I think it is possible that most people who seek others for advice go to those who will say what they want to hear.
John 16:13-14 "13 However, when the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all truth. For He will not speak on His own, but He will speak what He hears, and He will declare to you what is to come. 14He will glorify Me by taking from what is Mine and disclosing it to you."
People will trust their pastor because he has a degree from a college, but will not trust the Holy Spirit, who is God with all the perfect answers. They treat Him as though He is only a concept in their head instead of a real person.
John 14:26
"But the Advocate, 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."
These instructions from the Word of God are not mere happy fantasy ideas like fairy stories; they are real instructions to seek the Holy Spirit.
It is no wonder "Christians" have viewed the Holy Spirit as a concept because of the fantasy of Santa Claus, Easter bunnies, and goblins, with which they were raised all their lives. Now teaching these imaginary inventions to their children, which causes one's brain to interpret all concepts as happy but not real.
Holidays have created a fantasy mentality based on desired pleasure, which causes people to view things in a particular vein. Making everything an illusion and acceptable because the entire culture is practicing these things. The idea of the Holy Spirit is just another fantasy to the culture.
As long as it makes the culture feel good, then it is viewed as truth even when it flies in the face of God's word, negating everything God teaches in His word.
When we wish to believe something, then it is in our heart to wish that it were true, a form of idolatry. All my life I heard Christians speaking about Santa, the Easter bunnies, the Halloween goblins and other such fantasy characters with great joy and pleasure, but never heard them speak of the Holy Spirit, not even once.
I grew up in a "Christian" household, celebrating all these holidays and never hearing the name of the Lord Jesus Christ or the words "Holy Spirit" from anyone in the household.
Mark 7:13 "13 Thus, you nullify the word of God by the tradition you have handed down. And you do so in many such matters.”
Colossians 2:8 "See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, which are based on human tradition and the spiritual forces of the world rather than on Christ."
When I have spoken the words "Jesus Christ" or "Holy Spirit" to believers, I have been met with blank stares and even embarrassment many times.
There has been a mentality of "pastor worship" in which those words were only acceptable from the pulpit by a degreed pastor, making this man on that podium the mediator between those in the pews and God.
How is this any different from the Catholic church, which teaches that the priest is the mediator between God and "lay people" in the pews?
Jesus Christ is the only mediator between every individual believer and God.
There are no hierarchy categories in God's church. Everyone is equal, the Holy Spirit speaks to each one who is indwelt with the Holy Spirit and every single believer edifies others in the Word. Yes, there are leaders, but they do not rule; they do not operate as an authority over the others. The Holy Spirit is the only Authority over each believer.
Any leader who attempts to control others and is not teachable himself is placing himself above the Holy Spirit.
Leaders lead by example and teaching; they have no Authority over others. We only follow their teaching when they obey God; we do not follow them when they do not obey God.
1 Timothy 4:1-3
"Now the Spirit expressly states that in later times some will abandon the faith to follow deceitful spirits and the teachings of demons, / influenced by the hypocrisy of liars, whose consciences are seared with a hot iron. / They will prohibit marriage and require abstinence from certain foods that God has created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth."
Each believer must evaluate what others say according to the Word of God, correct when there is error, and refuse to follow what does not match the Bible.
Lastly and most importantly, God gave each believer the Holy Spirit to be everything for them that they need: teaching, training in righteousness, direction for their life, and everything else. He is to be sought and obeyed.
Isaiah 29:13 "Therefore the Lord said: “These people draw near to Me with their mouths and honor Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me. Their worship of Me is but rules taught by men."
Let's not be those who treat the Holy Spirit as a concept to be ignored; rather, let us seek Him daily in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ to guide us and change us.
Note this: the Holy Spirit will always magnify Jesus Christ, never ourselves.
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