On the Holy Spirit

MusicLover123 · January 18, 2018, 10:11:07 PM

Hey all, I will attempt to start a discussion on... a different subject than you may be used to.

In regards to the Holy Spirit, how do you "hear" it? How do you know how to "feel" God in your experiences? I have seen many claims on here that the "Spirit lead me to believe this" or "The Spirit revealed this to me" and etc. I may have felt that myself, but am unsure on that possibility. Whether it was my own thoughts and desires reading into different things, or if God truly did reveal something, and would not have confidence positing that proposition.

I do have a greater understanding of prayer, as prayer is to know God's will, and to change my own to His will. That is why we are called to be in "unceasing prayer," so that we always try to know what He wants us to do, and to not lean on my own understanding, but on His. But, how do you know if you're praying the "right" way, if there is one? Sure, you could crassly repeat the Lord's prayer over and over in your head, but I find that tedious and not very beneficial. You may speak many words, but no efficiency and understanding in them.

Lastly, on a side note, whenever I read Scripture to someone, and attempting to explain the purpose of that to them, I feel a great "nervousness and trembling" all over my body. Sort of an "out of body" experience. Weird, isn't it? I am reminded of a person like Moses in Exodus, who when he was confronted with the burning bush, or when he went up the mountain to see God's presence. He must have felt a great fear and trembling in that moment. Again, not sure if it is "Divine Revelation" or just me imagining things.

Any help is appreciated greatly

Blessings :Peace2:

Ross · January 19, 2018, 02:36:28 AM

Quote from: MusicLover123 on January 18, 2018, 10:11:07 PM

whenever I read Scripture to someone, and attempting to explain the purpose of that to them, I feel a great "nervousness and trembling" all over my body.

I.M.O that is the indication of a power which you cannot control- genuine excitement. The start of your change which leads you closer than you thought possible. May take/ will take time to comprehend. Only taken me 18 years to realise this.
Conversation with our Father is like you would have with people- don't repeat yourself to others, don't interrupt them, try to just share while walking but not always talking- our Father is closer than other people!
As we go through experiences and the realisation of His presence even when not feeling brilliant His love goes beyond our current ability to fathom. Just like a dad trying to convey to his children how much he loves them, and this takes time to sink in to the soul.
Part of the not being conformed to other mans' interpretations.
History reeks of many claiming to know God- Christ recognised many would claim to know Him, even do miracles in His name.
The fear of hell reduces the recognition of a plan of stages where God has planned with Christ to correct and develop us into the Gods we are to become since we are His children thanks to Christ. A major position. Major positions work through stages as we grow and are nurtured as well as corrected.

For me, the Holy Spirit is part of me that words cannot describe.

The fact of being transferred into the kingdom of the Son God loves [Col 1;13] releases fear of being incorrectly guided by lesser spirits.

Interesting recognition of the authority which we have in Christ;

Acts 19;15,16 " But the evil spirit answering said to them,
' Jesus, I know, and Paul I recognise, but who are you?"
And the man in whom was the evil spirit leaped on them, took control and overpowered all seven of them,
so they fled naked and wounded out of that house."

I.M.O if these men were really "in Christ" they would be recognised by other spirits just like Paul.
For me, enhances the reality of the ecclesia being recognised like Paul, other people not Yet recognised because not their time.
I could never work out why when going to spiritual prayer meetings I always felt something was missing. I tried to dedicate myself in all sorts of ways to convince God I was a believer. I now know, many years later, He was protecting me - but I needed to go through all that to learn the difference between right and wrong. Wisdom comes through experience which then determines the right knowledge.

So prayer, for me is not just words, but thoughts, words spoken to others, reading the word, experiences we go through- the reality of His presence in every part of our day.

rosered · January 19, 2018, 12:23:06 PM

Hi Conner and Ross !

Love what you shared ..Trusting the LORD is the most important task at hand you can ever do . I do believe in a quickening /life jolt to the inward spiritual being within us .

I also believe that the Love of God towards us all is greater than anything we can fathom or understand conscientiously.

Remember God is merciful to the just and unjust :dsunny:

I see this sooooooooo differently now , I do believe that God works with us all a bit differently and uniquely and in mysterious ways .As we begin to learn of Him and handle the Word of Life .

Matt 5 Love Your Enemies

...44But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,

45that you may be sons of your Father in heaven.

He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good,

and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.

46If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Do not even tax collectors do the same?...

I used to see this scripture as every person was either evil or good .
But now I understand that we are all evil and good , and both , because God is fair and no respecter of persons .

I do believe you have to take the scriptures personally and applying to you directly to have meaning and purpose in them .

Or it reads like a history book or a good novel in third person at first ,looking for the plot ,devise the sequence of events like any book you read .

Love your enemies is the main reason I began to understand UR as true !!

It was the first sign of change within me that got though .. God could not tell us to do that without being EXACTLY the SAME

I began to see the hypocrisy in religion big time! Seeing they love their own kind ,''elect in thinking''and special and was critical towards any and all sinners as outsiders and as the problem and to despise , not realizing the great error /sin in this kind of thinking as carnal/death still trying to be spiritual /Life so confusing :sigh:

It dawned on me , God keeps us humble by being both , bad and good a lower carnal /weak in nature being and a higher spiritual/strong in nature beings , with much practicing Christ WORDS being righteousness we can become stronger spiritual beings to not allow the carnal nature , being death to run the course any longer .
This was the scripture turn around for me ..
You being evil know how to give ''good gifts ''to your children How much more will the heavenly Father give good gifts /Holy Spirit to those whom ask Him ... :dsunny:

What if the carnal nature was the strong man of the house , Jesus was saying to bind up within us , so the Spirit of Life the Christ in you becomes the ruler and head of the household , That begin to make good sense to me ..
I started to pray consciously to Jesus for that help to over come evil , my bad nature with the good one that He was Holy
and would save all in the house and would serve the Lord .pleasing God , desiring to please God :HeartThrob:.

I noticed also , when I would go the sleep at night , when the carnal nature was quiet and not controlling the train of thoughts and the spiritual man within become awakened and aware of Gods presence and joyful thoughts come to comfort , and could feel the love of God radiate and basically cleanse all that negativity and heavy weight of the world and start a fresh new day the minute the feet hit the floor , so refreshing with a clean slate and hope for the best in that day ahead .

I do believe the HOLY SPIRIT is teaching us Gods wisdom with mercy & grace ,Truth comes when we LOVE GOD first and than can love everyone in the Spirit of truth by the Word of truth they are Living things with great substance of faith and very personal in nature .each in their own order ..

We can begin to relate to one another in a beautiful way without hypocrisy and with a true cleansing of Holy Spirit and fire that warms the hearts of those touched of Gods presence as it has been from the beginning and with all included already before us . As we begin to go boldly before the throne of grace that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. As God knows our hearts and is the purifier of them by removing the fear with greater Love than we have ever known before . :HeartThrob:
How awesome God is to us all !!!!!!! :banana:

marie glen · January 19, 2018, 07:14:39 PM

I think He speaks to each of us in different ways.. guides us and teaches us all somewhat uniquely. To me the most important thing is to be very grounded in His Word.. Not that I worship His word, but it is His word(s) to us.. And of course that includes using study aids we these days have at our fingertips, so we don't have to rely on the past translators who we know ran with the truth a bit.. (quite a bit, actually). So I have a daily reading schedule I follow pretty closely, especially when it comes to the gospels, which I read as two 6 month blends, took me a while to figure that out, but it lets me 'enter the story more than how I used to read them which was one gospel each season. I read the letters of the New Testament in the order believed written and Acts also through each year.. So Acts and the letters blend more each year, as far as their total story..

Second that I consider is how Jesus often told the disciples to "come apart/away for a bit" and He Himself would go to solitary, quiet places to commune with His Father.. The first things I do in my days is have "quiet time".. I read my scripture selections and pray.. It's in the quietness and quiet pondering of His Word that I most hear Him.. that quiet Spirit of guidance and teaching, usually seems like insight or some sort of reverberating truth, and then knowing what His Word says, if it's not truth it's easy enough to recognize. I think as we culture the spirit of quietness we get to hearing His voice a bit better and better..

I remember years ago 33 years? I was in prayer and thought the Lord 'told' me I was going to have a baby girl, it was strong enough that I thought I was pregnant at that time but not for a couple of months.. and it was a girl - we had two a boy and a girl - loved our boy of course, and how, but a girl was important to me as I had little brothers i had taken care of and a little sister that finally came along but then was extranged from my family.

But boy did I wonder that whole nine months.. was that Lord? or was it my imagination? what? It's seldom about personal matters anyway that I feel I hear from Him. It more has to do with truth.. learning truth and communicating truth..

I did sit at my mother in law's big wooden dining room table once with a list of questions I prayed earnestly to know the answers to.. which the following years He did answer.. they were questions about the world of today and about bible prophecy, aka, what's called latter days.. Then some years later our son asked me two questions which I wasn't happy with the answers so I prayed for better, and they came to me, the answers, like "bam!" "bam!" "bam!" And the answers just knocked my socks off. The questions were "why was the tree of knowing good and evil in the garden?" and "Isn't it great we get to be an ant farm.." So cynical at age 16! That was about 20 years ago.. Maybe it's just a thing we learn as we go along over the years. To recognize His voice to us that is. Maybe most of it is simply in the "listening".. I've always thought it important to find the time and place for meeting with Him.. through our days, daily.. Not as some sort of unbreakable law or burdensome committment, but a relaxing relationship with a friend (one who "sticks closer than a brother").

I didn't get to read the other replies.. gotta run.. busy day today.. God bless!

MusicLover123 · January 19, 2018, 08:52:44 PM

Wow MG! Pretty cool story! Also, thanks for the other replies Rose and Ross. Some helpful things to think about...

I don't really want to start a new thread about something I just had, so I'll write about it here. It was a dream, it lasted roughly 10-15 seconds. It felt that way at least.

So, I am in my bedroom, with it being night time. I am laying in my bed, and I hear the words "Warrior of Carol, truly a Patron." Now, I know no one named Carol, and why a Patron? The voice sounded similar to the narrator off 60 minutes, but not exactly. It sounded really boomy and with echoes as well. It did not sound like someone in front of me or near me saying this, but all around me.

Then, I look to my right, and there is a bright light shining on the wall, with a shadow of a "bush" inside of it. I could not see the source of these objects, bit only shadows of them. The spacing and distance felt and looked much greater than in real life.

Then, I look at myswlf, and I am naked, but covered in blankets. I take my hand and went to place it on my chest, but it went "through" it. You know in movies how they portray ghosts as they can take there hands an put it through themselves? Sort of like that, but my body looked the same as it did now.

Lastly, I said "Lord, I just want to go home with You." I look to my left, and all of a sudden, I feel pressure on my back. Specifically in the middle-right area. It then gets more intense and grows in more areas. Then I wake up.

Not sure what to think of it. Thoughts?

God Bless!

rosered · January 19, 2018, 09:38:09 PM

Quote from: MusicLover123 on January 19, 2018, 08:52:44 PM
Wow MG! Pretty cool story! Also, thanks for the other replies Rose and Ross. Some helpful things to think about...

I don't really want to start a new thread about something I just had, so I'll write about it here. It was a dream, it lasted roughly 10-15 seconds. It felt that way at least.

So, I am in my bedroom, with it being night time. I am laying in my bed, and I hear the words "Warrior of Carol, truly a Patron." Now, I know no one named Carol, and why a Patron? The voice sounded similar to the narrator off 60 minutes, but not exactly. It sounded really boomy and with echoes as well. It did not sound like someone in front of me or near me saying this, but all around me.

Then, I look to my right, and there is a bright light shining on the wall, with a shadow of a "bush" inside of it. I could not see the source of these objects, bit only shadows of them. The spacing and distance felt and looked much greater than in real life.

Then, I look at myswlf, and I am naked, but covered in blankets. I take my hand and went to place it on my chest, but it went "through" it. You know in movies how they portray ghosts as they can take there hands an put it through themselves? Sort of like that, but my body looked the same as it did now.

Lastly, I said "Lord, I just want to go home with You." I look to my left, and all of a sudden, I feel pressure on my back. Specifically in the middle-right area. It then gets more intense and grows in more areas. Then I wake up.

Not sure what to think of it. Thoughts?

God Bless!

Loved that Sister Marie !! :HeartThrob: I knew too every time what child the sex was 3 times going to come !! :HeartThrob:

I know there are lots of personal things God shows us increasing our faith and trust in Him alone , we cannot discuss openly , most would think ill of that .

I love your dream Conner .. :dsunny: lots of things to consider !! :HeartThrob:

Job 33 comes to mind when we have dreams we cannot possibly understand in the moment ..

Like Sis Marie said , it takes time to get the full impact of what the Spirit is teaching us and stay in the WORD :dsunny:
God bless you , Rose

sheila · January 20, 2018, 01:03:57 AM

..somethings given unto me..in dreams/visions,utterances took20-40 years to be fulfilled or for me to understand.

warrior of strength..truly a patron[supporter]this may be like Timothy recieved a prophecy of his role.fulfilled spirituallyandnot

ofyourflesh[because yourflesh was like a holy ghost.sorrow and pain of heart..and a desiring to depart thisflesh realm..knowing He

has covered the shame of our nakedness[sin in flesh].....=strong spiritual warrior,a supporter oftruth..who desires to dwell

withtheLord.He will fulfill this inyou..if He spoke it,forHis word does not return void.

sheila · January 20, 2018, 01:12:37 AM

garments....JoshuatheHigh Priest had his filthy garmentsremoved..and theLord clothed him with clean garments[clean doctrinesof truth]

worthy words...worthy of God and the ministry. the interpretation of this,is of no man..the Holy spiritmust teach you,clothe you

andlead you into ALL TRUTH.

Ross · January 20, 2018, 08:27:39 AM

1 John 4;1-3 " Dear friends;
DO NOT BELIEVE EVERY SPIRIT,
BUT TEST THE SPIRITS to find out whether they are from God,
because MANY FALSE PROPHETS HAVE GONE OUT INTO THE WORLD.
This is how you can recognise the Spirit of God;

every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God
but every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God- this is the spirit of the antichrist,
which you heard was coming and is now already in the world."

sheila · January 20, 2018, 05:32:23 PM

true.but a10-15sec vision,dream allows not to question..that spirit if it confesses Jesus Christ come inflesh. Iwouldreally lovetosee

a thread on'testingthe spirit" anda thorough examination of the scriptures onit.Baptistsconfess Jesus Christ come inthe flesh..but

teach ET. the superfine apostles of Paul's day confessed Jesus Christ come in fleshalso.

marie glen · January 21, 2018, 05:29:14 AM

Quote from: MusicLover123 on January 19, 2018, 08:52:44 PM
Wow MG! Pretty cool story! Also, thanks for the other replies Rose and Ross. Some helpful things to think about...

I don't really want to start a new thread about something I just had, so I'll write about it here. It was a dream, it lasted roughly 10-15 seconds. It felt that way at least.

So, I am in my bedroom, with it being night time. I am laying in my bed, and I hear the words "Warrior of Carol, truly a Patron." Now, I know no one named Carol, and why a Patron? The voice sounded similar to the narrator off 60 minutes, but not exactly. It sounded really boomy and with echoes as well. It did not sound like someone in front of me or near me saying this, but all around me.

I googled your dream sentence.. "warrior of Carol, truly a patron" - all I could find was a game.. cards, fighting demons? or other characters one such was inner rage.. maybe like dungeons and dragons (bad news that thing)

So warrior.. patron, are you Catholic or in your roots? Well, we're all supposed be warriors for truth..(?) Our inner warrior that needs to digest all God's bread so we can be a warrior with the armor, shield and sWord, staff of prayer..

Quote

Then, I look to my right, and there is a bright light shining on the wall, with a shadow of a "bush" inside of it. I could not see the source of these objects, bit only shadows of them. The spacing and distance felt and looked much greater than in real life.

I've had strange dreams like this too, that stood out, having light in them.. one was just a car, headlights coming down the road in my direction, the light getting brighter and brighter, and it just felt like it was supposed to be somehow important.. "the light" I guess..

Quote
You know in movies how they portray ghosts as they can take there hands an put it through themselves? Sort of like that, but my body looked the same as it did now.

Lastly, I said "Lord, I just want to go home with You." I look to my left, and all of a sudden, I feel pressure on my back. Specifically in the middle-right area. It then gets more intense and grows in more areas. Then I wake up.

Not sure what to think of it. Thoughts?

God Bless!

I'm a bit of a radical, any pang or pain I tell it to go away in the name of Jesus.. The last bit in the dream.. ghostly.. ghost, to me.. is 'error'.. Once I wanted to type Holy Ghost - I used to love doing that! but I couldn't make myself type 'ghost'.. There was a check in my spirit saying don't do it.. weird huh?

But on second thought, I like Sheila's thoughts on holy ghost.. interesting.. (after I read it that is)

:gsmile:

jugghead · January 21, 2018, 05:51:42 AM

Something that came to mind is; who is Carol? if our interpretation of who Carol is ... rather what Carol is, what if it is a reference to music as in Christmas carol

then understood as Warrior of Music, truly a patron with a capital M because is not Christ the Sweet Music of Amazing Grace?

and also, is not the person that started this thread named MusicLover123?

Just a thought

MusicLover123 · January 21, 2018, 06:13:53 AM

Quote from: jugghead on January 21, 2018, 05:51:42 AM
Something that came to mind is; who is Carol? if our interpretation of who Carol is ... rather what Carol is, what if it is a reference to music as in Christmas carol

then understood as Warrior of Music, truly a patron with a capital M because is not Christ the Sweet Music of Amazing Grace?

and also, is not the person that started this thread named MusicLover123?

Just a thought

Don't worry, Jugghead, that came to mind as well. The funny thing is, is that I have not heard the word Patron for a very long time. So long, in fact, that I had forgot what it means! To add to that, I have not really been much into Christmas Carols myself. I find them too cheesy most of the time honestly. BUT, I do enjoy studying the words and meanings of the songs. I usually like instrumental music more, unless I find the words relevant to what I am pondering...

I am not sure why a heard a "warrior" either. I do like Sheila's interpretation of my "vision/dream" though.

Thanks for your thoughts as well

MusicLover123 · January 21, 2018, 06:45:33 AM

QuoteI googled your dream sentence.. "warrior of Carol, truly a patron" - all I could find was a game.. cards, fighting demons? or other characters one such was inner rage.. maybe like dungeons and dragons (bad news that thing)

So warrior.. patron, are you Catholic or in your roots? Well, we're all supposed be warriors for truth..(?) Our inner warrior that needs to digest all God's bread so we can be a warrior with the armor, shield and sWord, staff of prayer..

On a side note, Dungeons and Dragons is an interesting game. It can be fun too, if you play it right. It also can reflect your own moral character based on how you play. If, for example, you always intend to be an evil and ruthless murderer, you may have to examine your soul, look into a mirror and ask yourself "Who am I?"

My Mom's side is mostly Catholic, and my Dad's side is probably more Protestant. I was raised mostly in a Protestant type of teaching, though I have interacted with Catholic writings and statues and stuff. I have never really adopted it though. I do find the major difference between Catholics and Protestants, despite more Pagan influence on the Catholic side, is a sense of Community. You basically have more of an interconnection between believers, and they worship together. Meanwhile, on the Protestant side, there are individuals in worship, but no relationship between each other. If the Body of Christ was a physical thing, the Catholics would have the closest presentation of it. But, that's just my opinion...

QuoteI've had strange dreams like this too, that stood out, having light in them.. one was just a car, headlights coming down the road in my direction, the light getting brighter and brighter, and it just felt like it was supposed to be somehow important.. "the light" I guess..

Yeah, that is pretty interesting. If I remember correctly, The light I saw was pretty big, like covered almost all of my wall kind of thing. I do not remember seeing the source of the light though. Like if someone shined a spotlight on a wall, but you only saw the light, but not the source of it. I think I remember seeing a "bush" shadow on the light as well.

QuoteI'm a bit of a radical, any pang or pain I tell it to go away in the name of Jesus.. The last bit in the dream.. ghostly.. ghost, to me.. is 'error'.. Once I wanted to type Holy Ghost - I used to love doing that! but I couldn't make myself type 'ghost'.. There was a check in my spirit saying don't do it.. weird huh?

But on second thought, I like Sheila's thoughts on holy ghost.. interesting.. (after I read it that is)

:gsmile:

Pretty weird! :hithere:

Here's the thing, though. I don't remember feeling pain in the "dream" or whatever it was. It started specifically after looking to my left, and it was not painful at all. Imagine if someone was pressing on your back with their hand. You felt no pain, only pressure. Then, as they press harder on your back, the pressure becomes more intense. Still no pain, but the pressure kept increasing, and spread a bit. Sort of like that, if I explained that right. :laughing7:

In fact, when I woke up, I still felt a bit of pressure where I felt in the dream. I have not had any injuries to that area either, so I think that that is out of the question...

There is... one more vision I had about a month - month 1/2 ago. It was pretty short, and was not even as symbolic as this one I just had recently, I think. Before these, I have never had these "visions" before. Also, the thing is, is that they felt so real. Like I was actually there, that they actually happened. I don't know much about lucid dreaming either, so I do not know how to do that.

If I remember correctly, the "dream" started with me in my Dad's car with the rest of my family. It was winter time, and for some reason, we began to go cross some train tracks. Unexpectedly, though, a train swooped in and ran straight into our car. A moment of blackness. Next, I was being carried in the air, by Angels presumably. If I recall, my body was sort of white. Not pale though, like a sickness white, but more of a glowing kind of thing. There were others around me in the air as well, but this moment was like 2-3 seconds, so I cannot give much clarity here. I abruptly wake up, and I feel the strangest sensation all over my body. Specifically around my arms and legs. There was no pain though. I would say it is pretty indescribable, In a good way though.

That's about all of that I have to share though on dreams so far. Not sure If they truly are from God, or just some Spirits tricking me or something. I see no evidence so far that the are false, but I still am unsure on their truthfulness.

Patinak · January 21, 2018, 08:01:15 AM

Quote from: MusicLover123 on January 21, 2018, 06:45:33 AM

Here's the thing, though. I don't remember feeling pain in the "dream" or whatever it was. It started specifically after looking to my left, and it was not painful at all. Imagine if someone was pressing on your back with their hand. You felt no pain, only pressure. Then, as they press harder on your back, the pressure becomes more intense. Still no pain, but the pressure kept increasing, and spread a bit. Sort of like that, if I explained that right. :laughing7:

In fact, when I woke up, I still felt a bit of pressure where I felt in the dream. I have not had any injuries to that area either, so I think that that is out of the question...

Connor,

I'm wondering if you might want to get a check on your heart (medical), do you have sleep apnea?

Pat

MusicLover123 · January 21, 2018, 08:15:18 AM

QuoteConnor,

I'm wondering if you might want to get a check on your heart (medical), do you have sleep apnea?

Pat

Well, I should have specified that when I woke up I felt pressure there, but it was very faint; hardly noticible. I do usually have trouble sleeping though.

Do I just blame it all on medical problems now? :dunno:

sheila · January 21, 2018, 05:13:17 PM

His train[todraw/drag]fills the temple.I,also have dreams about trains. we all are 'lifted up" inthe spirit..through putting the sinful

desires ofour flesh to death,figuratively or literally. But,considering these things..we do have to be careful of the machinations ofthe

evilone..to mislead etc. I like to look at it as Hisfreedom/glory train...and we all having a free ticket to go up to the Holy Mountain/City

in the clouds because of the Father'sworks through Jesus Christ.traintracksbeing straight paths of which no onecan err andfail to reach

their destination.. when we be 'train wrecked" and suffer the loss of allthings in this world..something much better awaitsus. :2c:

Abigail · January 22, 2018, 09:34:38 PM

Hi,

I've learned (and am still learning) to discern the thoughts and words from the Holy Spirit mainly by the following evidences:

Romans 14:17
(For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink;) but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.

Is it right? Does it bring peace to you? (I don't mean sweet feelings, but the deep, trusting rest that God gives)
Does it bring joy?

On the opposite: does it bring restlessness, hopelessness, depression, fear? Those don't pass the test.

Concerning weird dreams and stuff, my (pretty wise) husband taught me to KISS: Keep It Stupid Simple. If you do not know what it means, ask your Father! Like: Father, I have no clue what that meant. I am not going to try to find it out by my brains, if it's not You, I just let go of it. If you want to teach me something, I trust you to explain.

jugghead · January 22, 2018, 09:55:59 PM

Quote from: Abigail on January 22, 2018, 09:34:38 PM
Hi,

I've learned (and am still learning) to discern the thoughts and words from the Holy Spirit mainly by the following evidences:

Romans 14:17
(For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink;) but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.

Is it right? Does it bring peace to you? (I don't mean sweet feelings, but the deep, trusting rest that God gives)
Does it bring joy?

On the opposite: does it bring restlessness, hopelessness, depression, fear? Those don't pass the test.

Concerning weird dreams and stuff, my (pretty wise) husband taught me to KISS: Keep It Stupid Simple. If you do not know what it means, ask your Father! Like: Father, I have no clue what that meant. I am not going to try to find it out by my brains, if it's not You, I just let go of it. If you want to teach me something, I trust you to explain.

:iagree: Abigail

Does His Word bring rest (peace) or restlessness (no peace)?
Does His Word bring hope or hopelessness?
Does His Word bring joy or depression?
Does His Word cast out fear or does it instill fear?

and I love that word "instill" for it explains a lot in how the mind can work and can become our own worst enemy

marie glen · January 23, 2018, 12:10:01 AM

Amen! I like your advice, Abigail! :thumbsup: about asking the Father and then letting it rest there.. And I have to remember the "KISS" thing! I love "simple"!

-----------

Speaking of trains.. I have a sort of strange dream experience with trains, I used to have a recurring dream about being in a train car. That's really all I remember about the dreams. But I read somewhere - and it makes sense to me - that recurring dreams or dream themes are messages (usually) from our subconscious mind.. things we should know for answers to questions we have, etc.. or things causing us trouble we don't realize they are or how they do. [Otherwise I'm not one that's much into dreams, or when some folks say "the Lord told me".. etc. that kind of thing, except insights concerning God's Word(s).]

About the last time I had the dream I was in a stopped train car which was very comfortable and the tracks ahead and behind were grown over with a lush green forest. Just the trucks under the train car, pretty much, were still visible.. or that is workable.. I could see the tracks heading into the growth but grown over and could be seen only so far. So it was a nice warm sort of dream, like camping! which dream I do believe came more or less from the Lord, as understanding. That the train cars, lo and behold, I realized felt like a trailer home, which we lived in during my high school years. So why the dreams? Unresolved issues from those years.. Voila. And in the Lord, all things are resolved.. yes? :cloud9:

That reminds me, one of the things I learned from studying up about dreams many years ago, the result of an interest in psychology, is if it comes to interpretation of these, which strike us a certain way, as having some sort of message trying to come through (usually from our own deeper mind, to our more conscious mind). The best interpreter is the dreamer (of course that doesn't sell books, :laughing7: ). That we should ask our self - how does the dream or dream scene make us "feel"? That a dream is made up of symbols, and the symbols are a language (usually from our self to our self). Since it's a language of our own mind, we can best interpret what each symbol of the dream might mean - what they make us feel or associate with it. These being our clues as to just what the dream may be representing in our mind.

Though I suppose, some things in dreams may have a more or less universal meaning(?)

I'm not saying however that the Lord never sends us dreams, I'm sure He does! Especially as it's in His Word that He has at least a number of times.

About pain.. I once had a big pain which turned out to be gastric in nature, but it would have been easy to think I was having a heart attack.. and sometimes I think satan&co like to suggest things.. like a string.. like if we pull on the string.. we entertain that idea.. if repeatedly? it can actually sometimes take shape? :dontknow: I may be crazy, who knows? But I can't help but think how God created the universe by speaking it, so I think there is some creative power in words spoken.. and the mouth speaks from that which is in the heart (being entertained? instilled as a fear?) :dontknow: whereas "perfect love casts out fear" - I'm not saying we shouldn't take health issues seriously, just it shouldn't begin as a hazy fear(?)

MusicLover123 · January 23, 2018, 07:37:59 PM

Amen to that as well. Abigail! :2thumbs: along with MG and Jugghead, along with that KISS phrase. I also love its simpleness in nature, yet have such profoundness. Now, concerning your "test points"...

QuoteIs it right? Does it bring peace to you? (I don't mean sweet feelings, but the deep, trusting rest that God gives)
Does it bring joy?

Yeah, I would say it brings me joy, especially the first "dream" I had. And, If it was Divine Revelation through the Spirit, then that would make it that much more joyful. Especially when it is about an Eschatological event, and beyond that. To be raised to life, and experience Him when that veil is finally gone. The lesson's almost over; Life's about to begin...

QuoteOn the opposite: does it bring restlessness, hopelessness, depression, fear? Those don't pass the test.

It certainly does not bring these things, for God is not the author of confusion. It does bring a sense of wonder though. For example, what does this all mean? As you mentioned, it is good to ask our Father for advice, to always be in Spiritual relations with Him. For we not lean on our own understanding, or worldly wisdom and guidance, but on Him, and his Word...

Oh, and I thought up another acronym for you. TICL - Teach It Child Like. If you cannot explain it with child like terminology to where a child may understand you, how do you expect it to be understood by others?

rosered · January 23, 2018, 08:21:17 PM

Quote from: MusicLover123 on January 23, 2018, 07:37:59 PM
Amen to that as well. Abigail! :2thumbs: along with MG and Jugghead, along with that KISS phrase. I also love its simpleness in nature, yet have such profoundness. Now, concerning your "test points"...

QuoteIs it right? Does it bring peace to you? (I don't mean sweet feelings, but the deep, trusting rest that God gives)
Does it bring joy?

Yeah, I would say it brings me joy, especially the first "dream" I had. And, If it was Divine Revelation through the Spirit, then that would make it that much more joyful. Especially when it is about an Eschatological event, and beyond that. To be raised to life, and experience Him when that veil is finally gone. The lesson's almost over; Life's about to begin...

QuoteOn the opposite: does it bring restlessness, hopelessness, depression, fear? Those don't pass the test.

It certainly does not bring these things, for God is not the author of confusion. It does bring a sense of wonder though. For example, what does this all mean? As you mentioned, it is good to ask our Father for advice, to always be in Spiritual relations with Him. For we not lean on our own understanding, or worldly wisdom and guidance, but on Him, and his Word...

Oh, and I thought up another acronym for you. TICL - Teach It Child Like. If you cannot explain it with child like terminology to where a child may understand you, how do you expect it to be understood by others?

:dsunny: :HeartThrob:

Amen ,
love your post!! all of them , everyones :banana:

I thought of the simplicity in Christ we are to receive Him in ,pure trust as a child toward a parent would 2 Corinth 11

...2I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy. For I promised you to one husband, to present you as a pure virgin to Christ.

3I am afraid, however, that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent's cunning,

your minds may be led astray from your simple and pure devotion to Christ.

4For if someone comes and proclaims a Jesus other than the One we proclaimed,

or if you receive a different spirit than the One you received,

or a different gospel than the one you accepted,

you put up with it way too easily....

Romans 8:15
For you did not receive a spirit of slavery that returns you to fear,

but you received the Spirit of sonship, by whom we cry, "Abba! Father!"

1 Corinthians 3:11
For no one can lay a foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. :HeartThrob:

MusicLover123 · January 23, 2018, 09:09:08 PM

QuoteSpeaking of trains.. I have a sort of strange dream experience with trains, I used to have a recurring dream about being in a train car. That's really all I remember about the dreams. But I read somewhere - and it makes sense to me - that recurring dreams or dream themes are messages (usually) from our subconscious mind.. things we should know for answers to questions we have, etc.. or things causing us trouble we don't realize they are or how they do. [Otherwise I'm not one that's much into dreams, or when some folks say "the Lord told me".. etc. that kind of thing, except insights concerning God's Word(s).]

Sounds like you love trains, eh? :laughing7: I hardly ever thing about think about trains though personally, let alone dream about them. Speaking of that, these two "dreams" that I mentioned were vastly opposed to what I usually dream about. Sure, I do have a lot of dreams, about all sorts of things. I just had one last night! :icon_jokercolor: But, they were not based on a recurring dream pattern. I have been thinking more about Resurrection Life recently, but that was mainly due to that first "vision" I had. I do not think I had the dream because of my recurring thoughts on Resurrection Life, I have been thinking about Resurrection Life a lot more because of my dream. In fact, I have not dreamed about this them apart from that dream I mentioned here. I do not believe that is exaggeration either. Unless I have amnesia of course :laugh:

Here is the thing I want to emphasize though. As I just mentioned, the 2 occurrences I just mentioned were basically antithetical to my usual dreams. For example, my dreams are usually long form, or at least, they felt that way. These 2 dreams, though? The length of time for them was greatly shortened as opposed to other ones. Like, 10-15 seconds for both of them. As Sheila mentioned, there is no room for questioning within that length of time! Maybe if it was a minute or more long, then I would start to doubt what I am seeing...

Second, the way I experienced them felt incredibly more real than other dreams that I had. I would put emphasis on more here. In other occurrences, I subconsciously knew I was dreaming. As opposed to that, it felt that I was actually experiencing these things. Sure, I still think I "knew" I was dreaming. But, that line between dreaming and reality felt more thin than it usually is. I have never had an NDE before, but If I was, these two occurrences would probably be the closest to how they would feel. I am using a bit of exaggeration, but not as much as you might think...

Third, as mentioned above, would be the theme of these "dreams." They are vastly different than what I usually dream about. There seems, to me, to be a heavy dose of symbolism in them. Especially with the second dream. My dreams are. for the most part, pretty straightforward. A common theme, a scenario based upon previous memories, and easy to think about what their them was based upon. These dreams though, felt a lot different in terms of theme than other ones. They seemed to not be based upon previous dreams, and their subject matter is incredibly different than previous ones...

QuoteAbout the last time I had the dream I was in a stopped train car which was very comfortable and the tracks ahead and behind were grown over with a lush green forest. Just the trucks under the train car, pretty much, were still visible.. or that is workable.. I could see the tracks heading into the growth but grown over and could be seen only so far. So it was a nice warm sort of dream, like camping! which dream I do believe came more or less from the Lord, as understanding. That the train cars, lo and behold, I realized felt like a trailer home, which we lived in during my high school years. So why the dreams? Unresolved issues from those years.. Voila. And in the Lord, all things are resolved.. yes? :cloud9:

Do you remember how comfortable the train was? Like, was it similar to to a Honda Civic or a Ferrari? :winkgrin:
I have not been camping before, or at least, camping in a forest. I have slept in sleeping bags outside before, but not in a tent. Was it a rough experience in that trailer home? i have been blessed with a good home and family, so I don't have to grow up in those situations. I am going to start volunteering soon though. I feel called into helping others in need, especially the sick, the lonely, and those that need healing. I may even make a post on this soon...

QuoteThat reminds me, one of the things I learned from studying up about dreams many years ago, the result of an interest in psychology, is if it comes to interpretation of these, which strike us a certain way, as having some sort of message trying to come through (usually from our own deeper mind, to our more conscious mind). The best interpreter is the dreamer (of course that doesn't sell books, :laughing7: ). That we should ask our self - how does the dream or dream scene make us "feel"? That a dream is made up of symbols, and the symbols are a language (usually from our self to our self). Since it's a language of our own mind, we can best interpret what each symbol of the dream might mean - what they make us feel or associate with it. These being our clues as to just what the dream may be representing in our mind.

Hey, I would buy that book! Just title it "Marie Glen - Dreams of a Dreamer" or something like that lol. I do have a bit of interest in Psychology myself honestly. I am probably never able to do this, but I would like to explore the relationship between Music and Death, and Humor and Death. Like, how would a person's music interests change in reaction to the pondering's of dying? How would a person's humor change in relations to thinking of death? Why, you may ask? Well, I heard a while ago on a podcast on something called "Terror Management Theory." It is basically the study of how someone, in thinking about death, creates these cultural worldviews and thoughts in relation to death. Sort of what Ecclesiastes is about, how people search for meaning, apart from God, who is true meaning, and create symbolic immortality. Say, if someone wants their "Name to be remembered" or a "Statue to be made of them." Just look at what they did with the Grim Reaper, the personification of Death! If you think of it as people searching for meaning, rather than the creation of it, then you are correct. I am echoing what I remember from that certain podcast; hopefully I explained it right. :LH:

QuoteThough I suppose, some things in dreams may have a more or less universal meaning(?)

I'm not saying however that the Lord never sends us dreams, I'm sure He does! Especially as it's in His Word that He has at least a number of times.

I am not saying the reasons I listed are absolute "proof" that they are more than what my subconscious makes, but I do think they are quite a deciding factor, in my opinion though. I do find it interesting to, that I had these dreams only after I have been asking for knowledge, for wisdom, for understanding...
The Spirit has been revealing to me incredible truths in the past couple months, so I am uncertain if these visions are one of them.

QuoteAbout pain.. I once had a big pain which turned out to be gastric in nature, but it would have been easy to think I was having a heart attack.. and sometimes I think satan&co like to suggest things.. like a string.. like if we pull on the string.. we entertain that idea.. if repeatedly? it can actually sometimes take shape? :dontknow: I may be crazy, who knows? But I can't help but think how God created the universe by speaking it, so I think there is some creative power in words spoken.. and the mouth speaks from that which is in the heart (being entertained? instilled as a fear?) :dontknow: whereas "perfect love casts out fear" - I'm not saying we shouldn't take health issues seriously, just it shouldn't begin as a hazy fear(?)

I do understand your concern. That is why I am not fully certain if these occurrences are from God or not. As I mentioned earlier, these dreams are not remotely close to other ones I have had. In Time, in feeling, and in the theme of it. My other dreams, both before and after, have not been similar at all to these 2 dreams I mentioned. I also searched that Sleep Apnea causes lack of brain oxygen. I do not think I have that though. Especially at my age? The article I read said that overweight men over 40 are prone to it. I am neither of those things! Also, don't people who get NDE's have lack of brain oxygen? Does that mean that, the less oxygen you get to your brain, the more realistic your dreams are? :Chinscratch:

God Bless!

jugghead · January 23, 2018, 09:50:11 PM

Here is what I love about the concept of trains ..... they are a bunch of train cars hooked together as one train on a track that was laid down before hand connecting the beginning of the journey to the end of a journey

now picture the train cars as thoughts becoming one train of thought and the track is the path that was laid down before hand

the journey we are on is physical life, it has a beginning and it has an end, but our spiritual journey had no beginning because we are of God and He had no beginning, but can also be seen as having a beginning if we believe our spiritual journey began at the time we are physically born

but also knowing that our spiritual journey has no end because God has no end and by it we can come to understand that our spiritual journey itself is a beginning and an end (in the physical) while also not having a beginning and an end (in the spiritual)

Hope I didn't confuse anyone

marie glen · January 24, 2018, 04:06:09 AM

:laughing7: I thought I was a little confused, Jugghead, but I wasn't really! :laughing7: And I can very easily see the poetry of trains or what would be called they're romanticism.

Yes, MusicLover, I do like trains. It could be a great way to travel and see the country.. if they would schedule their trips with that in mind! I would love to take a trip across country one day via one of the sleeper cars. They're pretty expensive though. We do a lot of camping with our grown kids and other family and friends. I originally first discovered God on a camping trip in the Rocky Mountains!

——-

But trains to me also mean travel.. I'm sure everyone's thought of that but I didn't until just now!(Back in the 70's I hitch-hiked across country a couple of times with a girl friend, riding the semi trucks. Which actually replaced trains, in large part. And now that I think about it trains remind me of the big rigs. [Ironically a while later I married a truck driver, but that's neither here nor there, now he's recently retired, which is neither here nor there either but, :banana: it means, I'm hoping, more camping!]

Then there was the movie, trains, planes and automobiles.. Just kidding! But it was about travel :Chinscratch: I think we of CU, our travels in learning and in our spiritual life of following Jesus are traveling for a bit a little on the fast track? :dontknow: Just an idea about train dream language.. Now i'm remembering that crazy movie or a scene of it - Runaway Train - oh dear.. and the slightly crazy guy was riding on top of the train grinning.. well maybe he was a lot crazy.. Forget I mentioned it anyway.. I'm just having a little fun.. I love train scenes in a movie if it's one of those old trains with great woodwork and all.. fancy dining car.. And a train whistle in the distance is kool..

Trains remind me of the old wagon trains which went west (usa) but that was some rather slow travel :gsmile:

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