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B
So after sleeping on it... I don't think I am especially qualified to instruct in this area... I will try my best.
Original question by abiding- Can you explain how to "walk in the Spirit?"
Romans 8 (NIV) 1 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, 2 because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death. 3 For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering[a]. And so he condemned sin in the flesh, 4 in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.
5 Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. 6 The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. 7 The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so.[c] 8 Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God.
9 You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you[d]. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ. 10 But if Christ is in you, then even though your body is subject to death because of sin, the Spirit gives life because of righteousness. 11 And 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 because of his Spirit who lives in you.
12 Therefore, brothers and sisters, we have an obligation [e]—but it is not to the flesh, to live according to it[f]. 13 For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live.
14 For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. 15 The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” 16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. 17 Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.
[a]The synoptic gospels record the site of Jesus' crucifixion either by the Aramaic name “Golgotha” (place of the skull: Mark 15:22; Matthew 27:33; Luke 19:17) or just as “Skull” (Luke 23:33).
The SKULL? As where our brain or MIND resides?
The Greek word translated "mind" in the above verse is the word "phroneo," and it means: "to exercise the mind or to think." Isn't that interesting? Plugging this definition into our scripture we get to walk after the Spirit is to exercise the mind in, or think the things of the Spirit.
[c] these verses seem to say quite plainly to me... any area of thinking in my life... that is not in align with God's principals... is flesh.I reason the only way I can learn those pricipals is to STUDY the bible and be willing to "reposition" my thoughts in accordance with God's.
[d] this informs me The Holy Spirit resides in me... there for the "voice" is inward... not from outside myself.
[e] an obligation!... this sorta sounds like "work"... but rather means, our participation/action/choice/decision/ intentional yielding is required to walk in the spirit or by the Holy Spirit. Now here is a distinction I am making cautiously, not for argument, but to perhaps help certain types of thinkers. There is the HOLY SPIRIT and there is the SPIRIT... the first is a person of the trinity the second is as in "the spirit of the law" not being a mysterious entity but the original premise/intent/or principal of the law. I hope that is helpful?
[f] some readers become confused by"the flesh", as in how does a person not walk according to the dictates of my "God-designed biological mass referred here to as "flesh and bone", Rather the word "flesh" is indicating the "dictates of the world". I don't want to come off as lofty... but it helps me to think in terms of "realms" when measuring my own thoughts and action ie., "what realm am i thinking in?"
Is this okay???
Original question by abiding- Can you explain how to "walk in the Spirit?"
Romans 8 (NIV) 1 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, 2 because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death. 3 For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering[a]. And so he condemned sin in the flesh, 4 in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.
5 Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. 6 The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. 7 The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so.[c] 8 Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God.
9 You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you[d]. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ. 10 But if Christ is in you, then even though your body is subject to death because of sin, the Spirit gives life because of righteousness. 11 And 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 because of his Spirit who lives in you.
12 Therefore, brothers and sisters, we have an obligation [e]—but it is not to the flesh, to live according to it[f]. 13 For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live.
14 For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. 15 The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” 16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. 17 Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.
[a]The synoptic gospels record the site of Jesus' crucifixion either by the Aramaic name “Golgotha” (place of the skull: Mark 15:22; Matthew 27:33; Luke 19:17) or just as “Skull” (Luke 23:33).
The SKULL? As where our brain or MIND resides?
The Greek word translated "mind" in the above verse is the word "phroneo," and it means: "to exercise the mind or to think." Isn't that interesting? Plugging this definition into our scripture we get to walk after the Spirit is to exercise the mind in, or think the things of the Spirit.
[c] these verses seem to say quite plainly to me... any area of thinking in my life... that is not in align with God's principals... is flesh.I reason the only way I can learn those pricipals is to STUDY the bible and be willing to "reposition" my thoughts in accordance with God's.
[d] this informs me The Holy Spirit resides in me... there for the "voice" is inward... not from outside myself.
[e] an obligation!... this sorta sounds like "work"... but rather means, our participation/action/choice/decision/ intentional yielding is required to walk in the spirit or by the Holy Spirit. Now here is a distinction I am making cautiously, not for argument, but to perhaps help certain types of thinkers. There is the HOLY SPIRIT and there is the SPIRIT... the first is a person of the trinity the second is as in "the spirit of the law" not being a mysterious entity but the original premise/intent/or principal of the law. I hope that is helpful?
[f] some readers become confused by"the flesh", as in how does a person not walk according to the dictates of my "God-designed biological mass referred here to as "flesh and bone", Rather the word "flesh" is indicating the "dictates of the world". I don't want to come off as lofty... but it helps me to think in terms of "realms" when measuring my own thoughts and action ie., "what realm am i thinking in?"
Is this okay???
A
Ok then "walking in the spirit" so i dont sin is like:
David in Ps 119:11 I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.
John 6:63 It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.
walking with Jesus words=walking in the Spirit.
I think i understand ty
...
T
My own personal experience, the closer I walk with the Lord, the more time I spend in His company, the more I loose interest in sin. There are periods of my life I have walked so close that even BEFORE I have gone to say something that is wrong the Holy Spirit convicts me before i open my mouth.He giudes even my speech. In all 4 gospels it says that Jesus will baptised with the Holy Spirit and with fire.......the fire is the cleansing convicting work of the Holy spirit. We cannot even begin to think we can master sin without Him. Everything else is just modifying behaviour in our own strength. We need Him, He is life itself and sin leads to death. To destroy sin (death) we have no option but to allow the life of Christ to flow through us like streams of living water. That is something far more and far deeper than just quoting a few scriptures.
A
My own personal experience,..........................That is something far more and far deeper than just quoting a few scriptures.
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4 Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.
2 And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred.
3 And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.
4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.
5 Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple,
6 And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.
7 Jesus said unto him, It is written, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.
8 Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them;
9 And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me.
10 Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.
Then Jesus went off teaching and using scripture.
John 15:
3 Now ye are clean through the word i have spoken to you..
4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.
5 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.
7 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.
Sorry someone told me to find verses, another told me to renew my mind to verses
And Jesus used verses and did nothing "far more and far deeper" than quoted a few verses.
But thank you anyway for giving your far more and far deep experience.
Ill stick to the basics for now. Unless you can explain what you mean by close to Him
in understandable terms, and yet not deep or far more....than i can understand.
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4 Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.
2 And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred.
3 And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.
4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.
5 Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple,
6 And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.
7 Jesus said unto him, It is written, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.
8 Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them;
9 And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me.
10 Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.
Then Jesus went off teaching and using scripture.
John 15:
3 Now ye are clean through the word i have spoken to you..
4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.
5 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.
7 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.
Sorry someone told me to find verses, another told me to renew my mind to verses
And Jesus used verses and did nothing "far more and far deeper" than quoted a few verses.
But thank you anyway for giving your far more and far deep experience.
Ill stick to the basics for now. Unless you can explain what you mean by close to Him
in understandable terms, and yet not deep or far more....than i can understand.
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How did you first come to The Lord Jesus and lay down your burdens before Him? Was it by reading the bible? Was it by prayer?
I came to the Lord through prayer. I'm not sure if there is any other way. I first read the bible a lot and didn't think prayer was important. I thought He is God He knows everything anyway I don't want to bother Him... But prayer helps me. The Lord says you have not because you ask not. This is in direct reference to prayer.
When I come before the Lord I tell Him about the things I am struggling with and I ask Him for help. Then I go about my day expecting to recieve help from the Lord. If I fail in what I struggle with during the day, I go back to the Lord and let Him know that I am still struggling and I don't want to fail anymore. I keep going back and I keep going back in prayer, until pretty soon the thing that I am struggling with is not a struggle anymore, or at least something I can overcome with much less effort.
Things still sneak up on me. I think in my own mind that I have overcome some particular sin and the next thing I know I have stumbled. I shake myself off and wonder "what was that? I thought I defeated that already?". I suppose that may be a form of spiritual pride. Thinking that you have arrived to perfection in a certain area. It may be easier for me to resist a particular temptation but I don't pretend anymore that it is no longer a temptation at all.
The point to this long winded explanation is the way you have come to the Lord to begin with, to have your sins forgiven, is the same way you have your sins forgiven when you stumble. You laid your burdens down before Him once, when we pick up those burdens again we just go back to Him and set them down again.
I came to the Lord through prayer. I'm not sure if there is any other way. I first read the bible a lot and didn't think prayer was important. I thought He is God He knows everything anyway I don't want to bother Him... But prayer helps me. The Lord says you have not because you ask not. This is in direct reference to prayer.
When I come before the Lord I tell Him about the things I am struggling with and I ask Him for help. Then I go about my day expecting to recieve help from the Lord. If I fail in what I struggle with during the day, I go back to the Lord and let Him know that I am still struggling and I don't want to fail anymore. I keep going back and I keep going back in prayer, until pretty soon the thing that I am struggling with is not a struggle anymore, or at least something I can overcome with much less effort.
Things still sneak up on me. I think in my own mind that I have overcome some particular sin and the next thing I know I have stumbled. I shake myself off and wonder "what was that? I thought I defeated that already?". I suppose that may be a form of spiritual pride. Thinking that you have arrived to perfection in a certain area. It may be easier for me to resist a particular temptation but I don't pretend anymore that it is no longer a temptation at all.
The point to this long winded explanation is the way you have come to the Lord to begin with, to have your sins forgiven, is the same way you have your sins forgiven when you stumble. You laid your burdens down before Him once, when we pick up those burdens again we just go back to Him and set them down again.
A
Isnt it sweet Gramps? He only expects us to succeed with Him.
Paul said in his flesh dwelleth no good thing...Jesus said without
Him we can do nothing.
Nope i found out too there is no residual..each day we are dependants
and If He doesnt give it to us we wont have it. Thats why your sooo
right about prayer...and thats why i think Jesus freaked and kicked rears
and said "this is a house of prayer" gives His opinion on the importance of prayer.
Paul said in his flesh dwelleth no good thing...Jesus said without
Him we can do nothing.
Nope i found out too there is no residual..each day we are dependants
and If He doesnt give it to us we wont have it. Thats why your sooo
right about prayer...and thats why i think Jesus freaked and kicked rears
and said "this is a house of prayer" gives His opinion on the importance of prayer.
If I could sum up the most important thing I have learned that has changed my life and given me victory in so many areas it would be this:
Joh 15:5 ...for without me ye can do nothing.
Once I got this everything changed.
Without Jesus I could not:
Walk
Breath
see
live
do good
speak right
confess
have faith
change
be born again
turn from sin
think right
etc
Nothing means just exactly that, "nothing" once I got that, Jesus became my everything.
Joh 15:5 ...for without me ye can do nothing.
Once I got this everything changed.
Without Jesus I could not:
Walk
Breath
see
live
do good
speak right
confess
have faith
change
be born again
turn from sin
think right
etc
Nothing means just exactly that, "nothing" once I got that, Jesus became my everything.
A
Yes i looked it up in the greek and it meant nothing....
I was soo relieved too
I thought hmmm no wonder...haha, nothing worked.
Imagine that, that its all about Jesus...yet i was surprised
but thankful that God taught me that at a moment even tho i think
i may have read it a few hundred times before.
I was soo relieved too
I thought hmmm no wonder...haha, nothing worked.
Imagine that, that its all about Jesus...yet i was surprised
but thankful that God taught me that at a moment even tho i think
i may have read it a few hundred times before.
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I know exactly what you mean. We for some silly reason want to have to do something even though we can't do anything anyway.
But realizing we can do nothing was the first time I felt real peace. The worst part is I am 31 and I only just got it this year.
My advice is to any who have not really got that peace. meditate on what can't do nothing means. It will save you years of stuff ups and heartache.
But realizing we can do nothing was the first time I felt real peace. The worst part is I am 31 and I only just got it this year.
My advice is to any who have not really got that peace. meditate on what can't do nothing means. It will save you years of stuff ups and heartache.
A
Well please never forget that...i hear so many Christians who took many years to
learn things...and im not so sure the Father wanted us to learn maturity till we walked
with Him for awhile. Having had the time to grow in grace and knowledge.
My point is then when a new sheepy complains or asks questions or is having a tough go of it
they are given glib remarks like
just walk in the spirit like me...i just float through the air with Jesus...arrrggg
or some other cliche thats about as clear as mud to the person. Opps im starting a rant.
My point is we need to help them as the child they are and show them over and over......
Or be quiet.
...
.
learn things...and im not so sure the Father wanted us to learn maturity till we walked
with Him for awhile. Having had the time to grow in grace and knowledge.
My point is then when a new sheepy complains or asks questions or is having a tough go of it
they are given glib remarks like
just walk in the spirit like me...i just float through the air with Jesus...arrrggg
or some other cliche thats about as clear as mud to the person. Opps im starting a rant.
My point is we need to help them as the child they are and show them over and over......
Or be quiet.
...
.
Grandpa, I came to the Lord Jesus as God said ALL come to Jesus.... If the Father does not DRAW you, you cannot come to Jesus. Even before you pray or read your Bible, God ignited something in you to do the pray or read the Bible.
I have seen this at work. In me and EVERY person that started to read the Bible or pray, or go to church AFTER our meeting. I will use scripture to prove every statement I make and this is the ONLY way we ALL started to look at God for salvation.
We will take "Petrus" a ex-gangleader in Zamdella squatter-camp as example. The first thing that EVER happened happened even before the earth was made, was when God HIMSELF wrote the name Petrus Matabane in the book of life. Then many years after Jesus Christ was taken up to heaven, a young boy was born in South Africa.
This boy grew up in a lot of iniquity. Rape, murder, theft, hateful fightings, parent fightings, very evil children, and just very evil surroundings was this young boy's everyday experience. This young man started dealing drugs and at teh age of 21 he was the MAIN MACK, in the whole township of Zamdella. He himself was now the drug-lord in the town and the gangleader.
Then one night some white teenagers and a few grown-ups came to his terretory and set up a film projector, screen and sound equipment to show a film on the local soccer field. He was not pleased at all and decided to come that night and confront this uninvited crew. Little did he know that God had selected him to be a pastor with Campus Cruisade one day.
So that evening he came and he cought some of the Jesus-film. After the film he walked up to two teenage girl and asked them if they believe in Jesus. They answered some of his questions, and then I walked close and join the little group. Two teenage girls and Petrus and his second in charge... Petrus asked me.... If God is so loving and holy why is there so much violance and hate in the world... I did not have and answer, but I heard this come from my mouth.... Because we do not pray together..... I was stunned at teh answer. and He asked... So you say if you and I pray together, then there will be peace in this township? Then I heard myself say.... Petrus, I know Nelson Mandella said we are one nation and all brother's but my brother's are my brother's because we have the SAME HEAVENLY FATHER. And our FIRST Brother was this Man that you saw in the film tonight.
I saw two joints (Dagga-joints) grass weed maruwana... in his top pocket. It was rolled in Bible pages.... It was very dark and I do not know how I could see it but I saw the joints roled with Bible pages and I heard myself say.... Petrus my Father says you must read the next page in that Bible that you use for your joints. He said OK they were going to leave now, but he will see us again at the tent where Campus Cruisade set up a tent for a week-long church.
The next morning I got a call from the head Pastor of the outreach, and he said Petrus was there at the tent, and he asks if I can get him a new Bible. He asked to meet with me the next evening and if I could bring the Bible it would be cool. So me and one of the teenage girls went through again the next evening, to find that Petrus was stuck in a civil contract out on the farms. We left the Bible for him and went back home.
We often were in touch with the head Pastor at Campus Crusade and heard that Petrus is only busy with one thing. HE IS EATING EVERY WORD GOD GIVES HIM IN HIS NEW BIBLE. Petrus forced his whole gang to go to church with him. The main source of terror was now preaching Jesus Christ to the people of Zamdella. Very much like Paul's history is it not.
Two years later I was at my desk and my phone rang.... I Never saw Petrus again after that night we met.... So I heard.... Hallo Cobus, it is me Petrus, Campus Cruisade is paying my college fees at the Bible School, I am going to become a Pastor. Isn't God great?...
And that is how I saw how God touch lives. A young man comes to a Jesus-film to show his gang how touch he is and how HE IS THE KING of Zamdella, then God touch his heart and he realize that LOVE is WAY STRONGER than any violence. So I just know even our first thought of becoming a child of God was done by God even before the earth was made.
I hope this would inspire many more to follow Petrus's example.
I have seen this at work. In me and EVERY person that started to read the Bible or pray, or go to church AFTER our meeting. I will use scripture to prove every statement I make and this is the ONLY way we ALL started to look at God for salvation.
We will take "Petrus" a ex-gangleader in Zamdella squatter-camp as example. The first thing that EVER happened happened even before the earth was made, was when God HIMSELF wrote the name Petrus Matabane in the book of life. Then many years after Jesus Christ was taken up to heaven, a young boy was born in South Africa.
This boy grew up in a lot of iniquity. Rape, murder, theft, hateful fightings, parent fightings, very evil children, and just very evil surroundings was this young boy's everyday experience. This young man started dealing drugs and at teh age of 21 he was the MAIN MACK, in the whole township of Zamdella. He himself was now the drug-lord in the town and the gangleader.
Then one night some white teenagers and a few grown-ups came to his terretory and set up a film projector, screen and sound equipment to show a film on the local soccer field. He was not pleased at all and decided to come that night and confront this uninvited crew. Little did he know that God had selected him to be a pastor with Campus Cruisade one day.
So that evening he came and he cought some of the Jesus-film. After the film he walked up to two teenage girl and asked them if they believe in Jesus. They answered some of his questions, and then I walked close and join the little group. Two teenage girls and Petrus and his second in charge... Petrus asked me.... If God is so loving and holy why is there so much violance and hate in the world... I did not have and answer, but I heard this come from my mouth.... Because we do not pray together..... I was stunned at teh answer. and He asked... So you say if you and I pray together, then there will be peace in this township? Then I heard myself say.... Petrus, I know Nelson Mandella said we are one nation and all brother's but my brother's are my brother's because we have the SAME HEAVENLY FATHER. And our FIRST Brother was this Man that you saw in the film tonight.
I saw two joints (Dagga-joints) grass weed maruwana... in his top pocket. It was rolled in Bible pages.... It was very dark and I do not know how I could see it but I saw the joints roled with Bible pages and I heard myself say.... Petrus my Father says you must read the next page in that Bible that you use for your joints. He said OK they were going to leave now, but he will see us again at the tent where Campus Cruisade set up a tent for a week-long church.
The next morning I got a call from the head Pastor of the outreach, and he said Petrus was there at the tent, and he asks if I can get him a new Bible. He asked to meet with me the next evening and if I could bring the Bible it would be cool. So me and one of the teenage girls went through again the next evening, to find that Petrus was stuck in a civil contract out on the farms. We left the Bible for him and went back home.
We often were in touch with the head Pastor at Campus Crusade and heard that Petrus is only busy with one thing. HE IS EATING EVERY WORD GOD GIVES HIM IN HIS NEW BIBLE. Petrus forced his whole gang to go to church with him. The main source of terror was now preaching Jesus Christ to the people of Zamdella. Very much like Paul's history is it not.
Two years later I was at my desk and my phone rang.... I Never saw Petrus again after that night we met.... So I heard.... Hallo Cobus, it is me Petrus, Campus Cruisade is paying my college fees at the Bible School, I am going to become a Pastor. Isn't God great?...
And that is how I saw how God touch lives. A young man comes to a Jesus-film to show his gang how touch he is and how HE IS THE KING of Zamdella, then God touch his heart and he realize that LOVE is WAY STRONGER than any violence. So I just know even our first thought of becoming a child of God was done by God even before the earth was made.
I hope this would inspire many more to follow Petrus's example.
P
What a wonderful story!
Cobus...I wanted to share that it was through Campus Crusade for Christ,
in chatting with two young woman one afternoon in town
that the Lord made me know I had been born again,
and that He had firmly established His covenant with me.
I do not know those women, but they are my sisters, and my "mothers". ♥
And that organization will always hold a dear and precious place in my heart,
full of love and gratitude toward them for their work in the Lord Jesus.
-ellie
Cobus...I wanted to share that it was through Campus Crusade for Christ,
in chatting with two young woman one afternoon in town
that the Lord made me know I had been born again,
and that He had firmly established His covenant with me.
I do not know those women, but they are my sisters, and my "mothers". ♥
And that organization will always hold a dear and precious place in my heart,
full of love and gratitude toward them for their work in the Lord Jesus.
-ellie
Just to continue on and add to what I have posted and what BarlyGurl posted about walking in the spirit...
When I first started praying to the Lord I thought I had to close all the doors and get into my quiet place. I thought I had to prepare myself mentally to quiet my mind... etc...
Then later I realized I could pray to Him any time, any where. It didn't have to be only in my prayer room. The prayer room is still important, but now I can walk with the Lord all day.
Romans 12:12 Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;
I think that is what is meant by abiding in Christ. When our focus is on the Lord we immerse ourselves in Him, in His word. The more we pray and the more He answers those prayers the more faith we have in Him. The more we read His word in the bible and pray for wisdom and knowledge and discernment the more we get to know His Love for Us.
p.s. I also had that moment with the Lord where He taught me that it wasn't about all the things I was trying to make Him do, it was just about abiding in Him and He causes the fruit to grow..
Matthew 6:27-28
27 Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?
28 And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:
When I first started praying to the Lord I thought I had to close all the doors and get into my quiet place. I thought I had to prepare myself mentally to quiet my mind... etc...
Then later I realized I could pray to Him any time, any where. It didn't have to be only in my prayer room. The prayer room is still important, but now I can walk with the Lord all day.
Romans 12:12 Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;
I think that is what is meant by abiding in Christ. When our focus is on the Lord we immerse ourselves in Him, in His word. The more we pray and the more He answers those prayers the more faith we have in Him. The more we read His word in the bible and pray for wisdom and knowledge and discernment the more we get to know His Love for Us.
p.s. I also had that moment with the Lord where He taught me that it wasn't about all the things I was trying to make Him do, it was just about abiding in Him and He causes the fruit to grow..
Matthew 6:27-28
27 Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?
28 And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:
T
I will try my best to explain in terms that are understandable.
Firstly, Jesus IS the word in its fullest. When Jesus quoted those scriptures at Satan He wasnt just pulling words out of a book, He had FULL understanding of the depth and power of each of those words. In Jeremiah 33 v 3 it says " Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know. The bible itself is the starting point of understanding of who God is and what our relationship with Him is about but when you combine that with Jesus, who is the Word, in a personal day by day relationship it becomes a lot deeper.
As for explaining being close to the Lord.......its prayer, seeking Him, till you know He is with you, talking with you. That comes from submission, a hunger for righteousness, allowing Him to daily search you, convict you, and a willing obedient heart to do what it takes to stay connected to Him without the world getting in the way.
Firstly, Jesus IS the word in its fullest. When Jesus quoted those scriptures at Satan He wasnt just pulling words out of a book, He had FULL understanding of the depth and power of each of those words. In Jeremiah 33 v 3 it says " Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know. The bible itself is the starting point of understanding of who God is and what our relationship with Him is about but when you combine that with Jesus, who is the Word, in a personal day by day relationship it becomes a lot deeper.
As for explaining being close to the Lord.......its prayer, seeking Him, till you know He is with you, talking with you. That comes from submission, a hunger for righteousness, allowing Him to daily search you, convict you, and a willing obedient heart to do what it takes to stay connected to Him without the world getting in the way.