How do you experience the Holy Spirit

[Savage92]

Hi, so after being mainly around evangelical Christians and everyone saying every good thought that comes from their mind is from the Holy Spirit I was just wondering what exactly is God speaking to us? I would probably be on the other end of the spectrum and mainly see the holy spirit’s voice as reading scripture, biblical stories coming to thought in times for application and general conviction/guilt. Just wondering if this is a limited view, I’m pretty biased against people who will say God said them to marry a particular person, other personal matters or any number of contradictions and later to be shown falsehoods. My church actually taught in a class that people say it’s the conscious but that’s the holy spirit when you’re a Christian, which I think ends up making most of them just think of themselves as right.

 

[StephenBolin]

Honestly, that’s pretty much how I view/interact with the Holy Spirit. The Bible and the Church are the word of God. I’m skeptical of everything else, including inter feelings and private revelation. I believe God speaks to us in a variety of ways. The problem is, so does the devil and his Demons. And there is no way of knowing if God is silent. It seems to me at least, the God is mostly silent and he speaks through the Church and the the Bible. And only when we decent Gods word in the Bible and the Church does he give us more. That’s my experience.

 

[ascetic]

mainly see the holy spirit’s voice as reading scripture, biblical stories coming to thought in times for application and general conviction/guilt. Just wondering if this is a limited view

There was only one question mark in your post, but this seems like your actual question. The strict, literal answer in a vacuum is that it’s not limited since you said “mainly”. That tells me that you’re open to the Holy Spirit (the 3rd person of the Holy Trinity) speaking to you in other ways, some of which may not be what you’re expecting or anticipating or maybe even like. Read St. Ignatius’ writings about colloquies.

 

[GospelOfMatthew]

I feel the Holy Spirit during confession. But really, I can say last July 9th was a major conversion experience for me and I really felt the power of the Holy Spirit. That was the day I decided to actively fight against my struggles with impurity after 8+ years struggling. Thank God I’m healed and no longer tempted because I have my courage in Jesus!

 

[halogirl]

Literally got blasted by Him ( in a good way) aged 16 when I got saved. I am very lucky but equally have a lot of stuff to answer for now in that I know he’s real. I do worry that most Catholics I know haven’t had this and it’s the true church. I think really that there was no other way for Him to make Himself known to me as I was from a non religious family and hadn’t been baptised at that point which reinforces the teaching that He will make himself known to all . In a sense this is harder for cradle catholics as how do you recognise something that has always been there?

 

[semper_catholicus]

I experience(d) the Holy Ghost in several ways:

1: When I was baltized; He came into my soul

2: When I confess my sins and recieve absolution

3: When I receive Holy Communion

4: When I received the Sacrament of Confirmation

God willing, I will also experience Him when O receive the sacrament of Orders and Extreme Unction at the hour of my death.

 

[AngelaMarie]

Clarity of thought.

 

[guanophore]

after being mainly around evangelical Christians and everyone saying every good thought that comes from their mind is from the Holy Spirit

This is NOT what the Church teaches!

I’m pretty biased against people who will say God said them to marry a particular person,

Why is that?

I got saved

What does that mean, exactly?

I do worry that most Catholics I know haven’t had this and it’s the true church.

Most Catholics have not had an “I got saved” experience? Why would that worry you?

In a sense this is harder for cradle catholics as how do you recognise something that has always been there?

This may be, but I also think that many cradle Catholics have not had that encounter with the living Christ that must happen to grow spiritually.

 

[halogirl]

It was literally like something from the tv I knew I was saved I knew Jesus was real and he was in my life

 

[halogirl]

I met Him and it was so real

 

[halogirl]

Most people in the evangelical churches that I know have had a very far out Holy Spirit encounter Like that. For me it led me here

 

[Roguish]

I believe God speaks to us in a variety of ways. The problem is, so does the devil and his Demons.

This is indeed “the problem”. But then the Holy Spirit is the solution, as He is just that intelligence that tells you who to listen to.

In a sense this is harder for cradle catholics as how do you recognise something that has always been there?

It’s harder for a cradle-anything, really, not just a cradle Catholic. Which is why, in a strange way, it can be necessary for someone to fall away from the Church for a while, possibly a long while. For some cradle Catholics it’s necessary to lose their way, so that they may rediscover it afresh when the Holy Spirit “blasts them”, as you put it. Of course there is danger in it too. Many fall away never to return. It’s in God’s hands whether to bring them back or not.

I would […] mainly see the holy spirit’s voice as reading scripture, biblical stories coming to thought in times for application and general conviction/guilt. Just wondering if this is a limited view, I’m pretty biased against people who will say God said them to marry a particular person, other personal matters or any number of contradictions and later to be shown falsehoods.

Scripture is certainly the word of the Holy Spirit, yes, but in answer to your question (as I understand it) whether that’s a limited view: it is, if you restrict it to that. Apart from scripture the Holy Spirit can speak to us more directly, such as through signs and private revelation, both of which are experienced by many and are acknowledged by the Church as real. So when people claim that the Holy Spirit inspired them to make a certain choice I think there’s no need to be skeptical or critical of that. Sure, some may be deluding themselves, but as a general principle it cannot be denied that the Holy Spirit can provide His Guidance in a very intimate way that by-passes scripture or any other intermediation.

My church actually taught in a class that people say it’s the conscious but that’s the holy spirit when you’re a Christian

That’s true when “consciousness” is properly understood, which it hardly ever is. Usually equating the Holy Spirit to consciousness just leads to pseudo-spiritual mumbo jumbo that takes one away from authentic religion.

 

[toddy]

John 14:26

the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have told you

Holy Spirit taught in vary ways. Speaking directly, implanting thoughts or guiding to another source, overwhelming body to read hearts, action, speech.

God bless,

 

[Savage92]

Well the reason I say that is because I don’t believe it’s God’s prerogative to dictate our live and some people will say God speaks to them on just about every matter. And it doesn’t really sound like the God of Jacob, more like a “new testament Jesus”. That’s not to say God can’t speak through visions, dreams or differently to different people, but I just get skeptical when large groups of people all experience a different version of God, whether it be pentacostals or evangelicals.

 

[semper_catholicus]

Moreover, I have heard of saints saying that the gift of tongues was only a gift for the early days of the Church. There isn’t much use for it (the PROPER gift of tongues) anymore in this day and age.

 

[Ioannes_L]

Some saints have experienced the gift of tongues after Pentecost, but their cases are rare and special, one in a million, like when Padre Pio spoke to U.S. soldiers.

 

[semper_catholicus]

I’ve also heard of missionaries who were saints that had the gift, only because it was necessary to be able to preach to them.

 

[Ioannes_L]

And I know some missionaries that didn’t had the gift of tongues, so they simply had to learn the language as best as they could.

 

[guanophore]

Well the reason I say that is because I don’t believe it’s God’s prerogative to dictate our live

It is odd that you would say this. Do you not believe His is your creator?

“But ask the animals, and they will teach you;
the birds of the air, and they will tell you;
8 ask the plants of the earth,[c] and they will teach you;
and the fish of the sea will declare to you.
9 Who among all these does not know
that the hand of the Lord has done this?
10 In his hand is the life of every living thing
and the breath of every human being." Job 12

Although it is His prerogative to dictate all life (since He created it), He does not dictate ours because He created us to be in relationship with Him. Love sets free the object, so He allows us to spurn His love if we so choose.

some people will say God speaks to them on just about every matter.

And this is a problem to you because…?

And it doesn’t really sound like the God of Jacob, more like a “new testament Jesus”

Christians believe that this is one and the same God. We don’t have a disconnect between the two.

That’s not to say God can’t speak through visions, dreams or differently to different people,

So which is it? People are able to communicate with God throughout the day, or they can’t?

I just get skeptical when large groups of people all experience a different version of God, whether it be pentacostals or evangelicals.

I do too. Catholics’ “version” of God is framed by what God has revealed to us about Himself. Those who espouse the doctrine of Sola Scriptura have as many different interpretations as there are belly buttons!

 

[Savage92]

Well I was referring to dictating amoral things, moral ones he certainly does have expectations but some people have uncertainty about picking between 2 jobs and the like. So it starts edging towards some kind of new age fate and often positivism or wishful thinking.

And once again I was speaking of people who see a disconnect between the new and old testament where their Jesus doesn’t match the God of the OT or the early teachings of the Church.

God can communicate to people however He wishes however He can’t contradict Himself or scripture, seeing as how often people contradict both in the name of God I would question their methods.

And I would agree with that, starting to see the problems of sola scriptural, my pastor has actually deterred me from reading outside the Bible.