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Yes He does, and most of the time He speaks in a "still small voice." He always points men to the real Jesus, does not draw attention to Himself, does not exalt nor share God's glory with man, and will never proclaim "another gospel," as He inspired Paul to write in Galatians. Here is the reason for "rightly dividing the word of truth." I spoke and prayed in tongues for ten years as a pentecostal preacher and led men to Jesus. I also found myself on the roller coaster of basing my relationship with God on feeling verses the fact of His written word. Took me several years to learn that faith must be based on fact, not on emotional or experience (however ecstatic or sensational the feeling or experience may be). I have raised my hands and wept at times thinking I was hearing from God, discovering later that it was not the Holy Spirit, but "another spirit," imitating Him. I was a spiritual elitist, looking down on others thinking that they were not spiritual because they did not speak in tongues and hear from God like I did. I am now an ordained Southern Baptist, (have been for three years and have led men to Jesus. Leading men to Jesus, that's what is really important -- all else will fall by the wayside.

I heard about how anointed pentecostal and charismatice preachers were -- you could sense the anointing on them. I also heard many preach who were not pentecostal nor charismatic who I sensed had an anointing as well and led many to Christ. Discernment is greatly needed in today's Christian movements.

Discernment is greatly needed in today's Christian movements.

I could not agree more. However, I think that fear cannot drive the church. Fear of being "too emotional" has caused many churches to err on the side of conservativism. They are so afraid to be "driven" by emotion that they reign in the movement of the spirit so much that the service becomes one that is man controlled instead of spirit controlled.

You know...as we walk out a spirit filled life, we have to learn discernment. I am sure that the first sermon you preached was not as flowing and polished as ones you preach now. You were learning to hear from God, to discern his direction. You were learning how to rely on His leading, how to know what to include and exclude, how to keep your personal thoughts out and preach His message, not yours.

I believe it is the same for the gifts of the spirit. The Bible tells us that while we are on the earth, "we see through the glass darkly". We are still human. We still deal with our flesh. But to say that I will not allow myself to be used by God until I know that I will be perfect, would preclude any of us ever stepping out in faith.