Spiritual Communion - Page 3

Jay · #21 10-19-2011, 10:43 PM

Drummer, I would say that what we are discussing is focus. If I am praying, my mind is on God, and as long as I keep it there, Satan has very limited access. If I am just letting my mind be a blank slate, then he can put anything in that he so chooses. I have heard God speak while I was in prayer,and I have been given Scriptures of encouragement, knoweledge of impending tongues and interpretation, and the revealing of personal flaws and sins in my life. My mind was never empty, but focused only on God.

I do agree with you about what some call prayer. Too often, they spend their time focused on things other than the one to whom they are praying. This is why you will see people engaging in 'vain repetitions'. They also pray only what is in their mind at that immediate moment without concentrating on what they are saying. This is why we could well nigh quote the prayers that some people pray (I have been guilty of this more often than I care to think.) On the whole, I agree with you, but I think you possibly misunderstood what I was concerned about.

mfblume · #22 10-20-2011, 09:51 AM

Right, Jay. That's a good way of saying it. Focused prayer that waits on God with such a focused heart is not a mind that has blanked itself open for just anything.

Aquila · #23 10-20-2011, 01:32 PM

These are interesting verses:

Acts 10:10
And he became very hungry, and would have eaten: but while they made ready, he fell into a trance,

Acts 11:5
I was in the city of Joppa praying: and in a trance I saw a vision, A certain vessel descend, as it had been a great sheet, let down from heaven by four corners; and it came even to me:

Acts 22:17
And it came to pass, that, when I was come again to Jerusalem, even while I prayed in the temple, I was in a trance;

Here we have Peter and Paul talking about praying until they were "in a trance".

I think I know what this means. Any thoughts?

mfblume · #24 10-20-2011, 01:39 PM

It depends on what is meant by a trance. I think it is not what modern spiritists think.

Aquila · #25 10-20-2011, 03:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mfblume

It depends on what is meant by a trance. I think it is not what modern spiritists think.

I believe the difference is the focus of one's prayer and/or meditation. One is focused on Christ or the Word. While the other is focused on silence, stillness, nothingness, etc. Perhaps our spiritual nature is designed for this sort of thing. The question begs to know the focus of one's prayer and meditation that produces a trance.

Amanah · #26 10-20-2011, 05:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aquila

I believe the difference is the focus of one's prayer and/or meditation. One is focused on Christ or the Word. While the other is focused on silence, stillness, nothingness, etc. Perhaps our spiritual nature is designed for this sort of thing. The question begs to know the focus of one's prayer and meditation that produces a trance.

I think trance might be like when Peter was having a vision, and Jesus told him arise Peter, kill and eat. You are seeing something in the spirit realm.

Aquila · #27 10-21-2011, 07:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Amanah

I think trance might be like when Peter was having a vision, and Jesus told him arise Peter, kill and eat. You are seeing something in the spirit realm.

Peter said, "and in a trance I saw a vision"...

While in a trance... he saw a vision. I'm not sure if a "vision" will always come while one is in a trance. However, my first pastor believed it was the realm of visions.

Lafon · #28 10-21-2011, 09:23 AM

As I read the comments which others have posted here, I could not help but recall these words of Paul to the early Church at Phillipi:

Philippians 4:8
Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

It would seem to me that if I exert my very best efforts towards "think(ing) on these things," then I can expect to experience communion with God.

Are there, or has there ever been, times when I have felt as if God has just turned His back on me, or gotten up and walked away? Of course! And there are many such moments. However, it has been because of having to experience such moments that I have come to realize that when He has seemingly become deaf to my pleas, it's because He is trying and testing me, always seeking to draw me ever closer to Him. I have also found that it has been during such times that I have been able to attain a much better understanding of His wondrously indescribably glory, which He desires to share with His chosen people.

Just saying!

Lafon · #29 10-21-2011, 09:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Amanah

I think trance might be like when Peter was having a vision, and Jesus told him arise Peter, kill and eat. You are seeing something in the spirit realm.

Does God allow any of His chosen people today to "see" into the invisible spiritual realm? I think so, for He is not a respector of persons.

Seeing there are many recorded instances of such "visions" which others have been granted the privilege of experiencing found in the scriptures, then what prevents God's chosen people of our day from doing the same?

It can only be attributed to a lack of faith, for, as so clearly pronounced in the words of Hebrews 6:6 - But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

I am persuaded to embrace the belief that because God allowed the apostle Paul to be "caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words," and because His righteousness prohibits Him from displaying preferential treatment of one of His saints above another, then it is entirely reasonable to expect that He will grant the same privilege to me (or any of His chosen people who exercise their faith in Him, that they too might be the recipient of such a wondrous happening).

Godsdrummer · #30 10-22-2011, 08:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jay

Drummer, I would say that what we are discussing is focus. If I am praying, my mind is on God, and as long as I keep it there, Satan has very limited access. If I am just letting my mind be a blank slate, then he can put anything in that he so chooses. I have heard God speak while I was in prayer,and I have been given Scriptures of encouragement, knoweledge of impending tongues and interpretation, and the revealing of personal flaws and sins in my life. My mind was never empty, but focused only on God.

I do agree with you about what some call prayer. Too often, they spend their time focused on things other than the one to whom they are praying. This is why you will see people engaging in 'vain repetitions'. They also pray only what is in their mind at that immediate moment without concentrating on what they are saying. This is why we could well nigh quote the prayers that some people pray (I have been guilty of this more often than I care to think.) On the whole, I agree with you, but I think you possibly misunderstood what I was concerned about.

Maybe I did not make myself clear, to blank the mind, I was refering to Amanas referance to taking a verse and meditating on it. Everything else is blanked out. Just as Jesus said to enter your closet to pray, did not mean to enter a physical closet, rather to close off everything else but God. Too many times as I said we are not about God and his word, rather our own petitions that we want God to do for us rather than having a dialoge with God where our minds and heart are open to hear him speak to us.