Regeneration/baptism of the holy spirit

Hi Blain, I appreciate your curiosity for the things of the Lord!

As far as the "correct" term for what you experienced, it kind of depends on who you ask. Some would describe it as the "baptism" of the Holy Spirit, but then you will run into those who point out Ephesians 4:5, which says "One Lord, One Faith, One baptism". So then it gets confusing as some will think you are referring to a separate Spirit or separate salvation. I did use the term "baptism of The Holy Spirit" in another post because it was the term you seemed familiar with, but of course then @GWH was right there to point it out lol (which it IS a valid point to make, it's kinda word semantics but it can sound confusing and we shouldn't be confusing if we can help it, so thank you @GWH, now I finally know what you were taking issue with lol .) A better/clearer term for what you experienced that day would probably be a "filling" or "pouring out" of God's Spirit. Given the etymology of the word "Baptizo" (which can mean an immersion, washing, or pouring out), I don't think it is exactly Bad/Wrong to use the word, baptism, but like I say it can be confusing to some.

A pastor once explained it this way: He held out an empty cup. Then he held up a pitcher of water and said to think of the water as The Holy Spirit. He poured some water into the cup and said that was the cup getting saved (regenerated) it was now a vessel for the Master's use and could pour into other cups as well. Then he said that we can also ask to be overflowing with the Holy Spirit. He poured more water into the cup until it was spilling over the rim, running onto the floor, soaking the carpet, etc. We were all a little shocked because the floor was getting soaked. But then after he stopped pouring He commented that none of us were really paying attention to the cup anymore, we were all looking at what was flowing out of it. He was right. We decrease, so the Lord can increase.

Anyway....it was all one pitcher of the same water (same Spirit). It's one body, one salvation, One Lord that all true Christians partake of. BUT, there are multiple things we can do to increase The Spirit's presence in our lives (iNCLUDING asking for it, sorry @GWH but we may have to agree to disagree on that one!). However, asking isn't the complete sum of it, our obedience is important, so is working on the fruit of the Spirit (can't have too much of that!), It's also important to learn and apply the written word of God (logos), plus heed the Spirit when He speaks to us (rhema). One thing I have found is that God stops talking when we stop listening. Not a good place to be.

I hope this was helpful! It's a complicated and fairly contentious subject that can quickly devolve into arguments over word semantics, but I really did try lol.

Hi Blain, I appreciate your curiosity for the things of the Lord!

As far as the "correct" term for what you experienced, it kind of depends on who you ask. Some would describe it as the "baptism" of the Holy Spirit, but then you will run into those who point out Ephesians 4:5, which says "One Lord, One Faith, One baptism". So then it gets confusing as some will think you are referring to a separate Spirit or separate salvation. I did use the term "baptism of The Holy Spirit" in another post because it was the term you seemed familiar with, but of course then @GWH was right there to point it out lol (which it IS a valid point to make, it's kinda word semantics but it can sound confusing and we shouldn't be confusing if we can help it, so thank you @GWH, now I finally know what you were taking issue with lol .) A better/clearer term for what you experienced that day would probably be a "filling" or "pouring out" of God's Spirit. Given the etymology of the word "Baptizo" (which can mean an immersion, washing, or pouring out), I don't think it is exactly Bad/Wrong to use the word, baptism, but like I say it can be confusing to some.

A pastor once explained it this way: He held out an empty cup. Then he held up a pitcher of water and said to think of the water as The Holy Spirit. He poured some water into the cup and said that was the cup getting saved (regenerated) it was now a vessel for the Master's use and could pour into other cups as well. Then he said that we can also ask to be overflowing with the Holy Spirit. He poured more water into the cup until it was spilling over the rim, running onto the floor, soaking the carpet, etc. We were all a little shocked because the floor was getting soaked. But then after he stopped pouring He commented that none of us were really paying attention to the cup anymore, we were all looking at what was flowing out of it. He was right. We decrease, so the Lord can increase.

Anyway....it was all one pitcher of the same water (same Spirit). It's one body, one salvation, One Lord that all true Christians partake of. BUT, there are multiple things we can do to increase The Spirit's presence in our lives (iNCLUDING asking for it, sorry @GWH but we may have to agree to disagree on that one!). However, asking isn't the complete sum of it, our obedience is important, so is working on the fruit of the Spirit (can't have too much of that!), It's also important to learn and apply the written word of God (logos), plus heed the Spirit when He speaks to us (rhema). One thing I have found is that God stops talking when we stop listening. Not a good place to be.

I hope this was helpful! It's a complicated and fairly contentious subject that can quickly devolve into arguments over word semantics, but I really did try lol.

I like the water cup analogy it really helps explain it, and as for the word issue yeah that could complicate things but really I think we all agree on most of it just some confusion on terms
I am fascinated with the things of God his spirit in particular as his spirit works in so many ways and can be a benefit to the believer in so many ways as well.
currently I am waiting for God to help me with some spiritual matters I have been dealing with for a few years now I have been dealing with spiritual warfare to a degree for several years now and I think that is why he has been extra generous with filling me up

Here are some thoughts I have had about how to counsel oneself:

1. Ask yourself "What is happening?" (I am getting… upset, angry, sad, bored, etc.)

2. Then, "Why am I feeling this way?" (Because of what someone said or did, because of inactivity, because of being tired or hungry, etc.)

3. And then, "How can I cope with my feelings or resolve this situation in a good way?" (By taking a nap, by exercising, by eating, by talking with a caring person, etc.)

4. Next, "How can I take responsibility for my happiness?" (By thinking of fun things to do, by listening to pleasant music, by watching clean shows, by going to a church with a nice youth group, by reading an interesting book, by seeking new friendships, etc.).

5. Also, "How can I cope with negative thoughts, events and people?" (By doing the following

a. Accentuate the positive while eliminating the negative (cf. Bing Crosby song).
b. Make a reasonable effort, so you have no reason to be ashamed of not trying, but do not try to be perfect or to work miracles.
c. Live one day at a time, letting painful memories fade while making good memories today and not worrying about what might happen tomorrow (cf. Joe Walsh song).
d. Pray the Serenity Prayer: “Lord grant me the courage to change the things I can, the patience and strength to endure the things I cannot change, and the wisdom to discern the difference.”
e. Work on what seems to be a big forest of problems by cutting down one tree at a time.
f. Count your blessings, compared with poor kids starving around the world, who would love to be in your shoes.
g. Realize that many people (and God) care about you and are willing to help, if you ask them.
h. Listen to music that makes you happy and supports positive thoughts and moral values.
i. Learn from mistakes, preferably those made by others (including parents), so you will not repeat them and thus will have a happier life.
j. When negative events occur, counsel yourself as above.
k. When people mistreat you, consider counseling them by saying, “I know I do not deserve this, so would you like to share what is really bothering you?
l. Adopt as a motto: “Love to learn, and learn to love.”

I find listening to music always helps too what I am going through is a cross roads of what I am to do in my life so I am waiting on God for answer I

Well, I am no authority on that. When I graduated from HS I envied friends who had career goals. I wound up with a BA with three majors, but then was sent to Germany by the Navy, and when I got out I was trained by an uncle to be a right-of-way agent. Then I worked in a 7-11 store before attending seminary for the counseling program but discovered systematic theology and worked for Manpower during the summers before winding up with an MRE and becoming a Minister of Youth and Education in Maryland.

I could go on, but I guess my idea was to try whichever door seemed to be open the widest at the time
(hopefully by the Lord :^)

wow that is amazing you have really been around
I just need a door to open he usually shows me which way to go but for now no door is open for me atm
I am in a nursing home right now a really bad one but I have nowhere else to go right now I get only 900 for my disability to live off so finding somewhere in my area to live is next to impossible
But this place plagues me with a lot of negative things so often times I have to find a way to cope with my situation and I am in a prison like environment so it makes me feel caged

but even so God has been with me and I am sure eventually he will open a door for me to walk through

Based on my work experience, have you applied with Manpower and convenience stores or restaurants
or any/every place with help wanted sign?

Do you have any family members who could hire you?

Does your disability limit this type of job?

Well the issue is first I need to be able to find a place to live that I can afford second being legally blind limits what I can do for work and sadly my family disowned me so I have no one to help. but if I can get into a group home of sorts they have jobs you can do and stuff I love working so that would be a huge plus for me it is just that oklahoma is not good for places like that they are far and few in between
I cannot even afford my eye drops for my eyes so being able to afford living is even more difficult, magenta wanted to help me with the eye drops but I only have cash app she doesn't do cash app
but yeah money is sadly a huge problem as far as living goes at least I am not homeless but I also am in a very bad living situation and lots of death too the people here are not taken care of and end up passing away everyone I get close to here I lose

I have learned that nursing homes are very good at sweeping things under the rug
but believe me once I am able I intend to work again and live my own life but for now there is nothing I can do

Can you see well enough to provide live-in care for people or pets?

no sadly not but I can see well enough to do some things as for as work goes really just limits reading things and seeing things in detail I have to have assistance or else I will walk into things I fell once over a chair and nearly crushed my chest landing on top of the chair another time I fell down staircases so yeah my eyes are not great

Are you in contact with a local support group for the blind and the local office of the Oklahoma rehabilitation agency?

Also can you get transportation to attend the largest church in the town?

Also can you get transportation to attend the largest church in the town?

How are you able to read CC posts?

I am not currently able to get transportation and I am in contact with a case manager but not the league for the blind my case manager and I are trying to find somewhere it is just not easy

Are you sure the local large church doesn’t transport people to their services?
I pray your case manager will come through and will be interested to learn how that goes.
I know some blind folks have talent on musical instruments. Do you?

there is a church that does transport but my phone doesn't work right now so I cannot get a hold of them but it is a really great church one of the few I have found where you actually feel the holy spirits presence

it is called revival for Christ

Well can’t you borrow a phone?