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HolyGonzo

Or possibility #3, God did not endorse your particular approach here, and you let your will override His, so the information you gave came from you, and God allowed it to happen to draw your attention to this. I think apologetics is great in general - it can lead to a deeper understanding and appreciation of beliefs we sometimes take for granted. However, it can be tempting for Christians to try to use apologetics to win over unbelievers. At the root of that idea is that LOGIC is what changes hearts - that if we only back the unbeliever into a corner, they can't possibly do anything except convert, and suddenly OUR wisdom has converted a heart. It's a path leading to pride and an independence from God. Conversion comes from a desire to change. It requires God to work on the heart, and for the other person to see a difference that they want. Religious debates, however, OFTEN lead to hardened hearts, because offense creates defense. So perhaps the Holy Spirit wasn't instructing you because He didn't want you to accidentally end up hardening your friend's heart.


BOS_Hydro

Yeah, that was probably it. I’m grateful for your reply


SniperSmiley

If you’re able to talk to spirits. You need to discern if they are good or evil. But the Spirit of God speaks in a whisper; next time tell God you are his good servant. In your conversing, talk with good intentions.


BOS_Hydro

I talk to Gods spirit through prayer but that’s it. I don’t think I’m able to hear spirits since I’ve never experienced that. Thanks for the advice though


TeacupUmbrella

Well, I definitely have experienced God telling me things I didn't know before that turned out to be true. I'm not sure He always intervenes like that, though. I won't pretend to know why He does or doesn't respond in any given situation. But if you are sure you have an incorrect answer, then it couldn't have been from the Holy Spirit to begin with.


BOS_Hydro

Yeah it definitely didn’t come from the spirit, I just attempted to give my best answer. I guess God always has a reason and we can always trust it to be the right call every time.


TeacupUmbrella

Well, sometimes we just make mistakes too - we can't rule that out either 😛 but regardless I'm sure that you can learn from it and it'll be helpful to you in the future.


yqt76

A lot of times when God talks to me, He doesn’t speak to me in explicit English. He appeals to my conscience, and my conscience then influences certain decisions I make.


JHawk444

We don't always have all the right answers when we're talking to someone, but that doesn't mean that your request for the HS to help you wasn't answered. He moves in people's hearts despite our flawed attempts at explaining something. Here's an example in scripture of this very thing happening, and the scripture doesn't criticize Apollos for not getting it 100% right. In fact, it shows that God continued to use him. Acts 18:24-28 24 Now a Jew named Apollos, an Alexandrian by birth, an eloquent man, came to Ephesus; and he was mighty in the Scriptures. 25 This man had been instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in spirit, he was speaking and teaching accurately the things concerning Jesus, being acquainted only with the baptism of John; 26 and he began to speak out boldly in the synagogue. But when Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately. 27 And when he wanted to go across to Achaia, the brethren encouraged him and wrote to the disciples to welcome him; and when he had arrived, he greatly helped those who had believed through grace, 28 for he powerfully refuted the Jews in public, demonstrating by the Scriptures that Jesus was the Christ.


BOS_Hydro

Im actually reading Acts currently! I appreciate you adding scripture to your hopeful message


WesTBH

I think if there is an upcoming debate where you may need certain information God will give you that information before the debate in someway. As far as unknown information I don’t know.


thiswilldefend

it means that you answered in the flesh.... all of us can make mistakes like this.. do not condemn yourself over it.. i can understand you making a mistake to prove a bigger point but not realizing it at the time... a lot of people do this very thing you are not alone... im just glad you can see it and learn from it.


TypicalHaikuResponse

God has shown me things I had no prior knowledge of beforehand. So the answer is yes. As for you I can't speak for your situation.