~This side of the 'glass'~
- Thread starter Bingo
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'The Holy Spirit descended over Jesus in a corporeal way, as a dove, at the time of his baptism,
and a voice from Heaven was heard: "This is my beloved Son with whom I am well pleased." He is the
Sanctifier, the Helper, the Comforter, the Giver of graces, who leads persons to the Father and the Son."
'The Holy Spirit is credited with inspiring believers and allowing them to interpret all the sacred scripture,
leading prophets both in the Old and New Testaments. Christians receive the Fruits of the Holy Spirit
utilizing his mercy and grace.
''Only those with God's Spirit can understand the truths revealed by God, including Christ crucified
for human sinfulness. Those without God's Spirit are limited to what can be observed and worked out
with human reason. God's Spirit makes it possible for us to understand and believe spiritual things.'
'Loss of spiritual equilibrium is a state of spiritual distress that can be characterized by feelings
of disharmony, imbalance, or being out of touch with one's spirituality:
Symptoms
'Feelings of anger, hopelessness, depression, anxiety, or questioning the meaning of life.'
Related conditions
'Spiritual burnout can include feelings of emotional exhaustion, cynicism, and detachment from spiritual practices.
Spiritual depression can include feelings of sadness, loss of joy, and a disconnect from spirituality.
Spiritual equilibrium is a feeling of balance and harmony that can be achieved through prayer and contemplation.
When one is in spiritual balance, they may feel complete, free to be themselves, and able to express their
needs without anxiety or fear.'
**'The different portions of the Bible use different literary styles, each of which has its own rules of interpretation. To interpret a historical book, one would interpret history by paying attention to detailed facts and why. To interpret a poetic book, pay close attention to the poetic structure and literary devices such as metaphor and hyperbole that are often found in poetry. This is also important to remember when reading apocalyptic books such as Revelation because of their rich symbolism, which often conveys deep truths in pictures that are not meant to be taken as literal descriptions of events.
Another essential rule for correctly interpreting the Bible is to allow Scripture to interpret Scripture. When one encounters a difficult passage in the Bible, other passages should be used to provide clarity. Being a part of a good Christian fellowship that believes the Bible is the Word of God and seeks to teach all of it will also help learn how to interpret the Bible rightly.'
2 Peter 3:15–16
**( 'Articles in this thread are compiled from various
public domain sources.' Intended solely as informative
and subjects to reflect on )
'Living with integrity means you love the truth with all your heart—more than you love personal
comfort, popularity, or convenience. It means doing what is right simply because it is right.
'You have something precious to share. The gospel of Jesus Christ holds the answers to life’s questions.
It is the way to peace and happiness. You may not know everything, but you know enough to help others
understand and value true, eternal principles.
'You can always have the Spirit with you. The Holy Spirit will bear witness to you of Jesus Christ.
He will comfort, guide, warn, and sanctify you. He will help you recognize the truth and see the good in the world.'
"The Holy Spirit will bear witness to you of Jesus Christ" means that the Holy Spirit will personally
and powerfully confirm the truth of Jesus Christ within your heart, providing an inner conviction and
assurance that Jesus is the Son of God, often through a deep understanding of scripture and a transformation in your life;
essentially, the Holy Spirit is a personal witness to the reality of Jesus within you.'
"So spiritually derailed, that it appears some seem intent on reconstructing
the Divine "readings" to their own worldly desires. This surely is possible when
one has lost sight of how and why the Divine "readings" relate to..." what you see is not what is meant."
https://christianchat.com/threads/this-side-of-the-glass.182929/post-5066465
"Sometimes reflection of truth may help to bring a person back to reality
and away from worldly fantasizing, which accomplishes nothing of lasting worth."
https://christianchat.com/threads/this-side-of-the-glass.182929/post-5233873
"A spiritually conscious life involves living authentically, guided by intuition and higher consciousness,
and striving for greater awareness and peace. It entails aligning one's actions, thoughts, and values with
spiritual principles and awareness."
'This is not meant to be easy, but with a sound commitment, the rewards will surely
come to be known, and one may find life to be on a greater level with the relationship with God's Spirit.
The Holy Spirit is the key to the reality of acquiring a sense of spiritual consciousness.'
"This message encourages the reader to view life's challenges not as roadblocks to spiritual growth,
but as opportunities to test their resilience and deepen their faith, reminding them that with God's strength,
they can either overcome difficulties or utilize them to learn and grow, never letting setbacks completely derail their progress.
Things to ponder:
'Challenges are not meant to stop you: When faced with setbacks, don't see them as obstacles preventing
your spiritual development, but as tests to gauge your strength and determination.
Active response is key: You are encouraged to either actively overcome difficulties or find a way to use them
constructively in your life.
Don't let setbacks define you: No obstacle should be allowed to completely overwhelm or conquer you,
as temporary discouragement is natural but shouldn't lead to lasting defeat.
God's strength is available: This message emphasizes that you are not alone in facing challenges, and God's strength is always accessible to you when needed.
Ways to apply this message:
Perspective shift: When faced with a difficult situation, consciously try to see it as a potential opportunity
for spiritual growth rather than a setback.
Seek positive action: Actively look for ways to either overcome the challenge or learn from it,
taking concrete steps to address the issue.
Prayer and reflection: Engage in prayer or meditation to connect with your faith and draw strength
from God during challenging times.
Resilience mindset: Remind yourself that temporary difficulties are part of life, and with a positive attitude,
you can persevere through them.
( 'Articles in this thread are compiled from various
public domain sources.' Intended solely as informative
and subjects to reflect on. Spiritual maturity and growth
depend on the measure of one's intent.' )
“Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life”
"A necessity everyone needs is a spiritual understanding. Being vacant of this shall lead to
untold foolish worldly notions that invade the heart with thoughts and conduct that are
not compatible with the inspired teachings of Jesus Christ."
**'Ponder this. Can you remember almost exactly the words someone said in your presence on this day last week?
Can you remember the many profound words someone spoke forty years ago, or at best just a paraphrase of them, if at all?
'That is the position the gospel authors would have found themselves in, with Mark’s Gospel written approximately
70 CE, Matthew at least ten years later, then Luke, and finally John. If they could not agree on what Jesus's words
really were or in what context he spoke to them, we can be sure they were guessing—writing what the authors believed
he would have said in the circumstances they were describing.
It may well be that Jesus did not say anything at all, like what came to be attributed to him.'
'It’s more of an issue with interpretation of verses from the Bible than in talking about ordinary literature,
although in theory a “verse” from poetry or a popular song could be taken out of context as well. Some readers
misinterpret and misuse the Bible by finding a few words that interest them and quoting those words without
trying to understand what they mean “in context,” that is, concerning the other things that were written
and said as part of the same historical material.'
'Scripture can prove nothing. The statement "Scripture can prove nothing" means that religious texts alone,
like the Bible, cannot definitively establish the truth of a claim in a purely logical or scientific sense,
as they rely on faith and interpretation rather than empirical evidence to validate their assertions.'
(Precisely why scripture has been shaped and changed to the tune of modern-day Christianity...the Spiritual aspect has
been apparently so far removed as to leave a desecrated revision of the "inspired readings.")
**( 'Articles in this thread are compiled from various
public domain sources.' Intended solely as informative
and subjects to reflect on. Spiritual maturity and growth
depend on the measure of one's intent. )
"Identity in Christ is fragile" means that if someone bases their sense of self solely on their faith
in Jesus Christ without actively nurturing that belief and living according to Christian principles,
their identity can easily crumble when faced with challenges, doubts, or temptations, as it relies on a
foundation that isn't fully anchored in personal practice and commitment; essentially, it suggests that
a passive understanding of one's identity in Christ can be easily shaken by external factors.'
Not rooted in personal action:
'If someone only identifies as "Christian" without actively applying the teachings of Christ in their life,
their identity can feel fragile when faced with real-world situations that require moral decision-making.'
Importance of ongoing commitment:
'A strong identity in Christ requires continuous study, prayer, and striving to live according to Christian values to solidify the foundation of one's self-worth.'
Contrast with a secure identity:
'A secure identity in Christ is built on a deep personal relationship with Jesus, where one actively seeks to embody His character and values, making their sense of self more resilient to external pressures.'
(Intended solely as informative and subjects to reflect on.
Spiritual maturity and growth depend on the measure of one's intent. )
"It surely would be a blessing when "proclaimed Christians" have actions that are testimony
to their claim. Someone who does not spiritually understand scripture is a person who lacks the ability
to interpret and apply the deeper meaning of biblical text beyond a literal level, often due to a lack
of personal relationship with God and the guidance of the Holy Spirit, meaning they may only grasp
the surface-level meaning without experiencing the transformative power of the scripture in their lives;
in the Bible, this is often referred to as a "natural man" who cannot fully comprehend spiritual truths."
'Obviously the "natural man" injects their worldly thoughts into the "Divine readings" to the point of
unabated sacrilege. Over time the Bible becomes more "natural man" breathed, replacing "God-breathed."
https://christianchat.com/threads/this-side-of-the-glass.182929/post-4899609
(Intended solely as informative and subjects to reflect on.
Spiritual maturity and growth depend on the measure of one's intent. )
"There comes a time when lost souls and/or the doubtful and confused may need a daily reminder
that a significant element may surely be missing in one's life. All the "Divine readings" will not suffice
for any intended purpose without a Spiritual interaction with the Holy Spirit."
(John 14:16–17 )
'I Am You, You are I'
https://christianchat.com/threads/todays-inspiration.183984/post-5410474
"Being intentional with words means being aware of one's purpose of intent when putting forth words
and how it may affect others.
Simply put, the "character" of one's language should have a meaningful purpose of intent. Then again
some spew words with little to no meaningful purpose other than to be noticed."
'No two personalities are alike. Though each may be different, principles before personalities is a concept
which means to practice honesty, humility, compassion, tolerance, and patience with everyone, whether one
may or may not agree. Putting principles before personalities teaches to treat everyone equally, and may well
teach humility.'
