Should believers learn to communicate with the indwelling Christ ?

well to address this one would have to first change the title of this thread, seeing Jesus did not say his faith makes us whole but our own ...

Carl Emerson said:

Faith comes from hearing the Word of Christ.

But let's not divert from the topic.

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without faith you can not hear and faith a gift of God and not of ourselves ...

a hearing that causes you to turn and see ... Jesus said the spirit of truth/Christ in you would lead us into all truth ... even as it did him.

my point with the thread title is to change the word Jesus to the word Christ ... here is a verse which Jesus speaks to this

But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

if Truth/Christ be something seen/heard outside of you then you are not one with it as in a knowledge and not an understanding ... and why Jesus said

But I tell you the truth, it is profitable for you that I should go away; for unless I go away the Helper will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you.

Carl Emerson said:

All good but I am unsure it is possible to change a title...

Did it !!!

Thanks HB.

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as to these questions

Is He only active when we read the bible?

Does He want to guide us on the best path as we walk in the way?


Christ in us ( the son of promise who comes out from the midst ) and the path we are on ( both individually and collectively ) are not seperate things ... you could say it is the enigma of God as He gathers us by the very scattering of us ...

i think you don't need to learn this, you just need to seek God, and God will be more active.

Carl Emerson said:

Faith comes from hearing the Word of Christ.

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We also need to calm our minds and learn to listen when we pray.

Carl Emerson said:

Is He only active when we read the bible?

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What did Christians do before movable type was developed, back in the day when Bibles had to be hand-copied and only the rarest of people could afford a Bible of their own to read?

Carl Emerson said:

What is the role of the indwelling Holy Spirit.

Is He given to us as a teacher and a guide?

Can we reasonably learn to hear His voice of counsel?

Is He only active when we read the bible?

Does He want to guide us on the best path as we walk in the way?

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Jesus Christ of Nazareth said what He and His Father would do:

Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him.

Then He said why He dwells in the beliver:
-7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you. 8 And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment.
-But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.

I believe His Holy Spirit can be manifested in multiple ways but mainly by impression.

Blessings

Carl Emerson said:

What is the role of the indwelling Holy Spirit.

Is He given to us as a teacher and a guide?

Can we reasonably learn to hear His voice of counsel?

Is He only active when we read the bible?

Does He want to guide us on the best path as we walk in the way?

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This was the first week of Lent at my local methodist church. It seems that the work of Christ in atonement and salvation has almost completely given way to calls for social justice activism.
SJ hymns like "In an Age of Twisted Values" (which we sang) just make me very uncomfortable indeed. Where is the cost to God the Father in giving up His Son, who took on Himself the sin of mankind? Are our leaders embarrassed by religion, by the supernatural? We are told we are ALL on a journey, implying there is no point of finally giving in and acknowledging that we are sinners, deserving of eternal separation from a good, but Holy God and needing the indwelling Christ? Nor can it be said that the people know these truths but just need to be moved to good deeds. One lady said she never understood who the Holy Spirt is after years of attending.
I am very exercised. My wife and I feel very isolated theologically although we have made friends, but who just seem to go along with whatever is offered to them on a Sunday.

I believe there is a general understanding of in dwelling of the Holy Spirit but I don’t know how to define it. On an individual level, I believe I can understand many personal ways people can demonstrate it.

I know what I just said sounds confusing but what I mean is that I believe some people will interact with the Spirit in prayer, prophecy, conversation ( in thought & perhaps vocally), tongues etc. There is inevitable overlap in what occurs but the individual will probably have their greatest emphasis where their disposition and ability lies.

I think what St. Paul says in Romans 8:1-39 & Romans 12:1-21 ties together here.

I'm now reading the book The Holy Spirit written by G Campbell Morgan 1867-1945.

Well worth the read.

Got it on Kindle since some reviews said book has very small print.

PS the download is only one dollar Canadian. Amazon

Carl Emerson said:

PM me any time and we could arrange for a chat.

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And yet the leader wonders why there is so little life or enthousiasm in the church. They are too old to be social activists. And to believe that individuals need changing from within by spiritual renewal, constructing good relationships, marriages, families and future generations rather than yet more political activism is personally threatening to him, so we say nothing.

Dear Carl...

I have read the scriptures, I have also heard the Lord speak, at times I turned around to talk to Him, for the voice was near, but outside of my heart.

At other times the voice was deep inside. In every circumstance The spoke word, which is what I think Genesis and John are referring to has made me free or changed me. Never have the scriptures done that for me, although God has made the scriptures come alive to me, as if they jumped off the page.

Let me give an example:

My father and grandfather were both mean/violent people. I did NOT like them.

God had told me a few months prior that when He wanted to change something in my life, that I was to be bluntly honest with Him, no sugar coating, no playing the hypocrite, to be so honest it was as if I were naked before Him. This had happened after He showered me with grace and mercy, setting me free from sins, and causing me to trust Him, which I had not been able to do....

So one day I'm driving down the road, listening to the radio. All of a sudden, the Lord speaks, and He says "How do you feel about your grandfather and your father?" "Don't forget what I said about being totally honest".

So I said "I don't care if they are in hell".

To which He replied, "But when I extended my mercy and grace to you, you gladly accepted it for yourself". Oh man I wept, saying God please forgive them and shower them with your grace and mercy.

hopeforhappiness said:

Are our leaders embarrassed by religion, by the supernatural?

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It would seem that some would appear to be offended if any today speak of miracles or spiritual things or even supernatural aspects of Christianity. They attack any who say the gifts of the Spirit are for today and they say that no one can hear teaching from the Spirit except the old apostles of yesterday, or that the anointing that teaches all things, claiming that the anointing from the Holy one (the unction) is simply scripture or someone who has preached a message to us. They wrongly say, that no one can hear God’s voice today but through scripture and that God does not speaks in believers. Abd that there is no “extra biblical revelation” as they call it.

They are very similar to the religious men of Jesus day who thought they had eternal life in the scriptures but did not come to Jesus or hear his word in their heart. They did not have spiritual eyes or ears.

Yet these men act as if they are the very foundation of truth and all wisdom of men and excellency of speech. They profess themselves to be wise and mock others who seek to be led by the Spirit abd hear from God in revelation. Much of thier understanding comes from endless reading of other mens words through history and from Greek and Hebrew studies and thier pagan Hermeneutics philosophy of interpreting scripture. Yet in scripture we see that no man knows the things of God but the Spirit of God and to whom he reveals them. The natural man cannot know the things of God, (1 Cor. 2)

And yes, holy scripture is very important and knowing the meaning of words is good to, but spiritual truth is understood by the spiritual man. The rule is to walk and live in the new creation in Christ. Then all scripture can be understood as God reveals things, to the body of Christ.

God works in us to will and to do and to make us perfect in every good work, working in us that which is well pleasing in His sight through Jesus Christ, (Hebrews 13:20,21 KJV)

Abd as Jesus said, without him we can do nothing John 15 And Christ works effectually in the measure of every part to make increase if the body to the edifying of itself in love (Ephesians 4:15,16 KJV)