Experience God's presence
- Thread starter Churchgoer
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I've just always tried to look past those barriers people put between us. So my understanding of denominations are limited.
And my experience, it didn't just happen once, it's been ongoing for 38 years.
I believe both are to be true. The deeper and more intimate manifestations are those that are spiritually discerned.
Having the experience, and discerning the experience, I kind of see as two separate things.
Sure, but that's not my emphasis. Anyone, believer or unbeliever, can discern with physical senses. Everyone present at Pentecost knew something was going on. Many misinterpreted what that was, but all knew something was transpiring. My concern wasn't to differentiate between experience and discernment, but between what is physically discerned and spiritually discerned.
OK, I got ya.
It would just be my understanding that if a Christian has a spiritual experience with Christ, the discernment would be an inevitable accompaniment of that experience.
As for a physical feeling I think that would be part of it also.
Let's try this way:
Jesus said that when 2 or 3 are gathered in His name, one can know Jesus is present because the word of God true. One can also know Christ is present if God performed a miracle. One could also know of His presence if God gave an internal witness. Each case is a different experience with different discernment.
I assume we have all had that honeymoon experience when His Spirit first comes to reside in us. But for me something else happened. Something that has been with me for the entire salvation journey. I strongly think that should happen to everyone who responds in faith correctly. I understand it to be the mind of Christ.
To me the journey happened in the beginning years, from the first day I accepted Jesus, till now, I am more aware God's presence every day, and carefully listening to Him.
Which means I am cautiously anticipating what God will bring each day.
Which means I am cautiously anticipating what God will bring each day.
A connection like an electrical circuit.
When Gods word talks about praying without ceasing, that is a reference to having the mind of Christ. We don't have to make intentional prayers or petitions, the connection makes us one with Him, continually. You want to think about Him 24/7, and it seems like you do.
And then there is the other part, what it feels like while it's happening.
Gods word doesn't reference the mind of Christ much or at all really . So when it happens, you know it's something special. To talk about it has some serious repercussions for those who have yet to receive it. I didn't tell anyone about it for over 30 years. I was sure i shouldn't talk about it, because it's really not mine to give. I finally told my wife and a couple of my children when I thought i might be graduating early. And just recently i shared it with a few others, because I know I'm getting close to graduating.
I think anyone who responds to the call of the Father by a continually surrendered life ( NT faith) will have this same experience.