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January 15, (2599 years ago)
hillsbororiver:
--- Quote from: Judy on January 16, 2011, 05:14:31 PM ---Joe, I love to read the psalms when I am upset as they address every emotion i might have. I love the way God tears down and then builds up. And I love to smite my enemies (at least for the moment) Hope resides in the Lord!
Love, judy
--- End quote ---
Hi Judy,
Yes, Psalms can be a tonic to our troubled spirit and also at times magnify our hope in the promises we have been given. You are so right about the "tears down and builds up" process it is not a one time thing (for me at least) where you get thoroughly humbled and then His Spirit refreshes our spirit and we live happily ever after...
This has been a cycle I have seen, felt and experienced in varying degrees the past 6 or 7 years and my hope is always that when the refreshing begins I emerge stronger in Spirit and closer to the goal of not only having faith in Christ but having the faith of Christ.
Peace,
Joe
hillsbororiver:
--- Quote from: GaryK on January 17, 2011, 11:44:59 AM ---‘Lament our spiritual poverty.’
Those words are so nicely, coldly, descriptive but wring out the truth, like a rough squeeze.
Good words Joe.
2He hath led me, and brought me into darkness, but not into light.
6He hath set me in dark places, as they that be dead of old.
7He hath hedged me about, that I cannot get out: he hath made my chain heavy.
Makes me think of the dark corners we don’t want to go but are pulled (pushed?) toward. Is it the ‘flesh’ that is too strong and we simply give in out of spiritual weakness, losing the battle (s)?, or is it the Lord making us enter those desolate spiritual wastelands? Both? Regardless, roaming those wastelands is un-nerving to spiritual balance. Not a feel-good journey.
But:
31For the LORD will not cast off for ever:
Make it so Lord.
gk
--- End quote ---
Hi Gary,
I see you can relate to this spiritual poverty that I seem to weave in and out of...
Anyway I believe you have it right about all the above that you posted, we are drawn into the wilderness so we can experience how weak the flesh really is and how easily when we attempt to overcome with our own "strength" we fail miserably, backed into the proverbial corner where our last and greatest hope is in God.
I suppose we need this refinement so that reflexively and instinctively we rely on Him first in all things before being backed into any corner of the wilderness...
Peace,
Joe
G. Driggs:
Timely thread. Wonder if this is the "prison" talked about in Revelation and other places?
So do others go through the same "cycle"? Is this the norm for those God might be calling?
G. Driggs
hillsbororiver:
Hi George,
I believe you are on the right track, here are a couple excerpts from the "12 Truths" (#8) paper...
...This dear reader, is how the Old Covenant was written for "OUR admonition…"
Does anyone believe that this is the ONLY "allegory" in the Old Testament which is written for OUR admonition. Hardly—the Old Testament is FILLED with such allegories, but who has "ears to hear and eyes to see?" And "who will believe our report?" The whole book of Revelation is explained in the Old Testament Scriptures, but the theologians of this world do not and cannot discern it. They all teach that Revelation is a book of end-time, end-of-the-world eschatology. They have not a clue.
Paul constantly referred to the Old Testament Scriptures in his epistles, and he taught the whole plan of salvation from the Old Testament Scriptures, as they were the only Scriptures available during his ministry.
The very last sentence of Truth #8 is...
If you cannot identify yourself, personally, with all the stories and accounts in the Old Testament, then you have not even begun to overcome all the carnality that you are.
Peace,
Joe
geokuhns:
I can relate Joe. I'm married 53 years today. Oh! Hi honey. I'm just kidding. :-\
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