Does anybody listen to the Holy Spirit?

reply to post by LadyGreenEyes


Ah yes, ambiguity and contradictions. Gotta love the word.

Originally posted by DelayedChristmas

Originally posted by Mads1987
reply to post by SpiritofEnoch

 

I am not familiar with the experience you are describing - but since I am an atheist, I will most likely dismiss your claim of having contact with a supernatural entity as some sort of misconception, until I am presented with quantifiable evidence.
But I can't help but wonder how you know it's the holy spirit?

I am glad that this motivates you to treat others with compassion. Would you by any chance share some of these things that the Spirit tells you? I am curious. I am curious.

edit on 06/06/12 by Mads1987 because: (no reason given)

edit on 06/06/12 by Mads1987 because: Spell check

You know who can give you the best answer? Father.

To me, it seems like your genuinely interested, but I can't tell for sure because I can't look at your heart.

Ask with a pure heart. It's all about a personal relationship, that is all the evidence you will ever need. The words of others, in my opinion, can only go so far.

I appreciate your suggestion, since I am sure it comes from a good place.
But since there are so many different religions to choose from, and their philosophies and reasoning, to me, are equally depended on faith. I personally can't justify picking one over the other.

I am genuinely interested, but more about what makes you believe personally.

I have been lied to before, by people who weren't aware that they were telling a lie and actually thought they were doing something good. I imagine you can recognize this from your own encounters with people of different faith or even from education. Some people believe they were a bunny-rabbit in their past life, some that they can cure Aids through pedophilia, some that Columbus discovered America, some that the pyramids were build by Aliens, and others that they can heal by touch. All on faith - sometimes good, sometimes harmless and sometimes horrifying.
And as I started out by saying, I think it's hard to accept one and not the other when they all depend equally on faith.

Originally posted by SpiritofEnoch

Originally posted by LadyGreenEyes

Very true! I am not always happy, either, and he knows that, too. Was once that I was actually very angry with God. We talked it out, but it was a rough time. In that case, twin grandsons lost to early delivery and an idiot doctor. Ah, but grace is a wonderful thing, and He loves us in spite of all the times we mess up!

He has his reasons for letting us be unhappy. It seems to me like those are the times when we are demonstrating our faith. It's easy to say you have faith, but can you prove it? But you don't prove it to men by proclaiming God. You prove it to God by following his path and living by his Spirit. I wish more people could see that.

Yes, He does, and we can't always see those reasons. Especially in a case like that. A lot of people turn from their faith during such times, and maybe they are a test. I know that He still loves me, though, and that He does have a reason, even if I can't understand it. It's very true that we are a better witness by actions than by anything we can say. Hoe many times have we seen people look down on Christianity as a whole because some famous preacher got into trouble?

reply to post by SpiritofEnoch


It makes some sense.

Originally posted by boncho
reply to post by LadyGreenEyes

 

Ah yes, ambiguity and contradictions. Gotta love the word.

I would be happy to discuss specific verses with you, if you care to post them. In every case I have personally studied, the supposed "contradictions" were not, and were simply misunderstandings. Things taken out of context, or in some cases, flat out misinterpreted. I do love His Word, though. The entire thing is about the Son. Prophecies from hundreds of years before Jesus that foretold His life, death, and resurrection accurately. Many other accurate prophecies, too. It's a great topic for discussion.

reply to post by Mads1987


As I said before, it's circular logic, but it does hold weight in the heart. I looked for answers and this is all I got. I mean, that's why most of us are here, right? Looking for answers? I think I'll take what I can get. If you can't believe, then I am genuinely sorry for you. But do not let it stop you from living a good life. There are more important things in the world than what we believe. A good friend of mine, my cousin, has no faith, but lives the best life he can for his family and the rest of the people he cares about. He figures he'll take it up with God when he finds out if he's real. I can't speak for God and say he will be seen righteous, but I think he has a much better chance than somebody who ignores the possibility of God and lives wickedly.

reply to post by LadyGreenEyes


So what word is the OP hearing then? Why all the confusion? Either you all are listening to the holy spirit or you are listening to antipsychotics wearing off.

Where is there room for misinterpretation if you are being spoken to directly.

Originally posted by LadyGreenEyes


Yes, He does, and we can't always see those reasons. Especially in a case like that. A lot of people turn from their faith during such times, and maybe they are a test. I know that He still loves me, though, and that He does have a reason, even if I can't understand it. It's very true that we are a better witness by actions than by anything we can say. Hoe many times have we seen people look down on Christianity as a whole because some famous preacher got into trouble?

What's sad is that I look down on Christianity not for something some famous preacher did, but because the religion itself has a noted lack of Christians. I have never met a Christian at a Christian church, I'm sad to say.

Originally posted by boncho
reply to post by LadyGreenEyes

 

So what word is the OP hearing then? Why all the confusion? Either you all are listening to the holy spirit or you are listening to antipsychotics wearing off.

Where is there room for misinterpretation if you are being spoken to directly.

God has reasons for not disclosing certain things to certain people. If there is a discrepancy between two people claiming to be led by the spirit it is because of one of two things. One or both of them is lying, and the spirit is not talking to them. Or, more likely, somebody interpreted the bible and taught them the interpretation. But since neither of us seems to be confused about what the Spirit says, I'm going to say you just don't understand the difference between misinterpretation and arguing semantics. When it comes to reality, we both know that our ideals mean nothing, and we will be moved to act only in the way that we can act. If I pass judgement on someone, I will feel remorse at having done so, because it goes against my ideals, but it will not change it from having happened, and the Holy Spirit is all about moving forward and rolling with the unexpected.

Originally posted by boncho
reply to post by LadyGreenEyes

 

So what word is the OP hearing then? Why all the confusion? Either you all are listening to the holy spirit or you are listening to antipsychotics wearing off.

Where is there room for misinterpretation if you are being spoken to directly.

I can't speak for what the OP hears, though I have no reason to doubt that he can and does hear from the Holy Spirit. Not sure why you feel there is a difference in who we are hearing. Can you clarify?

As for "room for misinterpretation", this isn't like seeing someone standing in front of you and speaking, and I think we all know that even such a conversation can be misinterpreted. That's one reason people argue.

Originally posted by SpiritofEnoch
What's sad is that I look down on Christianity not for something some famous preacher did, but because the religion itself has a noted lack of Christians. I have never met a Christian at a Christian church, I'm sad to say.

That is sad. I have known many. Yes, seen some that attended and were not, as far as I could tell, but known quite a few wonderful Christians at various churches. There are still good churches around. None perfect, but some with good people, trying to live by the Word of God. Don't give up looking. Gathering together for worship and fellowship is a good thing. Doesn't bring salvation, but it's good for us, in the right place.

reply to post by LadyGreenEyes


I'm not ready to return to church. God will tell me when the time is right, if that time ever comes. I have met a lot of good people in the world. And a lot of them go to church, but not one of them has the compassion that Jesus did. Not one of them was as open and loving. Many of them could not love without passing judgement. That's why Jesus warned us against it and why I take it as one of my two of his teaching to live by. The other being love one another. These are what kept me close to god even when I was furthest from Him.

Originally posted by SpiritofEnoch
reply to post by LadyGreenEyes

 

I'm not ready to return to church. God will tell me when the time is right, if that time ever comes. I have met a lot of good people in the world. And a lot of them go to church, but not one of them has the compassion that Jesus did. Not one of them was as open and loving. Many of them could not love without passing judgement. That's why Jesus warned us against it and why I take it as one of my two of his teaching to live by. The other being love one another. These are what kept me close to god even when I was furthest from Him.

That's understandable. My own father didn't attend church for many years, and in fact never returned once he left, but I know he still believed. A lot of churches have a lot of issues, and it can be disheartening, to say the least. Of course, no Christian will ever match Jesus in compassion or any other area, though some do try. I have been in both places; not attending, then attending, then not, and right now, attending. All depends on the local church, and I agree that sometimes it can be better to not go, if the place isn't as it should be. Took a few years in our current location to find a local church, and in fact, the current pastor wasn't there when we first arrived here. God has ways to let us know when the time is right, and when it isn't as well.

I completely understand what you mean about passing judgment. Some can get very self righteous about that, and that's not the right way. I do hope you have a chance to read that article, though, as it contains some information I didn't really know well, either. Still, best to treat people with love, first and foremost. Every time I feel like looking down on someone else, I can remind myself how many times I was far from where I should be (yes, as a Christian), and that God was still there for me, and still loves me. If He's willing to forgive us, we should treat others that way. Seems like you understand that well.

Originally posted by SpiritofEnoch
Don't bother trying to flame me, I won't be listening.

I simply just want to know if there is anybody else out there who is listening to what the Spirit tells them. Because I cannot get away from it. It has become one with my soul, and I cannot stray away. God has complete control over me through this. It's constantly with me, judging everything I do, from every point in my life, and it causes me to make better decisions, to treat everybody with more compassion. I know there have to be more of you out there.

The Spirit of God is within everyone. In movies, it is pictured as the angel of light on one shoulder and the angel of darkness on the other. We intuitively know the truth because it is written on our hearts. A complete description of these two influences is outlined in the first dead sea scroll document found. There were fourteen copies stacked and wrapped in the jug. There was a reason for it to be found. When I read this document, I immediately wanted to post it on ATS, so I did a quick Google search and found that it was not posted anywhere on the internet. I typed it out completely and posted it a month ago.

Eyes Wide Open on Good and Evil

This document provides the excluded middle when struggling with God's Glory as opposed to why evil must exist. It also provides us with the answer to why celestial beings are fed from God's Glory and mankind must suffer the hoe to eat. We might look at the angles as superior to us in that they need not struggle to eat. Of course, by eat, I am referring to both food and enlightenment. We look at the struggle in the wrong way if we say that suffering produces no reward. The fact is, suffering for good is the primary means to gaining God's goodness and eternal rewards.

I compare this to smoking and working out in a gym. If you smoke, you get cancer. This is because you took a reward that was not earned. When you take something, you are a thief and suffering comes as the result. On the other hand, if you put the smokes away and work out in the gym, health is produced. This is because you suffered first for the reward by denying the easy reward. True reward comes when we suffer first for what we earn. All gifts must be earned.

God gives us the gift of suffering. Either we suffer for the reward or we take the reward and suffer. Either way, the Holy Spirit is working with us to find the true goal from life. The goal is God's will of love. Love can only give and receive from what is first suffered. The will of the angel of darkness is to take. Truth is simple and God's will is even easier to discern if we are honest about love.

Good thread. Thank you for sharing it.

I don't know about prayer and listening, but I do believe in some form of higher awareness, possibly God or Gods. They don't directly say to me, "Don't judge", but not judging is an action that might be meaningless if there weren't higher creative powers.

I don't believe in true free will. Yeah I believe we have somewhat of a choice, but everyone wants what they were made to want and we all seek what we were made to seek. So eventually, we become what we were made to become. We all want to be happy. We all want to be happy, and happiness is how we are controlled. If life was an accident, why would it go through such a great effort to make us behave a certain way. Why would it go through such a great effort to propogate it and perpetuate it? I believe we are chasing an ideal, and its not necessarily our own. If not ours then who's? My imagination can only deduce- God(s).

So. If we are created by beings more powerful, wiser, and divine than us, it would be foolish to say that anything on this earth is unworthy of appreciation. It would be foolish to judge. If we were made the way we were made by something greater than us, who are we to say what is is bad? I don't hear any voices in my head, but I feel a certain divine God-likeness when I accept all as is.

Originally posted by SpiritofEnoch
Don't bother trying to flame me, I won't be listening.

I simply just want to know if there is anybody else out there who is listening to what the Spirit tells them. Because I cannot get away from it. It has become one with my soul, and I cannot stray away. God has complete control over me through this. It's constantly with me, judging everything I do, from every point in my life, and it causes me to make better decisions, to treat everybody with more compassion. I know there have to be more of you out there.

Sure, He convicts, exhorts, and truly does lead in the paths of righteousness and always glorifies Christ. He's a constant companion.

Originally posted by Mads1987

Originally posted by DelayedChristmas

Originally posted by Mads1987
reply to post by SpiritofEnoch

 

I am not familiar with the experience you are describing - but since I am an atheist, I will most likely dismiss your claim of having contact with a supernatural entity as some sort of misconception, until I am presented with quantifiable evidence.
But I can't help but wonder how you know it's the holy spirit?

I am glad that this motivates you to treat others with compassion. Would you by any chance share some of these things that the Spirit tells you? I am curious. I am curious.

edit on 06/06/12 by Mads1987 because: (no reason given)

edit on 06/06/12 by Mads1987 because: Spell check

You know who can give you the best answer? Father.

To me, it seems like your genuinely interested, but I can't tell for sure because I can't look at your heart.

Ask with a pure heart. It's all about a personal relationship, that is all the evidence you will ever need. The words of others, in my opinion, can only go so far.

I appreciate your suggestion, since I am sure it comes from a good place.
But since there are so many different religions to choose from, and their philosophies and reasoning, to me, are equally depended on faith. I personally can't justify picking one over the other.

I am genuinely interested, but more about what makes you believe personally.

I have been lied to before, by people who weren't aware that they were telling a lie and actually thought they were doing something good. I imagine you can recognize this from your own encounters with people of different faith or even from education. Some people believe they were a bunny-rabbit in their past life, some that they can cure Aids through pedophilia, some that Columbus discovered America, some that the pyramids were build by Aliens, and others that they can heal by touch. All on faith - sometimes good, sometimes harmless and sometimes horrifying.
And as I started out by saying, I think it's hard to accept one and not the other when they all depend equally on faith.

edit on 06/06/12 by Mads1987 because: (no reason given)

To be honest, I think the essence of Christianity is the closest to what is. All religions try to explain the existential questions of life. However, just like mankind is imperfect, so will their views on God be; but the process of learning is an eternal process. I don't like to place myself under a subjective box, so i like to mix and match concepts that I think are essential, like Jesus Christ is Lord, begotten Son of God, came in the flesh from God from Christianity, love conquering all, and the core concept of insight and non-attachment of scriptures that the Zen Buddhists teach ... Have you ever read the book Life of Pi?

Well, how did I personally come to believe?

I was born into the religion of Christianity, but like most young children that are born into the church, I just went to church for the social aspect. I listened to the sermons but I never really gave much thought into it, but it still laid the foundation of my faith.

My mother passed away from breast cancer when I was eight. I didn't even know that she was so ill and I didn't think twice when I saw my mom so ill. I remember taking her wig off and I was laughing, asking her what happened to her hair. She obviously lost her hair from the chemo but I had no idea what was going on.

After my mom died, I remember cursing Father. I remember yelling something around the lines of, "How could You do this? She was my mom and I am still young. If You exist, You are so unfair. Everyone else has their moms around them but why did you take mine? I hate You!" Looking back, it was ironic that I was speaking to Him as if He existed even though I said that He didn't exist. I think it really pained Father' to see and hear me say that, but of course He knew that was going to happen. Father turned my anger into passion, as my former pastor told me, trying to paint a prettier picture. I do think she was onto something though.

I remember that I still didn't FULLY believe, I had that proverbial mustard seed of faith. Whenever I went to retreats, again, mainly for the social aspect, I remember just crying about my mom because I still could not get over this event when we started praising through singing. I still miss her dearly and I would love to see her one more time, but I know she's in Heaven where she isn't suffering anymore.

It look a lot more "ups and downs" for my faith today, and there's plenty of bumps on the path ahead, but I know this is a refining process.

Father has a relationship with all. I think He "reveals" Himself when we are ready.

reply to post by SpiritofEnoch


What makes you think it's the "Holy Spirit"?

reply to post by SpiritofEnoch


I asked for guidance and it was given to me. I was told to "BE STILL" in regards to my thoughts and actions. It has helped me tremendously in trying to embrace the philosophy of Forgiveness and Acceptance.

reply to post by SpiritofEnoch


One man's thought process and memory is another man's divine intervention. I listen to what you call the Holy Spirit, except I call it my reason and intelligence. We're experiencing the same thing, only we label it differently.