{"id":3407,"date":"2015-08-20T00:00:22","date_gmt":"2015-08-20T07:00:22","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.hoc6.org\/global\/?p=3407"},"modified":"2015-08-19T23:03:44","modified_gmt":"2015-08-20T06:03:44","slug":"820-listen-to-the-holy-spirit","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.hoc6.org\/global\/2015\/08\/20\/820-listen-to-the-holy-spirit\/","title":{"rendered":"8\/20: Listen to the Holy Spirit (\u7bb420:15-24 \u6797\u524d14:1-19 \u4ee3\u4e0b10:1-12:16 )"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u8bfb\u7ecf\uff1a\u7bb420:15-24 \u6797\u524d14:1-19 \u4ee3\u4e0b10:1-12:16<\/h2>\n

Listen to the Holy Spirit<\/h2>\n
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Will Wisbey was a successful young estate agent. He was fiercely sceptical of Christianity. One Sunday, a friend invited him to HTB. During that service, someone had a \u2018word of knowledge\u2019 that went like this: \u2018There is a man here who is expecting a soft-top sports car to be delivered in the next two days. He has worked all his life so hard to achieve success. Work has been his life. He\u2019s got the car, the house, the lifestyle, and he\u2018s not happy. And God wants him to know that there\u2019s something more important for him to focus on.\u2019<\/p>\n

Subsequently Will wrote, \u2018I couldn\u2019t believe it. My new car was the nicest I\u2019d bought. It was arriving in literally two days and I hadn\u2019t told anyone. I was earning \u00a3100k a year. My work was my life. That night, for the first time in my life, I really prayed.\u2019<\/p>\n

Will encountered Jesus Christ and was filled with the Holy Spirit. He says, \u2018Now I know Jesus does exist. He loves me and he is with me.\u2019<\/p>\n

Many of us live in a busy and noisy world. In the midst of all the noise, talk and distractions how do you hear the voice of the Holy Spirit?<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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1. Listen to wisdom and knowledge<\/h2>\n

Proverbs 20:15-24<\/a>One of the ways in which you can hear the voice of the Holy Spirit is through the wise advice of others. Wise and knowledgeable people are invaluable. \u2018Gold there is, and rubies in abundance, but lips that speak knowledge are a rare jewel<\/em>\u2019 (v.15). Or as The Message<\/em> puts it, \u2018Drinking fromthe beautiful chalice of knowledge<\/em> is better than adorning oneself with gold and rare gems\u2019 (v.15, MSG).<\/p>\n

Seek help when making important decisions: \u2018Make plans by seeking advice\u2019 (v.18). You will still be responsible for your actions though: \u2018Form your purpose by asking for counsel,\u00a0then carry it out using all the help you can get\u2019 (v.18, MSG).<\/p>\n

The book of Proverbs is itself full of wise advice. It tells you to be careful of the gossips who betray confidence, and to avoid people who talk too much. \u2018Gossips can\u2019t keep secrets, so never confide in blabbermouths\u2019 (v.19, MSG). One well-known gossip had this maxim embroidered on her cushion: \u2018If you haven\u2019t got anything good to say about anyone come and sit by me.\u2019!<\/p>\n

Another piece of wise advice is the warning against taking revenge, \u2018Don\u2019t ever say, \u201cI’ll get you for that!\u201d Wait for God; he\u2019ll settle the score\u2019 (v.22, MSG).<\/p>\n

Listening to the Holy Spirit means listening to the Word of the Lord. \u2018A person\u2019s steps are directed by the Lord<\/em>. How then can any understand their own way?\u2019 (v.24). Listen to the Spirit as he speaks to you through the Scriptures.<\/p>\n

Lord, thank you for these words of wisdom and knowledge. Thank you that your Holy Spirit speaks to me through the Scriptures such as the Proverbs I read today. Help me to hear and obey your voice.<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n

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2. Listen through the gifts of the Holy Spirit<\/h2>\n

1 Corinthians 14:1-19<\/a>Exalt love; but do not in any way downplay the importance of the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Paul emphasises both: \u2018Follow the way of love and <\/em>eagerly desire spiritual gifts, especially the gift of prophecy\u2019 (v.1). Some people say that we should \u2018desire the Giver and not the gifts\u2019, but the Giver tells us to desire the gifts.<\/p>\n

Prophecy is one of the gifts of the Holy Spirit through which the Spirit speaks to the church. Paul emphasises the importance of this gift for the church. It is even more important than speaking in tongues: \u2018I would like every one of you to speak in tongues, but I would rather have you prophesy\u2019 (v.5a).<\/p>\n

Although Paul was speaking into a situation where the gift of tongues was in danger of misuse, he was still remarkably positive about the use of the gift of speaking in tongues. Paul says that those who pray in tongues edify themselves (v.4). It is a good gift for everyone (v.5). Tongues is a way of praying in the Spirit (v.14) and is primarily thanks and praise (vv.16\u201317). He testifies about his own use of this gift, \u2018I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you\u2019 (v.18).<\/p>\n

Paul makes a distinction between the use of the gift in private (which he generally encourages) and the use of the gift publicly in the church. If one speaks in tongues in church there needs to be an interpretation (vv.5,18\u201319). When it is used together with the gift of interpretation it becomes the equivalent of prophecy (v.5b).<\/p>\n

The gift of interpretation enables the church to be edified after a tongue has been given publicly (v.5). All those with the gift of tongues should pray for this gift also so that the church can be edified.<\/p>\n

Prophecy is the ability to hear what God is saying and pass it on to others. It is a spiritual gift of very high importance in the church, and should be eagerly desired (v.1). It is not necessarily about the future. Usually it is a forth telling<\/em> rather than a foretelling<\/em>.<\/p>\n

The early Christians came to see the Old Testament as essentially prophecy (see, for example, 2 Peter 1:20). The Old Testament is the prophetic witness to Jesus. The New Testament is the apostolic witness to Jesus. There is no equivalent today in terms of authority.<\/p>\n

The words of prophets today are not of equal authority with the prophets and apostles whose words form the Scriptures. Scripture is for all Christians, in all places, at all times. A prophetic word is a particular word, inspired by God, given to a particular person or persons, at a particular moment, for a particular purpose. It is a human, and sometimes partially mistaken, report of something that the Holy Spirit has brought to someone\u2019s mind.<\/p>\n

Nevertheless, Paul places a very high value on the gift of prophecy (1 Corinthians 14:1) because it is a gift that builds up the church (v.4) and can also have an impact on those who are \u2018unbelievers\u2019: \u2018If an unbeliever… comes in while everybody is prophesying… the secrets of their hearts will be laid bare. So they will fall down and worship God, exclaiming, \u201cGod is really among you!\u201d\u2019 (vv.24\u201325). That is exactly what happened to Will Wisbey.<\/p>\n

Prophecy needs to be tested: \u2018Two or three prophets should speak, and the others shouldweigh carefully<\/em> what is said\u2019 (v.29).<\/p>\n