I have another question please

First of all, I would not worry about the word blasphemy or heresy on this board. It is thrown around to mean "you do not agree with what I think the Bible says."

That is a very broad question, and the only answer that comes to mind is that the Holy Spirits in you illuminates your mind as you read the Word of God. Since the Spirit guides in all things, those questions should be answered within you.

 

Your only hope is consistently receiving sound Bible teaching. Just being raised Pentecostal means you have been inculcated with bad elementary doctrine. And the result of having had bad elementary doctrine taught is that any attempt to build upon it results in failure. It may result in some "apparent" success here and there but the doctrinal edifice that results will be disjointed, inconsistent and minus the necessary doctrinal integrity to provide just what you seek, a strong, stable and confident edification within your soul resulting in maturity, spiritual poise and focus manifested in confidence toward God, His Word, and His protocol plan.

Daily one can read, such as here or at any message board or any Christian social network, innumerable statements, beliefs, and ideas that manifest the misalignment and misunderstanding of the most basic doctrines in their attempt to handle more meaty issues.

It is paramount in moving to maturity to make sure the fundamentals, the basic doctrines, are understood in the most thorough manner. And then intermediate doctrines are to be tackled and mastered in such a fashion, always building upon the foundational doctrines. Eventually advanced doctrinal issues can be navigated successfully and your certainty toward the integrity of the Scriptures will blossom in the way you are describing.

 

Hey Rusty :wavey:

These others have given you some good advice. The first thing to know is what gifts are given us individually. That list (and the complete study of spiritual gifts) is given in 1Cor 12:7-11. (12:1-31 -- individual, body of Christ, and local church) Look in that list and see what the options are. Many of them have to do with learning the Bible (word of wisdom and word of knowledge). Tongues are on the list as well but, again, you will see that no 2 have the same gifts and, 1Cor13:1, we are to desire only one gift -- prophecy (meaning teaching or preaching).

Do be careful of anybody telling you what gifts you should have. They are God's gifts to give and with tongues, there must be an intepretter else we aren't to use them.

Also, like Scarlet said, many are going to tell you "The Bible says it so you better believe it." That's just a non-Berean speaking. The Bereans first went to check out everything Paul said in scripture and in prayer before they would accept it. There are all kinds of interpretations out there. It may be God speaking or it could be that "angel of light," SATAN!

skypair

 

Skypair,

If it is in God's Word, then it isn't the "angel of light" telling us. I'd be the first to admit that I don't understand all of God's Word - I'm not even close, but my lack of understanding doesn't affect my belief that it is God's Word.

So... If God's Word says it, I believe it!

 

scripture

Deuteronomy 8:3
He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your fathers had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD.

Matthew 4:4
Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.' "

 

You will find many who equate their own words with God's even reciting God's words in their defense. That is all I am warning about.

skypair

 

Case in point: So many (my FiL for one) say they don't believe in God bc they had this crisis and prayed with tears to God and never got an answer.

Well, most never get an answer because they are not listening where they to listen. God doesn't give His answers on your pillow at night. He gives answers in the midst of the crisis if, instead of being bitter or bull-headed, we examine our options. In the military, we called it OJT.

Right there in the crises there are things we KNOW God doesn't want us to do -- like blow up at our boss or push our car over the cliff. In fact, what was it He told us about a humble, praying, contrite spirit? And other people are ministers to you if you just approach them the right way (like you are now).

I remember once being so mad at God I was beating on my steering wheel because I couldn't think of how to get where I wanted to go. Did you know that blows out a whole lot of chostructive memory cells just to do that? And it's NOT solving the problem nor is it reaching God in the least! Clearly you would come away hating yourself and thinking God wasn't with you.

skypair

 

Now there is a point we agree on. There seem to be many threads where people do not know the difference between God's Word and their opinion of God's Word. The lines get blurred, and is the source of most arguments.

 

Scarlett, saturn,

Thanks guys. :thumbs: I'm an old man now and have had untold numbers of times to reflect upon my destructive tendencies.

I guess the worst was being so bitter with God that instead of having a 27 year peaceful career with FedEx, I ended up with a turbulent stint at Eastern Air lines with only 16 years following at FedEx. I'm blessed -- I'm thankful now. And to Him be the glory, my prayer of 27 years ago was answered --- 11 years later.

As I reflect on bitterness and self-pity, I now try to be forward-looking and enthusiastic about what some seeming hardship now might result in because every "fork in the road" has the capacity to success or failure for years to come.

skypair