But, again, you didn't answer the question. What do you mean by "actively seeking"? Can you please provide a definition?So many people on here have said they were seeking but turns out they were more skeptic than seeking.
How does reading the Bible count as "God becoming real to me" or "God entering my conscious awareness"? I've already read the Bible once by the way, so I'm not sure how that's gonna help.Read the Bible.
Okay, I admit that Paul's conversion is an extreme example, but it was just that, an example. There are other examples. In the same chapter 9 of Acts we have the example of Ananias who heard the voice of Jesus giving him instructions, or in Acts chapter 8 there is the example of Philip the Evangelist who was guided by the Holy Spirit, or just look at the book of Acts in general, it's full of examples in which God makes his existence and presence evident to people, or at least to his closest servants/disciples.If you are waiting for that you will wait forever, as far as I know that was for Paul only. A real connection as I said is more likely be a understanding and awareness of your own sin and a 'fall on the face' repent.
A “skeptic on the fence”, or anywhere else people believe they are, is spiritually “dead” (read Ephesians 2), and intellectually blind (see 2nd Corinthians 4:4). To conquer death by becoming alive with Christ the skeptic must be born anew from above (read John 3). Those who pass from death to life have been made just by Christ’s blood and will be saved from wrath through Him (read Romans 5).What would a "personal relationship with God" look like?
If I'm a skeptic on the fence... What would I need to do? And what could I expect to happen?
Try this 10-day experiment:
Days 1 and 2: Throughout the day meditate on God's promise:
"When you search for me, you will find me, when you seek me WITH ALL YOUR HEART (Jeremiah 29:13)."
As you meditate, listen for the flow of thoughts that come to mind when you contemplate all your beliefs, attitudes, and questions that make you seek with strong reservations rather than with all your heart. Write them down as they come to mind, so you won't forget them.
Days 3 and 4:
(1) Now imagine Jesus as a courting Lover, who is stymied by all the unconscious ways you remain close-minded.
As you do, imagine what it might mean and feel like for you to be gloriously ambushed by Jesus when you least expect it.
Then listen for any imparted thoughts of psychological barriers you might be unconsciously erecting to prevent such a divine encounter.
Day 5 and 6:
Claim Jesus' promise quoted below: invite the risen Christ to fulfill His promise and enter the door of your heart in a way you can gradually or suddenly recognize:
"Listen! I [Jesus] am standing at the door, knocking; if you hear my voice and open the door, I will come into you and feast with you, and you with me (Revelation 3:20)."
Now imagine what self-authenticating experience might satisfy the promised poetic image of feasting on Jesus' presence.
Day 7 and 8:
Jesus may not convincingly respond if He senses that you are merely looking for a spiritual high analogous to a drug high. His self-disclosure to you may depend on your willingness to surrender your life in obedience to Him, if He makes Himself real to you. So look within to see if you are honestly willing to make that surrender, should He make Himself real to your satisfaction. This would be the ideal time to confess sins and repent to prepare for the entrance of the Spirit of Christ into your life. Then when you feel ready, promise Him with all sincerity that you will make Him the Lord of your life, if He is willing to establish an intimate personal relationship with you. Monitor your experience for the next few days to see whether and how Jesus reacts to your pledge.
Day 9-10:
This 10-day process will stir up many feelings and questions, some of which will threaten the success of your quest. So after 10 days, create a new thread here detailing those feelings and questions and testifying to what happened to you as you embraced the process of this 10-day quest. Be assured I will respond to your thread. I am a retired Theology professor and United Methodist minister.
Actively seeking means you are seeking his presence. Not an experience.But, again, you didn't answer the question. What do you mean by "actively seeking"? Can you please provide a definition?
How does reading the Bible count as "God becoming real to me" or "God entering my conscious awareness"? I've already read the Bible once by the way, so I'm not sure how that's gonna help.
The early church or apostolic age had a special task, and they were given specific gifts to do that.Okay, I admit that Paul's conversion is an extreme example, but it was just that, an example. There are other examples. In the same chapter 9 of Acts we have the example of Ananias who heard the voice of Jesus giving him instructions, or in Acts chapter 8 there is the example of Philip the Evangelist who was guided by the Holy Spirit, or just look at the book of Acts in general, it's full of examples in which God makes his existence and presence evident to people, or at least to his closest servants/disciples.
Follow-up questions:Actively seeking means you are seeking his presence. Not an experience.
It means a longing to know, love, and follow God.
Cessationist, right?The early church or apostolic age had a special task, and they were given specific gifts to do that.
The Holy Spirit does still guide us but most times it is more subtle and quiet, which is why I mentioned how God whispered to Elijah. If someone is expecting something large they will miss God completely. There is a well loved church story of a man on his roof in a flood and a rescue helicopter comes along and he says "No Thanks, I am waiting on God to rescue me" He says the same thing to a large boat and to a raft. He drowns and asks God "Why didn't you rescue me? I was trusting on you!" God's reply, "I sent a helicopter, a boat and a raft and you turned them all away."
God works with the world as it is and often through people. This may be as simple as someone feeling like they need to give someone a call or go or not go to a certain place. Often later you understand that one thing happened so it could lead to another thing. The spiritually blind say coincidence, the spiritually awake understand that it was intentional.
Is it possible for a skeptic on the fence to have a personal encounter with God?
What would such an encounter look like?
What would a "personal relationship with God" look like?
If I'm a skeptic on the fence, is there anything in my power that I can do to "elicit" or "prompt" such an encounter? What would I need to do? And what could I expect to happen?
How would I be able to tell the difference between "God is actually having a personal relationship with me" and "I'm just deluding myself with wishful thinking"?
Can God make his presence and interaction "obvious" to me beyond reasonable doubt? Can God reveal himself to me, a skeptic on the fence, in a powerful and life-changing way?
Paul calls the Galatian Christians to abandon their spiritually deadening legalism and return to their powerful spiritual experiences:If I have a personal relationship with X, it doesn't make sense to me how that could possibly be the case without experiences with X. How could I possibly have a personal relationship with my wife if my wife is hidden in an underground bunker in China and there is no interaction, no shared experiences between the two whatsoever? It doesn't make sense at all. All the relationships I have involve experiences, including relatives, family, significant others, pets, etc. I don't know how a relationship could possibly exist without experiences.
What you are asking is fair enough, but hard to explain and define. We are body, soul/mind, and spirit.Follow-up questions:
I'm not entirely sure what you mean by "seeking his presence". Can you please define "God's presence"? How is "encountering" God's presence not an experience? What is your definition of "experience"?
More thoughts:
If I have a personal relationship with X, it doesn't make sense to me how that could possibly be the case without experiences with X. How could I possibly have a personal relationship with my wife if my wife is hidden in an underground bunker in China and there is no interaction, no shared experiences between the two whatsoever? It doesn't make sense at all. All the relationships I have involve experiences, including relatives, family, significant others, pets, etc. I don't know how a relationship could possibly exist without experiences.
Not necessarily, not if there is a reason. But just because, no.Cessationist, right?
We are fallen people saved by grace. Even though we have awakened and strengthened our spirit and some times we are sure, strong in God's presence, other times we might be unsure. Christians aren't suddenly perfect. As I said its easy to mistake the soul for the spirit. We might get busy and allow emotions to govern, or we might have been tempted by sin and so are ignoring the quiet whisper of God. The spirit like a muscle becomes weaker when we don't keep focused on God.Continuing with the examples at the end of the last paragraph, how do you distinguish between coincidences and divine interventions? Do you have a sixth sense or something that lets you know? I personally lack that sixth sense, so I have no idea if God is intervening right here, right now. As far as I'm concerned, everything looks pretty mundane so far.
Your mind has to be open and willing, but it the spirit that connects to God not your mind.
Jesus is all powerful, He's with you now, go ahead and ask Him for a sign, or ask Him to do something in your life that you know isn't coincidence. I believe He will do something. If not immediately something will happen that you can't explain away, and then it's up to you to make a leap of faith and cling to Jesus. He wants you to walk life with Him. Some day you'll look back and see all the times He was there and has been there.Is it possible for a skeptic on the fence to have a personal encounter with God?
What would such an encounter look like?
What would a "personal relationship with God" look like?
If I'm a skeptic on the fence, is there anything in my power that I can do to "elicit" or "prompt" such an encounter? What would I need to do? And what could I expect to happen?
How would I be able to tell the difference between "God is actually having a personal relationship with me" and "I'm just deluding myself with wishful thinking"?
Can God make his presence and interaction "obvious" to me beyond reasonable doubt? Can God reveal himself to me, a skeptic on the fence, in a powerful and life-changing way?
Read the Bible, pray to God. Ask him to become real in your life. Do so in a quiet place away from hustle and bustle.And how am I supposed to develop this "spiritual" sixth sense? How can I have "spiritual" experiences with God? What does that even mean? And how do you do that?
Cutback on involvement with worldly activiities (e.g. TV, movies, internet, junk food, wrong friends -- etc, etc, etc.) Find a nature trail (quiet place) for some excercise, meditating on His Word. Listening for His still soft whisper in your heart. Renew your mind from a skeptic to a believer.And how am I supposed to develop this "spiritual" sixth sense? How can I have "spiritual" experiences with God? What does that even mean? And how do you do that?
Cutback on involvement with worldly activiities (e.g. TV, movies, internet, junk food, wrong friends -- etc, etc, etc.) Find a nature trail (quiet place) for some excercise, meditating on His Word. Listening for His still soft whisper in your heart. Renew your mind from a skeptic to a believer.
Enjoy a heartfelt worship service, with praise music and annointed message this Resurrection Sunday. Enjoy the day from sunrise to sunset thanking the Lord for His goodness and blessings. The praises of our lips pleases the Lord.
It sounds like you think God has to prove Himself to you with some sign before you will believe in Jesus as your Lord and Saviour. Maybe you're so into yourself (self-righteous) that you don't have need for God to invade your life (comfort zone).But this brings me back to one of the questions I asked in post #1. How would doing all of that allow me to distinguish between "genuine spiritual experiences" and "I'm just deluding myself with wishful thinking, make-believe, group psychology, etc."?
I want to make sure that I'm experiencing something genuinely spiritual/supernatural and not just brainwashing myself into believing that I am.
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