Yes, it is incredible. I want to emphasize to all, the "experience" I had with God back in '97 included a "spirit filling" as in Ephsians 5:18-19 -- that is the specific experience I refer to. I remember the occasion (in my little Camero - leaving a very hostile church setting -- feeling completely full, emotionally, forcing me to pull over to the side of the road, wait, experience and pray.)
The experience? I have this same filling experience on nearly every occasion that I am involved in song and praise. Never had it before. Does it help in the defeat of sin? No. And that is the important thing, here -- or at least one of the important issues.
The filling (for me) came as a result of my obsessing about Jesus (the immersion I am talking about). On the first occasion of this immersion ('97 and following), it was my original intent to obsess for only 7 days (the suggestion of a preacher I was listening to) but it continued for over two years. The defeat of my addiction (an emotional addiction - not a physical one) was directly tied to that obsessing. It took a good long while -- several months -------- and it is this obsessing that is the method of deliverance for me now, the second time around. I personally believe that this occurrence in my life is tied directly to Romans 12: 2 and Paul's choice of words: ".....be transformed by the renewing of your mind that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God."
Speaking of my own experience, the filling does not help me directly in the defeat of sin -- but the obsessing, the realignment of my thinking (read : will) and it's assignment to the will of Christ, is the "secret." And, for me, it cannot be a 70% or 90% effort. My addiction is too deeply entrenched.
Something else -- the original effort was the result of an imperative from a preacher -- not from reading the Bible. Understand that the preacher was offering biblical advice -- but his specific suggestion -- "obsess about Jesus for 7 days and see what difference it makes" was HIS advice based upon how he understood the scriptures. I am saying that I received direction, Divine advice, from a source other than the Bible. My point -- we actually draw strength and direction from scripture, from fellowship, from prayer and from the breaking of bread.
One more thing -- all this will most definitely be a part of my pastoral counsel. I am a testimony to a process that took and continues to take ------------ TIME, hence the need for grace. It is not will worship. I did not decide to cease my addiction -- I grew disgusted enough with it that it's appetite left me. There is a certain and clearly defined passivity to the process. It has changed or transformed my nature on this matter. But it is not final. By that I mean to say -- I cannot stop with the obsessing.
Most recently -- the past several days "recently" -- I have grown disgusted with the harshness of my sarcasm -- so, for the time being, it is out the door as well. And I speak of perceived "harshness." The other guys (Deegan, Judy, Izzy and Miller) can continue with their brand of harshness -- but and because of the immersing, it out the door.
God bless
JD
In a message dated 4/18/2005 10:06:43 PM Pacific Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:
Wow, JD. That is incredible. I will pray for you and I praise God for you.
Love,
Caroline
----- Original Message -----
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
To: [email protected]
Sent: Monday, April 18, 2005 11:14 PM
Subject: Re: [TruthTalk] Saved - Salvation
In a message dated 4/18/2005 10:19:08 AM Pacific Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:
It is a long story. Perhaps I'll send you an attachment off list. I did not accomplish it. (Your choice of words is telling, BTW.) God accomplished it. I have been very unclear if it seems I am trying to rule out Scripture! (I think I said not less than Scripture, but more than Scripture.) I have been exposed to Scripture since birth, and I believe the Holy Spirit has worked on me from birth. I was very familiar with Scripture before I really experienced and apprehended my relationship with Christ, after which the character of Scripture changed for me. Ultimately, I would say God brought me; he himself made me know, in my heart.
I remember coming back to the Lord -- which was not a coming back at all; just a continuation of the journey that is my life. But I was raised in the church -- was always involved; never experienced the Lord. I knew about Him, like so many. I wanted to know Him in a different way -- but did not know how to accomplish this -- often praying on my office floor, prostrate on the ground, never really knowing what my prostate had to do with anything (sorry ----------- I couldn't resist).
And then the divorce. I was willing to overlook her wrong if it kept the family and us together. But it happened and I was out on my ear as far as preaching was concerned. New career time -- and new church time. It is not easy to move from the church you are raised in to another. Not easy at all. I remember the first time I worshipped while musical instruments were playing. I remember the first time I took communion on a day other than Sunday. Change is a rather involved distraction.
I knew my bible. I had memorized whole books of the bible. I was very familiar with its pages. But no experience. In the years between '87 and '97 -- I left off the study of the written word and lived my life as best I could.
And in '97, 40 years after my water baptism, I experienced the Lord in a dynamic way, prayed for, years and years earlier. The difference, for me, is this "immersion" thing. I immersed myself in Him -- all I read was of faith; the music was praise; my fellowship with others was with believers -- no Rush; Chrsitian tapes and CD's. No news. After 10 years of being away from the Book, I found this second trip a real trip. And I was on this "high" for well over 2 years. My addictions were gone. And I was growing away from the character flaws that distinguish me for who I am.
Anyway -- in the interm, since that time, the high was lost and my addiction became more of a pronounced battle. Beginning the end of last year (Nov '04), I decided to involve myself in this process of immersion into Christ. And it is having precisely the same effect. It has taken several months, the effects are the same.
I want to point to out something in regard to the progression - my progression - as a result of this immersion. I was increasingly aware of the changes within -- growing and more pronounced each day. It has only been the last three or four days that these changes really became obvious --- outward and in the open.
This is exactly why, IMO, the law has been our tutor -- introducing us to the Spirit.
JD
