Hi all,
I needed to make this a 3 part series - so much to say! So this is part 2, part 3 next week. Imagine for today's installment that we are building a 3 legged stool. Each key I'm presenting is 1 leg of that stool. Here is the first of the 3 legs:
First leg of the stool to becoming sensitive to the Spirit of Truth:
I don't form an opinion until I perceive something in my spirit about that person or that person's experience, teaching, or claim of what God told them. I will often ask:"What do you think of this Father?" Or, if it pertains to someone in the body of Christ:"What do you think of this Lord?" (teaching, what they are doing)
For instance, in late 2001 after the attacks of September 11, the US Congress made a law called 'The Patriot Act'. There was much controversy because it expanded government surveillance without open warrants on US citizens or anyone in the US. With all those voices taking stances for or against, I asked:"Father:What do you think of the Patriot Act?" He immediately replied in a very typical avoidance of a direct answer:"Laws that were passed to protect my people will one day be used against them."
That is where my opinion stops and starts - with HIS opinion. I look no further until or unless He says more on the subject, or lets me see news reports that provide more information. Then I know it is up to me to do my own research before forming an opinion. If someone makes a claim for or against someone, some information, dream, vision, visitation someone claims but the Father or Lord are silent on, it is up to me to perform due diligence to figure it out. ('due diligence' means that which a reasonable person is expected to do before entering into an agreement)
Not forming an opinion at all, or at least not until/unless more information or research, has also helped me walk in love. More often than not, the Lord is silent about what He thinks. Most of the time His silence means the answer has already been revealed in the written Word, or I already know the answer due to common sense and logic, or I must search it out for myself.
Usually I don't forom an opinion because I don't care about someone's claims or stance, so I go no further. Very few things warrant further research. That is their story, they stand before Jesus not me, so I let it drop. It's not my business unless they make it my business. So what if I would do things differently, so what if on the surface it seems they are doing it wrong? That's their story, not mine. "For the just shall live by his own faith." I don't form an opinion, and move on if it's questionable.
Another factor is the fear factor. People will make decisions after having formed opinion, which causes them to take action that is rooted in fear - and they say God led them. Wrong. Their fear led them because they got their emotions (fear) combined with thinking and focused on (feeding on constantly) fearful things, and then they made investments or go into debt to build up supplies, or buy things all based and rooted in fear. When the western calendar was about to turn from the 20th to 21st century, I knew people who sold their property in California where prices are high, and bought a cheaper farm in Arkansas to prepare for the shut down of society....they said God led them to do it, but upon further discussion, it was actually rooted in fear. And...computers didn't shut down when the clocks went from 1999 to 2000. But they suffered great finanical and marital strain, and loss. Don't make financial decisions based on fear cloaked in 'God'.
To say it another way:
I want to know what is happening around me, good and bad, truth and error, so there is much to be heard. But I only listen to my Master's voice - I hear other voices, but I don't want to listen to them if they are in error. I will read them to the point I learn their point, but if they get off-balance I stop.
Not being offended is another benefit of not forming an opinion about someone. The trouble is most people think you have an ulterior motive to every response or statement. They read or listen through the lens of their hurt, previous rejection, or preconceived ideas. People will lay the sins of others who hurt them at your feet. Don't be offended by realizing they are hurting, and switch immediately to prayer for them rather than forming an opinion of offense.
2nd leg of the stool:
Cut out of your life all speculation. Don't watch social media or other media that is speculation. Speculation is opinion that cannot be proven by chapter and verse, or proven by facts. There are guidelines for such cases. First and foremost is common sense. Right alongside of common sense is the shifting of our attention to the Spirit of Truth so see what He thinks of what someone says. If something isn't common sense AND the Spirit of Truth is grieved, then it is rejected.
The 3rd leg of the stool is:
If it can't be found directly in scriptures, or if it isn't consistent with the ways of the Father found in scripture, it is rejected.
Bringing all 3 together:1, Don't form an opinion. IF the Spirit of Truth is silent within, it means to use common sense and/or your knowledge of, or search of, scripture to figure it out yourself. 2, Is what is claimed speculation or fact? If speculation, then trust the peace or 'doesn't feel right' within, and do your own research. 3, If something claimed isn't seen chapter and verse or isn't consistent with the ways of the Father, it is rejected. All 3 are needed to stay balanced. All 3 demand each of us be responsbile for our own lives, our own love walk, our own common sense.
For instance, gee, I wonder where I got this example:
If someone says the rapture will happen a specific date, your emotions may want to believe it because you want out of the burdens of life, the bills, the family issues, the pain of illness. BUT don't yet form an opinion. If those emotions so cloud your ability to hear the Spirit of Truth within, then you use common sense and search the scriptures like the Bereans to see if these things be so, BEFORE you form an opinion. When you do that you'll see scripture indicates we aren't there quite yet - so in spite of how your emotions would love it to be true, you reject it by common sense and chapter and verse. That's one element of staying balanced.
Relationships are SO important - true friends, not social media friends. House churches are relationship based, not auditorium or social media based. The relationships in them help a person stay balanced as part of the balance found in a larger family of faith. If you aren't having home meetings, or at least meeting a close friend in the faith regularly for refreshments or a meal, invest in someone. Invest in relationships. Don't be like a baby bird in a nest waiting for food to be dropped in. As much as you can to your ability, reach out to someone 'floating' between churches like you, or reach out to someone in the auditorium church you attend. Ask the Father to cause someone to come to mind or across your path you can get to know.
Of course house churches like any auditorium church can get off balance, but those who do are usually churches that aren't part of a larger fellowship of churches - they stand alone completely independent and can get isolated and focused on one particular doctrine. BUT, in general, a healthy, balanced house church and/or relationships with people who are balanced and themselves connected to others, will rub off the rough edges of a person's life like sandpaper. Not always fun, but needed adjustments in life along the way.
As the Lord told me in the February 4, 2001 visitation:"As it was in the beginning so it must be now. I'm moving in relationships." You will find all 3 legs within healthy relationships in Christ...but...there is more to say about hearing the Spirit of Truth within. So until next week, blessings!
John Fenn
cwowi.org and email me at [email protected]
I needed to make this a 3 part series - so much to say! So this is part 2, part 3 next week. Imagine for today's installment that we are building a 3 legged stool. Each key I'm presenting is 1 leg of that stool. Here is the first of the 3 legs:
First leg of the stool to becoming sensitive to the Spirit of Truth:
I don't form an opinion until I perceive something in my spirit about that person or that person's experience, teaching, or claim of what God told them. I will often ask:"What do you think of this Father?" Or, if it pertains to someone in the body of Christ:"What do you think of this Lord?" (teaching, what they are doing)
For instance, in late 2001 after the attacks of September 11, the US Congress made a law called 'The Patriot Act'. There was much controversy because it expanded government surveillance without open warrants on US citizens or anyone in the US. With all those voices taking stances for or against, I asked:"Father:What do you think of the Patriot Act?" He immediately replied in a very typical avoidance of a direct answer:"Laws that were passed to protect my people will one day be used against them."
That is where my opinion stops and starts - with HIS opinion. I look no further until or unless He says more on the subject, or lets me see news reports that provide more information. Then I know it is up to me to do my own research before forming an opinion. If someone makes a claim for or against someone, some information, dream, vision, visitation someone claims but the Father or Lord are silent on, it is up to me to perform due diligence to figure it out. ('due diligence' means that which a reasonable person is expected to do before entering into an agreement)
Not forming an opinion at all, or at least not until/unless more information or research, has also helped me walk in love. More often than not, the Lord is silent about what He thinks. Most of the time His silence means the answer has already been revealed in the written Word, or I already know the answer due to common sense and logic, or I must search it out for myself.
Usually I don't forom an opinion because I don't care about someone's claims or stance, so I go no further. Very few things warrant further research. That is their story, they stand before Jesus not me, so I let it drop. It's not my business unless they make it my business. So what if I would do things differently, so what if on the surface it seems they are doing it wrong? That's their story, not mine. "For the just shall live by his own faith." I don't form an opinion, and move on if it's questionable.
Another factor is the fear factor. People will make decisions after having formed opinion, which causes them to take action that is rooted in fear - and they say God led them. Wrong. Their fear led them because they got their emotions (fear) combined with thinking and focused on (feeding on constantly) fearful things, and then they made investments or go into debt to build up supplies, or buy things all based and rooted in fear. When the western calendar was about to turn from the 20th to 21st century, I knew people who sold their property in California where prices are high, and bought a cheaper farm in Arkansas to prepare for the shut down of society....they said God led them to do it, but upon further discussion, it was actually rooted in fear. And...computers didn't shut down when the clocks went from 1999 to 2000. But they suffered great finanical and marital strain, and loss. Don't make financial decisions based on fear cloaked in 'God'.
To say it another way:
I want to know what is happening around me, good and bad, truth and error, so there is much to be heard. But I only listen to my Master's voice - I hear other voices, but I don't want to listen to them if they are in error. I will read them to the point I learn their point, but if they get off-balance I stop.
Not being offended is another benefit of not forming an opinion about someone. The trouble is most people think you have an ulterior motive to every response or statement. They read or listen through the lens of their hurt, previous rejection, or preconceived ideas. People will lay the sins of others who hurt them at your feet. Don't be offended by realizing they are hurting, and switch immediately to prayer for them rather than forming an opinion of offense.
2nd leg of the stool:
Cut out of your life all speculation. Don't watch social media or other media that is speculation. Speculation is opinion that cannot be proven by chapter and verse, or proven by facts. There are guidelines for such cases. First and foremost is common sense. Right alongside of common sense is the shifting of our attention to the Spirit of Truth so see what He thinks of what someone says. If something isn't common sense AND the Spirit of Truth is grieved, then it is rejected.
The 3rd leg of the stool is:
If it can't be found directly in scriptures, or if it isn't consistent with the ways of the Father found in scripture, it is rejected.
Bringing all 3 together:1, Don't form an opinion. IF the Spirit of Truth is silent within, it means to use common sense and/or your knowledge of, or search of, scripture to figure it out yourself. 2, Is what is claimed speculation or fact? If speculation, then trust the peace or 'doesn't feel right' within, and do your own research. 3, If something claimed isn't seen chapter and verse or isn't consistent with the ways of the Father, it is rejected. All 3 are needed to stay balanced. All 3 demand each of us be responsbile for our own lives, our own love walk, our own common sense.
For instance, gee, I wonder where I got this example:
If someone says the rapture will happen a specific date, your emotions may want to believe it because you want out of the burdens of life, the bills, the family issues, the pain of illness. BUT don't yet form an opinion. If those emotions so cloud your ability to hear the Spirit of Truth within, then you use common sense and search the scriptures like the Bereans to see if these things be so, BEFORE you form an opinion. When you do that you'll see scripture indicates we aren't there quite yet - so in spite of how your emotions would love it to be true, you reject it by common sense and chapter and verse. That's one element of staying balanced.
Relationships are SO important - true friends, not social media friends. House churches are relationship based, not auditorium or social media based. The relationships in them help a person stay balanced as part of the balance found in a larger family of faith. If you aren't having home meetings, or at least meeting a close friend in the faith regularly for refreshments or a meal, invest in someone. Invest in relationships. Don't be like a baby bird in a nest waiting for food to be dropped in. As much as you can to your ability, reach out to someone 'floating' between churches like you, or reach out to someone in the auditorium church you attend. Ask the Father to cause someone to come to mind or across your path you can get to know.
Of course house churches like any auditorium church can get off balance, but those who do are usually churches that aren't part of a larger fellowship of churches - they stand alone completely independent and can get isolated and focused on one particular doctrine. BUT, in general, a healthy, balanced house church and/or relationships with people who are balanced and themselves connected to others, will rub off the rough edges of a person's life like sandpaper. Not always fun, but needed adjustments in life along the way.
As the Lord told me in the February 4, 2001 visitation:"As it was in the beginning so it must be now. I'm moving in relationships." You will find all 3 legs within healthy relationships in Christ...but...there is more to say about hearing the Spirit of Truth within. So until next week, blessings!
John Fenn
cwowi.org and email me at [email protected]
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