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David
Posted on Tuesday, January 04, 2000 - 6:39 am:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Annette, I suspect you are thinking more along the lines of how do you know it is the Spirit speaking when there is nothing in the scriptures that directly addresses the issue at hand. It's much more simple when we can go directly to the scriptures for the confirmation. Sometimes that just isn't so, for instance, if you are seeking God's mind on the question of which job to take.

The solution to this problem of Spirit led direction can be found in the commandment of our Lord to become as little children in our understanding. When we get to the point where we chuck our plans and schemes, then the Holy Spirit moves into our lives with His direction. These can be found in the form of impressions, insights and sometimes in a voice that hear and that we just KNOW is from outside our own thinking. In fact many times these unsettling experiences cause us to challenge ourselves and our understanding of what God would have us to do. This is good, because it causes us to go to Him to validate the phenomena. Remember, Jesus promised us that the Holy Spirit would be our companion and Teacher and that He would lead us into all righteousness. Take Him at His word and you will see it happen in your own life.

Personally, I have found that because I had relied so much on the teachings of men concerning the ministry of the Spirit, that I was unable to trust Him to manisfest Himself in my life. I was confused by all of the excuses of why the H.S today operates differently than He did in the early church. We must reject this false doctrine if we ever hope to hear His "small, still voice" telling us what we are to do an when we are to do it.

If you want to break into hearing the Spirit of God, then you have to become a servant. That means that you have to first witness about what Jesus has done for you and to not be ashamed to tell others. Yow will find in this approach that the Holy Spirit will direct your witness and you will see His direction as He leads you. The Holy Spirit in the believer is how God intends for His message of salvation to be broadcast to this lost world. We are the salt of the earth and the light upon the hill top. The Holy Spirit will direct us to those who are considering God and eternal things. We only have to trust Him and be willing to go. Once you get your feet moving in this area, you can expect God to reveal to you things about those whom you are witnessing too so that they will understand that what they are hearing from you is from God.

Most of the church has been taught that the Bible is the only source of instruction in Spiritual matters. By focusing on the Bible, the practical, day to day ministry of the Holy Spirit can be thwarted. You cannot always find a Bible verse to cover all of the bases necessary for an effective witness in the day to day grind. But as you trust God, you will see that He is more practical in communicating His message thru us as we yield to His Spirit's direction. This is exactly how Jesus conducted Himself and we need to do likewise.
Colleentinker
Posted on Tuesday, January 04, 2000 - 6:12 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Annette, I believe that the foremost thing for us to do is, as Susan and Jude said, remain grounded in the Scriptures, studying them regularly. But, as David said, God often leads us to other Spirit-filled people when we need confirmation. I've wondered often during the past few months how I can explain how I know I hear the Spirit's promptings. Jesus said, "My sheep know my voice." When we know his love, we also learn to recognize his love and his certainty when he is leading us. It's really quite abstractóand this is an area where many people are deceived. But when we seek truth, God honors our desire for truth, and he reveals it. We recognize his moving in our understanding.

I Corinthians 2:16 says, "But we have the mind of Christ." Sometimes when I have a new understanding or insight I discuss it with someone whom I know to be walking with Jesus. Often their confirmation resonates with my understanding. Our pastor's wife, Elizabeth Inrig, said once, "When you have the Holy Spirit, you recognize the Spirit in another person, and the Spirit in you recognizes the Spirit in the Bible."

Susan's right: God gives us understanding and wisdom that is spiritual insight and certainty that is beyond intellectual understanding. And the Bible says that we are sealed with the Holy Spirit as a guarantee of what is to come. We know that we walk with the Spirit! (Ephesians 1:13-14)
Annette
Posted on Wednesday, January 05, 2000 - 7:10 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

David: Thank you for your response. You understood my question completely. Yes, I know that leading of the Holy Spirit should always be in line with Scripture. But as you say, there are many times, such as the job you mentioned, that there is no Scripture for that situation. Sensing the Holy Spirit's leading in more practical matters, as you suggested, is what I am struggling with. Thanks for your encouragment.
Lydell
Posted on Thursday, January 06, 2000 - 2:42 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Annette, I'm just now reading a book called Hearing God, by Peter Lord. It is really good so far. Perhaps if you can get hold of one at the local Christian book store it might be helpful. So far from what I have read, he has pointed out that to hear God, we have to be listening on a regular basis and it has to be of great importance to us to hear him. He has also pointed out that God designed our brains in such a way that we can become trained to be listening for God to speak to us all the time. His example is of a new mom quickly becoming so attuned to her child that she reaches the point of no longer being able to sleep with the child in the same room because she jumps at every small sound he/she makes.

I like the point he makes about the importance of our always responding in some way when God does speak to us. His encouragement is to take immediate action when God has spoken even if it is only to write down what has been said, or to discuss it with some one.

Like I said, you might find it useful. I've also just finished reading Surprised by the Voice of God, by Jack Deere. That one might be helpful to you if you are still a little shaky on the idea that God is still in the buiness of willingly and regularly communicating directly with his people. He has an interesting chapter relating some stories of the Lord moving very directly in the lives of people all through the history of the church.

I believe it was also Jack Deere who wrote The Hippo in the Garden. There were some fascinating examples in that one of the Lord speaking to regular folks in dreams and visions.
Jude the Obscure
Posted on Thursday, January 06, 2000 - 2:55 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Annette, David, and all others: I don't think there is ever a case where Scripture cannot play an abslutely vital role in providing an answer to any major life decision, such as whether or not to take a certain job. The Holy Spirit does not lead us in directions contrary to the right path. We know what that path is by searching the Scriptures. We also have to be careful not to fall into the trap of seeking a sign from the God. For example, it would be wrong to pray saying, "I'm going to flip this coin, Lord. Heads I take the job offer. Tails I turn it down. So You make it come up right." This is nothing short of presumption and a terrible substitute for faith, Scripture study and real prayer. Jesus said,"An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given unto it." Matthew 12:39. I do not mean to imply that that's what you are doing. I'm only offering this gentle warning. Do not think that the Scriptures do not cover every essential area of life. We only need to search and pray more earnestly as the Holy Spirit leads. There then should be no question as to the right course to pursue in faith, whatever that course may be. -Jude
Annette
Posted on Thursday, January 06, 2000 - 5:55 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Jude: Thank you for your concern. I agree the Holy Spirit never leads us contrary to Scripture. And as you pointed out in the Matthew passage, Jesus doesn't give signs so one will believe in Him, which is what these Pharisees were doing in the passage you refered to. "Do this and I will believe" was their attitude.

But look at Gideon--already God's man and he requested a sign for reassurance that the Midianites would be delivered into his hand, as God had already promised. He received a confirming sign--twice. (Judges 8) So asking for a sign seems to have biblical suppport.

But asking for signs shouldn't be the norm of mature faith. But as David discussed above, there are times when people receive "impressions" such as "leave this place and go to your husband's work." Those kinds of direction by the Holy Spirit don't arise out of direct Bible study.

Thank you, Lydell for the book referrals. I will check them out.--Annette
Colleentinker
Posted on Thursday, January 06, 2000 - 6:14 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

I think I'm going to resort to a personal experience to explain (partially) my understanding of the Holy Spirit gently speaking to me. This is an incident from my classroom this week. I've mentioned before that my previous teaching experience was all during my Adventist period. While I prayed outside the classroom about my teaching and students then, I functioned in the classroom pretty much by quick thinking and stimulus-response. This year I've gradually realized that when I stood in front of a classroom, my old instincts and habits automatically took over, and I'd find myself some days realizing that I hadn't been praying during class, and when disruptions would occur, it wouldn't occur to me to bring my private prayers into the situation. I've had to re-learn the act of teaching by learning to think about praying throughout the class period. I've had more than one incident this year of having sudden ideas for a reinforcing assignment on-the-spot as I prayed, ideas that had not occurred to me when I made my lesson plans.

Yesterday I had a ninth-grade girl who was almost out-of-control with out-of-turn talking. She wasn't belligerent; she was just disregarding decorum, and she was really disruptive. I began to pray specifically for her. She continued to talk out of turn, and I finally whispered a warning of being sent to the office. She applied a little self-control, just enough that I couldn't send her to the office, but she continued to press her limits. I was not getting any clear direction of what I should do except I knew I had to pray for her.

She didn't have my class today, but last night and today I continued to pray for her. The thought kept recurring to me that she needed God to help her get control of herself, and I needed to pray for her. This afternoon as I was leaving school about 4:15, this girl came up to me in the hall and said, "Mrs. Tinker, I want to tell you that I'm going to really try not to talk in class tomorrow. I'll focus on the lesson, and I'll really try not to talk."

Now, I know that she'll probably have a struggle, and I also know that I may have to remind her. But more than that, I know that somehow God has been working on her heart. For her to approach me without my saying anything to her was completely startling to me. I'm continuing to pray for her. What really impresses me, though, is that I knew that what I had to do for her was pray. True, I had devised a back-up disciplinary plan before she spoke to me, but I knew that I couldn't be threatening or harsh with her. I KNEW that what God was asking me to do was to pray.

I realize this isn't an overwhelming example of God instructing me; there could be lots of "explanations" for what happened. But I know that it took a miracle for that girl to come to me with a commitment. And my sending her to the office would probably not have resulted in an attitude of voluntary compliance. I'm praising God, and I'm praying for her (and me) for tomorrow!

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