Comments on: The Upper Room Experience http://c3fbc.wordpress.com/2009/05/29/the-upper-room-experience/ Wed, 10 Jun 2009 18:38:51 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: Richard http://c3fbc.wordpress.com/2009/05/29/the-upper-room-experience/#comment-88 Richard Tue, 09 Jun 2009 15:57:17 +0000 http://c3fbc.wordpress.com/?p=325#comment-88 Day 10 I am so pleased to read the words you are sharing with those who are seeking God over these fourteen days. I read in Oswald Chambers this morning, "The Holy Spirit is the One Who makes real in you all that Jesus did for you." This was certainly true for the disciples gathered in the Upper Room 2,000 years ago. It is true today as well. I want to really know God. I want the reality of God to dominate my life. Not a facsimile of Him or the God who I have formulated in my mind. I want to know the real God who lives in me. Many times over the past 10 days I have reached in my pocket and momentarily took out the sponge and thought of God, prayed and re-surrendered the throne. Some days it has been rougher than others, but I want to learn to pray without ceasing. I want to be soaked with the Holy Spirit. I am praying for all who have taken the time to write on this blog and for those who are out there endeavoring to be filled on their own. The Upper Room has really helped me. The encouragement of knowing that I am not alone has been tremendous. Submitting and letting the Holy Spirit rule my life. Day 10

I am so pleased to read the words you are sharing with those who are seeking God over these fourteen days. I read in Oswald Chambers this morning, “The Holy Spirit is the One Who makes real in you all that Jesus did for you.” This was certainly true for the disciples gathered in the Upper Room 2,000 years ago. It is true today as well. I want to really know God. I want the reality of God to dominate my life. Not a facsimile of Him or the God who I have formulated in my mind. I want to know the real God who lives in me.

Many times over the past 10 days I have reached in my pocket and momentarily took out the sponge and thought of God, prayed and re-surrendered the throne. Some days it has been rougher than others, but I want to learn to pray without ceasing. I want to be soaked with the Holy Spirit.

I am praying for all who have taken the time to write on this blog and for those who are out there endeavoring to be filled on their own. The Upper Room has really helped me. The encouragement of knowing that I am not alone has been tremendous.

Submitting and letting the Holy Spirit rule my life.

]]> By: Richard http://c3fbc.wordpress.com/2009/05/29/the-upper-room-experience/#comment-87 Richard Tue, 09 Jun 2009 15:35:26 +0000 http://c3fbc.wordpress.com/?p=325#comment-87 Carolyn, I was so blessed when I read your entry yesterday. Our motives are so important. Many people are seeking sign gifts with the wrong motives. Others are doing the same in approaching God with prayer request. The list can go on and on. We simply need to learn how to love God in word and deed. I too desire to obey simply for the joy of knowing I have delighted my Father. Carolyn, I was so blessed when I read your entry yesterday. Our motives are so important. Many people are seeking sign gifts with the wrong motives. Others are doing the same in approaching God with prayer request. The list can go on and on. We simply need to learn how to love God in word and deed. I too desire to obey simply for the joy of knowing I have delighted my Father.

]]> By: Richard http://c3fbc.wordpress.com/2009/05/29/the-upper-room-experience/#comment-86 Richard Tue, 09 Jun 2009 15:30:33 +0000 http://c3fbc.wordpress.com/?p=325#comment-86 Garry, I am pleased to read that you think of the Holy Spirit every day and your desire to see the congregation indwelt with the Holy Spirit. Our God is a God of surprises. Garry, I am pleased to read that you think of the Holy Spirit every day and your desire to see the congregation indwelt with the Holy Spirit. Our God is a God of surprises.

]]> By: Angela Hartung http://c3fbc.wordpress.com/2009/05/29/the-upper-room-experience/#comment-85 Angela Hartung Tue, 09 Jun 2009 04:11:57 +0000 http://c3fbc.wordpress.com/?p=325#comment-85 Garry, I found the book and gave it to Pastor to check out on Sunday. I really got a lot out of it and I'm hopeful that Pastor is ok with it, so that I can share with you. In fact, I think I need to read it again. :-) Angela Garry,

I found the book and gave it to Pastor to check out on Sunday. I really got a lot out of it and I’m hopeful that Pastor is ok with it, so that I can share with you. In fact, I think I need to read it again. :-)

Angela

]]> By: Carolyn Peters http://c3fbc.wordpress.com/2009/05/29/the-upper-room-experience/#comment-84 Carolyn Peters Mon, 08 Jun 2009 14:17:10 +0000 http://c3fbc.wordpress.com/?p=325#comment-84 Why do I obey the Spirit's leading, guiding, prompting? At the end of last week, I was once again asking the Lord about meeting a need in my life. We'd had this conversation before because this need hasn't yet been met for my family so we continue to seek His will in it. I admit I was a little frustrated at His timing and the seemingly impossible nature of the need but was trying to relieve that frustration by recalling all the times that He has been faithful to go so far beyond our needs. In the midst of that time, I felt the Spirit gently ask the above question. Right away I answered with the "right" answer - "Because God commands us to obey and because He promises great blessings for His obedient chldren and because obedience shows our love for Him" The Spirit kept prompting me to think about the three parts of my answer. ...because God commands it... Have ever heard yourself say to your children "Do it because I said so?" I have but I find that I'm not as pleased with their "obedience" because their heart is not in it. God has absolute sovereign authority to order all of creation to do as He pleases. After all, it was created for His pleasure. But does He delight in obedience that recognizes His authority but does not really bring a cheerful heart? How about...because He promises great blessings...does obedience on that basis delight God? This summer we taught one of our children how to use the lawn mower for the first time. Because it's new, it's fun but to encourage her to keep it up my husband offered her $5 to finising a portion of the yard. A few weeks later the novelty wore off. I asked her if she'd like try her hand at it again and she immediately asked if she'd get $5 for doing it. When I said no she joyfully said, "no thanks" and went on her way. Oh how my heart would have delighted if she had said that she would love to help out in this way even without payment. How much more delight would come from her volunteering without my prompting? So, I have a little more teaching and training to do with her. God used this little encounter to teach me that He has a little more teaching and training to do with me. If I obey because I expect to get something in return, does it somehow take away from my obedience? If I make all the right choices and do the right things and God does not provide the return that I'm expecting do I accept what He does provide in His perfect time? Even more do I embrace it and delight in it believing it is His good and pleasing and perfect will for me? That brings me to the third part of my "right" answer...obedience shows our love for Him. Have you ever wondered how you could ever possibly show God your love for Him? Jesus says, "Whoever has my commands and obeys them, He is the one who loves me...If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. He who does not love me will not obey my teaching."(Matthew 14:15-26) I'm still considering these things in my heart and asking the Spirit for wisdom and discernment to check my motives. Oh, how I desire to obey simply for the joy of knowing I have delighted my Father. May my obedience delight Him because it recognizes that he is God and I am not and I will allow Him to sit on the throne. While man looks on the outward appearance, God looks on the heart. Spirit, help me make my heart a place where You delight to dwell. I'm praying for you, my upper room friends, as you seek to know Him better and love Him more. Why do I obey the Spirit’s leading, guiding, prompting?

At the end of last week, I was once again asking the Lord about meeting a need in my life. We’d had this conversation before because this need hasn’t yet been met for my family so we continue to seek His will in it. I admit I was a little frustrated at His timing and the seemingly impossible nature of the need but was trying to relieve that frustration by recalling all the times that He has been faithful to go so far beyond our needs.

In the midst of that time, I felt the Spirit gently ask the above question. Right away I answered with the “right” answer – “Because God commands us to obey and because He promises great blessings for His obedient chldren and because obedience shows our love for Him” The Spirit kept prompting me to think about the three parts of my answer.

…because God commands it… Have ever heard yourself say to your children “Do it because I said so?” I have but I find that I’m not as pleased with their “obedience” because their heart is not in it. God has absolute sovereign authority to order all of creation to do as He pleases. After all, it was created for His pleasure. But does He delight in obedience that recognizes His authority but does not really bring a cheerful heart?

How about…because He promises great blessings…does obedience on that basis delight God? This summer we taught one of our children how to use the lawn mower for the first time. Because it’s new, it’s fun but to encourage her to keep it up my husband offered her $5 to finising a portion of the yard. A few weeks later the novelty wore off. I asked her if she’d like try her hand at it again and she immediately asked if she’d get $5 for doing it. When I said no she joyfully said, “no thanks” and went on her way. Oh how my heart would have delighted if she had said that she would love to help out in this way even without payment. How much more delight would come from her volunteering without my prompting? So, I have a little more teaching and training to do with her. God used this little encounter to teach me that He has a little more teaching and training to do with me. If I obey because I expect to get something in return, does it somehow take away from my obedience? If I make all the right choices and do the right things and God does not provide the return that I’m expecting do I accept what He does provide in His perfect time? Even more do I embrace it and delight in it believing it is His good and pleasing and perfect will for me?

That brings me to the third part of my “right” answer…obedience shows our love for Him. Have you ever wondered how you could ever possibly show God your love for Him? Jesus says, “Whoever has my commands and obeys them, He is the one who loves me…If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. He who does not love me will not obey my teaching.”(Matthew 14:15-26)

I’m still considering these things in my heart and asking the Spirit for wisdom and discernment to check my motives. Oh, how I desire to obey simply for the joy of knowing I have delighted my Father. May my obedience delight Him because it recognizes that he is God and I am not and I will allow Him to sit on the throne. While man looks on the outward appearance, God looks on the heart. Spirit, help me make my heart a place where You delight to dwell.
I’m praying for you, my upper room friends, as you seek to know Him better and love Him more.

]]> By: Christina Blair http://c3fbc.wordpress.com/2009/05/29/the-upper-room-experience/#comment-83 Christina Blair Sun, 07 Jun 2009 00:11:35 +0000 http://c3fbc.wordpress.com/?p=325#comment-83 Garry, What you wrote really touched me, I have also felt this way many times. I have also taken the events of my life over the last several years and try to find an answer to the question WHY? I feel that just as we all have special gifts and talents we are also touched by the Holy Spirit in different ways. I know it is hard not to compare yourself to others but keep the faith that you are filled by the Holy Spirit just not in the way you expect to experience it. Thank you for sharing your thoughts and feelings. Garry,
What you wrote really touched me, I have also felt this way many times. I have also taken the events of my life over the last several years and try to find an answer to the question WHY? I feel that just as we all have special gifts and talents we are also touched by the Holy Spirit in different ways. I know it is hard not to compare yourself to others but keep the faith that you are filled by the Holy Spirit just not in the way you expect to experience it. Thank you for sharing your thoughts and feelings.

]]> By: Garry Dobbertien http://c3fbc.wordpress.com/2009/05/29/the-upper-room-experience/#comment-82 Garry Dobbertien Fri, 05 Jun 2009 19:16:33 +0000 http://c3fbc.wordpress.com/?p=325#comment-82 DeAnna, I am so happy for you, that you received the indwelling of the Holy Spirit (with the gift of speaking in tongues). For me, well let’s just say, I don’t seek it anymore. I think about the Holy Spirit every day. When I have up front playing, my prayer is that the Holy Spirit would indwell everyone in the Congregation. That He would lead all of us in to true worship. There is nothing like being in the presents of the Holy Spirit and waiting to see what He is going to do. DeAnna,
I am so happy for you, that you received the indwelling of the Holy Spirit (with the gift of speaking in tongues). For me, well let’s just say, I don’t seek it anymore. I think about the Holy Spirit every day. When I have up front playing, my prayer is that the Holy Spirit would indwell everyone in the Congregation. That He would lead all of us in to true worship. There is nothing like being in the presents of the Holy Spirit and waiting to see what He is going to do.

]]> By: DeAnna Livernois http://c3fbc.wordpress.com/2009/05/29/the-upper-room-experience/#comment-81 DeAnna Livernois Fri, 05 Jun 2009 15:30:30 +0000 http://c3fbc.wordpress.com/?p=325#comment-81 Good Morning prayer warriors, I thank God for brothers & sisters who choose to believe God at His WORD, He siad pray one another that you would be healed. James 5:16 God's WORD is true, He cannot not lie, I was saved mar 15 1973, I also went to the Assembly of God and heard about the baptism of the Holy Spirit with speaking in tongues, I seeked the Lord, prayed, read every book I could get my hands on, prayed every prayer the books said to pray, went forward every alter call, I finally gave up and felt as tho I would never be worthy to receive and finally someone ask me what I was praying for, I said tongues and was told to make love to Jesus and I would receive, I did and sure enough, I received 1 year to from the day I was born again. Thank you Jesus. My prayer today is this will help. DeAnna Livernois Good Morning prayer warriors, I thank God for brothers & sisters who choose to believe God at His WORD, He siad pray one another that you would be healed. James 5:16 God’s WORD is true, He cannot not lie, I was saved mar 15 1973, I also went to the Assembly of God and heard about the baptism of the Holy Spirit with speaking in tongues, I seeked the Lord, prayed, read every book I could get my hands on, prayed every prayer the books said to pray, went forward every alter call, I finally gave up and felt as tho I would never be worthy to receive and finally someone ask me what I was praying for, I said tongues and was told to make love to Jesus and I would receive, I did and sure enough, I received 1 year to from the day I was born again. Thank you Jesus. My prayer today is this will help. DeAnna Livernois

]]> By: Carolyn Peters http://c3fbc.wordpress.com/2009/05/29/the-upper-room-experience/#comment-80 Carolyn Peters Fri, 05 Jun 2009 14:01:48 +0000 http://c3fbc.wordpress.com/?p=325#comment-80 "...think on these things" "focus" You're right ( should I say God is right) when you point out the importance of our thoughts and our minds in the work of the Spirit in our lives. Over and over this week I've met the enemy and each time I've found the Spirit right there to bring a song or hymn or scripture to my mind and when I take just a minute to think on the truth that He brings to mind I find victory. (And He is patient when I have to repeat this process multiple times on the same subject or idea) Taking captive every thought is not a new concept for me but somehow this week it has come alive for me. I've seen HIm touch me with a verse one day only to find myself clinging to that truth the next day. Truely He knows me better than I know myself and He has proved anew that I can trust Him and His unfailing love for me. “…think on these things” “focus”
You’re right ( should I say God is right) when you point out the importance of our thoughts and our minds in the work of the Spirit in our lives.
Over and over this week I’ve met the enemy and each time I’ve found the Spirit right there to bring a song or hymn or scripture to my mind and when I take just a minute to think on the truth that He brings to mind I find victory. (And He is patient when I have to repeat this process multiple times on the same subject or idea) Taking captive every thought is not a new concept for me but somehow this week it has come alive for me. I’ve seen HIm touch me with a verse one day only to find myself clinging to that truth the next day. Truely He knows me better than I know myself and He has proved anew that I can trust Him and His unfailing love for me.

]]> By: Lori Smith http://c3fbc.wordpress.com/2009/05/29/the-upper-room-experience/#comment-79 Lori Smith Thu, 04 Jun 2009 16:41:00 +0000 http://c3fbc.wordpress.com/?p=325#comment-79 Thank you. I have been filled with hope and so encouraged this week. Thank you. I have been filled with hope and so encouraged this week.

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