House Church Talk - Could someone who knows what this is explain to me what is this visualize christ practice?

[Phillip Cohen]

Well, if I said "think about your house" your mind would form an image,
right? You wouldn't think the word house, would you?

So, when you think about Christ, what do you see with your inner eye? Do
you just see the word Christ?

A composer visualizes the music as he writes it. A builder visualizes the
house he's building. An artist first visualizes in his heart what she's
about to draw.

For me, the idea was a wake up call to go deeper with Him. I can
visualize people with character traits I admire. But I can't visualize as
clearly the One who should mean the most to me. 

I enjoy being around saints who exercise holy imagination. That's where
our 

As we grow closer to Him, our vision of Him changes and becomes more
aligned with the who He really is.

2Co 3:18 But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of
the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by
the Spirit of the Lord.

What image of glory are we beholding? What's the image we're changing
into? What does it look like?

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. The purer our
heart is, the more clearly we see Him. If we're not seeing Him, we may
need some heart cleaning. 

But, hey, if you don't have a reason to do it, then don't. 

Around 10 years ago, I asked some church leaders, "How do I know God
loves me?" I really wanted to know, because I didn't know that God loved
me. I only knew I was told and was supposed to believe that God loves me.
But I didn't really experience it. Well, those eaders got quite
intimidated by my question. Why? Because many, if not most, Christians
aren't really sure that God loves them. But they're not willing to admit
it because they might get into trouble with their peers.

I really believe God wants to give me a clearer inner vision of who He
is. More than a set of doctrines and Bible verses. More than a theology.
More than a feeling. More than a false image. If there are false images,
then there must be a real one, right? Why would Satan counterfiet
something that isn't?

By the way, what does Satan's voice sound like? If he's an imposter, his
voice sounds like yours. He says things to you and tries to make you
think they're your thoughts. But his voice will also sound like God's,
because satan wants us to confuse God's voice for his. So, if we know
that satan is impersonating God's voice, then what does God's voice soud
like?

"My sheep know my voice, and they follow me." Oh yeah? So how do you know
His voice? How much time must you spend analyzing whether it's His voice?
If you spend much time analyzing, you're too late to follow Him.

Isa 30:21 And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is
the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn
to the left.

Ah, there's the voice again. What voice? Am I hearing voices? They're
coming to take me away, ha ha, ho ho, he he.

pc

On Mon, 26 Jul 2004 22:27:04 -0500 DanG <dan.dgordon at gmail.com> writes:
> I've been pondering this visualize christ issue.
> 
> I cannot really come up with a reason that I need to do this.
> Could someone who knows what this is explain to me what is this
> visualize christ practice?  I am at a total loss to understand what
> this is.  I am at a total loss to understand how it is a practice 
> that
> I could/should desire?
> 
> Honestly - perhaps someone could explain it to me again, patiently,
> clearly.  My imagination just is not very good on this one.  Seeing
> Jesus along a seashore with waves taller than him - just does 
> nothing
> for me.  Seeing Jesus in my mind eye among some children - I don't
> know - it is not appealing.  I am not being sly in my request, nor
> implying that it is stupid - just, I do not have an understanding
> about what I think I have seen explained on this.
> 
> Maybe someone can help?  I think we have analyzed it as much as we 
> can
> from a new age perspective, a biblical perspective, etc - but I 
> just
> am at a loss as to why? or what good might draw me into desiring 
> this.
>  Please explain?
> DanG ChicagoArea

Phillip
spiritfilledhome at juno.com
God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them.
1 John 4:16