5 Truth Tests for Discerning the Spirit – Part 3 (Repost)

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(This post is based off content originally posted at thepalmerperspective.com.)

Look at these headlines:

Because of those type of sinister events our minds tend to be suspicious when we hear someone say, “God spoke to me.”

We are groomed to be that way.

Let’s be clear, if God speaks to you he will not ask you to harm someone else.

Also, I know with that statement that there is an assumption that God speaks to His people. Know this, you do not need to hear an audible voice from God to hear him speak. I believe that all followers of Christ want to experience God in profound ways. I also believe that most people want to be able to discern events, and the times, and what they should do with their lives. I think this is generally true, whether they believe in the same version of God as you do or not; whether they hear an audible voice from God or not. Continue reading “5 Truth Tests for Discerning the Spirit – Part 3 (Repost)”

5 Truth Tests for Discerning the Spirit – Part 2 (Repost)

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(This content was originally posted at thepalmerperspective.com.)

Last week I shared with you 2 of the 5 Truth Tests for Discerning the Spirit. Today I reveal one more truth test that will help you in understanding whether or not you are being led by God’s Spirit or something else.

  1. You give God the credit.

“Great job today.”

“Wonderful sermon.”

“You are just what this church needed.”

I just completed my first year of ministry at the Littleton Church of Christ so I still get compliments (But really, the Littleton Church is very encouraging and way more supportive than I deserve). I have found that I receive compliments best when I simply say “thank you” and then thank God in their presence for His gift of encouragement through His church.

Continue reading “5 Truth Tests for Discerning the Spirit – Part 2 (Repost)”

5 Truth Tests for Discerning the Spirit – Part 1 (Repost)

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courtesy shutterstock.com

(This content was originally posted at thepalmerperspective.com.)

The Holy Spirit has been described by ancient Celtic Christians as the Wild Goose. He is not bound to our experiences of him nor can we try to tame him by putting him into our theological cages. The wild is scary. Most people arguably prefer a God who is predictable. “God’s got nothing up-his-sleeve.” He won’t suddenly urge us to do something that stretches our faith, will he? Ok, so just for fun, say that He does. How do we know that God’s Spirit is calling us into a new adventure or whether or not the path that I am choosing to take is on course with His path? If there is such an idea as “discerning the Spirit” how can I understand if my urging or calling from God is really from Him or something (the something is what really scares us, spooky right?) or someone else?

Continue reading “5 Truth Tests for Discerning the Spirit – Part 1 (Repost)”

How the Holy Spirit Changes Your Story (Guest Post)

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Today’s guest post is from Brock Paulk

I’ve always thought I was short.

I was typically the shortest kid in my class throughout grade school. I was so short that eventually my mom started pointing out successful and well-adjusted, short adults just in case I was starting to panic.

In high school, my growth spurt finally hit and, by the time I finished high school, I had grown over a foot and reached the height I am today – which is about 5 feet 9.5 inches.

Even so, I still considered myself short. Continue reading “How the Holy Spirit Changes Your Story (Guest Post)”

3 Principles for Understanding the Spirit (Repost)

(This content was originally posted at coreytrevathan.com).

Understanding the Spirit’s leading in your life can feel intimidating. You may also believe that it is an impossible task. There are many people you may feel have gotten it wrong and maybe you could say the same for yourself. We all have been apprehensive to follow through with “urgings” in our life to do certain things because we are uncertain as to their source. Is this God stirring something inside of me or just indigestion?

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Continue reading “3 Principles for Understanding the Spirit (Repost)”

truth 2 Truth

bibleAfter becoming a follower of Christ I was discipled to believe that the most essential elements in understanding the word of God was logic and common sense. A “plain reading” of the scripture would allow all people to come to the same conclusions and opinions. Any literate person on the planet could open the word of God and understand it. If they read it plainly they would come to the same “truths” as our tribe concerning how we do worship and the steps to salvation. People who discovered different “truths” were making a conscious effort to deny the plain truths found in God’s word. It was that black and white.

Continue reading “truth 2 Truth”