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Thank you for your reply!

If you reject the authority of men re God's Word, revelations, etc. who and how would you personally define a "prophet" or perhaps a "prophetess?"

The indwelling Spirit authenticates the Scriptures to me by bringing them alive within as my eyes pass over the words. Therefore I know the law and the prophets, the gospels and the epistles are truth.

Likewise, if there is a thing to be treasured in what another says, or in another ancient manuscript, the indwelling Spirit authenticates it to me, within. And conversely, if it is anathema, He raises an alarm within (I call it "Holy Spirit radar" LOL!)

Not everything a person or prophet says in his life is of God obviously. But when it is truth, we can and must rely on the Spirit to confirm it. (Romans 8)

We must not resist the Spirit.

And yet, it sure seems to me that many people have long wanted a "formula" for God, a surpassing sense of God their minds could obtain through reason - or a "god" that could be in some way touched, physically, so that he would be "real" to their physical senses. They wanted a "small god" not God who is spirit (John 4).

Stephen was filled of the Holy Spirit when he raised that very point, and just after he did, they stoned him to sleep:

But Solomon built him an house. Howbeit the most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands; as saith the prophet, Heaven [is] my throne, and earth [is] my footstool: what house will ye build me? saith the Lord: or what [is] the place of my rest? Hath not my hand made all these things?

Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers [did], so [do] ye.

Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain them which shewed before of the coming of the Just One; of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murderers: Who have received the law by the disposition of angels, and have not kept [it]. - Acts 7:47-53

It occurs to me that some Christians these days may also be resisting the Spirit.

It occurs to me that some Christians these days may also be resisting the Spirit.

I don't think so and this is why: the stiffnecked people mentioned in Acts are unconverted Jews. Whenever the HS came to them, He was external and it was for but a short while.

Christians actually receive the Spirit who proceeds to complete a work in them. They can now grieve the HS, literally make him sorrow, but they cannot resist Him.

Eph 4:30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.

So this idea of "resisting" the Holy Spirit is untenable. Unless of course, one isn't resisting Him, but the Truth of what He teaches. Then perhaps comes the itching ears and the desire for

2 Timothy 4:3

For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;

4:4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.

Simon Magus asked for the Holy Spirit, but not to pursue the truth of Jesus alone with it, (Acts 8)and from other accounts not found in the bible, we learn where he was led.

Now without being flip or contentious, it seems to me that if you are saying that you can use the Holy Spirit something like the Ummin and the Thummin, that this not biblical, unless of course you can show me that it is. Thank you for the opportunity to discuss this, it's always enjoyable to touch on the deeper things of scripture.