This is complementary to the "Learning the True Gospel" thread.
For about a year, I've been experiencing and understanding a different God than I had known in the past. Don't worry, I know God doesn't change! But, last year I learned some attributes of God that I hadn't known before and my life has been so much richer. But it's been a few years in which I've experienced these paradigm shifts: prayer, church, evangelism. It's like, I have these stirrings, then WHAM, God will bring a believer to shatter the false belief and also bring better definition to the stirrings. Then I spend time scouring scripture, and God confirms things.
I ALREADY didn't believe that what we're calling church isn't what God calls church (from 2 years of studying scriptures). What blows me away is now I hear of someone saying so boldly what was my stirring (they may not be saved...that's why they're carnal). It is devastating news, because despite their carnality, God has caused my heart to love them, and they are many.
It's this terrible burden of "I will be their God, they will be My people." God is making things clear to us in our day, I believe. I've come so recently to believe we are being deceived in many ways. I MYSELF have been. Yet, I believe that this is an answer to prayer. We need these understandings to move along the path God has for us.
Oh, how I want to know the REAL God, and not some imaginary denominational (or even personal) God. May You help us, Lord. I'm inclined to ask "What are some good books on who God is?", and there are some good recommendations on the Heart Cry web site, but I also think we might want to put our eyes squarely on scripture and go at it like ignorant children.
God, bless, brothers and sisters. I'm so thankful for this site!