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Increase in Spiritual Life with Its Intuition - 6/2/2008 10:37:31 PM
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savedforgod
Posts: 16
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How many of the Lord’s people today are developing in the wrong direction! Many assume that upon being saved they must seek higher Bible knowledge, better utterance in preaching, and more spiritual gifts. They forget it is their spirit that must advance. Speech, knowledge and gift are purely outward matters; by contrast intuition is inward. Quite sad is the sight of that Christian who allows his spirit to persist as a babe, but who concomitantly fills his soul life with speech, knowledge and gift. These articles are valuable, but how can they be compared with the value of the spirit? What God has newly created in us is this spirit (or spiritual life), and what should develop into matured manhood is likewise this spirit. Should we commit the serious mistake of seeking the enrichment of the soul life instead of the increase of this spiritual life with its intuition, we shall have made no progress at all in God’s eye. God considers our spirit all-important; and so He cares for its growth. No matter how much our mind, emotion and will may gain by speech, knowledge and gift, it is all deemed by God as vain if our spirit is not developing.
We daily expect to have more power, more knowledge, more gifts, more eloquence; yet the Bible contends that even if we have more of these elements we do not necessarily progress in spiritual life. On the contrary, our spiritual walk may remain the same without advancing a mile. Paul candidly reminds the believers at Corinth: “You were not ready for it; and even yet you are not ready.” In what were they unprepared? They were not prepared to serve God with their intuition, to know more of God intuitively, to receive His revelation in their intuition. They were obviously not ready when they first believed in the Lord; but now years later, though enriched in speech, knowledge and gifts, they still were not so. By those two words—“even yet”—the Apostle signified that though they were replete with outward enrichments their spiritual life had made no progress since they first believed. Real advancement is measured by the growth of the spirit and its intuition; the rest belongs to the flesh. This should be impressed indelibly on our hearts.
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RE: Increase in Spiritual Life with Its Intuition - 6/2/2008 10:56:47 PM
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ta_mosquito
Posts: 11111
Joined: 3/31/2005
From: from MN, now in Ontario :D
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quote:
Many assume that upon being saved they must seek higher Bible knowledge, better utterance in preaching, and more spiritual gifts.
1 Corinthians 14:1
Follow the way of love and eagerly desire spiritual gifts, especially the gift of prophecy.
How do you reconcile this?
_____________________________
Tricia
"There's a fine line between being open-minded and empty-headed." ~Michael Coren
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RE: Increase in Spiritual Life with Its Intuition - 6/3/2008 9:26:13 AM
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blue1914
Posts: 414
Joined: 6/21/2005
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quote:
ORIGINAL: ta_mosquito
quote:
Many assume that upon being saved they must seek higher Bible knowledge, better utterance in preaching, and more spiritual gifts.
1 Corinthians 14:1
Follow the way of love and eagerly desire spiritual gifts, especially the gift of prophecy.
How do you reconcile this?
Before we get to 1 Corinthians 14, we have to see the foundation that Paul laid in the earlier chapters of 1 Corinthains (namely 2 and 3). It's there that we see that indeed Paul is writing to a church that needs to grow-in EVERY way.
Paul is kind of "scolding" the church for the fact that they cannot understand the weighter things of God because they have not learned the basics in the first place. He wants them to progress, but they have not done their own part.
If the original poster was referencing those who have not yet acheived a level of spiritual maturity by comunion with the Lord on a regular basis BUT yet they seek "higher" levels of spirituality (prophecy, etc. etc.) then I think he (or she) may be supported (of course only my opinion) by the Word of God (see 1 Corinthians 2-3 for my rationale).
That may be one way to view the point the poster may be trying to make-what do you think?
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RE: Increase in Spiritual Life with Its Intuition - 6/3/2008 10:13:43 AM
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ta_mosquito
Posts: 11111
Joined: 3/31/2005
From: from MN, now in Ontario :D
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I think the OP is saying not to focus on knowledge or spiritual gifts, but to focus on some ethereal "intuition" which he doesn't define. Check out his other posts in other folders.
_____________________________
Tricia
"There's a fine line between being open-minded and empty-headed." ~Michael Coren
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RE: Increase in Spiritual Life with Its Intuition - 6/3/2008 10:42:30 AM
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deliveredarling
Posts: 1877
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The problem with this type of seeking is focusing on self. If we don't read and study God's Word, we can not know Him. His sheep will hear His voice. Whose voice are we hearing if we are not seeking God by knowing Him through His Word? The enemy has done a great job of convincing people he is not real. He does an equally good job disguising himself as an angel of light because even he can quote scripture. We begin to see God through circumstance when we begin to know Him better. He manifests Himself when we desire to see Him. The danger comes in trying to seek Him without knowing who He is and His character. Anything can come in and decieve if we are not equipped with the Knowledge of the Truth.
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"Now no one after lighting a lamp covers it over with a container, or puts it under a bed: but he puts it on a lampstand, in order that those who come in may see the light."
Luke 8:16
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RE: Increase in Spiritual Life with Its Intuition - 6/3/2008 10:48:40 AM
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Little_1
Posts: 1158
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"Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God." We need to listen to the Word of God to build our faith.
Also, the Word of God tells us to get wisdom. We can know lots about the Bible but unless we know how to apply it - it is not going to do our spirits/spiritual lives much good.
The term 'intuition' is not used in the Bible! The Word of God tells us to "study to show ourselves approved unto God; workmen correctly dividing the Word of God" (2 Timothy 2:15). It does not say that God will give us further revelations by 'intution' to add to His Word. We are to add nothing to and take nothing away from the Word of God.
< Message edited by Little_1 -- 6/3/2008 11:40:59 AM >
_____________________________
"Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer." ROMANS 12:12
Testimony
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RE: Increase in Spiritual Life with Its Intuition - 6/3/2008 11:12:01 AM
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Liveloved
Posts: 1595
Joined: 1/22/2008
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quote:
Before we get to 1 Corinthians 14, we have to see the foundation that Paul laid in the earlier chapters of 1 Corinthains (namely 2 and 3). It's there that we see that indeed Paul is writing to a church that needs to grow-in EVERY way.
Paul is kind of "scolding" the church for the fact that they cannot understand the weighter things of God because they have not learned the basics in the first place. He wants them to progress, but they have not done their own part.
If the original poster was referencing those who have not yet acheived a level of spiritual maturity by comunion with the Lord on a regular basis BUT yet they seek "higher" levels of spirituality (prophecy, etc. etc.) then I think he (or she) may be supported (of course only my opinion) by the Word of God (see 1 Corinthians 2-3 for my rationale).
That may be one way to view the point the poster may be trying to make-what do you think?
I think your understanding is correct, blue.
I am not sure I like the use of the word 'intuition'. And sometimes our use of one word will cause others to misunderstand. But the meaning of intuition is to readily perceive and this perception is a knowledge apart from reasoning. I would liken it to spiritual discernment.
And savedforgod, you are absolutely correct in your observation. There is much knowledge about God but very little knowing OF Him. That is why the apostle Paul sought to KNOW Him, and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death. Paul had done the knowledge route and Jesus stopped him literally in his tracks. Paul was confronted with the something else, the so much more, the new spirit. And he changed.
Was he against learning of God and His word? No. But he was a different man with a new attitude and a new spirit. And that changed everything for Paul. He wanted to be conformed to Christ and that meant the death of Paul, the death of self, the cross life.
That is why Jesus says that if we want to follow Him, we begin by denying self. It is only then that we can progress in the spiritual life as you have noted. Thanks for your true and needful words. 
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RE: Increase in Spiritual Life with Its Intuition - 6/3/2008 11:38:15 AM
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Little_1
Posts: 1158
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quote:
ORIGINAL: Liveloved
......I am not sure I like the use of the word 'intuition'. And sometimes our use of one word will cause others to misunderstand. But the meaning of intuition is to readily perceive and this perception is a knowledge apart from reasoning. I would liken it to spiritual discernment.
And savedforgod, you are absolutely correct in your observation. There is much knowledge about God but very little knowing OF Him. That is why the apostle Paul sought to KNOW Him, and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death. Paul had done the knowledge route and Jesus stopped him literally in his tracks. Paul was confronted with the something else, the so much more, the new spirit. And he changed.
Was he against learning of God and His word? No. But he was a different man with a new attitude and a new spirit. And that changed everything for Paul. He wanted to be conformed to Christ and that meant the death of Paul, the death of self, the cross life.
That is why Jesus says that if we want to follow Him, we begin by denying self. It is only then that we can progress in the spiritual life as you have noted. Thanks for your true and needful words.
Savedforgod - if like Liveloved has pointed out and you may possibly mean 'spiritual discernment' and not 'intuition' (i.e. a misunderstanding by using the term 'intuition' when perhaps you mean 'spiritual discernement') - then your OP takes on a whole different meaning and I would agree with what Liveloved has posted above.
Please clarify if this is what you actually meant?
< Message edited by Little_1 -- 6/3/2008 11:48:03 AM >
_____________________________
"Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer." ROMANS 12:12
Testimony
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RE: Increase in Spiritual Life with Its Intuition - 6/3/2008 1:19:34 PM
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inthysite
Posts: 753
Joined: 2/12/2008
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I think what it all boils down to is motive. If you seek knowledge for the sake of knowledge then yes it is vain. If you study God's word to know more about Him, His ways, His will, to grow closer to Him, then that is honorable in God's eyes.
The verse from 1Cor 14 above is a perfect example of this. Paul was addressing the fact that the Corinthian church was seeking after the gift of tongues. Not for spiritual reasons but more for vanity, a look at me type of thing. Paul was telling them that yes, you should seek after gifts but seek more after those that glorify God, such as prophecy or speaking forth God's word.
When you take the relationship out of it then it is all vanity and chasing after the wind as Solomon would say.
_____________________________
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
Be acceptable in Thy sight, O LORD, my rock and my Redeemer - Psalm 19:14
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RE: Increase in Spiritual Life with Its Intuition - 6/3/2008 9:18:55 PM
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RJR_fan
Posts: 723
Joined: 4/12/2005
From: RTP, in sunny NC USA
Status: online
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Worth repeating!
quote:
The problem with this type of seeking is focusing on self. If we don't read and study God's Word, we can not know Him. His sheep will hear His voice. Whose voice are we hearing if we are not seeking God by knowing Him through His Word? T
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The future has never been shaped by majorities but rather by dedicated minorities. And free men do not wait for the future; they create it. RJR
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RE: Increase in Spiritual Life with Its Intuition - 6/6/2008 7:17:45 AM
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makarizo
Posts: 2924
Joined: 4/13/2005
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quote:
ORIGINAL: Little_1
"Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God." We need to listen to the Word of God to build our faith.
interesting... my bible says "word of Christ"
and the verse that goes very well with that one is (you foolish Galatians)
Gal 3:2 This is the only thing I want to find out from you: did you receive the Spirit by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith?
Gal 3:3 Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?
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RE: Increase in Spiritual Life with Its Intuition - 6/6/2008 3:18:37 PM
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Little_1
Posts: 1158
Status: offline
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quote:
ORIGINAL: doer
quote:
ORIGINAL: Little_1
"Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God." We need to listen to the Word of God to build our faith.
interesting... my bible says "word of Christ"
Rightly pointed out doer - thank you. The verse does say:
Romans 10:17
Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ.
P.S. It is also worth mentioning John 1:1
In the beginning was the Word [Jesus], and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
I tend to use the words 'Word of God' meaning the Bible which is God's Word. When we listen to God's Word / Jesus' Word - it helps to 'grow our faith'. Hope this helps.
< Message edited by Little_1 -- 6/7/2008 2:33:22 AM >
_____________________________
"Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer." ROMANS 12:12
Testimony
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RE: Increase in Spiritual Life with Its Intuition - 6/7/2008 10:37:53 AM
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makarizo
Posts: 2924
Joined: 4/13/2005
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quote:
Romans 10:17
Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ.
kjv translated from texus receptus = word of God
nasb translated from ubs = word of Christ
HA! 2 different words ... i learn something new every day!!!!
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RE: Increase in Spiritual Life with Its Intuition - 6/10/2008 7:13:20 AM
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SonInMe1
Posts: 3518
Joined: 4/16/2005
From: my mom by God
Status: online
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This is kinda preachin' to the choir..eh?
I would say most people who post in forums have studied the bible at least well enough to form the opinions they post in here. So, must be...some other less than well bible read christians who stay immature in their faiths?
I think, we should be careful before we label other people immature. Some may be, and some may not be. It depends on how well someone communicates their knowldge. Some may appear oless knowledgable because they don't communicate it very well. Others may seem knowledgable because they use big words and christianese but in reality have no true deeper knowledge.
_____________________________
You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.
James 4:4
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