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REALITY OF THE SPIRIT WORLD
My Dad, John Lounsberry, Sr. was a Southern Baptist Pastor. He and I
really enjoyed going fishing together. On one of our trips, he looked
at me and said, "John, God is as real to me as you are."
That statement has stayed with me these forty years since he
made it.
On another occasion, he told the story of an elderly Pastor who went
to a mountain cabin to spend forty days fasting and praying. Before
they left, the two men who had driven the pastor to the cabin, made arrangements to return in forty days to pick
him up.
Forty days later, the two men were returning to pick up their friend.
Not knowing in what kind of shape they might find him, they were
bringing with them not only food supplies, but also medical supplies as well. Parking the jeep outside the cabin, they approached the
front door rather hesitantly. Suddenly, as one of them reached for
the door, they heard a loud whoop from within.
Opening the door, the two amazed men found their friend with
his hands raised, walking around the small cabin praising God!
EXAMPLES OF SPIRITUAL REALITY
Both of these two accounts are examples of touching Spiritual
Reality. As Paul stated in I Corinthians 13:12, "Now we are looking into a mirror that gives only a dim (blurred) reflection, but then
when perfection is come, we shall see in reality and face to face."
(Amplified Translation)
Because we "are being made into the image of The Lord Jesus
Christ." (Romans 8: 29), we can have confidence that as we become
more like Him, we will take on His attributes.
In the past, the inference has been made that we will stay
sinful and unable to live righteously here on earth. Then, when we
entered heaven, there would be a complete change and God would
be happy with what we had done because He knew that we couldn't
help but sin a little every day.
Oh, we wouldn't do the major sins, just the little ones like
gossiping and telling "white lies".
THE MIND OF CHRIST
That attitude is what has been causing the mirror to "be blurred". In the Book of Phillipians, we are told to think, and by inference,
be like Jesus. Touching spiritual reality occurs when we view and respond
to situations just as Jesus did while He was here on earth. Dear friend,
not only is it possible to live in spiritual reality, but this is what we have
been commanded to do!
THE WALK OF FAITH
There are at least three important concepts that must
be embraced in order to enter into and remain in the "Present tense
Presence of the God of the universe".
First, we must develop, Spiritual Awareness .
Secondly, we must develop, Spiritual Hearing .
Thirdly, we must be willing to make, Spiritual Decisions .
In order to move into Spiritual Reality, it is necessary to give
God full control of your life. "But, be careful, He's listening."
This has been written in love and with a desire to be
of service.
by John Lounsberry
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