- Apr 19, 2017
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In the NT there are several examples where the apostles condemned people, Ananias and Sapphira come first to mind. Jesus said what He did and more we would do. For those who believe the spiritual gifts are still active, is this power to condemn available to us as well?
My best friend (of 35 years) and I are complete opposites - the most notable him being Jewish and me being Christian; and he gets everything handed to him on a silver platter, while I can't catch a break to save my life. I try to talk to him about Christ, and he's more than willing to corner me with his take on things, but when I try to speak he tunes out, he interrupts, we walks away. One night I was praying for him, asking God why M wouldn't discuss Him with me, God said M was too comfortable. So I prayed ok Lord, make M uncomfortable.
M's job was about to be downsized, so he had been looking for other employment. But the day after that prayer he called with this brilliant idea that had come to him regarding an internet venture. He would run with that instead.
For the next year, M's every effort was stymied, stonewalled, and rendered irrelevant. The golden boy who could do no wrong went wrong at every single step. It was such a traumatic experience, he still refuses to talk about it.
But he was willing, for a while to talk about God. For a couple years. Then comfort set back in.
Leaving out a long story of why, I am apparently supposed to pray for his salvation (above and beyond the usual). I haven't been, but recent events have convinced me to resume. I haven't prayed anything condemning like the last time, at least until now.
After a recent issue exchange with M, the next time I prayed (a few days ago) I felt led to pray that M be humbled. That his arrogance be broken before the Lord. And don't you know it, yesterday he said he was in a situation that was going to force him to have to swallow his pride.
But I think it's going to take more than that to put him on his knees before Jesus.
Test the spirits. We are told, test them. In light of Biblical precedent it passes the smell test to me, but I am wondering what others would think of this.
Do we have a Biblical authority to, under the Holy Spirit's guidance, condemn someone like Paul did Ananias?
My best friend (of 35 years) and I are complete opposites - the most notable him being Jewish and me being Christian; and he gets everything handed to him on a silver platter, while I can't catch a break to save my life. I try to talk to him about Christ, and he's more than willing to corner me with his take on things, but when I try to speak he tunes out, he interrupts, we walks away. One night I was praying for him, asking God why M wouldn't discuss Him with me, God said M was too comfortable. So I prayed ok Lord, make M uncomfortable.
M's job was about to be downsized, so he had been looking for other employment. But the day after that prayer he called with this brilliant idea that had come to him regarding an internet venture. He would run with that instead.
For the next year, M's every effort was stymied, stonewalled, and rendered irrelevant. The golden boy who could do no wrong went wrong at every single step. It was such a traumatic experience, he still refuses to talk about it.
But he was willing, for a while to talk about God. For a couple years. Then comfort set back in.
Leaving out a long story of why, I am apparently supposed to pray for his salvation (above and beyond the usual). I haven't been, but recent events have convinced me to resume. I haven't prayed anything condemning like the last time, at least until now.
After a recent issue exchange with M, the next time I prayed (a few days ago) I felt led to pray that M be humbled. That his arrogance be broken before the Lord. And don't you know it, yesterday he said he was in a situation that was going to force him to have to swallow his pride.
But I think it's going to take more than that to put him on his knees before Jesus.
Test the spirits. We are told, test them. In light of Biblical precedent it passes the smell test to me, but I am wondering what others would think of this.
Do we have a Biblical authority to, under the Holy Spirit's guidance, condemn someone like Paul did Ananias?