Bitterness and Right with God??

Can we be bitter and spew hatred towards other Christians and be right with God??

No, we can not.

Acts 8:
"You have no part or portion in this matter, for your heart is not right before God.
8:22
"Therefore repent of this wickedness of yours, and pray the Lord that, if possible, the intention of your heart may be forgiven you.
8:23
"For I see that you are in the gall of bitterness and in the bondage of iniquity."

Simon was a believer and wasn't right with God because of his bitterness and sin.

8:13
Even Simon himself believed; and after being baptized, he continued on with Philip, and as he observed signs and great miracles taking place, he was constantly amazed.

It is impossible to be right with God while at the same time causeing divisions and spewing hatred. Not to meantion the telling of lies. We must repent and be obedient to the Word!! Evil words can not produce good works.

Romans 3:
3:8
And why not say (as we are slanderously reported and as some claim that we say ), "Let us do evil that good may come "? Their condemnation is just.

I know, I know, there is no condemnation to those who are in Christ. But read the rest of that chapter, it is talking about those who put away their flesh and live right with God. You also have to walk right and be repentant in order to be right with God. As I showed in my last post, if you do not repent and try to put your wrongs right, you are NOT in right standing with God.

Read what the above verse says.....Their condemnation is just!! Why condemnation?? Look further down in the chapter:

3:12
ALL HAVE TURNED ASIDE, TOGETHER THEY HAVE BECOME USELESS; THERE IS NONE WHO DOES GOOD, THERE IS NOT EVEN ONE."
3:13
"THEIR THROAT IS AN OPEN GRAVE, WITH THEIR TONGUES THEY KEEP DECEIVING," "THE POISON OF ASPS IS UNDER THEIR LIPS ";
3:14
"WHOSE MOUTH IS FULL OF CURSING AND BITTERNESS ";
3:15
"THEIR FEET ARE SWIFT TO SHED BLOOD,
3:16
DESTRUCTION AND MISERY ARE IN THEIR PATHS,
3:17
AND THE PATH OF PEACE THEY HAVE NOT KNOWN."
3:18
"THERE IS NO FEAR OF GOD BEFORE THEIR EYES."

Just because you are a Christian or claim the title does not ajudicate or allow you to do whatever. We will be judged by every careless word that comes out of our mouths.

Matthew 12:
12:34
"You brood of vipers, how can you, being evil, speak what is good ? For the mouth speaks out of that which fills the heart.
12:35
"The good man brings out of his good treasure what is good; and the evil man brings out of his evil treasure what is evil.
12:36
"But I tell you that every careless word that people speak, they shall give an accounting for it in the day of judgment.
12:37
"For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned ."

Back to bitterness:

Eph 4:

4:29
Let no * unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear.
4:30
Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
4:31
Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice.
4:32
Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.

and

Hebrews 12:
12:14
Pursue peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no one will see the Lord.
12:15
See to it that no one comes short of the grace of God; that no root of bitterness springing up causes trouble, and by it many be defiled;
12:16
that there be no * immoral or godless person like Esau , who sold his own birthright for a single meal.
12:17
For you know that even afterwards, when he desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no place for repentance, though he sought for it with tears.

I know that there are those who believe that once they are saved they are able to whatever they wish and still be able to make it up to heaven. This is a heresy and a lie that is causing many to be surprised when they die. You must repent, which means to turn away from your sins and to do your best to not do it again. You also have to listen to what God is saying to your spirit and what His Word says. He is speaking to believers here!!

2 Peter 2
2:1
But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will also be false teachers among you, who will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing swift destruction upon themselves.
2:2
Many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of the truth will be maligned;
2:3
and in their greed they will exploit you with false words; their judgment from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep.
2:4
For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but cast them into hell and committed them to pits of darkness, reserved for judgment;
2:5
and did not spare the ancient world, but preserved Noah, a preacher of righteousness, with seven others, when He brought a flood upon the world of the ungodly;
2:6
and if He condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah to destruction by reducing them to ashes, having made them an example to those who would live ungodly lives thereafter;
2:7
and if He rescued righteous Lot, oppressed by the sensual conduct of unprincipled men
2:8
(for by what he saw and heard that righteous man, while living among them, felt his righteous soul tormented day after day by their lawless deeds ),
2:9
then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from temptation, and to keep the unrighteous under punishment for the day of judgment,
2:10
and especially those who indulge the flesh in its corrupt desires and despise authority. Daring, self-willed, they do not tremble when they revile angelic majesties,
2:11
whereas angels who are greater in might and power do not bring a reviling judgment against them before the Lord.
2:12
But these, like unreasoning animals, born as creatures of instinct to be captured and killed, reviling where * they have no knowledge, will in the destruction of those creatures also be destroyed,
2:13
suffering wrong as the wages of doing wrong. They count it a pleasure to revel in the daytime. They are stains and blemishes, reveling in their deceptions, as they carouse with you,
2:14
having eyes full of adultery that never cease from sin, enticing unstable souls, having a heart trained in greed, accursed children;
2:15
forsaking the right way, they have gone astray, having followed the way of Balaam, the son of Beor , who loved the wages of unrighteousness;
2:16
but he received a rebuke for his own transgression, for a mute donkey, speaking with a voice of a man, restrained the madness of the prophet.
2:17
These are springs without water and mists driven by a storm, for whom the black darkness has been reserved.
2:18
For speaking out arrogant words of vanity they entice by fleshly desires, by sensuality, those who barely escape from the ones who live in error,
2:19
promising them freedom while they themselves are slaves of corruption; for by what a man is overcome, by this he is enslaved.
[b]2:20
For if, after they have escaped the defilements of the world by the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and are overcome, the last state has become worse for them than the first.
2:21
For it would be better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn away from the holy commandment handed on to them.
2:22
It has happened to them according to the true proverb, "A DOG RETURNS TO ITS OWN VOMIT," and, "A sow, after washing, returns to wallowing in the mire." [/b]

We need to becareful of following such people!! Those who are not right with God themselves are not able to teach others to be right with God. Kind of like the blind leading the blind. Check the fruit of the leaders you are putting your trust in!! If their fruit isn't in line with the Word and if they are spewing hatred, they are not following God and are non of His. Not until they repent and put right that which they have done wrong!!

This is why I was told to write my post concerning not having proof of things that I still believe were done by a certain person!! I had to do the right thing!! Their actions can not dictate our actions. My heart is right with God and I know that I have done what He has asked of me. The rest is no concern of mine, it is between God and them.

By our own words and/or actions we can condemed ourselves.All we can do is to pray that they will be brought into repentance and may they turn their lives around to be pleasing to God!! For their own sakes. But until then,the bible teaches us to avoid such people. For your own good and your own walk with God!!


One small note about "prophets" and those who are claiming that some are "false" ones. See, if you look in the OT you will see many prophecies where it is a "do this and this will happen, repent and you can change this" or even the other way around!! We are able to change our course for the better or worse. It is all about free will.

You can not behave in in a fleshy fashion and expect God promote you. The bible talks about how you are to treat those who brought you to Christ. When we fail this you take ourselves right out of the prophecy. We will have no one to blame but ourselves our own actions destroy us and overshadow everything we do as long as we allow our actions and ill preceived "hurts" to take over our lives.

Don't you realize that when we do this we are being used as an instrument of the devil and not God?? This is not of God!! Before we try to take a splinter out of anybody else's eye, we need to worry about the huge log in our own.

You and only you are to blame for what happened to you at ___!! Your fruit and actions concerning all of those who stood up for you and tried to help you at ___ are proof of your sinful life and refusual to get right with God!!

STOP berating others for what you have done to yourself!! When you sin and continue to sin and live in that sin, you are only hurting yourself. Just think about how many people you have caused to stumble because of your OWN actions!!

What does the bible say about those who cause others to stumble??

Mt 18:6
but whoever * causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him to have a heavy millstone hung around his neck, and to be drowned in the depth of the sea.

and

.

Galatians 5:
5:6
For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything, but faith working through love.
5:7
You were running well; who hindered you from obeying the truth ?
5:8
This persuasion did not come from Him who calls you.
5:9
A little leaven leavens the whole lump of dough.
5:10
I have confidence in you in the Lord that you will adopt no other view; but the one who is disturbing you will bear his judgment, whoever * he is.
5:11
But I, brethren, if I still preach circumcision, why am I still persecuted ? Then the stumbling block of the cross has been abolished.
5:12
I wish that those who are troubling you would even mutilate themselves.
5:13
For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.
5:14
For the whole Law is fulfilled in one word, in the statement, "YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF."
5:15
But if you bite and devour one another, take care that you are not consumed by one another.
5:16
But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh.

Check yourself!! If you say that your actions are of God, then I know that you are a bigger liar than even I believed you to be!!

I did not write this to cause more hurt. As long as we are breathing, we have the opportunity to repent and get right with God. I pray that you do so before it is too late.

In order for these words to NOT be twisted to say anything other than they say, I have made them public.

My intent is to not harm you, but rather so that you may be convicted and get right with God!! Sometimes we must humble ourselves when we do the right thing, I know from experience, but it is also the most freeing thing you have ever done.

To sit there and know that you have done all you can do to be obedient to God is an awesome feeling!!

Signs of the Times??

Matthew
24:7
"For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and in various places there will be famines and earthquakes.
24:8
"But all these things are merely the beginning of birth pangs.
24:9
"Then they will deliver you to tribulation, and will kill you, and you will be hated by all nations because of My name.
24:10
"At that time many will fall away and will betray one another and hate one another.
24:11
"Many false prophets will arise and will mislead many.
24:12
"Because lawlessness is increased, most people's love will grow cold.
24:13
"But the one who endures to the end, he will be saved.

How many of these things do we see today?? Especially by "Christians"?

How many of us Christians have been betrayed by other so called "christians"?

By those who while say that they believe in Jesus and are one of His, but have not any fruit?

Or who's entire ministry is full of hate and was made in order to get back at other ministries? and who uses the names of leaders in other ministries so that they are able to bring more to their forum of hate??

Who without any repentance lie and try to destroy those who are doing their best to spread the "Good News" and the "Salvation Message" to a world who is hurting??

Who's own percieved and unreal hurts are standing in the way of people coming to Christ?

Who puts their own personal vendeta or agenda ahead of and before the call of Christ and the work that is being done for Christ?

We must be careful to avoid these type of "ministries". They will cause us to fall away as their leaders have already done. If they will betray, lie about, or try and destroy those who were closest to them and those they claim to love and those who have been there for them, who shared their secrets with, what will keep him from betraying you as well??

How to point them out? Easy!! Just take a look at their sites. Both the forum and the blogs held by him. You will see the hate spewed out in no time at all!!

Pr 15:28
The heart of the righteous ponders how to answer , But the mouth of the wicked pours out evil things .

Mt 12:34
"You brood of vipers, how can you, being evil, speak what is good ? For the mouth speaks out of that which fills the heart.

Mt 15:18
"But the things that proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and those defile the man.

Lu 6:45
"The good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth what is good; and the evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth what is evil; for his mouth speaks from that which fills his heart.

The bible calls those who are filled with hate for other Christians "evil". Their heart is evil and they are not able to speak that which is good.

He has had chance after chance to repent of his evils and lies and discord, but he has chosen pride, hatred, bitterness, unforgiveness, and evil over that which is of God.

The bible states that we MUST avoid these people.

2 Timothy 3
3:1
But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come.
3:2
For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant , revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy,
3:3
unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good,
3:4
treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,
3:5
holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; Avoid such men as these.
3:6
For among them are those who enter into households and captivate weak women weighed down with sins, led on by various impulses,
3:7
always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.
3:8
Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so these men also oppose the truth, men of depraved mind, rejected in regard to the faith.
3:9
But they will not make further * progress; for their folly will be obvious to all, just as Jannes's and Jambres's folly was also.

and

Pr 10:12
Hatred stirs up strife, But love covers all transgressions.

Pr 10:18
He who conceals hatred has lying lips, And he who spreads slander is a fool.

Pr 15:17
Better is a dish of vegetables where love is Than a fattened ox served with hatred.

Pr 26:26
Though his hatred covers itself with guile, His wickedness will be revealed before the assembly.

2 Corinthians
12:19
All this time you have been thinking that we are defending ourselves to you. Actually, it is in the sight of God that we have been speaking in Christ; and all for your upbuilding, beloved.
12:20
For I am afraid that perhaps when I come I may find you to be not what I wish and may be found by you to be not what you wish; that perhaps there will be strife, jealousy , angry tempers, disputes, slanders, gossip, arrogance, disturbances;
12:21
I am afraid that when I come again my God may humiliate me before you, and I may mourn over many of those who have sinned in the past and not repented of the impurity, immorality and sensuality which they have practiced.

1 Timothy 6:
6:3
If anyone advocates a different doctrine and does not agree with sound words, those of our Lord Jesus Christ, and with the doctrine conforming to godliness,
6:4
he is conceited and understands nothing; but he has a morbid interest in controversial questions and disputes about words, out of which arise envy, strife, abusive language, evil suspicions,
6:5
and constant friction between men of depraved mind and deprived of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain.
6:6
But godliness actually is a means of great gain when accompanied by contentment.

BEWARE!! of so called "ministries" and "leaders" who are showing these fruits!!

NEW Theology??

I have heard it said many times that the laying on of hands, healings, and the Gifts of the Spirit are NEW theologies and are heresy. Or worse "cultish".

Are they really new?? NO they are as old as the ones who through God wrote the bible and even older. There was a time when people were killed by the catholic church because of belief in the Bible and not the Catholic's take on it. It was considered heresy to believe any way.

Now it is considered heresy to believe any differently than the mainstream churches believe, even though it is scripturally sound.

Example 1

A girl was given a prophecy and is new to the gift.

She was debunked by well meaning Christians. There reasons were:

1. "Paul was a healer but he didn't heal himself"

Balogna. Paul wasn't sick!! I know that there are those who believe that they thorn in Paul's side was sickness because of the word "infirmity". But lets look at the verse in context and with the meaning of the greek word that it was translated from.

2 Corinthians 12: (KJV)
12:6
For though I would desire to glory, I shall not be a fool; for I will say the truth: but now I forbear, lest any man should think of me above that which he seeth me to be, or that he heareth of * * me.
12:7
And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.
12:8
For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.
12:9
And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
12:10
Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.
12:11
I am become a fool in glorying; ye have compelled me: for I ought to have been commended of you: for in nothing am I behind the very chiefest apostles *, though I be nothing.
12:12
Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds.
12:13
For what is it wherein ye were inferior to other churches, except it be that I myself was not burdensome to you? forgive me this wrong.

Infirmaties, from Strong's
ajsqevneia from (772)
Transliterated Word TDNT Entry
Astheneia 1:490,83
Phonetic Spelling Parts of Speech
as-then'-i-ah Noun Feminine

Definition
want of strength, weakness, infirmity
of the body
its native weakness and frailty
feebleness of health or sickness
of the soul
want of strength and capacity requisite 1b
to understand a thing 1b
to do things great and glorious 1b
to restrain corrupt desires 1b
to bear trials and troubles

NOw the NAS which is the closest to the org. texts translate it into "weekness"

12:5
On behalf of such a man I will boast; but on my own behalf I will not boast, except in regard to my weaknesses.
12:6
For if I do wish to boast I will not be foolish, for I will be speaking the truth; but I refrain from this, so that no one will credit me with more than he sees in me or hears from me.
12:7
Because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, for this reason, to keep me from exalting myself, there was given me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me--to keep me from exalting myself!
12:8
Concerning this I implored the Lord three times that it might leave me.
12:9
And He has said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness." Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me.
12:10
Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ's sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong.
12:11
I have become foolish; you yourselves compelled me. Actually I should have been commended by you, for in no respect was I inferior to the most eminent apostles, even though I am a nobody.

See the verse in context?? He was talking about NOT BOASTING, because we all have weaknesses and we all stumble!! This has nothing to do with him being sick.

Lets look at this so called debunking from a different angle. Paul was bitten by a serpent, one that was full of poison.

Acts:
28:3
But when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks and laid them on the fire, a viper came out because of the heat and fastened itself on his hand.
28:4
When the natives saw the creature hanging from his hand, they began saying to one another, "Undoubtedly this man is a murderer, and though he has been saved from the sea, justice has not allowed him to live."
28:5
However * he shook the creature off into the fire and suffered no harm.
28:6
But they were expecting that he was about to swell up or suddenly fall down dead. But after they had waited a long time and had seen nothing unusual happen to him, they changed their minds and began to say that he was a god.

Why did he suffer NO harm?? Because sickness was not able to come upon Him!! Why because he believed in Jesus and His Word and His promises.

Mark:
16:14
Afterward He appeared to the eleven themselves as they were reclining at the table; and He reproached them for their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they had not believed those who had seen Him after He had risen.
16:15
And He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.
16:16
"He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned.
16:17
"These signs will accompany those who have believed: in My name they will cast out demons, they will speak with new tongues;
16:18
they will pick up serpents, and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover *."
16:19
So then, when the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, He was received up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God.
16:20
And they went out and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them, and confirmed the word by the signs that followed.] [And they promptly reported all these instructions to Peter and his companions. And after that, Jesus Himself sent out through them from east to west the sacred and imperishable proclamation of eternal salvation. ]

OK, let me qualify this. This does NOT in anyway mean that we should go out and drink poison or play with snakes because "Jesus won't let anything harm us". This is testing God and the bible clearly states that this is a sin.

But if you get bit while walking in the woods, trying to avoid snake, and get bit IT CAN NOT harm you. But we have to be walking in the fullness of the HS and belief.

Sickness can NOT come upon the believer who is walking in the Fullness of the HS and Belief. Paul didn't need anyone to lay hands on him because sickness was not able to abide in his body.

Is this new theology?? NO!! It is old. Is it unbiblical?? NO!! It is not only biblical, but also very clear!!

The second thing wrong with the thought "Paul was a healer" is that he was NOT a healer, but rather God performed healings through Paul's obedience to the HS. Paul did nothing on his own, but rather God did it through him. This goes along with my first point of boasting because we can do nothing with out God doing it through us!!

2. "God only speaks to us in a word or two, never large paragraphs" and "it is never for the one who has this prophecy"

Again, balogna. Question.. How is it possible for those who believe this also believe that the bible was written by God??

Moses wrote the first 4 books of the bible, from the beginning of the Earth, long before he was ever born??

Noah was given the entire instruction on building the ark through God.

David was able to not only interpet the king's dreams but also repeat the dream that the king had to the king.

John wrote the book of Revelation the entire book.

There are so many other examples in the bible. The Word that was given to Noah was specifically for him and his family, no one else!!

Again NEW???? Not at all!!


Eample 2.
Another lady was able to discern something through smell

The reasons that this was debunked were:

1. "This is not biblical"

Philippians (NAS)
1:9
And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment,

Discernment=
aisqesiß from (143)
Transliterated Word TDNT Entry
Aisthesis 1:187,29
Phonetic Spelling Parts of Speech
ah'-ee-sthay-sis Noun Feminine

Definition
perception, not only by the senses but by the intellect
cognition, discernment
of moral discernment in ethical matters

Knowlege=
epignosiß from (1921)
Transliterated Word TDNT Entry
Epignosis 1:689,119
Phonetic Spelling Parts of Speech
ep-ig'-no-sis Noun Feminine

Definition
precise and correct knowledge
used in the NT of the knowledge of things ethical and divine


The KJV says "judgement", but the word in "judgement" in the KJV translates to the same greek word used for "discernment" in the NAS.

Philippians (KJV)
18 But I have all, and abound: I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, wellpleasing to God.

19 But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

Smell from sacrifice. But this is the NT and there weren't physical sacrifices by believers. Paul was able to discern this by smell!!

What are the sacrifices in the NT??

Here is an example, but far from them all:

Hebrews 13:
14 For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come.

15 By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.

16 But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.

17 Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.

It was not a physical smell that Paul smelled, but rather he discerned it!!

Now, if we can smell the good, then wouldn't that also mean that we can smell the bad??

From my research, this is in fact biblical and it is in the bible. New? No, once again old!!

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

To tell me that this and the other Spiritual Gifts are not biblical or for today is picking and choosing what you wish to believe.

Who are we to decide what is for today and what isn't?? There isn't any biblical Scripture to base this assumption on.

As far as God doesn't do anything new. This is not new!! It is old. I believe that we are not seeing the full Power of God because of disbelief. The Power of His Name and the miracles wrought by Jesus, Paul, and the Apostles is still alive and possible today.

Jesus said that ANYONE who believes on His will be able to perform the miracles and MANY more.

John 14:
12 "Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also; and greater works than these he will do; because I go to the Father.

13 "Whatever you ask in My name, that will I do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.

14 "If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it.

There was a time when the Catholic church said the same about ALL other faiths. It is new so it is heresy. But I reinterate, it is not new but a going back to that which is old and that which is shown in the bible and available to ALL believers.


Now what does the bible say is going to happen in the "latter days"

17 `AND IT SHALL BE IN THE LAST DAYS,' God says, `THAT I WILL POUR FORTH OF MY SPIRIT ON ALL MANKIND

40 ; AND YOUR SONS AND YOUR DAUGHTERS SHALL PROPHESY, AND YOUR YOUNG MEN SHALL SEE VISIONS, AND YOUR OLD MEN SHALL DREAM DREAMS;

18 EVEN ON MY BONDSLAVES, BOTH MEN AND WOMEN, I WILL IN THOSE DAYS POUR FORTH OF MY SPIRIT And they shall prophesy.

19 `AND I WILL GRANT WONDERS IN THE SKY ABOVE AND SIGNS ON THE EARTH BELOW, BLOOD, AND FIRE, AND VAPOR OF SMOKE.

20 `THE SUN WILL BE TURNED INTO DARKNESS AND THE MOON INTO BLOOD, BEFORE THE GREAT AND GLORIOUS DAY OF THE LORD SHALL COME.

21 `AND IT SHALL BE THAT EVERYONE WHO CALLS ON THE NAME OF THE LORD WILL BE SAVED.'

When did the last days end?? They haven't!! I can not understand how people can believe that the last part of this is the only part which is relevant for today. Isn't that picking and chosing what they wish to believe is only for today??

What is the greek translation for "last" that was used in this verse?

Here:
Last:
escatoß a superlative probably from (2192) (in the sense of contiguity)
Transliterated Word TDNT Entry
Eschatos 2:697,264
Phonetic Spelling Parts of Speech
es'-khat-os Adjective

Definition
extreme
last in time or in place
last in a series of places
last in a temporal succession
the last
last, referring to time
of space, the uttermost part, the end, of the earth
of rank, grade of worth, last i.e. lowest

Read Joel chapter 2 and you will see that this does in fact include today!!

2 Timothy 3:1-9
1 But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come.

2 For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy,

3 unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good,

4 treacherous,reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God

5 holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; Avoid such men as these.

6 For among them are those who enter into households and captivate weak women weighed down with sins, led on by various impulses,

7 always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.

8 Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so these men also oppose the truth, men of depraved mind, rejected in regard to the faith.

9 But they will not make further progress; for their folly will be obvious to all, just as Jannes's and Jambres's folly was also.

Denying the Power!! Isn't that what they do when they deny that miracles and healings are for today??

Hebrews 13:
8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

1 Corinthians 12:1-11

1 Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware.

2 You know that when you were pagans, you were led astray to the mute idols, however you were led.

3 Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God says, "Jesus is accursed"; and no one can say, "Jesus is Lord," except by the Holy Spirit.

4 Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit.

5 And there are varieties of ministries, and the same Lord.

6 There are varieties of effects, but the same God who works all things in all persons.

7 But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.

8 For to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, and to another the word of knowledge according to the same Spirit;

9 to another faith by the same Spirit, and to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit,

10 and to another the effecting of miracles, and to another prophecy, and to another the distinguishing of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, and to another the interpretation of tongues.

11 But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills.

Why haven't we seen more of these today?? People are denying the HS in their lives, believing that being filled with the HS with the evidence of tongues is not for today. People are denying the Power of God and the HS and Jesus, but saying that this is not for today!!

As shown in the scriptures above, They have been so sure that this is of the devil, that they close themselves off to the truth and the Power of God.

Jesus is the same today as He was yesterday. He said Himslef that because He goes to the Father that Miracles will happen and the Works that He did, GREATER WORKS also, will be ours!!

This is NOT new nor was it only to establish the old Church, but also for establishing the Churches and getting us ready for the end times!!

Comments

From My Heart

There is something on my heart and on my mind. Who, what, when, where, or why isn't important. But this person is important enough to me for me to be post a link to one of my private blogs.

[link removed for my private reasons, it will however be in the private folder so that you may have access to it]

This link will show my progress from being so hurt by Christians that I trusted, that I wanted revenge however and where ever I could get it. Even if it meant to me to switch sides.

There were a couple of realizations I had to come to.

1. I was giving them too much power over my life, but physically and spiritually. I was allowing them to send me to hell with them. I was allowing the actions of others dictate my relationship with God.

2. The only ones I had hurt by holding on to my unforgiveness and bitterness was myself. They didn't care to begin with and they certainly didn't care that their actions tore me up insided in ways that I never thought possible. I had never felt pain like I did that day. I was only hurting myself and those who were closest to me as well as I turned away those people who really did care about me.

3. It affected relationship with both my son and my husband. Because I was so hurt and bitter from what these so called "christians" did to me, I closed myself off from being able to love or be loved in return. Even those Christians who did try and reach out to me were met with such distrust that I could have avoided so much more pain.

4. I wasn't able to control other's actions, but I am in control of mine.

5. When we go out and have our own revenge, it WILL come back and bite us in the butt!!

Whatever we sow we will reap. My one and only spell (which was for revenge) came back and got me as well. Things that I had done in the past came back and got me as well. Looking back on it today, it seems as if it was a warning.

Galatians 6:1-10
1 Brethren, even if anyone is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, so that you too will not be tempted.

2 Bear one another's burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ.

3 For if anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself.

4 But each one must examine his own work, and then he will have reason for boasting in regard to himself alone, and not in regard to another.

5 For each one will bear his own load.

6 The one who is taught the word is to share all good things with the one who teaches him.

7 Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap.

8 For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.

9 Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary.

10 So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith.

Treating others, Revenge

This is one of those posts that the HS gave me when I was asking Him WHY! Why didn't He ever take up my revenge?? Why didn't He help me?? Where was He??

We are not fighting against people, but rather those "christians" who are so weak that they allow themselves to be used by the devil to hurt those of us who are really working on a real relationship with Christ.

Subtle Warfare


We are taught to love our enemy. I know that this is soo very hard. BUt it is possible!!

This last week the Amish Community put us all to shame. Their little girls were shot, killed, and some will probably have nightmares for a long time over what happened in their school. Some sick-o went into their school with the intent to molest these girls and then to kill them and himself.

Even after everything that I have been through, I just can not imagine how it would feel to be one of those mothers. I personally feel like death was too good for that sick-o. I would have perfered to be able to torcher that person who did this to these little girls. And I do not even know any of these girls or families!!

It was a profound statement of their faith for them to attend the funeral and forgive this person who did this to their children.

Amish attend the funeral of man

This is where we need to be. I myself am not there yet and don't know if I will ever get to the point where I would be able to forgive someone who did this, much less as quickly as they were able to do so.

Romans 12:
17 Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men.

18 If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.

19 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.

20 Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.

21 Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.

I know that for me this is the hardest thing for me to do, but I am trying my best and I can see where I am improving. It takes time and practice and patience. It is also humbling and requires complete trust in God and His Word.

Jesus gave us the HS to be our comforter.

Joh 14:16
And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;

Joh 14:26
But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

Joh 15:26
But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:

Joh 16:7
Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.

If we pray, seek God, and open ouselves up to being taught by the HS we will receive comfort from the HS. I know, I have been there and I know how much it hurts to be betrayed by those who were supposed to be there for us and those we counted on. To tell out secrets to someone and then to have them use them to hurt and humiliate us, is the worst. I too have been guilty of doing this and I have asked for forgiveness of those who I have hurt, and have forgiven those who had hurt me, even when they are still showing and keeping the lies up for all to see.

I have comfort that God is true to His Word and He will take care of it for me and He will exact revenge against those who are still out there spreading the lies as well as my personal struggles.

In the mean time I still need to do good to them.

Luke 6:27-36
27 "But I say to you who hear, love R301 your enemies, do good to those who hate you,

28 bless those who curse you, pray R302 for those who mistreat you.

29 "Whoever R303 hits you on the cheek, offer him the other also; and whoever takes away your coat, do not withhold your shirt from him either

30 "Give to everyone who asks of you, and whoever takes away what is yours, do not demand it back.

31 "Treat others the same way you want them to treat you.

32 "If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them.

33 "If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same.

34 "If you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners in order to receive back the same amount.

35 "But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for He Himself is kind to ungrateful and evil men.

36 "Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.

And this the hardest one of all. But if you noticed, we will be GREATLY REWARDED for dong this.

Matt 6:
14 "For if you forgive others for their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.

15 "But if you do not forgive others, then your Father will not forgive your transgressions.

See, if we do not forgive those who hurt us, then God won't forgive us for the hurts we have caused others.

Nothing is impposible, even though these commands seem to be impossible when looking through the hurt and betrayal.

Mt 17:20
And He said to them, "Because of the littleness of your faith; for truly I say to you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, `Move from here to there,' and it will move; and nothing will be impossible to you.

Mt 19:26
And looking at them Jesus said to them, "With people this is impossible, but with God all things are possible."

Mr 10:27
Looking at them, Jesus said, "With people it is impossible, but not with God; for all things are possible with God."

Lu 1:37
"For nothing will be impossible with God."

Lu 18:27
But He said, "The things that are impossible with people are possible with God."

Pray and seek God. Ask Him to help you through this, He is faithful to do so. He has promised this.

Let these experiences that affect our weak areas, make us strong.

1 Cor 4:
10 We are fools for Christ's sake, but you are prudent in Christ; we are weak, but you are strong; you are distinguished, but we are without honor.

11 To this present hour we are both hungry and thirsty, and are poorly clothed, and are roughly treated, and are homeless;

12 and we toil, working with our own hands; when we are reviled, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure;

13 when we are slandered, we try to conciliate; we have become as the scum of the world, the dregs of all things, even until now.


2Cor 13:
8 For we can do nothing against the truth, but only for the truth.

9 For we rejoice when we ourselves are weak but you are strong; this we also pray for, that F116 you be made complete.

10 For this reason I am writing these things while absent, so that when present I need not use severity, in accordance with the authority which the Lord gave me for building up and not for tearing down.

I am praying for you and have opened up a private folder at TMS if you ever wish to talk. I won't allow anyone else to read it, unless you OK it, as well as give you complete privaleges over the folder to delete and edit if there is something you do not wish to have in print.

Let me help, PLease!! I have been there and I know how much this hurts. Either way, know that my heart and prayers are with you.

Deb

Comments

SRA, Deliverance Ministries and other Rants

1. SRA.
Does it exist?? I think so, but not anywhere near the amount that has been claimed. As I am currently discussing this in an interfaith forum with those I trust and respect, I will leave it at that for now.

I do however, have a problem who claim that truth is based on he said that she said......garbage. Since when are we not to question everything we have been told?

To say that it exist because "I read it in a book and since they claimed to be Christian it must be true" or "so and so claim that they saw or did such and such"

is as asinine to me as those who claim that something didn't happen because "We do not do that!"

But there is some truth to the fact that if they claim that they were in such and such occult but have 0 knowlege of the basic beliefs, then they must be lying.

I could tell you horror stories of abuse that was done by Christians. This from personal experience of abuse and cover ups with in the church.

Am I lying because the "church doesn't believe in that?" or does it come down to some people twisting scripture in order to control and manipulate others?

And wouldn't also be fair to ask me to prove that I know at least the basics of the bible in order to claim that I went through this for 20 years?? Not to meantion knowing the basic tenets of the denomination (or non as was my case?) that are in my claim??

We are not to go about blinded by what we are told, but rather by the Word and that which is revealed to us.

2. Deliverance.

Where to start??

a. I would like one of these posters to show me ONE that is it just ONE scripture in the NT where Jesus
or the Apostles or Paul had to do step one and then two and also know what spirits to bind?? And the one example where a spirit was named it didn't come from head knowlege from talking to other Christians it came from the HS talking to Peter's spirit.

What drives me crazy is people who believe that there is a formula or a certain way that deliverance must be done. This is not scriptural. Nor did discernment come from their intellect, but rather the HS telling Jesus or the others that they are possessed and them simply using the Name of Jesus to do so. Period!!

Adding to the bible is just as much a sin as those who wish to take away from it.


b. Deliver the spirit or soul??

Sorry, no such thing. Not biblical anyways. I believe and it is backed up in the bible that we are made up of 3 parts. The body (flesh), soul (the mind), and spirit.

DID is in the mind or soul, it however is NOT in the spirit. When we are born again our spirit changes. No deliverance there. Deliverance is for when the body is possessed by demons, there is an extra diety in there that does not belong. They are not able of becoming one with our spirit or mind, they can control the mind however but are not one with the soul. they do not nor can they become the soul or spirit.

Our souls or minds are to be renewed by the Word. You wish to change people's fear of certain things?? Use the Word, Meditate on the Word, and pray. This is how you get to know God personally and how you gain enough faith in order to know that you know that God is more powerful and His love casts out the fear. Fear is NOT a demon, but rather a fleshy emotion reaction by those who do not know God personally. I know because I have seen demons and have been very afraid in the past of those demons. I am no longer afraid because I know that Who is in me is greater than him (satan or his demons) that is in the world.

3. Healing

a. Healing the mind.... The bible talks about this especially in Philippians (sp?). We are given a list of things to keep our mind on so that we are not constantly dwelling on the evil in this world. It is also a tool for forgiveness and the best way to rid yourself of both fear and bitterness.

The HS will show us how to recover and forgive every evil act that has been done against us. I am living proof of that!!

b. Physical healing.

Does God do it?? Yes!! Is it God's will that we as Christians are sick? No I do not believe that anymore than I believe that God uses such things to punish us.

Since it is God's will that all His people are healed then is it possible for all Christians to be healed? I believe so. Is it probable?? NO!!

Just like delieverance things go way wrong when people try to use a formula and get into their heads that they are for some reason responsible for the healing.

God will use us, but only as HE wills it, is not us but rather God doing the work through us. I also believe that doctors and nurses are doing God's Word when they heal the body. ALL good things come from above, this includes the knowlege and wisdom that is used by the doctors and nurses that work on us.


4. Summary.

I am dumbfounded when I see so many people looking for outside sources on how to heal, how to know what "demon" is tormenting so and so, but have no idea what the bible actually says on such subjects.

There is such a lackadaisical approach to these things, as if they are playing with dolls. I am curious how some of these people would react if they ever came face to face with a real demon and they are forced to use scripture and not their formula to rid themselves of it. Be careful of what you ask for, there is a HUGE difference between knowing what to do in your head and finding out the hard way that if you do not know that you know that you know the demons will not leave and they will taunt you. (Again biblical) In Acts there is a story about a religious man who saw the Apostles cast out demons and thought that he could do it himself. Instead what happened is the demons jumped on him and tore him to pieces.

There is more to it than just knowing the Name of Jesus. You also must have 100% confidence and knowlege of Jesus and the Power of the Name, not just head knowlege.

One more thing before I shut up. Satan does not need to have a plant in church in order to cause chaos. There are plenty of "churchians" who are in church for other reasons that to learn about and get to know God to cause the chaos. Everybody seems to expect Satan to be so obvious and stupid. He is not you know?? All he needs to do is to whisper in the ear of so and so about so and so. The flesh of those who do NOT renew their minds or arm themselves with the Word are still so weak that all he needs to do is to use pride, greed, envy or any of the works of the flesh in order to cause discention in the church. (yes that is all that is needed, the Word in our hearts and not our heads) It is also more effective because such behavior draws people away from the church and is not so obvious.



Are you referring to Mult-Personalities Disorders here?

Yes!! DID as such as been spoken of here, is when the mind (soul) splits in order to deal with that which is too trumatic for the mind to handle.

I am aware that there are those who believe that DID is caused by demons and not the mind splitting. Honestly, I am not decided on the issue. I will also open my mind enough to believe that it could be either one depending on the situation or person.

If it is caused by demons with the example being the person who had legions of demons in him who talked to Jesus, they were all kicked out at the same time, not one personality at a time!! They were all kicked out at the same time.

My contention comes when people say that they have to deliever each and every personality separatly. That the person was not saved completly when they were born again because all the personalities did not do so. You only have one spirit and one salvation, not multiple.

If it is caused by the mind splitting, my point still stands that you do not deliever each personality because the demon(s) are still to be cast out in a group. Anything else is NOT supported by scripture.

When either Jesus or the Apostles in the bible casted out demons ALL the demons were cast out at the same time.

I wrote this to combat the idea that we need to learn the names of the demons and cast them out one by one and that this can only happen IF we know what demon we are talking about.

This idea is false and it is not supported by the bible.

Example:

Matthew 8:28-34
28 And when he was come to the other side into the country of the Gergesenes, there met him two possessed with devils, coming out of the tombs, exceeding fierce, so that no man might pass by that way.
29 And, behold, they cried out, saying, What have we to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God? art thou come hither to torment us before the time?
30 And there was a good way off from them an herd of many swine feeding.
31 So the devils besought him, saying, If thou cast us out, suffer us to go away into the herd of swine.
32 And he said unto them, Go. And when they were come out, they went into the herd of swine: and, behold, the whole herd of swine ran violently down a steep place into the sea, and perished in the waters.

It was GO!! Not all the hubabalue, just GO!!

And more on SRA:
Actually there is plenty of proof that this does in fact happen in some obsure african tribes. (whether or not "satan" himself is knowingly summoned or not).

Most ex occultist will admit that there is the VERY RARE occurance of this outside of these tribes. Also, I would like to note that when this does happen, it is done on the lunatic fringes.

In other words, just like we have so called Christians who use the bible to abuse children, there are those who go out to do what they "FEEL" or "believe" the occult is about.

For example:

Some one who has read either "satan seller" or any of the other such books out there, may go out and do the things that they read, simply because the believe that this is what the occult is all about.

This does not mean that it is a part of the occult, but rather someone's interpetation of the occult. In the same way most Christians will tell you that child abuse is not a part of Christianity, this is not a reality of what is taught by the occult. Both are rare and on the luntic fringe and have no place in the occult.


Comments

1 Timothy 1:12-17

1 Timothy 1:12-17

12And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry;

13Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.

14And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.

15This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.

16Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.

17Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Comments

Perfect Christians

Hyprocrite!!! Apostate!!! Practice what you preach!!!!!!

Has anybody else heard any of these??

I am so sick and tired of those who don't even try to do the right thing, or non christians throwing this up everytime a Christian falls.

WE WILL STUMBLE!! WE ARE NOT PERFECT!!!!!

Because of the biblical knowlege I have, so much more is expected of me than there would have been if I had been new to scripture.

I believe that the HS will bring into our rememberance what we need to know when we need to know it. Since I have so much scripture, there is more to work with.

Sometimes it feels like a blessing and sometimes it leads to so much stress. I am expected to be more than what I am, because of this.

People seem to forget that I it has been a short time since I rededicated. I still have years and years of sinful behavior to overcome. It is a struggle, but I can only do my best, but I am made to feel as if it is not enough. That I am expected to have things down and be perfect, especially that which I teach.

I teach what I am taught and most of the time it is as I am being taught. They also seems to come from lessons learned the hard way.

See, I may know what the bible says, but my maturity in the Lord has not quite caught up with what I know.

It is too overwhelming to change my entire life in one minute!! Somethings take time, I am working on one thing at a time. The HS is in control of what He teaches me, not me.

Most of the scripture I know is and has been in my intellect only, it wasn't real to me. When I listen to what the HS teaches me, it becomes real and a part of me.

This is how it works:

1. Listen and Learn

we need to listen and learn what the HS is teaching us. We can never learn if
we do not listen.

2. Practice what you Learn.

Once you have learned what the Word says and it has been made real to you, the next step is to start practicing it.
Ever wonder why it is called practice?? Just every other thing that we wish to perfect we must practice.
If we hit the wrong note or we stumble and fall, we need to get ourselves back up and keep on going. We need to keep working on perfecting ourselves in order to succeed.

This is where I get my most flak. I listen and I learn, but I try and share what I am being taught while I am being taught. This is where people seem to expect me to be perfect and that is not the case. I am trying, but I am not there yet. I still stumble and fall, we all do.


Even Paul has his one sin that he had problems with. But he kept trying and praying about his shortcomings. Why shouldn't we do the same?

"There is now no condemnation to those who are in Christ."

We are forgiven by God, if God doesn't condem me, what give anybody else that right?

"Forgive as My Father in Heaven forgave you"

Regardless, we must forgive those who hurt us. This does not mean that we will not fail at this either, it simply means that I am trying. I have forgiven, but I am working on forgetting and letting go.

"Love you neighbor as yourself"

How much do you love you?? Do you wish to have people understand and forgive you? Then you must do forgive others.

"God will judge us with the same yardstick we use to judge others"

If we judge others only by the mistakes that they make, then how many mistakes is God going to use when He judges us??


Again, this does not mean that we will always succeed at these, but each time we resist the devil and the temptations, the more mature we get and the easier it gets.


Php 3:12
Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus.

Php 3:14
I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

Heb 6:1
Therefore leaving the elementary teaching about the Christ, let us press on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God,

Practice what you preach!! Exactly!! Practice, practice, practice until it is perfected!!

Church

Is Church mandatory?

I was always taught that we needed to go to church.



1. So that we could have fellowship with other Christians.



2. To learn from a minister.



But if those are and they can be accomplished through the internet, is church still manatory? Especially some one like me who has social phobias and find it easier on the Web to both teach and be taught.



Am I wrong in my thinking?


I am curious to know what other people think.

Agree to Disagree part 2

This is a more detailed explaintion of my agree to disagree posts as it seems as if there is at least one person who doesn't quite realize that you have to actually have a discussion in order to agree to disagree.

Here is the original post:

Agree to Disagree

I have always believed that it is always best to agree to disagree when debating an issue before things get out of hand and feelings get hurt.

There are also those who believe that they are so right that they don't even allow a discussion of topic, but rather "assume" what the other person is talking about. These are the ones who will attack first before ever considering that they just might not understand what is being said.

I have run across many of these people. The only thing you can do is to just walk away and allow them their ignorance.

Sometimes I need to remember that it is not up to me to convince others what the Word has to say, but rather, to simply show what the Word has to say and then backoff and let the Holy Spirit do the convicting.

If possible, ALWAYS post scripture to back your position.

For example:

If I said that we are not to associate with those who claim to be Christians but continue with their own fleshy agenda. If they do not follow instruction of the Word that is used to instruct them, we are to walk away. I would have to quote scripture here:

Re 2:2
`I know your deeds and your toil and perseverance, and that you cannot tolerate evil men, and you put to the test those who call themselves apostles, and they are not, and you found them to be false;

2 Thess 3:
14 If anyone does not obey our instruction in this letter, take special note of that person and do not associate with him, so that he will be put to shame.
15 Yet do not regard him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother

Mt 7:6
"Do not give what is holy to dogs, and do not throw your pearls before swine, or they will trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.

1 Cor 5:
6 Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump?

7 Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us:
8 Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

9 I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators:
10 Yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world.
11 But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat.
12 For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within?
13 But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person.

And for those who LIE:

Colossians 3:
8 But now you also, put them all aside: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive speech from your mouth.
9 Do not lie to one another, since you laid aside the old self with its evil practices,

Now when I say that Mexicans and everyone else who wishes to enter this country must do so legally, it needs to be backed up with scriptures that state that we are to follow our laws and leaders.

Romans 13:1
1 Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.
2 Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.
3 For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same: 4 For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.
5 Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake

My ancestors came into this country in order to escape the potato famine in Ireland. They did so legally. It is not fair to those who are trying to do the legal, right and biblical thing to not be able to get into the US because of those who choose to break the law. I do not believe that as Christians that we should EVER condone the breaking of the laws.

America is called the "melting pot", not just because of the different nationalities that are represented here, but rather because we are to melt the different cultures in order to make one. This includes the same language, it benefits all Americans that for all of us to speak the same language, at least in public arena's where we need to shop, do business, etc......

This does not mean racial predujice against anyone, it means that the same rules are to be the same for everyone!!


"psst.. now we can agree to disagree!" :wink:


This is hard when I feel like I am being attacked because of what I believe to be true. When I feel belittled or talked down to, as if I do not have any biblical knowlege, is when this is the hardest for me.


While I have forgiven this person, I realize that he is filled with hate towards some, but that is not my responsiblity. I will continue to pray for this person, but unless I am lead by the SPIRIT I will not allow such person to influence me or my actions.

Ministry of Lies

I need to trust God that He will take care of me and let my fruit show.

This will bring Glory to God, besides, those who have stuck by me during this have shown me that the devil does in fact work in many different ways and uses many different people.

I will not allow myself to be used like that. If God is with me, who cares about the rest, right?


I can not nor will I ever be able to endorse certain ministries, because of the fruit that is shown by it's leaders. When a ministry is so based on hate of another one, it permeates everything in that ministry. Hate is not one of the Fruit of the Spirit.

This was my biggest fault. I knew and God had told me a long time ago to get out of a paticular ministry because of the person who opened the forum. I knew it and started to follow what God had told me to do, but the thought that I was letting someone down kept me from doing so.

My mistake, and another lesson I needed to learn. Obedience is greater than sacrifice. If I had obeyed God and what He was saying to me, then this never would have happened. Remember, God knows the future and He only has our best interest at heart.

See, even if we are born again, we will still pay the consequences for our disobedience. Even though we are forgiven does not mean that we walk free of our actions and behaviors. I love my son, but I also know that he will have to learn lessons in life, I can only direct him, his decisions and the consequences of his actions must still be there in order for him to learn that lesson. This does not mean that I do not love or forgive my son, he means the world to me.

Praise God for His wisdom and His Grace.

Subtle Warfare

Galatians 5:
5 For we through the Spirit, by faith, are waiting for the hope of righteousness.
6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything, but faith working through love.
7 You were running well; who hindered you from obeying the truth?
8 This persuasion did not come from Him who calls you.
9 A little leaven leavens the whole lump of dough.
10 I have confidence in you in the Lord that you will adopt no other view; but the one who is disturbing you will bear his judgment, whoever he is.
11 But I, brethren, if I still preach circumcision, why am I still persecuted? Then the stumbling block of the cross has been abolished.
12 I wish that those who are troubling you would even mutilate themselves.

13 For you were called to freedom, brethren; only one another.
14 For the whole Law is fulfilled in one word, in the statement, "YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF."
15 But if you bite and devour one another, take care that you are not consumed by one another.
16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh.
17 For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please.


It always seem to be that the same thing keeps happening to me. I used to think that it was me, that there was something wrong with me. I no longer believe that.


Instead I need to remember that my battle is not against flesh and blood.

Ephesians 6:
12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

I keep expecting this war to be obvious. I am learning that it is not, it is very subtle and that the devil and his cohorts know our weaknesses. In other words, the attacks don't seem as if they are anything other than people being people, but this is not always so.

Now I know this looks as if I am putting all of the blame for my actions and the actions of others on Satan. IN a way that would be right, but in another way it is not correct. We all make our own choices to follow temptations or not.

"quench all the fiery darts of the wicked."

What are these darts?? Well it depends on the person involved. With me, this is how it always seemed to go:

1. I get right with God
2. I am hurt by other Christians
3. I curse those people and lash out to hurt them as they have hurt me.
4. I give up and do my own thing.
5. I get convicted but I have to start at the beginning. But I trust less.

Satan wins!!

I never in the past got past that point. Not this time!!

Just like I am tempted and I have my weak spots, so do others. I need to remember that just like I have my whisperings in my ear, (they are all the same, why even try anymore, God doesn't love me, why is it always me, REVENGE!!) they have theirs. (she is trying to start a fight with that post, she is not really working at doing the right thing.... and so on)

They failed and I failed. Our biggest problem is our own heads and allowing the wicked one to influence our behaviors and perceptions.

This does not excuse either their actions nor mine. We have free will to make our own choices.

Neither can I blame my actions on the fact that I was hurt by those I cared about or those who claimed that they cared about me. Understanding is all I can ask for. But that is a two way street. If I ask for and expect understanding and forgiveness, then I also must give it as well.

This is the latest lesson that I have had to learn the hard way. Sometimes I wish that these lessons didn't have to hurt so. This was the answer I was given when I asked God "why does this keep happening?" IT really is quite simple, because it had always worked. Why would satan change that which works.

I was told a long time ago that if someone knows which buttons to push to get you angry, then change the button. In other words, if this is how he keeps getting me to fail, then it is something that I need to change. Knowing is half the battle. Next time (and I have no doubt that there will be a next time) I am armed and ready. I know where it comes from and how to defeat it.

Praise God for His loving Grace and Mercy!

Listening to the HS

For the last few months the Lord has been teaching me about the Fruit. If I was honest with myself I would admit that I wish I had spent more time in the Word. If I had then I could have avoided the pain and hurt I feel right now. I knew that I should not have been where I was, but I kept my rose colored glasses on, refusing to see what I was being shown.

I believe that God shows us what we need when we needed it. Trick is, WE HAVE TO LISTEN!!

The fruit is not only about how we are to behave ourselves, but also what we are to look for in those we let close to us.



Don't get me wrong, this does not mean that we should turn our backs on Christians who are trying to do the right thing, but rather those who are consistantly following the flesh. Especially those in the ministry. There is a difference between wanting to do the right thing and failing; and not caring or trying.

Paul had this to say:
Romans 7:
14 For we know that the Law is spiritual, but I am of flesh, sold into bondage to sin.
15 For what I am doing, I do not understand; for I am not practicing what I would like to do, but I am doing the very thing I hate.
16 But if I do the very thing I do not want to do, I agree with the Law, confessing that the Law is good.
17 So now, no longer am I the one doing it, but sin which dwells in me.
18 For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh; for the willing is present in me, but the doing of the good is not.
19 For the good that I want, I do not do, but I practice the very evil that I do not want.
20 But if I am doing the very thing I do not want, I am no longer the one doing it, but sin which dwells in me.
21 I find then the principle that evil is present in me, the one who wants to do good.
22 For I joyfully concur with the law of God in the inner man,
23 but I see a different law in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin which is in my members.
24 Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from the body of this death? 25 Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, on the one hand I myself with my mind am serving the law of God, but on the other, with my flesh the law of sin.

This is how I feel right now!


It continues in Romans 8:
1 Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

Praise God for His Grace.

12 So then, brethren, we are under obligation, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh--
13 for if you are living according to the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live.
14 For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.
15 For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, "Abba! Father!" 16 The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God,


Every day that we spend in prayer and the Word, we get stronger and it gets easier to do the right thing. Will we ever be perfect?? No!! I believe that it is the intent of our hearts that matter. Do we follow after the flesh or do we follow after the Spirit??

It says that we are "putting to death the deeds of the body"

It is a daily struggle and not something that is automatic, but struggle and work is what we are commanded to do every second of every day.

Biblical Knowlege does not equal maturity. Maturity can only come from time working, learning, praying, and spending time in the Word and spending time just listening to the Spirit.

In this first bible study we will be examining both the Fruit of the Spirit as well as the Fruit of the Flesh.

I will admit that this is personal. See, for the last few months the Lord has been teaching me about the Fruit. If I was honest with myself I would admit that I wish I had spent more time in the Word. If I had then I could have avoided the pain and hurt I feel right now. I knew that I should not have been where I was, but I kept my rose colored glasses on, refusing to see what I was being shown.

I believe that God shows us what we need when we needed it. Trick is, WE HAVE TO LISTEN!!

The fruit is not only about how we are to behave ourselves, but also what we are to look for in those we let close to us.

Don't get me wrong, this does not mean that we should turn our backs on Christians who are trying to do the right thing, but rather those who are consistantly following the flesh. Especially those in the ministry. There is a difference between wanting to do the right thing and failing; and not caring or trying.

Paul had this to say:
Romans 7:
14 For we know that the Law is spiritual, but I am of flesh, sold into bondage to sin.
15 For what I am doing, I do not understand; for I am not practicing what I would like to do, but I am doing the very thing I hate.
16 But if I do the very thing I do not want to do, I agree with the Law, confessing that the Law is good.
17 So now, no longer am I the one doing it, but sin which dwells in me.
18 For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh; for the willing is present in me, but the doing of the good is not.
19 For the good that I want, I do not do, but I practice the very evil that I do not want.
20 But if I am doing the very thing I do not want, I am no longer the one doing it, but sin which dwells in me.
21 I find then the principle that evil is present in me, the one who wants to do good.
22 For I joyfully concur with the law of God in the inner man,
23 but I see a different law in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin which is in my members.
24 Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from the body of this death? 25 Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, on the one hand I myself with my mind am serving the law of God, but on the other, with my flesh the law of sin.

This is how I feel right now!


It continues in Romans 8:
1 Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

Praise God for His Grace.

12 So then, brethren, we are under obligation, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh--
13 for if you are living according to the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live.
14 For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.
15 For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, "Abba! Father!" 16 The Spirit Himself testifies R365 with our spirit that we are children of God,


Every day that we spend in prayer and the Word, we get stronger and it gets easier to do the right thing. Will we ever be perfect?? No!! I believe that it is the intent of our hearts that matter. Do we follow after the flesh or do we follow after the Spirit??

It says that we are "putting to death the deeds of the body"

It is a daily struggle and not something that is automatic, but struggle and work is what we are commanded to do every second of every day.

Biblical Knowlege does not equal maturity. Maturity can only come from time working, learning, praying, and spending time in the Word and spending time just listening to the Spirit.

1 Corinthians 3:1-4
1 And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual men, but as to men of flesh, as to infants in Christ.
2 I gave you milk to drink, not solid food; for you were not yet able to receive it. Indeed, even now you are not yet able,
3 for you are still fleshly. For since there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not fleshly, and are you not walking like mere men?
4 For when one says, "I am of Paul," and another, "I am of Apollos," are you not mere men?

OUCH!!!

SO lets work on this together so that we may all bring Glory to Chrrist.

Purpose of Blog

Purpose


This blog was set up in order for me to share what the Lord is doing in my life. My hope is that I may be able to help others who are or have gone through similar things.

Mexico

Wednesday, May 17, 2006

Mexico
MR. PRESIDENT, I'M HEADED TO MEXICO
David M. Bresnahan
April 1, 2006
NewsWithViews.com
Dear President Bush:
I'm about to plan a little trip with my family and extended family, and I would like to ask you to assist me. I'm going to walk across the border from the U.S. into Mexico, and I need to make a few arrangements. I know you can help with this.
I plan to skip all the legal stuff like visas, passports, immigration quotas and laws. I'm sure they handle those things the same way you do here.
So, would you mind telling your buddy, President Vicente Fox, that I'm on my way over? Please let him know that I will be expecting the following:
1. Free medical care for my entire family.
2. English-speaking government bureaucrats for all services I might need, whether I use them or not.
3. All government forms need to be printed in English.
4. I want my kids to be taught by English-speaking teachers.
5. Schools need to include classes on American culture and history.
6. I want my kids to see the American flag flying on the top of the flag pole at their school with the Mexican flag flying lower down.
7. Please plan to feed my kids at school for both breakfast and lunch.
8. I will need a local Mexican driver's license so I can get easy access to government services.
9. I do not plan to have any car insurance, and I won't make any effort to learn local traffic laws.
10. In case one of the Mexican police officers does not get the memo from Pres. Fox to leave me alone, please be sur that all police officers speak English.
11. I plan to fly the U.S. flag from my house top, put flag decals on my car, and have a gigantic celebration on July 4th. I do not want any complaints or negative comments from the locals.
12. I would also like to have a nice job without paying any taxes, and don’t enforce any labor laws or tax laws.
13. Please tell all the people in the country to be extremely nice and never say a critical word about me, or about the strain I might place on the economy.
I know this is an easy request because you already do all these things for all the people who come to the U.S. from Mexico. I am sure that Pres. Fox won't mind returning the favor if you ask him nicely.
However, if he gives you any trouble, just invite him to go quail hunting with your V.P.
Thank you so much for your kind help.
Sincerely,
David M. Bresnahan
posted by Star @ 4:02 PM

Joy? Tests and Trials??

James 1:
2 Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials,
3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.
4 And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

Joy?? Count it joy when I go through trials?? or hard times?? Or insulting and rude people?? Or computer problems??

Yes!! Anything in life worth having is worth fighting for and worth working hard for. Life is hard and it will throw us a curve ball or two (or three or four or five..six..seven..eight....--->).

The trick is to keep going and that these are needed to strengthen us. Can you imagine what the world could be like in just a few years?

Are you ready? If we can't hold strong under these small day to day problems, how are we ever going to handle the big stuff that we may face.

A child who is learning to play ball, will miss the ball more than not. But if he keeps going and keeps at it then soon he will catch almost all of them. As he grows then he will rarely miss the ball. He will learn to feel the ball, he will learn to know when the ball is coming his way and just how to handle it before the ball gets there. He will be ready for it.

This is what we need to learn to do.

Quote:
Endurance!!
staying power, stamina, fortitude, resolution, durability, strength, survival
antonym: weakness

persistence, perseverance, tenacity, continuance, survival, duration

Encarta ® World English Dictionary © & (P) 1998-2004 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.


Resist the devil and he will flee!! It does get easier, just don't give up no matter how it seems as if everything is against you.

Verse 4:
4 And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.


Perfect and complete. Lacking in NOTHING!!!! That is the reward for standing strong and enduring (which is it's own reward)



posted by Star @ 11:58 PM

More Promises

Revelation 21:
3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, "Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them,
4 and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away."
5 And He who sits on the throne said, "Behold, I am making all things new." And He said, "Write, for these words are faithful and true."
6 Then He said to me, "It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give to the one who thirsts from the spring of the water of life without cost.
7 "He who overcomes will inherit these things, and I will be his God and he will be My son.


A World without sorrow!! Amen and Amen again.

With all of the sorrow and pain that this World can cause, I think that we need to step back and look at the promises that are ours. Even though we may go through suffering and pain in this life, our rewards for keeping on keeping on are greater.

Don't fret, God is good and He is always with us.

Praise God!!
posted by Star @ 10:23 AM

My rebuttle of D Willard's "spiritual reformation" Part One

What I do not like about "spiritual formation" by Willard. Part One.

Quote:
From here we manage our lives as best we can, utilizing whatever resources of understanding, emotion and circumstance are available. It is here we stand before God and our conscience

.

As Christians we shouldn't lean on OUR understanding nor should we rely on our emotions. We are to overcome our circumstances.

Prov 3:
5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

We are to ask the HS to give us wisdom.
1Co 1:19
For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.

1Co 2:4
And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:

1Co 2:5
That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.

2 Thess 1:
4 So that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure:

We are to stand in faith, regardless of our circumstances.


Quote:
Within the invisible dimension of the person, and right at its conscious center, lies the human spirit. "God is Spirit," the creative will that creates and governs the universe, and "spirit" is the creative element in human nature, "the image of God in man. The human spirit is primarily what we today call "will," the capacity of choice and resolution, and what biblically and traditionally is called "heart."




This is wrong. We are body, mind, and spirit. According to this: our conscious center is our spirit. No our center is our mind. This is where we made our decisions, not our spirit.

When we are born we have a carnal mind. Our carnal mind is not and can not be "the image of God in man"

Romans 8:
6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.

When we are born again, our spirit changes, but our mind is still carnal.

1 Corinthians 3:
1 And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ.
2 I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able.
3 For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?

How do we change our minds? By renewing them with the Word of God
Romans 12:
1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

and meditating on THE WORD not A WORD.

1 Titus 4:
13 Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.
14 Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery.
15 Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all.
16 Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.

When we are born we follow after the flesh(body). We are captive to the flesh. Even Paul says that because of the flesh he finds himself doing that which he doesn't wish to do.

Romans 7:
23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.
24 O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?
25 I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.

This article is false. When we are born again, our flesh is at war with our spirit. What makes the difference is the mind. We are to renew our minds on the Word and to meditate on the Word in order to be able to defeat the flesh.

This paragraph has put the spirit and the mind as one of the same. According to it we are spirits are and have always been "the image of God in man". This is just false.

According to this paragraph we reform our minds/spirits, it doesn't take into account that we have to be born again and that our spirit changes when we are born again.

The Article
posted by Star @ 12:43 PM

He Is ALIVE!

HE IS ALIVE
Luke 24:
6 He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee,
7 Saying, The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.
8 And they remembered his words,

To borrow from a song I remember from childhood:

He's alive and I am forgiven, Heaven's gates are opened wide
HE IS ALIVE!!!


Father,
I thank you for sending Jesus to the Earth so that I can be saved.

I thank you for loveing me so much that you gave your Son to be sacrificed for me.

I thank you for forgiving all of my sins.

I thank you for this growing relationship I have with you.

I thank you for never giving up on me, regardless of what I have done or where I have been.

Jesus,
Thank you for sacrifing yourself for me.

I thank you for shedding your blood so that I might be saved.

I thank you for being my high priest making intercession for me with the Father.

I thank you for giving me your Name. The Name above all names.

You are the King and Kings and my Lord of Lords. May I never stop praising your Name.


Ps 18:49
Therefore will I give thanks unto thee, O LORD, among the heathen, and sing praises unto thy name

Ps 47:6
Sing praises to God, sing praises: sing praises unto our King, sing praises.
posted by Star @ 10:18 AM