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Learning to love God Again

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NoviceBeliever:
As I am studying Ray's teachings, I have been amazed by how much we are taught in our lives, that is unfounded. But as I shed some of my prior misnomers that have been drilled into my head all these years, I am also faced with a sadness, that the love I have felt for God may also be based on falsehoods.

So my question is; Is it possible to have to find a new way to love God after you strip away your old beliefs? 

I don't know whether I can do justice to the question I am asking in the few sentences I have written, but I could sure use the input.
NB

mharrell08:

--- Quote from: NoviceBeliever on May 26, 2009, 09:45:52 PM ---As I am studying Ray's teachings, I have been amazed by how much we are taught in our lives, that is unfounded. But as I shed some of my prior misnomers that have been drilled into my head all these years, I am also faced with a sadness, that the love I have felt for God may also be based on falsehoods.

So my question is; Is it possible to have to find a new way to love God after you strip away your old beliefs? 

I don't know whether I can do justice to the question I am asking in the few sentences I have written, but I could sure use the input.
NB

--- End quote ---


Excerpt from Lake of Fire #14 'The Beast Within' (http://bible-truths.com/lake14.html):

EXCEPT THERE COME A FALLING AWAY FIRST
What an astonishing truth it is, that God CAUSES all those destined from the foundation of the world, to be chosen in Christ, that they should "fall away" from the Truth and "leave their first love" before they can be truly spiritually converted. Yet this is the plain declaration of Scripture.

Peter fell away:

"Jesus said unto him [Peter], Verily I say unto thee, That this night, before the cock crow, you shall deny me thrice [three times]" (Matt. 26:34).

All the apostles fell away:

"Then said Jesus unto them, ALL YE shall be offended because of Me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad" (Matt. 26:31).

"And they ALL forsook Him, and fled." (Mark 14:50).

Paul fell away:

"As for Saul [renamed Paul], he made havock of the church…" (Acts 8:3) [while at the very same time he was "blameless" in keeping the Law of Moses] (Phil. 3:6).

ALL the Churches in Asia fell away after being in full support of Paul’s ministry. First:

"The churches of Asia salute [greet] you…" (I Cor. 16:19).

Later near the end of Paul’s ministry:

"This you know, that ALL they which are in Asia be TURNED AWAY FROM ME…" (II Tim. 2:15).

Paul warned the Ephesian Elders about the "flock—church" falling away:

"For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock [the whole flock]." (Acts 20:29).

Jesus prophesied that all who will become overcomers will have first fallen away temporarily by leaving their first love:

"Nevertheless I have somewhat against you, because you [the seven-in-one golden candlestick church of God that is, was, and will be] have LEFT YOUR FIRST LOVE" (Rev. 2:4).

Jesus Himself calls this leaving of our first love, a falling away:

"Remember therefore from whence you ARE FALLEN, and REPENT…" (Rev. 2:5).

Whenever we "fall," we leave our "first love." For spiritual falling IS, LEAVING LOVE. Jesus said that when we leave our first love we are to ‘remember from whence we are FALLEN…’ Love itself has not failed us, but we have failed love, for true love is not capable of failure or falling:

"Charity [Old English for ‘love’] never fails…" (I Cor. 13:8 ).

Jesus reprimands us for "falling" from love in Rev. 2:5. Interestingly, the word translated "fails" in I Cor. 13:8 is the very same word translated "fallen" in Rev. 2:5. And so, "love never FALLS," but before we are saved, we will fall.

Why is it that this Scriptural truth is not taught in the Church? Simple: Most in the church have not as yet experienced "leaving their first love." Therefore, they are still deceived, and CANNOT see the beast within. They are still in the process of constructing their spiritual house upon the sand. Most will never see the beast in this lifetime.


Matt 3:1-2  In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

Matt 4:17  From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

Mark 1:14-15  Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.

Luke 5:31-32  And Jesus answering said unto them, They that are whole need not a physician; but they that are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

2 Cor 7:10  For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.

Acts 3:19-20  Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord. And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you:

Rev 2:4-5  Nevertheless I [Jesus] have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.


Hope this helps,

Marques

Ninny:
Marques, thanks for posting that! You know when you begin to learn that everything you THOUGHT you knew is bunk...it kind of throws you for a loop! I felt that way when I left the Seventh Day Adventist church years ago! For 8 years some friends and I had home church because we didn't know what else to do! I THOUGHT the Sabbath-keeping was right, but when I began to see the other things were wrong I was just lost! We kept worshiping God, but something was not right. WE became just a group of Adventist bashers after a while! Then we happened onto a Bible study and joined the group which led us to the Vineyard Church, which was a breath of fresh air after the SDA church (those initials could also mean: Stuffy Dead Alliance)  :D BUT after 8 MORE years I left there!  Can we say maybe I am a slow learner?? (Left my long-time friends behind).

My friends thought it was awful and I still talk to them, but our time of sharing is over unless God intervenes! I realize after feeling that God was just shoving me around that He was doing it for a reason! I didn't belong anywhere! I had been reading Ray's stuff for awhile but then I went back and started printing everything out. I have almost everything on BT in print! I even joined the forum back in 2007, but never could get signed on for some reason! So I thought that God didn't want me here! 

I kept trying different churches, but nothing! Finally I just couldn't wait for all the parts of the LOF series to be out!! I read and read and THEN I understood what was happening to me! I realized that God was CALLING me not PUSHING me around He was DRAGGING me here! To this forum where everyone has a very similar story!

SO last June I decided to try the forum again and this time it worked!! I got signed on and have been here ever since! So many of the things Ray has taught absolutely sparked a fire within me! I knew that this is truth, when you are a seeker of truth you are a finder of truth! So NB, you will find that way to love God again! You will know that He has been right with you the whole time and now is bringing you to this new place. The reason we fall away is to find our way! God is in it all! Until we have our moorings completely stripped away and we are adrift in an ocean of uncertainty we will not be able to hear God calling to us! God is the one who does it in us and through us, we HAVE to know that!

The teachings we grew up with were tainted with falsehoods for sure, but God is true! God is real, and His love Never Ever falls away from us! :D
Kathy :) ;D

firefly77:

--- Quote ---So my question is; Is it possible to have to find a new way to love God after you strip away your old beliefs? 
--- End quote ---

For me it has been very hard. I was "churched" for 18+ years, yet somehow never felt like I belonged. The hardest part for me is to trust again and not to be too cautious and skeptical. God has to basically confirm it to me by real life application and examples, if this makes any sense. Yet somehow I know that I am safe here and this is where the truth is. I don't contribute much in writing but am coming almost every day to read the new posts and to read Ray's study material.
I don't have the desire to go back to "Churchianity" and all it stands for. I shudder to think I was part of one of most intolerant and unloving group of people who would not think twice about sending someone to hell for eternity, since it was "their choice" to go there. If this is love, I don't want any of it. The drama, the lies, the unscriptural rehearsed displays of "godliness" and selling the gospel are nauseating at best.
Angie

Marlene:
Hello, When, I came in here I did not know that I really did not love God or others right. Being, in churches can make you feel self-righteous even when you are doing the same things as the others in the world. Coming in here has taught me what true love really is about.

When, you look at a God as someone who will send you to Hell to be tortured it is looking at God as a simple man. I had to repent that I did not know him. He hates our sin and I hate my sin. He Loves us all and he intends to change us all. How can we be changed when we do not see the God of Love and mercy for all men.

I believe, with all my heart that God has given Ray his truths. I am blessed that God led me here. It makes it easier to forgive others that hurt you. It also, has shown me how when I dont obey God it hurts him. He is my first concern. I do not want to hurt him. His love has taken me to a depth of God I never dreamed of. He is a pure Love. One, that I can trust in. One , that I know will stand by me even when I have walked away.

Yes, I do believe we are learning how to Love God all over. We, are learning to Love like him. Truth has set us free. I see scriptures now with open eyes and I hear God now. There is no doubt that I am home with God now. I see him as he is. I am seeing more and more about him everyday.

How can you obey a God you did not truly know. We are all sinners. We are all wanting to be changed to be like him. We don't want to worship in our own way , but in his way.  I have been forever changed by his truths and his amazing Love that never ceases to amaze me.

Well, I thank God every day for leading me to the  Truths that God has so kindly showed Ray and is now showing all of us.

I pray each day God give me Love like yours.

In His Love,
Marlene

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