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S
EXCELLENT AND BALANCED! That statement in blue is a loaded statement. How many of us are ready for God's conviction and have an ear to hear what the Spirit is saying through the word and through sound doctrine?
Eccl 5:1 Keep thy foot when thou goest to the house of God, and be more ready to hear, than to give the sacrifice of fools: for they consider not that they do evil.
Jn 3:20,21 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.
21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.
Is 50:4 The Lord GOD hath given me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary: he wakeneth morning by morning, he wakeneth mine ear to hear as the learned.
Every morning God wakes us to have an ear to hear as one who is eager to learn, to be quickened by the Word and the Spirit so that we will have a tongue filled with sound doctrine as the learned and be able to speak a word in season to him that is weary.
Ps 81:10-14 I am the LORD thy God, which brought thee out of the land of Egypt: open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it.
11 But my people would not hearken to my voice; and Israel would none of me.
12 So I gave them up unto their own hearts' lust: and they walked in their own counsels.
13 Oh that my people had hearkened unto me, and Israel had walked in my ways!
14 I should soon have subdued their enemies, and turned my hand against their adversaries.
Eccl 5:1 Keep thy foot when thou goest to the house of God, and be more ready to hear, than to give the sacrifice of fools: for they consider not that they do evil.
Jn 3:20,21 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.
21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.
Is 50:4 The Lord GOD hath given me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary: he wakeneth morning by morning, he wakeneth mine ear to hear as the learned.
Every morning God wakes us to have an ear to hear as one who is eager to learn, to be quickened by the Word and the Spirit so that we will have a tongue filled with sound doctrine as the learned and be able to speak a word in season to him that is weary.
Ps 81:10-14 I am the LORD thy God, which brought thee out of the land of Egypt: open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it.
11 But my people would not hearken to my voice; and Israel would none of me.
12 So I gave them up unto their own hearts' lust: and they walked in their own counsels.
13 Oh that my people had hearkened unto me, and Israel had walked in my ways!
14 I should soon have subdued their enemies, and turned my hand against their adversaries.
S
Many believers don't have a sound mind because that don't have God's thoughts and never learn how to think with God. When the believer learns how to think with God through the Word and doctrine, they will have a sound mind and the Holy Spirit will cry in them, YAHOO, ABBA FATHER BABY! (Rom 8:15, Gal 4:6 paraphrased).
Many believers learn just enough to be able to call themselves a Christian and not be embarrassed. They think that's all they need and they go about doing their own thing and have a fling with their new found faith in Christ and some have even been saved for years and still do it. They become these little Christian brats instead of soldiers who are trained and know how to put on the whole armour of God. They spend more time complaining about life instead of building themselves up in the most holy faith. They walk around like zombies who have been wounded by situations and the details of life because they have no fellowship with the one that redeemed them. They live in this 'Woe is me I am undone' complex and never get their hearts established in the grace of God because they don't have time. God tells them to put all that stuff away and redeem the time for the days are evil but they have others things that they have to do / Eph 5:16, Col 4:5.
We redeem the time by filling up the rooms of our soul with the word and doctrine, every morning and every day. We do not stop and let anything hinder us from doing that because that is the will of God for our lives. Even if you are a full time college student with a full load, make time every day to study and hide the word in your heart. Your college studies will all pass away someday but God's word will never pass away / Mt 24:35. If more believers would make it a priority to be fed the word of God and hide doctrine in their heart they might not sin so much / Ps 119:11, they might not get so anxious about things / Mt 6:25,31, and they just might finally have peace in their life and not be offended all the time / Ps 119:165. Do we want to have a sound mind that thinks with God through sound doctrine or fly by the seat of our pants?
Many believers learn just enough to be able to call themselves a Christian and not be embarrassed. They think that's all they need and they go about doing their own thing and have a fling with their new found faith in Christ and some have even been saved for years and still do it. They become these little Christian brats instead of soldiers who are trained and know how to put on the whole armour of God. They spend more time complaining about life instead of building themselves up in the most holy faith. They walk around like zombies who have been wounded by situations and the details of life because they have no fellowship with the one that redeemed them. They live in this 'Woe is me I am undone' complex and never get their hearts established in the grace of God because they don't have time. God tells them to put all that stuff away and redeem the time for the days are evil but they have others things that they have to do / Eph 5:16, Col 4:5.
We redeem the time by filling up the rooms of our soul with the word and doctrine, every morning and every day. We do not stop and let anything hinder us from doing that because that is the will of God for our lives. Even if you are a full time college student with a full load, make time every day to study and hide the word in your heart. Your college studies will all pass away someday but God's word will never pass away / Mt 24:35. If more believers would make it a priority to be fed the word of God and hide doctrine in their heart they might not sin so much / Ps 119:11, they might not get so anxious about things / Mt 6:25,31, and they just might finally have peace in their life and not be offended all the time / Ps 119:165. Do we want to have a sound mind that thinks with God through sound doctrine or fly by the seat of our pants?
Shad, I want to make something clear about this. First, I respect your biblical knowledge, and the honesty of your heart, and the years of service to the Lord that I sense in you. I do not denigrate biblical knowledge. Not in any way. Here is my concern:
A new convert comes to the church, an open heart and an open mind, needing feed in order to grow in the Lord, and in stature of the mature christian, able to be a fruitful and faithful servant of the Lord. I am afraid that we do not teach these new ones the right things first, and that we leave the necessary things out completely. I have seen strong doctrinal teaching, the basis of biblical knowledge given to these new ones, and they are not well served by this. And they are never taught the walk in the Spirit that is so vital to serving God, to growing in Christ, to having the love of God reign in their hearts and minds. I do not want to throw out doctrinal teaching, biblical teaching. I want, need to see, that the walk in the Spirit is taught first, as being of the utmost importance. It is unfair to these new ones to leave them without the understanding of how to walk in the Spirit, how to live in Christ Jesus by His Spirit, how to commune with the Father through the Spirit of Christ. This leaves them much more defenseless than if they had no doctrinal or biblical teaching. It actually puts them in a very dangerous place in our warfare with our adversary, who is spiritual though evil. Spiritual warfare cannot be waged by the flesh, nor by knowledge, but by the Spirit, who is sufficient for all things.
I have this concern not from fear, but from experience.
In His peace,
vic
A new convert comes to the church, an open heart and an open mind, needing feed in order to grow in the Lord, and in stature of the mature christian, able to be a fruitful and faithful servant of the Lord. I am afraid that we do not teach these new ones the right things first, and that we leave the necessary things out completely. I have seen strong doctrinal teaching, the basis of biblical knowledge given to these new ones, and they are not well served by this. And they are never taught the walk in the Spirit that is so vital to serving God, to growing in Christ, to having the love of God reign in their hearts and minds. I do not want to throw out doctrinal teaching, biblical teaching. I want, need to see, that the walk in the Spirit is taught first, as being of the utmost importance. It is unfair to these new ones to leave them without the understanding of how to walk in the Spirit, how to live in Christ Jesus by His Spirit, how to commune with the Father through the Spirit of Christ. This leaves them much more defenseless than if they had no doctrinal or biblical teaching. It actually puts them in a very dangerous place in our warfare with our adversary, who is spiritual though evil. Spiritual warfare cannot be waged by the flesh, nor by knowledge, but by the Spirit, who is sufficient for all things.
I have this concern not from fear, but from experience.
In His peace,
vic
I have a funny gift, I remember what I read, actually see the words on the page in a picture in my mind. When the Spirit brings to my mind a scripture, I see the place on the page where it is located, and I can find it just by looking in that certain place on the page, until I find it. But it is the Spirit who brings the relevant passage to my mind. I did not learn this in church. I learned this by reading the testimonies of those saints who had a close walk with the Lord. After He woke me up from my sleep of death, I knew that I needed to learn Him. I knew that I could not stay a stranger. I learned that the presence of Jesus gives us strength for every situation, just as the presence of the Father gave Jesus His strength. I came to understand that as He walked with His Father, so I was to walk with Him. It was then that the scriptures that I had so often thought I knew what they were saying, changed in my heart, and became alive in a wonderful and strange way. Now I no longer remember the scripture, the scripture lives in me. And it was the Spirit who made the scripture to come alive.
All of the teaching in the bible for over 20 years did not do this, not in the way that Jesus desired. What brought this change about was when I submitted to the leading of the Spirit, heart and mind and soul. When I decided to let Him be the voice of Jesus to me, to give Him the highest place in my mental processes and in my hearts desires, did I find the scripture alive.
I am awed that you found the Spirit as your teacher, then begin to learn the scripture. I did it the opposite way, and I would have rather done as you. Actually, both at the same time, with the Spirit's filling first, would be best. I know that we need both biblical knowledge and the Spirit, but of the two, the Spirit is first, and most important. One can have all the biblical knowledge available, and not have the Spirit, and be like the scribes and Pharisees, of whom Jesus said that they searched the world to find one disciple, and when they found him, they turned him into twice the son of hell that they were. But if one has only the Spirit, at least they will know the voice of the Lord. We need to remember what Jesus told the religious, that they paid attention to the very last detail, but lacked compassion. True compassion, the love of God, comes only from the Spirit of Christ.
In His love,
vic
All of the teaching in the bible for over 20 years did not do this, not in the way that Jesus desired. What brought this change about was when I submitted to the leading of the Spirit, heart and mind and soul. When I decided to let Him be the voice of Jesus to me, to give Him the highest place in my mental processes and in my hearts desires, did I find the scripture alive.
I am awed that you found the Spirit as your teacher, then begin to learn the scripture. I did it the opposite way, and I would have rather done as you. Actually, both at the same time, with the Spirit's filling first, would be best. I know that we need both biblical knowledge and the Spirit, but of the two, the Spirit is first, and most important. One can have all the biblical knowledge available, and not have the Spirit, and be like the scribes and Pharisees, of whom Jesus said that they searched the world to find one disciple, and when they found him, they turned him into twice the son of hell that they were. But if one has only the Spirit, at least they will know the voice of the Lord. We need to remember what Jesus told the religious, that they paid attention to the very last detail, but lacked compassion. True compassion, the love of God, comes only from the Spirit of Christ.
In His love,
vic
C
Let me show you. A Christian Scientist looks at "The wages of sin is death" and says, well sin is merely wrong thinking, so if I think right I will not die. You respond, "That isn't what sin means". You are now practicing interpretation. No matter how you try to get around it, you do practice interpretation.
Actually you are right. I did at one time practice interpretation. I decided with my mind what to believe about sin,what it was. Then I saw the cross. I cannot do the interpretation thing now, as sin is not something I decide what to believe about it, but the thing I know died in Jesus on the cross. It needs no interpretation. Just as Jesus needs no interpretation, and indeed defies any attempts at interpretation. You just know that He is.
I cannot help but wonder why there are still some, that are willing to believe in all the teachings and miricals of Our Lord Jesus.
Yet they doubt the power and guidence of the Holy Spirit.
If one walks in faith, one must also accept all the gifts and power of the Holy Spirit.
I hear some say that it is interpitation rather than given word of God through the Holy Spirit.
I understand the concern that some, might be speaking incorrectly.
But if this is the case, then the words would convict ether true or false.
Should we not have the faith to know that we will know what is true or false in words?
Im no scholar, Im lousy in memory for names,numbers facts.
But I can read, I have averaged a book a day for most of my life.
The greatest witness to me has been the knowlage that was already in me through Jesus.
I will read the scriptures only to see and conferm what is already in my heart.
Not that I know all, just what Jesus has shown my heart through his Holy Spirit.
I have always wished I could discuss the word as many of you do.
But that is the gift Jesus has given many of you.
The gift he gave me was the knowladge of him and his heart.
All through his Holy spirit.
If we are to profess all in faith , we must also in faith trust everything that is given by Our Lord Jesus.
And also know that he wil also protect us as well from that which is not of him.
I speak in the knowladge given to me through his Holy Spirit often.
But I also in faith test and trust that those who are well verced in the word will conferm in word.
All is of faith, I have seen many use the word to corrupt.
But because of our faith and love of Jesus we can be certian that we will not be decieved.
Faith is the evidence of things unseen.
In faith, hope and the Love of Our Lord Jesus.
God bless, pickles
Yet they doubt the power and guidence of the Holy Spirit.
If one walks in faith, one must also accept all the gifts and power of the Holy Spirit.
I hear some say that it is interpitation rather than given word of God through the Holy Spirit.
I understand the concern that some, might be speaking incorrectly.
But if this is the case, then the words would convict ether true or false.
Should we not have the faith to know that we will know what is true or false in words?
Im no scholar, Im lousy in memory for names,numbers facts.
But I can read, I have averaged a book a day for most of my life.
The greatest witness to me has been the knowlage that was already in me through Jesus.
I will read the scriptures only to see and conferm what is already in my heart.
Not that I know all, just what Jesus has shown my heart through his Holy Spirit.
I have always wished I could discuss the word as many of you do.
But that is the gift Jesus has given many of you.
The gift he gave me was the knowladge of him and his heart.
All through his Holy spirit.
If we are to profess all in faith , we must also in faith trust everything that is given by Our Lord Jesus.
And also know that he wil also protect us as well from that which is not of him.
I speak in the knowladge given to me through his Holy Spirit often.
But I also in faith test and trust that those who are well verced in the word will conferm in word.
All is of faith, I have seen many use the word to corrupt.
But because of our faith and love of Jesus we can be certian that we will not be decieved.
Faith is the evidence of things unseen.
In faith, hope and the Love of Our Lord Jesus.
God bless, pickles
S
Walking by faith is the same as walking in the Spirit because we are trusting God, trusting His word and His promises and we are being filled with the fruit of the Spirit. Here's an example.
Every Saturday a group of believers get together and they go soul winning in a nearby town. Every person purposed in their heart to honor the word that Christ spoke which is to go into the highways and byways to seek the lost and preach Christ to every creature. Faith was mixed with the word that they were taught and it resulted in obedience. Every person that went out has the Holy Spirit to lead them to those that God has prepared to met through them.
As each one begins to minister to the lost, the Holy Spirit makes them sensitive to each individual. He may give them discernment about a deep seated problem someone is having trouble with. God has each one in that town to minister and present Christ through the love and grace of God. 'Be ye witnesses of Me, Jesus said to His disciples as He sent them out. The Holy Spirit may lead them in many different areas depending upon the need of the heart of those that have been put in their path.
As they minister the Holy Spirit fills them with love, joy and peace within. He is there to comfort those that need to be comforted, to speak a word in season to them who are weary and to set the captives free. All these things begin to happen because a group of believers stepped out by faith and believed God. They put their faith and trust in the One who promised to be with them if they would be witnesses of Him in Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria and to the uttermost parts of the earth.
They got up in the morning by faith and prepared themselves by faith and gathered together with other believers by faith. They prayed and believed God by faith for the lost. They ministered by faith to those that were in that town and on those streets and in their own homes. God honored and visited people through their faith because they trusted Him. He met the needs of people because they walked by faith and trusted in His promises. The Holy Spirit lead them and guided them and filled them as they walked in Him by faith. Every person was poured out and gave of their supply from the Spirit. It was all God but it all came because of faith in His word. God did great things in that town because of the obedience of faith. That is how faith in God's word and the Spirit work together to reveal Christ
Every Saturday a group of believers get together and they go soul winning in a nearby town. Every person purposed in their heart to honor the word that Christ spoke which is to go into the highways and byways to seek the lost and preach Christ to every creature. Faith was mixed with the word that they were taught and it resulted in obedience. Every person that went out has the Holy Spirit to lead them to those that God has prepared to met through them.
As each one begins to minister to the lost, the Holy Spirit makes them sensitive to each individual. He may give them discernment about a deep seated problem someone is having trouble with. God has each one in that town to minister and present Christ through the love and grace of God. 'Be ye witnesses of Me, Jesus said to His disciples as He sent them out. The Holy Spirit may lead them in many different areas depending upon the need of the heart of those that have been put in their path.
As they minister the Holy Spirit fills them with love, joy and peace within. He is there to comfort those that need to be comforted, to speak a word in season to them who are weary and to set the captives free. All these things begin to happen because a group of believers stepped out by faith and believed God. They put their faith and trust in the One who promised to be with them if they would be witnesses of Him in Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria and to the uttermost parts of the earth.
They got up in the morning by faith and prepared themselves by faith and gathered together with other believers by faith. They prayed and believed God by faith for the lost. They ministered by faith to those that were in that town and on those streets and in their own homes. God honored and visited people through their faith because they trusted Him. He met the needs of people because they walked by faith and trusted in His promises. The Holy Spirit lead them and guided them and filled them as they walked in Him by faith. Every person was poured out and gave of their supply from the Spirit. It was all God but it all came because of faith in His word. God did great things in that town because of the obedience of faith. That is how faith in God's word and the Spirit work together to reveal Christ
And isnt that amazing Shad! When the Holy Spirit prompts you to hit the nail on the head so to speak in conversation with the unsaved. It is important though as you said to have the foundation of the word of God to draw from in these discussions. I may not quote it perfectly so I have a wallet size bible filled with bookmarks that the perfect passage is always revealed. If we just went out with only the Holy Spirit by our side we miss out on giving the lost the Gift of Gods word firmly imprinted on their heart because the Holy Spirit initiated it. When one says to another... This is a verse that made me absolutely think of you... it makes them know that Gods word is not just something thats preached in the Churches they dont attend but is something that can impact and they cherish that verse even though they may not say it to you at the time. I just know that they cant help but cherish that verse!
I must apologize for being such a stickler for the right words in what we believe. I have known that Shad is a very godly man, from what I read of his posts. I make the distinctions that I do because I must, and my distinctions are not necessary for everyone else. I would not say anything except for the fact that if I can cause a little searching, a little questioning about how we see things, if maybe we see the Holy Spirit in a different and more fulfilling light in our lives, then maybe that is good. It is very interesting how the conversations have come about, from outright rejection to grudging acceptance, somewhat. For me, I cannot emphasize the ministry of the Holy Spirit enough, and if I irritate anyone, I do sincerely apologize. He has been left out of so many things in our lives, things that He was sent to us to fill to the utmost with Christ. And He wants to be this to us, very much. His heart is saddened by the lack of belief in Him and His work in us and in the world.
May we all learn to have the Holy Spirit's work in our lives to the full extent that He desires.
In His love,
May we all learn to have the Holy Spirit's work in our lives to the full extent that He desires.
In His love,
C
I must disagree on this for two reasons: First that those who are young in the faith have not yet learned to rightly discern the voice of the Holy Spirit. By embracing this "Spirit over scholarship" view, they could be easily mislead. Second, that I Corinthians 14:6 outlines four aspects of prophecy: revelation, teaching, preaching, and doctrine. Interpretation is an aspect of teaching, preaching and doctrine and, therefore, a ministry of the Holy Spirit.
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I do not dissagree with you. Interpitation is as important as the word itself.
But so is that given through the Holy Spirit.
It is confermed in the word and by the word.
That is why we must test all spirits.
But to dissmiss because one doubts the power of the Holy Spirit ?
It is to dissmiss a compleat faith in Jesus.
He will not fail us.
Thats why some are gifted in scolorship.
And others in His heart.
Some in music.
Some in leadership.
Some in serving food.
And some in his Spiritual food.
God bless, pickles
But so is that given through the Holy Spirit.
It is confermed in the word and by the word.
That is why we must test all spirits.
But to dissmiss because one doubts the power of the Holy Spirit ?
It is to dissmiss a compleat faith in Jesus.
He will not fail us.
Thats why some are gifted in scolorship.
And others in His heart.
Some in music.
Some in leadership.
Some in serving food.
And some in his Spiritual food.
God bless, pickles
I and my family went to a church that was close to our home in hope that we would find good fellowship.
I was heartbroken to hear the pastor say that the Holy Spirit was only with us in the time right after Jesus was here. And only present to the apostles.
I could not believe that this was being taught.
I can only wonder why such is done or why many are afraid to believe in the Holy Spirit.
I will keep witnessing to Jesus my Lord and Savior, God Our Father, and the powerful presence of the Holy Spirit.
God bless, pickles
I was heartbroken to hear the pastor say that the Holy Spirit was only with us in the time right after Jesus was here. And only present to the apostles.
I could not believe that this was being taught.
I can only wonder why such is done or why many are afraid to believe in the Holy Spirit.
I will keep witnessing to Jesus my Lord and Savior, God Our Father, and the powerful presence of the Holy Spirit.
God bless, pickles
C
I do not dissagree with you. Interpitation is as important as the word itself.
But so is that given through the Holy Spirit.
It is confermed in the word and by the word.
That is why we must test all spirits.
But to dissmiss because one doubts the power of the Holy Spirit ?
It is to dissmiss a compleat faith in Jesus.
He will not fail us.
Thats why some are gifted in scolorship.
And others in His heart.
Some in music.
Some in leadership.
Some in serving food.
And some in his Spiritual food.
God bless, pickles
But so is that given through the Holy Spirit.
It is confermed in the word and by the word.
That is why we must test all spirits.
But to dissmiss because one doubts the power of the Holy Spirit ?
It is to dissmiss a compleat faith in Jesus.
He will not fail us.
Thats why some are gifted in scolorship.
And others in His heart.
Some in music.
Some in leadership.
Some in serving food.
And some in his Spiritual food.
God bless, pickles