If Jesus Joined This Forum . . .

I like that last thought of yours that "the word is the vehicle for the spirit." The Holy Spirit doesn't impose or override our own spirit and life as a unique human being. It works in partnership with us to wash away our sinful nature and replace it with the nature of Christ. We have a responsibility to stir up the gift of the Holy Spirit within us (II Tim. 1: 6-7) by consuming God's Word, the Holy Bible and the Word (Jesus Christ). We can't just sit back and expect transformation to happen without doing our part in the process.

And you're right - we can reject the Holy Spirit or just cause Him to be inactive or dormant in our lives through own free will choice. God will never force us to choose life, and His way of life is not for everyone.

We need to allow the Word of God to shine the spotlight on our sinfulness, seek forgiveness and repentance, and allow the power of God within us to transform our thoughts and hearts. That's what true life is all about: the Holy Spirit unites with our spirit to produce the fruits of God's character (love, joy, peace...).

I think where we struggle, at least where I struggle, is our relationship with Jesus is unlike any other relationship we have in our lives. He is not physically here talking to us, encouraging us, and embracing us like He did when He was in the flesh with the original disciples. It is a spiritual relationship because "God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth" (John 4:24) as you noted in your posting.

We commune with God in the spiritual realm by the power of His Spirit living within us. The Comforter is there to help us absorb the Word of God that yields faith in our hearts and minds to believe and obey our Lord and Savior. He will answer all our prayers and questions in due time, and we can have an interactive conversation with Him at all times in our hearts and minds. As we take in more of God's Word and really allow it to change us, we become more At-One with Christ Jesus - it's a relationship completely different from any other we experience in this life.

I tend to agree with this line of thought.

Wonderful truth brother think in all the Bible how God does his work with mankind

He creates in his own image and likeness and then blesses Adam and Eve gives them the entire earth as a home to rule and thrive upon where they can fellowship with him but even from the e beginning we see the vehicle he has always and forever used

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”
‭‭John‬ ‭1:1‬ ‭KJV‬‬

in all of creation mankind is who words are for we communicate by words , hear and grasp and understand concepts through words . Convey information in words ect

sire animals can indersrsnd us on some level but not like humans and God use and rewuire words to communicate we are uniquely designed to operate only by hearing the lord trusting him and following after his voice knowing it’s the truth

this is and has always been our life when we refuse his word we surely die this also has always been

“And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.”
‭‭Genesis‬ ‭2:16-17‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Thisnword is meant to keep him safe because he’s designed to just trust what he’s been told by God if he does he would. Ever eat the fruit it’s certain death God said but there’s always a deception which follows his word

“And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: for God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.

And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.

( thier perception of God changes instantly )

And they heard the voice of the LORD God ( still the word they are hearing ) walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden. And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou? And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself.”
‭‭Genesis‬ ‭3:4-6, 8-10‬ ‭KJV‬‬

remember just before this

“And out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field, and every fowl of the air; and brought them unto Adam to see what he would call them: and whatsoever Adam called every living creature, that was the name thereof.( he gave Adam dominion you can see his agency here god is operating creation through Adam and his will being in fellowship with God teaching man but letting man rule his kingdom as well guiding them if only they would heed him )

And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed.”
‭‭Genesis‬ ‭2:19, 25‬ ‭KJV‬‬

now all the sudden they are ashamed and afraid of gods presence. god has just blessed them and given the dominion to rule came and fellowshipped with them

It’s always been the same from Eden to the law to the gospel of we will hear what the lord is telling us will save our lives it really will it’s just hard for us to accept what he’s saying it’s always been an issue since he told Adam about the forbidden fruit

he hears it but then another option comes along more liberal but the trick is whatever God said is the one sure outcome

for us we find it here in what he’s said to all of us

“And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.

He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved;

but he that believeth not shall be damned.”
‭‭Mark‬ ‭16:15-16‬ ‭KJV‬‬

adam he told about the fruit , israel he told about good and evil sin and death blessing and cursing the gospel he’s told everyone his words of eternal life and he has shouted from the ends of the world proclaiming “ hear me and believe and live “

“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.”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭4:4‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Its the source of mans life and his mouth has spoken we can eat from the tree of life again now all through the hearing of faith

“Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.”
‭‭John‬ ‭5:24‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Jesus is on this forum he is in all of you, his power on this forum you join chat abd he joins you power in numbers

Amen. If we ever wonder why this world is a mess, we just need to go back to the beginning of the story. It is amazing how their perception of God changed instantly when they made the choice to disobey under the deception and influence of the devil. We are still making that foolish choice as a race ~6000 years later.

"...The carnal mind is enmity against God" (Rom. 8:7), and that all began when Adam and Eve tasted the forbidden fruit. It's no wonder the tree of life was immediately removed as an option in the garden - can you imagine being in that state of mind forever like Satan and his demons?

indeed that’s always been my conclusion he would have made an eternal of this for mankind

“And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.”
‭‭Genesis‬ ‭6:5‬ ‭KJV‬‬

imagine murder and violence and war and death and rape and abuse and violations of all sorts and kinds every evil ever known to mankind forever and ever victims and injustice always…..I don’t think that’s paradise more like hell on earth really satans playground

“And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness.”
‭‭1 John‬ ‭5:19‬ ‭KJV‬‬

“For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof:

but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.”
‭‭1 John‬ ‭2:16-17‬ ‭KJV‬‬

in Christ we have been empowered and equipped to stand firm and resist

“Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.

Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.

Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.”
‭‭1 Peter‬ ‭5:5-9‬ ‭

“Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. …Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.”
‭‭James‬ ‭4:7-8, 10‬ ‭KJV‬‬

“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.

Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; and your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.

And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit,

and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;”
‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭6:10-18‬ ‭

Yes and no. Just because I am here ..yet its not "here" is it. I never went any where. This is not place. Well one could flip it so is there doubt here is there confusion here? Ooh yes yet He is never part of that. We have Him in us and yet can be part of something He is not part of. We do love showing off.. making sure others see and understand that we know something they need to hear.