Saying something is not true doesn't make it, not true. ~
Paul, in his ministry, refuted his opponents. Refute means rebuttal with evidence.
As the rules here in BTF prohibits teaching, ...I can only offer the following observation. ~
ANY ONE can do a Google search and some basic investigation into what science has discovered in the last 2000 years to bring you up to speed. ANY ONE can come to understand more than you think you know. Iron sharpens iron. A sharp blade will test the mettle of any weapon formed against it.
All of us, at some time, will feel the pang of fear to not go where proverbial angels fear to tread. By example, does anyone one think Ray Smith got his insights by going along with the crowd? Does anyone think Ray is embarrassed that his cancer might perhaps make fools of some medical practitioners before the great I AM Presence of God, who alone makes the wisdom of the world foolishness. Ray will be dead when God says so, and not a second before God says so!
What's that got to do with this Tread ~ Everything! Death might be the most intrusive thought, carrying the wages of sin, that a human being can experience. This thread is not meaningless or trivial. It raises a real finger on the pulse, issue for us all.
At Hospice, I saw a man who's body was withered and beginning to blacken in the appearance of deaths inevitable decomposition, yet his spirit and mind and soul, remained. I was given the assignment to read from the bible to Jack. Whilst so doing, he lifted his gnarled hand up, to indicate to me to stop after a hour loud reading from Matthew. Boy, was I grateful! My voice was getting strained.
Jack beckoned me to get close to him to hear a request.
His face was black and blue at his temples and his mouth showed a blackened tongue. Veins were visible in his temples as he looked like he had died ages ago.
The nursing sister had already prepared me for the shocking sight of Jack, and told me he was an unusual case indeed. He simply didn't want to die and was hanging on. I didn't think that Jack might have been terrified or scared out of his skull.
I bent over to Jack and put my ear to his mouth, closing my eyes to listen intently.
“Pray for me, please....” rasped Jack
A cold shiver shot up from my ankles right up my back and before my closed eyes I could see, as in a dream, a vast and dark abyss. On the far side, stood a figure that appeared to be Jesus as he might appear in an artist's impression. Dressed in white and with open arms, looking at Jack laying on his death bed.
“Trust Jesus!” were the words that shot out of my heart, soul, mind and very being.
“Trust JESUS!” I said again with a voice so strong it didn't sound like my own and certainly went beyond what was appropriate in the small room reverberating to my loudness. And again...
“TRUST JESUS!”
That was it...
Jack replied that he had heard the prayer of his Gethsemane...that night he died.
So whenever a bad thought comes...an invasive or frightening mental battle with thoughts of sin, death or we may feel or see that abysmal dark presence before our minds that we know we cannot get across because they are too powerful, too vast and too overwhelming to pass over...as in thoughts that will not let us go, that cling to us in fear, threat and ugliness....then...that's your lot...said the clay to the potter...
Our thoughts will die, will pass, and will not bring us into the depths of the dark abyss as we....Trust Jesus.
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace AS YOU TRUST IN HIM. Romans 15: 13
I don't break rules here and I sure appreciate what Ray has uncovered regarding the whole truth, the real truth and nothing but the truth about the malpractices of Babylon.
The following Scripture for me, rightly or wrongly, best invites and is encouragement of the neutral stance: Rev 22:11 He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still.
Your kindness helps encourage and is kind and loving soul River!
Another stance on this way of thinking is held in full view in the teaching Winning Souls for Jesus at
http://bible-truths.com/souls.htmIt is not my job to teach or convince anyone though uninvited opinion has been offered to me to get my own Blog.
So here’s telling you all...I SO appreciate your kindness, consideration and insight into sensitive expression of mature empathy so thank you so very much for letting me let off a little steam, mist, tears....and joy...thank you!
God bless you always everywhere all the time!
I have nothing to add to the experience of unwelcome thoughts and feelings as described as the heading of this Thread...Intrusive thoughts...As humans we suffer.
All my earlier to do lists, I have found are meaningless. I have no, to do list and no judgment nor condemnation to offer either.
Jack and I were appointed a most humbling experience and blessing and I sure do know this, that Jack is a friend I very much look forward to rejoicing with in the Kingdom of God prepared for us ALL. Who knows, Jack might have been a real piece of work in his life time, that at his end, drew a mere stranger, to pray over him...who knew nothing of his past or his personality either! Boy oh boy, we are going to laugh if it’s true he might have been a real so and so! I was the sole soul praying aloud at his death bed on the eve of Jack....Trusting Jesus as he may never have experienced doing before!
Pray for one another...ah...there might be a new, what to do...for a, to do list, not to give out, or recommend or advocate, but to practice...ah...yea..THAT'S it!~
God BLESS us all, each and every one.
Arc