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An evil spirit

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hillsbororiver:

--- Quote from: Dwight on May 01, 2007, 02:02:19 AM ---
The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise. Psalm 51:17

In Him,

Dwight


--- End quote ---

Hello Dwight,

This is something I can truly identify with, from time to time I have started topics when I have felt as I perceive you to have been feeling lately.

A while back I wrote about the "Spiritual Pendulum" that I think many believers experience and perhaps you will relate to what we wrote of our own travels on this journey.

His Peace to you Brother,

Joe

http://forums.bible-truths.com/index.php/topic,506.0.html

[Sometimes I recognize and identify with what I call the spiritual pendulum, what I mean by this is I see (and personally experience) this comfort and clarity of the Spirit within and I am figuratively shouting for joy.

 Psa 32:11  Be glad in the LORD, and rejoice, ye righteous: and shout for joy, all ye that are upright in heart.

This wonderful glorious experience is then followed by a period of anxiety where I feel the Spirit has withdrawn a bit and I am left to my own understanding with the resulting lack of clarity, not a loss of faith but the Words do not jump off the page at me as they do at other times. My feelings of remorse and regret for the many hurtful things I have done to others in the past return, I know consciously I am forgiven, but I am not really comforted in that knowledge.

Eze 36:31  Then shall ye remember your own evil ways and your doings that were not good, and shall loathe yourselves in your own sight for your iniquities and for your abominations.

It is then that I pray for the increase of His Spirit, to once again feel His love and to let go of my guilty and confused state of mind.
   
Psa 51:12  Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.

This "pendulum" has not been swinging as far as it has in the past but there are still times when I am anxiously awaiting the restoration of His Spirit in me. It seems that tribulations do not necessarily have to come from external situations or problems although they certainly can and do. Again we come back to faith and patience.

Rom 5:3  And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;

I must admit I do not always have the "glory in tribulations" down pat, but it is a work in progress, the Lord is constantly strengthening me and this part of the journey is becoming more of a reality. Patience is growing.

Any comments or thoughts on this?]

YellowStone:
Hi Joe,

It was great reading your "Spiritual Pendulum" post agian.

For one reason or another, God has blessed me his constant love and light. It was not always like this, yet over the years God has taken center stage in my mind and heart. This may sound somewhat crazy, but I have way more faith in him being there for me when I need him than I have for myself.  ???

I used to beat myself up for being so sinful and inadequate, yet now I know that I am is of God. Christ, the firstborn became the first perfect human; there were non prior or since. I am a living temple of God, as are you my dear brother. Yet I am a sinner, possibly the greatest sinner.

Yet Paul speaks of this so well, and I know exactly what he means.

Rom 7:14  For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin.

Rom 7:15  For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I.

Rom 7:16  If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that [it is] good.

Rom 7:17  Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.

Rom 7:18  For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but [how] to perform that which is good I find not.

Rom 7:19  For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.

Rom 7:20  Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.

Sadly, I cannot escape the sin that lives in me, but thankfully God has proven to me that he loves me and is with me always. I just have to trust him.

What I am going to say now may shock some, but I hope not. :)

The Scriptures are living, they apply today just as well as anytime in the past. They are God's word, yet they are not God. I have learned that if his "words" (scripture) grows quiet or dim, it is not because he is pulling away from me; rather, that he is pulling me to him.

Sounds crazy doesn't it. :)

But it is so true, for when I begin to get a little big for my pants and "think" I have handle on this "truth" thing, I soon learn that I do not. God is spirit and his Spirit is in our hearts, if I am to comunicate or learn from him, it has to be through the spirit and not my carnal attempts. God does not grow distant, it is I. :(

Jhn 14:17 [Even] the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.

Learning this through the graciousness of our Father has been such a  comfort. The fine words of Christ (below) mean so much.

Jhn 21:19 This spake he, signifying by what death he should glorify God. And when he had spoken this, he saith unto him, Follow me.

Your brother in Christ,
Darren

hillsbororiver:
Thank you Darren,

It is my belief that although we all have many similar experiences along our respective journeys we do not all have the same exact path. Yes, the path that leads to Him is narrow for each individual believer but I do not believe it is the same exact path for all.

Much of our experience on this journey is One on one with the Lord as He prepares His people (individually) for the unique place in the Body He has willed them to be a part of. As a potter uses different methods to create a variety of finished vessels and as the ear has a different function (and perspective/experience) within a body than does an eye His people are being groomed for a unique destiny and office within His Kingdom.

Look at the different route Peter and Paul took to Christ, remember even what was said about John when Peter inquired of the path he (John) was to take and what was in store for him?

Joh 21:21  Peter seeing him saith to Jesus, Lord, and what shall this man do?
 
Joh 21:22  Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? follow thou me.

His Peace to you,

Joe

hebrewroots98:
Hello everyone,
I don't think that the highs and lows will ever cease;  only b/c they are the catalysts which cause us to become either so very joyous that we could shout from the mountaintops or else it causes us to become deeply  introspective.  There is a time and season for all that we experience in this flesh and without the highs and lows there would never be the balance that we need in order to survive as well as to experience in the contentful moments.

I agree that those lows times feel like they are the hardest blows to our spirits.  It never feels good at the time, but with HiS grace we are able to get through it and look back and say that it was  necessary wilderness to go through in order to come out stronger spiritually...just growing pains.

...and Lord forbid with any of us, but IF HE chooses to take HIS spirit from us and to ultimately make us a vessel of dishonor, then it was always HIS WILL and that is something that we cannot change.

Deborah-Leigh:
Darren

You observed : I have learned that if his "words" (scripture) grows quiet or dim, it is not because he is pulling away from me; rather, that he is pulling me to him.

That is a gem. Thanks for sharing.

Great points Joe. Thanks ; I believe our unity should be in our diversity not in our likeness to one another but to the ever original Christ therein lies our distinction!

Peace to you

Arcturus :)

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