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Offline Walt  
#1 Posted : Friday, July 2, 2010 6:25:53 AM(UTC)
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Is the Ruach Qodesh actually active in individuals lives?
Leading and directing and teaching - guiding into Truth - empowering Yah's children?

Or is this concept a christian religious myth?

Observationally I have to say She isn't

Just look at YY
Both the co-authors (Yada and Ken) assert that they are led by Yah - but many of their conclusions are diametrically opposed to each other (and this can create confusion in those seeking Truth)
Both can't be correct - where is the Ruach Qodesh in this???

Is it just religious baggage that expectation Yahuweh will be active and involved in the lives of those who Yada Him?
That His Set-Apart Spirit doesn't lead us into Truth and understanding as we read Scripture - or doesn't even lead us to discern WHAT is His inspired word


On the forum you can see a shortness displayed when people disagree or when one's position/belief/posting is questioned or challenged
That the Ruach Qodesh doesn't fill us with power to overcome the world, the adversary, or our flesh - doesn't shape and mold us

Maybe Yahuweh isn't close and personal as we desire - but it is a distant, observational relationship He maintains

Maybe what we "discern" as "the leading of The Spirit" is just our own mind & emotions at work and we use the "the leading of The Spirit" as justification to KNOW we are right - and the others are wrong

How are we to firmly stand when there isn't even agreement as to what is right or wrong within the leadership of just this 1 site???

Are we to just carve out our own little rock to stand on floating in this stormy sea of "what is Truth" and hope we don't get capsized??
Offline Robskiwarrior  
#2 Posted : Friday, July 2, 2010 7:24:09 AM(UTC)
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This is something I am still trying to figure out. lol

I like J&M's view on the way Yah reveals through revelation, based in Scripture. It has been happening to me since I left Christianity, but I can't say I have really had anything like what I had when I was a Christian.

So yea - I am still trying to figure it out... I do know though for sure we need to be really careful when we listen to our feelings or emotions... I don't want to rule them out, as we are emotional beings - but they can be influenced by too many things AND our minds are very powerful at inducing things...

You have a very valid point :)
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Offline kp  
#3 Posted : Friday, July 2, 2010 7:26:39 AM(UTC)
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I think maybe the issue is resolved if we realize that the Spirit makes us alive; She doesn't necessarily make us right. I have two brothers. The three of us are nothing alike, though we have the same father and the same mother. In the same way, being led by Yahweh's Spirit doesn't necessarily imply that we'll be clones of each other or share the same degree of spiritual enlightenment. We're all given different gifts, different abilities, and different jobs to do. Beyond that, some of us do our jobs well and some don't (or put in terms germane to family relationships, some of us brothers listen to Mom more closely than the others do). What we share, what we have in common, is love, whether or not we agree with each other on every little thing.

kp
Offline James  
#4 Posted : Friday, July 2, 2010 7:48:48 AM(UTC)
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This is a great question Walt. I would say that I have felt Mom work in my life, and I have certainly felt Her presence. But with that said, it drives me crazy when talking with someone about Scripture and someone says that the spirit has lead them to a conclusion that is, at least as I see it, not in congruence with Scripture. I also think people often mistake their own desire and want for the Spirit. I think Ken made a great point, the Spirit is in us, and gives us all life, she also guides us in study and our relationship with Yah, but we must still use discernment.
Don't take my word for it, Look it up.

“The truth is not for all men but only for those who seek it.” ― Ayn Rand
Offline J&M  
#5 Posted : Friday, July 2, 2010 7:51:31 AM(UTC)
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Interestingly, we have all arrived here at the same point, with some 98% of our views held in common, we are overwhealmed by what we share, even if we are irritated by our tiny differences.

All of us are here because we have rejected mainstream religion, but instead of becoming atheists, like the non thinkers, we look out the window and see the ample evidence of a creator, and we look for TRUTH.

And on the whole, we very quickly find the main truths that bring us together on a forum like this.

You may want to check out www.bibletruth.cc to see how mother is guiding others, totally independantly of YY.....

I like KP's example of the brothers. mine think that I am a religious nutter, but then they chose the religion of socialist humanism because their judgement on religion is defective (maybe they got the other bit more accurately) ;-)
Offline bigritchie  
#6 Posted : Friday, July 2, 2010 11:50:33 AM(UTC)
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James wrote:
This is a great question Walt. I would say that I have felt Mom work in my life, and I have certainly felt Her presence. But with that said, it drives me crazy when talking with someone about Scripture and someone says that the spirit has lead them to a conclusion that is, at least as I see it, not in congruence with Scripture. I also think people often mistake their own desire and want for the Spirit. I think Ken made a great point, the Spirit is in us, and gives us all life, she also guides us in study and our relationship with Yah, but we must still use discernment.


Boy you hit it on the head here.

If I had a dime for every Christian be it Protestant or Catholic who told me "The Holy Spirit" told me, I would be a very wealthy man. They just do not get the "Spirit of TRUTH" is the "Spirit of Torah". The carving of Torah on a new heart, and you cannot wait for the feast, you cannot wait to help a widow or orphan.

And of course the "Holy Spirit" is telling people 38,000 cults/sects and denominations. I had a long conversation on the internet with a Roman Catholic lady, who refused to address anything I said, or address the mounds of pagan sun god worship evidence I presented, and then did the typical "The Holy Spirit told me to join Rome" misdirect.

To me the christian version of the "Holy Spirit" is much like the Hebrew Yahuwshua versus the Church "Jesus".

Christians fail to realize the very purpose of the "Spirit of Truth" is so you can keep Torah!

This is really a big pet peeve of mine, as I have found some of the most spiritually retarded people pull the "Holy Spirit Misdirect Card" when they cannot refute anything you say. They fail to realize that the Creator will full you with Truth, but he will also fill you to overflowing with all the religious BS you can stand also.

I have found "The Holy Spirit told me" normally comes right after I refute all their "But Paul says" arguments. Two very annoying misdirects from people...........and then comes the "Love" misdirect, but that is another rant.

Anyways, I am ranting
Offline kp  
#7 Posted : Friday, July 2, 2010 2:25:56 PM(UTC)
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Right. The whole "the Spirit told me" thing is fraught with peril, because folks forget (or ignore) the admonition of John: "Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in the world already. Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. They are from the world; therefore they speak from the world, and the world listens to them. We are from God. Whoever knows God listens to us; whoever is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the Spirit of truth and the spirit of error." (I John 4:1-6 ESV)

Yahweh's Ruach Qodesh isn't the only spirit who can sound convincing to someone who is willing to take the scriptures like a smorgasbord---"a little of this and a lot of that, and I'll leave that stuff alone 'cause it tastes funny to me."

kp


Offline danshelper  
#8 Posted : Friday, July 2, 2010 3:29:31 PM(UTC)
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LOVE this post Walt. This is such gut wrenching honesty. But I don't think you would even think it without the Spirit's light/life. And YHWH has said that He is both near and far - Jeremiah 23:23. And we are guilty too - of often drawing near to Him with our lips when our hearts are far from Him.

I think the Spirit's work of humility in us brings us unity - "the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace." This post is an example of the Spirit of Truth's work of humility, bringing unity through brotherly love, sympathy, compassion and humility, 1 Peter 3:8. Thanks for being a channel of the Set Apart Spirit's light.
Offline bitnet  
#9 Posted : Friday, July 2, 2010 6:30:49 PM(UTC)
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Shabbat Shalom,

"Love Yahweh... and love each other." This basically sums up the lives of those drawn by the Ruach Qodesh. Not one of us has all knowledge of salvation, but it is not necessary to understand ALL of Scripture to be saved. We need to be guided by what is Truth, and our constant desire to seek Truth in Yahweh's name is the mark of His Spirit.

Those who say that they are guided by the spirit but do not even want to understand Torah -- not even all of it but just the 10 Commandments -- have a different agenda and in my opinion, should be encouraged to seek Truth. On our part, we have to stand up to their scrutiny by loving Yahweh and each other. We have to be ready examples with our lives, and responsive with words when needed.

Each of us here are different on so many levels. I am no saint and am still trying to get rid of bad habits that are not consonant with His Word, but I fail miserably every now and then. I can only take refuge that He came to save us sinners, and I recognise that I am a sinner because I now understand Torah. Those who do not understand Torah do not realise HOW they sin and fail to appreciate the real meaning of The Sacrifice and are still trying to achieve salvation by themselves through "good works" instead of trying to keep Torah.

At the end of time they shall be judged according to their works, but in all honesty, I do not know what their destiny will be as Yahweh is indeed merciful and gracious. What I do know is that those who are called but not chosen will not be able to serve with Him for the first thousand years beginning in 2033.

What I want for now is what Yahushua asked us to do -- seek Yahweh with all our heart, our minds and our soul and to be able to live together with those whom He has called out. It may not happen at this time as we are all sprinkled over the world -- just as salt is sprinkled over a tasty dish -- because we may have to play a role in our part of the world or just to our immediate family members and friends.

And yet we are to "come out of this world" especially in the light of what we know about the future. Sometimes I feel like that means I am to leave this place and move elsewhere, but then again who shall accomplish the task of spreading His Word here? Isn't that my job, to be a witness here? At the end of it, I think not, as He already provides plenty of opportunity for those He called, those who can really seek Him, and even then He shall not choose all of whom He called because they do not respond properly.

Let's be honest, there are countless millions whom He has not called -- from the past to the future -- and we know that they have not been called because they have not received Scripture nor His Spirit, but how He deals with them is not my worry! What is challenging enough is how I live according to His Word. That is my Work -- to continue to seek Him out as best as I can and live according to His Word.

So those who claim to be directed or inspired by God's Holy Spirit to do this or that, I always ask if they are following the 10 Commandments first. If they do not, nor wish to understand it better, then I think it is a lot easier to weigh their words or opinions, no matter how scholastic or spiritual they profess to be.

As for us drawn to this place, I can only wish that we can meet and lean on each other more as we let the Ruach Qodesh guide us in our lives. We have our work cut out for us here now -- with all our diverse backgrounds, states of mental, emotional, sprititual maturity -- and that is challenging enough as it is without having to deal with the rest of the world. And all of us know that each person within a family is different in so many ways. If we are all to be completely alike, then Yahweh may as well make clones instead of creating this Family. So in spite of all our differences, WE ARE FAMILY, Mispocha haQodesh!
The reverence of Yahweh is the beginning of Wisdom.
Offline york mister  
#10 Posted : Friday, July 2, 2010 10:09:40 PM(UTC)
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Hi all,

I haven't written much on this forum, but have long been watching and learning from you all in my journey out of 'Babylon'.

I too like this question... I've even heard of people going out and buying a wedding dress when they had no-one to marry because the Holy Spirit told them to :-}
I found that this mode of thought goes along with things like gossiping - 'all in the name of prayer'. It's a convenient phrase that allows anyone to do anything with a low risk of challenge and if it all goes wrong - well hey ho..... they have a suitable get out in that it 'wasn't their idea'!

To Walt's question:
I know that Yah is working in my life (often only retrospectively) and as we know, the Set Apart Spirit is simply a manifestation of God.
I know that when I'm about to do something 'anti-Torah', I can feel my heart rate go up and choose to ignore or listen to this signal - is that the Spirit? I don't know for sure, but I'd like to think so.

The Set Apart Spirit is wisdom, but even wise people get it wrong - (cue David). Maybe that explains the difference you cited about KP/Yada - the spirit guides all, but everyone's lives are different and no matter how hard we all try, we're still going to get stuff wrong. I think Yada used the analogy of Yahushua as the lead oxen and as new oxen in the team, each of us have to get shoved into line and nipped and pulled about a bit.

Part of me thinks that it's a function of us living in a 7 dimensional world, with the capacity to only perceive 3/4 dimensions - when we change into glorified energy balls that can do the things Yahushua did I think we'll all realise just how limited we are at the mo.

Edited by user Saturday, July 3, 2010 12:20:04 AM(UTC)  | Reason: typo's

Offline RidesWithYah  
#11 Posted : Saturday, July 3, 2010 1:44:27 AM(UTC)
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Looking back, I definitely see God's hand in my life. But I'm not "filled with the Spirit" in *the same way* that some of my churchy friends claim to be.

I talked about this recently with an evangelical friend. Every time someone tells him "the Spirit told me", he gets out a pen, asks them to speak very slowly, and writes down every word, word for word. When they ask why, he says, "because if what you're telling me came from the Spirit, it's scripture, and I don't want to miss any."

This usually gets the point across, but people sometimes miss the sarcasm. He's right, that's how seriously we should take this. I wonder if this is what's referred to by Yahshua as "blaspheming the Spirit"?

Maybe not, but it certainly falls in this category:
Jeremiah 23: 16-40
Quote:
Thus saith Yahweh of hosts, Hearken not unto the words of the prophets that prophesy unto you: they make you vain: they speak a vision of their own heart, and not out of the mouth of Yahweh. They say still unto them that despise me, Yahweh hath said, Ye shall have peace; and they say unto every one that walketh after the imagination of his own heart, No evil shall come upon you. For who hath stood in the counsel of Yahweh, and hath perceived and heard his word? who hath marked his word, and heard it? Behold, a whirlwind of Yahweh is gone forth in fury, even a grievous whirlwind: it shall fall grievously upon the head of the wicked. The anger of Yahweh shall not return, until he have executed, and till he have performed the thoughts of his heart: in the latter days ye shall consider it perfectly. I have not sent these prophets, yet they ran: I have not spoken to them, yet they prophesied. But if they had stood in my counsel, and had caused my people to hear my words, then they should have turned them from their evil way, and from the evil of their doings. Am I a God at hand, saith Yahweh, and not a God afar off? Can any hide himself in secret places that I shall not see him? saith Yahweh. Do not I fill heaven and earth? saith Yahweh. I have heard what the prophets said, that prophesy lies in my name, saying, I have dreamed, I have dreamed. How long shall this be in the heart of the prophets that prophesy lies? yea, they are prophets of the deceit of their own heart; Which think to cause my people to forget my name by their dreams which they tell every man to his neighbour, as their fathers have forgotten my name for Baal. The prophet that hath a dream, let him tell a dream; and he that hath my word, let him speak my word faithfully. What is the chaff to the wheat? saith Yahweh. Is not my word like as a fire? saith Yahweh; and like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces? Therefore, behold, I am against the prophets, saith Yahweh, that steal my words every one from his neighbour. Behold, I am against the prophets, saith Yahweh, that use their tongues, and say, He saith. Behold, I am against them that prophesy false dreams, saith Yahweh, and do tell them, and cause my people to err by their lies, and by their lightness; yet I sent them not, nor commanded them: therefore they shall not profit this people at all, saith Yahweh. And when this people, or the prophet, or a priest, shall ask thee, saying, What is the burden of Yahweh? thou shalt then say unto them, What burden? I will even forsake you, saith Yahweh. And as for the prophet, and the priest, and the people, that shall say, The burden of Yahweh, I will even punish that man and his house. Thus shall ye say every one to his neighbour, and every one to his brother, What hath Yahweh answered? and, What hath Yahweh spoken? And the burden of Yahweh shall ye mention no more: for every man's word shall be his burden; for ye have perverted the words of the living God, of Yahweh of hosts our God. Thus shalt thou say to the prophet, What hath Yahweh answered thee? and, What hath Yahweh spoken? But since ye say, The burden of Yahweh; therefore thus saith Yahweh; Because ye say this word, The burden of Yahweh, and I have sent unto you, saying, Ye shall not say, The burden of Yahweh; Therefore, behold, I, even I, will utterly forget you, and I will forsake you, and the city that I gave you and your fathers, and cast you out of my presence: And I will bring an everlasting reproach upon you, and a perpetual shame, which shall not be forgotten.


Bottom line, I believe She works in us by revealing pieces of the puzzle, "opening our minds to understand the Scriptures". But each of us only gets a piece or two (some three) -- we need to fellowship to gain understanding of the others. It's Her way of promoting communion, oneness, relationship. And yes, we have to test, reason, discuss, debate -- and learn how to disagree in love, rebuke each other in lovingkindness, and come to truth together. (Easier said than done, I'm guilty of falling short!)

Offline J&M  
#12 Posted : Saturday, July 3, 2010 3:17:50 AM(UTC)
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Yorki and york mister,

please see your IM

thanks J&M
Offline Robskiwarrior  
#13 Posted : Saturday, July 3, 2010 4:09:23 AM(UTC)
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When he says IM - he means the Private message box which you can find here:

http://yadanews.com/yaf_cp_pm.aspx
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Offline Richard  
#14 Posted : Monday, July 5, 2010 7:53:06 AM(UTC)
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RidesWithYah wrote:
... we need to fellowship to gain understanding of the other [pieces of the puzzle]. It's [Mother's] way of promoting communion, oneness, relationship. And yes, we have to test, reason, discuss, debate -- and learn how to disagree in love, rebuke each other in lovingkindness, and come to truth together.


Perhaps this is one of the reasons Yahuweh told us,
Quote:
"These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up."

- Deuteronomy 6:6,7


Offline danshelper  
#15 Posted : Saturday, July 10, 2010 5:21:52 AM(UTC)
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Do you think that the protestant rapture teaching (I was never taught the rapture in my catholic childhood) has contributed to this "assumption of having the Spirit because they have received Christ?" The rapture teaching seems to be part of the overall "replacement theology" that has separated the believer from the Torah and from having to deal with the great tribulation. Some call it "easy believism" - it seems a sort of escapism.

The question has been asked elsewhere, but it would be helpful to hear what others know of the rapture teaching. Especially in light of all our Paul discussions, do we find the protestant rapture teaching anywhere else in Scripture? How do we anchor the protestant rapture with the entire body of Scripture?

I don't mean to move off Walt's question, but it seems to me that replacement theology - of which the rapture is a huge part - has contributed to the non-Spirit-filled existence of many who have "received Christ."
Offline Matthew  
#16 Posted : Saturday, July 10, 2010 4:18:54 PM(UTC)
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danshelper wrote:
Do you think that the protestant rapture teaching (I was never taught the rapture in my catholic childhood) has contributed to this "assumption of having the Spirit because they have received Christ?" The rapture teaching seems to be part of the overall "replacement theology" that has separated the believer from the Torah and from having to deal with the great tribulation. Some call it "easy believism" - it seems a sort of escapism.

The question has been asked elsewhere, but it would be helpful to hear what others know of the rapture teaching. Especially in light of all our Paul discussions, do we find the protestant rapture teaching anywhere else in Scripture? How do we anchor the protestant rapture with the entire body of Scripture?

I don't mean to move off Walt's question, but it seems to me that replacement theology - of which the rapture is a huge part - has contributed to the non-Spirit-filled existence of many who have "received Christ."


The teaching of the Rapture, pre-trib, is actually one thing the church has right. They've missed out on a lot of what Scripture says about it but they got the little bit right saying it happens pre-Tribulation. I still recommend KP's book Future History and even within TOM we find nuggets of gold concerning the Rapture in the Torah, Prophets and Writings where the church have completely missed it, i.e. #568 from chapter 15 is still one of my favourites.

Concerning replacement theology I'm not really sure where that's crept into people's interpretation of Scripture. For example out of context Romans 2:28-29 can seem like a bases upon which to form replacement theology, but upon reading the entire Word of God (and assuming the author of Romans has taken it into context and assumes we would too) we find Israel still very much has a part to play and still are Yawheh's chosen people. Some people say replacement theology already began back in Marcion of Sinope's day, but in today's world it's common to find a form of replacement theology being taught in the Pentecostal and Charismatic movements, possibly too in the Evangelical movement.
Offline Matthew  
#17 Posted : Sunday, July 11, 2010 5:04:57 PM(UTC)
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rv wrote:
Hey Matt, MAYBE you should check your facts and consult YHWH before broadbrushing large groups of honest people with this inane stink.


Please forgive me but I'm not quite sure if what I'm reading here is supposed to be taken as sarcasm or not.

Regardless, let me clarify: it's pretty obvious that forms of replacement theology (using the broad definition that says the church has completely replaced Israel) began soon after Yahshua ascended to the heavens. The early formation of the Catholic Church is one such example of a group of people believing they have replaced Israel. Also, after having discussed doctrines with numerous people from numerous church denominations, including Protestant (with Evangelical being an offshoot), it's quite obvious that replacement theology affects the way people view the nature of the Spirit and even eschatology. I also attended a Pentecostal/Charismatic church for a number of years therefore I do have personal experience in what they believe about the Church in relation to Israel and the associated promises. Replacement theology is not restricted to one particular interpretation of Scripture but unfortunately is a very broad subject, hence for example why Christians have many varying beliefs in the event called the Rapture.

But I can confess, I am guilty of not consulting Yahweh before writing my previous post.
Offline Robskiwarrior  
#18 Posted : Sunday, July 11, 2010 10:11:14 PM(UTC)
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Errm, I really don't understand where you read all that RV - but all danshelper, as far as I can see, was saying "Doesn't protestant Christianity teach 'Rapture' as replacement theology?"
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Offline RidesWithYah  
#19 Posted : Monday, July 12, 2010 12:40:50 AM(UTC)
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John 13: 33Little children, yet a little while I am with you. Ye shall seek me: and as I said unto the Jews, Whither I go, ye cannot come; so now I say to you. 34A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. 35By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.
Offline Richard  
#20 Posted : Monday, July 12, 2010 2:09:36 AM(UTC)
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Thank you for that, RWY.
Offline Robskiwarrior  
#21 Posted : Monday, July 12, 2010 2:15:50 AM(UTC)
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Ok well lets bring this back on topic. If anyone else wants to discuss replacement theology and anything related to it - please start up a new thread.

Topic continues as Walt started:

Is the Ruach Qodesh actually active in individuals?
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Offline Robskiwarrior  
#22 Posted : Monday, July 12, 2010 2:43:37 AM(UTC)
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Talking more frankly about the Spirit and Her activity in our lives:

I came from a Charismatic background - which I have spoken of before... I have been knocked over in the spirit, laughed, cried, shook, spoken in tongues, pretty much all of the standard experiences you can encounter within the Christian environment of experience/spirit based Worship. In my youth I was completely sucked in by the Toronto Blessing movement, and actually only in the last 4 or so years when I had to start questioning this stuff did I finally start dealing with the fact that it was not of Yah.

It was all extremely real - I felt awesome peace love acceptance and freedom, and that amazing power sweeping over a room of worshipers.

Anyway in the investigation of Todd Bentely that was written for our friends, we had to deal with a lot of things that we had not thought about since our walk out of Christianity - this was the whole spiritual experiences we have had since then. Now we are still I suppose on going in finding out what in our past was not right. Anyway during the investigation of Mr Bentley and the Florida outpouring so many of our old friends had given their hearts to, I found some shocking things out about other religions and their experiances - which again are all very real.

I found that Christianity seemed to be displaying Kundalini symptoms - as everything Christianity had or went through was the same thing.

Now I found this the other day - and I thought that it was actually quite relevant. Andrew Strom - who is a Christian - has noticed this too, and this is the video I found recently - he has some good examples.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1YjhCimojjc

So as of where I stand now, I leave my past behind - and like I noted above, my experience is more of revelation based within Scripture than what it once was.
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Offline danshelper  
#23 Posted : Monday, July 12, 2010 4:30:46 AM(UTC)
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Quote:
The discussion of "replacement theology" in this current thread is completely out of place


I disagree.

I think the discussion about why the Spirit of Truth may not be active as we would expect is a logical followup to the original question. As an answer to the question why, the suggestion that a 2nd step, charismatic filling of the Spirit is missing in people's lives is a legitimate discussion. I also think that the the broad range of replacement teaching may be a reason for a lack of the Spirit's activity - and I think this is a legitimate part of this discussion - although maybe not as well articulated.

Replacement teaching creates a division between old and renewed covenant, YHWH and YHWH Saves, national and spiritual Israel, Torah and grace, tribulation and rapture, etc. The Spirit is the Truth - the whole Word/body of Truth. If believers are encouraged to acknowledge only part of the Truth, they don't have the whole Spirit of Truth.

It is my understanding that being filled with the Spirit may be evidenced sometimes through charismatic gifts, but will always be evidenced through truth and most importantly, love.

Sorry for any poor communication on my part.

Offline rv  
#24 Posted : Monday, July 12, 2010 3:19:11 PM(UTC)
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Joined: 5/4/2010(UTC)
Posts: 14
Location: Princeton, NJ


My better half has argued that I have been wasting my time here from the get go. She characterizes it as casting pearls... It has been an acute point of disagreement between us for several months.

But there is a time for everything, and this is the time to say good luck, farewell, good bye, shalom.
Offline Noel  
#25 Posted : Wednesday, August 4, 2010 10:42:44 AM(UTC)
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Joined: 9/27/2009(UTC)
Posts: 92
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RidesWithYah wrote:
Looking back, I definitely see God's hand in my life. But I'm not "filled with the Spirit" in *the same way* that some of my churchy friends claim to be.

I talked about this recently with an evangelical friend. Every time someone tells him "the Spirit told me", he gets out a pen, asks them to speak very slowly, and writes down every word, word for word. When they ask why, he says, "because if what you're telling me came from the Spirit, it's scripture, and I don't want to miss any."

This usually gets the point across, but people sometimes miss the sarcasm. He's right, that's how seriously we should take this. I wonder if this is what's referred to by Yahshua as "blaspheming the Spirit"?

Maybe not, but it certainly falls in this category:
Jeremiah 23: 16-40

Bottom line, I believe She works in us by revealing pieces of the puzzle, "opening our minds to understand the Scriptures". But each of us only gets a piece or two (some three) -- we need to fellowship to gain understanding of the others. It's Her way of promoting communion, oneness, relationship. And yes, we have to test, reason, discuss, debate -- and learn how to disagree in love, rebuke each other in lovingkindness, and come to truth together. (Easier said than done, I'm guilty of falling short!)



Yes, this makes a lot of sense. We each have bits of the puzzle. Thanks. I now have a slightly clearer picture.

Offline Noel  
#26 Posted : Wednesday, August 4, 2010 10:54:49 AM(UTC)
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york mister wrote:
Hi all,

I haven't written much on this forum, but have long been watching and learning from you all in my journey out of 'Babylon'.

I too like this question... I've even heard of people going out and buying a wedding dress when they had no-one to marry because the Holy Spirit told them to :-}
I found that this mode of thought goes along with things like gossiping - 'all in the name of prayer'. It's a convenient phrase that allows anyone to do anything with a low risk of challenge and if it all goes wrong - well hey ho..... they have a suitable get out in that it 'wasn't their idea'!

To Walt's question:
I know that Yah is working in my life (often only retrospectively) and as we know, the Set Apart Spirit is simply a manifestation of God.
I know that when I'm about to do something 'anti-Torah', I can feel my heart rate go up and choose to ignore or listen to this signal - is that the Spirit? I don't know for sure, but I'd like to think so.

The Set Apart Spirit is wisdom, but even wise people get it wrong - (cue David). Maybe that explains the difference you cited about KP/Yada - the spirit guides all, but everyone's lives are different and no matter how hard we all try, we're still going to get stuff wrong. I think Yada used the analogy of Yahushua as the lead oxen and as new oxen in the team, each of us have to get shoved into line and nipped and pulled about a bit.

Part of me thinks that it's a function of us living in a 7 dimensional world, with the capacity to only perceive 3/4 dimensions - when we change into glorified energy balls that can do the things Yahushua did I think we'll all realise just how limited we are at the mo.



Yes. The H.S.told me .......thing is all to common from people taking an entirely different view. Logic dictates that all cannot be right. I am coming to the conclusion that we are gradually learning by learning from each other and this is how the R.K. does her work instead of actually indwelling in the accepted christian sense. Nevertheless there is someone in us who is co-ordinating all this incoming information and helping to build this into a picture. You can maybe see this better in hindsight than at the time.

I know someone who bought a wedding dress before knowing the prospective groom too!
Offline Quester  
#27 Posted : Thursday, September 16, 2010 12:56:48 PM(UTC)
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Walt wrote:
Is the Ruach Qodesh actually active in individuals lives?
Leading and directing and teaching - guiding into Truth - empowering Yah's children?

Or is this concept a christian religious myth?

Observationally I have to say She isn't


Thank you Walt for starting this thread!

This is the only thread along these lines that I've found on this forum, and I am particularly excited to participate in discussing the topic you introduced (which means I may ramble and rant and generally carry on for much longer than I could get away with in a normal non-online conversation -- you've all been warned!).

Here's my response to this first part of your post. In my experience...

(1) Yes, the Ruach Qodesh is actually active in individuals' lives.
Yes, leading and directing and teaching them.
Yes, guiding them into Truth.
Yes, empowering Yah's children.

Maybe not very many people total, but it is happening in the world today.

(2) No, this concept is not a christian religious myth.

Well, it's probably a myth among christians, but it isn't completely a myth when you include all of us "non-christians" who nevertheless love Yahuwah and seek to know him. This "actual involvement of the Spirit in the lives of individuals" is happening on at least a small scale that I know about.

My further (unsolicited) thoughts on all of this are as follows:

Anything of significant value is counterfeited -- whether paper money or designer goods or spiritual things. Since one's individual relationship with the Spirit is of great value, of course the enemy would seek to counterfeit it.

Counterfeiting something (1) rips people off, (2) creates confusion, and (3) ultimately threatens the acceptance of the original (genuine) article.

For example, if Germany was flooded with counterfeit Euro bills, individuals and small businesses (and anyone without stringent counterfeit measures already in place) would lose millions -- that is, assuming the banks caught the fake bills and wouldn't accept them in the deposits. Next, individuals, businesses and banks would be extremely wary of accepting bills in those denominations, and may stop accepting cash altogether. Ultimately, everyone's confidence would be degraded, and the general acceptance of cash may be threatened. And the problem would quickly spread to all the rest of Europe, since nowadays a common currency is shared between all the member-states. Was the problem anything to do with government-issued money? No, it was the counterfeiters who caused the problem.

I believe this has been the enemy's strategy behind introducing / promoting false spiritual experiences (that are falsely attributed to the Ruach Qodesh), and also the strategy behind introducing / promoting the loose use of the phrase "the Spirit told me."

I'm certain that at least a few thousand people in the world today do experience the Set-Apart Spirit's genuine involvement in their lives (in all the ways you described), but that number is probably 1:1000 smaller than the multitudes of christians in churches who experience something counterfeit and mistake it for the Set-Apart Spirit.

If I'm doing the maths correctly, even a number as large as one million people (in the world today having an active relationship with Yahuwah) is less than one-fiftieth of one percent of the world's population. That would be a "small minority of people" (remnant) if there ever was one. What's the likelihood of knowing many of those people (who are probably scattered all around the world, and mostly separated from each other), without being specifically led by Yahuwah to the cave where a group of them is hiding out? It would seem like a myth that such people exist if one doesn't know about them!

To continue with the counterfeit explanation: the charismatic church gives us some great examples of legitimate spiritual experiences that are nonetheless counterfeit. That is to say, those experiences do not have their origin in the Ruach Qodesh, but are still legitimately "spiritual" -- having their source in an unclean spirit. Examples would be roaring like a lion, rolling around in hysterical laughter, and most all of the speaking in tongues that goes on in that church. I'm not at all inclined to write off such experiences as merely psychologically-induced. All the stories I've read or have heard first-hand (or have seen first-hand) indicate a spirit of some kind was involved -- it's just a question of which one!

Counterfeit Ruach Qodesh experiences throughout the centuries, combined with loose use of "the Spirit told me" have definitely ripped people off, created confusion (on which experiences are genuine), and have threatened the acceptance of an individual having a genuine experience with the Set-Apart Spirit (is a genuine experience even possible, or should we limit the operation of the Spirit to something less?).

If you happened to read my initial post to this forum (in the "hello my name is" thread, under this same "Fellowship" category), I shared that my experience has been "walking with the Ruach Qodesh" for over sixteeen years. So, I myself am at least one example of a person who has experienced (a) the Spirit being active in my life, (b) the Spirit leading and directing and teaching me, (c) the Spirit guiding me into Truth, and (d) the Spirit empowering me. To me it is not at all a myth. I could tell you stories upon stories for each of those activities in my own individual life...

But attached to me (friends and relatives) are others who also have a similar experience to mine. I currently know at least ten others who experience this close, individualized attention from the Spirit, and who "hear" her speak to them in the same way I descibed in the "hello my name is" thread (which is to say, as an internal voice). I've also known a few other people (years ago, and with whom I'm no longer in contact) for whom such an experience was normative, so we are getting close to fifteen. If I wrack my brain, I might be able to think of others. The point is that this is a statistically significant group. If you heard some of the stories, they would be even more significant. I've heard (and even experienced first-hand) a lot of these people's stories, and have seen the evidence of the Spirit's direct personal involvement in their lives -- not something to dismiss easily.

Now, if I loosened up your idealized (high) level of active involvement -- maybe stretching it out to include people's experiences with any of those referenced activities, rather than all of them at once -- I could add a lot more people (maybe on the order of fifty more) who could contribute credible stories of individual attention from Yahuwah himself. Of course, most of these single-experience type stories are told as testimonies of miraculous interventions, rather than as normative experiences. But the evidence would be that lots of people have such stories of involvement on some level at least. And cumulatively they testify to an active and present-day involvement of the Set-Apart Spirit in our collective lives.

So, basically my response is that such an ideal as you described is not only possible, but is also possibly normative for those who can "find" it. But such an ideal is most certainly not normative for the millions of religious christians (and catholics and orthodox christians) who do not know Yahweh / Yahushua and for whom their only connection to "the man behind the scriptures" is the gospel of Paul -- which isn't a connection at all -- but you most certainly already knew that. =) You're on this forum, after all!

Walt wrote:
Maybe Yahuweh isn't close and personal as we desire - but it is a distant, observational relationship He maintains


Reminds me of a song I heard once back in the 90's: "God is watching us... from a distance." Scripture definitely paints a picture of a more active involvement in the affairs of men than that.

It's easy to reach conclusions based on limited evidence, and to be discouraged that something isn't happening at all, if we aren't seeing it. But there are caves in various places, with people having "set apart" experiences.

Walt wrote:
Just look at YY
Both the co-authors (Yada and Ken) assert that they are led by Yah - but many of their conclusions are diametrically opposed to each other (and this can create confusion in those seeking Truth)
Both can't be correct - where is the Ruach Qodesh in this???


If church is our reference point, then it's no surprise that observationally we wouldn't be able to see anything that would suggest it's not a myth. We won't find such an involvement there. People in church aren't following Yahuwah (and by extension aren't experiencing his Ruach Qodesh)-- except for the very rare person who either (a) hasn't been led to leave Babylon yet, or (b) has been led to go back into the churches to witness to people about the Truth. (I've been in both (a) and (b), and let me tell you it is slim pickings, trying to talk to that "class" of people -- ie. religious people -- about the Truth.)

You cite the writers of Yada Yahweh as disagreeing, so maybe your reference point is more the community of "non-christians" here on this forum and elsewhere (you guys like being called "non-christians"? it's kinda fun, right?), or maybe it's those people you see as leaders? If that's the case, my feedback remains the same. It's possible for those who "find" it (usually after seeking for it).

Just because a man writes something deeply insightful about one thing, doesn't mean he is automatically right about every other thing he ever writes about. Using myself as an example, I say that I have an intimate relationship with Yahuwah via his Spirit (for over sixteen years), and yet probably every post I've made so far on this forum, I've had to go back and edit to improve my communication.

Where's the Spirit in this? After last edit, maybe up to 85%. Early versions maybe as little as 50%.

If I am generally "led" to talk to somebody about something (or generally to write a book about something), that doesn't mean every word out of my mouth is going to be correct (or even make sense). Maybe some of us are getting a leading, and even some specific details here and there along the way, but we aren't following as closely in all the other details as we should be (and thus are making the mistakes / creating the confusion). That's one possible explanation. Another explanation could be that the process of considering the concept of "Yada Yahweh" in great detail (as the authors had to do in order to even write the book) was as much the point of the Spirit leading them to write the book, as was our reading it. In other words, the perfection of the message was less important to her (Ruach Qodesh) than the concept of "relationally knowing Yahweh" being considered by all of us.

I'm not as familiar with the writings of both men as you (and probably everyone else on this forum) are, so I'm not sure whether Yada and Ken claim specifically that the Spirit has revealed diametrically opposed viewpoints to each of them separately, or whether they just generally claim some type of leading in what they generally write about, but then end up disagreeing sometimes. If you think it's worth elaborating on, I'd be interested in some examples of such disagreements.

Q

Edited by user Friday, September 17, 2010 1:17:21 PM(UTC)  | Reason: Not specified

Offline Quester  
#28 Posted : Thursday, September 16, 2010 2:32:44 PM(UTC)
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Walt wrote:
Is it just religious baggage that expectation Yahuweh will be active and involved in the lives of those who Yada Him?
That His Set-Apart Spirit doesn't lead us into Truth and understanding as we read Scripture - or doesn't even lead us to discern WHAT is His inspired word


Still working through Walt's original post, and taking this partial quote one question at a time:

(1) It's hard for me to imagine "relationally knowing" him (Yada Yahweh/Yahuweh -- or Yahuwah, as I'm inclined to pronounce), without his being active and involved in my life.

In the same way, I can't think of an example of a human-human relationship in which I can claim to "relationally know" someone, unless also as a part of that "knowing," I am spending some time with him, talking with him fairly regularly, and generally having an active involvement in his life (or he in mine). Basically, I don't think it is even possible to "Yada Yahweh" without such an involvement being normative in the Yahuwah-human relationship.

Furthermore, I don't think such a Yahuwah-human relationship can be healthy without the Ruach Qodesh having an active involvement. That is to say, the aspect of Yahuwah that we are most likely to experience in such a relationship (or be in contact with) is the Set-Apart Spirit. If that's true, then a person who doesn't have an intimate Ruach Qodesh experience, doesn't have a healthy relationship with Yahuwah (or alternatively with Yahushua, if that's the angle someone takes).

(2) Like I shared in my previous response (in this thread), I myself (for one) do experience the Spirit in the practical ways you ask about. Continuing that explanation:

Regarding "being led into Truth and understanding as we read Scripture," as one example, I can recall that as an eleven year old reading through the NIV translation of the "bible" really for the first time, I would get little "no, that's not right" feedbacks from the Spirit as I read. I would mentally mark the words as "not right," but not really understand exactly why that was so. Years later, when I began to specifically research various aspects of scripture, I would often come across one of those passages (or sentences or phrases) that had been marked "not right," and learn about how it should have been translated. Or how it shouldn't have been included, since it probably isn't scripture (but was added later by scribes or whatever).

Regarding "leading us to discern what is his inspired word," I can recall the "this doesn't make any sense" feedback, whenever I would read whatever Paul wrote. And ultimately (many years later), I have been led to "discern" much of what is not his inspired word (regarding Paul, as one example). Regarding that eventual "led to discern" moment with Paul, I remember the day I came home and the Spirit told me specifically to research whether Paul was a false apostle. I had had the thought in my mind for years (that either Paul was bogus or the NT canon was bogus), but only upon researching it (for about a month) did I conclude with certainty that he was in fact bogus, and that by extension the canon was bogus too. Very often, I am led to research something, and only through that process (of working hard to get the truth on something) am I given the enlightenment / revelation. In other words, maybe Yahuwah wants us to have to work for it, at least some of the time.

Q

Edited by user Friday, September 17, 2010 1:20:07 PM(UTC)  | Reason: Not specified

Offline Quester  
#29 Posted : Thursday, September 16, 2010 5:36:49 PM(UTC)
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James wrote:
This is a great question Walt. I would say that I have felt Mom work in my life, and I have certainly felt Her presence. But with that said, it drives me crazy when talking with someone about Scripture and someone says that the spirit has lead them to a conclusion that is, at least as I see it, not in congruence with Scripture. I also think people often mistake their own desire and want for the Spirit. I think Ken made a great point, the Spirit is in us, and gives us all life, she also guides us in study and our relationship with Yah, but we must still use discernment.


Hi James,

I have to say that I'm one of those people who has been led to a conclusion "different" from scripture, as a result of a specific revelation -- but only usually later to find out that my mental understanding of scripture was flawed at the time of the revelation (usually due to a mistranslation). That is to say, later on I would gain a new understanding that would suddenly fit with what was revealed previously.

With that said, it drives me crazy too! And hopefully I wouldn't drive you crazy, if you were talking to me about such a revelation.

Because while I may claim to have received a specific revelation about something, my mind doesn't check out as a result! I tend to be skeptical even of something I think the Spirit revealed to me, and I'm certainly more tending towards getting objective, logical "backup" for a revelation (before I'm comfortable accepting it) than I am towards accepting it wholesale without thought. And I would certainly be willing to discuss the whole thing at length, as a way to test the logical validity of the revelation.

I definitely agree that "people often mistake their own desire and want for the Spirit."

And I totally agree that "we must still use discernment." But is discernment a tool that is even in our toolbox? If discernment is simply using a mental-logical vetting process, then that tool isn't very widely owned (obviously the same people that don't think aren't going to be able to logically think). But, worse, if discernment is a spiritual tool only available to us in association with the Ruach Qodesh, then those people who aren't already in good standing with Yahuwah have no chance of using discernment. It would be like asking a man with no arms to punch his way out of a brick building. He doesn't have the tools, let alone he is probably too lazy to do the work necessary to get out, even if he did have those two little sledgehammers.

Q

Edited by user Friday, September 17, 2010 8:25:48 AM(UTC)  | Reason: Not specified

Offline Quester  
#30 Posted : Thursday, September 16, 2010 7:57:30 PM(UTC)
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bigritchie wrote:
Boy you hit it on the head here.

If I had a dime for every Christian be it Protestant or Catholic who told me "The Holy Spirit" told me, I would be a very wealthy man. They just do not get the "Spirit of TRUTH" is the "Spirit of Torah". The carving of Torah on a new heart, and you cannot wait for the feast, you cannot wait to help a widow or orphan.

And of course the "Holy Spirit" is telling people 38,000 cults/sects and denominations. I had a long conversation on the internet with a Roman Catholic lady, who refused to address anything I said, or address the mounds of pagan sun god worship evidence I presented, and then did the typical "The Holy Spirit told me to join Rome" misdirect.

To me the christian version of the "Holy Spirit" is much like the Hebrew Yahuwshua versus the Church "Jesus".

Christians fail to realize the very purpose of the "Spirit of Truth" is so you can keep Torah!

This is really a big pet peeve of mine, as I have found some of the most spiritually retarded people pull the "Holy Spirit Misdirect Card" when they cannot refute anything you say. They fail to realize that the Creator will full you with Truth, but he will also fill you to overflowing with all the religious BS you can stand also.

I have found "The Holy Spirit told me" normally comes right after I refute all their "But Paul says" arguments. Two very annoying misdirects from people...........and then comes the "Love" misdirect, but that is another rant.

Anyways, I am ranting


Hi Big Ritchie,

Very funny about the "Holy Spirit told me" refutation / misdirect. That is the ultimate trump card, isn't it? "What you're saying is very interesting, but God Himself is telling me otherwise, so I needn't think for myself at any point in this discussion." Ha! How can you argue with that?

Conversational terrorism at its "best": used to protect lifeless religion, and to avoid life-saving information. Is there a more consequential application?

The world of subjective "Holy Spirit told me" is full of laughable examples. I know some people who have a feeling and call it "Holy Spirit told me," while others have a thought all on their own, and attribute it to the Spirit. But worst of all is the people who see an extremely fuzzy pattern of coincidence in something, and say with great certainty that "God is telling me," as a result of his supposed obscure communication. As an example of this last one, one guy I know had two people talk to him in the same day about the idea of selling his house, so that was therefore "God telling him" to sell his house. Scary. It wasn't even that big of a coincidence. (Were both of those people realtors? Oh, they were?)

I'll just ignore all the examples of people on television saying "God is telling me that you should send in money right now..."

Your statement about "the 'Spirit of TRUTH' is the 'Spirit of Torah'" is very interesting, but unnecessarily limiting, I think.

I know many credible stories of the Spirit actually telling somebody something, and although such a credible story is rare among christians at churches, such stories are commonplace among Yahuwah's collective (legitimate) children. I've certainly heard more stories than I can remember.

I think the reduction of the Spirit to simply a pen writing Torah on hearts (a bit exaggerated for effect) is only possible to accept if one has not had any legitimate experiences oneself with the Spirit, outside of that realm of scripture onto heart. Certainly I agree the Spirit does write the law on our hearts, but I don't limit her to just that one activity.

I've known probably a hundred people (with whom I've had this same discussion) who couldn't get comfortable with the idea because it was (a) outside their own experience, and (b) overshadowed by stories of counterfeit experiences they had heard or seen. As I wrote in an earlier post (in this thread), I think the counterfeits are simply a part of the enemy's strategy, not an evidence that no genuine experiences (along the lines of a direct Yahuwah-human experience) can be had.

Bottom line is that there are just too many examples (even just in scripture) of Yahuwah communicating to his people via his spirit, for me to accept that such is not at least possible (if not also normative). And I put these communications down to the Spirit more often than not. That is, the means through which the communication comes is normally the Spirit.

I totally agree that the christian religion has its "Holy Spirit" counterpart to the Ruach Qodesh, just as they have their "Jesus Christ" to Yahushua Mashiach (sp?). Just counterfeit versions of the legitimate originals. Of course, the whole goal in creating a counterfeit is to make it close enough that it can pass for the original to the untrained eye, and thus deceive / undermine / confuse / devalue / etc.

I'm also inclined to believe that many people are having a spirit tell them things -- just not the right one! Lots of examples of this can be found both in scripture and in modern times. Spirits are at work in the world, in terms of speaking to people on a multitude of topics (even topics unrelated to scripture) -- it's just a question of which spirit is which.

So, not to minimize the scriptures, but there is definitely a relationship component available to us that goes beyond simple Torah study. It can't be as simple as read / obey = relational knowing. That might be what the Yada Yahweh book concludes, I don't know, I haven't read it all yet. And that might be the basic view of those who participate on this forum, I also don't know.

As I wrote before, I'm seeing a trend on this forum of "It's all about scripture." But I'll wait for more responses to the things I'm bringing up, before I decide for certain.

And by the way, "If you disagree with me, you're not being loving!" Ha! Oh wait, am I a spiritual retard for saying that?

Q
Offline BiynaYahu  
#31 Posted : Friday, September 17, 2010 7:46:09 AM(UTC)
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Completeness, welfare, and peace everyone,

This is something I struggle with on a daily basis. I simply do not feel I have a proper connection to the set-apart spirit. The worst part is I know it's a problem with me... Some defense I'm throwing up, or an outpouring of my double mindedness (Something I seem to be plagued with). I always fall to the excuse of Attention Deficit Disorder (I'm hyper, too). So, because of my "disorder" (It's very probably psycological, and I think if I trusted Yahuwah more it would go away) I fand it hard to pray, or really retain scripture. I don't know. I never had a dad like a lot of people did, and I come from a family that is kind of distant. So, I think sometimes I don't even know how to have a relationship like our spiritual dad wants... Like I said, I don't know.


Your brother,
Michael Browell
Someone who does not dearly love or welcome, entertain, look fondly upon or cherish people with strong affection or highly esteem them with great favour, goodwill or benevolence, be loyal to or greatly adore them has not known or understood, perceived or realized, noticed or discerned, discovered or observed, experienced or ascertained, learned about or distinguished, comprehended, acknowledged or recognized God*, for concerning this, God* is and exists as brotherly love and affection, good will, esteem and benevolence.
Offline Quester  
#32 Posted : Friday, September 17, 2010 9:17:22 AM(UTC)
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Walt wrote:
Maybe what we "discern" as "the leading of The Spirit" is just our own mind & emotions at work and we use the "the leading of The Spirit" as justification to KNOW we are right - and the others are wrong

How are we to firmly stand when there isn't even agreement as to what is right or wrong within the leadership of just this 1 site???

Are we to just carve out our own little rock to stand on floating in this stormy sea of "what is Truth" and hope we don't get capsized??


Finishing up my response to Walt's original post (working through this last quote):

(1) For many of us, it most certainly is little more than "mind & emotions at work." I've know a lot of people for whom that was the case, with rare exceptions (of the Spirit's actual involvement) in their total experience.

(2) Regarding using "the leading of the Spirit as justification," I've seen that an awful lot too. That seems to be the primary motivation behind people's claiming "God" (or "the Holy Spirit") is always at work in their lives.

If a person claims that "God" is leading them, then they are a person who is led by "God" -- which is a great thing to be! They are therefore "right on," spiritually, and needn't worry about their actual estrangement. I've had hundreds of conversations with people who employ this form of self-justification, and eventually (in the conversation) they all will admit to not having any of the "normal" evidences of having a relationship with "God"... and yet they will gladly go on claiming that "God" is nevertheless at work in their lives.

(3) Regarding using "the leading of the Spirit" as "justification to know we are right, and others are wrong," probably everyone who employs the general justification is doing it at least a little bit just to make it so that others are wrong. I mean all the group of people I described above are at least using their "God is involved in my life" claim to differentiate themselves from the rest of the "fallen, sinful, going-to-hell" world. At most they are also using their claim to prop themselves up over and against their fellow christians. And of course, I am talking about people that are either in the churches proper, or the house-churches that aren't so far removed. I'm not talking about this forum. You may have been talking exclusively about people on this forum?

I can certainly understand the temptation to write off all Ruach Qodesh individual involvement as bunk, with such an overwhelming majority of counterfeit examples -- or with such an overwhelming lack of examples at all?

(4) How we are to stand is a question of whether we seek to stand individually or collectively. If we are looking for a group with whom to stand, before we feel capable of getting onto our feet, then we will probably be disappointed -- few such groups exist.

Personally, I feel the collectivist tendency is a carry-over from church. One of the unwritten doctrines in many churches (and written in others) is that we cannot succeed on our own, apart from "the body of believers." That's why we "cannot forsake the assembly," etc. Because we will die out there, if left alone for any significant period of time.

I've found the opposite to be true. If I can't stand on my own (just me and Yahuwah), then being in a group won't help me either. But if I can stand on my own (1+Yahuwah=majority), then I can then not only stand, but also perhaps walk around and help others to gain the strength they need to stand up on their own two feet.

The church mentality is that they (the church) are the mother, rather than the Ruach Qodesh. This is why they act like people will die apart from their nurturing support and protection. But if we can develop an active, practical and functional relationship with the legitimate mother (the Set-Apart Spriit), then we can not only stand on our own (because we aren't really on our own), but we can function independently and successfully, even without a group of like-minded or like-hearted other people.

(5) You wrote: "Are we to just carve out our own little rock to stand on floating in this stormy sea of "what is Truth" and hope we don't get capsized??"

Well, if we can carve out a little rock (maybe a limited revelation -- and with it a minimal experience? -- on which to stand), we have to change the analogy to a rock that is anchored to the seafloor (or landmass), rather than one which is floating on this story sea. And if our little rock is stable, then our concern isn't a capsize, but getting washed off of it by a large wave. If the stormy sea is "what is Truth?" then our little rock is but a limited answer to that question, and something very small on which to stand.

Maybe from there we can pray for a helicopter to fly us to a larger rock, or we can pray for more rock to rise up out of the sea beneath us. Perhaps the small rock we are on is the peak of a large undersea mountain (like so many Pacific Islands), and with a little volcanic activity it will rise a few meters each year...

Q
Offline James  
#33 Posted : Friday, September 17, 2010 9:55:31 AM(UTC)
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Quester wrote:
Hi James,


Hi, glad to have you here, and judging by the posts you have made i think you will be a valuable contributor.

Quester wrote:
I have to say that I'm one of those people who has been led to a conclusion "different" from scripture, as a result of a specific revelation -- but only usually later to find out that my mental understanding of scripture was flawed at the time of the revelation (usually due to a mistranslation). That is to say, later on I would gain a new understanding that would suddenly fit with what was revealed previously.


That is a great example of where I believe the Spirit is at work in our lives, there have been many times when reading something in one of our English bibles that I could just tell this wasn't right, be it the Spirit directly telling me, or just based on the fact that it just doesn't comport with Yahuweh's character or other parts of Scripture, and like you said it's either mistranslation or added stuff.

The stuff that drives me crazy is when trying to explain to a Christian why we should still observe the Sabbath, they bring up letting the spirit lead them, and how they feel good, and they feel the spirit active in their life at Sunday Church. As you pointed out above, their is a spirit active in the Church, but it isn't Yahuweh's.

Quester wrote:
With that said, it drives me crazy too! And hopefully I wouldn't drive you crazy, if you were talking to me about such a revelation.


I'm quite mad as it is, so I wouldn't worry if I were you. :)

Quester wrote:
Because while I may claim to have received a specific revelation about something, my mind doesn't check out as a result! I tend to be skeptical even of something I think the Spirit revealed to me, and I'm certainly more tending towards getting objective, logical "backup" for a revelation (before I'm comfortable accepting it) than I am towards accepting it wholesale without thought. And I would certainly be willing to discuss the whole thing at length, as a way to test the logical validity of the revelation.


Exactly, if something the Spirit tells you is truly from Yahuweh, then one shouldn't have any problem with being asked to back it up, with what we know to be True and Trustworthy. Even Yahushua backed up what he said with the Towrah, so we should all be held to that same standard.

Quester wrote:
I definitely agree that "people often mistake their own desire and want for the Spirit."


I could tell some stories about Christian family member and bad decisions that "God told them" to make, which ended up being just bad decisions, but I'm sure everyone has heard plenty of those.

Quester wrote:
And I totally agree that "we must still use discernment." But is discernment a tool that is even in our toolbox? If discernment is simply using a mental-logical vetting process, then that tool isn't very widely owned (obviously the same people that don't think aren't going to be able to logically think). But, worse, if discernment is a spiritual tool only available to us in association with the Ruach Qodesh, then those people who aren't already in good standing with Yahuwah have no chance of using discernment. It would be like asking a man with no arms to punch his way out of a brick building. He doesn't have the tools, let alone he is probably too lazy to do the work necessary to get out, even if he did have those two little sledgehammers.


I think discernment is a tool that everyone inherently possess. Yahuweh gave us our Neshamah, which is the ability to discern right from wrong, and to choose. Unfortunately there are two things necessary for people to use it constructively. 1)A desire and willingness to do so. 2)Proper and correct information. Through religion, and politics, the adversary has made the second very difficult to find, and the first almost non existent.
Don't take my word for it, Look it up.

“The truth is not for all men but only for those who seek it.” ― Ayn Rand
Offline bigritchie  
#34 Posted : Friday, September 17, 2010 10:35:52 AM(UTC)
bigritchie
Joined: 4/15/2010(UTC)
Posts: 305
Location: USA

Quester wrote:
Hi Big Ritchie,

Very funny about the "Holy Spirit told me" refutation / misdirect. That is the ultimate trump card, isn't it? "What you're saying is very interesting, but God Himself is telling me otherwise, so I needn't think for myself at any point in this discussion." Ha! How can you argue with that?

Conversational terrorism at its "best": used to protect lifeless religion, and to avoid life-saving information. Is there a more consequential application?

The world of subjective "Holy Spirit told me" is full of laughable examples. I know some people who have a feeling and call it "Holy Spirit told me," while others have a thought all on their own, and attribute it to the Spirit. But worst of all is the people who see an extremely fuzzy pattern of coincidence in something, and say with great certainty that "God is telling me," as a result of his supposed obscure communication. As an example of this last one, one guy I know had two people talk to him in the same day about the idea of selling his house, so that was therefore "God telling him" to sell his house. Scary. It wasn't even that big of a coincidence. (Were both of those people realtors? Oh, they were?)

I'll just ignore all the examples of people on television saying "God is telling me that you should send in money right now..."

Your statement about "the 'Spirit of TRUTH' is the 'Spirit of Torah'" is very interesting, but unnecessarily limiting, I think.

I know many credible stories of the Spirit actually telling somebody something, and although such a credible story is rare among christians at churches, such stories are commonplace among Yahuwah's collective (legitimate) children. I've certainly heard more stories than I can remember.

I think the reduction of the Spirit to simply a pen writing Torah on hearts (a bit exaggerated for effect) is only possible to accept if one has not had any legitimate experiences oneself with the Spirit, outside of that realm of scripture onto heart. Certainly I agree the Spirit does write the law on our hearts, but I don't limit her to just that one activity.

I've known probably a hundred people (with whom I've had this same discussion) who couldn't get comfortable with the idea because it was (a) outside their own experience, and (b) overshadowed by stories of counterfeit experiences they had heard or seen. As I wrote in an earlier post (in this thread), I think the counterfeits are simply a part of the enemy's strategy, not an evidence that no genuine experiences (along the lines of a direct Yahuwah-human experience) can be had.

Bottom line is that there are just too many examples (even just in scripture) of Yahuwah communicating to his people via his spirit, for me to accept that such is not at least possible (if not also normative). And I put these communications down to the Spirit more often than not. That is, the means through which the communication comes is normally the Spirit.

I totally agree that the christian religion has its "Holy Spirit" counterpart to the Ruach Qodesh, just as they have their "Jesus Christ" to Yahushua Mashiach (sp?). Just counterfeit versions of the legitimate originals. Of course, the whole goal in creating a counterfeit is to make it close enough that it can pass for the original to the untrained eye, and thus deceive / undermine / confuse / devalue / etc.

I'm also inclined to believe that many people are having a spirit tell them things -- just not the right one! Lots of examples of this can be found both in scripture and in modern times. Spirits are at work in the world, in terms of speaking to people on a multitude of topics (even topics unrelated to scripture) -- it's just a question of which spirit is which.

So, not to minimize the scriptures, but there is definitely a relationship component available to us that goes beyond simple Torah study. It can't be as simple as read / obey = relational knowing. That might be what the Yada Yahweh book concludes, I don't know, I haven't read it all yet. And that might be the basic view of those who participate on this forum, I also don't know.

As I wrote before, I'm seeing a trend on this forum of "It's all about scripture." But I'll wait for more responses to the things I'm bringing up, before I decide for certain.

And by the way, "If you disagree with me, you're not being loving!" Ha! Oh wait, am I a spiritual retard for saying that?

Q


Well I should probably clarify what I was saying, as my post was more of a rant from dealing with both a protestant and Catholic Christian the day before I wrote that, so it was more of a rant.

I do believe the Set-Apart Spirit is at work. In fact I think that all of us are proof of that, and all the people all over planet earth even in communist countries going "Wow, I need to keep the Feast and Sabbaths, I want to keep the commandments".

I know for myself it has often been those thoughts interjected into my thinking, that something just was not right, or A utter desire and drive to research something where I cannot stop until I learn whatever I am meant to learn. My entire journey out of Babylon all started with the issue of unclean foods, just a drive or feeling, that something was not right, just a simple "voice" in the back of my mind to follow the rabbit trail.

I think the Set-Apart spirit brings us to a reminder of the words of the Creator and the words of the Messiah.

My rant was more inclined to those religious christians who think the "Holy Spirit" is something that comes upon them, and then they are some kind of "Christian Jedi Knight with the Force" or something. The kind of people who constantly say things like "I don't have to obey the Creator, the Holy Spirit told me so" or something along those moronic lines. Or people who act like the Creator constantly is texting them on their cellphone or something, aka he cannot run the universe without their opinion.

I generally respond to people like that with something along the lines of "Well, go raise the dead, and cast a mountain into the ocean and put it on Youtube".
Offline Quester  
#35 Posted : Monday, September 20, 2010 11:45:16 AM(UTC)
Quester
Joined: 9/14/2010(UTC)
Posts: 70
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Location: Bonn, Germany

James wrote:
Hi, glad to have you here, and judging by the posts you have made i think you will be a valuable contributor.

Thanks, James.

James wrote:
I think discernment is a tool that everyone inherently possess. Yahuweh gave us our Neshamah, which is the ability to discern right from wrong, and to choose. Unfortunately there are two things necessary for people to use it constructively. 1)A desire and willingness to do so. 2)Proper and correct information. Through religion, and politics, the adversary has made the second very difficult to find, and the first almost non existent.


Would I be correct to state that Neshamah is the same word / concept that is (in English) referred to as Conscience?

Interesting analysis about what is necessary for people to use it constructively. I always rather thought the "conscience" was like an inner voice (or sense) that spoke to us, whether we were particularly desirous of hearing what "it" said or not, and also whether we even knew the proper and correct information ahead-of-time (before hearing "it" speak to us).

Your analysis of the two pre-requisites make me think that Neshamah, then, isn't something that was given to us as an already-functioning ability, but rather as some kind of un-developed capacity. That is, we have the potential to develop it, but we've got to do the work first. If that's the case, it seems that we can't really be held accountable (by Yahuwah) for bad decisions, until such time as our Neshamah is up-and-running. Because we didn't know better.

I always figured the so-called "inherent" sense of right and wrong that people supposedly universally have, is what makes it possible for Yahuwah to fairly judge us for all our decisions in life. And I figured that "inherent" sense was the Conscience.

But, it could be that (1) Conscience is a myth, as you are possibly saying, and that (2) no such "inherent" sense of right and wrong does universally exist among people. Thoughts?

Q
Offline Quester  
#36 Posted : Monday, September 20, 2010 12:13:17 PM(UTC)
Quester
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Posts: 70
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Location: Bonn, Germany

bigritchie wrote:
Well I should probably clarify what I was saying, as my post was more of a rant from dealing with both a protestant and Catholic Christian the day before I wrote that, so it was more of a rant.

Hi Big,

We are all prone to ranting -- I've certainly done it on more of my posts than not. =)

bigritchie wrote:
I do believe the Set-Apart Spirit is at work. In fact I think that all of us are proof of that, and all the people all over planet earth even in communist countries going "Wow, I need to keep the Feast and Sabbaths, I want to keep the commandments".

OK, so you do believe the Set-Apart Spirit is at work.

And your first proof of that is people's desire to:
(a) keep the Feasts
(b) keep the Sabbaths
and
(c) keep the commandments.
Which you put all together into one stream of thought, so really your first proof is just (1) the desire to follow the law.

bigritchie wrote:
I know for myself it has often been those thoughts interjected into my thinking, that something just was not right, or A utter desire and drive to research something where I cannot stop until I learn whatever I am meant to learn.

Your next three proofs are:
(2) thoughts interjected into our thinking
(3) a feeling that something isn't right
and
(4) an utter desire to research something to a conclusion.

bigritchie wrote:
My entire journey out of Babylon all started with the issue of unclean foods, just a drive or feeling, that something was not right, just a simple "voice" in the back of my mind to follow the rabbit trail.

That's really interesting! I'm curious whether you can narrow down your experience to just one of the two you mentioned: (a) a drive or feeling, or (b) a simple "voice" in the back of your mind. Or maybe it was both?

bigritchie wrote:
I think the Set-Apart spirit brings us to a reminder of the words of the Creator and the words of the Messiah.

Your next proof of the Set-Apart Spirit being at work:

(5) reminders of the words of both the Creator and the Messiah.

Overall, good evidence (proof)!

Apart from the first proof (about having a desire to follow the law), how often would you say the other four are "normally" experienced by you, or by others you know well?

bigritchie wrote:
My rant was more inclined to those religious christians who think the "Holy Spirit" is something that comes upon them, and then they are some kind of "Christian Jedi Knight with the Force" or something. The kind of people who constantly say things like "I don't have to obey the Creator, the Holy Spirit told me so" or something along those moronic lines. Or people who act like the Creator constantly is texting them on their cellphone or something, aka he cannot run the universe without their opinion.

I generally respond to people like that with something along the lines of "Well, go raise the dead, and cast a mountain into the ocean and put it on Youtube".

Hilarious commentary!!

Best parts:
"Christian Jedi Knight with the Force"
"... and put it on Youtube"

Not sure what you meant by: "like the Creator constantly is texting them on their cellphone..."

Do you mean that you think such frequent communication is out-of-the-realm-of-what-is-possible?
Or do you mean that the Creator is asking their opinion, as he makes decisions in "heaven"?

Q
Offline James  
#37 Posted : Tuesday, September 21, 2010 5:08:58 AM(UTC)
James
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quester wrote:
Would I be correct to state that Neshamah is the same word / concept that is (in English) referred to as Conscience?

Conscience is the closest English equivalent to it. The Neshamah is the one thing that really sets man apart from animals, it is what makes us in Yahuweh’s image, and what makes it possible for us to Yada Yahuweh.

Quester wrote:
Interesting analysis about what is necessary for people to use it constructively. I always rather thought the "conscience" was like an inner voice (or sense) that spoke to us, whether we were particularly desirous of hearing what "it" said or not, and also whether we even knew the proper and correct information ahead-of-time (before hearing "it" speak to us).

In a way it is, the Neshamah was the reason Adam and Chawah hid after eating the forbidden fruit, it’s the reason Cain hid Abel’s body after murdering him. They knew what they had done was wrong; no one had to tell them that it was wrong, they knew it was.

Quester wrote:
Your analysis of the two pre-requisites make me think that Neshamah, then, isn't something that was given to us as an already-functioning ability, but rather as some kind of un-developed capacity. That is, we have the potential to develop it, but we've got to do the work first. If that's the case, it seems that we can't really be held accountable (by Yahuwah) for bad decisions, until such time as our Neshamah is up-and-running. Because we didn't know better.


This is why I think conscience isn’t a perfectly accurate translation. There is more to Neshamah then there is to conscience. It is the ability to make choice, but it also the part that tells us that our choice was bad. Animals don’t have either; they act purely on instinct, and don’t feel good or bad afterwards. The first part is where men today have been hamstrung; we are showered with incorrect information, and have been brain washed into thinking being judgmental is wrong, and thus most don’t use there Neshamah to choose right as opposed to wrong, and they don’t feel bad because they have reasoned their way around that. As for the second part while it certainly isn’t functional in infants, but I have seen children as young as 1 year that know when they have done something wrong (it’s different for every kid), and not long after they begin to realize that, they begin to develop there discernment skills, and learn to let their Neshamah fight their instinct.

People often don’t use their ability to make choices; they just act on their animal instinct, and then realize that their choice was wrong. So the two parts work together.

Quester wrote:
I always figured the so-called "inherent" sense of right and wrong that people supposedly universally have, is what makes it possible for Yahuwah to fairly judge us for all our decisions in life. And I figured that "inherent" sense was the Conscience.

But, it could be that (1) Conscience is a myth, as you are possibly saying, and that (2) no such "inherent" sense of right and wrong does universally exist among people. Thoughts?

I think there is an inherent sense of right and wrong. No one told Cain that murder was wrong, but when he murdered Abel he knew he had done something wrong. With the exception of sociopaths, murders flee the scene because they know what they did was wrong. But I do think people can ignore that inherit sense, or reason their way around it, even Hitler thought what he was doing was right.

I hope I’m clear, this is a complicated topic.
Don't take my word for it, Look it up.

“The truth is not for all men but only for those who seek it.” ― Ayn Rand
Offline Rohn  
#38 Posted : Sunday, October 17, 2010 2:48:50 AM(UTC)
Rohn
Joined: 5/1/2009(UTC)
Posts: 45
Location: Goodyear AZ

Still it is interesting here the German mind always analyzing. It is something to be admired. The conscience is not a figment of freudian imagination We all seem to have it. Whether that is the same as Nesamah or the spirit that get lit up like a 120 watt bulb when normally the alive spirit is around a 20 watt filament is something that has never been spelled out. What else could make everyone speak in languages they knew nothing about.
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