Listening to the Holy Spirit

[Permie]

But how do you discern which thoughts are the Lord and which are not?

And please don't say, "If you" or "when you" like before.

How do you make the determinition?

How do you personally discern or know that a thought is not yourself, not from the devil/a demon, etc.?

Satan comes as an angel of light, you know.

Nebula,

We all have thoughts that are maybe not very divine, shall we say.

We must however be aware of our thoughts. Some people have chatter going on all the time within their minds. Anyway, to start knowing, we have to do as instructed here:

Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; 2 Corinthians 10:5

This is then accomplished by:

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Philippians 4:8

So, with every thought that is not divine, catch it by noticing it and then think upon the above.

Praise God!

Edited January 26, 2010 by Permie

[Fez]

I only hear the Holy Spirit when I am close to Him. To me, at least, He does not shout, He whispers. And so, I have to stay close to Him at all times. It is when I stray that I do not hear His voice, but that of the world, and I follow my own thoughts down roads that lead to Dead ends. Sometimes the way back is difficult, much more difficult than the outward journey, which at the time seems so easy.

So I have to constantly try to stay close. And the only way I can do that is through another walk, one filled with prayer, reading, church, worship and fellowship. Jesus said, if you love Me you will obey Me. I don't think He was talking about the legalistic obey that the law taught, I think He meant follow me and my Word, cicumcise your heart, open it to me.

And sometimes, just sometimes, when I think, I don't want to host home group tonight, I am just too tired, or I don't feel like going to church today because I just want to put my feet up, drink a coke and watch TV, I obey, and I go. I don't do this out of a fear, or a legalistic attitude, I do it because I love Him, and I obey. I might not enjoy church on that day, the lesson might go right over my head, but I obey, because I love Him.

And the next home group, the next church service, the next outreach, I know the Spirit is with me, I know He is always with me, but this time I feel Him, I "hear" Him. And I guess that is what my walk is all about.

When the noise of the world gets in the way, when out of love for Him, I just obey, when the attacks that life sends come, if I am close, I hear Him.

Sort of like this:-

1Ki 19:11 And he said, "Go out and stand on the mount before the LORD." And behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind tore the mountains and broke in pieces the rocks before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind. And after the wind an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake.

1Ki 19:12 And after the earthquake a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire the sound of a low whisper.

1Ki 19:13 And when Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. And behold, there came a voice to him and said, "What are you doing here, Elijah?"

So in the earthquakes and wind and fire of my life, even when I am hiding in my cave, I still have to be close enough to listen for the whisper.

For that is how He talks to me........

Blessings

[traveller]

Ditto what Fez said. Nicely put, Brother.

[Permie]

I only hear the Holy Spirit when I am close to Him. To me, at least, He does not shout, He whispers. And so, I have to stay close to Him at all times. It is when I stray that I do not hear His voice, but that of the world, and I follow my own thoughts down roads that lead to Dead ends. Sometimes the way back is difficult, much more difficult than the outward journey, which at the time seems so easy.

So I have to constantly try to stay close. And the only way I can do that is through another walk, one filled with prayer, reading, church, worship and fellowship. Jesus said, if you love Me you will obey Me. I don't think He was talking about the legalistic obey that the law taught, I think He meant follow me and my Word, cicumcise your heart, open it to me.

And sometimes, just sometimes, when I think, I don't want to host home group tonight, I am just too tired, or I don't feel like going to church today because I just want to put my feet up, drink a coke and watch TV, I obey, and I go. I don't do this out of a fear, or a legalistic attitude, I do it because I love Him, and I obey. I might not enjoy church on that day, the lesson might go right over my head, but I obey, because I love Him.

And the next home group, the next church service, the next outreach, I know the Spirit is with me, I know He is always with me, but this time I feel Him, I "hear" Him. And I guess that is what my walk is all about.

When the noise of the world gets in the way, when out of love for Him, I just obey, when the attacks that life sends come, if I am close, I hear Him.

Sort of like this:-

1Ki 19:11 And he said, "Go out and stand on the mount before the LORD." And behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind tore the mountains and broke in pieces the rocks before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind. And after the wind an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake.

1Ki 19:12 And after the earthquake a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire the sound of a low whisper.

1Ki 19:13 And when Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. And behold, there came a voice to him and said, "What are you doing here, Elijah?"

So in the earthquakes and wind and fire of my life, even when I am hiding in my cave, I still have to be close enough to listen for the whisper.

For that is how He talks to me........

Blessings

That is so true, Fez. Prayer and praise, generated from a heart for God, is how to stay close. (Even if the heart isn't yet for God, we can "press into it" and will find from that effort our heart is transformed by it.)

Though, I have had people tell me that even while in prayer that their mind wanders. While I do understand the physical difficulties sometimes presented, I think that the mind also has to be disciplined. When the mind is continually disciplined to think on that which is true, honest, and lovely we place our mind into what God wants us to think about, and from that the body follows.

The body only does what the mind allows first is what I'm trying to say.

[OneLight]

OneLight,

I hope you don't mind. One of your sentences reminded me of a saying that I think is funny. I hope you enjoy it.

If one "hears voices" as in an audible voice, then concern is warranted.

When man talks to God it is called prayer. When God talks to man it is called schizophrenia.

LOL, you like?

Nope ... even though I realize you are trying to bring humor into the thread.

The concern I speak of is the discernment of spirits, or who is doing the talking. Not all the voices one hears is of God and if what you hear does not line up with scripture, it is not of Him.

[Permie]

OneLight,

I hope you don't mind. One of your sentences reminded me of a saying that I think is funny. I hope you enjoy it.

If one "hears voices" as in an audible voice, then concern is warranted.

When man talks to God it is called prayer. When God talks to man it is called schizophrenia.

LOL, you like?

Nope ... even though I realize you are trying to bring humor into the thread.

The concern I speak of is the discernment of spirits, or who is doing the talking. Not all the voices one hears is of God and if what you hear does not line up with scripture, it is not of Him.

Okay, I should know that only those who have had the audible experiences FROM God can relate.

Just so you know, though, I haven't had the audible for many years and the communication has become more normal.

Edited January 26, 2010 by Permie

[OneLight]

I only hear the Holy Spirit when I am close to Him. To me, at least, He does not shout, He whispers. And so, I have to stay close to Him at all times. It is when I stray that I do not hear His voice, but that of the world, and I follow my own thoughts down roads that lead to Dead ends. Sometimes the way back is difficult, much more difficult than the outward journey, which at the time seems so easy.

So I have to constantly try to stay close. And the only way I can do that is through another walk, one filled with prayer, reading, church, worship and fellowship. Jesus said, if you love Me you will obey Me. I don't think He was talking about the legalistic obey that the law taught, I think He meant follow me and my Word, cicumcise your heart, open it to me.

And sometimes, just sometimes, when I think, I don't want to host home group tonight, I am just too tired, or I don't feel like going to church today because I just want to put my feet up, drink a coke and watch TV, I obey, and I go. I don't do this out of a fear, or a legalistic attitude, I do it because I love Him, and I obey. I might not enjoy church on that day, the lesson might go right over my head, but I obey, because I love Him.

And the next home group, the next church service, the next outreach, I know the Spirit is with me, I know He is always with me, but this time I feel Him, I "hear" Him. And I guess that is what my walk is all about.

When the noise of the world gets in the way, when out of love for Him, I just obey, when the attacks that life sends come, if I am close, I hear Him.

Sort of like this:-

1Ki 19:11 And he said, "Go out and stand on the mount before the LORD." And behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind tore the mountains and broke in pieces the rocks before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind. And after the wind an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake.

1Ki 19:12 And after the earthquake a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire the sound of a low whisper.

1Ki 19:13 And when Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. And behold, there came a voice to him and said, "What are you doing here, Elijah?"

So in the earthquakes and wind and fire of my life, even when I am hiding in my cave, I still have to be close enough to listen for the whisper.

For that is how He talks to me........

Blessings

Well said Brother!

[OneLight]

OneLight,

I hope you don't mind. One of your sentences reminded me of a saying that I think is funny. I hope you enjoy it.

If one "hears voices" as in an audible voice, then concern is warranted.

When man talks to God it is called prayer. When God talks to man it is called schizophrenia.

LOL, you like?

Nope ... even though I realize you are trying to bring humor into the thread.

The concern I speak of is the discernment of spirits, or who is doing the talking. Not all the voices one hears is of God and if what you hear does not line up with scripture, it is not of Him.

Okay, I should know that only those who have had the audible experiences FROM God can relate.

I thought you had already my thread called Jesus Speaking ... I could be wrong. I can relate to hearing Jesus speaking to me as clear as if a person next to me was talking. Please don't assume I can't relate.

Edited due to your edit. I only heard Him once in this manner.

[Ovedya]

I think it's important to note that in our Christian life we need to be balanced between the Spirit and the Word. The Spirit never speaks anything outside God's Word, and God does not Himself ever act outside the confines of what He has revealed in the Scriptures.

The Spirit and the Word are much like a train on a track. Without fuel (The Spirit) the train (our Christian life) will never get down the track (The Word). So also without the track as the leading and course our train will eventually wreck. Many denominations emphasize the Word over the experience of Christ as the life-giving Spirit. These are sometimes called "dead" churches. Then many denominations emphasize the Spirit over the Word, preferring experience over the letter. Those in this category are often referred to as abberent groups. No group, no denomination should sacrifice the genuine and balanced experiences of Christ for the letter of the Word. So also, no denomination should forsake the guiding, the leading, of the Word of God for spiritual experience. Aside from clear Biblical heresy and passivity, these are the two leading problems in the Body of Christ today.

[Permie]

OneLight,

I hope you don't mind. One of your sentences reminded me of a saying that I think is funny. I hope you enjoy it.

If one "hears voices" as in an audible voice, then concern is warranted.

When man talks to God it is called prayer. When God talks to man it is called schizophrenia.

LOL, you like?

Nope ... even though I realize you are trying to bring humor into the thread.

The concern I speak of is the discernment of spirits, or who is doing the talking. Not all the voices one hears is of God and if what you hear does not line up with scripture, it is not of Him.

Okay, I should know that only those who have had the audible experiences FROM God can relate.

I thought you had already my thread called Jesus Speaking ... I could be wrong. I can relate to hearing Jesus speaking to me as clear as if a person next to me was talking. Please don't assume I can't relate.

Edited due to your edit. I only heard Him once in this manner.

Okay, maybe we will one day be able to kid around a bit. Humor is as medicine to the soul, you know? That is biblical, btw.

For me, I had about 3 years straight of audible. Not all communications during that time was audible, but there were many instances during that time.