Why do ye not understand my speech? [even] because ye cannot hear my word. John 8:43
And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father. John 6:65
Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know [them], because they are spiritually discerned. - I Corinthians 2:12-14
And conversely, when I repeat the words of God and get a "tell me more" or "and it also says" or "but what about" or some other Spiritual connection, then I know it is fertile ground and we all stand to benefit from sharing the words of God.
The power of God is Jesus Christ, the living Word of God. The fruit is always His, never ours. Without Him, we can do nothing.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. - Galatians 5:22-23
I am the vine, ye [are] the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. John 15:5
AMEN!
From the excellent earlier thread...
"...The Holy Spirit Himself is given to the believer so that by prayer and diligent comparative study, knowledge of the Gospel and the will of God is made plain to him. It is this means alone, comparing Scripture with Scripture under the illuminating ministry of the Holy Spirit, that safeguards the renewed reader from the danger of imaginative self-centered mystical deceit and the errors propagated by religious fanaticism and cultic heresies. Natural men, those not made alive by the Holy Spirit and indwelt by Him, have only their darkened understandings to guide them..."
AMEN, AG, well said. These are excellent lessons to remember whenever we defend the scriptures. And speaking of scriptures, thank you for posting so many of them, always on point. :)