Do leaders hear God more ... ?

[Rachel15]

Do group leaders at church hear from God more than their group members? Do pastors hear from God more than their congregation? Is this why we must obey our leaders? And do leaders include group leaders and pastoral staff, or only the elders?

I'm asking because i've not been clear at times of whether i'm hearing spoken words or thoughts from God or not, and then i've had direction from a leader and it's been contrary to what i've felt to do or i've disagreed with them but i've thought that i've had to do it because they said so. Then i've also lost confidence in my ability to hear from God myself.

 

[Cody]

I believe God talks more to the people that humbly seek Him. We don't have to be a preacher for God to speak to us.

Deuteronomy 4:29
"But if from thence thou shalt seek the LORD thy God, thou shalt find him, if thou seek him with all thy heart and with all thy soul." KJV

Remember the Bible tells us to try the spirits and see if they're from God or not.

1 John 4:1
"Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world." KJV

We must always agree on what the Word of God says, no matter what a preacher or ever ourselves think. Also keep in mind that our heart is deceitful above all things.

2 Timothy 3:16
"All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:" KJV

Jeremiah 17:9
"The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?" KJV

Search the scriptures and God will speak to you, sister.

Acts 17:11
"These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so." KJV

2 Timothy 2:15
"Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." KJV

I hope that theses verses may help you. God Bless

 

[rossj.anderson]

Jesus said that His sheep hear's His voice.
If your one of His sheep than that includes you.
God talk's all the time and we need to learn to listen to Him.

 

[Rachel15]

Thanks for your replies. I guess i wanted to know if a leader's opinion on what God is saying over-rules what you might feel God is saying - if they disagree. Should you submit to a leader and take direction from them when you're not clear yourself, or actually disagree with them?

 

[SpiritLedEd]

Rachel,

The questions you raise are not answerable in one post. Does your church/denomination offer seminars on the Gifts of the Holy Spirit? If they do, I strongly suggest that you attend one of them. Also, you might check the nearest Christian bookstore for books on the Gifts of the Holy Spirit. Whether or not a "leader" listens to the Holy Spirit more than other people do cannot be quantified. There is no baseline number of times a leader has to listen to the Spirit.

Amazon.com has a number of books available on the Gifts of the Holy Spirit, too.

SLE

 

[Firstborn]

I believe hearing the voice of the Lord is a process, in the process you will learn that when God spoke to you, you do not go running around and ask others what they think.
God will send somebody or something along your way to confirm what He said.
Be blessed
Firstborn.

 

[Word of Life]

In the Old Testament some people got more/received more of the holy spirit than others, to what we receive today. Today it is totally different, as we all get that same anointing; we all get the same portion, if you like. Which means leaders/pastors, men and women of God, can all hear from our Father through Christ, just like we can. All manifestations can be done by each born-again believer at different times, and according to God will and not our own.

The one thing and very importantly, and what we all need to learn and do, is how to operate the power of the holy spirit. Walk and to do His will and not our own will. Which is not easy sometimes, or we can struggle in certain areas to overcome sinful ways, which could be still rooted in our hearts. One just needs to learn and walk so we can become more Christ-like and have that close relationship.

Now if sin is blocking our way or still in our hearts, more than likely, God will speak through someone else, whom may be walking more righteously than me for example. It's not that He doesn't want to speak to us or doesn't love us, it could be that receiving a message from another born again beleiver, may wake us up a bit more, as we may need disciplined in a certain area.

I know myself, if I spend more time in prayer, then I am walking more closely to God and I will get a clearer voice from Him.

So pray to our Father, and ask Him, that you want to walk in His power and for His glory and you want to do His will. Sometimes the answers, may not be, what we might expect.

Act 1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

 

[SpiritLedEd]

Thanks for your replies. I guess i wanted to know if a leader's opinion on what God is saying over-rules what you might feel God is saying - if they disagree. Should you submit to a leader and take direction from them when you're not clear yourself, or actually disagree with them?

Rachel, according to your profile you came to Christ about four years ago (2003). You are very new in the Lord and have a lot to learn.

Should you submit to the leaders (pastoral staff) in your church? Yes. Why? Because they are the leaders. If your church is truly plugged into the Lord, the pastor and other leaders are in those positions of leadership under the anointing of God. They didn't become leaders through some arbitrary decisions of the deacon board. Hopefully, the members of that board spent a lot of time seeking the Lord's guidance before they made their choices.

Understanding comes with knowledge and knowledge comes only through time (lots of time) spent sitting at the feet of God's anointed teachers (humbling ourselves before them) and learning from them.

SpiritLedEd

 

[Coconut]

Rachel, you asked a very important question, and the answer is simple and clearly written in the scripture. If you are a child of God, He has given you His Spirit, and His Spirit is to be your teacher, and your guide.
You are to follow God, and God alone, no other, regardless wether he calls himself preacher, teacher, leader, or prophet. The job of being your guide was not given to them, it is the work of the Holy Spirit, period. These who call themselves leaders, are your fellowservants, thier job is to serve or minister to you, to edify and encourage you in your walk with God. But
it follows that your walk is with GOD, and HE alone is your guide.

I have this little plaque on my desktop, it says "Make time for the quiet moments, as God whispers, and the world is loud" It is true that not only the world is loud, but the church can be pretty loud too God talks to all of His children, wether or not we hear, depends largely on wether or not we are willing to shut out the voices around us and listen, really listen for His voice. Prayer is how we have conversation with God, and God is not so rude He expects us to do all the talking and He never responds. The simple truth is, most of the time when we cant hear Him, its because we wont shut up long enough, or are not tuned in enough, to let Him get a word in edgewise Trust me when I say, if you go spend some time alone, just talking with (notice I said with - not TO) God, and opening your heart and mind to what He has to say, you will hear Him...maybe while you are in that place of meditation and prayer, maybe later that day...who knows, but when we listen for Him, we soon learn, God is not silent. His is that still clear unmistakable voice that speaks so quietly to us, we have to be really listening to hear. Sometimes I dont realize God has been trying to tell me something, until He repeats Himself several times...but then i`m more hard headed than most

Blessings

John 10:27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me;

 

[mounty]

Hey hunny

God will speak to those who seek him ,it doesnt matter if your young ,old rich or poor a paster or not ,you are Gods Child and Gods speaks to his children. Do not doubt your feelings and although you can listen to a leaders advice it is Gods word you follow and only his word.

God Bless and Much Love xxxxxxxx

 

[Christy74]

Hi Rachel. I only have one thing to add to what everyone else has so capably told you.
Make sure that you're spending plenty of time in the Word. God will never contradict what He has already revealed in the Bible. If your pastor/group leader contradicts the revealed Word of God, then you should not listen to him. If the word you feel God is trying to tell you is contradictory to Scripture, then you can be sure that it's not of the Lord. He doesn't change.

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.
James 1:17 (NKJV)

 

[ushalk]

i believe that god speaks to us as individuals. there is a lot of stuff like this being taught that you listen to your elders because they hear from god more or god speaks through them or what not. this is all garbage teaching.

1. you better know that the elder you are listening to is of the lord. there are a lot of false prophets and teachings out there in the world. these leaders that get up and strut leadership or throw the fallowing the leadership and all that i would stay away from. 9 times out of ten there are also the ones that have all rules for everything and even want to tell you how to worship the lord rather than allowing the holy spirit to move through you and teach you. be careful.

2. the word states for us to work out our own salvation with fear and trembling. this tells us the lord is going to talk with us all individually. there are a lot of gfalse teachings in the catholic church concerning this one.

3. as stated above we are to test the spirit of those in leadership and out of leadership.

 

[Rachel15]

Just wanted to say a big THANK YOU for all your replies. I guess for where i am at, which is in a position where i don't really trust some of the teaching at church, i really need to plug into the word.

Actually in saying this i realise that this is my problem - i don't really trust some of the teaching at this church. I'm not sure whether to post this as a separate topic to check it out ... but here goes:-

The teaching is very directional - we are taught and then, at church, we are told to pray out loud there and then in a certain way - usually to command healing, or proclaim or declare victory in people's lives or command 'mountains' like poverty or sickness to go.

My issue is that we are told to just do this - but aren't we meant to be sensitive to the Holy Spirit in each situation and pray and ask for direction from the Holy Spirit before we take authority? I feel kind of disconnected following this kind of teaching.

I used not to question it, but then i realised that i couldn't really find clear examples from scripture to declare and proclaim and take authority in this way. I sort of see where commanding 'mountains' like sickness to go comes from i suppose, but not the rest.

Also our church is meant to be a revivalist church and so a lot of the emphasis is on the very latest thing that God is saying to the church through leadership, but i feel that i need a sound biblical foundation first. Sometimes after attending a church service i feel kind of hyped up but then if asked what was about, i'm not sure i've got a firm footing on what they are saying.

Our church does, i know, have a very good reputation and it may be that i'm just inexperienced or ignorant of how things work, but somehow i feel i'm missing out on where some of their teaching comes from.

A lot of the people at church are so confident that what they're being taught is right, but i'm not. I guess i need to talk this through with my immediate leader.

Anyway, i really appreciate you guys posting and helping me understand what i should be doing and what my role is and the importance of hearing God for myself.

 

[Rachel15]

Rachel,

The questions you raise are not answerable in one post. Does your church/denomination offer seminars on the Gifts of the Holy Spirit? If they do, I strongly suggest that you attend one of them. Also, you might check the nearest Christian bookstore for books on the Gifts of the Holy Spirit. Whether or not a "leader" listens to the Holy Spirit more than other people do cannot be quantified. There is no baseline number of times a leader has to listen to the Spirit.

Amazon.com has a number of books available on the Gifts of the Holy Spirit, too.

SLE

Hi SLE, I meant to respond to this earlier to say thanks for posting - our church doesn't have seminars on the gifts of the Holy Spirit, so i will try and check out some books.

 

[Chad]

People are people no matter what. As long as you follow Jesus and your heart seeks the Holy Spirit, He will enable you to hear Him for sure. Also keep in mind that leaders have their positions assigned by GOD. Each member servers the body according to what GOD has given him or her.

1 Corinthians 12:6-10

6And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.
7But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.
8For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;
9To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;
10To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:


Please read this also
http://www.talkjesus.com/scriptural-answers/14071-holy-spirit.html?highlight=holy+spirit