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=> Off Topic Discussions => Topic started by: Wendy on April 15, 2024, 03:37:46 PM
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Hi everyone
I pray you are all well. I like to give a shout out to Dennis for the videos he’s been putting up for us. They’re very good very informative. Thanks for putting them out
God bless
Wendy
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Thank you Wendy - The part 3 of the beast should be posted tomorrow April 18th (I hope).
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Ah yes, fire from heaven. Praise God.
Thankyou Dennis, May God keep you doing His will. We love you.
In Christ, Pamela.
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Thank you Dennis. I've followed the Yt tunnel for a while now and must say it lands in differently. I was reminded of the literal "hearing" that I associated with producing faith while I was in Christendom. Not really sure if that's how it works though.
I never ever was able to read and study all of The Lake of fire series. Most of it required more faith than I thought I could muster at the time(nor ask our Lord for). I am being affected and transformed.
That's all I can say for now.
But, really; many many thanks to you for your faithfulness.
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I know this reply is a bit late, but you're right to wonder what it means to hear Matty. Everyone who calls Jesus Lord hears Him, but hardly anyone understands with their heart, due to God having hardened their hearts. I say that with the full understanding that God has had mercy on me after hardening my heart in the same way, but not through anything I did or didn't do. Where God takes it from there, I don't know. So it's with “fear and trembling” I work out my salvation.
I don't think it's necessary to understand or even read all of Ray's papers, as long as you understand that as a person thinks in his or her heart, that's what they are.
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Thank you so very much Porter. For "a word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in a setting of silver."
Question: Did you always know or feel when your heart was hardened? In retrospect; can you recall the process of falling away or disbelief.
Feel free to move this reply to another board as appropriate please, wouldn't want to be "new" and not follow the rules.
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I don't think I was ever aware of my heart being in that hardened state when I was still in the Church. I'm also not sure if I've ever fully identified the process of falling away. I think I just took it for granted that I did at one time leave my first love some twenty plus years ago.
Looking back, I can now see the straw that broke the camel's back. It was just one miserable disappointment after another in God for not healing me of my sins despite my desperate cries. To worsen it, all those in the congregation were acting crazy. Casting out demons, falling to the ground, speaking tongues of gibberish, praying out loud, dancing, singing, laughing, eating and drinking all for show. I took part in some of that craziness, but it felt so disingenuous and none of it was helping, so I left.
There I was one day not long after I left the Church, laying in bed without God, without a foundation, contemplating suicide. I asked God why He created me knowing full well in advance that I would not and could not repent. I asked Him why He would send me to hell for something out of my control especially if He knew I would fail. I told Him how unfair that was and if hell is where I'm meant to be because He wouldn't save me, then hell is where I want to go. I resigned myself to eternal torture, I gave up on God at that moment because in my mind, He failed me. It seemed He didn't care. I was so mad at God, I hated Him and let Him know by cursing Him. I didn't want anything more to do with God.
I don't remember much in the years between that falling away event and finding bible-truths.com, but when I did find it, my hope in God was renewed. It hasn't gotten easier, but at least now I have a foundation, and I know God is good and just, no matter what happens.
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You wouldn't have to change too many details to make my story line up with yours. My church wasn't nearly so "charismatic", but no less carnal. The rest is pretty much identical. I thank God for bringing me in. I thank Him for bringing me out.
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I thank God for bringing me in. I thank Him for bringing me out.
There's a new song if I've ever heard one, Dave. Remember when you asked if something was holy? Yes, it's holy because it's true, it's also honest, and lovely, it's just, it's pure, and it's of a good report with an A+ signed by Jesus. I think of that all the time.
I have a question: Do you or anyone else know if falling from grace and leaving your first love can be more subtle, where it might be a bit more difficult to identify? It's difficult to imagine a fall that great would go unnoticed by the believer. In all fairness, I didn't know until I looked back and all the memories of it came flooding in. In my case, it was relatively easy to see after thinking about if for a few minutes, but has it been harder to pinpoint for anyone else? There's no right or wrong answers, I'm just very curious.
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Porter, I think I can say that in many ways I began "leaving my first love and falling away" not long after I began my
"christian life". That didn't mean I lost enthusiasm or interest. If anything, those grew the further I went. But both the means and the ends of my "walk" was carnal. That process was maybe "subtle" and not recognized until I "looked back". Like you said, by the time I had made a more distinct "decision" to walk away, I certainly did not see myself as one of the good guys. Far from it. I saw myself (and was) a miserable failure at "christian living".
Though I was becoming increasingly aware of the twisted contradictions inherent in christian doctrine, and of hypocrisies large and small in "the church" the primary motivation in my own mind for walking away was my own failings. It made sense to me that, if I was to avoid hypocrisy, it would be better if I no longer made any claim to or effort towards "righteousness". I sucked at it.
What really was absolutely NOT subtle was the looking back when I came to believe and seeing the Hand of Sovereign God in absolutely all of it. I think what preceded that revelation--decades of it--was the "building of the house on sand" and the revelation and it's effects was the actual fall, or at least the major completion of the fall. I had absolutely no idea that the "coming out of her" was a commandment I'd "obeyed" without even knowing it was a commandment. We are HIS workmanship. He is the potter, we are the clay.
Did I cover your question?
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That does cover my question, thanks. Furthermore, a special thanks for showing me the verse to “come out of her” in a different light. I thought it of it as more of a plea, but now I see how stupid that would be.
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I had absolutely no idea that the "coming out of her" was a commandment I'd "obeyed" without even knowing it was a commandment. We are HIS workmanship. He is the potter, we are the clay.
What a good point to emphasize that the "coming out of her" is a commandment and as Porter had mentioned NOT a plea. For whom God has chosen or commanded to "come out of her" will definitely come out. :)
John 15:16 - You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide..."
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Matt.4:19… and He said to them,” follow Me…….a command.
John 10:4…. When He has brought out all His own, He goes before them,
and the sheep follow Him, for they know His voice.
John 10:27…. My sheep hear My voice and i know them, and they follow Me.
John 10:5… a stranger they will not follow……
Rev.14:4… It is these who have not defiled themselves with women, for they are virgins, it is these who follow the Lamb wherever He goes. These have been redeemed from mankind as firstfruits for God and the Lamb.
These sheep were born to obey the shepherds commands. :)
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It's been a rough night, but I just wanted to say that you are all are some “beautiful feet” ;D
Isa 52:6 Therefore My people shall know what My name is and what it means; therefore they shall know in that day that I am He who speaks; behold, I AM!
Isa 52:7 How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good tidings, who publishes peace, who brings good tidings of good, who publishes salvation, who says to Zion, Your God reigns!
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I posted the last part of "The Beast Within" #3 this morning. A very profound article.
Part 1: https://youtu.be/aWndbfn8IMU (https://youtu.be/aWndbfn8IMU)
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I thank God for bringing me in. I thank Him for bringing me out.
Do you or anyone else know if falling from grace and leaving your first love can be more subtle, where it might be a bit more difficult to identify?
It was pretty subtle for me. I didn't actually realize I had fallen away until I was brought back and "looked back" as Ray would say.