You can probably find oodles of sermons on the subject, and I'm sure these thoughts will only scratch the surface of the subject. So this little discourse is just an appetizer.
Why do some bible verses seem to contradict themselves? The classic example is where it says "Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him." Proverbs 26:4. Then in the very next verse it says, "Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit."
How do you explain that?
You have to put things in the right context. There are times when you should do the one thing, and other times when you should do the opposite.
That's where discernment comes in. Or as some would say, "Being led of the Spirit."
It's easy to circumvent written rules, because a smart lawyer can usually find a loophole. The Scribes and Pharisees were experts at arguing and splitting hairs over scripture, and they were often trying to accuse Jesus of "breaking the law."
In Galatians 5:18 it says, "But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law."
What does that mean?
Being led of the spirit is not something you can explain logically. It's not intellectual. It's a supernatural thing, and the carnal mind doesn't comprehend it. Romans 8:7 "Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be."
In other words, as Paul pointed out in 1Cor.12, where he was enlisting the gifts of the spirit, it's a God-given thing - it's supernatural! That's why it's so hard to explain.
Time and again I have used my own logic to figure things out, but it can't hold a candle to what I sometimes call "female intuition," or sixth sense, or as a friend of mine say, "when you feel the game ball has fallen in place."
Another example... When the apostle Peter had been told to wait for the Holy Spirit. He couldn't wait... So he went ahead in his own wisdom in the book of Acts chapter 1 and gave a very persuasive argument, that they needed to chose another apostle instead of Judas.
It was downright comical. They put two guys up and cast lots who it should be, and prayed thus, "Thou, Lord, which knowest the hearts of all men, shew whether of these two thou hast chosen." The lot fell on Matthias - and you never hear about him again!
Someone has claimed that the obvious 12th apostle became Paul. But that's another subject.
But then in chapter two, after Peter had received the holy spirit, he gave an anointed speech and three thousand people got convicted and were baptized. By then he was led of the spirit!
"O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!" ~ Romans 11:33
"I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing." ~ John 15:5
