> Testimonies / Prayer Requests / Fellowship
Keeping my lamplight to myself. (Rather trivial but...)
Dave in Tenn:
Let me tell you a bedtime story. ;D ;D
When I was a freshman in college, I enrolled in a History of Western Civilization class. I was a skinny 18-year old who shaved twice a month whether I needed it or not. I was also a 'leader' in our Baptist church youth group and pretty dang spiritual, if I may say so myself. ;) And why shouldn't I? Lots of other people were saying it. ;D As a matter of fact, in Baptist parlance, I had "surrendered to preach" and was beginning my education with the intention of going into the ministry. Woooooooo.
The very first class session in this History course, the professor stands up at his desk and asks if anybody in the class believed in God. Now...this was Memphis Tennessee, the buckle of the Bible belt. I really wanted to raise my hand and testify to my great Faith in God, but as I glanced around the room, I didn't see any hands going up. So I didn't raise mine either. I felt like Peter denying Christ. What an insult to Peter! I couldn't even admit to a vague belief in a vague notion of god, much less identify myself with a crucified Lord.
As strange and counter-intuitive as it might seem, it was GOOD that He had caused me to fail so miserably. Why?
Rev 3:15-19 I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. (that sounds like you and me, huh?)
Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.
I learned quickly that I was NOT (spiritually) rich and increased with (spiritual) goods, needing nothing (spiritually). Instead, I was (spiritually) wretched and miserable, (spiritually) poor and blind and naked. And that's been true every day of my life since then, just as it was that day and every day I thought I had it 'going on' before then.
You and I are in the process of spiritually buying that spiritual gold tried in the fire so that our spiritual poverty can be changed to spiritual riches. Isn't that what we want? We actually, in Spirit and Truth, want what we used to think we had.
In the meantime, He WANTS us either cold or hot. That's His DESIRE for us. Religion doesn't really believe this, but it's better to be COLD than lukewarm! We won't put any clothes on until we realize we're cold.
We already know the end of the growth in boldness He is putting us through. Every knee will bow and every tongue will acclaim... You're getting a share of His rebuke and chastening now. Your zealousness is growing...you've said it in your own way "I've decided that I'm absolutely sick of leading a double life..." (lukewarmness). You will repent, sooner or later. And when you do, it will begin small. And you'll think, "This little light of mine is totally inconsequential and worthless." until the Spirit of Truth reminds you that it's just faith the size of a (spiritual) mustard seed that will remove (spiritual) mountains, and that faith leads to faith.
It's been about a year and a half since I started on this Truth trip. I'm just now beginning to express this gospel in potentially hostile territory. For the most part, I am holding on with both hands, teeth, and toenails to the Gospel that I have recieved, lest it be plucked away.
You're in His hands.
Roy Martin:
Very good Dave.
Roy
Linny:
Astrapho,
You and I are opposite personalities. I am the big mouth that used to couldn't wait to tell people my opinion or tell them they were wrong. Loved confrontation. :-[
That is why the Lord made me learn to close my mouth BEFORE He showed me His truth.
So this is how I handle things now. I WILL NOT agree with what I know to be a lie BUT I can keep my mouth shut unless God makes it clear I am to speak up. When I am in a group, I never feel the need to become the only one who disagrees. God wouldn't set me up for that, at least not yet. :o
But there have been situations where He allowed me to speak up and gently correct or interject truth into a conversation in a one-on-one situation. It usually comes out of a question to me.
I have no desire to offend and push those I love away by speaking up when it isn't in God's perfect timing for them to hear.
Relax. God will let you know when you are to speak. But I walk away rather than appear to be in agreement if I am not led to speak up in disagreement.
I think all of us will be used by God some day in some way. For now, I will continue to learn so I can defend what I believe with God's powerful Word. But as for age, I am in awe of you younger ones that God has called. How I wish I knew then what I know now. But that wasn't God's plan for me and I happily accept that. You aren't too young to be used by Him. He called you at this age for a reason. How exciting! ;D
Lin
cjwood:
--- Quote from: Linny on November 15, 2009, 10:46:58 PM ---I WILL NOT agree with what I know to be a lie BUT I can keep my mouth shut unless God makes it clear I am to speak up.
I have no desire to offend and push those I love away by speaking up when it isn't in God's perfect timing for them to hear.
Relax. God will let you know when you are to speak.
But I walk away rather than appear to be in agreement if I am not led to speak up in disagreement.
But as for age, I am in awe of you younger ones that God has called. How I wish I knew then what I know now. But that wasn't God's plan for me and I happily accept that. You aren't too young to be used by Him. He called you at this age for a reason. How exciting! ;D
--- End quote ---
lin,
your post was so spot on. and the statements above that you made, were, well, exactly how i feel.
claudia
cjwood:
astrapho,
you have been given some excellent things to meditate on, and which all of us who read this thread can meditate on. 8)
as i read your original thread post i immediately thought of paul exhorting timothy to, in paraphrasing, not let his young age be a factor in how he walks on the journey planned and purposed for his life. you can read 1 tim. 4:12 to get a better understanding what paul was telling timothy he needed to be doing. if you can use esword, you can look up the Scripture and it will help you see the meanings of the words used.
hang in there astrapho. our Father God will give you voice to stand up for His Truths, or give you the Wisdom to know when to walk away. continue to go to Him. again, and again, and again, and again...
claudia
Navigation
[0] Message Index
[#] Next page
[*] Previous page
Go to full version