple and natural. This is how He leads us 99% of the time -- as opposed to audible voices, dreams, visions, angels etc -- the spectacular -- which many want to be guided by -- that can be dangerous. I'm not against those things, but its just not the way God leads his people most of the time.
My Pastor and the leadership has learnt this simple truth and that's how they have been very successful in making decisions for the church.
shalom!
btw: your mailbox is full.
Hi Quaffie,
Actually, you have part of the answer here. It's called the inward witness of the Holy Spirit. Even when a Christian does not know the scriptures (or knows only a little) regarding a certain teaching, as long as he has the Holy Spirit and is sensitive to His leading, he can know if someting is not quite right with the message he is hearing.
Even if you know the sciptures and the other party knows the scriptures well and both sides are throwing up scripture proof (as we do here) with convincing arguments and interpretations, till you are not sure who's right anymore, you can still know by the inward witness....(ie listen to the belly area, not head)
So how does one know? It's actually simple and based on this verse:
Jas 3:17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.
A teaching that results in loss of peace, fear, is certainly not Holy Spirit inspired. Neither is a teaching that condemns or puts down the believer. When you hear something not quite right, there's a 'knot'/'no' in your gut. Some ppl have called it "gut-feel or intuition" -- that something just aint quite right.
And women are suppose to be a lot more sensitive here. ie They can pick up things better than men. You may not know how to explain it or put it in words, but your gut feel tells you something's not right.
The opposite is true. When you here a Holy Spirit inspired message, it's always very uplifting and encouraging, even if the guy is addressing your shortcomings. At the end of the service, you walk out feeling light and on your toes, and feel you are on top of your problems. Again, you may not have the words or scriptures but your belly is buzzing and jumping with what you are hearing, saying "that's it! -- I knew that all along, but he's put the words to it!"
That's how we make decisions in life too. eg: should I invest in this business deal? On paper it may look cool and wonderful, but if there's a red light in your gut/an uncomfortable feeling deep down, fear or the process has a lot of strife, dont do it! The Holy Spirit is warning you. Likewise, if there is a peace dep down, go with it, although rationally it may not look good.
That said, the 'problem' of course with this is knowing whether it's your gut feel or your personal emotions and biases. eg you think this preacher is wrong becos you dont like his face or style, or the denomination he comes from. So, it's not an overnight thing. As with other things, it comes with lots of practise.
Well, that's the jist of it and that's what we're taught in my church -- how to sense the Spirit's leading -- which as you can see, is very simple and natural. This is how He leads us 99% of the time -- as opposed to audible voices, dreams, visions, angels etc -- the spectacular -- which many want to be guided by -- that can be dangerous. I'm not against those things, but its just not the way God leads his people most of the time.
My Pastor and the leadership has learnt this simple truth and that's how they have been very successful in making decisions for the church.
shalom!
btw: your mailbox is full.
Upvote
0
