Hebrews 4:11 (Amplified) says, "Let us therefore be zealous and exert ourselves and strive diligently to enter that rest (of God, to know and experience it for ourselves) that no one may fail or perish by the same kind of unbelief and disobedience (into which those in the wilderness fell)."
The "rest" spoken about in Hebrews 4:11 is none other than God's grace and His unmerited favor. All of the Hebrew people who were brought out of bondage were brought out by His grace. Up until this time, the Law hadn't been given. Even after God's grace fed the people manna from heaven, gave them water to drink from a rock and provided them with protection and provision by grace, it wasn't enough for them to trust Him. They believed they could do better on their own.
They murmured and complained all the way through the wilderness. When grace is accepted, faith is always present. It's difficult to simply believe that God has taken care of everything and allow your faith and trust be in Him. Our problem comes from not knowing the difference between what God has provided and what the world and the enemy has made available in its place. Somehow, we've concluded that everything that happens to us is God's will and His grace. If we closely examine what happened to those in the wilderness, then we'll find how despite the trials that came against them, God delivered them out of them all.
God's unmerited favor or grace, gave only what was good and kept them from all that was evil. It was only after God decided to give what they wanted, that things went wrong. I don't believe that for three months, everything went alright for many people. Exodus 19:1 (Amplified) says that, "In the third month after the Israelites left the land of Egypt, the same day, they came into the wilderness of Sinai."
During these three months, the people continued complaining and grumbling about how God was caring for them. In the next chapter of Exodus, God gives them the ten commandments. By chapter 32, they built a golden calf to worship (even with the laws and ordinances through Moses).
They refused to enter into God's rest or His grace and depended on themselves to make it on their own. We too, feel the need to have a part of our own salvation. Most denominations still lay down laws in order to keep the people in line. We've lost faith because we don't understand grace.
One denomination wants to be saved by grace and governed by man-made laws. Another wants to have grace with the ability to live any way we want without consequences. Both ways are wrong. We are, by grace, supposed to be able to govern ourselves by the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the teacher of the new covenant and if we're doing things that grieve Him, then He will reveal it to us. 1John 2:27 (Amplified) says, "But as for you, the anointing (the sacred appointment, the unction) which you received from Him abides (permanently) in you; (so) then you have no need that anyone should instruct you. But just as His anointing teaches you concerning everything and is true and is no falsehood, so you must abide in (live in, never depart from) Him (being rooted in Him, knit to Him), just as (His anointing) has taught you (to do)."
This doesn't mean that we do not need teachers in the Church. Ephesians 4:11-12 (Amplified) says, "And His gifts were (varied) (He Himself appointed and gave men to us) Some to be apostles (special messengers), some prophets (inspired preachers and expounders), some evangelists (preachers of the gospel, traveling missionaries), some pastors (shepherds of the flock) and teachers." Verse 12 says, "His intention was the perfecting and full equipping of the saints (His consecrated people) (that they should do) the work of ministering towards building up Christ's body (the Church)."
It doesn't matter how many teachers the Church has, none can compare with the anointing of the Holy Spirit Who lives inside each believer. It doesn't matter how much a teacher knows, the Holy Spirit is still the anointed Guide to the Church. Men still have a way of allowing "self" to creep into their teachings. You have an unction from the Holy Spirit, Who is within you, that makes you able to determine which is the God's teaching or and that which is from man and then walk in that teaching.
Many well meaning people in the Church have imposed laws and opinions on God's people that aren't necessarily the truth of the covenant. Through the Holy Spirit, we're able to decide for ourselves what is from God and what is from man. Every man is still just a man and none are without flaws.
I do not believe that any person who loves Jesus would deliberately teach something that is wrong, but I do believe we have done so unintentionally. We, the Church, are supposed to lean on the Holy Spirit to know the truth. I don't mean that we're supposed to pick apart everything the pastor preaches, but we are supposed to listen and weigh what is being taught against the Word. If you disagree with what's being taught, then don't run and talk to everyone in the church saying your pastor is a "false prophet." After all, you might be the one who is wrong.
We need to do what Mary did in Luke 2:19. No one had ever done what the angel had told Mary to do. Mary had to depend on the rest or grace of God in order to do what He said. Mary, by faith, rested in in the words the angels and shepherds said to her in Luke 2:19 saying, "But Mary was keeping within herself all these things (sayings) weighing and pondering them in her heart."
Notice how Mary didn't go around telling everyone what was going on. She simply rested in God and placed her faith in Him to do what He said. If Mary had asked everyone around what they thought about it, then she would most likely have been given many different responses.
Jesus, too, received many different responses from the people of His time, but He "only did that which the Father had told Him to do." Live your walk with God as your walk with God. He sometimes tells different people different things. He didn't tell everyone to sacrifice their son, He only told Abraham to do so. Hearing a testimony from someone doesn't mean we're to do the same thing and receive the same results, because God only told that person to do that.
Sometimes, we base our walk with the Father more on testimonies rather than the Holy Spirit's instruction. Testimonies have a place to inspire you, but not to lead you. You are in charge of your own self. 1Corinthians 14:32 (Amplified) says, "For the spirits of the prophets (the speakers of tongues) are under the speaker's control (and subject to being silenced as may be necessary)."
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