Testing Your Spiritual Gifts:

[Aquila]

Well, I encouraged one person to return to their church. I also informed them that I'm also a Christian who was led to that site. She was a bit excited and surprised that I'd link up that site. Apparently she'd been thinking about returning to her church prior to my "reading" and I gave her the confirmation that she needed. I don't know what kind of church she's a part of. However, I'm praying that God, with His sovereign power will lead and guide her in the way that she must go. She might start by returning to her church... and in the end be rooted in a Apostolic congregation.

While that might not be using the gifts in a congregation, or the gifts being used to "edify" during the Sunday Show, it did answer a question for a wayward and seeking believer. Who knows... her soul might be saved from Hell.

[Aquila]

And here's something I don't get. Why do so many tuck tails like little girls thinking that I should be concerned with operating on that forum? I'm a Holy Ghost filled Christian... shouldn't THEY be afraid that I've shown up once they realize what authority I'm coming in?

You can't fight a war hiding behind pews. Sometimes... you gotta get into the trenches. Sometimes you have to take risks.

[Aquila]

I'm looking for answers. Sometimes I get "snap shots" of things when walking by people, shaking hands, or even talking conversationally. Sometimes I get deep emotional impressions at these times too. These can be overwhelming at times. I've smelled things, heard things, seen things, and felt things when interacting with various people. Some days... it's like a normal day. Other days... it's like I'm wrapped in a shroud of static electricity. I've always attributed it to the Holy Ghost. I may have mentioned this before... in the past, when preparing for a sermon, I didn't just gather books and write notes. I would find a quiet spot to pray and then I'd begin to "hear" the sermon in my head. I'd then make a "bubble" outline on the theme of each point being made. I can hear the tempo and inflection that is to be given. Then... it stops. Sometimes I'd be left crying as though I heard a sermon from someone else. This was felt most powerfully when I wrote a sermon I preached titled, "When God Seems Cruel".

[Aquila]

I've also learned that God is a gentleman. Sometimes He reveals very general information about a person, place, or thing. However, if a person is open, God will indeed reveal as much as they will allow Him.

Sometimes however, God knows the secret yearnings of a person's spirit. Even if they appear to want to be left alone, their inner man cries out for deliverance. In moments like this, God will often reveal all right there on the spot. It shocks them into alignment. This will often bring deep conviction and repentance... or outright rebellion.

[soopy]

Originally Posted by Aquila

Well, I encouraged one person to return to their church. I also informed them that I'm also a Christian who was led to that site. She was a bit excited and surprised that I'd link up that site. Apparently she'd been thinking about returning to her church prior to my "reading" and I gave her the confirmation that she needed. I don't know what kind of church she's a part of. However, I'm praying that God, with His sovereign power will lead and guide her in the way that she must go. She might start by returning to her church... and in the end be rooted in a Apostolic congregation.

While that might not be using the gifts in a congregation, or the gifts being used to "edify" during the Sunday Show, it did answer a question for a wayward and seeking believer. Who knows... her soul might be saved from Hell.

Hey, nothing wrong with church. Like your example above, and like Scripture, it reveals "hearts."

[Aquila]

This is like the question regarding the dead that I've had. While I don't believe in attempting to contact the dead... but what do you do when it seems as though they are attempting to contact you?

For example, there have been times when could swear that I can feel, smell, and hear my mother. I've even heard her praying for me in tongues. Although she's been asleep in the Lord now for over 5 years. Sometimes I feel her encourage me, sometimes I feel her warn me. Is that a sin?

What about learning how to sense and even interact with angels? Angels are mentioned at least 108 times in the OT and 165 times in the NT. Is it a sin to study or experience angelic realities?

[Aquila]

Religion can be rather dry and rigid. Spirituality however can be rather robust and fluid. Sometimes God speaks to one in prayer or through the Word as they study. Sometimes God speaks through the spiritual mentors/pastors in your life. Sometimes God can speak through total strangers or even a song. Sometimes God can speak through nature, such as a beautiful sunset. Sometimes God can speak through angels. Sometimes God can speak through the memory of a departed loved one. God alone is God. We do well not to put Him in a box.

[Aquila]

What about studying and learning how to be open to the various types of visions through which the Holy Spirit often operates? Such as...

Dreams
Inner Vision
Open Heavens Vision
Spiritual Vision In Translation

[Aquila]

Studying the relevance of various symbols or numbers commonly used in dreams and/or visions?

[Aquila]

How many have disregarded a dream or vision because they thought it was merely their imagination? How many have operated in the realm of imagination thinking it was a dream or vision? How does one tell the difference?