Has The Holy Spirit EVER lead/prompted/Guided You To say/do Something?

[JesusFan]

We here ALL agree that He does such through the word of God, but have you ever had Him personally do something unusually?

Such as start talking with someone, and He gives you insight and wisdom in how to assist them in time of need?

 

[annsni]

I've absolutely been led to pray for someone - even waking in the middle of the night to do so. I've had Him prompt me to call someone, bring a meal or send a card to someone.

 

[Amy.G]

Yes, many times. There's an inner compelling that can't be explained until afterwards when you actually see why God led you to do something. It's awesome.

 

[Baptist Believer]

We here ALL agree that He does such through the word of God, but have you ever had Him personally do something unusually?

Such as start talking with someone, and He gives you insight and wisdom in how to assist them in time of need?

Sure.

It doesn't happen often, but it happens consistently, usually a couple of times a year.

I am often given insight on people in crisis and I know to go track them down and give them counsel. (I will occasionally be given insight on exactly where to find them.) Sometimes I have very specific things that God has told me to say to them that confirms something they have sensed from God, but needed external confirmation, and other times I have a word from God that they needed to hear.

The most recent situation occurred earlier this year when I was given insight that a teenaged boy at church was feeling intense guilt over the suicide of a friend. I didn't really know the teen very well, but I had some insight for him. The next day, I talked to a mutual friend, a 20-year-old who is also a church member and I mentioned to him that I believed God wanted me to speak to the teen about a crisis in his life and asked if he would help set up a time where we could go to lunch with the teen and we could have a conversation. The mutual friend informed me that he found out the night before that the teen's behavior was going off the rails and was very concerned. We sat down and had lunch a couple of days later and I was able to address some very specific areas where he heard the specific word of God to his situation and he was freed up from the false guilt and condemnation he was feeling which was shipwrecking his faith. (I know this is all very vague, but I have to respect the privacy of the teen. The actual discussion was extremely specific and consisted of things that he knew I would have no way of knowing. That's one of the ways he knew it was direct communication from God.)

In a similar vein, a number of years ago I was praying for opportunities to share my faith very late one evening just before getting ready for bed and I had the distinct impression that I needed to immediately get up, get in my pickup and go to the main street of the small town where I was pastoring. I did. When I got to the main street (actually, a state highway), I sensed that I should drive west. I did. As I neared the edge of town, I sensed that I needed to stop at the all-night convenience store. I parked in front and went inside. There were three teenaged boys sitting at a small table by the microwave and the store clerk. I sensed that I should talk to the teenagers, but they didn't seem to be in a mood to listen to some strange guy who had a message from God for them. I ended up buying a candy bar and walked out. When I was leaving the parking lot, the Spirit asked me, "Why do you pray for an opportunity and then reject it? I have paved the way for you. Go back and be bold." I turned the truck around and drove back. As I drove up, the teens had stepped out of the store and were sitting on the curb in front of the store. I stepped out, walked up to them and said, "I know this is going to sound crazy, but God told me to come talk to you." To my surprise (revealing my lack of faith), all three suddenly started crying. Apparently they had been talking about whether or not God was real, because if God was real they needed to turn their lives over to him. If God was not real, they could just continue along their path and not worry about God anymore. They decided that if God didn't give them a sign that evening that He was real and that He cared about them, then they would conclude He wasn't real. When I walked up and spoke to them as an ambassador of Christ, they KNEW God was real and present in their circumstance. I had an amazing chance to share the gospel with all three of them and they were very receptive.

 

[JesusFan]

Sure.

It doesn't happen often, but it happens consistently, usually a couple of times a year.

I am often given insight on people in crisis and I know to go track them down and give them counsel. (I will occasionally be given insight on exactly where to find them.) Sometimes I have very specific things that God has told me to say to them that confirms something they have sensed from God, but needed external confirmation, and other times I have a word from God that they needed to hear.

The most recent situation occurred earlier this year when I was given insight that a teenaged boy at church was feeling intense guilt over the suicide of a friend. I didn't really know the teen very well, but I had some insight for him. The next day, I talked to a mutual friend, a 20-year-old who is also a church member and I mentioned to him that I believed God wanted me to speak to the teen about a crisis in his life and asked if he would help set up a time where we could go to lunch with the teen and we could have a conversation. The mutual friend informed me that he found out the night before that the teen's behavior was going off the rails and was very concerned. We sat down and had lunch a couple of days later and I was able to address some very specific areas where he heard the specific word of God to his situation and he was freed up from the false guilt and condemnation he was feeling which was shipwrecking his faith. (I know this is all very vague, but I have to respect the privacy of the teen. The actual discussion was extremely specific and consisted of things that he knew I would have no way of knowing. That's one of the ways he knew it was direct communication from God.)

In a similar vein, a number of years ago I was praying for opportunities to share my faith very late one evening just before getting ready for bed and I had the distinct impression that I needed to immediately get up, get in my pickup and go to the main street of the small town where I was pastoring. I did. When I got to the main street (actually, a state highway), I sensed that I should drive west. I did. As I neared the edge of town, I sensed that I needed to stop at the all-night convenience store. I parked in front and went inside. There were three teenaged boys sitting at a small table by the microwave and the store clerk. I sensed that I should talk to the teenagers, but they didn't seem to be in a mood to listen to some strange guy who had a message from God for them. I ended up buying a candy bar and walked out. When I was leaving the parking lot, the Spirit asked me, "Why do you pray for an opportunity and then reject it? I have paved the way for you. Go back and be bold." I turned the truck around and drove back. As I drove up, the teens had stepped out of the store and were sitting on the curb in front of the store. I stepped out, walked up to them and said, "I know this is going to sound crazy, but God told me to come talk to you." To my surprise (revealing my lack of faith), all three suddenly started crying. Apparently they had been talking about whether or not God was real, because if God was real they needed to turn their lives over to him. If God was not real, they could just continue along their path and not worry about God anymore. They decided that if God didn't give them a sign that evening that He was real and that He cared about them, then they would conclude He wasn't real. When I walked up and spoke to them as an ambassador of Christ, they KNEW God was real and present in their circumstance. I had an amazing chance to share the gospel with all three of them and they were very receptive.

reading through these responses makes me wonder IF there might be a "sematics" between Baptists who say Gifts ceased/continued, as I think many ways we are BOTH saying that the HS stills works today...

Sometimes what might be called 'annoiting" another say as filling/empowering
One calls it wisdom/knowledge, another says its prompting/conviction...

 

[Tom Bryant]

reading through these responses makes me wonder IF there might be a "sematics" between Baptists who say Gifts ceased/continued, as I think many ways we are BOTH saying that the HS stills works today...

Sometimes what might be called 'annoiting" another say as filling/empowering
One calls it wisdom/knowledge, another says its prompting/conviction...

Following the leadership of the Holy Spirit has nothing to do with whether the gifts ceased or continued. Believing in the filling of the Holy Spirit is a different subject than the gifts.

Trying to find common ground between disparate groups is a wonderful thing, but trying to convince people that what they believe ceased at some point in time is actually the same thing as those who say it continues is to ignore the obvious differences. For example, whether a believer is pre-mill or amill, they believe that Jesus will return. To act like those real differences are just semantics is foolish.

 

[JesusFan]

Following the leadership of the Holy Spirit has nothing to do with whether the gifts ceased or continued. Believing in the filling of the Holy Spirit is a different subject than the gifts.

Trying to find common ground between disparate groups is a wonderful thing, but trying to convince people that what they believe ceased at some point in time is actually the same thing as those who say it continues is to ignore the obvious differences. For example, whether a believer is pre-mill or amill, they believe that Jesus will return. To act like those real differences are just semantics is foolish.

Wouldn't differences between us on Gifts though be same as differences in eschatology?

free to disagree, as that BOTH issues do NOT affect the Gospel itself!

 

[Baptist Believer]

Sometimes what might be called 'annoiting" another say as filling/empowering
One calls it wisdom/knowledge, another says its prompting/conviction...

I have understood what I described previously as the "word of knowledge" and "word of wisdom" gifts operating in my life. It is not anything that comes from me (strangely enough, I'm quite skeptical of anyone who tells me they have a "word from God"), but I see it expressed in my life. I don't seek it, nor call attention to it among people I rub shoulders with everyday. And for what it's worth, the people who hear from God through me recognize it as God speaking to them, not me. They certainly appreciate that I am the messenger, but they don't seem to have any trouble distinguishing my opinions from God's message.

I'm not going to argue about whether or not the gifts are active today. But if the Spirit is working among the people of God, why wouldn't we expect the Spirit to use people in various ways to communicate the message of Christ and to encourage, reprove and support each other? Just as God uses and empowers the words of preachers who listen to a sermon, God will use and empower the words of His people who are ministering to each other within and without the Body of Christ.

 

[JesusFan]

I have understood what I described previously as the "word of knowledge" and "word of wisdom" gifts operating in my life. It is not anything that comes from me (strangely enough, I'm quite skeptical of anyone who tells me they have a "word from God"), but I see it expressed in my life. I don't seek it, nor call attention to it among people I rub shoulders with everyday. And for what it's worth, the people who hear from God through me recognize it as God speaking to them, not me. They certainly appreciate that I am the messenger, but they don't seem to have any trouble distinguishing my opinions from God's message.

I'm not going to argue about whether or not the gifts are active today. But if the Spirit is working among the people of God, why wouldn't we expect the Spirit to use people in various ways to communicate the message of Christ and to encourage, reprove and support each other? Just as God uses and empowers the words of preachers who listen to a sermon, God will use and empower the words of His people who are ministering to each other within and without the Body of Christ.

That is why I really wonder IF we are argueing among ourselves in the area of spiritual gifts operating today in the Body of Christ...

IF ones reads prior experiences from even puritans and others, seems tht they would allow for Him to be more active than "Just" revealing the Bible to us today!

Seems that the Spurgeons/Moodys/?Grahams etc ALL would hold that He does do 'other stuff' even today among the saints of God!


Again, not talking about heretical WoF/modern day Apostles/health and wealth teaching, its just that there would appear to be some common things happening in 'both " camps of ceasing/continuing for today, as both would agree that the HS does give guidance/leading/propmptings etc today, as He reveals the Bible to us and works through us...

 

[JesusFan]

Following the leadership of the Holy Spirit has nothing to do with whether the gifts ceased or continued. Believing in the filling of the Holy Spirit is a different subject than the gifts.

Trying to find common ground between disparate groups is a wonderful thing, but trying to convince people that what they believe ceased at some point in time is actually the same thing as those who say it continues is to ignore the obvious differences. For example, whether a believer is pre-mill or amill, they believe that Jesus will return. To act like those real differences are just semantics is foolish.

just was saying that there would appear to be a 'common" area of discussion in this doctrine, IF we can exclude out those heretical groups like WoF/wealth/health/prosperity groups, and exclude those who say God can do NOTHING today apart form the Bible being revealed to us by the HS, and allow for us who are mature Christians handle trying to build a common ground here!

 

[Alive in Christ]

Has The Holy Spirit EVER lead/prompted/Guided You To say/do Something?

Oh my goodness. :laugh:

I was born of the Spirit in 1982.

I could not begin to count the times when God has led me to do or say something. I'm not sure that I would say it happens *routinely*, but it most definetly happens quite a bit.

Sometimes even regarding posting to someone on here. :wavey:

 

[Alive in Christ]

edit
accidental duplicate

 

[Tom Butler]

Yes, many times. There's an inner compelling that can't be explained until afterwards when you actually see why God led you to do something. It's awesome.

Amy, my experience parallels yours. The Holy Spirit has never spoken verbally to me, but more once he has created an intense desire within me.

You're right,it's difficult to explain to someone, but when you operate on a spiritual level, there's no mistaking the source of the desire within you.

 

[righteousdude2]

That is the Best Part of Being spirit Filled...

.....Knowing He's impressed upon your heart a thought, or testimony, or word of witness, or the words to lead another to Jesus.

There have been times, in my more timid days, when I'd feel impressed and inclined to say something in church, or around believers, and passed because I didn't want to sound stupid, or be embarrassed. Well, almost like clock work, by keeping quiet, it was no time before someone else would stand up and share something similar, giving God the credit, and leaving me lost for words.

When you feel the Spirit come upon your heart,: pray; witness; share; shout; speak; talk; sing out; or whatever He is leading you to do!. If you don't someone else will be led to take the very words out of your heart and mouth and lift Him up in your place!

Great post....

Pastor Paul :type:

 

[JesusFan]

Amy, my experience parallels yours. The Holy Spirit has never spoken verbally to me, but more once he has created an intense desire within me.

You're right,it's difficult to explain to someone, but when you operate on a spiritual level, there's no mistaking the source of the desire within you.

based upon all of these postings...

that IF we agree to Eliminate" Sign gifts as operating for today, we should be all in agreement that the rest of the HS Sorit Gifts still function through us today!