i am christian, and i believe that there are people who are blessed with these gifts... although i also know that there are many who think they have the gifts but really don't.
there are people who lie and some that just really don't know any better.
i know that sometimes i have felt God talking to me and telling me to do something... can i call that a phrophecy? or is that simply a "gut" feeling?
can't someone just tell you something and say that it was the Holy Spirit or God?
i went to a church once, and the pastor said the Holy Spirit was asking someone for 10k dollars.... YEAH RIGHT!!!!!!!!
What do you think? Are most people true or not? Would you believe?
2007-07-12 08:38:55 · 15 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Do I believe in the gifts of the Spirit? absolutely....
when God tells us something that we are to do.... it isnt prophecy, it is knowing God's will for us
now, if God was to tell you something that you are to share with others... proclaiming something over someone's life... or whatever... and it comes to pass (it happens as God told you it would) .. that would be prophecy. Don't get it mixed up with the whole 'psychic' thing tho... it will be something that will further God's kingdom or show His power.
yes, there are people who will just 'tell you stuff' based on their own understanding... rather than the Holy Spirit....
the pastor of that church.... who knows... but God doesnt need $$$$ to do His will....
In my experience, about 40% of the people who claim to have the 'gift' .. whether it is tongues or prophecy or pastoring or teaching.... actually have it. the other 60% are using similar 'things' to bring glory unto only themselves, to make them seem superior to other Christians...
2007-07-12 08:54:26 · answer #1 · answered by livinintheword † 6 · 12⤊ 0⤋
The gifts and fruit of the Spirit can be faked,which implies that there exists the genuine article as well. I have personally been witness to both.
1 John 4:1 Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.
1 Corinthians 14:29 Two or three prophets should speak, and the others should weigh carefully what is said.
1 Thessalonians 5:21 Test everything. Hold on to the good.
True gifts are manifest by the moving of the Holy Spirit, through the believer,unfortunately,there are those who operate in "the flesh",and cause much confusion,especially to those who are not discerning in spiritual matters.
2007-07-12 08:55:38 · answer #2 · answered by bonsai bobby 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
The bible says in 1 John 4:1 to test every spirit to see if it is from God or not. We can't just trust anything anyone says. A prophesy or a word from God that someone brings you should be something that God has already put in your heart and is confirmation for you. Now if someone wants to tell you something and says it's a prophecy and you don't agree, simply don't receive it. You can even just say "If it is of your will Father then bring it to pass." In your alone time with God ask Him for discernment of spirit and He will make it clear as day to you when something is of Him and when something isn't.
If God is putting it in your heart to tell someone something that is a gift and not a gut feeling. God is speaking through you so speak girl!..lol.. you'd be surprised how God can use you to give someone an encouraging word or to confirm something that they have brought to God in prayer that you knew nothing about. Be that empty vessel He can pour out His spirit into and you'll see Him use you in a mighty way.
God bless!
PS.. and speaking in tongues is a language between you and God. It is not crazy it is biblical and it is a gift of the spirit. You are right there are what the bible calls false prophets but you'll see that you'll be able to discern what's real and what's not.
2007-07-12 08:53:47 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
what you had wasn't prophecy since God wasn't telling you to share something with someone... you were hearing His voice which is part of it but not quite prephecy.
yeas people can say they are being prophetic when they are just lookig for personal gain and consequently many churches have chosen to stay away from prophecy all together which is just as bad of a deception to fall into...
1Th 5:19-22 Do not quench the Spirit; do not despise prophetic utterances. But examine everything {carefully;} hold fast to that which is good; abstain from every form of evil.
2007-07-12 08:52:46 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
The Bible says to try out the spirits to see if they are of God... not all people spouting prophecy are gifted nor is what they are saying really coming from God....The times when you feel God is talking to you and telling you do something, that is the Lord trying to lead you, all you need to do is follow, that is not exactly prophecy.... prophecy is the telling of things that are to come to pass in the future that the Lord wants us to know... I let the Holy Ghost lead me and I feel out the spirits when I hear someone prophesying... I feel that a real child of God will know when someone is just putting on or are really prophesying.
2007-07-12 08:46:37 · answer #5 · answered by Caleb's Mom 6 · 4⤊ 1⤋
Believe in the Bible. Even Christians can be mistaken in what they think God wants from them. If they truly have a gift, it will be evident to you. You won't have to wonder about it.
As for God leading you to do something..If it is from God, the feeling will be so overwhelming, you will know it is him. When God touches you, you know it is him.
2007-07-12 08:48:03 · answer #6 · answered by dreamdress2 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Sister this is a very good question.. as brothers and sisters in the Lord it is really our portion to cover one another's faults and shortcomings:)
But there is a real problem in many churches regarding the matter of tongues and prophesy.
These are gifts that are to build up the body of Christ. to edify the saints and allows those with the particular gift to function within that capacity as a member.. Our gifts are not ours.. they belong to the Body, just like the hand is not JUST for the hand. its FOR the whole body...
Prophesy has been abused over the years by many because of self seeking reasons. As believers in Christ Jesus we need to be sensitive to the Lord for ourselves.. to know what is coming from Him and what is NOT. I used to prophesy years ago and speak regarding certain things that the Lord wanted to be told to a particular brother or sister or regarding the church. The problem with the abuse of this gift is that believers STOPPED being open to the Lord for themselves .. to learn the voice of the shepherd and started jsut to depend on " a word" or " a speaking" FROM another and not the Lord directly. In a sad way the gift of prophesy became a " foretelling addiction" and almost like a " physic network" in the Church.
I strongly believe that we NEED to know the Lord for ourselves. We cannot quench the genuine work of the HOly Spirit.. but at the same time there needs to be a level of growth and maturity in the Lord FROM the one giving the prophesy and IN the one receiving it... to know what is coming from that person's mind and what is truly coming from their spirit. And knowing the person you are prophesying to can be especially dangereous since your own flavours can come into play...May the Lord be rich in mercy...
Prophesy is not just foretelling. It is also Speaking " FOR " God and Speaking "FORTH" God to nourish and build up the saints in CHrist .
So over the years this has been the way that I function in this gift. Not speaking my own words.. but what is IN the word. Having the covering of God's word in my speaking. The Lord desires to bring us all forward in our growth in Him and each one has to seriously come to the Lord and ask ourselves if we have grown so dependent on the "Word" of others and are building our lives on their words rather than on Christ's word.. the Rock upon which our lives SHOULD be built:)
May the Lord make us all so clear and bring us onto maturity in Him for the sake of the Building up of His Body
Take care sister
In Christ..
sandy
2007-07-12 08:59:53 · answer #7 · answered by Broken Alabaster Flask 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Here is the guidence I give all.
Prophecy is possible to all through the Holy Spirit. However you may not recieve prophecy for me. That is my responcibility or those who have some responcibility for me. For example my father or mother could recieve prophecy for me as well as my bishop. How ever any prophecy should be inturn prayed about so that we may recieve personal revelation about the truthfullness of that prophecy. We call this the principle of direct revelation.
2007-07-12 08:50:19 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
1 Corinthians 13 shows us that the gift of prophecy and tongues would eventually fade away after the Bible reached completion...
The majority of things of that nature that you see in churches 2day is likely fake (or bettter yet, demon inspired).
2007-07-12 10:03:10 · answer #9 · answered by DwayneWayne 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think that ALL people who speak in tongues are either making it up, or they have split personalities. It is really obvious. When you watch the movie 'Jesus Camp', you can clearly see that all the children are just saying random crap.
That would have simply been a gut feeling, caused by chemicals in your body.
Most church leaders just think God speaks through them, so whatever they say, must be the word of God. So basically God doesn't talk to anyone, including the Pope.
The pastor that you were watching was clearly just trying to get money. They do that. Many of the top Evangelists in the country are just trying to get money. There are lots of churches that have paid members and workers. If you have ever heard of the River Of Life Ministry, that is one example.
Clearly, if God overtook my body and made me blurt out something or told me something to tell other people, I would either start believing and go talk to people or check myself into a mental facility.
Great question!
2007-07-12 08:47:29 · answer #10 · answered by Dr. Bradley 3 · 0⤊ 7⤋