Quote:
Originally Posted by Paul Vusik
Nell,
I’m all for testing everything, and more than that. After my experience with the LC, I triple check and then some. But the bigger question is, what and how does anyone test things? And what is the ultimate and final confirmation of everything? Is there one? I believe so, and without questions, that’s revealed for us by the Word of God. You can only test something against another thing if you know what 100% true answer is.
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Paul,
When I stopped meeting with the Local Church of Witness Lee, I also stopped reading the Bible. I told the Lord when I left, "please don't let go of me" and "please don't make me go back there." I was afraid that if I read the Bible, He would make me go back. For 4 years I didn't touch the Bible. Then years later, a former member suggested that I "read it like it was a book." So I did. I wasn't looking for answers. I wasn't testing anything that I was aware of. I was just reading the Bible. It was amazing. It was a like a new experience altogether.
I don't know for sure what was happening, but looking back, I can say, the Lord did exactly what I asked of Him: He "didn't let go of me", and He "didn't make me go back". Maybe the verse "cast all your cares upon Him for He cares for you" applies.
This was my personal experience with the Lord, and remains so until this day. I talk to him. If something is bothering me or if I need something, I just tell him. I don't get an immediate thunderbolt answer, usually, but I do get an answer...after which, I thank Him. I think my experience was then and is now, to "know him", in the sense that Paul prayed "that I may know him".
To me, knowing Him was/is more important than figuring out the Bible. I believe this is what helps me to listen and understand and pay attention to warnings and red flags. It also helps when I have a question.
So your original question
"But the bigger question is, what and how does anyone test things? And what is the ultimate and final confirmation of everything? Is there one?"...when you know the one in charge of all things, He will often throw a flag when something is not right as he did with Matt ("you are deceived"), and with me ("he didn't mean that like it sounded").
No one is suggesting a total reliance on the Holy Spirit. We are told to rely on the Spirit and the Word.
So, to go back to something Matt said or implied, our desire for knowledge may need to be adjusted from knowing "about" Him to knowing HIM. Personally. When you need to test...something...ask Him and wait.
Nell