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Signs of Holy Spirit guidance in Christians?

PoetPhilosopher

Veteran Member
The 'Holy Spirit', an important aspect of the Trinity in Christianity, is often believed to be the personal presence of God actively working in the lives of Christians. Christians often appear to seek guidance from the Holy Spirit to lead them on the right path and discern God's will for their lives.

John 16:13 (New International Version)
"But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; He will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come."

This verse highlights the Holy Spirit's role as a guide for Christians, inspiring a question: Are there any discernible signs in the world that demonstrate the Holy Spirit's guidance in Christians today?

How would one distinguish between a Christian with the Holy Spirit, and a Christian whom, for some reason, doesn't have the guidance of the Holy Spirit?
 

1213

Well-Known Member
This verse highlights the Holy Spirit's role as a guide for Christians, inspiring a question: Are there any discernible signs in the world that demonstrate the Holy Spirit's guidance in Christians today?

How would one distinguish between a Christian with the Holy Spirit, and a Christian whom, for some reason, doesn't have the guidance of the Holy Spirit?
As you say, Holy Spirit is like a guide. If that is true, as I think it is, it could be seen from example in that person gets answers to questions about Christianity. However, that could be difficult to measure, because one could claim the answer came by some other way.

I think Holy Spirit is basically like conscience, it means God's law is written to person's "heart" as foretold in book of Jeremiah. It would be interesting to know, is there difference between people who could have Holy Spirit and people who don't have it, do they have similar conscience.

But this shall be the covenant that I will cut with the house of Israel: After those days, declares Jehovah, I will put My law in their inward parts, and I will write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.
Jer. 31:33

Here are few scriptures that also tell something about the influence of Holy Spirit, that could be seen in people:

For who among men knows the things of a man, except the spirit of a man within him? So also no one has known the things of God except the Spirit of God. But we have not received the spirit of the world, but the Spirit from God, so that we might know the things that are freely given to us by God. Which things we also speak, not in words taught in human wisdom, but in words taught of the Holy Spirit, comparing spiritual things with spiritual things. But a natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he is not able to know them , because they are spiritually discerned. But the spiritual one discerns all things, but he is discerned by no one.
1 Cor. 2:11-15

But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law. Now the works of the flesh are clearly revealed, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lustfulness, idolatry, sorcery, hatreds, fightings, jealousies, angers, rivalries, divisions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkennesses, wild parties, and things like these; of which I tell you beforehand, as I also said before, that the ones practicing such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is: love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faith, meekness, self-control. Against such things there is not a law.
Gal. 5:18-23
 

Heyo

Veteran Member
How would one distinguish between a Christian with the Holy Spirit, and a Christian whom, for some reason, doesn't have the guidance of the Holy Spirit?
Is there no passage in the Bible which tells us who has the guidance and who doesn't?
If there isn't the claim of a "Holy spirit" becomes unfalsifiable and therefore not even wrong.
However, that could be difficult to measure, because one could claim the answer came by some other way.
Same problem. Either unfalsifiable or the effect is so small that isn't measurable and therefore benign.
 

Hermit Philosopher

Selflessly here for you
This verse highlights the Holy Spirit's role as a guide for Christians, inspiring a question: Are there any discernible signs in the world that demonstrate the Holy Spirit's guidance in Christians today?

How would one distinguish between a Christian with the Holy Spirit, and a Christian whom, for some reason, doesn't have the guidance of the Holy Spirit?
One of the strongest insights from the Holy Spirit, is that of Man’s universal vulnerability and need for [support from] his fellow beings. Due to the profound humility invoked by the Holy Spirit, I think that someone led by It, would only really want to put that question to themselves, about themselves.

How does one know that one is guided by the Holy Spirit?

In face of another’s joy, one genuinely rejoices.
In face of another’s loss, one genuinely mourns.
In face of another’s will, one genuinely seeks comprehension and offers perspective.
In face of another’s shortcomings, one remains genuinely patient and has full faith in their process.
In face of another’s progress, one is genuinely inspired and remains encouraging.
In face of another’s deceit, one is genuinely humble and stays selfless.
In face of another’s pardon, one is genuinely forgiving.

In face of another, one is present - with and for them.

Humbly,
Hermit
 
Last edited:

Audie

Veteran Member
The 'Holy Spirit', an important aspect of the Trinity in Christianity, is often believed to be the personal presence of God actively working in the lives of Christians. Christians often appear to seek guidance from the Holy Spirit to lead them on the right path and discern God's will for their lives.

John 16:13 (New International Version)
"But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; He will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come."

This verse highlights the Holy Spirit's role as a guide for Christians, inspiring a question: Are there any discernible signs in the world that demonstrate the Holy Spirit's guidance in Christians today?

How would one distinguish between a Christian with the Holy Spirit, and a Christian whom, for some reason, doesn't have the guidance of the Holy Spirit?
Eze. The one who has the one True interpretation of scrip.
 

Audie

Veteran Member
As you say, Holy Spirit is like a guide. If that is true, as I think it is, it could be seen from example in that person gets answers to questions about Christianity. However, that could be difficult to measure, because one could claim the answer came by some other way.

I think Holy Spirit is basically like conscience, it means God's law is written to person's "heart" as foretold in book of Jeremiah. It would be interesting to know, is there difference between people who could have Holy Spirit and people who don't have it, do they have similar conscience.

But this shall be the covenant that I will cut with the house of Israel: After those days, declares Jehovah, I will put My law in their inward parts, and I will write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.
Jer. 31:33

Here are few scriptures that also tell something about the influence of Holy Spirit, that could be seen in people:

For who among men knows the things of a man, except the spirit of a man within him? So also no one has known the things of God except the Spirit of God. But we have not received the spirit of the world, but the Spirit from God, so that we might know the things that are freely given to us by God. Which things we also speak, not in words taught in human wisdom, but in words taught of the Holy Spirit, comparing spiritual things with spiritual things. But a natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he is not able to know them , because they are spiritually discerned. But the spiritual one discerns all things, but he is discerned by no one.
1 Cor. 2:11-15

But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law. Now the works of the flesh are clearly revealed, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lustfulness, idolatry, sorcery, hatreds, fightings, jealousies, angers, rivalries, divisions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkennesses, wild parties, and things like these; of which I tell you beforehand, as I also said before, that the ones practicing such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is: love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faith, meekness, self-control. Against such things there is not a law.
Gal. 5:18-23
How did it guide you into so much nonsense?
 

viole

Ontological Naturalist
Premium Member
How would one distinguish between a Christian with the Holy Spirit, and a Christian whom, for some reason, doesn't have the guidance of the Holy Spirit?
Why do they need guidance to start with? Is the information in the Gospel not sufficient?

Ciao

- viole
 

paarsurrey

Veteran Member
The 'Holy Spirit', an important aspect of the Trinity in Christianity, is often believed to be the personal presence of God actively working in the lives of Christians. Christians often appear to seek guidance from the Holy Spirit to lead them on the right path and discern God's will for their lives.

John 16:13 (New International Version)
"But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; He will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come."

This verse highlights the Holy Spirit's role as a guide for Christians, inspiring a question: Are there any discernible signs in the world that demonstrate the Holy Spirit's guidance in Christians today?

How would one distinguish between a Christian with the Holy Spirit, and a Christian whom, for some reason, doesn't have the guidance of the Holy Spirit?
"But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; He will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come."

The above is definitely not about the Christian-god-"holy spirit", I understand:

"The grammatical gender of the word for "spirit" is feminine in Hebrew (רוּחַ, rūaḥ),[1] neutral in Greek (πνεῦμα, pneûma) and masculine in Latin (spiritus). The neutral Greek πνεῦμα is used in the Septuagint to translate the Hebrew רוּחַ. The pronouns used to address the Holy Spirit, however, are masculine.[citation needed]

The Holy Spirit was furthermore equated with the (grammatically feminine) Wisdom of God by two early Church fathers, Theophilus of Antioch (d. 180) and by Irenaeus (d. 202/3)."

"Even in the same language, a difference may arise relating to what word is chosen to describe the Holy Spirit. In Greek the word pneuma is grammatically neuter[3] and so, in that language, the pronoun referring to the Holy Spirit under that name is also grammatically neuter. However, when the Holy Spirit is referred to by the grammatically masculine word Parakletos "counselor", the pronoun is masculine (since the pronoun refers to Parakletos rather than pneuma), as in John 16:7-8.[4]"

Right?

Regards
 

IndigoChild5559

Loving God and my neighbor as myself.
The 'Holy Spirit', an important aspect of the Trinity in Christianity, is often believed to be the personal presence of God actively working in the lives of Christians. Christians often appear to seek guidance from the Holy Spirit to lead them on the right path and discern God's will for their lives.

John 16:13 (New International Version)
"But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; He will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come."

This verse highlights the Holy Spirit's role as a guide for Christians, inspiring a question: Are there any discernible signs in the world that demonstrate the Holy Spirit's guidance in Christians today?

How would one distinguish between a Christian with the Holy Spirit, and a Christian whom, for some reason, doesn't have the guidance of the Holy Spirit?
Protestants who go by the "guidance of the Holy Spirit" have ultimately split into tens of thousands of denominations. It is quite obvious that they cannot tell the difference between the Holy Spirit and their own very human intuition.
 

Audie

Veteran Member
Protestants who go by the "guidance of the Holy Spirit" have ultimately split into tens of thousands of denominations. It is quite obvious that they cannot tell the difference between the Holy Spirit and their own very human intuition.
And it's sooooo easy!

There isn't any difference!
 

1213

Well-Known Member
How did it guide you into so much nonsense?
What nonsense? Why you call it nonsense? Because you don't understand it? Don't worry, Bible has this great promise for everyone who has difficulties to make sense of things.

But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask from God, who gives to all freely and with no reproach, and it will be given to Him.
James 1:5
 

Audie

Veteran Member
What nonsense? Why you call it nonsense? Because you don't understand it? Don't worry, Bible has this great promise for everyone who has difficulties to make sense of things.

But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask from God, who gives to all freely and with no reproach, and it will be given to Him.
James 1:5
Cute quote but it doesn't seem to work
for you.
 

Muffled

Jesus in me
The 'Holy Spirit', an important aspect of the Trinity in Christianity, is often believed to be the personal presence of God actively working in the lives of Christians. Christians often appear to seek guidance from the Holy Spirit to lead them on the right path and discern God's will for their lives.

John 16:13 (New International Version)
"But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; He will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come."

This verse highlights the Holy Spirit's role as a guide for Christians, inspiring a question: Are there any discernible signs in the world that demonstrate the Holy Spirit's guidance in Christians today?

How would one distinguish between a Christian with the Holy Spirit, and a Christian whom, for some reason, doesn't have the guidance of the Holy Spirit?
I believe Jesus said we will be known by our fruit but spiritual things are spiritually discerned and that is a gift of the Spirit not a fruit.
 

Muffled

Jesus in me
One of the strongest insights from the Holy Spirit, is that of Man’s universal vulnerability and need for [support from] his fellow beings. Due to the profound humility invoked by the Holy Spirit, I think that someone led by It, would only really want to put that question to themselves, about themselves.

How does one know that one is guided by the Holy Spirit?

In face of another’s joy, one genuinely rejoices.
In face of another’s loss, one genuinely mourns.
In face of another’s will, one genuinely seeks comprehension and offers perspective.
In face of another’s shortcomings, one remains genuinely patient and has full faith in their process.
In face of another’s progress, one is genuinely inspired and remains encouraging.
In face of another’s deceit, one is genuinely humble and stays selfless.
In face of another’s pardon, one is genuinely forgiving.

In face of another, one is present - with and for them.

Humbly,
Hermit
For me it was the fulfillment of prophecy.
 

Muffled

Jesus in me
We notice that it's all about you
I believe there can be others like me but I haven't met any here. My pastor reports having had spiritual guidance but only in time of need. Currently we have differences of opinion because at present he relies on his intellectual understanding of the Bible.
 

Audie

Veteran Member
I believe one would not know that without spiritual discernment.
As noted, it's all about you.

The others like you also think they are the
One(s) with "spiritual discernment" so that
their One True is the true One True. Not yours.

It's opera buffa. Except not actually funny.
 
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