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experience, experiencing eternal life, freedom, Gerhard Tersteegen, God’s presence, Holiness, knowing, peace, prayer, spiritual blessings, the Kingdom of God, the presence of God, the promised land, thought life
Bumblebee Feeding on a Purple Tansy
(Photo by Susanne Schuberth)
I found three quotes from Gerhard Tersteegen (*) today of which I think that they are quite enlightening with regards to our true Christian “duties”. From my own experience I can confirm that God freed me from so many things of which I had thought I should do them, either because others expected me to do so or I demanded it of myself. It has been a very long struggle and I am not yet through it all, but sometimes I feel a kind of very quiet peace I have not known before. Immersed into a silence where spoken words and even thoughts come to an end, I discover the subtle power of the omnipresent God that is reflected by all creation. And out of the blue, your whole being knows what LIFE is all about…
Q: “How do we get there?”
(1) Prayer is the entrance to God’s presence
Prayer brings to us blessings which we need, and which only God can give, and which prayer can alone convey to us … This service of prayer is not a mere rite, a ceremony through which we go, a sort of performance. Prayer is going to God for something needed and desired. Prayer is simply asking God to do for us what he has promised us he will do if we ask him … Asking is man’s part. Giving is God’s part. The praying belongs to us. The answer belongs to God.
(Gerhard Tersteegen)
(2) Let us live in our own God-given lives NOW
Let none, however difficult the circumstances, consider himself as debarred from the way of holiness. Have we but God and the cross of Christ, we have the means for becoming altogether holy in our walk and conversation. What dungeon is there that can shut us out from this? Only let us use the present location and means faithfully and truly, taking them from God’s hand, and we shall find him able to free us from all that is really a hindrance. Let us each one desire to be a saint in his own place and calling, instead of building ‘castles in the air’ of future holiness.
(Gerhard Tersteegen)
(3) If we have entered into God’s presence, we already have access to all spiritual blessings that can be had
To walk before God and in His presence is the ground and the costly jewel of true Christian living. I would have you above all things to grasp this firmly, because, when it is rightly understood and practiced, it includes all else.
(Gerhard Tersteegen)
Read more at: http://www.azquotes.com/author/30488-Gerhard_Tersteegen
(*) Text in blue are quotes, the headings are mine
I would say that what was said by Tersteegen is simply the Christian life summed up–I would word it in reverse–God is present inside of you right now,so live saintly in your present location,and whatever your need for the moment is ask Him and be content in His answer.Or as Mike said in his post–He is in you or He is not–so who you going to depend on?
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That was very well said, dear Ken. As always. ⭐
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Ah yes, simplicity. Sometimes the world teaches us the precise opposite of what Christ does. There’s this saying, “it’s better to give than to receive,” designed to try and make us more charitable. The thing is, Christ taught us to receive, to receive His sacrifice, His salvation, His love. Life is yet another gift we receive. So when we receive all that creation has to offer with delight and rejoicing, it becomes a form of praise. So from that perspective, our “true Christian duty” is actually to be loved and to reflect that out in the world. That’s it, just “be loved.” It sounds like such a simple thing, but it actually makes a huge difference in the world.
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Oh, your verbalization was wonderful, Gabrielle. 🙂 Full of truth and getting to the point. You wrote,
The thing is, Christ taught us to receive, to receive His sacrifice, His salvation, His love. Life is yet another gift we receive. So when we receive all that creation has to offer with delight and rejoicing, it becomes a form of praise. So from that perspective, our “true Christian duty” is actually to be loved and to reflect that out in the world. That’s it, just “be loved.”
Thank you very much for your wise words! ❤
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The second quote, in particular, reminded me of Richard Wurmbrand’s observation, “A faith that can be destroyed is no faith.” We in the West take so much for granted. Our right to worship as we choose. Our right to speak out against injustice. We seek after material things, and consider ourselves slighted if God does not provide these to excess. Yet God’s love surrounds us.
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Yes, Anna, I do agree with Richard Wurmbrand’s quote. 🙂
From hence, we might see that true faith must be freely given by God for our old nature is always inclined to doubt God and His inherent goodness. What I find so astonishing about God is that He who created us and put us exactly into that place – the West – knowing how we would grow up, become, feel, and act, He has always loved us, though! And He would never demand anything of us which we would not freely give as it is written,
Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work. As it is written, “He has distributed freely, he has given to the poor; his righteousness endures forever.” (2 Cor 9:7-9 ESV)
It might have to do with the fact that God knows our hearts and thus also knows that He alone can change them. As long as we have never faced poverty on our own, how could we ever truly understand those who are in need? Nonetheless, God sometimes touches our very hearts and lets us feel His compassion for the fellow (wo)man. And then, everything is possible for us, too…
Love ❤
Susanne
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Thank you, Susanne. I am always enriched by your insights. ❤
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You’re most welcome, dear Anna. ❤
I highly appreciate your always wise contribution.
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Susanne, you wrote something here that stirred a deep hunger in my heart,
“…sometimes I feel a kind of very quiet peace I have not known before. Immersed into a silence where spoken words and even thoughts come to an end, I discover the subtle power of the omnipresent God that is reflected by all creation. And out of the blue, your whole being knows what LIFE is all about…”
WOW! Yes! I want THAT! I think that what you experienced and wrote about here is that peace that surpasses all “common sense.” When the world is going nuts around us, our bodies are aching and everything is out of whack, pushing in on us to do its bidding in unrest and join in its panicking mindset, we can opt-out and withdraw into the presence of our Father that you have where we enter into the perfection of God and His rest in that peace He created things to abide in with Him.
“And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, a sixth day. Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. And on the seventh day God finished his work which he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had done. So God blessed the seventh day and hallowed it, because on it God rested from all his work which he had done in creation.” (Genesis 1:31 – 2:3 RSVA)
“There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God [did] from his.” (Hebrews 4:9-10 KJV)
This is that “jewel of Christian living” that Gerhard was writing about, living with our Father in the rest of His perfect creation in our spirits as it was meant to be.
Thank you my dear Susanne for sharing this experience with us and showing us there is more.. ❤ ⭐
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You’re very welcome, Michael, and you can bet I keep praying that you’ll get THAT!!! ❤ 🙂 And thank you so much for your enlightening words on here, my dear brother.
Indeed, I say, “Yes and amen” to all you described in your comment on that peace that surpasses all “common sense”. I always like to call that immersion into God’s omnipresence “Schöpfungsstimmung” in German. I have no idea how to translate that word since it does not exist in German, either 😛 . It is kind of experiencing that atmosphere which is described in that Scripture from Genesis you quoted above. It is both knowing and feeling (with your body, mind, soul, and spirit) that all creation is very good, maybe even sharing God’s own feelings regarding His creation…
Please, Daddy, let us all enter Your rest. Amen.
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Susanne, I had to look up your German word. Google translate says, “Schöpfungsstimmung” means “Creation mood.” I think that God was in a wonderful mood when He created the universe and all that is in it. Just looking at the verity in all things created is amazing. Like snowflakes there are no two things alike. Man creates something that works and he has to start mass producing them, cloning them, but God makes ALL things NEW!
Think about that. There is only ONE Susanne! We have a saying here in America, “After God made you, He threw away the mold.” I think all our blogging friends will agree, you (and all of us) are all one of a kind. Each of us is special to Him as He meant us to be. I enjoy meeting people, especially God’s children, because I see each of them as a special treasure in the eyes of our Father. I want to get to know each of them first hand and not miss one little nuance of what makes them different and precious to Him. What really gets me going is how Paul said we are ALL members one of another! We should all see just how precious each of us are not only to our Father, but to us as well because we belong to one another.
So, our Creator, was and is still in a wonderful “mood” when He looks upon each of us for He knows our end from the beginning and knows what He created each one of us to be.
“For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified. What shall we then say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:29-31 KJ2000)
“Faithful is he that calls you, who also will do it.”
(1 Thessalonians 5:24 KJ2000)
Be encouraged, dear sister. You are a blessing to us all! ❤
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What a beautiful comment, my dear brother, I do love what you wrote on here ❤ and you are one of a kind, Michael, yes you are!
Everyone of us has an individual way to experience and to see things which is expressed in our various perspectives on spiritual matters, too. Together we have all been created to form a wonderful divine picture (the Body of Christ) which would not be that lovely as soon as one of us would be missing, don’t you agree?
Am encouraged, Michael, indeed. Thank you! 🙂
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We’re all familiar with Scripture passages saying that man’s wisdom is foolishness to God. God’s wisdom in the Bible is characterized by an elegant simplicity from Genesis to Revelation. Man’s foolishness knows no bounds as indicated by the volumes of meaningless documents pumped out by any bureaucracy.
Gersteegen has captured the elegant simplicity of God’s love expressed to us as instructions in His Word. Until now, I have not been familiar with Gersteegen’s work. I’m fascinated.
Thank you, Susanne
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You’re so welcome, Lloyd. 🙂
That’s a great thought indeed. You wrote,
“God’s wisdom in the Bible is characterized by an elegant simplicity from Genesis to Revelation. Man’s foolishness knows no bounds as indicated by the volumes of meaningless documents pumped out by any bureaucracy.”
Pheeeew, particularly in Germany we know what you were speaking of here. I assume the source of all confusing bureaucracy must be found in Germany! 😛
Actually, Gerhard Tersteegen was a German mystic who translated other mystics into the German language (esp. Teresa of Ávila from the Spanish language and Mme de la Motte-Guyon from the French language). Together with Oswald Chambers he was the only evangelical mystic I have come to know by now. All others were either Roman Catholic or of an orthodox belief. His writings, like Martin Luther’s, show that he was able to express deep truths so gripping and striking that everyone, even the uneducated, could understand him easily. Where Oswald Chambers sometimes seemed a bit too strict in his claims (although he IMHO hits the nail right smack on the head), Tersteegen was remarkably meek and very kind-hearted toward everyone. That might have to do with the fact that G.T. had a longer process of sanctification than O.C. who died at the age of just 43. Almost all of his writings (O.C.’s) were put down on paper and published by His wife “Biddy” who had been occupied in doing so for nearly 50 years after her husband had died.
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Beautiful picture Susanne! I took a picture of a bee working quietly in this beautiful flower and the words that came to me which are quite childish really is ‘let Jesus ‘bee’ the centre of your life’ ….. silly I know but that’s what came to me. Prayer is like that and being with God does not have to have a myriad of words. The LORD once said to me my tears were worship …… I have strived so much ….. we don’t realize how strong our self-will is until God gets a hold of you. I’m finding this out Susanne because I cannot ‘produce’ anything out of self-will because I’m depleted of energy. It truly is letting go and letting God. Until we realize the difference between the flesh and God’s spirit we will never get it ….. I’m aware of this for the first time and it makes you vulnerable, unbelievably vulnerable before God and as humans we do not like this really such is the habit of self-reliance. Michael I remember once saying, I hope he doesn’t mind me repeating it wrote how God said to him once ‘I’m preparing you for eternity son’. It made a great impression on my heart that all we do on this earth if it isn’t in the Spirit is useless and will be stripped from us. Our faith worth more than precious gold or silver. Many Blessings dear Susanne jacqui xx
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Thank you for the compliment! 🙂
Oh, dear Jacqui, ❤ that was anything but silly. I love that:
To me, it shows God’s humor once again. 🙂
I am sorry to hear that you are depleted of energy. Actually, I think I know how that feels, but I know your circumstances are not that easy and that your painful past keeps haunting you permanently. Although you have been in my thoughts and prayers all along, I just recently prayed that God may give you that wonderful peace that makes you forget your past, more and more.
In fact, I am sure that Michael does not mind you quoting him on here and I am glad his words have helped you.
Yes, this vulnerability God brings forth in us is anything but easy to accept. However, I am afraid that is the only way to reach the goal of “letting go and letting God” as you so well said above.
Be blessed by HIM!
Love you ❤
Susanne xx
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Speaking of God’s presence. Psalms 16 v 11. In His presence is fullness of joy. So, I believe that one is in His presence when one experiences joy. Then, also, love, & peace: fruits of the Spirit. Galatians 5 v 22. come also. about the heart. Psalms 27 v 14. “Wait on the Lord, be of good courage and He will strengthen your heart.” I pray that God will indeed, strengthen my heart so, I can love Him more completely and of course, love others likewise.
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Yes, His presence is full of joy and we can enjoy the whole fruit of His Spirit by living 24/7 in His presence. Very well said, dear Bernie!
May God enable us all to love Him and others, more and more. Great prayer! 🙂
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I THOUGHT OF ANOTHER SCRIPTURE THAT IS OURS WITH FRUITS OF THE
SPIRIT: WE CAN CLAIM THAT WE ARE RIGHTEOUS. 2ND CORINTHIANS 5 V 21.
SINCE WE ARE RIGHTEOUS BASED ON CHRIST’S BECOMING SIN FOR US.
THEN, WE KNOW THAT WE BELONG IN THE KINGDOM OF GOD FOR:ROMAN’S
14 V 17. ‘ THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS NOT EAT OR DRINK BUT RIGHTEOUSNESS,
PEACE AND JOY IN THE HOLY GHOST.”
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Amen, Bernie. 🙂
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His presence= love, joy, peace: love, joy, peace + righteousness= kingdom of God.
song about kingdom of God: “REIGN, KING JESUS REIGN OVER ALL THE NATIONS OF THE EARTH! LET THE EARTH BE FILLED WITH THE GLORY OF THE LORD LET THEM COME AND DECLARE THEIR ALLEGIENCE TO YOU! FOR, YOU ALONE ARE WORTHY TO BE PRAISED. SO: REIGN, REIGN, REIGN!”
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I love the way you convert Bible verses into equations, Bernie, because I have always liked mathematics. 🙂
Yes, feeling how the Lord’s glory is filling the earth RIGHT NOW – that would be wonderful!
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Thank you, Susanne, and commenters for this blog. What a wonderful heavenly Father that we have. Your writings create even more hunger in me to be with Him. I recognize His love in You. There is nothing greater than His love.
Loved to love,
Pat Orr
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Oh, dear Pat, your words truly touched my heart! Thank you sooo very much!!! 🙂
May He satisfy your hunger with His great love!
In Him ❤
Your Susanne
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When I share a song or scripture I have already received a special blessing, I
want to share. Matt. 10 v 8. “Freely you have received, freely give.”
like this: “THINK ABOUT HIS LOVE. THINK ABOUT HIS MERCY THINK ABOUT
THE GRACE HE’S BROUGHT US THRU! HE SATISFIES! HE SATISFIES
MY DESIRE.HOW CAN I FORGIVE HIS LOVE? HOW CAN I FORGET HIS
MERCY.FOR AS HIGH AS THE HEAVENS ABOVE, SO GREAT IS HIS
THE MEASURE OF OUR FATHER’S LOVE. EVEN WHEN I STRAY AWAY HE FINDS
ME! HE SATISFIES, HE SATISFIES,MY DESIRE”:
when I shared this with another this song came to mind! : ” IN MOMENTS LIKE THIS
I SING OUT A NEW SONG TO JESUS. IN MOMENTS LIKE THIS I LIFT UP MY VOICE TO THE LORD, SINGING: “I LOOOVE YOU LORD. I LOOOVE YOU!”
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I can almost hear you sing, Bernie, particularly the last seven words, and I am glad to hear that God blessed you with this song.
Thank you for sharing your blessings with us on here, dear brother! 🙂
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Your topic is SIMPLE” A hymn : “SIMPLY TRUSTING EVERY DAY. TRUSTING IN A
STORMY WAY. EVEN WHEN YOUR FAITH IS SMALL. TRUSTING JESUS THAT IS
ALL; TRUSTING AS THE MOMENTS FLY. TRUSTING AS THE DAYS GO BY.
TRUSTING WHAT EVER BEFALL. TRUSTING JESUS THAT IS ALL.
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This is why Jesus said all the laws are fulfilled under 2 laws. Love God and love Man but love GOD first. If you love you will not steal, if you love you will not lie, if you love you will not covet, if you love you will not break any of the commands of GOD.
Thank you.
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Very well said, Fred. Thank YOU! 🙂
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