How can we know whether something is of God or not? How can we know when we are walking in truth or in error? The Bible tells us that when the Holy Ghost comes, certain things will happen in the life of a believer in Jesus Christ. Jesus the Christ (Messiah) said this:
But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. (John 14:26)
Jesus identified the Holy Ghost as the comforter, and He will give you an inner comfort and peace in Christ which the world cannot give. People in the world often seek comfort and relief in the things of this world. They soon find out that these things provide just a temporary comfort, but deep inside, the heart is still hollow and dark. Please note that Jesus, the “…way, truth and life…” (John 14:6) identified the Holy Ghost with the masculine word “He” which shows us that Jesus referred to the Holy Ghost as a person. Please note that the Holy Ghost and the Holy Spirit speak of the same person. The Greek word “pneuma” is translated as Ghost and also as Spirit.Jesus also described the Holy Ghost as a teacher, and in the verse below He tells us that the comforter (Holy Ghost) is also the Spirit of truth. This is most important because it is the Holy Ghost (Spirit of truth) who will guide and assist you into all truth.
But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me: (John 15:26)
We can see the triunity of the eternal Godhead working beautifully here as Jesus mentions the Father also. Jesus then makes another point by telling us that the Spirit of truth (Holy Ghost) will testify of Him (Jesus Christ).
Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you. All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you. (John 16:13-15)
In the passage above the word “He” is used nine different times, and the word “Himself” is used once to describe the person of the Holy Ghost. It is difficult to comprehend how some of the “cults” declare the Holy Ghost to be nothing more than a force of some kind.The Holy Ghost will always point you to Jesus Christ. The passage above tells us that the Spirit of truth (Holy Ghost) will not speak of Himself. This is also very important because many things are done in the name of the “Spirit” that do not testify of Jesus Christ and do not glorify Him at all. If it is not the truth then it is falsehood and should be avoided at any cost.How did I come out of the darkness of Roman Catholicism?
It was the Holy Ghost who opened up my spiritual eyes. I used to promote the worship of Mary, which included the Marian apparitions at Medugorje, Yugoslavaia until the Holy Ghost opened up my “spiritual eyes”. The Holy Ghost (Spirit of truth) showed me the error of those “messages from Mary” in Medugorje, Yugoslavia and He showed me through the Word of God. It was as if the Holy Ghost took a heavenly Hi Liter pen and illuminated the contradictions in those messages with God’s Holy Word!
Remember that the Holy Ghost will testify about Jesus, and He will glorify Jesus, NOT Mary! Prior to that I was pointing people to Mary and her “messages” from Medugorje. Basically I was an evangelist for Mary and I was promoting the Roman Catholic doctrines that were promoted in her “messages” until the Holy Ghost came on the scene. The Holy Ghost (Spirit of truth) showed me most clearly that what was appearing in Medugorje was nothing more than a demonic counterfeit spirit, masquerading as “Mary”. When I researched the other “apparitions of Mary” I found the same type of thing. The Holy Ghost (Spirit of truth) showed me that I was involved in absolute blatant idolatry and my worship of Mary stopped immediately.
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. (Acts 1:8)
Another sign that a person is walking in the “Holy Ghost” is that there will be a “power” to witness for Jesus Christ. That is what happened with the original followers of Jesus and that has never changed. A person must have a testimony for Christ if they are to describe themselves as a Christian. That is what happened to me when I came to know Jesus Christ. I could not but speak the word of God and proclaim the gospel to the lost souls who surrounded me. A common thread in all true Christian testimonies is that they will testify about Jesus Christ and glorify Him, and Him alone.
Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them, Ye rulers of the people, and elders of Israel, If we this day be examined of the good deed done to the impotent man, by what means he is made whole; Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole. This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. (Acts 4:8-12)
Take a look at Peter as an example of someone who was “filled with the Holy Ghost” and what issued forth from his mouth. This was the same Peter who denied the Lord three different times, but now Peter was a “different man” because he was “filled with the Holy Ghost.” Peter proclaimed the truth boldly to the religious crowd of his day, and he told them that Jesus Christ was the only way to be saved.
Any person who claims to have the Holy Ghost (Spirit of truth) must also believe and proclaim that Jesus Christ is the only way to Heaven. If they do not proclaim that truth then you can rest assured that the Holy Ghost (Spirit of truth) is not the one who is speaking through them.
And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word, By stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child Jesus. And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness. (Acts 4:29-31)
Please do not misunderstand what I am saying. Christians often come under intense persecution and every single one of us need the boldness to proclaim God’s Word and to preach the gospel. The original disciples of Jesus Christ were eyewitnesses to many of His awesome and powerful miracles, which included healings, raising the dead, and watching Jesus walk on the water, but they still found themselves in need of boldness to proclaim the gospel. In the passage above we see that the original disciples were being continuously threatened by the religious (unsaved) rulers of the day who rejected Jesus Christ. As a result they sought the Lord and prayed for boldness to preach the word. What happened after they prayed? They were all “filled with the Holy Ghost” and they “spake the word with boldness.” That was a direct answer to prayer and the disciples went forth proclaiming the gospel in the power of the Holy Ghost. That should be an encouragement to all of us.Listen to Stephen proclaim the word of God right before he was stoned to death by the Jewish religious rulers of his day.
Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye. Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain them which shewed before of the coming of the Just One; of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murderers: (Acts 7:51-52)
What boldness this man had to speak this strong and powerful word of rebuke to the Jewish religious crowd of his day. He linked the people with all of the children of Israel who had put the prophets of God to death. Then he tells them that they have betrayed and murdered the “just one” who is Jesus Christ! And, most importantly, Stephen told them that they did “resist the Holy ghost” just as their “fathers” had done.
Do not tell me that a person cannot resist the Holy Ghost, because Stephen told this crowd that they resisted the Holy Ghost just as their “fathers” had done. It was the same Holy Ghost who was upon Stephen when he was testifying before them. They did not believe that Jesus was the Christ (Messiah) and that is why they put him to death. The Holy Ghost is still resisted today in the very same way. In the modern day “church” you will find countless ecumenical, interfaith, and inter-religious meetings going on. You can rest assured that the Holy Ghost (Spirit of truth) is long gone from that whole scene. The word “Ichabod” (there is no glory) can be written over anyplace that entertains a religion who rejects Jesus Christ as the only way of salvation.
What was said by Stephen back then still applies today to both Jew and Gentile. When a person rejects Jesus Christ they are rejecting the Spirit of truth and they will remain in darkness until they “…repent and believe the gospel.” (Mark 1:15)
that is exactly what i believe. amen
that is exactly what i believe. amen