Studying and talking about God vs experiencing him

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Blain

The Word Weaver
Aug 28, 2012
19,173
2,536
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#1
So I was taking a shower this morning and this came mind, what is the difference between talking about and studying God vs experiencing him? And I answered myself by comparing it to a sport, yes studying it learning it and talking about with other people who enjoy it can be thrilling but if one were to actually play the sport and have fun in the actual game itself it's just not the same thing.

Now don't get me wrong studying and talking about God is one of my favorite things to do why else would be on cc? But I also understand that actually experiencing him is by far not the same thing. The average Christian will spend time studying and talking about God and this in itself is one way to experience him but as you can see in the bdf there is a great lack of love and peace in the hearts of those who have studied and talked about God. So what does it mean to actually experience God? Well sometimes I think we have to seek him out in more abnormal ways to really experience him, have you ever been filled with that strange and alien joy and peace? Have you ever felt so intimately close with him that it's as if your already home in his arms? Have you ever seemed to almost have this tranquility that gives you a sort of taste of what it must be like to soaking in his light? have you ever just enjoyed talking with him not even about anything in particular but just relishing being with him?

For me at least these are what I have experienced in experiencing him and often times I have to be in the dessert of sorts, I have to back away from my daily life and go be with him however I can even if it means I am not on cc for like a week or so. in fact it seems to be happening more more for me lately. And I am not talking about relying on feelings or experiences because it's not something that comes and goes like feelings or experiences it's about the relationship you have with God. Think about the apostles for instance they were constantly filled with this absurd love and peace and joy because they had an intimacy with God, yes they were filled deeply with the holy spirit but more than that they had a bond with God of only the most intertwined intimacy.

If there is one thing I would ask of all who reads this it is to figure out for yourself the answer to the question, I want this to be a provocative post to help steer the hearts of anyone who would read this to eek that intimacy and bond with him I believe to many have lost that fire, that unquenchable hunger and thirst for him I believe to many have forgotten what it's like to be that close him and to be filled with all that comes with it. Remember where your hearts eyes are set is where you are
 

ArtsieSteph

Senior Member
Apr 1, 2014
6,194
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Arizona
#2
I think one thing that people have, including me, is balance. It's like the sports analogy you said. We need to have the game, have time with God. But we also need to practice. And that goes for all aspects. Being still with Him, spending time with Him, getting to know Him through His word, praising, ect.

I feel like I am bad at all of these things. :eek:
 

Marcelo

Senior Member
Feb 4, 2016
2,359
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#4
You're right, brother, we talk too much!
 

Blain

The Word Weaver
Aug 28, 2012
19,173
2,536
113
#5
I think one thing that people have, including me, is balance. It's like the sports analogy you said. We need to have the game, have time with God. But we also need to practice. And that goes for all aspects. Being still with Him, spending time with Him, getting to know Him through His word, praising, ect.

I feel like I am bad at all of these things. :eek:
babe you know how much time I spend with him and even i feel like am bad at all of this lol
 

RickyZ

Senior Member
Sep 20, 2012
9,635
787
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#6
Of course, how you talk about God will affect how you experience Him. If your talk includes denying that God still performs miracles, you're probably never going to experience a miracle from Him. If your talk of Him includes the cessation of the Holy Spirits gifts, then you're probably never going to experience a gift of the Holy Spirit. If your talk denies that He still gives visions and revelations, then you'll most likely never experience those either.

You'll never have the full experience of God if your speech denies the full power of God.
 

notuptome

Senior Member
May 17, 2013
15,050
2,538
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#7
Of course, how you talk about God will affect how you experience Him. If your talk includes denying that God still performs miracles, you're probably never going to experience a miracle from Him. If your talk of Him includes the cessation of the Holy Spirits gifts, then you're probably never going to experience a gift of the Holy Spirit. If your talk denies that He still gives visions and revelations, then you'll most likely never experience those either.

You'll never have the full experience of God if your speech denies the full power of God.
Same old same old. Name it claim all the power of God at your disposal.

God is known and experienced through His word.

For the cause of Christ
Roger
 
Dec 27, 2017
112
1
0
#8
Moses experienced God and had the glory on his face to prove it.The rest of the Children of Israel, retreated from his presence, and were satisfied with talking about God or letting Moses talk to God on their behalf.

The Children had the atmosphere. Moses had the glory.
 

Blain

The Word Weaver
Aug 28, 2012
19,173
2,536
113
#9
Same old same old. Name it claim all the power of God at your disposal.

God is known and experienced through His word.

For the cause of Christ
Roger
Name it claim it? I think you misunderstand Ricky was explaining that if you limit how you can experience God then you will never know that part of him. Yes he is found and experienced in his word but the bible is not the only way to find and experience him, God's favorite game is hide and seek he desires that we would seek him out in any way possible if you limit yourself to checking only one hiding place then you limit your findings.
 

Blain

The Word Weaver
Aug 28, 2012
19,173
2,536
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#10
Moses experienced God and had the glory on his face to prove it.The rest of the Children of Israel, retreated from his presence, and were satisfied with talking about God or letting Moses talk to God on their behalf.

The Children had the atmosphere. Moses had the glory.
And are you satisfied just talking about God? and would you rather someone else speak to him for you? what they had was different not just anyone was allowed to have a kind of bond with him like that but because of Jesus all can
 

Magenta

Senior Member
Jul 3, 2015
55,247
25,713
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#11
Ricky was explaining that if you limit how you can
experience God then you will never know that part of him.
If we could limit God in some way, according to our beliefs about
Him, then non-believers might never be able to be brought to belief.

I say this because I experienced God in very powerful and profound
ways when I did not even believe in Him. If my beliefs were what
allowed God or prevented God from revealing Himself to me,
then it is likely I never would have come to believe as I did :)
 

notuptome

Senior Member
May 17, 2013
15,050
2,538
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#12
Name it claim it? I think you misunderstand Ricky was explaining that if you limit how you can experience God then you will never know that part of him. Yes he is found and experienced in his word but the bible is not the only way to find and experience him, God's favorite game is hide and seek he desires that we would seek him out in any way possible if you limit yourself to checking only one hiding place then you limit your findings.
God does not play games. Allah plays games and torments people.

Experience is not how God reveals Himself. To the unsaved God is seen in nature per Romans one but to come to Christ and receive the indwelling Holy Spirit it must be through the word of God.

We are not here for God's amusement nor is God here to do our bidding.

For the cause of Christ
Roger
 

DJ2

Senior Member
Apr 15, 2017
1,660
57
48
#13
Of course, how you talk about God will affect how you experience Him. If your talk includes denying that God still performs miracles, you're probably never going to experience a miracle from Him. If your talk of Him includes the cessation of the Holy Spirits gifts, then you're probably never going to experience a gift of the Holy Spirit. If your talk denies that He still gives visions and revelations, then you'll most likely never experience those either.

You'll never have the full experience of God if your speech denies the full power of God.
Of course, how you talk about God will affect how you experience Him. If your talk includes labeling the mundane as supernatural physical acts of the Holy Spirit, you're probably never going to experience the reality of God's Word. You will but live in a world of signs and wonders, never to experience faith without sight. If your talk of Him includes physical supernatural manifestations around every corner, then you'll most likely miss the true will of God.

You'll never have the true experience of God if you fabricate an age of the miraculous in its place.
 

RickyZ

Senior Member
Sep 20, 2012
9,635
787
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#14
Same old same old. Name it claim all the power of God at your disposal.

God is known and experienced through His word.

For the cause of Christ
Roger
Hey Roger, do you mind putting me on ignore? No sense torturing yourself with my evidently heretical bent. Or others around us with your responses to it. Let's put each other on ignore and let the others live in peace, ok?
 

notuptome

Senior Member
May 17, 2013
15,050
2,538
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#15
Hey Roger, do you mind putting me on ignore? No sense torturing yourself with my evidently heretical bent. Or others around us with your responses to it. Let's put each other on ignore and let the others live in peace, ok?
My light must shine for Gods glory. I still love you in the Lord. You may still mature at some point.

For the cause of Christ
Roger
 

RickyZ

Senior Member
Sep 20, 2012
9,635
787
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#16
John 14:12 Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.

WHO will do these things?

YOU will do these things.

Or was that a limited time offer?

 
Sep 3, 2016
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#17
Any Christian that follows God prescribe order of victory (Romans 8:2) which is placing and maintaining their Faith exclusively in Christ and the Cross, i.e., The Blood of Jesus, i.e., The Finished Work, will have in demonstration of the Spirit and of Power (1 Cor.2:4). The Book of "Acts" does not end with AMEN!
 
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Blain

The Word Weaver
Aug 28, 2012
19,173
2,536
113
#18
God does not play games. Allah plays games and torments people.

Experience is not how God reveals Himself. To the unsaved God is seen in nature per Romans one but to come to Christ and receive the indwelling Holy Spirit it must be through the word of God.

We are not here for God's amusement nor is God here to do our bidding.

For the cause of Christ
Roger
It was not meant to be literal, but if you want to go at it that way that's your choice I don't appreciate however you turning an honest response to something about Allah because that is in no way the (game) I was talking about and knowing how intelligent you are I am sure you knew that. As for experience I was not merely speaking about supernatural experiences which by the way he has done so all throughout the bible and yes has many times revealed himself in many ways in doing so what I was speaking of was to experience him in any way we can. The point of the op was encourage us to expand ways to communicate and connect with him not just by doing one thing. For instance I read the bible and listen to Christian music I pray and worship but I don't stop there I seek him out daily in many different ways whether that is going on a walk or say writing some poetry.

Time spent with him and getting to know him is far more vital than we realize and there is not any one way to do that
 

notuptome

Senior Member
May 17, 2013
15,050
2,538
113
#19
John 14:12 Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.

WHO will do these things?

YOU will do these things.

Or was that a limited time offer?

Who was Jesus addressing in the passage? Directly the apostles. Then to all of us who are believers.

What are the things? And what would be greater? This is the part you need to unwrap.

Time is limited to the return of Christ.

For the cause of Christ
Roger
 

notuptome

Senior Member
May 17, 2013
15,050
2,538
113
#20
It was not meant to be literal, but if you want to go at it that way that's your choice I don't appreciate however you turning an honest response to something about Allah because that is in no way the (game) I was talking about and knowing how intelligent you are I am sure you knew that. As for experience I was not merely speaking about supernatural experiences which by the way he has done so all throughout the bible and yes has many times revealed himself in many ways in doing so what I was speaking of was to experience him in any way we can. The point of the op was encourage us to expand ways to communicate and connect with him not just by doing one thing. For instance I read the bible and listen to Christian music I pray and worship but I don't stop there I seek him out daily in many different ways whether that is going on a walk or say writing some poetry.

Time spent with him and getting to know him is far more vital than we realize and there is not any one way to do that
Perhaps if you want to experience Christ you should go to the people that are in the valley of decision and proclaim the gospel that Christ brought. Get out and walk in the paths that He walked and witness to the lost.

We all need to commune with the Lord and spend time in meditation of His word but from there we need to get into action proclaiming the kingdom.

You are called to be a soldier in the fight against evil.

2Ti 2:3 Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.

For the cause of Christ
Roger