I agree with Angela in the sense that talking about "experience" is not really helpful to a lot of people. People who don't have experiences will feel something is missing and maybe it is somehow their fault. Those who do experience the Word in its different manifestations will usually not share personal things. They will only encourage you to have faith in the Word and gain your own experiences.
It is better not to put the attention on yourself - only on the Word because that is what people need to have faith in. Not in what you have had. Even the letters Paul wrote kept stressing this - that he would not boast in his experiences. He wanted to keep the focus off of him.
I have had many experiences, but choose to only mention Christ. And there is a wonderful "simplicity in Christ" that is ignored with those who want to show off their own intellect or experiences. The focus must be kept on Him. Not on ourselves.
Yes, you will hear many disagreements and interpretations - but you can choose to ignore most of what is said unless it is the simple truth and only glorifies Christ's work on the cross. Keep to that. Paul did in His letters. Read them again and you will see it isn't difficult to understand. He said "I only preach Christ and Him crucified". In addition to that, he taught us how to live.
I believe you get the love part, but the testimony you or anyone should give should be only about Him. Not about things that would be "supernatural experiences" or as others have done, their picking apart simple truths to make them more complicated and show their superiority in wisdom.
Christ is the final word - and faith is what we need to have. Loving others is only a fruit of our surrendering to Christ, abiding in Him and allowing the Holy Spirit to love through us. Surrendering to Christ is what is difficult. But that is another teaching...
It is better not to put the attention on yourself - only on the Word because that is what people need to have faith in. Not in what you have had. Even the letters Paul wrote kept stressing this - that he would not boast in his experiences. He wanted to keep the focus off of him.
I have had many experiences, but choose to only mention Christ. And there is a wonderful "simplicity in Christ" that is ignored with those who want to show off their own intellect or experiences. The focus must be kept on Him. Not on ourselves.
Yes, you will hear many disagreements and interpretations - but you can choose to ignore most of what is said unless it is the simple truth and only glorifies Christ's work on the cross. Keep to that. Paul did in His letters. Read them again and you will see it isn't difficult to understand. He said "I only preach Christ and Him crucified". In addition to that, he taught us how to live.
I believe you get the love part, but the testimony you or anyone should give should be only about Him. Not about things that would be "supernatural experiences" or as others have done, their picking apart simple truths to make them more complicated and show their superiority in wisdom.
Christ is the final word - and faith is what we need to have. Loving others is only a fruit of our surrendering to Christ, abiding in Him and allowing the Holy Spirit to love through us. Surrendering to Christ is what is difficult. But that is another teaching...