"A man had two sons.
He went up to the first son and asked him, "Son, go please and bring in my sheep from the pasture. For it is getting dark and it would be dangerous to leave them out at night."
So the son goes out and brings in the flock, because his heart was on obeying his father and he wanted to care about the same things his father cared about. Because he loved his father.
The next day the father said to his other son, "Son, go please and bring in my sheep from the pasture. For it is getting dark and it would be dangerous to leave them out at night." But this son upon hearing this was too concerned about doing what he wanted to do that he left off unconcerned and did what pleased him.
The father after looking outside said in his heart, 'It is dark outside and my son has not brought in my sheep, for he is busy doing his own thing. I will go to my first son and ask him to bring in my sheep, for he will listen to my voice.'
So the father asked his first son to bring in his sheep, and the son brought them in safely.
The next morning, the second son began to notice his father spoke more to his brother than to him. Being filled with jealousy he rivaled his brother demanding to know why his father spoke more to him.
The father seeing this answered: "My son, I in good faith kindly asked you to bring in my sheep last night for I did not want them to be brought to ruin. I asked your brother and he obeyed my voice because his heart was set on me rather than himself. You however, because of the abundance of your heart's desire to do what YOU want to do... you did not obey my voice but completely ignored me. So why are you hot with anger because I speak more with your brother than with you?
Why am I to speak with you, when your heart is not set on my words at all? What is the purpose of speaking if you will not listen? Start in your heart first, clear out your leaven and set your heart on my words, and you will hear. If you leave the leaven... then I will let you do your 'own' will.. just as you desired."
Such has been the case with all on this board. Because the abundance of your HEART'S desire to "do your OWN will" you all have not heard the holy spirit. When that spirit "speaks" to you.. you ignore it "going about your OWN lives" as if nothing happened.
Start in your hearts FIRST. Clear out your deciet, wicked reasonings, rivalries, contentions, lack of faith. If you don't think there is anything in your heart.. APPROACH the Son.. He will SHOW you your 'defect' that is SEPARATING you from him.
This is what is stopping you all from "hearing the holy spirit." Cleanse your hands and purify your hearts and you will "hear his voice," his REAL voice. And after you hear it.. it is UP TO YOU which 'son' you will be about it.
Peace to all,
Aaron