How do you know you have the holy spirit

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Blain

The Word Weaver
Aug 28, 2012
20,961
3,380
113
#41
Jesus said "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness" (Matt. 5:6), not after emotional highs.
Yes, I know the hunger and thirst for God, and I know that Jesus said such will be satisfied as we learn every word
that comes from the mouth of God, (Matt. 4:4).

I used to crave the type of experience you seek, but as I learned GW I realized
that was not the normative way God's HS relates to saints (2Tim. 3:15-17).
IOW, experiencing miracles is rare, which is why they are miraculous,
so do not expect or even want yours to reoccur, be frequent, or happen continually.

Paul did not lose the first love he once had just because he did not go back to Damascus,
and we should follow his example and teachings. In fact, probably most Christians do not have
a “Damascus road experience”, so you should consider yourself blessed by the one occasion.

The Holy Scriptures teach that all Christians should experience the miraculous fullness of Christ (Eph. 3:14-19)
or become a Christ-like person (Eph. 4:1-2, 2Thes. 1:11-12). You ARE reading/learning the Scriptures I post?
You misunderstand it is the deeper bond and love I seek the experiences are secondary but to me he is as real as any other person and it is not a rare occurance for me at least it happens all the time albiet sometimes not so often but rare? bo. when I asked him one day why he told me because you sought after me with a passionate hunger, I am not discounting God's word what I am saying is that there is a kind of relationship we can have with him where it doesn't have to be rare if one would only seek it
not just experiences but a very deep and intimate relationship one where his voice is clear as day his truth is not hidden the scriptures are wide open granted it still takes time but it is more than just experiences which you seem to think is what I am fixated on but it is the bond I am talking about
 

Jimbone

Senior Member
Aug 22, 2014
3,286
1,153
113
45
#42
This is actually a very good question and I'm not sure exactly how to answer it. I KNOW I have the Spirit because I am aware of what the Spirit even is. I know that when I only thought I was saved, but wasn't, I had no clue at all what His Spirit truly was. I thought it had something to do with getting goosebumps in Church. That it came and went, stuff like that. There was honestly no way I could comprehend what the Spirit even was before I was born-again and He opened my eyes to it, there's no way I could have without Him doing it. We are all born with dead spirits and disconnected from God, and without any way to grasp what it truly is.

I know I have His Spirit because He picked me up at my most broken point and made me knew overnight. I KNOW I have the Holy Spirit because every day since 9-29-13 I've felt reconnected to my Creator and now know/see/feel/love this connection above everything else to the point it guides my every decision, and not by my power, but ONLY by His power and guidance.

I KNOW I have the Holy Spirit because I KNOW Him, but your question really got me thinking about how do I share with another person how I know this, which isn't really the hardest thing to share with another person truly born again, but have no clue how to try to explain it to an unbeliever, or even harder, a false convert that falsely thinks they're saved. You just can't KNOW about the things of the Spirit if you've never known the Spirit, and this is something we can only get by the grace of God. There's just no frame of reference to draw from for anyone born of the flesh. This is why without direct revelation from God our "fallen problem" is one we could never even identify on our own. It could never make sense to our fallen minds of the flesh. This is why I was having a hard time putting into words "how I know" I have His Spirit. I KNOW because He saved me in power leaving no way to doubt Him ever again along with feeling my spirit and connection to His Spirit every minute, but how do I share this with someone who is still dead to the things of the Spirit? I don't know. (well I do, we can't, but that person can only understand when they're born-again. This can only happen by the hearing of His word......)
 
May 10, 2011
1,861
427
83
#43
Hi Blain! I love your hunger for the things of God, and the humble spirit in which you seek answers 😎.

@SirSolaScriptura already said most of what I was thinking, so I don't want to be redundant. But I am going to add a few personal observations if that's OK! 🙂

I feel confident that you have the indwelling Spirit (evidenced by your belief and fruit of the Spirit), and also that you have received the baptism/pouring out/filling/fire of the Holy Spirit ( @GWH please don't pick on me for using the word "baptism", I promise I'm not talking about a separate salvation! 😜 ) The evidence of that event would be the words you received that testified to others and helped them belive, I think one had to do with a baby raccoon if I'm remembering correctly..... lol I just re-read that and realized it sounds silly but hey, God uses whatever He chooses! 😎

Anyways..... It sounds like you could use some clarity and in-person fellowship, so having a ministry team from that church you like come visit is a great idea! However.....

I do think @GWH has a point that you might be a tad too focused on "levels" of spirituality and the highs that can come with encountering God. Sure, mountaintops are great, but there will be valleys too.... times when the path forward is overgrown with thorns and weeds, and the way out isn't apparent. He is with you always, but the darker times are when your faith is really tested and established; of course we love the mountaintops but walking by faith is easy when the view is clear.

If I may suggest something.... maybe ask God to do a project with you? Perhaps there is someone there in your building that He wants to bless or impact. Maybe He would have you write a poem just for them. Or maybe there's someone you could pray for. Or perhaps there's some growth He wants you to work on personally, I often feel closer to God when He's correcting me. He does correct those He loves lol. 😆

Anyways, hope all that is OK to say! It's great to yearn and ask for these mountaintop experiences, but God meets us in the valleys too, when I look back on life I realize more and more how important the valleys are. Grow wherever your path takes you! 🙏
 

Blain

The Word Weaver
Aug 28, 2012
20,961
3,380
113
#44
Hi Blain! I love your hunger for the things of God, and the humble spirit in which you seek answers 😎.

@SirSolaScriptura already said most of what I was thinking, so I don't want to be redundant. But I am going to add a few personal observations if that's OK! 🙂

I feel confident that you have the indwelling Spirit (evidenced by your belief and fruit of the Spirit), and also that you have received the baptism/pouring out/filling/fire of the Holy Spirit ( @GWH please don't pick on me for using the word "baptism", I promise I'm not talking about a separate salvation! 😜 ) The evidence of that event would be the words you received that testified to others and helped them belive, I think one had to do with a baby raccoon if I'm remembering correctly..... lol I just re-read that and realized it sounds silly but hey, God uses whatever He chooses! 😎

Anyways..... It sounds like you could use some clarity and in-person fellowship, so having a ministry team from that church you like come visit is a great idea! However.....

I do think @GWH has a point that you might be a tad too focused on "levels" of spirituality and the highs that can come with encountering God. Sure, mountaintops are great, but there will be valleys too.... times when the path forward is overgrown with thorns and weeds, and the way out isn't apparent. He is with you always, but the darker times are when your faith is really tested and established; of course we love the mountaintops but walking by faith is easy when the view is clear.

If I may suggest something.... maybe ask God to do a project with you? Perhaps there is someone there in your building that He wants to bless or impact. Maybe He would have you write a poem just for them. Or maybe there's someone you could pray for. Or perhaps there's some growth He wants you to work on personally, I often feel closer to God when He's correcting me. He does correct those He loves lol. 😆

Anyways, hope all that is OK to say! It's great to yearn and ask for these mountaintop experiences, but God meets us in the valleys too, when I look back on life I realize more and more how important the valleys are. Grow wherever your path takes you! 🙏
Yes in the valley and thorns oddly enough is when I feel closest to him and there are of course dry seasons there always will be but my point I was trying to make was to not to emphasize the ezperiences but that level of closeness with him I wanted to inspire others to seek that with him I tell of my experiences because it is the best way I know to express it, yes I know that God's word is not to be discounted and yes there are indeeed high and low times however it is vital that we also understand that he can be as real to us as any other person and so I testify of these things not to be emotional or to seem like I am after experiences but to inspire others to strive for that relationship

I remember the baby racoon thing it was a man who lost his faith and said he studied the bible for years but never once saw an act of God and I said to him here is your act of God your cat is going to bring you a dead baby racoon three days later he came running to me saying what you said was true just like you said she brought me a dead baby racoon

and also yes in the building I am in I speak of all kinds of things about God and I have seen how it inspires those around me some of them say it gets the spirit flowing
 

Pilgrimshope

Well-known member
Sep 2, 2020
15,366
6,247
113
#45
Simple question how does one know they have the holy spirit? anyone can claim to have him they can even believe they do but how does one confirm they have him indwelling in them? can you feel him? do you communicate with him? do you receive divine experiences? and how do you know it is not just your own imagination or you talking to what you think is the spirit but really is just yourself? what if you feel something and think it is the spirit but it is really just your emotions?
faith . Gotta hear about it first

“If ye love me, keep my commandments. And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you. Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also.

At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you.

He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.

Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me.

These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you. But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.”
‭‭John‬ ‭14:15-21, 23-26‬ ‭


a lot of people skip that part as if it doesn’t matter regarding receiving the spirit and they read this as if it doesn’t correlate to what Jesus said about receiving the Holy Ghost

“In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,”
‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭1:13‬ ‭KJV‬‬

So often we skip the promise part made by Jesus and just are told be others we received the spirit because we acknolwedge Jesus exists rather than listening to what he said and what they said regarding receiving the spirit

“Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.”
‭‭Acts‬ ‭2:38-39‬ ‭a

the idea that grace replaces the word and instructions of God makes people hear things like that and reject it “ I don’t need to be baptized my pastor said I’m saved so how do I o ow I received the holt ghost ?”

things work like the lord said not people who tell us differentl later . I suspect a lot of us who believe we have received the spirit of Christ have never actually even heard how we receive the spirit of Christ but heard a lot of quotes about it out of context

The epistles are speaking to people who had heard and accepted in belief the gospel son often tbey speak of how “ we “ the church “ received the spirit but it was because they believed the doctrine promising the spirit and acted upon it






“Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.”
‭‭John‬ ‭16:13‬ ‭KJV‬‬

We should put his word to the test and see if he’s telling the truth
 

Blain

The Word Weaver
Aug 28, 2012
20,961
3,380
113
#46
faith . Gotta hear about it first

“If ye love me, keep my commandments. And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you. Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also.

At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you.

He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.

Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me.

These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you. But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.”
‭‭John‬ ‭14:15-21, 23-26‬ ‭


a lot of people skip that part as if it doesn’t matter regarding receiving the spirit and they read this as if it doesn’t correlate to what Jesus said about receiving the Holy Ghost

“In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,”
‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭1:13‬ ‭KJV‬‬

So often we skip the promise part made by Jesus and just are told be others we received the spirit because we acknolwedge Jesus exists rather than listening to what he said and what they said regarding receiving the spirit

“Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.”
‭‭Acts‬ ‭2:38-39‬ ‭a

the idea that grace replaces the word and instructions of God makes people hear things like that and reject it “ I don’t need to be baptized my pastor said I’m saved so how do I o ow I received the holt ghost ?”

things work like the lord said not people who tell us differentl later . I suspect a lot of us who believe we have received the spirit of Christ have never actually even heard how we receive the spirit of Christ but heard a lot of quotes about it out of context

The epistles are speaking to people who had heard and accepted in belief the gospel son often tbey speak of how “ we “ the church “ received the spirit but it was because they believed the doctrine promising the spirit and acted upon it






“Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.”
‭‭John‬ ‭16:13‬ ‭KJV‬‬

We should put his word to the test and see if he’s telling the truth
many hear the rtuth but we have what is known as carnal Christians many have faith and believe but again we have carnal Christians, what would set them apart from one who has the spirit in them? well in my opinion it is the fruits
 
May 10, 2011
1,861
427
83
#47
Yes in the valley and thorns oddly enough is when I feel closest to him and there are of course dry seasons there always will be but my point I was trying to make was to not to emphasize the ezperiences but that level of closeness with him I wanted to inspire others to seek that with him I tell of my experiences because it is the best way I know to express it, yes I know that God's word is not to be discounted and yes there are indeeed high and low times however it is vital that we also understand that he can be as real to us as any other person and so I testify of these things not to be emotional or to seem like I am after experiences but to inspire others to strive for that relationship

I remember the baby racoon thing it was a man who lost his faith and said he studied the bible for years but never once saw an act of God and I said to him here is your act of God your cat is going to bring you a dead baby racoon three days later he came running to me saying what you said was true just like you said she brought me a dead baby racoon

and also yes in the building I am in I speak of all kinds of things about God and I have seen how it inspires those around me some of them say it gets the spirit flowing
All good! It's great to hear you're making an impact in your building, I know it's not always great to be stuck there but God has trusted you to be a light where there is surely a lot of despair 💛.

OK then, the word of knowledge/prophecy you had about the baby raccoon can be considered just as valid in proving the Spirit in you as speaking in tongues. Actually moreso, because tongues can't be proven without discernment and/or interpretation. Time itself proved your word, so rest in that..... you've got the PO-wAHHH! 😜

And I get it about always wanting Him to feel close. I want that too. Maybe Thomas wanted Jesus to show up every day and let him see the nail marks again. But Jesus said it's better not to need that. He's with you, He loves you, and right now He's showing up for you in the little things that testify to His presence. Keep seeking Him and being a blessing to those around you, maybe He'll have you prophesying again in church but right now He might have some less-flashy jobs for you that are no less important. When you're living in the Spirit then even just sweeping the floor can be a spiritual experience haha 😄.

Blessings and all the best! 😁😎🤓
 

Pilgrimshope

Well-known member
Sep 2, 2020
15,366
6,247
113
#48
many hear the rtuth but we have what is known as carnal Christians many have faith and believe but again we have carnal Christians, what would set them apart from one who has the spirit in them? well in my opinion it is the fruits
we’re all partially carnal brother can I ask you a hypothetical ?

What if I’m a believer in Jesus but I also realize I’m still struggling with sin daily nd I still admit and acknolwedge I’m yet carnal ?

Amy question is if that’s my position and situation as a believer …..Would actually learning about this and believing it to be true and applicable to me ….change anything for me ? Would it empower my faith at all to believe this ?

“God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. For he that is dead is freed from sin.

Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him: knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him. Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.

Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.

For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.

What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid. Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey;
whether of sin unto death,


or of obedience unto righteousness?

But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness. I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness.”
‭‭Romans‬ ‭6:2-9, 11-19‬ ‭KJV‬‬

the doctrine like tbat regarding baptism and what we’re supposed to believe baptism is for and means for a person getting baptized because they believe Jesus died for thisr sins and rose up for thier justification . These concepts are meant for us to learn and accept as truth .

This is how our belief is being corrected which leads to actions being right later at the end of the process of our beliefs changing from “ everyone sins were all just sinners no one can really repent and Obey God that’s trying to save yourself by works ect ect “

Over to what it actually is saying to us in the doctrine the truth is there’s power in the gospel of we take it seriously and believe and hear what he’s saying to set us free from that daily struggle against our flesh

“Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”
‭‭John‬ ‭8:31-32‬ ‭KJV‬‬

remember what Paul was saying ?

“Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.”

the doctrine is meant to change our mind from not knowing about God as if he’s mysteriously hidden on heaven ….to knowing him intimately and personally as we could a fellow person who came and walked among us as one of us to teach us the truth about God

“And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.”
‭‭1 John‬ ‭5:20‬ ‭KJV‬‬

This part here brother is what I’m talking about we need this part to be showered over the church

if so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus:

that ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;

and be renewed in the spirit of your mind;

and that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.”
‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭4:21-24‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Our mind and thinking has to change first before we can really change . That’s why we need to hear and learn about God and also ourselves from Jesus in the gospel. If I first believe Jesus is the son of God who died and rose for me then if I hear what he’s telling me about God and salvation eternal Life ect then I have a reason to really believe what he’s saying because I love him he gave his life to save mine and promises he can save me forever if I listen to him and believe

what Gods word really says and teaches is how the things he promises come to pass is my point. We need to repent and when we fail and Find out we’ve sinned again we need to pray about it confess and acknolwedge it talk to the lord ask him to help us overcome ect it doesn’t mean we’re sinless and perfect but we need to hear the doctrine of Jesus Christ before anything because itnisnt “ thou shalt not this and thou shalt not that !”

its so much better and such a light and easy burden
 
Oct 19, 2024
4,883
1,055
113
USA-TX
#49
You misunderstand it is the deeper bond and love I seek the experiences are secondary but to me he is as real as any other person and it is not a rare occurance for me at least it happens all the time albiet sometimes not so often but rare? bo. when I asked him one day why he told me because you sought after me with a passionate hunger, I am not discounting God's word what I am saying is that there is a kind of relationship we can have with him where it doesn't have to be rare if one would only seek it
not just experiences but a very deep and intimate relationship one where his voice is clear as day his truth is not hidden the scriptures are wide open granted it still takes time but it is more than just experiences which you seem to think is what I am fixated on but it is the bond I am talking about
But you talk about Jesus being real most of the time in one sentence and then carp about it being too rare in the next,
so my concern is that you be content and stand firm in faith and LGW whether you bond more deeply or not. Beware lest you
believe for awhile because of the miracle you experienced and then as your memory begins to fade you revert to former doubt—necessitating an endless string of miracles (recapitulating the story of the Israelites on the way to Canaan after the exodus from Egypt).

For reasons we may understand only sufficiently rather than completely, God designed reality so that experiencing His presence is less than compelling, so that even Jesus (God the Son) on the cross cried out “My God [the Father], why have you forsaken [taken God the Spirit from] me?” (MT 27:46, PS 51:11) This phenomenon is sometimes called “distanciation”, because we experience God as distant from us and “unknown” (ACTS 17:23), even though He is close or immanent, “for in Him we live and move and have our being” (ACTS 17:28). Two unusual theophanies included when God appeared to Moses (in a burning bush per EX 3:2-6), whom God wanted to establish the Jewish lineage for the Messiah (OT), and to Saul/Paul (as the resurrected Jesus in ACTS 9:3-6), whom God chose to establish the NT church of Christ. Miracles like you experienced are rare (not normative).
 

Mem

Senior Member
Sep 23, 2014
7,745
2,370
113
#50
I know I have a friend that sticks closer than a brother. For all the fake friends who'd sooner criticize me for wanting to punch someone square in the nose, my friend sees why but doesn't encourage me in doing that. Rather, He discourages the 'unsettling,' often with humor 'it just isn't right to hit a handicapped person.'
I was driving on an icy road, going by the policy that suggests you should reduce your speed when driving under hazardous conditions when I saw two cars coming up quickly upon me. They were driving at the same speed and were in tandem, one in each lane, like skiers being pulled by the same boat, so I really couldn't pull into either lane to let the other pass. The result sent me skidding first into the berm guardrail and then against the center wall, while spinning somewhere within the order, until the point that I threw up my hands and just laid myself down on the bench seat and let God take it from there. And my car came to rest, perfectly parked in the berm, and everything was still.
 

Webers.Home

Well-known member
May 28, 2018
6,068
1,099
113
Oregon
#51
.
Rom 8:9 . . If anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not
belong to Christ.

While reading that verse back around 1972, it occurred to me that if my
body really was hosting something as amazing as Christ's spirit, then I
should somehow be aware of it.

When I shared my concern with a trusted pastor, he pointed out that it's
futile to look for empirical evidence of the Spirit's presence in my body
because God's spirit is supernatural; viz: it cannot be detected by either our
five nature senses nor by scientific instruments like X-rays, CatScans, or
MRIs, etc. So then, how are Christians supposed to "know" the Spirit is
inside their bodies? Only by the Bible saying so.

* Christianity is oftentimes thought of as just another collection of strict
rules regulating one's religious beliefs and practices. But there's also a
dynamic to it.

Take for example men infected with hatred for women, and women infected
with hatred for men, i.e. misogyny and misandry.

Those are serious conditions because they're an impediment to harmony
between the sexes; and folks infected with those conditions suffer from inner
conflicts, i.e. they do not enjoy life to the fullest and their peace of mind is
usually greatly diminished too.

There are psychiatric treatments available for helping folks with those
conditions to cope, but it would be much better if they were cured-- which is
a real-life possibility with Christianity because it's connected to a real-life
higher power.

Prior to my wife's conversion, she was a feminist. But you'd never guess it
because Christianity has been remarkably thorough in breaking that
movement's hold on her thinking and on the way she associated with men.

I myself was a hard-core misogynist prior to my conversion and was
convinced I could never be happy with any woman. But 45+ years of
marriage to the former feminist girl I live with has proven me mistaken, viz:
we've both benefited tremendously from Christianity, most especially from
Rom 8:11 which says:

"If the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, He who
raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through
His spirit, who lives in you."

Now; that passage may seem to be talking about characteristics pertaining
to the resurrected body, but I'm convinced from personal experience that it
actually pertains to the body we have now because our body contains our
brain, which is where our emotional health is centered.

2Cor 4:16 . .Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are
being renewed day by day.

So then Christians who start out in a deplorable spiritual condition like I did
really ought to be experiencing improvements from time to time. Maybe they
themselves won't notice, but others who've known them for an extended
period should very definitely be impressed. Well; if not impressed then at
least curious. For example:

Back in the 20th century, I worked nearly thirteen years in a boatyard
located on Shelter Island San Diego. After about ten years there-- and by
then well known thereabouts as a woman-hating loner --I realized that my
strong dislike for women had softened and I was wanting to be a daddy. So I
bought some decent clothes, repainted my car, joined a large church
sponsored single's group, and started looking for a spouse.

Well; the boatyard supervisor became very curious about my attitude
adjustment and wanted to know what brought this on. Was it due to my own
initiative? I replied that people were praying for me. Well; that was true, but
it wasn't the whole truth. He was also seeing some of the results of Rom
8:11 but I couldn't tell him that because he was a pragmatic man and could
never be expected to buy into a supernatural explanation.

Now; the thing is: I know for myself, from the Bible and from personal experience,
that my body hosts Gods spirit, but I cannot know for yourself whether your body
hosts God's spirit. That's something each believer has to be confident about for their
own selves. (2Cor 13:5)
_
 

Blain

The Word Weaver
Aug 28, 2012
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#52
But you talk about Jesus being real most of the time in one sentence and then carp about it being too rare in the next,
so my concern is that you be content and stand firm in faith and LGW whether you bond more deeply or not. Beware lest you
believe for awhile because of the miracle you experienced and then as your memory begins to fade you revert to former doubt—necessitating an endless string of miracles (recapitulating the story of the Israelites on the way to Canaan after the exodus from Egypt).

For reasons we may understand only sufficiently rather than completely, God designed reality so that experiencing His presence is less than compelling, so that even Jesus (God the Son) on the cross cried out “My God [the Father], why have you forsaken [taken God the Spirit from] me?” (MT 27:46, PS 51:11) This phenomenon is sometimes called “distanciation”, because we experience God as distant from us and “unknown” (ACTS 17:23), even though He is close or immanent, “for in Him we live and move and have our being” (ACTS 17:28). Two unusual theophanies included when God appeared to Moses (in a burning bush per EX 3:2-6), whom God wanted to establish the Jewish lineage for the Messiah (OT), and to Saul/Paul (as the resurrected Jesus in ACTS 9:3-6), whom God chose to establish the NT church of Christ. Miracles like you experienced are rare (not normative).
I am not worried about when it becomes rare or even goes into a dry season if my relationship with him was that flimsy then it wouldn't be a true relationship. no when it comes to that and I go through a dry season my love for him exceeds that even in the dry seasons I am always talking with him always seeking him
I understand you want me to be content but being content with him is one thing not seeking him daily is another
 

PaulThomson

Well-known member
Oct 29, 2023
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#53
Yes it is a blessing to have a place like this to communicate with other believers, it is also a fantastic field to plant the seeds of the kingdom
I would love to recieve the laying of hands but sadly in the nursing home I live in there is no way for me to go to church much less a spirit filled one to recieve that blessing
Are you the only Christian in your nursing home? Also, I would recommend the teaching of Andrew Wommack, if you feel a need for some kind of healing. I can agree with 95% of His teaching. You can receive healing for yourself through the Holy Spirit in you, without the laying on of others' hands, if you have the appropriate understanding of how the spiritual gifts work.
 

Blain

The Word Weaver
Aug 28, 2012
20,961
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#54
Are you the only Christian in your nursing home? Also, I would recommend the teaching of Andrew Wommack, if you feel a need for some kind of healing. I can agree with 95% of His teaching. You can receive healing for yourself through the Holy Spirit in you, without the laying on of others' hands, if you have the appropriate understanding of how the spiritual gifts work.
I am not the only Christian but I am the only one who actively speaks about God and tries to inspire others around me we have what I call sleeping believers and not many of them at that very few Christians here but none of them use their gifts they have been given

And I will check him out it sounds interesting, even if I don't receieve healing I still am very much fascinated with the things of the spirit
 
Jul 3, 2015
63,905
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#55
I am not the only Christian but I am the only one who actively speaks about God and tries to inspire others around me we have what I call sleeping believers and not many of them at that very few Christians here but none of them use their gifts they have been given

And I will check him out it sounds interesting, even if I don't receieve healing I still am very much fascinated with the things of the spirit
Womack is considered a false teacher by those who do not agree with the WOF movement.
And if you pray for healing and it does not happen, it is your fault according to him.
See
this page (<= link) for clarification.
 

Blain

The Word Weaver
Aug 28, 2012
20,961
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#56
Womack is considered a false teacher by those who do not agree with the WOF movement.
And if you pray for healing and it does not happen, it is your fault according to him.
See
this page (<= link) for clarification.
Oh dear.... one of those is he? while I do think there is some merit to wof to say it is the persons fault is simply false
 

TMS

Senior Member
Mar 21, 2015
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Australia
#57
Simple question how does one know they have the holy spirit?
Gal 5:16-17
16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. 17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.

Gal 5:19-24
19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, 20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, 21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. 24 And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.

Rom 8:4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
 

PaulThomson

Well-known member
Oct 29, 2023
4,658
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#58
I am not the only Christian but I am the only one who actively speaks about God and tries to inspire others around me we have what I call sleeping believers and not many of them at that very few Christians here but none of them use their gifts they have been given

And I will check him out it sounds interesting, even if I don't receieve healing I still am very much fascinated with the things of the spirit
I have received healing from Jesus without the laying on of hands by applying the scriptural principles Andrew highlights. From pericarditis and lung infection through a blood clot moving to the lung in 2020. From a liver abscess in 2023. And from a broken neck froma car accident last November 2024.
 

Blain

The Word Weaver
Aug 28, 2012
20,961
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#59
I have received healing from Jesus without the laying on of hands by applying the scriptural principles Andrew highlights. From pericarditis and lung infection through a blood clot moving to the lung in 2020. From a liver abscess in 2023. And from a broken neck froma car accident last November 2024.
Wow that is amazing to hear I am so happy for you, but what if I don't receive it? is it true he teaches it is my fault?
 

PaulThomson

Well-known member
Oct 29, 2023
4,658
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#60
Wow that is amazing to hear I am so happy for you, but what if I don't receive it? is it true he teaches it is my fault?
Not receiving an instant manifestation of healing is not your fault. There are factors that work against our faith. But there are things we do that interfere with our own faith and delay healing manifesting; and if healing is delayed long enough we can stop believing for it if we don't know how to deal with the obstacles. God equips us, but we have to use what He has given us. He is not going to do it all for us.