Folks,
Too often the average believer has no true communication relationship with the Holy Spirit and travels without guidance in the ways of living. Often they rely upon circumstances, "chance occurrences," some supposed wet fleece sign, or some other indicator.
When a moment by moment direct communication is offered by the Holy Spirit to those who have ears to hear. Do not quench that peace filled small whisper, that impulse of love, that directs practical Scriptural principles and Scriptural wisdom to every aspect of living.
Do not neglect the Word of God. Look for the theology behind everything, in every matter, in every moment.
Published work by others, no matter the genre, no matter the hype, no matter the popular cultural view, and no matter the delivery - they all need to be examined for consistency with Scripture principles and doctrine.
That applies from the simplest prayer to the most awesome media one might encounter, from the elementary writing of a beginning believer to the grand statements of the most highly educated, and no less from the most humble tune to the loftiest cacophony of sounds.
Look at just these few verses to see what the Scriptures state about the matter.
Paul's letter speaks similarly in Colossians 3:
15Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and
be thankful.
16Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms
and hymns
and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God.
17Whatever you
do in word or deed,
do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.
Another principle is referring to 1 Thessalonians 5:
16Rejoice always;
17pray without ceasing;
18in
everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
19Do not quench the Spirit;
20do not despise prophetic utterances. 21But
examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good;
22abstain from every form of evil.
Proverbs 14:
15The naive believes everything,
But the
sensible man considers his steps.
Paul says in 2 Corinthians 10:
"5 We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ,"
The Lord Jesus Christ said (John 10):
4 When he puts forth all his own, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice."
Speaking upon the work of the Holy Spirit, the Lord Jesus Christ said (John 16):
"But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come."
(I realize that some consider this verse ONLY to the apostles, but John included the narrative, and John's work was to everyone.)
If one hears the voice calling to salvation, why is so ignored in daily walk?