Re:Verse – 2 Corinthians 12:1-10 (day six). It had been 14 years, and Paul was just now talking about it. Even after 14 years, he could only speak of the experience in the third person. Others had the same experience…enter into the presence of God and suddenly and eternally you recognize His majesty. God is so mighty, so majestic, so brilliant that man is forever changed.
Re:Verse – 2 Corinthians 12:10
It happened to Moses! When Moses spent time with God, his whole face shown with indescribable brilliance, so much so that he had to wear a veil before the children of Israel. When Job, the most righteous man on earth, came face to face with God in Job 38-41, he could hardly answer out of fear and the humility he felt. Isaiah came face to face with God in Isaiah 6 and his response was “woe is me, I am undone.”
Paul’s life was so transformed by his experience with God, that there was absolutely no place for boasting except in Christ. Have you been in the presence of God? What is the impact on your life?
Larry Soape, Assoc. Pastor, Core SS, Median and Senior Adults, and Missions, guest blogger
Thanks for this post Mr. Soape.
I am sad to see no one has responded. How my heart aches that every Christian would know these experiences so deeply that they would be willing to give testimony of them to anyone who would listen. Even when others would call them/imply that they are crazy. I, however, did not want to respond in order not to offend…I was hoping someone else would. Since they did not, I will.
Yes. I am a regular seeker of God’s presence.. although I do not worship the “experience” itself… only HIM. In whatever “form” that may come. He initiated everything in this regard (as I have been Baptist all my life and never had any idea this was even possible). That is how I know it is real. He is my very best friend (actually only friend at the moment, but that is another story) and I think that the hunger for me to be in that place of love and acceptance keeps me always coming very regularly back for more (that and the fact that He is just so wholly desirable. How amazing is it that we can truly/deeply commune with our God?). I am thankful for everything. Although the experiences vary, one thing that is constant is His Peace and the fact that every time I am in His presence I am changed. It may not be a big change in the eyes of others, but between me and my God it is significant.
I have volumes I could write on this subject but my stories are probably beyond the scope of this blog.
God bless you for asking such a question… for even thinking it is possible…. I pray God’s richest blessing over your life and encourage you to teach others all you know about receiving from the Lord while in His presence (your life reflects that these experiences are a reality for you.) How would the world be changed if every Christian drank so deeply from the Spring of Living Water that they overflowed into the lives of every person they met? May it be so.
For anyone who might read this and who hungers for more from God, I can only speak from my experience but I would encourage you to “Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise. Give thanks to Him and praise His name” (Ps 100:4). (For me this took about 3 months of praising/thanking Him regularly before in His timing I began to experience significantly more). Do not give up.. it is so beyond your ability to describe beautiful and worth everything… it is the Pearl of great price…to be an active part of His Kingdom… to receive from Him/experience Him more and more). Always hunger for more… but also always rejoice in where you are at currently… if you are saved… if not, please give your life to Him. It is a great exchange.. His life for yours… amazing!!) Humbly ask Him to help you. Remember that we RECEIVE everything from God (including our salvation) by FAITH. Ask Him for wisdom and revelation of His character/nature/ways/love for you, etc. Ask Him to help you understand how to receive from Him. Ask Him to speak to you and then “listen” deep inside you…. you will not hear it with your natural ears… you must use your spiritual ears. Then, ask Him to confirm what you have heard (it MUST line up with scripture). He is faithful. He will do it. God Bless you. {Disclaimer: I am a lay person. For further instruction I refer you to the very capable staff of FBC}.
May God Bless all who read this… may eyes and ears be opened. May the fullness of the Spirit be an everyday reality to all. In the name of Jesus I pray… Amen.
Dear Friend,
I am so sorry to hear that you have only one friend, but what a friend we have in Jesus!
One that sticks closer than a brother(Prov. 18:24) I will pray that God will send other
friends your way to fellowship with. He recently sent a wonderful Christian friend to me — actually a friend I had in another city, but someone I recently reconnected with.
He will do the same for you. 🙂