KennethC recently made a thread about asking the Lord for understanding on a topic and the next thing he knows he is reading the word of God and the answer comes to his question. He happens upon it, and says its a work of the Holy Spirit. No doubt, it surely is. People share such experiences across Christian circles. That isn't what is being debated.
My question, however, is how can believers say the Lord led them to a specific truth and yet the believers reach different conclusions? Who then, did not hear from the Spirit? People will say the Holy Spirit gives them revelation and then that revelation contradicts what other believers have concluded. For example, eternal security. Kenneth says the Lord showed him believers can lose their salvation, and then provided some verses in a post recently. So, what if we have another believer saying the Holy Spirit showed him his assurance in Christ and posts verses? Who is right? Who is wrong?
What do we conclude from two believers reaching contradicting statements that are believed to be Spirit led? Is it possible that the person could be sincerely wrong and what was thought to be from the Spirit is not? I've attended a church service before where the pastor was getting these doctrines out of left field and from some "prophet", even so according to him by the Spirit such as double baptism. Where one must be baptized again to be under the authority of the pastor, as a covering. So, in a new church you move to, you need to be baptized again. So here we have someone saying the Spirit led him to this truth, but also know of others who know we are to be baptized once. What do we conclude from this? If someone reaches a different conclusion from you, and say its from the Spirit, does it affect how you receive what they say? Does it make you inquire, or ask the Holy Spirit yourself how they reached that conclusion and whether it is right?
Basically, how do you respond to supposed Spirit led answers? Does it perk up your ears and then you seek out what was learned and see if its biblical? Does it lead you to the Spirit as Teacher and ask if what was said was actually of Him? What is your response?
PS: This is not to put KennethC on blast, but his thread inspired me to make a thread on this topic that I have pondered in the past.
My question, however, is how can believers say the Lord led them to a specific truth and yet the believers reach different conclusions? Who then, did not hear from the Spirit? People will say the Holy Spirit gives them revelation and then that revelation contradicts what other believers have concluded. For example, eternal security. Kenneth says the Lord showed him believers can lose their salvation, and then provided some verses in a post recently. So, what if we have another believer saying the Holy Spirit showed him his assurance in Christ and posts verses? Who is right? Who is wrong?
What do we conclude from two believers reaching contradicting statements that are believed to be Spirit led? Is it possible that the person could be sincerely wrong and what was thought to be from the Spirit is not? I've attended a church service before where the pastor was getting these doctrines out of left field and from some "prophet", even so according to him by the Spirit such as double baptism. Where one must be baptized again to be under the authority of the pastor, as a covering. So, in a new church you move to, you need to be baptized again. So here we have someone saying the Spirit led him to this truth, but also know of others who know we are to be baptized once. What do we conclude from this? If someone reaches a different conclusion from you, and say its from the Spirit, does it affect how you receive what they say? Does it make you inquire, or ask the Holy Spirit yourself how they reached that conclusion and whether it is right?
Basically, how do you respond to supposed Spirit led answers? Does it perk up your ears and then you seek out what was learned and see if its biblical? Does it lead you to the Spirit as Teacher and ask if what was said was actually of Him? What is your response?
PS: This is not to put KennethC on blast, but his thread inspired me to make a thread on this topic that I have pondered in the past.