The Holy Spirit.

[Brian]

This questions stems form Gary Amirault's "The Best Bible Translation" article. His conclusion as I see it, is the translation isn't as important as the translator i.e. the Holy Spirit.
I hear this over and over. Rely on the Holy Spirit for insight. Seek the Holy Spirit.
But what I don't understand is, why is it that so many believers who earnestly seek the Holy Spirit and are presumably guided by the Holy Sprit, are so lacking in unity? I'll listen to one person who seems guided by the Holy Spirit, say very dynamic things. And then hear another person who seems guided by the Holy Spirit, disagree with that person. I drives me crazy because they can't all be right. So how do I know if my personal interpretation of what the Holy Spirit is telling me or guiding me to is correct? If everyone is receiving the same guidance from the same guide, then why is there so much division?

[Cardinal]

  Excellent answer, Fire...

[Brian]

Because everyone is at different places.

But aren't we supposed to be dead to ourselves and transformed by the renewing of our minds by the Holy Spirit?
And I'm talking about teachers who've been at this for a long time. Studying and praying for guidance from the Holy Spirit for 10, 20 years. Yet get 20 of them in a room together and they'll have a zillion different variations of what they've been taught by the Holly Spirit.

It is important to listen to teachers, because the Holy Spirit appoints teachers. The Bible was written by teachers. 
This is something that's really been agitating me for a long time, and perhaps there just isn't a  answer for me.

[Pierac]

CLV Ecc 3:11 He has made everything fitting in its season; However, He has put obscurity in their heart So that the man may not find out His work, That which the One, Elohim (God), does from the beginning to the terminus."

I think we know what God wants us to know.

[Brian]

Because everyone is at different places.

But aren't we supposed to be dead to ourselves and transformed by the renewing of our minds by the Holy Spirit?
And I'm talking about teachers who've been at this for a long time. Studying and praying for guidance from the Holy Spirit for 10, 20 years. Yet get 20 of them in a room together and they'll have a zillion different variations of what they've been taught by the Holly Spirit.

It is important to listen to teachers, because the Holy Spirit appoints teachers. The Bible was written by teachers. 
This is something that's really been agitating me for a long time, and perhaps there just isn't a  answer for me.

Well let two or three speak and the others judge is being an active participant in perceiving who has the lips of knowledge dont cha think? 

What I personally look for in any good teacher is one that doesnt preach himself but Christ and has integrity and carefulness with the scripture. But how are we going to know anything if we arent familiar with Gods words? We will be tossed by every wind of doctrine that comes our way  Its all part of our youth anyway. So just as John was sent as a light to testify to Christ John himself was not "that" light (Christ). Just as the apostles didnt preach themselves but Christ as Lord and themselves as servants and helpers of our joy.

One great teacher said, "Ye need not any man to teach you"   

Just prove all things not everyone has all knowledge or understanding and I'd rather give diligence to my own studies then sit under another. That doesnt mean I cant learn from anyone but we can each prove our ownselves a workman unto God rightly dividing the word of truth. I always approached things this way, if I dont know what God says, what makes me believe some other guy does?  And if the blind can lead the blind into the pit (and Im blind) what the heck am I doing holding out my hand for another to guide me if I cannot tell (being blind) that he who holds my to guide me isnt either?  Afterall it was the blind who ASK, "WHAT are WE blind too"? 

I cleaved to God with my VERY LIFE  Lord to WHOM shall we go??? 

But He does let you know in regards to teachers, where once they were removed and unidentifiable He can and will give you sight to see what was previously hidden from your view and thats why I love this verse because I have experienced this

Isaiah 30:20 And though the Lord give you the bread of adversity, and the water of affliction, yet shall not thy teachers be removed into a corner any more, but thine eyes shall see thy teachers

And 99% of the time they are usually some dude sitting in the back row of the church and not standing on a pedastool with a microphone 

Yeah, I hear you. No grievance towards the Holy Spirit or the good sharers of God's Word. I just wish there was more unity. I'm sure I'll come to understand it better in my heart over time. Still experiencing growing pains I suppose.

[martincisneros]

There aren't as many contradictions in the Body as many people imagine.  Much of it is an emotional this or that rather than focusing on how the Bible harmonizes all of it.  There are far fewer contradictions in the Body of Christ than most believers imagine.  When it comes to 75 teachers in a room all lead by Holy Spirit and each having 75 contradicting opinions about different things there's the three issues of time devoted to the Word so that 10% time in the Word equals 10% accuracy regarding the Word, what George MacDonald called the folly of trying to understand without any intention of obeying, and that although all of the Sons of God without question, according to Romans 8, are lead by Holy Spirit -- not all are listening to Him to the same degree about each of the things that He'll try to expound to them. 

One person has 3 or 4 genuine insights on Creationism that He gave them and 2 insights on the atonement that He genuinely gave them, but 150 things that they'll say about both things, etc.  To a certain degree people confuse themselves with the teachings of teachers that God has genuinely set in the Body in that they're not as attentive to their teachings as they imagine themselves to be so that they half hear teachers in the Body all of the time.  Parable of the sower again: the way you measure it, is precisely the way it's measured back to you. 

I still watch a lot of Bible teachers on Christian television that I find myself agreeing with less and less [and less] every single day because if they're truly a part of the Body then none of them can be 100% wrong about everything and I'll often find surprise nuggets to research further in the Word or to plug in to my understanding of this or that in my meditation time.  Many of our differences are over not prayerfully hearing one another out when it's often nothing but semantics that divides us 'cause we don't like to hear the truth of certain Scriptures said in such and such a way or attached to certain theological labels. 

Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, Pastors, Teachers, Workers of Miracles, Gifts of Healings, Administrations, Interpreters of supernatural tongues for the Body, Financiers for the Body, Ministries of Encouragements, and Ministries of Helps don't usually divide the Body.  It's usually the Body that decides to divide and hide behind favorite ministries because of preferred ways of saying things, being offended at certain ministries, self imposed limitations upon our understanding because of no intention of obeying or being offended, etc. 

The Body tends to be much more divisive than the ministry gifts.  Coveteousness, offenses, refusal to submit to authority, refusal to repent when certain areas of light in the Gospel are brought forth, and other issues are the bane of us all, but seldom genuinely anointed ministries whose lives are fully submitted to the Scriptures to the fullest part of their current understanding of what they teach.