What is the answer to this?

[Diamondlight]

What would you describe as evidence of God the Holy Spirit in someone's life? Would it be the fruits of the Spirit describled in chapter 5 of Galatians?

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.

How can we judge whether these qualities were the result of self-discipline from a good character or evidence of God the Holy Spirit?

 

[jiggyfly]

What would you describe as evidence of God the Holy Spirit in someone's life? Would it be the fruits of the Spirit describled in chapter 5 of Galatians?

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.

How can we judge whether these qualities were the result of self-discipline from a good character or evidence of God the Holy Spirit?

Good question, IMO the best "litmus test" for the genuineness of these fruits is the text you quoted in another thread http://www.talkjesus.com/bible-study-hall/32351-picture-perfect-god.html 1Corinthians 13:4-8. If it meets this standard then it is fruit from HolySpirit.

 

[Veracity]

The best fruit checker is trial and tribulation.

..and maybe becoming a peeping tom to see what they act like at home, but then that leaves you wide open for a lot of repenting and possibly jail-time or getting shot.

I guess we just have to leave that up to the owner of the orchard.

 

[Diamondlight]

I am not sure that trial and tribulation would suggest evidence of God the Holy Spirit as many an agnostic or atheist with good character might pass as their character would sustain them.

Jiggyfly, the way you would examine yourself on this intrigued me as it was my first thought which is why i posted the second question because this test would mean you would have to see perfection in your life and i don't think that's possible.

So it left me confused.

 

[Ophel]

What would you describe as evidence of God the Holy Spirit in someone's life? Would it be the fruits of the Spirit describled in chapter 5 of Galatians?

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.

How can we judge whether these qualities were the result of self-discipline from a good character or evidence of God the Holy Spirit?

The evidence of the Holy Spirit in a life is indeed borne out by the spiritual fruit observed in that life, according to Galatians 5:22-23:

But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!


The Spirit-filled life demonstrates not one, or two, but all of those qualities to some degree. We do not receive only a smattering of these traits, but all of them. It is up to us to obey God in order to develop them to become full-blown and mature qualities of Christ in us.

 

[jiggyfly]

I am not sure that trial and tribulation would suggest evidence of God the Holy Spirit as many an agnostic or atheist with good character might pass as their character would sustain them.

Jiggyfly, the way you would examine yourself on this intrigued me as it was my first thought which is why i posted the second question because this test would mean you would have to see perfection in your life and i don't think that's possible.

So it left me confused.

Well of course if your doing it on your own ability it is impossible for anyone to effectively discern. It is a test to judge motive but requires HolySpirit. It's not to judge the person just the fruit and motive.

I believe that God uses trials to produce spiritual growth and fruit in our lives. It is weeding out self and causing strength to what is good.

 

[Diamondlight]

I see. Thanks for answering.

Just to clarify, when i said "your life" i really meant 'one's own life', mine. It's a personal judgement i'm after as the bible tells us to examine ourselves. I should have been clearer but thanks for understanding that i didn't mean you personally.

Thinking on my feet as usual!

 

[Eagle_Eyes]

What would you describe as evidence of God the Holy Spirit in someone's life? Would it be the fruits of the Spirit describled in chapter 5 of Galatians?

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.

How can we judge whether these qualities were the result of self-discipline from a good character or evidence of God the Holy Spirit?

Hi Diamondlight

I would say that the evidence of the Holy Ghost is not the fruits of the Spirit or whether you can speak in tongues or prophesy even but it is believing the whole Word of God for today because Jesus tells us to live by every Word and not by bread alone. If we believe the whole Word then the fruits would naturally follow.

People can love and be kind and yet still go to hell because they refuse to believe the whole Word of God. They choose to believe what fits into their life or what their pastors say even though it is obviously opposite to what the Word says. Speaking in tongues is not proof at all either, and I'm sure people will wholeheartedly disagree with me on this, but witchdoctors even speak in unknown tongues and drink blood out of human skulls. Does this mean then they have the Holy Ghost?

Anyway, I believe it is believing and believing only the Word for today (because Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever) that proves you have the Holy Ghost!

God Bless!

 

[jiggyfly]

Hi Diamondlight

I would say that the evidence of the Holy Ghost is not the fruits of the Spirit or whether you can speak in tongues or prophesy even but it is believing the whole Word of God for today because Jesus tells us to live by every Word and not by bread alone. If we believe the whole Word then the fruits would naturally follow.

People can love and be kind and yet still go to hell because they refuse to believe the whole Word of God. They choose to believe what fits into their life or what their pastors say even though it is obviously opposite to what the Word says.

Anyway, I believe it is believing and believing only the Word for today (because Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever) that proves you have the Holy Ghost!

God Bless!

Can you elaborate on what you mean by "the Word for today" and post some scriptures that you feel support your position?

 

[gentle]

Hello there

The fruit of the Holy Spirit lasts even when a person abuses you. Look at I Cor. 13. That's the fruit of the Holy Spirit. While self discipiline cannot endure. Self- discipline will once or twice or thrice evident but it will end.

 

[Ophel]

Hello there

The fruit of the Holy Spirit lasts even when a person abuses you. Look at I Cor. 13. That's the fruit of the Holy Spirit. While self discipiline cannot endure. Self- discipline will once or twice or thrice evident but it will end.

Actually the fruit of the Spirit is self-control and it is enduring, and not fleeting. you are thinking of fleshly self-control.

 

[Diamondlight]

Hi Diamondlight

People can love and be kind and yet still go to hell because they refuse to believe the whole Word of God. They choose to believe what fits into their life or what their pastors say even though it is obviously opposite to what the Word says.

God Bless!

I have encountered this emboldened portion a lot!

Thank you Eagle Eyes, this first sentence really makes sense as to why there are good people with good character who live very well following the bible.

 

[Diamondlight]

Hello there

The fruit of the Holy Spirit lasts even when a person abuses you. Look at I Cor. 13. That's the fruit of the Holy Spirit. While self discipiline cannot endure. Self- discipline will once or twice or thrice evident but it will end.

Even self-discipline resulting from God's Holy Spirit does not seem to be perfect as i have never seen any Christian human being who is perfect in this or indeed any other one of the fruits.

Is that the evidence? That the fruits will be perfect in our life without fail?

 

[jiggyfly]

Even self-discipline resulting from God's Holy Spirit does not seem to be perfect as i have never seen any Christian human being who is perfect in this or indeed any other one of the fruits.

Is that the evidence? That the fruits will be perfect in our life without fail?

It seems that your indicating that once HolySpirit produces some fruit in your life it should remain. Don't confuse gifts with fruit here, fruit doesn't reproduce itself. It is the product of HolySpirit working in us.

 

[Diamondlight]

It seems that your indicating that once HolySpirit produces some fruit in your life it should remain. Don't confuse gifts with fruit here, fruit does reproduce itself. It is the product of HolySpirit working in us.

I hadn't thought of that, thanks. Fruit is produced, and eaten (used) so of course it wouldn't remain i suppose.

 

[Eagle_Eyes]

Jiggyfly

Sorry for delay in my response. I haven't been glued to a computer of late.

You have asked a reasonable question and I will oblige as best I can.

First of all, I would hope that any christian would be believing a Jesus of today and not one of yesterday. Also, I would hope that christians today believe that we are living in the last days and that Christ is to return. Even unbelievers know that something is happening today what with all the earthquakes and volcanoes and so forth. To get to the point, I believe the Lord has sent (past tense) a Word prophet to restore all things as prophesied in the Bible.

When Christ came 2000 years ago, as the Son of Man, He was crucified by the very people who were looking for Him. If Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever, who is to say this won't happen again? The Lord has not come to all the most religious people in this world and the ones with the biggest and best churches and so forth but He has come to those who are insignificant in the eyes of man but who will believe His Word when they see it. Those that go in the rapture will not be a large number but a small one. Also, His work of redemption is a progressive work. When Martin Luther came out with 'the just shall live by faith' (justification) it split the Roman Catholic Church right in two and brought light to the dark ages. Then John Wesley came and preached sanctification and he was turned out basically by Lutherans and the like. Then in 1906 there was the powerful manisfestations of the gifts and when people acted differently, wesleyans and the like turned them out. Now we are living in a different day.

You asked for scriptures and here are some: Malachi 4:5-6, Luke 17:30, Revelation 10:1-7, Matthew 17:11.

Please let me know if you want me to clarify anything further.

 

[jiggyfly]

Jiggyfly

Sorry for delay in my response. I haven't been glued to a computer of late.

You have asked a reasonable question and I will oblige as best I can.



When Christ came 2000 years ago, as the Son of Man, He was crucified by the very people who were looking for Him. If Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever, who is to say this won't happen again?

When Jesus came to earth 2000 years ago He came to be crucified, that was Father's plan, when He returns it will also be according to Father's plan and everything will be placed under Jesus' feet. I agree that many have religious ideas about Christ's return and many will be surprised to find it wasn't like they thought. But the same thing will not happen again. Jesus will not be returning in the flesh.:wink:

 

[Ophel]

When Jesus came to earth 2000 years ago He came to be crucified, that was Father's plan, when He returns it will also be according to Father's plan and everything will be placed under Jesus' feet. I agree that many have religious ideas about Christ's return and many will be surprised to find it wasn't like they thought. But the same thing will not happen again. Jesus will not be returning in the flesh.:wink:

Jesus has glorified flesh now and that is how He will return.

Acts 1:11
“Men of Galilee,” they said, “why are you standing here staring into heaven? Jesus has been taken from you into heaven, but someday he will return from heaven in the same way you saw him go!”

 

[Eagle_Eyes]

I can understand why you are saying what you are saying but I didn't actually say the Lord Jesus Christ would be physically crucifed again today. What I was trying to say, and I am sorry I didn't make this clear, is that He will be 'spiritually' crucified again today in the pulpit. Ministers will take the Bible and make it say what they want it to say and thus preach blasphemous things. People will take the Word today and tear it apart saying it doesn't really mean 'that' but it actually means 'this'. What people should be doing and only doing is believing every Word that proceeds from the mouth of God. Not applying their own thoughts!

As I said in my previous post, God has sent a Word prophet in these last days to restore what has been lost through the ages. Jesus will physically come again to this world but it will not be to the gentiles (us) but rather to the Jews or the 144,000, if you will (Zechariah 12:10, Revelation 1:7). It may have been the romans that carried out the crucifixion but it was in fact the Jews that crucified the Lord, so they will soon see Him who they have pierced. The Lord has visited His gentile church in these last days and it has been through a Word prophet.

I'll explain this further. When Jesus came two thousand years ago He came as the Son of man. Now a son of man is a prophet so this made Jesus a God-prophet. All through the book of Ezekiel, Ezekiel is referred to as 'son of man'. Daniel was also referred to as 'son of man'. This means then that Moses could be referred to as a 'son of man' and Abraham, Samuel, Isaiah and all the prophets too. But Jesus was THE Son of man! Just like there have been kings throughout time. Jesus is THE King of Kings. Just like we are sons of God. Jesus is THE Son of God. Jesus Himself prophesied that as it was in the days of Lot, even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed. In the days of Lot we find there was Sodom where all kinds of unimaginable evil was abound. The world was not in a Sodom condition when Jesus came two thousand years but the world is definitely in a Sodom condition today. So we are in the days when there'll be a prophetic ministry rise up. We are in the last church age which is Laodicea and the name Laodicea actually means 'people's rights' which is certainly abound today. We are in the age of restoration. People today are believing the Lord as the Son of God, which He is, but He has come today revealing Himself as the Son of man, as He prophesied!

Jesus said that 'Elias truly shall first come, and restore all things.' People automatically think this is John the Baptist but he didn't come to restore anything. The Spirit of Elijah is actually used five times in the Bible. First, it was on Elijah. Secondly, it was on Elisha and he had a double portion. Thirdly, it was on John the Baptist. Fourthly, it will be on the one who has already come to restore all things. Fifthly, it will be on one of the ones sent to the 144,000 to prepare them to meet their 'Messiah'.

The Lord has come already in the way the disciples had seen Him go. The prophet He has sent was totally vindicated of God and everything he had said in the Name of the Lord has come to pass and will come to pass. Nobody can deny this man wasn't a prophet.

I just want to note that I haven't mentioned who this prophet is (although I'm sure some of you know) as I am respecting the forum rules and posting guidelines. Neither am I teaching false doctrine (as some or all would suppose) as everything I am saying comes only from the scriptures. If anyone wants to know more about this prophet that God has truly sent than I am happy to speak about it further but outside of this forum.

God Bless!

 

[Ophel]

The Lord has come already in the way the disciples had seen Him go.

WHEN?

What was the date?

Why doesn't the Bride know that her Bridegroom has come for her?

How come my mother and father are still in their graves?

What you are espousing is against scripture and, in fact, follows after what we are told to ignore:

Luke 21:8
He replied, “Don’t let anyone mislead you, for many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah,’ and saying, ‘The time has come!’ But don’t believe them.


I believe the Lord when He says this.