John 1613″However, when the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all truth. For He will not speak on His own, but He will speak what He hears, and He will declare to you what is to come. Romans 816″The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.
When a preacher goes out of their way to convince, to confirm God’s word or bring conviction of the word on others, they become fanatical, dangerous and legalistic. Preachers should simply dispense the word prayerfully after careful study and out of a clean heart which is not seeking contention and arguments, but the giving of life.
God in his wisdom has given his spirit to man, when believers hear the word of God it is the spirit of God in them which then receives or rejects it. It is the spirit which says amen. Once that happens the word is quickened in the believer and becomes a conviction which in turn must be converted into action. Ultimately it becomes a belief system.Total dependence on a preacher for the interpretation or discerning of truth is dangerous and can lead to perdition.False prophets are zealous to letters and not to the spirit, they also aggressively juggle scriptures like mathmetical calculations so as to confuse and cause uncertainty. They use literal interpretations which sound reasonable and intellectually satisfying but are devoid of spiritual revelation,life and content, they win arguments but do not minister life.True believers do not do what they do just because they heard a preacher, they do because after hearing or reading God’s word, God’s spirit in them interpreted God’s word for them and they then developed convictions which led to the creation of a belief system which in turn became a life style.
So for life and productive christian activity to be produced in a believer we need two things.
(1) A preacher who ministers out of a pure heart and has clean motives,not a spiritual egomaniac seeking to control,create contentation and arguments(2) You need a prayerful sincere child of God who genuinely seeks to please the father and obey him.
This way the church and God’s children benefit.
A child of God who is led of and full of the spirit of truth will not be bothered by any external attempts to indoctrinate or sway them by any minister.The spirit of truth in them will stand guard over their spiritual life.
Put simply at a personal level
(1) I heard about being baptised in the Holy Spirit and about speaking in tongues,the spirit of God in me gave me a truthful understanding of this, I do it, will continue doing it and benefit from it regardless of whatever anyone says(2) I heard and read about biblical tithing, the spirit of God in me taught me what it is and how it should be done,I have been doing it for over forty years, benefitted immensely still do.(Regai vanowawata vawawate)(3) Heard about giving also read from the scriptures and the spirit of truth in me gave me a truthful revelation of it which I practice and live(4) Fasting the same thing(5) Prayer, the same thingAnd every other topic and doctrinal issue necessary for my christian growth and development.