One thing the Lord said to me when I first joined this forum is to be honest, and speak from my heart. And I have endeavored to do so, and will continue to do so as best I can.
As I mentioned in another post somewhere in this forum, each time in my life that I have made a move to follow the Lord into something new, there have always been attacks from the enemy. Always. I have come to expect them as part of my spiritual growth...not that I like it, for the enemy does not play fair and often goes for our most vulnerable spots. But long ago I made up my mind that no matter what, I was not letting go of the Lord.
Acts 14:22 - "...we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God." 2 Tim. 3:12 - "...all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution."
After my post here yesterday, and another one on another thread - that was particularly difficult to get out - the Spirit said quite plainly to me, "You know Satan hates you." And I know that it is not because I am anybody, but it is because of the Word in me, for truly he hates all of us who seek to walk in the Light. And he hates being exposed for the liar that he is.
He knows the Word too, and he is afraid of the Body of Christ coming together and working as one unit: he knows that when that day comes - and it is coming - that it will be the end of him. And so he fights against that happening with every ounce of his being. But, praise the Lord, it is going to happen anyway.
Because of my own past I feel a real closeness with those who are what used to be called "backsliders"; I have spent enough of my life sliding on my own backslide to relate to them. So in this short message, I just want to encourage you all: don't give up! If you get knocked on your back, get up and keep going.
Paul says we are in a race, but what we must all continually remember: it is a long-distance marathon, not a sprint! Take your life one day at a time and do what you can - what the Lord leads you to do - for that one day.
James 1:2 - Count it all joy, my brothers, whenever you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patient endurance. But let that patient endurance have a perfect work, so that you shall be perfect and complete - lacking in nothing.
James 1:12 - Blessed is the man who endures testing, because having become approved, he will receive the victor's wreath of the life which the Lord promised to the ones loving Him.
My earnest prayer is that the Lord strengthen each of you to stand fast, to endure with patience and perservance, and emerge from each test victorious in Christ.
As I read through some of the posts here, it both saddens me and angers me that so many Christian brothers and sisters are left floundering in their spiritual lives, uncertain and in despair over what in happening to them in their Christian walk. This should not be, for truly God has a purpose for each and every one of His children, and He is working toward that purpose in each and every one of those lives - including yours. But understanding what is really going on is absolutely crucial in order to stop being so discouraged and beaten down.
Our spiritual growth in Christ is what God is most concerned about in our lives. Everything He does is aimed toward accomplishing that one purpose; that is, if we are seeking Him. His primary goal is for each one of us to be whole - complete - with "the maturity found in Christ". And His intention is for each one of us to reach that goal in this life.
The enemy's purpose is just the opposite; his basic aim is to keep us from reaching any kind of spiritual growth - much less maturity - in this life. And so since the beginning of the church the enemy has used his two chief weapons - deception and seduction - to hide both the goal and the means given to reach that goal. Substituting mere appearance for true substance, and proper form for the freedom of the Spirit, he buries the Light revealed in Christ under a blanket of religion and hides the Wisdom found in Christ behind the knowledge of human reason. All to keep in darkness those who are intended to be "called out" into Light; all to keep us from discovering, then aiming toward, and finally reaching that God-intended goal of spiritual maturity in Christ in this life!
Jesus warned us that the enemy would infiltrate our camp (the wheat and the tares), and use whatever means he could to keep us in the dark and so, throughout church history down to the present day - even in this very forum - there are those who will try to hinder spiritual growth. And always it is the same, deception and seduction - the weapons of darkness: one works to force you back, the other to tempt you astray. One will attack you, the other distract you. One will try to scare you, the other to impair you. The means may vary, but the aim is always the same:to keep you from growing in Christ.
Since darkness can never defeat light, he can never completely snuff out the Light of God's Word, but he works tirelessly toward keeping us in the dark about it. But, the truth is, only those who have light can control whether it is brightened or dimmed; the darkness has absolutely no say in it. Ultimately therefore, only we determine whether we will grow spiritually brighter in the Light - no one else. No one can make us do it, and no one can make us stop. Our spiritual growth is truly in our hands alone; and it all comes down to which side we choose to believe: God's Word or the enemy's words. One is telling the truth and one is telling lies; we must decide for ourselves which is which.
Joshua 24: 15 "..choose you this day whom ye will serve...but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD."
The Lord often uses the simplest of events in life to bring some spiritual lesson or another to our notice, if we will but pay attention. In His parables, Jesus did this many times; He would describe great spiritual principles using basic everyday occurances to which everyone could relate. God is always a working in the present moment, for truly He is always Now and is ever working in His creation. May He open the eyes of each of His children, that they may see Him today as He works in and around them in their everyday lives.
Some time ago we had a stray cat come to live in our garage, and she was probably the ugliest cat ever: one gnarly, chewed up ear that permanently flopped halfway over; short little legs and a round, fat body; she looked like a cartoon cat the way she darted around everywhere. But mostly she was the most traumatized animal I have ever seen; you could see it in her eyes, that whatever had happened to her in her previous life had not been good.
We set food and water out for her, but if we came anywhere near her she would cring down, panic in her eyes, ready to run. We decided that rather than traumatize her more by pushing ourselves on her, we would just let her alone to realize for herself that she could trust us. She made herself a bed under an old chair we had, and for the first month or so would hardly come out except to eat and go outside to the restroom. In time, by showing her kindness but requiring nothing in return she eventually realized we meant her no harm, and learned to trust us, allowing us to pet her and even enjoying it. Later, when we had to move, we found her a good home where she is today. And she has become the most loving, sweetest cat; even her looks have changed to where she is actually cute.
I know a woman who didn't leave home until she was 39 years old; up until then she was berated and belittled constantly, forced to chauffer her mother everywhere, basically allowed no life of her own. Finding thoughts of suicide growing stronger and stronger in her, she finally had to just run away from home. Having nowhere to go, she lived with us for a while, until she could find a job. Quite honestly, the darkness surrounding this woman at first was extremely difficult to be around. The spirits of oppression were so heavy around her they were almost physically felt; it was nearly impossible to even have a normal conversation with her because everything that came out of her mouth was so filled with depression and despair.
Rather than have us directly confront her, or go through a lot of spiritual warfare, the Lord asked that we just allow her to be, and for us to just love her. So, that is what we did (as difficult as that was at times). But today, she is a totally different person; saved, and developing her own life. And though she can still be a little much at times, it is mild in comparison - and it has only been a couple of years.
The point of all of this is that there is no set formula that always works for every person and every situation. Jesus healed each person differently when He walked the earth, and He does the same today. It is only by diligently seeking the Lord for whomever He brings our way that we can truly minister His Life to that person. Often He will lead us to just be a friend to them. And we never go wrong with kindness and real loving acceptance.
Col. 3:12 - "And so, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience..."
By the way, we gave the cat to the woman and both are doing well together.
Thank you leastone for reminding us where we have been and that the Love of God has set us free to be who He wants us to be. I have been to the top of the mountain and to the pits of hell,and by God's grace I am still here.Sometimes the weight of the world gets so heavy, we almost feel as though we can't go on and it seems God is so far away, but I know He is always there. There was a time that I was being abused and this one time I just knew I was going to die, I couldn't breath, and I screamed "Jesus" and all of a sudden this person just jumped away from me, He is always just a word away.I pray all God's children will remember that as we grow in wisdom every day.
Truly, I praise God for the active seeking of so many in this forum for a closer relationship with the Lord Jesus; also, for the many who are responding as they are guided by the Spirit within to encourage and lift one another up before the Lord. I do not think I am the only one who senses a deepening of the Spirit here as we all continue to thirst after His Kingdom and His Righteousness.
I also continue to sense a stirring in the enemy camp to quench this awakening. For each and all of us, we need to be on a heightened alert in our own lives - diligently keeping one another lifted up in prayer - and not letting ourselves be deceived into losing our focus on our Lord Jesus.
As 1 Peter reminds us: "Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you; but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing, so that also at the revelation of His glory you may rejoice with exultation."
Growth in Christ is a continuous process of moving from spiritual darkness into the Light, until one day we can say along with Jesus, "...he (referring to the prince of darkness) has nothing in me.". For we were born into this darkness when we came into the world and all were once filled with it; but now, as we follow the Light, as we cling to Him, and allow Him to burn off all that is not of Him, we are gradually being changed into His likeness, and being filled with His Light - which is His very Life in us.
Col 1:13 - "For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son..."
What distresses us now is that very process of change; as much as we long for it and pray for it, our natural tendency is to hold on to what is familiar. To combat this, we must remain focused upon the Light always, allowing nothing and no one to pull us away from Him. Not our feelings, not our loved ones, not this or that thing in the world.
My prayer is that our Father enlighten each of you with all spiritual understanding, strengthen you to stand firm against the lies of the enemy, and fill you with the true Light of His Holy Spirit and His Living Word.
May God be glorified always, and the Name of Jesus be lifted higher and higher!
leastone, I really enjoyed your last post, It is so true that we are always wanting to hang on to what is familiar to us, we often think we know what we are doing and that is one big mistake;I know that I am guilty of that, and I know that the Lord will never do anything to hurt me, but I just don't know how to let go and let God lead me, I guess I start thinking I got it all figured out, and I should know better. I pray that God would continue to nudge us in the right direction for our lives, and keep on until we hear His still small voice whispering in our ear,that when we hear, we are quick to do what God wants us to do................Molly
Your post and messages are wonderful they hit hard and to the heart. Thank you for sharing what you are learning through him so others may learn as well.
:rolleyes: I wanted to reply to your post because like you I have sensed something lurking around cf and I have been praying about that; It must be that your words are like sunshine to dark souls and we all know that satan hates that light. I know in my experiences he uses every tool he can find when we try to do the Lords work. I guess that means we are on the right track, We have to keep looking to Jesus, and stirring the faith in everyone, for "now is the appointed time" the Lord is moving, His Spirit is everywhere, preparing hearts and binding up the wounds of the broken hearted. There are still broken lives out there that need the Saviour's Love so we have to keep on working towards the goal.......Heaven Bound...........Keep on inspiring and encourageing and may the light of the Lord shine into your life............Love in Jesus Holy Name...............Molly
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