Topical Encyclopedia In the context of the Bible, "experiencing" refers to the personal and communal encounters with God, His presence, and His works. This concept is woven throughout Scripture, illustrating how individuals and groups come to know and understand God through direct interaction, observation, and participation in His divine plan.Old Testament Experiences The Old Testament is replete with narratives of individuals and communities experiencing God in profound ways. One of the earliest examples is found in the life of Abraham, who experienced God's call and promise. Genesis 12:1-3 records God's directive to Abraham: "Go forth from your country, and from your kindred and from your father’s house, to the land that I will show you. I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, so that you will be a blessing." Moses' encounter with God at the burning bush is another significant experience. In Exodus 3:2-4 , Moses sees a bush that burns but is not consumed, and God calls to him from the midst of the bush. This experience marks the beginning of Moses' mission to lead the Israelites out of Egypt. The Israelites themselves experienced God's power and provision during their exodus from Egypt and their journey through the wilderness. They witnessed the plagues, the parting of the Red Sea, and the provision of manna and quail. These experiences were meant to teach them about God's faithfulness and sovereignty. Experiencing God in Worship and the Temple The Israelites' worship practices were designed to facilitate experiencing God's presence. The Tabernacle, and later the Temple, served as the focal point of divine encounter. In 1 Kings 8:10-11 , during the dedication of Solomon's Temple, the glory of the Lord filled the house of the Lord, so much so that the priests could not stand to minister. This manifestation of God's presence was a powerful experience for the people of Israel. Prophetic Experiences The prophets of the Old Testament often experienced God through visions and direct communication. Isaiah's vision of the Lord in the temple (Isaiah 6:1-8) is a profound example, where he sees the Lord seated on a high and lofty throne, and the train of His robe filled the temple. This experience leads to Isaiah's commissioning as a prophet. New Testament Experiences In the New Testament, experiencing God takes on a new dimension with the incarnation of Jesus Christ. The disciples and followers of Jesus experienced God in the flesh, witnessing His miracles, teachings, death, and resurrection. The Apostle John writes in 1 John 1:1-3 , "That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon and touched with our hands, concerning the Word of life... we proclaim to you also, so that you too may have fellowship with us." The Day of Pentecost marks a pivotal experience for the early church. Acts 2:1-4 describes how the Holy Spirit descended upon the apostles, enabling them to speak in various tongues and empowering them for ministry. This experience signified the birth of the church and the beginning of a new era of experiencing God through the Holy Spirit. Experiencing God in the Christian Life For believers, experiencing God is an ongoing reality. Through prayer, worship, and the study of Scripture, Christians seek to encounter God and grow in their relationship with Him. The Apostle Paul emphasizes the experiential aspect of faith in Philippians 3:10 , stating, "I want to know Christ and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to Him in His death." The indwelling of the Holy Spirit is central to the Christian experience. Romans 8:16 declares, "The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children." This internal witness of the Spirit assures believers of their relationship with God and guides them in their daily walk. Experiencing Trials and Suffering Experiencing God is not limited to moments of joy and triumph; it also encompasses trials and suffering. James 1:2-4 encourages believers to "consider it pure joy... whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance." Through such experiences, believers are refined and drawn closer to God. In summary, experiencing God is a multifaceted theme in the Bible, encompassing divine encounters, worship, the life and ministry of Jesus, the work of the Holy Spirit, and the believer's journey through both triumph and trial. Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (p. pr. & vb. n.) of Exrerience.Greek 3804. pathema -- that which befalls one, ie a suffering, a passion ... Cognate: 3804 (from 3958 , "the capacity to feel strong emotion, like suffering") -- properly, the capacity and privilege of experiencing strong feeling ... //strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3804.htm - 8k 3958. pascho -- to suffer, to be acted on 3629. oiktirmon -- merciful 4442. pur -- fire 2288. thanatos -- death 166. aionios -- agelong, eternal 1573. ekkakeo -- faint, be weary. 27. agapetos -- beloved 2560. kakos -- badly 3453. mueo -- to initiate into the mysteries, hence to instruct Strong's Hebrew 7202. raeh -- seeing... Word Origin from raah Definition seeing NASB Word Usage conscious (1). see. From ra'ah; seeing, ie Experiencing -- see. see HEBREW ra'ah. 7201, 7202. ... /hebrew/7202.htm - 6k Library Ignorance of Evil. Spiritual Desolation. Treats of the Same Subject as the Last ChapterAnd Describes the ... Whether Christ Knew all Things by this Acquired or Empiric ... The Study of the Bible Recommended; and a Method of Studying it ... The Interior Castle, or The Mansions Apart Introduction Period ii. The Church from the Permanent Division of the Empire ... The Torments of Giant Bad Feelings Thesaurus Experiencing (1 Occurrence)... n.) of Exrerience. Multi-Version Concordance Experiencing (1 Occurrence). Philippians 1:30 having the same conflict which you saw in me, and now hear is in me. ... /e/experiencing.htm - 6k Experiment (3 Occurrences) Experiences (7 Occurrences) Pleased (172 Occurrences) Blasting (4 Occurrences) Blast (28 Occurrences) Happy (143 Occurrences) Conversion (1 Occurrence) Resources What is the key to truly experiencing God? | GotQuestions.orgIs Angelica Zambrano's testimony of experiencing heaven and hell biblically sound? | GotQuestions.org How should Christians view the idea of Muslims having dreams/visions about Jesus? | GotQuestions.org Experiencing: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus Concordance Experiencing (1 Occurrence)Philippians 1:30 Subtopics Related Terms |
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