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The Spiritual Experience

Posted on December 29, 2011 by Jared Meredith

I remember when I was growing up and how I used to daydream of being a spectacular musician. There were so many long days and nights of practicing and learning that I never thought that I would be able to play anything at all! After such a long time (or at least it seemed like it anyway) there began to be a steady progression and I learned to love the overall experience of working on myself to be better at music. It is still something that I have to work on each day and without the effort I would eventually be in lack or without the proficiency to play like I could.

With that said, I also remember the day the spirit of God entered into my life. I never thought my life was going to get better from where I was, but after getting saved I began to follow what the spirit would lead me to do. These sorts of things could be a thought to yourself in the moment or an audible voice when you least expect it, leading you down a path of righteousness. I assure you the only time that God is leading is when it is right and fair and in love for your neighbor.

Learn to allow God’s spirit to lead and guide you each and every day. There is something to be said about the spiritual experience, especially when we do not have it. It is your lifeline for leadership and knowledge in applying what you need to do and how to abide in the rest of God when you have no solution. In order for it to be fluent, keep in practice and work in it every day through prayer and close humble devotion to God. It is well worth the practice to succeed at life!

The Inner Well

Posted on June 22, 2011 by Jared Meredith

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The Well – close and local in its refreshment

Isaiah 12:1-6

[1] And in that day thou shalt say, O LORD, I will praise thee: though thou wast angry with me, thine anger is turned away, and thou comfortedst me.
[2] Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the LORD JEHOVAH is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation.
[3] Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation.
[4] And in that day shall ye say, Praise the LORD, call upon his name, declare his doings among the people, make mention that his name is exalted.
[5] Sing unto the LORD; for he hath done excellent things: this is known in all the earth.
[6] Cry out and shout, thou inhabitant of Zion: for great is the Holy One of Israel in the midst of thee.

We draw our Joy of life when we draw from the living waters of the spirit through our obedience and praise! If we have any willpower and desire whatsoever, we have to remember to push with all that we have, for God is always worthy through what we receive and through our salvation that we received through Jesus Christ! We can continually draw from our prior experiences, but how your spiritual waters are refreshed as you create new experiences by trusting God for new things and seeing them come through faith!

The Brook – for the one who is lost (as a pilgrim) and intermittent in its flow

Psalms 110:7

[7] He shall drink of the brook in the way: therefore shall he lift up the head.

We can come to the brook to be lifted up, encouraged, and strengthened when we are weak! You can always draw from the brook! I found myself once as a pilgrim and a stranger that came to the river without understanding of the spirit of God. Now that I know, I know that it is something that will NEVER run dry and something that I can always draw from and as God pours into me equips me to be able to give to others!

The Inward Well – of spiritual experience

John 4:7-15

[7] There cometh a woman of Samaria to draw water: Jesus saith unto her, Give me to drink.
[8] (For his disciples were gone away unto the city to buy meat.)
[9] Then saith the woman of Samaria unto him, How is it that thou, being a Jew, askest drink of me, which am a woman of Samaria? for the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans.
[10] Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water.
[11] The woman saith unto him, Sir, thou hast nothing to draw with, and the well is deep: from whence then hast thou that living water?
[12] Art thou greater than our father Jacob, which gave us the well, and drank thereof himself, and his children, and his cattle?
[13] Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again:
[14] But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.
[15] The woman saith unto him, Sir, give me this water, that I thirst not, neither come hither to draw.

Everlasting life, salvation, the waters of the spirit are always freely available and ready for you! There are many things that always come with a cost, but all of the previously listed qualities are there for whosoever will that would be willing to come! That excites me! I’m glad that the way was made for each and every one of us!

The Inward Well – becomes a flowing river of blessings (after the baptism of the Holy Spirit)

John 7:36-39

[36] What manner of saying is this that he said, Ye shall seek me, and shall not find me: and where I am, thither ye cannot come?
[37] In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.
[38] He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.
[39] (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)

This reiterates what was spoken to the woman at the well. And as we apply it to us in the day that we live in, we have to remember to distinguish the difference between the inward and outward well. Leaning on the outward well (our flesh) is a formula for failure. Putting our faith and trust on the inward well (the spiritual person) is the only thing that will hold strong in times when we are required to endure through trials and temptations!

The River – Gives life wherever it flows

Ezekiel 47:9

[9] Their wings were joined one to another; they turned not when they went; they went every one straight forward.

Wherever there are obedient vessels and boldness to be what God wants us to be, there is life and abundance of life. As we see churches in our modern day, obedience is becoming frowned upon and discouraged. We need to come back to the place where we have churches that welcome free obedience, and to take the time to allow people to participate in free worship to Christ. This way was not made just for us to try and close it back up! Do not allow forms, fashions and traditions stand in the way of the living waters of the spirit of God!

The River – Unaffected by time or season

Zechariah 14:8-9

[8] And it shall be in that day, that living waters shall go out from Jerusalem; half of them toward the former sea, and half of them toward the hinder sea: in summer and in winter shall it be.
[9] And the LORD shall be king over all the earth: in that day shall there be one LORD, and his name one.

The waters of the spirit are always freely available and are always in season! There should not be a non-spiritual service. It’s always there! We often wait on this and that, but the rivers are continual, and are always ready for those that will draw. If you could ever see now more than ever we need to be more than just existing; we need to be living from the waters of God!

The River – Never runs out, it is inexhaustible

Revelation 7:16-17

[16] They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat.
[17] For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.

We draw from something here on earth that keeps us in peace! We do not hunger or thirst for the world any longer!

The River – It will make you fruitful

Revelation 22:1,2,17

[1] And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb.
[2] In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.

[17] And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.

We can become free and we can be fruitful in this life! We can draw from the waters of Christ and Christ will flow out of the depths of us!

Prayer And Its Many Factors

Posted on May 6, 2011 by Jared Meredith

1 Thessalonians 5:17 – Pray without ceasing.

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Where can I even begin to start? Prayer is one of the most favorite things to do in my life. I can honestly say that without the ability to pray I do not know how I would have made it thus far. Prayer has saved me from my every addiction, brought me out of every oppression, and has lifted me out of all depression. It saved me when I was lost, and helped me find my way when I needed direction. It sent down the healing virtues when I was sick in body, and helped me to believe during the most difficult trials in my life.

Prayer stirs me in times when I would otherwise feel hopeless. It also lifts me up when there is an absence of people to fulfill the role to encourage me. It reminds me of the grace and provision of God when I have little or no way to make it through. Does that not stir you? Generally if the answer is anything other than yes than you can know beyond all doubt that prayer has not been something to really bail you out before! Trust me, when it has you will know in your heart about an experience that will have you standing up to tell others about the power of prayer!

Most importantly, it is the divine and open communication to God, and without it we will grow weak in a hurry. Always remember the importance of why it is you call out to God and do it with all of your heart! Do not just ask in words like you would ask someone for a ride somewhere without sincerity. Ask humbly and let a spiritual experience take place in your life! Let the death of your flesh (lowering of self) bring to life within you the increase of a stronger spiritual self. Prayer changes things, and should be done often and earnestly! Never forget it!

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Put Into Practice:

This is by far the turning point in the book and the most important activity that is recommended for you to do. I’m begging you to take the time for this.

Pray a prayer like you never have before. For maybe the first time in your life, just put out there openly and verbally to God all of the things you were always afraid to pray about. Be bold and confess to God about the parts of you that you feel vulnerable. Take some time to sincerely work on the issues within. I am asking you to not get up from the prayer until you feel the presence of God bring you comfort.

There was an experience where I got down and was there for a solid hour, simply crying out in pure humbleness. I cannot recall a single word that even came forth, but I do remember when I got up that the pain and suffering that had been on me was gone. It may take longer than that or only a few minutes, but I beg you begin to make it a habit to not only pray for the needs in your life, but allow God to have time to minister directly to YOU.