How do you know if a believer is led by the Spirit?

How would you know God wanted you to speak in public?

What I am meaning,is that obedience can mean suffering,unpopularity,hatred from unbelievers,mistreatment from others,amny kinds of suffering can take place,and it may not feel good to the flesh,but so rewarding to the soul.

Hope that makes sense.

 

I found the name of the book I was referring to above in my post:

*The Christian's Guide to Guidance* by Jay E. Adams,Timeless Texts.

I have not read this,but I have had many very respected teachers recommend it to us...it is so different than the typical SBC I feel led by God to do this and that...etc. I believe Jay Adams is a very biblical one to listen to on this topic.

 

I am going to answer your question with a question, how do you know when you are obeying God?

Again, please give me an example of what you mean.

 

Not all Christians have equal portions of the Spirit.

One of the qualifications for a deacons in Acts 6 is that he must be "full of the Holy Ghost."

This is obviously something that has outward characteristics.

 

We know we are obeying God when we read in His word how to respond,how to live,what things we are not to do,then we abide by those statutes,laws,commands...the things we know for sure.

An example would be in Eph it says to put aside anger,bitterness,wrath,slander,etc....if we put those away from our life,we are being obedient.

[ December 15, 2002, 08:50 PM: Message edited by: Molly ]

 

I agree, Molly, but don't you feel good when you obey and do not respond in anger, bitterness, wrath, slander, etc.

My question is what does not make you "feel" good when obeying God.

 

Okay,I think I have not explained myself well....Obeying God is good and can make us feel right with our Lord,knowing we are doing what He says. It gives us joy to know that He is causing our obedience and we are becoming more Christ like. God created our emotions,I'm not saying we can not feel joy,etc.

But,what I am saying is that when deciding God's will or whether or not we are being led to do something,we can not say..."I feel this is right" or "I feel a peace about this decision" and rubber stamp it as God's will,when in fact it may or not be. It cold even be contradictory to God's word. We can only base God's will on what He has written and given to us in His word. If we are doing what it says we are walking in the Spirit.

Molly

 

I see what you mean, Molly.

I will for the most part continue to follow my feelings based on scripture and the Will of God.

I am sure that Abraham did not "feel good" about sacrificing his son Isaac, but he was willing to do it to obey God.

Good point, PTW, I may even agree with you on this