Search the scriptures, or pray for the Spirit to guide you ? (doctrine, praying)

[Towhee]

Originally Posted by HotinAZ

How can you accept that which you don't know? How do you know Truth until it sets you free? How does the battle between the flesh and the spirit end?

All this is in the Bible. Saying that the scriptures were OT times, and that the NT wasn't even talked about doesn't make any sense, Jesus IS the Spirit of the OT revealed, for since the foundation of this World, He has been the Word. Until there is a New Earth, we live in the Old Earth, so it cannot be ALL fulfilled. We as Christians cannot discount His sayings or teachings in any way. And furthermore, I would say that it went to a whole new level of scripture since it was Him personally doing the talking in the flesh.

I am curious... what is your 'church'? Who is teaching you these things ?

I am wondering what you think the truth is going to set us free from ?

It is my understanding that obedience to the truth sets us free from sin.

I wonder if you believe it is some inner feeling that it sets you free from ?

[Alpha8207]

Originally Posted by cg81

Marian, how do you know how to interpret the scriptures?

What do you believe is the role of the Holy Spirit today?

The Bible says "No man can come to the Father unless the Father draws him." How is this possible if the Spirit only speaks to those who have been born again?

I thought that scripture from 1 Corinthians made it pretty clear that without the Holy Spirit, no one can understand spiritual teachings.

This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words. The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned. 1 Cor 2:13-14

Maybe I'm missing something.

It appears the OP believes just reading the words and following the rules make one saved and free from sin.

I know many (might be safe to say most) atheists have read the Word and are moral people who do follow most(if not all) of Jesus' teachings but reject Him as Savior, Lord, and some even His very existence.

[freedom]

Try to read the words of Jesus as an admonishment.

Jhn 5:39 Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.

The Jewish leaders searched and searched the scriptures and thought that the scriptures brought life eternal, and they were wrong, they did testify of the Lord, but the written word alone was not capable of fulfilling the spiritual necessity for righteousness.

"Be still and know that i am God"

When we are still, and have gone into the closet of our temples, we hear the pure love of God instructing us in the higher teachings. It is where we are purified by the fire of the Holy spirit.

"I council thee to buy of me Gold tried in the fire, (of your souls) and white raiment that thou mayest be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness shall not appear".


godspeed,


freedom

[Towhee]

Originally Posted by Alpha8207

I thought that scripture from 1 Corinthians made it pretty clear that without the Holy Spirit, no one can understand spiritual teachings.

This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words. The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned. 1 Cor 2:13-14

Maybe I'm missing something.

It appears the OP believes just reading the words and following the rules make one saved and free from sin.

I know many (might be safe to say most) atheists have read the Word and are moral people who do follow most(if not all) of Jesus' teachings but reject Him as Savior, Lord, and some even His very existence.

Yes, the words were "taught by the Spirit", and those that were taught wrote them in the scriptures that we call the Bible. That includes Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Paul, Peter, James,and Jude.

Without the Holy Spirit we would not even have the scriptures.

Where do you think the scriptures came from ?

What does the word of God say about where they came from ?

I am asking all of you, because you apparently do not know what the scriptures say about this. I can quote them for you, but you will not accept them. You have been convinced that we require some outside guidence to what the Spirit has given us.

You are not searching the scriptures to see what is said about the importance of the word. Even if you do not have a concordance, you can look the "word of God" up on a computer search. Try this :
BibleGateway.com - Keyword*Search: word of God

[cg81]

So if I'm reading you right, Marian, you believe that the visible Word is the only way the Spirit speaks to us today?

[Towhee]

Originally Posted by cg81

So if I'm reading you right, Marian, you believe that the visible Word is the only way the Spirit speaks to us today?

If you are stressing the "speaks to us" I would say yes. He has already given us all things that pretain to life and Godliness. What more does He need to give us ?

Explain "speaks to us" . Do you hear Him ? Or is it a thought or feeling that you get ? If it is a thought or feeling, how do you know where it comes from ? And why does everyone get a differant thought or feeling ?

He does intercede for us in our prayers.

[Alpha8207]

I honestly think the verses in James pertaining to seeking wisdom from God are applicable in this discussion but I wonder exactly how the OP would interpret the meaning of these scriptures from Colossians:

Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ who are at Colossae: Grace to you and peace from God our Father.

We give thanks to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you, since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and the love which you have for all the saints; because of the hope laid up for you in heaven, of which you previously heard in the word of truth, the gospel which has come to you, just as in all the world also it is constantly bearing fruit and increasing, even as it has been doing in you also since the day you heard of it and understood the grace of God in truth; just as you learned it from Epaphras, our beloved fellow bond-servant, who is a faithful servant of Christ on our behalf, and he also informed us of your love in the Spirit.

For this reason also, since the day we heard of it, we have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for the attaining of all steadfastness and patience; joyously giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in Light. Col 1:1-12

I usually don't post that much scripture at the time, but I've gone back and bolded the part I find particularly interesting on this subject.

Paul explains to us that the Colossians have the gospel and have heard it in the 'word of truth' yet then goes on to say prays and asks them to be filled with God's will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding so that they will live accordingly.

If Paul was praying for spiritual wisdom for those who had the 'word of truth', certainly I'm going to participate int hat same exercise.

Put bluntly, I don't think I can discern what God wants to show me without the assistance of the Holy Spirit. I really believe the 1 Corinthians scriptures prove that statement more than what I've posted here, but I do believe these are applicable as well.

Trusting yourself to discern spiritual matters without spiritual guidance is a very dangerous place to be. I'm constantly warring with my flesh and, without the Spirit's guidance, I might try and make the Word say what I want it to, rather than what it really does.

[Towhee]

There is an old saying " One swallow does not a summer make". One or two scriptures do not cancel out all the others.

[Alpha8207]

Originally Posted by Marianinark

One or two scriptures do not cancell out all the others.

Can you please share the others you are referring to?

[Towhee]

Originally Posted by Alpha8207

Can you please share the others you are referring to?

I already did...

BibleGateway.com - Keyword*Search: word of God