If love is the acid test of our Christian walk.....

[Si_monfaith]

Here is a question we all need to ponder. If Love is the real acid test of our Christianity, how are we doing?

We are told that love is the true test of the validity of our Christian walk. Not our doctrine. Not our church affiliation. It is simply whether we love God with all of our hearts and whether we love our neighbor as we love ourselves. Some say this is a moot point because God sees us as holy, then regardless, all is fine. But is that really the truth?

Let’s be real here. In the book of Acts, men would exclaimed those in the early church "Behold how they love one another!" The love of God was manifested through them so that God would be glorified. Can we honestly say the same, or are we reduced to hiding under our "positional" love when it cannot be seen by any in the world? Is it any wonder they often call us hypocrites? As was foretold, the children of darkness are wiser than the children of light. Ah, but there is good news…. not for long!

Is our situation irreversible? Absolutely not. God longs to make us fruitful, and adorn us with love, joy, peace, and yes, praise God, even self control for those overcome by black addictive sins as I was. BUT..... these fruits cannot grow in the rocky soul of the flesh nature. We must finally bow low before our God and admit what is obvious to everyone except ourselves. We are NOT loving God with all of our hearts. Nor are we loving others as we love ourselves. Self still rules the roost and self must die.

We have heard the call to pick up our cross and deny ourselves. But how?? We cannot kill it, discipline it, ignore it, or tie it up tight enough to allow us to let God love through us. There is a narrow way, and obviously the early church was walking in it. What are we missing? Look, as long as we refuse to admit we need an infusion of God’s love, it will never happen, for it is only when we finally break before Him and cry out for Him to fill us and change us with out WHOLE heart will we find what we so desperately need. Let us remember, He dwells with those who are of a contrite heart, those who hunger and thirst for righteousness.

When we finally confess to Him that we need new hearts, loving hearts, hearts that He can FULLY possess, we will witness..... no, no..... be a part of... the greatest move of God the world has ever seen, and yes, that includes the book of Acts. Impossible, you say? Look, I get it, in this age of a Christianity that only wants to tickle our ears, how can we ever hope to see the joy of our salvation brought back from lukewarm to a full boil, spilling out on others. Many see only the great falling away, and not the promised end gathering that will precede our Lord’s return.

But praise God, even now the Lord is beginning to awaken us to what He has for us in these last days. We as His church have not been born in unity, power, and great love, only to see us limp across the finish line, with self quite intact, sin still overcoming us, with the world laughing at our multitude of divisions, which we call denominations, all bickering and arguing.

And why has this sad state occurred? It is simple. We have limited the Holy one of Israel by our unbelief. We have become satisfied with having our names written in Heaven, but with precious few truly lamenting their fleshliness or hungering after God to change us from the inside out. Jesus has promised to set us free indeed and longs to according to HIS definition, not ours. He has assured us that He will keep us from falling and He will change us from carnal children to overcoming saints. This is our destiny. But we simply have not believed it possible.

But that is all about to change. No more trading our birthright of walking as true overcomers for a mess of pottage. It is time we take possession of the land He has promised us. No more running laps in the wilderness of worldliness, compromise and lukewarm Sunday-go-to-church Christianity. It makes God sick. Should it not do the same to us? He is awakening us to who we are, and who He is in us. And when we do… and believe me, we will, the world will again say "Look! That which bore only briars and thorns has become again like the garden of Eden!" I cannot wait! How about you?

Let it be so, Lord. We are dry bones, but praise God, life is about to flow through us again. The world will marvel, but praise God, we will marvel more. Amaze us Lord with how potent your grace really is. Open our blinded eyes and break our satisfied hearts. Let us, like Paul, see ourselves as wretched men without real victory. And to all who do, wash away their unbelief and realize that we serve the God who will do abundantly above and beyond all that we ask or even think.

Live, bones, live.

Blessings to all.

Gideon

We are called to look to Jesus the author and perfecter of our faith.

Our acts of love must be in secret (mathew 6:3) and not discussed openly.

Rather, we are called to testify and boast about the works of love of Jesus openly.

 

[Gideons300]

No worries on the late response. I was looking forward to hear your response to my last email, so when it came in, my heart was overjoyed to hear your agreement to what I shared.

I can understand the feeling of running away from a calling that God put on our hearts. If I can say one thing on that subject... it is to not delay... not even one second. Someones life could be on the line... this I know from experience...

The person wielding the sword of truth is never liked, nor will be liked, in a world that has almost universally rejected the truth. This has been something that has been on my mind for a long time now. I think the truth is still out their, and people are waking up to it, but the question still remains... How do we get this message across to the four corners of the earth? This is a real head scratcher to me, and something that I believe will take the supernatural help of God to accomplish.

Even this idea causes another question to mind: If God wants a world-wide revival, then He needs people that are willing to let go of what they thought was the truth, so they can be open in hearing the real truth that God wants to reveal to us? This, however, is the predicament that we are faced with. Many people are not willing to 'hear what they don't want to hear', so they close their ears off from hearing any further revelation from God; because they are content (like me) with what they received from the past.

I'm thinking out-loud at the moment, but maybe this could be what Jesus meant about being 'born-again' in John 3? He was talking to a religious leader (Nicodemus) who was someone steeped in the Jewish customs and traditions. Maybe what Jesus wanted Nicky to do was to let go of the old ways of doing things, so He can be able to hear the new things that God wanted to share with Him? It's kinda like being born-again, isn't it? We are born into this world physically not knowing anything and are under full dependence on our parents for answers and survival. So when we become born-again in the spirit, shouldn't we have the same dependence that we had physically to our earthly parents, to our Father in Heaven. Is this the same dependence that God wants from each of His children? The willingness to start all over and say," I am coming to you as a fool knowing nothing, and I want to be trained by you in how I should walk and think?" Food for thought.

I look forward to hearing your future threads, and please do continue with the same spirit that is driving you thus far. The devil waits for an opportunity to attack us at our weak spot, so it is imperative that we have others that can cover us in those areas, or we are in tune enough with God to have Him chastise us, if we are going off the rails.

In peace

I just woke up and it is 6 a.m. Christmas morning. How wonderfully appropriate. I am 69 and my beautiful wife is 66. Between us we have six adult children, eleven grandchildren and five great grandchildren. In most instances, one would surmise that Christmas morning would be somewhat restful until later in the day when the young children arrive. LOL. Not in this house.

Nine years ago, we adopted Jack, our youngest grandson. A sad situation and a long story, but there was no one else so we stepped in at God’s leading to adopt and raise him. Ah, the golden years. But God was not finished re-filling our quiver . Two years ago we also adopted Gavin, our two and a half year old youngest GREAT grandchild. By my calculations, Lord willing and I last long enough, I will be 85 when he graduates high school. Do not feel sorry for me, for even though it sounds crazy, especially when I type it out, lol, my plan for our golden years pales in comparison with what we are now enjoying. I would change nothing and that is God’s truth.

So in about an hour, I get to see their joy filled faces on Christmas morning. Satan has done his level best to dissuade me from finally stepping out in ministry. Two years ago, my wife was diagnosed with stage four cancer in both lungs, one kidney as well as leukemia. Ouch, huh? But praise God, after many tears and much prayer, she is today walking with no active cancer anywhere. Thank you Lord. What a weight off our shoulders. It is not that she feared death, but the thought of leaving two rambunctious boys with an old man (hey, I still get around!) terrified her.

I am a degrees landscape designer and self employed custom deck and pergola builder, but with no company retirement, that was satan’s next angle of attack. Fear and worry. It is easy to say “Refuse to” but in our situation, the challenge to trust has been exponentially greater, as we really have no one we would be comfortable raising the boys if the Lord takes us home. How can I ever step out in ministry in a situation like mine? It is a good question and the only answer I have is “Jesus”. It is a rather good answer though, don’t you think?

That is why these past six months or so I had up til recently stopped my posts. It has been my dark night of the soul, and to be honest it was dark indeed. I felt like the prophet of old who said that he determined not to speak, but the burden was like a fire shut up in his bones. I know first hand how he felt. So I did my best imitation of Jonah and had a whale of a time wrestling with God. Thank God, it is over. Ahhhh, sonshine.

The fear of HOW has left. That alone is a miracle. The HOW still remains. I simply am trusting that my calling is both to step out and to be a good husband and father. God is certainly able to provide.

So now that brings us to your thoughts and curiousity as to what’s next. I definitely have been given some answers as to how a world wide awakening will work. Bear with me here.

We need to start with the latter part of Ekekial 36. This is where God, through Ezekiel tells us of the coming new covenant and what it will do for us. The other place where it is clearly laid out is in Jeremiah 31. But there is a difference in Ezekiel, a huge one.

I am going to have to pause this conversation for now. Fatherly duties prevail. LOL. But I am sure later on, I will have a chance to continue. In the meantime, as you have opportunity, take a look at the scriptures from ... well, let me simply paste them here. The following verses are Ezekiel 36:20-38

And when they entered unto the heathen, whither they went, they profaned my holy name, when they said to them, These are the people of the Lord, and are gone forth out of his land.

But I had pity for mine holy name, which the house of Israel had profaned among the heathen, whither they went.

Therefore say unto the house of Israel, thus saith the Lord God; I do not this for your sakes, O house of Israel, but for mine holy name's sake, which ye have profaned among the heathen, whither ye went.

And I will sanctify my great name, which was profaned among the heathen, which ye have profaned in the midst of them; and the heathen shall know that I am the Lord, saith the Lord God , when I shall be sanctified in you before their eyes.

For I will take you from among the heathen, and gather you out of all countries, and will bring you into your own land.

Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you.

A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.

And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.

And ye shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; and ye shall be my people, and I will be your God. I will also save you from all your uncleannesses: and I will call for the corn, and will increase it, and lay no famine upon you.

And I will multiply the fruit of the tree, and the increase of the field, that ye shall receive no more reproach of famine among the heathen.

Then shall ye remember your own evil ways, and your doings that were not good, and shall lothe yourselves in your own sight for your iniquities and for your abominations.

Not for your sakes do I this, saith the Lord God, be it known unto you: be ashamed and confounded for your own ways, O house of Israel.

Thus saith the Lord God; In the day that I shall have cleansed you from all your iniquities I will also cause you to dwell in the cities, and the wastes shall be builded. And the desolate land shall be tilled, whereas it lay desolate in the sight of all that passed by.

And they shall say, This land that was desolate is become like the garden of Eden; and the waste and desolate and ruined cities are become fenced, and are inhabited.

Then the heathen that are left round about you shall know that I the Lord build the ruined places, and plant that that was desolate:

I the Lord have spoken it, and I will do it.

Thus saith the Lord God; I will yet for this be enquired of by the house of Israel, to do it for them; I will increase them with men like a flock.

As the holy flock, as the flock of Jerusalem in her solemn feasts; so shall the waste cities be filled with flocks of men: and they shall know that I am the Lord.

Ezekiel 36:20-38 KJV

Have a great Christmas morning, everyone.

Blessings,

Gideon

 

[Si_monfaith]

Here is a question we all need to ponder. If Love is the real acid test of our Christianity, how are we doing?

We are told that love is the true test of the validity of our Christian walk. Not our doctrine. Not our church affiliation. It is simply whether we love God with all of our hearts and whether we love our neighbor as we love ourselves. Some say this is a moot point because God sees us as holy, then regardless, all is fine. But is that really the truth?

Let’s be real here. In the book of Acts, men would exclaimed those in the early church "Behold how they love one another!" The love of God was manifested through them so that God would be glorified. Can we honestly say the same, or are we reduced to hiding under our "positional" love when it cannot be seen by any in the world? Is it any wonder they often call us hypocrites? As was foretold, the children of darkness are wiser than the children of light. Ah, but there is good news…. not for long!

Is our situation irreversible? Absolutely not. God longs to make us fruitful, and adorn us with love, joy, peace, and yes, praise God, even self control for those overcome by black addictive sins as I was. BUT..... these fruits cannot grow in the rocky soul of the flesh nature. We must finally bow low before our God and admit what is obvious to everyone except ourselves. We are NOT loving God with all of our hearts. Nor are we loving others as we love ourselves. Self still rules the roost and self must die.

We have heard the call to pick up our cross and deny ourselves. But how?? We cannot kill it, discipline it, ignore it, or tie it up tight enough to allow us to let God love through us. There is a narrow way, and obviously the early church was walking in it. What are we missing? Look, as long as we refuse to admit we need an infusion of God’s love, it will never happen, for it is only when we finally break before Him and cry out for Him to fill us and change us with out WHOLE heart will we find what we so desperately need. Let us remember, He dwells with those who are of a contrite heart, those who hunger and thirst for righteousness.

When we finally confess to Him that we need new hearts, loving hearts, hearts that He can FULLY possess, we will witness..... no, no..... be a part of... the greatest move of God the world has ever seen, and yes, that includes the book of Acts. Impossible, you say? Look, I get it, in this age of a Christianity that only wants to tickle our ears, how can we ever hope to see the joy of our salvation brought back from lukewarm to a full boil, spilling out on others. Many see only the great falling away, and not the promised end gathering that will precede our Lord’s return.

But praise God, even now the Lord is beginning to awaken us to what He has for us in these last days. We as His church have not been born in unity, power, and great love, only to see us limp across the finish line, with self quite intact, sin still overcoming us, with the world laughing at our multitude of divisions, which we call denominations, all bickering and arguing.

And why has this sad state occurred? It is simple. We have limited the Holy one of Israel by our unbelief. We have become satisfied with having our names written in Heaven, but with precious few truly lamenting their fleshliness or hungering after God to change us from the inside out. Jesus has promised to set us free indeed and longs to according to HIS definition, not ours. He has assured us that He will keep us from falling and He will change us from carnal children to overcoming saints. This is our destiny. But we simply have not believed it possible.

But that is all about to change. No more trading our birthright of walking as true overcomers for a mess of pottage. It is time we take possession of the land He has promised us. No more running laps in the wilderness of worldliness, compromise and lukewarm Sunday-go-to-church Christianity. It makes God sick. Should it not do the same to us? He is awakening us to who we are, and who He is in us. And when we do… and believe me, we will, the world will again say "Look! That which bore only briars and thorns has become again like the garden of Eden!" I cannot wait! How about you?

Let it be so, Lord. We are dry bones, but praise God, life is about to flow through us again. The world will marvel, but praise God, we will marvel more. Amaze us Lord with how potent your grace really is. Open our blinded eyes and break our satisfied hearts. Let us, like Paul, see ourselves as wretched men without real victory. And to all who do, wash away their unbelief and realize that we serve the God who will do abundantly above and beyond all that we ask or even think.

Live, bones, live.

Blessings to all.

Gideon

Our works of love could prove nothing about ourselves, as Lord has told them to be kept in secret.

That one is a true child of God is known by what he boasts about openly. Such people boast about the works of love of Jesus alone in public.

 

[Johnny4ChristJesus]

Interesting reply. I am not going to ask this question to take away from what you share, rather I am curious of the answer.

Have you sold all that you have and distributed the proceeds to the poor or such community that you referred to?

In peace

I wish there was such a community now. Have I sold out 100% to God since He woke me up? Yes. I'm not going to go further than that. I want God's rewards, not man's.

 

[UnprofitableServant]

I wish there was such a community now. Have I sold out 100% to God since He woke me up? Yes. I'm not going to go further than that. I want God's rewards, not man's.

I am not getting you.
How have you sold our 100% to God? If the issue is not having a community that lived like the first century Christians did, then will you be open to selling all that you have if you found such a community today? And what do you mean by wanting God's rewards and not man's in this context?

Sorry, I may just be slow to understanding, so you may have to clarify a bit. Thanks in advance.

In peace

 

[Johnny4ChristJesus]

All that you share is true, sadly. But here I would remind all of us that there is not some formula for success. What happened in the early church was God driven. If we simply say “Okay, we need to do as they did”, we will fail miserably, for the outer observations you list occurred for one reason and one alone? God changed them from the inside out. And He has shown me clearly that He will do the very same for us.

As we set our eyes on Him, and realize painfully how far we are from the walk we have all been called to, we will finally be brought to the point we truly hate our old nature. That breaking must be our beginning point. They that sow in tears will... WILL... reap in joy.

When we finally see that our flesh will never be improved, never killed off by our paltry efforts, and cry out to our God, He will then open our eyes of faith to believe that we really can put off our old nature by an act of bodacious faith. And when we do, to our joy and amazement, we discover that He transforms our minds from citizens of this world to citizens of Heaven. It is then that we can put on our new natures, natures that He promises to change into His nature as we continue to simply behold Him.

Thank you for an excellent post.

Blessings,

Gideon

But, we are told to walk in the Spirit, not in the flesh, for a reason. Paul himself says that if we walk in the flesh, we will die. Jesus said the same thing when He spoke about "abiding in Him".

If we see ourselves as citizens of heaven, then we respond to the things of this world wholly differently. So, instead of worrying about ourselves and our earthly family, we live for God and worry about OUR God-given family that we will spend the rest of eternity with. Would we let our own flesh brother--who doesn't want to know God--starve? If not, why should we let our God-given brother starve? And, yet that is exactly what happens in a lot of churches. We say we love God and yet don't even take care of those God adds to our family--like they did in the early church. I think that is really sad. It's because we have gotten the message wrong and done just enough to feel good about ourselves, not what is needed to really change lives.

 

[Johnny4ChristJesus]

I am not getting you.
How have you sold our 100% to God? If the issue is not having a community that lived like the first century Christians did, then will you be open to selling all that you have if you found such a community today? And what do you mean by wanting God's rewards and not man's in this context?

Sorry, I may just be slow to understanding, so you may have to clarify a bit. Thanks in advance.

In peace

I would certainly sell anything I have to be a part of something that is truly like the early church was, because I would have my needs taken care of and I would be around people who are as sold out to Him as I am!

Scripture is very clear that those who do things to be seen by others have their reward. I want God's reward, not man's. God justifies me. I don't post lightly. I walk in the Spirit and know I am accountable to the One who woke me up for my words.

 

[Pepper77]

We are called to look to Jesus the author and perfecter of our faith.

Our acts of love must be in secret (mathew 6:3) and not discussed openly.

Rather, we are called to testify and boast about the works of love of Jesus openly.

 

[UnprofitableServant]

I would certainly sell anything I have to be a part of something that is truly like the early church was, because I would have my needs taken care of and I would be around people who are as sold out to Him as I am!

Scripture is very clear that those who do things to be seen by others have their reward. I want God's reward, not man's. God justifies me. I don't post lightly. I walk in the Spirit and know I am accountable to the One who woke me up for my words.

Thanks for clearing that up.

I agree, if there was a community that was as sold out as the early church, then I would do the same thing! God-willing, there will be soon, because I think that is what this world needs before the Son of Man returns.

Obeying Jesus' teaching about not doing our good works to be seen of others is something I fully support. I wasn't clear what you were saying at first, but now that it is clear, then I have to say it is the best way to go. When someone wants to do good things and share it with others, the motivation is not God-centered (or else there wouldn't be a need to share it with anybody), rather it is self-centered (promoting one's own goodness). Where is that being taught or preached in today's world??

 

[Gideons300]

But, we are told to walk in the Spirit, not in the flesh, for a reason. Paul himself says that if we walk in the flesh, we will die. Jesus said the same thing when He spoke about "abiding in Him".

If we see ourselves as citizens of heaven, then we respond to the things of this world wholly differently. So, instead of worrying about ourselves and our earthly family, we live for God and worry about OUR God-given family that we will spend the rest of eternity with. Would we let our own flesh brother--who doesn't want to know God--starve? If not, why should we let our God-given brother starve? And, yet that is exactly what happens in a lot of churches. We say we love God and yet don't even take care of those God adds to our family--like they did in the early church. I think that is really sad. It's because we have gotten the message wrong and done just enough to feel good about ourselves, not what is needed to really change lives.

I will be honest here. I have serious doubts whether what is termed “the organized church” can absorb what is being shared or whether they will see it as a threat to be avoided.

I have been given nothing from God about how it will work when we are fully awakened. Our whole idea of church “services” with an order of worship, three songs and a less than rousing sermonette simply will not cut it. And as the days get darker, multitudes of church will go belly up due to their large debt and a congregation whose tithing will be a fraction of what it was.

What will replace it? I have no clue. House churches, I am suspecting. But whatever it will be, it will be overflowing with life, even with the persecution that is sure to come.

Blessings, Gids

 

[Si_monfaith]

I would certainly sell anything I have to be a part of something that is truly like the early church was, because I would have my needs taken care of and I would be around people who are as sold out to Him as I am!

Scripture is very clear that those who do things to be seen by others have their reward. I want God's reward, not man's. God justifies me. I don't post lightly. I walk in the Spirit and know I am accountable to the One who woke me up for my words.

Reward isn't based on our doing but the doing of Christ on the cross.

 

[Pepper77]

Acts records what the early church did. It does not necessarily mean that is what we are to do. I believe it’s possible the Jewish believers were anticipating the return of Christ soon, and the tribulation. If you look at Peter’s first 2 sermons in Acts 2:15-21 mainly, and Acts 3:13-21 you will see that possibility. The Gentile church’s that Paul established do not indicate that they sold everything and had all things common. They were encouraged to give from their abundance for the needs of the saints, but not selling all their possessions and having all things common. Acts is history. Doctrine is found in the epistles.

 

[Johnny4ChristJesus]

Thanks for clearing that up.

I agree, if there was a community that was as sold out as the early church, then I would do the same thing! God-willing, there will be soon, because I think that is what this world needs before the Son of Man returns.

Obeying Jesus' teaching about not doing our good works to be seen of others is something I fully support. I wasn't clear what you were saying at first, but now that it is clear, then I have to say it is the best way to go. When someone wants to do good things and share it with others, the motivation is not God-centered (or else there wouldn't be a need to share it with anybody), rather it is self-centered (promoting one's own goodness). Where is that being taught or preached in today's world??

If it never happens again here. It will happen with Him. I look forward to that day!

 

[Johnny4ChristJesus]

I will be honest here. I have serious doubts whether what is termed “the organized church” can absorb what is being shared or whether they will see it as a threat to be avoided.

I have been given nothing from God about how it will work when we are fully awakened. Our whole idea of church “services” with an order of worship, three songs and a less than rousing sermonette simply will not cut it. And as the days get darker, multitudes of church will go belly up due to their large debt and a congregation whose tithing will be a fraction of what it was.

What will replace it? I have no clue. House churches, I am suspecting. But whatever it will be, it will be overflowing with life, even with the persecution that is sure to come.

Blessings, Gids

There are too many organizations following a formula or an organizational structure, not God. May God's will be done in earth as it is in heaven! But, house churches overflowing with life, certainly sounds like a blessing for those they are used to reach out and touch in and for Him!

Have a Merry Christmas and a blessed new year!

 

[Johnny4ChristJesus]

Reward isn't based on our doing but the doing of Christ on the cross.

While what Christ did on the Cross is certainly what makes reward even possible and while I don't feel compelled to do what I do, because I am seeking rewards, I do know what Jesus said and He spoke of rewards that could be lost. Jesus said, for example:

"So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full." (Matthew 6:2-5)

So, if those who are seen have received their reward in full and if when done in secret: "Your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you", doesn't that imply to you that God's reward will be better than what you could have gotten by doing what you did in front of men? If not, then go ahead and get your reward here. I'm sticking with God's reward!

 

[SolomonVII]

Accepted that love is the acid test.
So, to paraphrase Pontus Pilate, “what is love?”

It has got to be more than being nice.

 

[fhansen]

Here is the problem with this, at least in my mind. Who is doing it? Our legacy up till now as His church ever since the early rain dried up is that we have great intentions to begin with when we are first saved. We are excited and the joy of our salvation is palpable, and very catching. If you want to see someone witnessed to really take interest, notice what happens when they see us excited and full of joy and expectation.

But alas. What happens? Eventually, we cool off and become good Sunday-go-to-meeting Christians. We become more and more lukewarm, going through the motions of serving Him, but in truth our hearts are divided, and sadly the division is more of the world and less of God. I am just being honest here.

What good are the principles of love if no one actually does them? God tells us very clearly that if we abide in Him, we will bear much fruit, and that we will not fulfill the lusts of the flesh. What is the only conclusion we can come to, however painful it is to admit it.

We simply do not know how to abide....yet.

And until that bothers us, and we don’t brush off the promises of God to make us overcomers with a “Yes, but we are only human.”, we will continue to walk far from the path God has for us.

All that is about to change. We must understand, the wheat and tares have grown together in what we call “church” for 1900 years, just as Paul shared would happen after his death. All of us have fallen asleep, myself for sure, both wheat and tares. And all will be awakened. But when they do, a separation will occur. The elect will hear the good news of who we really are.... new creatures, light in the Lord, and we will light our lamps. The tares will flee, for the cost of this walk is to lose our old nature, which many truly like. Most will likely pick up stones. What we have today is a Christianity of correct doctrines obit no life overflowing into us or out from us. What is about to happen is that life is about to be breathed breathed over them. We will never be the same again. Glory to God!

I fully understand how hard it is initially to wrap your head around what is being shared. And I know that it is hard for us to hear, but we have an incomplete gospel. We have the skeleton of doctrines meant to support the gospel message and our beliefs about the cross and the atoning blood of Jesus are perfect and right, but we do not have the life of Christ filling us to overflowing.

We are dry bones and have been taught that this is normal. We have assumed this is the best God can do for us. We have been taught wrong. But trust me, the dry bones are even now beginning to rattle and we shall soon see.... and be a vital part of.... the pure church that will arise from the of religious Christianity. Yes, we have all failed in our attempts to love with our whole hearts and to walk as overcomers, but this long dry spell is about to pass. The first drops of the latter rain are beginning to fall and the dry bones WILL live, bringing about an amazing final harvest.

Those who say “The old wine is better”, content with correct doctrines but lifeless gatherings Sunday after Sunday, will be soon faced with joyful victorious believers that will hopefully challenge their beliefs till they relent and cry out to God for real life.

But if you are one who even now somehow inherently knows that there must be something missing in our walk with the Lord, a sweet reality of the Lord living inside us, that we see the early disciples walked in, may I encourage you all to take heart? You may not yet understand how to walk holy before the Lord, and feel it an impossibility because of your weakness and frailty. You may not yet know the way to clothe yourselves with your new nature that can actually be changed into His likeness. But you do not have to find it. It.... He.... will find you, wayward sheep, and if needs be, He will carry you back to the safety and richness of abiding in Him. He will not fail any who cry out to Him for true abiding in the vine. Of that you can be assured.

May God bless you all.

Gideon

So here's the deal IMO. Your belief that there will soon be a certain number of people who will be true over-comers, living the Christian faith more fully or perfectly, is a good thought. But such predictions have been nearly as common down through the centuries as lukewarm Christians themselves, who were already being addressed in the New Testament. And organized religion with it's skeleton of doctrines is what has largely carried the torch historically-and, in spite of human weaknesses and sin, has nonetheless passed down an ideal that has taken root in individuals and groups at times, who've revived or enlivened the faith with their own particular missions, taking that torch and running with it in a purer manner, with zealous motivation. And I predict that such will continue to be the case in the future. Whether or not we're at some kind of end-times now will remain to be seen, but either way your call, to holiness IOW, is only good. Some will take it to heart; others will not.

Oh, and Merry Christmas BTW!

 

[Lost4words]

So here's the deal IMO. Your belief that there will soon be a certain number of people who will be true over-comers, living the Christian faith more fully or perfectly, is a good thought. But such predictions have been nearly as common down through the centuries as lukewarm Christians themselves, who were already being addressed in the New Testament. And organized religion with it's skeleton of doctrines is what has largely carried the torch historically-and, in spite of human weaknesses and sin, has nonetheless passed down an ideal that has taken root in individuals and groups at times, who've revived or enlivened the faith with their own particular missions, taking that torch and running with it in a purer manner, with zealous motivation. And I predict that such will be the case in the future. Whether or not we're at some kind of end-times now will remain to be seen, but either way your call, to holiness IOW, is only good. Some will take it to heart; others will not.

That, makes a lot of sense.

 

[Gideons300]

So here's the deal IMO. Your belief that there will soon be a certain number of people who will be true over-comers, living the Christian faith more fully or perfectly, is a good thought. But such predictions have been nearly as common down through the centuries as lukewarm Christians themselves, who were already being addressed in the New Testament. And organized religion with it's skeleton of doctrines is what has largely carried the torch historically-and, in spite of human weaknesses and sin, has nonetheless passed down an ideal that has taken root in individuals and groups at times, who've revived or enlivened the faith with their own particular missions, taking that torch and running with it in a purer manner, with zealous motivation. And I predict that such will continue to be the case in the future. Whether or not we're at some kind of end-times now will remain to be seen, but either way your call, to holiness IOW, is only good. Some will take it to heart; others will not.

Oh, and Merry Christmas BTW!

The difference being that we are told that right before the return of our king, all will be asleep, both wheat and tares that together make up what we call church. And all will be awakened by the Spirit of God Himself as to the HOW of walking as overcomers. What true sheep would not want such a thing, with their hearts totally pliable in the hands of the master potter?

And when that happens, and the call goes out that the master cometh will begin with one accord to make excuses due to their hearts being rooted in this world, that is slowly crumbling around us before our very eyes.

Thank God for the fact that the church has kept the skeleton of doctrine intact so that the church could survive the long hot summer after the plentiful early rain. But a latter rain is coming and we are told that it will be greater even than the former. Glory to God!

And what did the master say when Hecwas informed of the servants who refused to be prepared as the bride awaiting her groom? He sent His servants our again to the highways and byways, to the poor and the lame and the offscouring of society, and told His servants to COMPEL them to come in and join Him in eternity, for His house WILL BE full.

And what of those servants who made excuses, who said that things have been like this forever and chose to remain attached to this life? They beat upon the now closed gate and found no way in, and they began to weep, and wail and gnash their teeth.

I can convince no one of the truth of my words. But one thing is certain. Our hearts have become hardened through the deceitfulness through our continued sin. The true sheep will soon awake and see how they have not made Jesus their very life. They want to remain content with a God who offers forgiveness but who has no power to transform us from sinner to saint. Even though the Word of God is clear that sin shall not have dominion over us, they blind themselves to the truth, and remain in their unbelief, and by doing so, bring His name into further disrepute.

If what I am speaking of is still 100 years off, should it not still bother us, and bring us to our knees that we have no real desire for holiness and no burn desire to be freed from the sins that so easily be set us. That my friend, is the definition of a Laodecian saint and my fear is that if they persist in that vein, they will find out exactly what being spit out of the mouth of God actually entails.

Let us remember, to whom much is given, much is required. It is not works I am trying to lead people into, but real faith that God guarantees WILL produce fruits.

Blessings,

Gideon

 

[Lost4words]

It bothers me that there are many people on this forum who state that they know the truth. That they have the real meaning of God's words in scripture.

Plus, all through Christian history, many many people have said the same things. Doom and gloom is imminent. 'Repent for the time is near'. People used to carry those boards around with them.

So many claim to know God. To know what God wants. To hear God. Many will come in Jesus name. Who is it that 'is' speaking words from God? The scripture is open to many different interpretations. This is born out by the number of denomination there are in the world today.