4 replies to this topic

[Kevin Blankenship]

It must be an event.  I mean.....one moment, a person is NOT born again........and after "Godly sorrow worketh repentance" in a person......the next moment, he or she is born of the Spirit.  I don't think that this event in the believers life is the same as being "Filled with the Spirit". But I don't wanna turn this post into a debate.  We all believe a certain way and know that Jesus is Lord and still, we can be ONE because we are born of the Spirit.  We have the same parents.  I'm just thinking out loud here. I am not making a point. But isn't it AWESOME that we can be singled out and touched by the VERY ONE WHO made the mountains and forests and mountain lakes and mountain streams (I love mountains...lol)

    We believers should be alot more alike than it seems that we are. Not necessarily on this forum......but in the communities in which we live. I have a confession to make. I have finally found a group of believers who meet on Monday nights at someone's house. They study the Bible and pray. No one person is in charge (excepting the Holy Spirit).  And I played hooky last night because I wanted to be alone. I should NOT want to be away from my brothers and sisters.  I tell ya....this ole SELF (see....it made me use capital letters...lol)  is dead-set against anything that is good and nourishing for my spirit. Reckon why that is?  I mean....my 'self' is a part of me......and my spirit is part of me......and I have two entities within me that are constantly doing battle.

   Anyway......hadn't shared much in a while.  Hope all of you are doing well.

[Julie Daube]

You're absolutely right, Kevin - being born again is not the same as being filled with the Spirit. When we are born again by trusting in Jesus to save us, the Holy Spirit takes up residence in us (this often referred to as being "indwelled" by the Spirit). Even though the Holy Spirit indwells all believers, not all Christians are fully yielded to the Spirit. To be "filled" with the Spirit means surrendering control of our lives to Him. This is also what is referred to as sanctification.

For more in-depth teaching of this topic, see

http://www.cmallianc...iefs/sanctifier

[chipped china]

Kevin, 

I can really relate to what you said about enjoying and wanting christian fellowship and at the same time craving alone time.

We introverts struggle with this concept. My younger sister is always struggling with this trait that I have, always encouraging me to seek fellowship. I do have friends and bible studies but the majority of my time is alone. I hid under God's wings and love His company. We are not all the same and I'm frankly tired of getting down on myself for who I am and what others may think I should be. Sorry to get into this but I have never been at home in the world and I may as well accept it. Sometimes I think you and I understand each other very well. The restless spirit, addiction driven personality is our thorn to bear. It keeps us humble to struggle.

 

The way I see belief in Jesus is we become justified when we believe according to the scriptures that Christ died for us. We become sanctified like Julie says when the Holy Spirit controls us. And we will be glorified in eternity for the race we have run. So I feel people can be justified and have eternal salvation but not do much other than that. But if we grown in maturity through revelation from God we develop fruits of the Spirit and then we can be used by Him. Our focus changes from self to Him and what He wants us to do moment by moment. We will continue to be sanctified throughout our lives because He is constantly refining us. The beauty and joy of knowing Jesus is that He loves us perfectly where we are right now. We can do nothing to improve on what He did for us. It is finished. What we can do is love Him and His laws in return because we understand they are the Truth, the Way and the Life. It is by being obedient that our peace and joy increases even when times are tough because we no longer live for the world but for Him.

[Kevin Blankenship]

Chipped China, I very much agree that our personalities, or make-up, is very similar.  And it's weird, because I have been having very similar thoughts to yours:  I am also growing very tired of being SO  VERY DOWN on myself for being who I am. I have an additive nature. I can get addicted to anything!!!! If it makes me feel good.......I don't do what other folks (even non-believers) do.  They can moderate. I cannot seem to make myself moderate. My hobbies become obsessions.  I am what Paul the Apostle called a weak brother.  I am certainly not proud of it. But I have grown to realize this about me.

  And then I run across a passage of scripture that proclaims: "For when I am weak, then I am strong."  and to be honest.....I do not have a clue what that means. But I ain't giving up so easily. As long as I have the capacity for faith in God. And so far.....my faith has stayed firm. That is, if my definition of "Faith in God" is correct.

[chipped china]

Kevin,

I don't believe God makes mistakes when He creates us. All of the different personality types have strong and weak points. The key is to stop trying so hard and trust Jesus. For when my soul is weak and tired, He is strong and encourages us. 

Remember you are forgiven, so the negative thoughts you get are from the deceiver.

 

There are things about me that I value like my sense of humor and not taking this life too seriously. I like that in some ways I'm a risk taker because I could have missed out on blessings and teachings. Perhaps if you and I hadn't been so darn wild we would have settled for a comfortable place and missed God's calling. Did you ever think of that? huh? ha...

 

Sometimes I think of Jesus with the woman at the well that everyone wanted to stone. He said to them, you who are without sin throw the first stone. Jesus was the only one there who actually had a right to stone her! He said I don't condemn you, go and sin no more. At that moment the woman saw who He was in divine revelation. In a flash she had seen God and I believe it changed her life. We know that she didn't become perfect but I think she fell in love with Him, 

 

I pray the Lord will shine His Light upon you, and He will lessen anything that you put before Him.