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An Invisible Presence


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#1 Thinker

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Posted 20 August 2012 - 05:45 AM

Not only are we thinking of an invisible Presence but also of an invisible Power. There's still more to consider. We have an invisible Presence, an invisible Power and we have an invisible Person! His working encompasses our condition prior to conversion, our coming to conversion, our ongoing change (growth in grace) and our consummation. (Our consummation is actually our commencement there). Jesus said, in John 6:44, "No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day." He also tells that, ".... I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto Me." (From John 12:32). Since the Trinity always works as One, we know that the Holy Spirit also draws. When a person responds to that drawing, opening their hearts to receive salvation, the Holy Spirit performs the miracle of Spiritual birth. He then begins a lifelong work of sanctifying us. He is the Spirit of Truth and He uses the written Word (the Bible) as His instrument for changing us into Jesus' likeness. Consider this teaching from John 16:13 and 17:17: "Howbeit when He, the Spirit of truth, is come, He will guide you into all Truth." "Sanctify them through Thy Truth: Thy Word is Truth." More and more as we prayerfully study, relying on the Holy Spirit to open our understanding, and then apply the principles in our lives, we will become increasingly like our Lord. The Holy Spirit teaches, corrects, shapes and guides us until that moment when the process is completed and we begin Heaven. He is alongside us, from the moment of our Spiritual rebirth and all through life until the moment of our glorification when all sin is gone forever. Selah! He is our Helper, Comforter, Teacher, Companion and much more. He is present in all who are saved. Let's let Him fill us with Himself! Thinker (Ron)
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#2 Lori Smith

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Posted 20 August 2012 - 07:12 AM

Thinker (Ron)

What a beautiful post. I agree that there is not a better Companion and Teacher than the Holy Spirit. I grieve when I think that prior to knowing Him I believed some atrocious things about Him. Indeed, I thought that those who embraced the baptism of the Holy Spirit were engaged in demonic activity. It is a bit ironic because that is close to blasphemy of the Holy Spirit. Today I enjoy His sweet presence as He engages me in morning talks when I open my Bible; additionally, He comforts and guides me through the perils of life. He is my sweetest and dearest Friend (an inadequate word, but I can't think of another). Tozer taught about this--how the issue cannot be forced on another, but how serious enquirers can discover Him if they so choose: http://www.sermonind...2632&forum=34

Blessings,
Lori
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In The Pursuit of God, A. W. Tozer writes, "Jesus taught that He wrought His works by always keeping His inward eyes upon His Father. His power lay in His continuous look at God (John 5:19-21)."

#3 Thinker

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Posted 20 August 2012 - 12:19 PM

Lori, thanks for your response and info on Dr. Tozer. Everything in our relationship with God is ours as His Holy Spirit helps us. Even the Bible would just be another book, if He didn't open our understanding. We would know nothing about our Lord (except possibly His life as a man-perhaps that explains why some only see Him as a great teacher or example) without the Holy Spirit showing us all that He is to us and teaching us the things that have to do with Him. We wouldn't even be in the Church if the Holy Spirit didn't place us there. And on and on it goes! There is no Spiritual need that we have that isn't met by His working. Add to that, the realization that He resides in us throughout our lives, as believers, and there is no way to calculate the possibilities of what He can accomplish in and through us, if we yield to Him completely. May we really learn to do that. Wishing you His best, Thinker (Ron).
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#4 Lori Smith

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Posted 20 August 2012 - 01:56 PM

Amen Thinker (Ron). Without the Holy Spirit we have no spiritual walk, and how wonderful it is when the Holy Spirit has all of us! Some talk about dying to self (which is necessary), but often people don't mention how glorious it is to have more of God. Thus, dying to self is not deprivation; rather it is the better thing--lots of God in us!

Blessings,
Lori
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In The Pursuit of God, A. W. Tozer writes, "Jesus taught that He wrought His works by always keeping His inward eyes upon His Father. His power lay in His continuous look at God (John 5:19-21)."

#5 elizabethcog

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Posted 22 August 2012 - 05:35 PM

You know I never really liked myself alot in life,i was a good person but I never felt like I measured up really.This was at times due to others ideas but mostly it was me.I never knew why and I always had to try to like me and always wished I was anyone else.....I made bad choices and hurt myself more than i hurt another.......when Jesus found me and oh man did I try and deny him and yes run from him alot! he still pursued me and loved me and I accepted him as Lord of my life and His most holy spirit in me changed me into a new creation! Praise God he not only heard my cries that were of the heart while my mouth refused Him even.I am a good example of salvation being not of me see it was NOTHING i did but EVERYTHING Jesus did and now I love him and all his people and yes I even love me now too...God is so wonderful I will sing his praises with my last breath I pray
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Jesus and Jesus alone saves=D

#6 Thinker

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Posted 23 August 2012 - 05:52 AM

Elizabeth, thanks for your reply. You reminded me of something else Major Thomas said. It went something like this: "For many years I tried to work for the Lord. Can you imagine the shock when I found out that He didn't want me to work for Him. He wanted to do His own work, in and through me." Thinker (Ron)
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#7 Charles Miles

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Posted 23 August 2012 - 07:55 AM

Great thought Ron. When we start considering that it is Christ in us doing His work and not us trying to do His work, we then seem to have passed through a "gate" of sorts. With Christ and the Father living in us, and allowing Holy Spirit to do His teaching and instruction, there is nothing that can`t be done for the Kingdom. Truely we have been made a "new creation" in Christ and renewing of the mind can and will be accomplished by Holy Spirit. Once we are professing Christians, we are no longer our own.
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