The Holy Ghost

[charisenexcelcis]

I'm not asking about gossip. It's a hypothetical question. I'm asking how to receive an answer from God about scripture or anything. If you want to know something is true how do you believe God tells you? Do you believe he tells you through the Holy Ghost? You say pray until you know the answer but how do know you got an answer? Can you give me an example?

You learn to recognize the voice of God by spending time with Him in prayer, in Bible study, and in ministry. Trust that God is able to communicate with you, trust but verify. God will never say anything against the word of God and if He asks of you something that makes no sense to you, He will provide the testing for it as well.
As for an example, I was looking for an automobile and my neighbor put one up for sale. It was five hundred more than I had. I prayed about it and laid it before the Lord. I felt no check and so went to test drive it, not sure that this was God's will. I told my neighbor I was wanting to test drive the car and before I could say anymore, he offered it to me for five hundred less than what was posted. I knew this was God. I took it on the test drive and stopped by my mechanic who knew the car and told me it was a great car.

 

[MahogonySnail]

Of course, if something is offered cheaper it must be of God, and mechanics never lie

 

[Matalica]

Personal experiences with the holy spirit are very hard to convey tangibly. The best illustration I can give is; was there ever a problem at your work that needed a solution? You go on and on and on, multitasking, then finally, bam! the solution comes to your mind and you fix the problem.

I'll give you a great example of how I realized the HS working in my life, (there are many more if you'd like me to share). I was raised in a Jehovah's Witnesses home. Very violent and was cut off from society. The JW's are very big on being baptized in their religion only, but do to being abused and shunned I never wanted to be baptized, I really didn't like God all that much.

Fast forward to my daughter being born. My wife and I at the time were in the process of getting a divorce, I still had drug problems and anger problems from the way I was raised. My now x wife insisted on private education, so we signed her up at a Lutheran school.

I was hesitant, but did want a good education for my only daughter. Halfway through her kindergarten year she told the teacher she wanted to get baptized. In the 15 years the teacher had been teaching, this was a first. At first I was very skeptical, my experience with religion and God was not a good one, and I didn't trust Christians very much. So I asked my daughter why she wanted to be baptized, she said she didn't know. I asked her if it was because other children were baptized, she said she didn't know if other children were baptized, etc. So I started thinking, there would be nothing wrong with her being baptized, just not so comfortable about it, I didn't want to shove religion down her throat like I was. So I prayed and told God how I truly felt, I felt He had abandoned me and left me to die in that cult, I blamed him for all the beatings, bruises the shaming, etc. Of course my emotions got the better of me, but very quickly I became calm, felt very relaxed and felt something else inside of me, it is very hard to explain, if not impossible. Then a thought just hit me, why did my daughter want to be baptized? And I just had this feeling, intellectual feeling, if that makes any sense, that; 1. the holy spirit was working through my daughter to get me back onto a conversational level with God, 2. the holy spirit was convicting me that me the father loves me as much as I love my daughter.

Then out of nowhere, I wanted desperately to be baptized myself, all of the sudden I wanted to know all there is about God, the universe, etc. That is how the Holy Spirit worked in my life. And like I said, the Holy Spirit worked many times throughout my life, esp. the one time I was being shot at by three drug dealers.

Lastly, if the HS just appeared before us so we could see Him with our eye's, then faith would no longer be needed.

Matt

 

[VW]

The Holy Spirit does not delude us, like those other spirits. He convicts us of Jesus, of God love through Jesus, and of Jesus being alive and risen from the grave.

Wonderful testimony.

 

[Mute]

You learn to recognize the voice of God by spending time with Him in prayer, in Bible study, and in ministry. Trust that God is able to communicate with you, trust but verify. God will never say anything against the word of God and if He asks of you something that makes no sense to you, He will provide the testing for it as well.
As for an example, I was looking for an automobile and my neighbor put one up for sale. It was five hundred more than I had. I prayed about it and laid it before the Lord. I felt no check and so went to test drive it, not sure that this was God's will. I told my neighbor I was wanting to test drive the car and before I could say anymore, he offered it to me for five hundred less than what was posted. I knew this was God. I took it on the test drive and stopped by my mechanic who knew the car and told me it was a great car.

So you look for signs? Is that what you believe the Holy Ghost is?

 

[Mute]

Personal experiences with the holy spirit are very hard to convey tangibly. The best illustration I can give is; was there ever a problem at your work that needed a solution? You go on and on and on, multitasking, then finally, bam! the solution comes to your mind and you fix the problem.

I'll give you a great example of how I realized the HS working in my life, (there are many more if you'd like me to share). I was raised in a Jehovah's Witnesses home. Very violent and was cut off from society. The JW's are very big on being baptized in their religion only, but do to being abused and shunned I never wanted to be baptized, I really didn't like God all that much.

Fast forward to my daughter being born. My wife and I at the time were in the process of getting a divorce, I still had drug problems and anger problems from the way I was raised. My now x wife insisted on private education, so we signed her up at a Lutheran school.

I was hesitant, but did want a good education for my only daughter. Halfway through her kindergarten year she told the teacher she wanted to get baptized. In the 15 years the teacher had been teaching, this was a first. At first I was very skeptical, my experience with religion and God was not a good one, and I didn't trust Christians very much. So I asked my daughter why she wanted to be baptized, she said she didn't know. I asked her if it was because other children were baptized, she said she didn't know if other children were baptized, etc. So I started thinking, there would be nothing wrong with her being baptized, just not so comfortable about it, I didn't want to shove religion down her throat like I was. So I prayed and told God how I truly felt, I felt He had abandoned me and left me to die in that cult, I blamed him for all the beatings, bruises the shaming, etc. Of course my emotions got the better of me, but very quickly I became calm, felt very relaxed and felt something else inside of me, it is very hard to explain, if not impossible. Then a thought just hit me, why did my daughter want to be baptized? And I just had this feeling, intellectual feeling, if that makes any sense, that; 1. the holy spirit was working through my daughter to get me back onto a conversational level with God, 2. the holy spirit was convicting me that me the father loves me as much as I love my daughter.

Then out of nowhere, I wanted desperately to be baptized myself, all of the sudden I wanted to know all there is about God, the universe, etc. That is how the Holy Spirit worked in my life. And like I said, the Holy Spirit worked many times throughout my life, esp. the one time I was being shot at by three drug dealers.

Lastly, if the HS just appeared before us so we could see Him with our eye's, then faith would no longer be needed.

Matt

So it was a feeling and a thought? How did you know that was the Holy Spirit though? Do you believe the Holy Spirit is a personage?

 

[Mute]

I didn't want to give anyone ideas. I wanted to see what they would say without telling them anything. I wanted to know what people believed the Holy Spirit was or how they ever found out if their particular denomination is true. How do they know if those interpretations are true. Now I know some people say they believe in all churches etc. That is simply not possible. It simply just isn't.

Why isn't there just one religion or one church? In Christianity they all separate themselves in their interpretations and beliefs of understanding scripture etc. It's not like the bible is just clear on everything. It's not clear. That's why so many people dispute on and have different interpretations. They all claim it's clear if one has the holy spirit but of course they all claim they have the holy spirit which would mean everyone else who believes differently is wrong. To be a follower of Christ is fine but if you're going to believe anything from the scriptures other than just that Christ died for you, then you're going to have an interpretation on meanings in the Bible. There are going to be other Christians who totally disagree with your interpretation and some may not even consider you Christian because you don't have the same interpretation.

Some people have said they rely on the Holy Spirit to tell them when something said is not true. How does it tell you? That is what I wanted to know. How do you ever know? Is it a feeling? Is it a thought or what? I have been having a very difficult time getting a clear understanding of what other faiths believe this is. Do you know what it is?

I grew up in an LDS (Mormon) faith. I am not LDS myself but I know what they say. In the LDS faith, people talk about praying for confirmation from God that he is real and the LDS faith is true. They believe God tells people through the Holy Ghost. There are scriptures that talk about this comforter. There are many scriptures that talk about this feeling.

ACTS
CHAPTER 2
37 ¶ Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?
38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

JAROM
CHAPTER 1
12 And it came to pass that by so doing they kept them from being destroyed upon the face of the land; for they did prick their hearts with the word, continually stirring them up unto repentance.

ST LUKE
CHAPTER 24
31 And their eyes were opened, and they knew him; and he vanished out of their sight.
32 And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?

ST JOHN
CHAPTER 14
26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

ST JOHN
CHAPTER 15
26 But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:

ST JOHN
CHAPTER 16
7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.

ACTS
CHAPTER 9
31 Then had the churches rest throughout all Judaea and Galilee and Samaria, and were edified; and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied.

There are also scriptures from the Book of Mormon.

MORONI (From the Book of Mormon)
CHAPTER 8
26 And the remission of sins bringeth meekness, and lowliness of heart; and because of meekness and lowliness of heart cometh the visitation of the Holy Ghost, which Comforter filleth with hope and perfect love, which love endureth by diligence unto prayer, until the end shall come, when all the saints shall dwell with God.

There is also a scripture in the Book of Mormon that talks about the vineyard. It's in Alma Chapter 32. It talks about praying and feeling the Holy Spirit to find out if these things are true.

ALMA
CHAPTER 32
26 Now, as I said concerning faith—that it was not a perfect knowledge—even so it is with my words. Ye cannot know of their surety at first, unto perfection, any more than faith is a perfect knowledge.
27 But behold, if ye will awake and arouse your faculties, even to an experiment upon my words, and exercise a particle of faith, yea, even if ye can no more than desire to believe, let this desire work in you, even until ye believe in a manner that ye can give place for a portion of my words.
28 Now, we will compare the word unto a seed. Now, if ye give place, that a seed may be planted in your heart, behold, if it be a true seed, or a good seed, if ye do not cast it out by your unbelief, that ye will resist the Spirit of the Lord, behold, it will begin to swell within your breasts; and when you feel these swelling motions, ye will begin to say within yourselves—It must needs be that this is a good seed, or that the word is good, for it beginneth to enlarge my soul; yea, it beginneth to enlighten my understanding, yea, it beginneth to be delicious to me.
29 Now behold, would not this increase your faith? I say unto you, Yea; nevertheless it hath not grown up to a perfect knowledge.
30 But behold, as the seed swelleth, and sprouteth, and beginneth to grow, then you must needs say that the seed is good; for behold it swelleth, and sprouteth, and beginneth to grow. And now, behold, will not this strengthen your faith? Yea, it will strengthen your faith: for ye will say I know that this is a good seed; for behold it sprouteth and beginneth to grow.
31 And now, behold, are ye sure that this is a good seed? I say unto you, Yea; for every seed bringeth forth unto its own likeness.
32 Therefore, if a seed groweth it is good, but if it groweth not, behold it is not good, therefore it is cast away.
33 And now, behold, because ye have tried the experiment, and planted the seed, and it swelleth and sprouteth, and beginneth to grow, ye must needs know that the seed is good.
34 And now, behold, is your knowledge perfect? Yea, your knowledge is perfect in that thing, and your faith is dormant; and this because you know, for ye know that the word hath swelled your souls, and ye also know that it hath sprouted up, that your understanding doth begin to be enlightened, and your mind doth begin to expand.
35 O then, is not this real? I say unto you, Yea, because it is light; and whatsoever is light, is good, because it is discernible, therefore ye must know that it is good; and now behold, after ye have tasted this light is your knowledge perfect?
36 Behold I say unto you, Nay; neither must ye lay aside your faith, for ye have only exercised your faith to plant the seed that ye might try the experiment to know if the seed was good.
37 And behold, as the tree beginneth to grow, ye will say: Let us nourish it with great care, that it may get root, that it may grow up, and bring forth fruit unto us. And now behold, if ye nourish it with much care it will get root, and grow up, and bring forth fruit.
38 But if ye neglect the tree, and take no thought for its nourishment, behold it will not get any root; and when the heat of the sun cometh and scorcheth it, because it hath no root it withers away, and ye pluck it up and cast it out.
39 Now, this is not because the seed was not good, neither is it because the fruit thereof would not be desirable; but it is because your ground is barren, and ye will not nourish the tree, therefore ye cannot have the fruit thereof.
40 And thus, if ye will not nourish the word, looking forward with an eye of faith to the fruit thereof, ye can never pluck of the fruit of the tree of life.
41 But if ye will nourish the word, yea, nourish the tree as it beginneth to grow, by your faith with great diligence, and with patience, looking forward to the fruit thereof, it shall take root; and behold it shall be a tree springing up unto everlasting life.
42 And because of your diligence and your faith and your patience with the word in nourishing it, that it may take root in you, behold, by and by ye shall pluck the fruit thereof, which is most precious, which is sweet above all that is sweet, and which is white above all that is white, yea, and pure above all that is pure; and ye shall feast upon this fruit even until ye are filled, that ye hunger not, neither shall ye thirst.
43 Then, my brethren, ye shall reap the rewards of your faith, and your diligence, and patience, and long-suffering, waiting for the tree to bring forth fruit unto you.

Is this or is this not what you do? If it is not what you do then how do you know what is truth? How do you find out what is true? Can you please give a clear example? So far I have been unable to determine what anyone, who is not LDS, believes the Holy Ghost (Holy Spirit) is. I don't know how anyone, who is not LDS, believes they can find out what is true. I want to understand this. The LDS believe you can pray for answers. They believe God still talks to people. They believe they still have living prophets that communicate with God. I want to know what you believe the Holy Ghost is and how you find out truth. If it's not through the Holy Ghost then what?

 

[Dread_Zeppelin]

How do you know if it lines up? Your interpretation of the scriptures may be incorrect. If you want to know if you're interpretation is right, how do you find out? What if you think the scriptures say something that they don't? How would God tell you if your interpretation of the scriptures is wrong and you're told something that differs from what you already believe the scriptures say? If you went to the scriptures, it wouldn't line up with what you believe the scriptures say. How do you know your interpretation of the scriptures is right?

How do you know that person has a close relationship with God? How do you know they're right and not a preacher of another faith?

That thought that God's going to bang into your head how do you know that thought is from God? Is it the repetition of it? Thoughts come into your mind often and how do you know where those thoughts come from? There are thoughts that come into your mind often that are obviously not from God. How do you distinguish between a thought that comes from God and one that comes from yourself?

What do you mean to have it confirmed to your spirit?

Wow the only thing you haven't asked me was the air speed velocity of an unlaiden swallow.

I know what the scriptures say, because they're mostly clear on various issues of life (think of the Bible as a Christian handbook) the Bible was created so that every man could understand it and find God. I've also been a Christian for a very very long time so I've aquired enough knowledge to at least get a "feel" for what kind of answer I'm seeking- or where to find that answer.

If I feel confused about an issue I know I have other strong Christians who can give me insight on the things of God.

By asking all these questions it looks as though you're not interested in my answer, you're attacking my Christianity and my ability to hear from God in my religion. Also you seem to think it would be hard thing to understand the Bible. You're saying how would I know if what I believe isn't what I believe if it didn't come from God. I have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ so I know His voice (or can figure it out). I know I can trust the people that I go to because of the evidence of Christ in their life. I distinguish my thoughts from God's thoughts based on the critera I mentioned earlier.

Your spiritual status says undecided and that's ok, but i'm getting the feel that any answer I can give you really wont make much sense or is inviting you to pick me apart based on beliefs that youre obviously not sure about. So if you want to talk to me seriously, go ahead and message me.

African or European?

 

[loveschild]

If someone tells you something in church and you don't know if it's true, how do you find out if it is true?

Depends on what they tell you. If it is something that you can check in the bible then make sure to check.
Pray and ask God. If you just have a bad feeling about what is said then be careful maybe you are being warned.
You must keep seeking God. Asking for his wisdom and his revelation. Asking to have his thoughts. Being in tuned to God is something you must work at.
You can't just trust what people say. They are people. They can get in the way.
I recently heard someone say I feel the Lord is saying for no one to lay hands on people. God is just going to do it himself. Soon as I heard it it struck me wrong. I knew the word says for us to lay hands in Jesus. I also knew someone was being sent by God to lay hands on people and the Lord was healing people thr the person.. The person who said not to lay hands was jealous of the the person who was being sent by God to heal. They weren't meaning to do the devils will. But their soul was in the way. The human factor. Wishing they had the gift to lay hands.

The Holy Spirit is one who at times you can feel him so strong that you can barely stand he is so strong on you. Most of the time you don't feel any different at all. He just lives inside of you. He can give you his thoughts. He can talk. He can send someone to you.
Sometimes when your reading your bible there be a part that is just for you at so and so time. Sometimes you can read and the words will pop out at you. Sometimes you can read and its the same thing you read a million times but this time when you read it it came alive to you. You understood it more than you ever did before. Its the Holy Spirit opening the words for you for what you need then.
Lots of people see God. The bible says the pure in heart will see him. Lots of unsaved people see him.

God doesn't always have good things to say. He can rebuke people.

 

[charisenexcelcis]

So you look for signs? Is that what you believe the Holy Ghost is?

It wasn't a sign, it was an open door confirmed by the gentle confirmation of the Holy Spirit.

 

[charisenexcelcis]

I didn't want to give anyone ideas. I wanted to see what they would say without telling them anything. I wanted to know what people believed the Holy Spirit was or how they ever found out if their particular denomination is true. How do they know if those interpretations are true. Now I know some people say they believe in all churches etc. That is simply not possible. It simply just isn't.
There is truly one church. It is a spiritual organism that permeates a number of physical organizations. In the organizations, there are certain defining truths to Christianity that center on the nature of God, the nature of man, and the nature of Christ. In the other (and often more complex) issue, there are many facets and often an organization will emphasis certain aspects. Regarding the spiritual organism, it is defined by a certain relationship between God and man, expressed in different ways but essentially the placing of trust in Jesus Christ and His work on the cross.

Why isn't there just one religion or one church? In Christianity they all separate themselves in their interpretations and beliefs of understanding scripture etc. It's not like the bible is just clear on everything. It's not clear. That's why so many people dispute on and have different interpretations. They all claim it's clear if one has the holy spirit but of course they all claim they have the holy spirit which would mean everyone else who believes differently is wrong. To be a follower of Christ is fine but if you're going to believe anything from the scriptures other than just that Christ died for you, then you're going to have an interpretation on meanings in the Bible. There are going to be other Christians who totally disagree with your interpretation and some may not even consider you Christian because you don't have the same interpretation.
We too rarely speak of all that we agree upon, but we do agree upon many things. Do not be thrown off by what is discussed here. It only represents a fraction of what Christianity is.

Some people have said they rely on the Holy Spirit to tell them when something said is not true. How does it tell you? That is what I wanted to know. How do you ever know? Is it a feeling? Is it a thought or what? I have been having a very difficult time getting a clear understanding of what other faiths believe this is. Do you know what it is?
The Holy Spirit illuminates scripture, the problem is our flesh, which often gets in the way. Look to some of the more mature members of the forum, like Harley or Pickles, and you will see the true work of the Holy Spirit.

I grew up in an LDS (Mormon) faith. I am not LDS myself but I know what they say. In the LDS faith, people talk about praying for confirmation from God that he is real and the LDS faith is true. They believe God tells people through the Holy Ghost. There are scriptures that talk about this comforter. There are many scriptures that talk about this feeling.
I appreciate what you are saying. I do not accept the Book of Mormon as the word of God. In Christ there must be both objective and subjective faith. The Book of Mormon goes against the objective faith.
Let me give you an example: in the Book of Mormon there is a parable regarding the vineyard. The message of the parable is that all other churches are corrupt. In the parable, the owner of the vineyard goes into the vineyard and picks an olive off of his favorite tree and finds it bitter. At this time, the objective nature of my faith switches on a red light. You see, this parable is suppose to be written by someone of Near Eastern heritage, someone who would be familiar with olive trees. But it is not. The parable makes two mistakes that such a person would never make. First, it places an olive tree in a vineyard, in fact it fills the vineyard with olive trees. But olive trees are not grown in a vineyard, grapes are grown in a vineyard. Second, it has the owner of the vineyard eating the olives straight off the tree. But olives must be cured if they are to be eaten (and most are not used for food-but for the oil). Off of the tree there are always bitter. Now you might say that this is a problem with the translation, but the Book of Mormon claims to have been translated by divine method and there are no manuscripts. So, that is not an option. To seek God's confirmation for something that is obviously untrue is to seek to be decieved.

Is this or is this not what you do? If it is not what you do then how do you know what is truth? How do you find out what is true? Can you please give a clear example? So far I have been unable to determine what anyone, who is not LDS, believes the Holy Ghost (Holy Spirit) is. I don't know how anyone, who is not LDS, believes they can find out what is true. I want to understand this. The LDS believe you can pray for answers. They believe God still talks to people. They believe they still have living prophets that communicate with God. I want to know what you believe the Holy Ghost is and how you find out truth. If it's not through the Holy Ghost then what?

The Holy Spirit is still at work, and you do not need a prophet to be the go between. Begin with the word of God, I would suggest the gospels or the epistles. Read and pray, read and pray, read and pray. If you truly want to know, The Holy Spirit will illuminate the truth that is in scripture.

 

[Mute]

Wow the only thing you haven't asked me was the air speed velocity of an unlaiden swallow.

I know what the scriptures say, because they're mostly clear on various issues of life (think of the Bible as a Christian handbook) the Bible was created so that every man could understand it and find God. I've also been a Christian for a very very long time so I've aquired enough knowledge to at least get a "feel" for what kind of answer I'm seeking- or where to find that answer.

If I feel confused about an issue I know I have other strong Christians who can give me insight on the things of God.

By asking all these questions it looks as though you're not interested in my answer, you're attacking my Christianity and my ability to hear from God in my religion. Also you seem to think it would be hard thing to understand the Bible. You're saying how would I know if what I believe isn't what I believe if it didn't come from God. I have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ so I know His voice (or can figure it out). I know I can trust the people that I go to because of the evidence of Christ in their life. I distinguish my thoughts from God's thoughts based on the critera I mentioned earlier.

Your spiritual status says undecided and that's ok, but i'm getting the feel that any answer I can give you really wont make much sense or is inviting you to pick me apart based on beliefs that youre obviously not sure about. So if you want to talk to me seriously, go ahead and message me.

African or European?

I'm not attacking you. That is not my goal at all to attack. I honestly just want to know what you believe. The only thing I have to go off of is what the LDS said. I have asked this same question on other sites trying to get a better understanding and I can't seem to understand for the life of me. The LDS are very clear and easy to understand in how they believe you confirm if something is true. They believe they pray about it and the Holy Ghost bears witness to them which is a burning in the bosom. I listed the scriptures in the Bible to support this a little ways up. I just want to understand what other faiths believe it is or how they find out. Many Christians laugh at the idea that someone would pray for confirmation yet they say they are holy spirit lead. I don't understand what they believe. I don't understand how they find out what is true. I don't understand what they think the holy ghost is or how or when it's communicating with them or confirming something. It is not my intention to ever attack someone and I apologize if you feel that way. It is some what frustrating for me. I've asked this on several sites and I just can't seem to get a clear understanding of what others believe.

 

[Mute]

Basically if you don't believe the Holy Spirit is a feeling what do you think it means to be Holy Spirit lead?

 

[charisenexcelcis]

Basically if you don't believe the Holy Spirit is a feeling what do you think it means to be Holy Spirit lead?

What you experience when the Holy Spirit speaks to you is very individual. Most often, especially at first, it is confirmed by the word of God and/or by wise brothers and sisters in the Lord.