Experience - necessary? real?

As humans, we often make decisions and judge things by our experiences. Many psychologists would even say that who we are and how we deal with certain situations as adults has everything to do with our experiences as children. But when you talk about your walk of faith with God, where does experience come into play?

I'm asking this question and pondering its implications for a number of reasons.

I know in my own life that my experiences with God have surely shaped what I believe and how I approach God. The Bible speaks of the presence of God, of His healing power, of the Holy Spirit, of speaking in tongues, and I have experienced all of these and many other truths from the Bible. That is why I can stand before you and testify that the Bible is true today as it was yesterday and as it will be forever.

But when can experience become a trap? When can your experiences actually not reveal anything about God... and may instead reveal a dark and evil truth many want to just sweep under the rug? I think I know the answers, but then how do you tell that to someone who lives by their experiences and cannot see that they do NOT line up with the word of God? However, before I jump into that, let me look at the role of experience in our lives.

Like I said above, experiences in my own life and in the lives of others has shown me that what is written in Scripture is true and real and alive. For example, I was in a church that did not believe in the "power" if the Holy Spirit and in the gifts of the Holy Spirit (see Hebrews 2:4, 1 Corinthians 12, 14), like speaking in tongues, prophesying, dreams, visions, physical manifestations of healing power, etc (know as a cessationist belief... in other words, all these things ended with the first church, for we no longer have need for them). However, when I felt something in the deepests part of my being and my spirit, and strange words came out of my mouth that I did not understand, I could no longer say that the Holy Spirit no longer worked in this fashion. I am not trying to get into a cessationist/revivalist/pentecostal (or whatever other words people use) debate here. So let me use another example that, I think, everyone will agree with and understand.

When I was "born-again" or when I finally realized that is was ONLY through faith in Jesus that I would go to heaven, I experienced salvation as is described in Scripture. I had a revelation or an understanding (that came from God and not from my own intelligence and understanding) that it was ONLY through faith in Jesus Christ that I could be saved. And so I confessed it with my mouth as is described in Romans 10:9-13. So I believed by faith that I was saved and I received the freedom and peace God promises.

Or here is another example based on Phillipians 4:6-7. It says:

"Do not fret or have any anxiety about anything, but in every circumstance and
in everything, by prayer and petition (definite requests), with thanksgiving,
continue to make your wants known to God. And God's peace [shall be yours, that
tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ, and so fearing
nothing from God and being content with its earthly lot of whatever sort that
is, that peace] which transcends all understanding shall garrison and mount
guard over your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus."

When I have been full of anxiety and worries, I just prayed to God with thanksgiving, and I experienced the peace of God, which transcends all understanding.

So I guess in a nutshell, I say, "Yes, experience is very necessary." It makes God's Word real to us. It makes His Word alive. It makes His Word personal. Nowhere in Scripture does it ask us to believe blindly or to follow God blindly. Even Abraham, though he did not know where he was going or when his son would be born, followed and obeyed God when He asked Abraham to go to Canaan, because God spoke to him... i.e. Abraham had an experience with God!

However, there is a point where we cross the line of God's Word and experience It in our lives, to seeking THE experience or allowing experience to dictate truth in our lives. And I will write about that tomorrow.

My Secret Place

With our world, and especially (I suppose) our western culture and mindset, being so busy, it is very difficult to get a moment alone... much less get some quiet time with God... at least it is for me--what, with 2 jobs (a full-time one and a part-time one), a wife, church, and various church ministries and activities I am involved with, like the worship team, leadership, a small group, College ministry, and set-up team. Plus throw in eating, sleeping, washing, going to the bathroom, and travel time, that leaves me with, oh, an hour... if I sleep for only 5 hours! :)

OK, maybe there's some overexageration, but I'm sure a lot of people feel that way. And of course, I am not talking about the whole art of practicing the presence of God as the late Brother Lawrence put it. It is obvious that we need to continually keep our hearts open to God, to keep the lines of communication continually open. Verses like Luke 24:53, 1 Thessalonians 5:17, Jeremiah 33:18, Joshua 1:8, Nehemiah 1:6, Psalm 1:2, Psalm 88:1, 1 Thessalonians 3:10, Revelation 4:8, and many others make that absolutely clear.

But, what I am talking about is that quiet time we know we need to have with God... that early morning prayer like Jesus (Mark 1:35)... that secret place or shelter of the Lord's presence (Psalm 27:5, Psalm 31:20, Psalm 91:1)... that prayer closet (Matthew 6:6).

That's what this blog is all about. It is my quiet place, my secret place, where I can pour out my thoughts and my heart to our Father in heaven and our Lord Jesus Christ... in solitude. I'm committed to coming to God each day in quietness and share the words that are deposited into my heart during that time. I am committed to pour out my heart to God through this blog.

It may seem weird to some, but journalling and committing thoughts, ideas and prayers to paper somehow make them more real, more tangible. And it is very hard to fall asleep when you are typing :)

So following posts will include various thoughts or prayers based on whatever I may have read that day or whatever God-thought may have entered my thoughts. This is as much an experiment as it is my sacrifice and offering to God. I pray that the Lord may be pleased with this offering of his child.

Be Blessed!