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What I found to be the biggest hindrance regarding my own spiritual doubts was the bible itself and the teachings of the churches...this is why I completely walked away from any type of organized religion. I then took many years to study, not only the bible, but the scriptures of the different religions. What I found astounded me...because there are many commonalities. When one strips away all of the man made precepts, doctrines and dogma of the various religions and compares the bare bones beliefs...they are all the same. In fact, what Jesus taught about denying self (ONES EGOIC/CARNAL NATURE), nonattachement to earthly possessions, being content, not worrying, being in the world but not of the world...is exactly what the Eastern religions teach. These are just a few examples but there are many more similarities. There are inspired and spiritual teachings in ALL holy books (even the bible)...but they must be carefully mined and discerned from all the man made minutia contained in them.
So I now keep my focus on looking WITHIN myself for the answers...I look WITHIN to my TRUE self (which is not the Egoic self that most of us manifest into the world) for this is where real change happens. The work has to begin WITHIN...if one looks outside themselves or to other people for their spiritual guidance...they will remain in the desert and in darkness. Each persons spiritual walk is different...no two are alike...it is a personal thing and should remain that way. God is within each and every one of us...but the majority are just not aware of it yet and therefore we are still manifesting our egoic/carnal selves into the world. When we finally come to this realization, when our consciousness has been raised to that of the Christ...we will then be able to manifest the Christ into the world...and our light will shine for others to see.
Nice post Christygrl and I completely get where you're coming from. You know what some would say about looking within YOURSELF......that you're buying into the devil's plan by doing so. So freaking ridiculous. God is in us so when we look inside ourselves he's there to guide and direct us when we seek His face.
But I want to actually SEE His face!! I want to touch Jesus and be healed, I want the same things that those people got so long ago in the bible.....I want to physically see and be with God. And I don't mean when I'm dead!
God doesn't show Himself, because He's not like us. We're material and He's spiritual... a soul, which is invisible to our eyes. But we can perceive His presence when we receive in our souls His Divine Love. This is the evidence and proof that He's real and not a figment of our imaginations.
When those of us who are receiving the Essence of God to a sufficient degree, then our soul perceptions will "see" Him. In the meantime, we can have a close, personal relationship with Him... and me and my friends who receive His Love talk to Him all the time, so we know He's with each of us on our own level and space.
Several of my Divine Love friends have had experiences seeing visions of Jesus and received his love, which is different than God's Divine Love.
If you want to know more about who and what is God and what's up with Jesus, then read his messages on this website. He wrote through James Padgett and showed himself to Padgett. If we follow Jesus' teachings, he follows us and knows who we are.
Not so. Jesus was raised bodily from the tomb, still bearing the marks of His crucifixtion on His hands and side. That fleshly body was transformed into one spiritual just before His ascension to heaven and He's still in it.
To claim that Jesus was only resurrected spiritually is to deny His eternal life.
Honestly, I don't get it. I was reading this post by Stillkit in another thread and it got me thinking about why God doesn't show Himself physically to us now, like Jesus did when He arose from the dead.
I'm not talking about people who claim to hear the voice of God or I'm not saying that God is not within us.....I'm speaking of real, tangible evidence like was given to the people in Jesus' time. Sometimes I feel like we've been abandoned to fend for ourselves and if you don't have the right belief system then you're screwed (according to some people).
Wouldn't it be great if God would physically prove Himself to all of us? Jesus HAD to return from the grave to "prove" that He was the Messiah so why can't He do that now? What was so special about that time and those people that we can't have the same courtesy?
I know what all the arguments will be.....I don't have enough faith that God is here with us now and I'm questioning God and His plan. Yes I do have faith, gobs of it, and no I am not questioning God's plan. And then there will be the argument that even if Jesus did return and walk among us there would still be unbelievers. True, I suppose but remember what Jesus had to do with "doubting" Thomas? I just don't see why we have to have all of this secrecy and mystery.....sometimes I feel like God has left the building.
Am I the only one who ever wonders about this?
I've wondered about it, but have come to the conclusion that we often expect evidence based upon what we have been taught is real through scriptural interpretation rather than looking at what is real in our own lives.
People can disagree, but my own life, knowing myself, what I used to be and what I am now in "comparison" proves to me the only real tangible evidence I need. I never want to change, yet I do. Some can argue that an unbeliever can change and my responce is that just because someone doesn't believe it is real evidence doesn't mean it is not.
Just because evidence is not able to be applied through the scientific method of acceptance doesn't make it false. It is real in my own life and no one can take that away from me.
Jesus showed himself to his disciples after the resurrection. Many more saw him too. That was the proof of eternal life and a promise to those who came after that they too could have eternal life if they believe on Him. Then, He went up to sit at the right hand of the Father to make intercession for believers. That's the job God commanded Him to do during this time period and He's still there doing it.
But, He did not leave us alone. He sent the helper, the Holy Spirit, to those who believe.
The point is that Christ HASN'T left us alone, He HASN'T left the building. The proof of His presence and his resurrection is with believers every day in the form of the indwelling Holy Spirit. The lives of surrendered, believing Christian's is also proof to those who don't believe.
In other words, there's no reason for Him to keep coming back and re-proving Himself over and over. If people won't see the proof that is here now, what makes anyone think they'd see it if He did come back?
In any case, God requires that we believe as a matter of faith. In the Greek, that means He want us to believe on Christ based upon the evidence, not blind acceptance. The presence of the Holy Spirit and the eyewitness accounts of the resurrected Christ which we have in the Bible are evidence enough for anyone to make a decision to follow Christ. No further proof is necessary.
I know all this is true Stillkit but I don't think it's fair.....like I said before what made that particular time and people so special that they got to "see" Jesus? Why couldn't He have just stayed here with us throughout the centuries.....things in this world would be so much different if He had. And I know you're going to say He HAS been here with us but you're not grasping what I'm saying I don't think.....physically, as well as spiritually.
Yes, there have been moments in the past when my thoughts of why we can not see the things with the natural eye that were of the day of years passed, during the time when He, Jesus walked along side of the disciples.... and yes, I have cried out in times of despair or even joy if only you could sit here that I may touch you, hold you, sit in your lap, laugh with you, something..... and soon as I do God answers the cry/joy of my heart and reveals Himself to me in a very special way.... to encourage my heart in believin' and too shoutin'........
................."YES, LORD JESUS, THAT'S WHAT I'M TALKIN' ABOUT, AMEN !!"
I don't believe I have ever thought it too be secrecy, a mystery..... as I know in my heart of hearts regardless what my fleshly mind will try to say, God is here with me that we/(I) have become partakers of Christ, if we/ (I) hold fast the beginning of our/(my) assurance firm until the end (Heb.3:14) and that God's grace has revealed the mystery to me, Jesus Christ, Him crucified on the cross for the sins of the world.... in whom died and in whom rose from the grave, resurrecting that we may have LIFE in Him and He is now sitting at right hand of the Father interceding for my life and those also who also will believe !!
He tells us that.... faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. (Heb.11:1) in reality the triumphs of faith are found in Christ Jesus, only !!
I believe with all my heart that no matter what we're to walk by faith, not by sight..... just like Paul, Peter, Isaiah, Jeremiah, and so on, they too.... "All these died in faith, without receiving the promises, but having seen them and having welcomed them from a distance, and having confessed that they were strangers and exiles on the earth (Heb.11:13), we too are just as they were in time past, having also to walking by faith waiting for the time that God's brings it all to an end.... amen !!
But I do have to ask.... the real question would the people really believe or want Him if He were in the physical, flesh ???
I just looked down during my proof reading and amen, skillkit with your post.....
I'm reminded of this verse from the song, "What If God Was One of Us," by Joan Osborne:
If God had a face what would it look like?
And would you want to see
If seeing meant that
you would have to believe
in things like heaven and in Jesus and the saints
and all the prophets
For most people, I'm afraid the answer is that they wouldn't want to see God after all, as they would then be faced with having to believe.
Just as people choose a level of blindness to certain levels of faith , so it is with knowing God .
Knowing His voice ,I find ,is more a matter of choice than ability .
Just as you are going to judge wether to believe me or not ,we are strangers , if you saw me you would still speculate in careful scrutiny, analizing my lack of perfection, baised on your own expirence .
Jesus appeared the disciples on the road to Amais, but they did not recognize him untill he broke bread with them .
There have been those I have met in the past , whom believe they have had a visitation with Jesus ,but again it is something with in their own relationship .
If Jesus Lordship IS intact, one is not looking for ways to manipulate Him ,rather one is prefiring to be manipulated by Him.
There is a level of trust here, that has to exist , not just in word, but in obedience . First to the things Jesus said, we have in the writen word , secondly to the Holy Spirit, Jesus sent to teach in His place .
Every one of us are going to be examined on our real time obedience to the Father, not our accomplishments manipulating Jesus name . Matthew 7; 21,22,23,
The things you need to know ,need to come from your relationship with God ,not man .
Other wise one is is only building a religion.
I know all this is true Stillkit but I don't think it's fair.....like I said before what made that particular time and people so special that they got to "see" Jesus? Why couldn't He have just stayed here with us throughout the centuries.....things in this world would be so much different if He had. And I know you're going to say He HAS been here with us but you're not grasping what I'm saying I don't think.....physically, as well as spiritually.
Christ came, and departed, on God's schedule to fulfill God's purposes. He will return and you'll see Him then, just as He really is. So will everyone.
As to why God didn't allow Jesus to stay here instead of taking Him to Heaven? I personally think that was because of His will to offer salvation to the Gentiles. Had Christ remained, and ruled as King of King's and Lord of Lord's, the Jews would have accepted Him as Messiah and that would have made Christ the savior of only the Jews.
Christ came, and departed, on God's schedule to fulfill God's purposes. He will return and you'll see Him then, just as He really is. So will everyone.
As to why God didn't allow Jesus to stay here instead of taking Him to Heaven? I personally think that was because of His will to offer salvation to the Gentiles. Had Christ remained, and ruled as King of King's and Lord of Lord's, the Jews would have accepted Him as Messiah and that would have made Christ the savior of only the Jews.
Yes I realize I'll see Him "eventually" and I really look forward to that but in my mind and heart I long something terrible to see Him NOW. And I suppose you could be right about why Jesus didn't remain with us, something I hadn't thought about.
Yes I realize I'll see Him "eventually" and I really look forward to that but in my mind and heart I long something terrible to see Him NOW. And I suppose you could be right about why Jesus didn't remain with us, something I hadn't thought about.
I long to see Him too but, like you, I must await the good timing of God.
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God is in us so when we look inside ourselves he's there to guide and direct us when we seek His face.
!!" 
