I Said:
That's funny, 2 Kings 15:20-22
U Said:
Forgive me ... the reference should have been 1 Kings 22:20-22
I hate it when that happens...(to me, Grin)
I Said:
You speak as one with little to no experience with the Holy Ghost, and for that I am truly sorry, ask It was not just a suggestion.
U Said:
You are really not in a position to judge my experience with the Holy Spirit. I happen to believe that all believers in Christ are gifted with the presence and indwelling of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit is active in my life everyday.
I was not trying to judge you, merely your speech here, you spoke as if there was no revelation, not prompting, no communication from God and that, to me at least is a sad thing to even contemplate. I agree that all who believe experience the Spirit, I would say that the amount of "spirit" a person experiences varies with their closeness to Christ and their obedience to his commands.
I Said:
Where we disagree is on the nature of the ministry of the Holy Spirit in the life of the believer.
U Said:
My point in this discussion is that we have been instructed by Jesus not to base our faith upon a sign, but upon the truth which we find in the Word of God.
But without his spirit it is impossible to know what is the word of God. "To him that hath ears to hear let him hear" was not just a cute phrase, There are some parts of the Bible that cannot be understood without that spirit. I dare say there are other inspired writings that did not make it into the Bible. Only with the Spirit of God can men discern as they have been commanded to do and ask and receive answers from him. Let me be perfectly clear, God testifies of all his words not just the Book of Mormon. It is just as valid to pray for a testimony of the Bible, in fact, I have and I got a similar answer to the one I got for the Book of Mormon. God simply answers prayers, isn't that wonderful?
U Said:
Jesus described the ministry of the Holy Spirit among believers and He never said anything about the Holy Spirit warming the bosoms/hearts of believers as a sign of the truth of their belief.
The burning in the Bosom is a famous example because
it's in the Bible, However, God will answer in a perfect way for every man, differently for every man, woman and Child that asks him, in way that is perfect for them, and because it is perfect for them, because it will testify of Jesus, they will know it is of God.
U Said:
In fact, Jesus said that the heart is deceitful above all things ... and desperately wicked. We should take care not to base our faith upon the feelings of our hearts.
You are right, we should base our faith on revelation from God.
U Said:
As believers, we should strive for completeness and accuracy in our beliefs. A study of the ministry of the Holy Spirit would be beneficial for all believers.
I could not agree more, and what better way to start then by asking God, the source of all truth to testify of his words which you are studying.
Luke 11:9-13 9 And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.
10 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.
11 If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent?
12 Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion?
13 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?
All I am asking people to do is ask, it's Biblical...