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falling away
thewatchman:
--- Quote from: " Shorty " on February 18, 2013, 04:31:34 PM ---Watchman, your reply was magnificent. Yes, iIndeed, there is a time for every purpose under heaven. Took the words right out of my mouth.
Janine, Thanks for pulling out that excerpt from JH. It was inspirational.
--- End quote ---
I've been where he is Shorty,
Just sharing what I learnt through the other side.
Heidi:
--- Quote from: John from Kentucky on February 18, 2013, 01:04:59 AM ---Here is a great scripture: Do Not Worry About Anything Philippians 4:6 (CLV)
--- End quote ---
Thank you for the scripture John....it is a timely reminder to me as well.
cjwood:
greg, i looked in the Scriptures to find the following verse to inspire you (and each of us) as you are entrenched in the shadow of the valley of death.
acts 14:22 "confirming (strengthening) the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God."
as i read through this verse i decided to go back and read through the whole of chapter 14.
a (semi)quick synopsis of this passage shows that paul and barnabas had gone to lystra, after fleeing from iconium because they found out that certain jews along with some of the gentiles were plotting to stone them. in lystra paul healed a crippled man which was observed by the people. some of these people were pagans who worshiped zeus. a priest of zeus brought oxen and garlands to the gate of the city of lystra, and was preparing to do sacrifices to paul (and barnabas). paul reproved the people confirming he and barnabas were just men, urging them to turn from the vanities (useless things) and to turn unto the living God. after reminding the people that in past generations God had suffered (allowed) all the nations to walk in their own ways (of unbelief in God), but that witness of God's goodness was still apparent in the blessings He gave of rain and fruitful seasons, so the people could eat and be happy in their hearts. after paul said these things he and barnabas could hardly restrain the people from (still) wanting to do sacrifices to them. then some of the jews from antioch and iconium came on the scene and persuaded the people to stone paul, which they did. after they stoned paul they dragged him outside the city to leave him because they thought he was dead. (i cannot imagine how painful stoning must have been, especially to the point where you are believed to be dead after the stoning is over.) however, as the believers started gathering around paul he stood up, and went back into the city of lystra. but the next day he and barnabas went to the city of derbe where they preached the gospel and many people believed. after this they left and returned to lystra, iconium, and on to antioch. it is at this juncture that verse 22 comes in. where the believers were exhorted to continue in the faith and that we must go through much tribulation to enter into the kingdom of God.
okay, i say all of this because as i read it through i realized for the first time how unbelievably hard it must have been for paul to have physically been stoned to the point that the people thought he was dead. and then to be dragged through the unpaved streets to outside the city. and then to go back to the same city and continue to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ and God's grace. i just cannot fathom the degree of physical pain paul had to have experienced, not to mention the mental/emotional anguish, yet he still arose and went back to the same city where he had just been stoned. (some people believe this stoning of paul, and his apparent death, was when he experienced the third heaven where he was given visions and revelations.)
this surely is written and recorded as an example of faith for all generations who would come under harsh physical and mental attacks from our adversary.
don't give up hope greg.
love in Christ,
claudia
chav:
--- Quote ---Part of you problem is you think you are in control and you are not. You cannot use your will to get close to God and thereby solve your problems. If anything you need to let go and simply ask God for help. You do not know when that help will come. Just be patient.]
--- End quote ---
Thanks for that Dennis I'm feeling cornered myself at the moment, and asking God for help is about all I can do. It just seems such a long time coming.
Dave
Dennis Vogel:
The fact that we are told to "endure to the end" says much.
There is a four-year-old in my house and he is willful and suborn. When I take away his TV shows for being bad he cries real tears but I sense he is grateful that I am disciplining him. Children need to feel like someone smarter than they are is in control. Gives them security.
Is it possible God looks on us as four-year-old's needing discipline?
I don't think "church people" are required to go what we go through in this life. Sometimes I envy their ignorance.
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