Many people say they are led by the spirit but very few are and we will quickly show you why...
As these people 'go to church' which is not biblical,(we are to BE His body not GO to church) they follow a planned out ritual religious service that they call worship. Every Sunday they show up at the same time, sing a few songs for a certain amount of time, pray whenever the modern pastor tells them to pray, listen to a short sermon that the modern pastor wrote up or pulled off the internet, add in a few more songs and they are out the door about the same time each week. Unless they have their tidbit communion (cracker and sip of wine) which is done unbiblically as well. Check out this article about building centered worship: http://spiritandtruthdiscernment.blogspot.com/2013/12/is-religious-denominational-building.html
This is not spirit led, this is all led by a clock and the modern pastor. (Sometimes it's all led based on the timing of the NFL or other sinful activities going on at that time.)
A spirit led gathering is simply meeting house to house (as we see in the New Testament Acts 2:46) or as many as can gather together at that time, the men brining teachings, admonishments, exhortations, rebukes, songs, prayers etc, all for edification of the body and training up of the saints for ministry (Ephesians 4). This is a free flowing move of the Holy Spirit not controlled by one man (or even a few) but all men as the Spirit leads. The gatherings themselves are also called as the Spirit leads. Maybe they gather 3-4 times a week and sometimes 1 or 2. All at the prompting of the Holy Spirit, not by a man who pre-plans it all every week. See an article here about the characteristics of the New Testament Body: http://spiritandtruthdiscernment.blogspot.com/2014/04/characteristics-of-new-testament-body.html
These same people are not led by the Holy Spirit in their daily lives either because instead of reading the scriptures and obeying them, they listen to their pastor, their church traditions, reading all sorts of apostate 'christian' books and 'devotional' pamphlets. They base their truth off each other and what everyone else is doing, thinking that's doctrinal when God's Word says otherwise.
Romans 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
Romans 8:14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God
We will give you an example of this with the Anabaptists (Mennonites, Amish, German Baptist etc).
The Anabaptists make many man made rules that are added to God's Word such as they teach separation from the world and include technology in that separation. Let's use the internet for example: Instead of teaching their people about holiness, discernment and separation while using the internet for business or ministry, they make a rule that says 'no internet'. Or 'you can only use the internet if you put on this accountability software' (that someone else watches.)
What is making that person obey God's Word? Man made rules, not the Holy Spirit. If the Holy Spirit were allowed to lead, the person using the internet would obey God's Word and avoid the sinful areas of the internet and if they were tempted the Holy Spirit would convict them of this. They would then obey because of the prompting of the Holy Spirit, not because a man made some rule about it.
Another area where people are not led by the Holy Spirit is, let's look at a typical evangelical/denominational/non-denominational group of people. They put on their best behavior on Sunday (and/or Wednesday) and once their 'service' is done they go about their lives living worldly and carnal, void of the leading of the Holy Spirit.
They also follow man made rules that are not biblical such as the Baptists who make a rule of 'no alcohol'! God's Word says 'drunkenness' is the sin, not alcohol (see an article here:http://spiritandtruthdiscernment.blogspot.com/2015/01/does-gods-word-forbid-drinking-any.html). Instead of following God's Word and the convicting of the Holy Spirit not to get drunk, people will blindly follow the rules of their pastor even if they don't see it in scriptures.
Let's look at another scenario such as a believer truly being led by the Spirit in their daily lives.
Many think that they have to have a mystical occurance such as a dream, a scripture verse pop up in their head, a voice, some stranger telling them something or some obvious divine intervention before they can be led by the Spirit. What is biblical is simple obedience to scripture that will move a person in God's Will with the leading of the Holy Spirit. Example: A believer who has studied to show himself approved (2 Timothy 2:15) and is ready to give an answer to the hope that lies within him (1 Peter 3:15) as they go about their daily lives, God will bring people in their path to share the gospel with. The Holy Spirit will lead them to share the good news with them because they are ready to do so and recognize an open door when it's there.
When a believer is obedient the Holy Spirit will do His perfect work in them, convicting them when their flesh causes them to stray, helping them discern the Word and leading them to scriptures for truth and away from lies and deception.
There is no special formula to this, a true believer is to simply read and obey God's Word and the Holy Spirit will be his guide.
(Read or listen to the biblical gospel here:http://www.dontperish.com/the-gospel.html)
Reject man made religion (we have many articles here on our discernment blog to help you) who is deceiving you. We have a 10 point test that will help you see where else you have been deceived: http://www.dontperish.com/10-point-biblical-test.html
Let us know if we can help you.
God be praised!
www.dontperish.com
As these people 'go to church' which is not biblical,(we are to BE His body not GO to church) they follow a planned out ritual religious service that they call worship. Every Sunday they show up at the same time, sing a few songs for a certain amount of time, pray whenever the modern pastor tells them to pray, listen to a short sermon that the modern pastor wrote up or pulled off the internet, add in a few more songs and they are out the door about the same time each week. Unless they have their tidbit communion (cracker and sip of wine) which is done unbiblically as well. Check out this article about building centered worship: http://spiritandtruthdiscernment.blogspot.com/2013/12/is-religious-denominational-building.html
This is not spirit led, this is all led by a clock and the modern pastor. (Sometimes it's all led based on the timing of the NFL or other sinful activities going on at that time.)
A spirit led gathering is simply meeting house to house (as we see in the New Testament Acts 2:46) or as many as can gather together at that time, the men brining teachings, admonishments, exhortations, rebukes, songs, prayers etc, all for edification of the body and training up of the saints for ministry (Ephesians 4). This is a free flowing move of the Holy Spirit not controlled by one man (or even a few) but all men as the Spirit leads. The gatherings themselves are also called as the Spirit leads. Maybe they gather 3-4 times a week and sometimes 1 or 2. All at the prompting of the Holy Spirit, not by a man who pre-plans it all every week. See an article here about the characteristics of the New Testament Body: http://spiritandtruthdiscernment.blogspot.com/2014/04/characteristics-of-new-testament-body.html
These same people are not led by the Holy Spirit in their daily lives either because instead of reading the scriptures and obeying them, they listen to their pastor, their church traditions, reading all sorts of apostate 'christian' books and 'devotional' pamphlets. They base their truth off each other and what everyone else is doing, thinking that's doctrinal when God's Word says otherwise.
Romans 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
Romans 8:14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God
We will give you an example of this with the Anabaptists (Mennonites, Amish, German Baptist etc).
The Anabaptists make many man made rules that are added to God's Word such as they teach separation from the world and include technology in that separation. Let's use the internet for example: Instead of teaching their people about holiness, discernment and separation while using the internet for business or ministry, they make a rule that says 'no internet'. Or 'you can only use the internet if you put on this accountability software' (that someone else watches.)
What is making that person obey God's Word? Man made rules, not the Holy Spirit. If the Holy Spirit were allowed to lead, the person using the internet would obey God's Word and avoid the sinful areas of the internet and if they were tempted the Holy Spirit would convict them of this. They would then obey because of the prompting of the Holy Spirit, not because a man made some rule about it.
Another area where people are not led by the Holy Spirit is, let's look at a typical evangelical/denominational/non-denominational group of people. They put on their best behavior on Sunday (and/or Wednesday) and once their 'service' is done they go about their lives living worldly and carnal, void of the leading of the Holy Spirit.
They also follow man made rules that are not biblical such as the Baptists who make a rule of 'no alcohol'! God's Word says 'drunkenness' is the sin, not alcohol (see an article here:http://spiritandtruthdiscernment.blogspot.com/2015/01/does-gods-word-forbid-drinking-any.html). Instead of following God's Word and the convicting of the Holy Spirit not to get drunk, people will blindly follow the rules of their pastor even if they don't see it in scriptures.
Let's look at another scenario such as a believer truly being led by the Spirit in their daily lives.
Many think that they have to have a mystical occurance such as a dream, a scripture verse pop up in their head, a voice, some stranger telling them something or some obvious divine intervention before they can be led by the Spirit. What is biblical is simple obedience to scripture that will move a person in God's Will with the leading of the Holy Spirit. Example: A believer who has studied to show himself approved (2 Timothy 2:15) and is ready to give an answer to the hope that lies within him (1 Peter 3:15) as they go about their daily lives, God will bring people in their path to share the gospel with. The Holy Spirit will lead them to share the good news with them because they are ready to do so and recognize an open door when it's there.
When a believer is obedient the Holy Spirit will do His perfect work in them, convicting them when their flesh causes them to stray, helping them discern the Word and leading them to scriptures for truth and away from lies and deception.
There is no special formula to this, a true believer is to simply read and obey God's Word and the Holy Spirit will be his guide.
(Read or listen to the biblical gospel here:http://www.dontperish.com/the-gospel.html)
Reject man made religion (we have many articles here on our discernment blog to help you) who is deceiving you. We have a 10 point test that will help you see where else you have been deceived: http://www.dontperish.com/10-point-biblical-test.html
Let us know if we can help you.
God be praised!
www.dontperish.com