Seeking a supernatural encounter with God but failing miserably time and time again

GirdYourLoins

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So do you think I should or shouldn't proactively pray for the baptism of the Holy Spirit?
The Holy Spirit is given to those that accept Jesus as their Lord and Saviour. From your posts it sounds more like you are seeking power for yourself. What I am saying is concentrate on putting Jesus first and putting God on the throne in your life rather than seek power for yourself. I know a lot of Christians I dont doubt are saved and who show a lot of fruit in their lives, but they have never had a supernatural experience. There are also a lot of Christians who believe that the supernatural ended with the apostles and have never experienced it. I just think it comes across as you are too focused on receiving poweer.

Also, it would be good for you to find a good solid church to attend if you dont alread, probably one that believes in the Holy Spirit as being active in believers today rather than cessationist who believe he isnt.
 
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Dorothy Mae

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Some background to my question:
  • I'm a truth seeker. I come from a scientific mindset background, but the last couple years I've been intensely researching about the supernatural and the spirit realm. I've watched testimonies from all kinds of religions, including testimonies from people who practiced witchcraft, the occult, Satanism, Hindu mystics, New Agers, Kundalini awakening, Reiki healers, paranormal investigators, people who have used Ouija boards, and of course, testimonies from Christians, baptism in the Holy Spirit, Christophanies, healing miracles, gifts of the spirit, words of knowledge, speaking in tongues (including unknown foreign languages), demonic possessions, exorcisms, etc. All this has led to me conclude that the spirit realm has to exist.
  • I believe that supernatural encounters with God are possible. As I just said, I've watched tons of testimonies, including first-hand accounts of powerful encounters with the Creator. To give you an idea, here are some notable examples: example 1, example 2, example 3, example 4, example 5, example 6, example 7, example 8, example 9, example 10, example 11, example 12, example 13, example 14, example 15, example 16, example 17, example 18, example 19, example 20, example 21.
I'm currently at a position in which I'm extremely obsessed with knowing the truth first-hand. As I already said, I've watched tons of testimonies, but after almost two years of doing the same, I'm starting to see no point in storing more and more anecdotal information in my head if I don't live out these things by myself. I know a lot about God (theory), but I don't know God (personal experience/testimony), if that makes sense. So my obvious next step is to seek God, to seek an encounter with Him. Unfortunately, every time I try, I keep failing miserably. I know that the key ingredients to seek God are consistent 1) prayer, 2) fasting, 3) reading the Bible, 4) obedience, 5) a life of holiness, 6) having faith, and of course 7) repentance and having accepted Jesus Christ as personal Lord and Savior. I know the theory. Intellectually speaking, things are quite clear to me. The problem is that I'm struggling to implement the theory successfully.

There are many distractions, temptations and weaknesses that are making it extremely hard for me to achieve a significant streak in which I successfully implement the 7 points I listed above. I keep messing up all the time and I'm not getting results. God still appears abstract and very distant to me, and when I read the Bible and the stories of the prophets, the apostles, the early Church, or when I remind myself of the testimonies that I've watched (like the ones I listed above), I feel like a total failure, trapped, unable to achieve any kind of spiritual breakthrough.

One thing that I would love to do is to have like a serious period of seeking God with prayer and fasting for, say, 7 days in a row, without any distractions, just full-time seeking God, but the problem is that there are always distractions, responsibilities, things that take away my time, and I feel like I'm not getting anywhere. Then I go back to watching more testimonies to regain motivation, but at the end of day, that's just more intellectual information for my head, but what is the point of wasting my life away with hours and hours of investigation and watching endless testimonies if, at the end of the day, it doesn't translate into an actual, real encounter with God?

I seriously need a spiritual breakthrough and I've got no idea what to do about it.

Note: I'm posting this on the sign gifts subforum because I'm seeking advice from people who believe in the supernatural, and most of the testimonies I've watched involve supernatural experiences.
I’m afraid to tell you that if you seek an experience (with God) He will not show up. It would be unkind to allow you to
think that seeking a physical sensation is a worthy goal. It is seeking a pleasure for yourself and He will not grant you that to give you a sensation. You might have something else show up. They like that sort of thing.

Instead ask God to show you your heart as He sees you. Forget you “accepting Jesus” but realize you need to be accepted by him. Ask Him to grant you the sight to see yourself, to lead you to real repentance not dry eyed repeating a dead prayer.
 
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NBB

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Awesome testimony. Did this happen while you were watching it live or a previously recorded live stream? And did you explicitly pray to be healed of your lung problem or did it get healed unexpectedly?

I was praying along when they prayed for healing in an live stream of them.
 
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Brian Mcnamee

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In short, you are not against the supernatural, you are just warning about counterfeits, right? Do you believe in genuine supernatural experiences (which are not counterfeits)?
yes but learn from the bibke how to test the spirits.
 
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Brian Mcnamee

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In short, you are not against the supernatural, you are just warning about counterfeits, right? Do you believe in genuine supernatural experiences (which are not counterfeits)?
Yes but sings and wonders will never contradict God's word or take you down another path. Jesus warned heavily against great deception. The world is looking now for a sign and has been prepped for a alien unveiling. Now are these going to be interplanetray beings or intradimensional? I would bet the house on these things manifesting soon and claiming to be planetary but I would bet on the other.
The new agers have many psychic who are channeling spirits and many of these prophets are saying the world is about to expel millions of people who are holding back the planet form the next evolution which is to be spiritual. They claim a new awakening is coming. The age of Aquarius. Now many Christians are expecting a single person to gain control of the world and will perform lying signs and wonders as teh NWO is accomplished. The symbols used are already easily identifiable as occult such as the eye of Horus above th epyramid. Anyways there are two contradictory narratives that are proposed to come. The Christians say the LORD will take out his faithful before the day of vengeance and if you start reading Rev 6 onwards you can see specfiically what to expect. Rev 6 shows at the beginning of hte tribulation it is a days wage for a quart of wheat and peace is taken form the earth and men will kill one another on a global scale. So if you see millions vanish and then global hyperninflation that is proof.
 
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spiritfilledjm

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Some background to my question:
  • I'm a truth seeker. I come from a scientific mindset background, but the last couple years I've been intensely researching about the supernatural and the spirit realm. I've watched testimonies from all kinds of religions, including testimonies from people who practiced witchcraft, the occult, Satanism, Hindu mystics, New Agers, Kundalini awakening, Reiki healers, paranormal investigators, people who have used Ouija boards, and of course, testimonies from Christians, baptism in the Holy Spirit, Christophanies, healing miracles, gifts of the spirit, words of knowledge, speaking in tongues (including unknown foreign languages), demonic possessions, exorcisms, etc. All this has led to me conclude that the spirit realm has to exist.
  • I believe that supernatural encounters with God are possible. As I just said, I've watched tons of testimonies, including first-hand accounts of powerful encounters with the Creator. To give you an idea, here are some notable examples: example 1, example 2, example 3, example 4, example 5, example 6, example 7, example 8, example 9, example 10, example 11, example 12, example 13, example 14, example 15, example 16, example 17, example 18, example 19, example 20, example 21.
I'm currently at a position in which I'm extremely obsessed with knowing the truth first-hand. As I already said, I've watched tons of testimonies, but after almost two years of doing the same, I'm starting to see no point in storing more and more anecdotal information in my head if I don't live out these things by myself. I know a lot about God (theory), but I don't know God (personal experience/testimony), if that makes sense. So my obvious next step is to seek God, to seek an encounter with Him. Unfortunately, every time I try, I keep failing miserably. I know that the key ingredients to seek God are consistent 1) prayer, 2) fasting, 3) reading the Bible, 4) obedience, 5) a life of holiness, 6) having faith, and of course 7) repentance and having accepted Jesus Christ as personal Lord and Savior. I know the theory. Intellectually speaking, things are quite clear to me. The problem is that I'm struggling to implement the theory successfully.

There are many distractions, temptations and weaknesses that are making it extremely hard for me to achieve a significant streak in which I successfully implement the 7 points I listed above. I keep messing up all the time and I'm not getting results. God still appears abstract and very distant to me, and when I read the Bible and the stories of the prophets, the apostles, the early Church, or when I remind myself of the testimonies that I've watched (like the ones I listed above), I feel like a total failure, trapped, unable to achieve any kind of spiritual breakthrough.

One thing that I would love to do is to have like a serious period of seeking God with prayer and fasting for, say, 7 days in a row, without any distractions, just full-time seeking God, but the problem is that there are always distractions, responsibilities, things that take away my time, and I feel like I'm not getting anywhere. Then I go back to watching more testimonies to regain motivation, but at the end of day, that's just more intellectual information for my head, but what is the point of wasting my life away with hours and hours of investigation and watching endless testimonies if, at the end of the day, it doesn't translate into an actual, real encounter with God?

I seriously need a spiritual breakthrough and I've got no idea what to do about it.

Note: I'm posting this on the sign gifts subforum because I'm seeking advice from people who believe in the supernatural, and most of the testimonies I've watched involve supernatural experiences.

Pray, continue to pray, and when you get tired of praying, pray some more and that God would give you more patience. God will move in you when He is ready to. Continue to make yourself a willing vessel and continue to pray. At some point God will give you that urge to move...move. No matter where you are or what you're doing, move as the Lord leads you to. The thing that holds most people back, especially in today's world, is their fear of moving. I love the heart you have and your hunger for it.
 
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Mayflower1

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I'll remember you in prayer. It is a wonderful thing, but a relationship with Jesus Christ is far more important. The closer you grow to God, the more you will see His hand in things. I would say if you seek the supernatural, you are in danger of finding the supernatural not of God. You need to grow in Christ Jesus to have spiritual discernment to know the difference.
 
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Sophrosyne

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I've found over the decades many people going around crying and pleading for God to "come back" as they have this spiritual "high" when God shows up and get literally addicted to it and when God treats them like most of us who don't feel or hear or see him at all almost all our lives we have faith in him that isn't grounded on feelings at all. The more you want the supernatural the more likely if/when it happens you will get addicted to it and complain when it isn't a constant part of your life making it like a fantastic rollercoaster.
Sometimes you have to be very quiet to notice God and then he barely whispers......
 
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NBB

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I've found over the decades many people going around crying and pleading for God to "come back" as they have this spiritual "high" when God shows up and get literally addicted to it and when God treats them like most of us who don't feel or hear or see him at all almost all our lives we have faith in him that isn't grounded on feelings at all. The more you want the supernatural the more likely if/when it happens you will get addicted to it and complain when it isn't a constant part of your life making it like a fantastic rollercoaster.
Sometimes you have to be very quiet to notice God and then he barely whispers......

Better to be 'high' on God, and don't depend on feelings of God at the same time. Which are not feelings only, it can be the presence or power of God. And there is nothing wrong feeling them. If you get filled with the Holy spirit you are going to feel something thats for sure.
 
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Sophrosyne

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Better to be 'high' on God, and don't depend on feelings of God at the same time. Which are not feelings only, it can be the presence or power of God. And there is nothing wrong feeling them. If you get filled with the Holy spirit you are going to feel something thats for sure.
The "high" many get from a supernatural connection with God is (to them) very addictive and withdrawal from it is hard for some to get through they often freak out when suddenly the plug is pulled on their God "fix". Some people once they get a supernatural experience want another and another and focus on it instead of learning from the Bible about God. Most of us don't have supernatural experience with God at all and if you can't believe in God without one chances are you may not continue to believe in him if the supernatural doesn't continue on and on.
 
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TruthSeek3r

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The "high" many get from a supernatural connection with God is (to them) very addictive and withdrawal from it is hard for some to get through they often freak out when suddenly the plug is pulled on their God "fix". Some people once they get a supernatural experience want another and another and focus on it instead of learning from the Bible about God. Most of us don't have supernatural experience with God at all and if you can't believe in God without one chances are you may not continue to believe in him if the supernatural doesn't continue on and on.

What do you mean by "high"? When do these "highs" take place? I think a couple of examples would be useful to illustrate the point.
 
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Sophrosyne

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What do you mean by "high"? When do these "highs" take place? I think a couple of examples would be useful to illustrate the point.
High like euphoria like beyond what drugs do to a drug addict you "feel" beyond normally wonderful.
 
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Sophrosyne

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I see. Have you personally experienced this or are you saying this based on other people's testimonies?
I haven't personally but have personally known people that experienced such. I would say you seem somewhat obsessed about this, and I've found by experience dealing with people that have some sort of obsessive behavior that they most often overdo things and pay for it in the end. If you don't have a strong enough belief in God to persist without him jumping through hoops for you then likely you won't ever run out of hoops for God when he does jump.
 
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TruthSeek3r

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If you don't have a strong enough belief in God to persist without him jumping through hoops for you then likely you won't ever run out of hoops for God when he does jump.

Why are you a Christian? How did you go from unbeliever to believer? What was the key event in your life that convinced you that Christianity is true?
 
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Sophrosyne

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Why are you a Christian? How did you go from unbeliever to believer? What was the key event in your life that convinced you that Christianity is true?
Why are you one? I got saved as a child and backslid because of "science" and being around only Christians who were holy rollers that didn't know much about the Bible other than what supported their thinking. I came back to God after a struggle in my late 30s and struggled a lot with who God is and until I got a grip on that my faith was rocked constantly. I've had a "miracle" of healing but didn't "feel" anything when it happened at all and I believed God could heal me but didn't know if he would or not I left it up to him if he wanted to do it. My faith was not changed much from before I was healed at all as it (to most) could be considered nothing miraculous but to me it was something. I feel that God does miracles but I also believes that he doesn't just do them to please people or to help them with faith in him either as most believers I meet few have really had any miracles or supernatural visitation. I find that things happen either when nothing else can help or when you least expect it. God comes through too often after the last minute but still in time.
 
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ARBITER01

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What do you mean by "high"? When do these "highs" take place? I think a couple of examples would be useful to illustrate the point.

I wouldn't put much stock into supposed euphoric "highs" being somehow associated with GOD.

I've had major experiences with GOD for almost 30 years now, and not a single time has it ever seemed like some sort of drug type high, I don't know who they are talking to, but I guarantee you it isn't GOD ALMIGHTY.

Encounters with GOD are thing of the heart, your spirit, not your mind.
 
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TruthSeek3r

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I wouldn't put much stock into supposed euphoric "highs" being somehow associated with GOD.

I've had major experiences with GOD for almost 30 years now, and not a single time has it ever seemed like some sort of drug type high, I don't know who they are talking to, but I guarantee you it isn't GOD ALMIGHTY.

Encounters with GOD are thing of the heart, your spirit, not your mind.

How can we discern if a experience comes from God, Satan or if it is just our mind playing tricks?
 
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