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Post by Spirit on Aug 26, 2007 19:25:05 GMT -5
This is a real honest to goodness question. This is not a farce.
I want to know what other peoples perception of feeling the spirit of God feels like. I was my own perception of what feel Gods presence feels like. But then I can not be 100 percent sure if it is the spirit of God, or whether it is something else.
So tell me. When you feel the presence of God, what does it feel like? Do you feel it at all within your body? Do you feel it in your heart?
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Post by ithascome on Aug 26, 2007 19:29:27 GMT -5
LOVE!
Both!
And you shall love the Lord your God:
with all your heart, with all your soul, with all you mind, with all your strength, … and … love your neighbor as yourself.
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Post by Brad Lewis on Aug 26, 2007 21:53:48 GMT -5
This is a real honest to goodness question. This is not a farce. I want to know what other peoples perception of feeling the spirit of God feels like. I was my own perception of what feel Gods presence feels like. But then I can not be 100 percent sure if it is the spirit of God, or whether it is something else. So tell me. When you feel the presence of God, what does it feel like? Do you feel it at all within your body? Do you feel it in your heart? I'm not a 2x2 but have been one. SO when you ask about the spirit of God, I am writing about the spirit of God and not what I thought it was as a 2x2. The spirit of God felt very strange to me and uncomfortable at first. The spirit compelled me to think things that scared me and made me rethink who I had trusted and what I had believed before. The spirit of God assures me of God's word. The spirit of God comforts me with forgiveness and God's mercy which is new each morning. The spirit of God rebukes me of sin and reminds me of Jesus word's. The spirit of God makes me upset when Christians say things that are not true and are offensive. The spirit of God compels me to read my Bible to find out more about God and what I need to be doing. The spirit of God is magnificent and is above my control. I cannot determine what I will say nor what I will do. Whether others are pleased or upset has little regard. The spirit of God brings life to me. It sharpens my conscience, it deepens my feelings for others and compels me to give of myself because of what I've received. The spirit of God causes me to struggle against things I want to do that are sinful or lead to sin. Praise God for the spirit we are sealed with. Brad
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Post by ithascome on Aug 26, 2007 23:19:23 GMT -5
good post Brad.
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Post by like on Aug 26, 2007 23:19:57 GMT -5
like a sneeze only better
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shushy
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Post by shushy on Aug 27, 2007 4:15:22 GMT -5
The Holy Spirit can manifest in different ways. We should not go on 'feelings'. Everything should line up with scripture and be prepared to be judged. To sense or feel the Holy Spirit you first need to get to know him as a person. Spend time in his presence. Spend time listening. He is our teacher, comforter, and guide, no one else. His Presence is known as 'the anointing' or the anointing of the Holy Spirit. Its not a case of opening yourself up. It means pressing in to him in prayer, fasting, worship. Setting your face like flint towards him. I have felt his presence like burning heat blowing a cool wind on my flesh, I have smelt his fragrance like the purest flower on a clear fresh morning, the glory cloud of God which I have traveled through at supersonic speed feels like all encompassing love, all encompassing hope and joy, sometimes I would feel him enter the room and flood over me like a cloud of bright light. Sometimes as I raised my hands in worship I would feel electricty flutter across my fingers. Many many different ways I knew he had come into my room like a tangible force and reveal things that I still cannot utter. The times in my room I felt like my body was flooded. Not just my heart. I hope this helps you spirit.
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Post by Ken Coolidge on Aug 27, 2007 5:29:35 GMT -5
Great post Brad Thanks
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Post by selah on Aug 27, 2007 9:00:12 GMT -5
Thanks for another great post Brad. And Shushy....I have had very similar experiences to yours with the presence of God. The most common sensation I feel during worship/prayer is like a beautiful covering that comes over me, embracing me, pouring over me, surrounding me....I then just want to sit very still, listen and experience His ministry to me.
These moments are incredibly refreshing and fulfilling. Sometimes I receive a scripture message, a prophetic picture or "word" .
These are the junctions of heaven and earth, because we are yet living in two dimensions. One day we will be completely immersed into the Spirit realm.
Blessings, Linda
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shushy
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Post by shushy on Aug 27, 2007 9:49:21 GMT -5
Yes Selah.....There is healing in that place. Hi, how are you? I believe there are maybe up to 10 dimensions. Im not a physicist so cant explian it. I know there are more than 4-6.
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Post by firstborn on Aug 27, 2007 15:22:53 GMT -5
Nice thread... Very good question.
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Post by Brother Schrock on Aug 27, 2007 15:54:40 GMT -5
This is a real honest to goodness question. This is not a farce. I want to know what other peoples perception of feeling the spirit of God feels like. I was my own perception of what feel Gods presence feels like. But then I can not be 100 percent sure if it is the spirit of God, or whether it is something else. So tell me. When you feel the presence of God, what does it feel like? Do you feel it at all within your body? Do you feel it in your heart? I'm not a 2x2 but have been one. SO when you ask about the spirit of God, I am writing about the spirit of God and not what I thought it was as a 2x2. The spirit of God felt very strange to me and uncomfortable at first. The spirit compelled me to think things that scared me and made me rethink who I had trusted and what I had believed before. The spirit of God assures me of God's word. The spirit of God comforts me with forgiveness and God's mercy which is new each morning. The spirit of God rebukes me of sin and reminds me of Jesus word's. The spirit of God makes me upset when Christians say things that are not true and are offensive. The spirit of God compels me to read my Bible to find out more about God and what I need to be doing. The spirit of God is magnificent and is above my control. I cannot determine what I will say nor what I will do. Whether others are pleased or upset has little regard. The spirit of God brings life to me. It sharpens my conscience, it deepens my feelings for others and compels me to give of myself because of what I've received. The spirit of God causes me to struggle against things I want to do that are sinful or lead to sin. Praise God for the spirit we are sealed with. Brad Brad, I am not the first to thank you for this post, but it is very nice. I'd like to see more of this side of you in future posts. Regards, Brother Schrock
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Post by Brad Lewis on Aug 27, 2007 18:57:29 GMT -5
If you'ld like to see more of this side, then people should continue to post real questions. I'll add this email excerpt from Kathy Lewis my aunt who knows me better than many. You are so kind and generous, such a good conversationalist, but people misunderstand your statements on the boards and condemn you for them. The Bible says that unbelievers are dead in trespasses and sin. They are dead people. No matter how much we try to talk to them, reason with them, or yell to wake them up, they are still dead. Only God can bring them to life. I have given up on the boards. Love, KathyI have noticed that even the most wicked posters on the board have changed some of their beliefs. And it is this change that causes me to keep posting. Besides, it also is a good broadcast for God's word and it's great to praise God everywhere. Brad
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Post by holysetapartforgod on Aug 27, 2007 21:33:21 GMT -5
When I first received the Holy Spirit, I found that the sinful desires I'd held for years and years just simply faded away and were replaced with desires for things of God.
I would suggest to you to do a search through the bible for the words "Holy Spirit." I believe you will learn a TON about who He is and what He does if you have ears to hear.
One of the coolest passages about Him is: (1 Corinthians 2:9-14) However, as it is written: "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him"-- but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the man's spirit within him? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us. {13} This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words. The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.
I have often had questions I've asked the Lord answered by the Holy Spirit bringing to my remembrance God's Word that I may have read long before.
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Post by hawk on Aug 27, 2007 21:47:27 GMT -5
Now we're getting somewhere unlike my unanswered question in another thread. "The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned." So explain. I have seen enough people claim things that happened because of faith or the spirit, but I doubt it. People gyrate and whoop and holler but that looks like an act. I was under the impression that people who have the spirit don't have to show it to prove it. So explain.
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shushy
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Post by shushy on Aug 28, 2007 3:13:06 GMT -5
[quote:]Now we're getting somewhere unlike my unanswered question in another thread. "The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned." So explain. I have seen enough people claim things that happened because of faith or the spirit, but I doubt it. People gyrate and whoop and holler but that looks like an act. I was under the impression that people who have the spirit don't have to show it to prove it. So explain. Hello Hawk, Can you please be more specific in your question? I never saw anyone holler/gyrate or whoop in any meeting. Or are you speaking of pentecostal evangelical churches? Do you mean during worship?
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Post by Spirit on Aug 28, 2007 3:37:56 GMT -5
Thank you all for your sincere answers. They have been very helpful.
When I first started going to meeting with my parents at a young age (we were not born and raised) I felt something that really scared me. I said that I would never return to that place because it scared me so much. Of course my parents said that it was just the spirit of God touching my life. I accepted this. After a while going to going to meetings I just became sensitized to this feeling. I never knew if what I felt was actually the spirit of God or whether it was something else.
I eventually professed but still didn't feel the spirit with me, except the spirit of fear. Though it was definitely much less obvious then when I first went to meetings.
Over time, what I felt changed. As I read the Bible, and learned more and more about Jesus and my perception of truth changed and what the spirit was to me changed. It was only at this time that I had a life changing experience. Before this time I was a very depressed child because of things which happened when I was younger. I didn't have many friends, and spent most days sitting in my room feeling worthless and like I didn't deserve to live. I would take part in self harm, cutting myself to make the pain stop. I also attempted suicide a couple time. One day it just all changed. The pain and everything went away, and it was like I was a new person. People even saw it in me. They would say things like that I was different. They would of never thought of being my friend before, but now there was just something so very nice about me. They said that I was the most cheerful person they ever met. One person even said I was preternaturally cheerful.
It was REALLY strange to say the least.
And I can remember in those days being on my knees, and actually hearing god talk to me in my prayers. Not in an audible voice like a person, but in a voice which wasn't audible but that you could really hear. It is such a distant memory know, that I can hardly remember what it felt like. But the spirit was actually very strong with me.
At that point in my life is when I thought I actually meat the Holy Spirit.
Slowly, the things have changed though. I have done things of course that I really wished I wouldn't, and made alot of mistakes. Now I am still a changed person, but God doesn't speak to me in the same ways. And I wonder, does god even really still talk to me, and is the spirit still with me.
There where times when in my life when I felt like David saying why are you so far from me. When I need you most you are so far from me. But then I think, maybe my perception of they Holy Spirit and God is just different from what it was in the early days. God works in mysterious ways after all.
Anyway, when I think about it it is all really confusing.
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Post by Spirit on Aug 28, 2007 3:42:21 GMT -5
Oh I should add. That sometimes I feel like my sins have separated me from God, and I so much want to be able to get back to that place when I first met the Holy Spirit. But sometimes I cannot. And then I think perhaps the Holy Spirit is with me, and I am just feeling him in a different way. Except because of my first perception of what they Holy Spirit was and of God speaking to me, I sometimes have doubts on whether he is really there or not. Like I said, it is all really confusing.
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shushy
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Post by shushy on Aug 28, 2007 4:15:07 GMT -5
Without trying to be derogatory. I never knew the workers teach on this subject Spirit. Have you tried disgussing it with them? The Holy Spirit with each individual works one on one or tries too. I can understand the healing as you got closer to him. It sounds ot me like you heard him in a still small voice speak to you. He never leaves us or forsakes us so yes he is still with you. The only unforgivable sin is blaspheme agaisnt the Holy Spirit. If you feel convicted of things you have done or mistakes just repent and renounce it in Jesus NAme. He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins. I understand you feeling like David I have as well. I remind myself whn the dark days are with me of the Psalms. They have comforted me in days gone past. Dont be confused Spirit. Jesus is with you. His love never changes regardless of how we stuff up. He knows our thoughts before we think them
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Post by IllinoisGal on Aug 28, 2007 6:10:41 GMT -5
Shushy..I have really enjoyed reading your uplifting posts on this thread. I think you have tried to explain quite well what the spirit of God is..It is felt in many ways and not contained in just one thing.
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shushy
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Post by shushy on Aug 28, 2007 7:42:45 GMT -5
Thank you for your kindness IllinoisGal. I could talk on this subject for hours. It was my life for many yrs, my passion. Following your passion can take you places you never dreamed in God. Im not talking airy fairy stuff either.
Yes Hawk spiritual things can only be discerned spiritually. We had a saying 'dont be so spiritually minded that you are no earthly use'. And another one was ' we should be naturally spiritual and spiritually natural.'
Heres this thing again and believe me I can understand it. If you havent experinced it how could you believe that God would do these things in this day. Particularly if you have been told all your life he doesnt do it today. That was for the early church. The reality Hawk is God does do things today through a persons faith. and through the Holy Spirit. He uses man/woman. Insignificant as he is God uses man just as he did in bible days. Why? Because he can. Because he wants too. No man should not take the glory for anything God does. God uses man as a voice, he uses man to lay on hands for healing, for deliverance and setting the captives free.
One day I sat in a church, the woman was a vibrant preacher, she suddenly stopped her preaching and pointed in my direction she began to talk about me, things she couldnt possibly have known she told me about my life and how God was going to use me, tears ran down my cheeks, I was in shock but as she spoke I felt God th eHoly Spirit was speaking to me through her. Later I found out she was a prophetess which at that time I thought prophets were bible figures. Later my relationship with her was unique, that day was a devine appointment for me. All her words about my life and ministry came to pass in the following yrs. The prophetic words she spoke were words of knowledge about who I was or my life, words of wisdom which helped to guide me and encourage me, and directional words which helped me keep focused. At the time of the prophecy I would never have believed any of it could happen because I had not experienced this before in my sheltered life. I have revealed this to you hawk to help you understand.
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Post by hawk on Aug 30, 2007 2:28:37 GMT -5
Interesting. Guess I just don't get it. Waiting for more. Prayer is pointless.
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shushy
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Post by shushy on Aug 30, 2007 5:33:16 GMT -5
Everyone who is born again of the Spirit of God has that inner witness. So that if for example you are at a gathering of christians. Our spirit witness's too us who is of God by the things they say. Its an inner knowing, like agreement you sense. Not all church attendiees are christians.
When I am with my christian friends and we are discussing 'God stuff'...if they think my thinking is wonkee they will tell me straight up, I do not get offended and I listen to them and weigh up their thinking. We respect each other enough to trust one anothers judgement. We usually end up finding agreement. Which I believe is important. Agreement brings unity and their is blessing in unity.
In my experience Hawk, prayer is never pointless. At the very least it nocks on the door of heaven and a request is made. I do believe that prayer changes people/cities/households etc. I do not understand why a lot of my prayers for other people are answered but my prayers for me not so much...A prayer not answered doesnt effect the faith I have in God. The prayer of agreement is good, where you join with someone else and ask them to agree with you for such and such. Be specific as possible with details. I do this with my daughter and friends a lot. Funny thing is I ask my daughter to pray for my needs bz for some reason God seems to answer her more.
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Post by jh62 on Aug 30, 2007 11:08:53 GMT -5
Shushy, I've really enjoyed reading your posts on this. Very interesting. You sound like a very spiritual person.
To the original poster, Spirit, I've felt like you do so often over the past few years, but slowly that "small voice" IS coming back. Sometimes I wonder if it's our own self-doubt that shuts off the small voice.
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Post by holysetapartforgod on Aug 30, 2007 17:06:59 GMT -5
God's word states that "the prayer of a righteous man availeth much." Like others, I don't know HOW my prayer does anything or WHAT it does, but according to God's Word, it "availeth much" so I choose to stand on God's Word and believe it.
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Post by holysetapartforgod on Aug 30, 2007 17:10:58 GMT -5
Oh I should add. That sometimes I feel like my sins have separated me from God, and I so much want to be able to get back to that place when I first met the Holy Spirit. But sometimes I cannot. And then I think perhaps the Holy Spirit is with me, and I am just feeling him in a different way. Except because of my first perception of what they Holy Spirit was and of God speaking to me, I sometimes have doubts on whether he is really there or not. Like I said, it is all really confusing. What you just said is proof that the Holy Spirit is still with you. One of the things the Holy Spirit does is convict us of sin. However, I understand what you're going through I think. I believe everyone goes through periods of time where they feel very close to God and other times they feel far away and not having the kinds of intimate conversations they once had, but eventually the cycle is repeated.
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Post by ranman77007 on Aug 31, 2007 0:39:55 GMT -5
wouldn't you like to know? ;D ;D the Spirit feels good, feels like eternal life, and joy, and its a true hope, because you can trust the Giver of the hope... ooooh look, a brand new name for God,.....Giver of hope..... ahh someone probably already used that one....
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savedbyblood
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Post by savedbyblood on Aug 31, 2007 2:06:30 GMT -5
I have been speaking with my mother just this week on what the Spirit of God feels like. I have been professing for more than 35 years and have had some intense visions during the past couple of years. I have told my family of them but am not too keen on telling the Workers for fear of ridicule. So be it.
One vision was sitting in Wednesday Night Bible Study with my child and wife beside me. For an instant, I was in Hell but not wholly hell itself. Just a taste. Total black. Totally alone and my mind feeling as if I was forsaken by God Himself. In an instant I snapped back and nobody knew I ever left.
The second vision came in the night. I was sleeping by my wife and suddenly I was again having a little taste of Hell. Orange and black flames, but no heat, terrible emptiness and noise so loud that I could not hear myself scream "God, please forgive me," and suddenly I was awake. My wife and child were sleeping soundly so I guessed I screamed in my dream.
The third time was much different. My wife had left us and me and our child were in our apartment and playing on the floor. I was at the bottom of the pit, too depressed to even look up when very suddenly Our Lord gave me a moment of complete Peace and Joy. More than any human heart can comprehend and then it was gone but I felt wonderful for a long time afterword.
The Spirit Of God seems to be unique from other religions (not Christian) in that most do not have a divine Spirit in which to put their trust and Faith. This Spirit can come to us in the form of visions and dreams if we are open and willing to receive Him.
The Spirit of God also comes to us in prayer and through fasting. Mom and I were discussing the experience we have when the Spirit touches us. This is new to me because my life has been in so much turmoil for so long that I have not made a place for Him to come to.
A while ago, during prayer I for the first time alone felt the spirit. As I was praying and pleading with God and praising God I felt an arm?, a wing? laid across my shoulders while I prayed. There was a presence in my room besides my child who was asleep on her bed. I was comforted by this touch and I dared not stop praying because I did not wish to lose this feeling of shelter and protection. This has happened many times since them and I look forward to becoming closer to God.
After several weeks I decided to ask my mom if she felt the spirit when praying. Her description was exactly the same as mine. We both have had the same experience with the Spirit of God. He does not change. He remains with us in the form of the Comforter when we are away from our secure place of prayer.
These things are not spoken of among the 2by2s and I wish we could share the power and Glory of the Heavenly Spirit together.
I have done some very dangerous things. I got very tired of the constant health and marriage problems and the stress of a wife that just took off whenever she got mad at me. Family and friends in meeting began to refer to me as Job because I have lost so much and the end is not in sight. I began to hate!
I hated Satan! I stood up in my house and shouted curses at the evil one. I dared the Angle of Darkness to continue to come after me and became so bold as to tell my mother that I would rather a fight with him than the constant torture. With Jesus on my side I could whip the dragon!
I nearly lost. Twice. He took me at my word and brought me lower through injuries on top of my illnesses and marriage problems. He caused me to lose my house because I needed to hire an attorney to protect our child from abuse. The Lord saw me through it and I learned a great lesson. Keep your mouth shut! Satan is as real as McDonald's and in more locations. He can be defeated but will not back down from a challenge. Too bad I was stupid enough to challenge him.
We cannot defeat evil alone. While not having the Spirit of God feels like any old day, when you do have the Spirit you can stand taller against the tempter and know that you have the Power of the Spirit to guide and protect you.
Peace in Him,
SBB
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Post by Deleted on Aug 31, 2007 3:04:31 GMT -5
now thats not bad, SBB. i'm wit ya homie...
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