Re: A vacuous and dangerous argument
Submitted by Elfboy on July 8 2001 14:12:43
In reply to A vacuous and dangerous argument submitted by Forgiven on July 8 2001 03:37:10
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I see your point,,,,and your fear! Because we are justified in Christ,,,,,,does that give us liscense to sin,,,,,,,,WELL OF COURSE NOT! All sin brings with it,,,it's own penalities. "Whatsoever you shall sow,,,,you shall also reap." "The only demonstration that they were ever born again lies in the fact that they do return to God." Personally,,,,my assurance of salvation,,,,,,is the HOLY SPIRIT living inside me. In my weakest moments,,,,,,in times of utter disgust in myself,,,,,,,God,,,,(the HOLY SPIRIT) was always there. Satan attacked big time,,,,,trying to make me believe that with all that I had done,,,there was no way I could be SAVED. But the HOLY SPIRIT was always there whispering in my ear,,,,,,"You are a child of God, He hasn't forsaken you, He is right here with you." I believe,,,that "God will never leave nor Forsake His Own". Your concern as I understand it,,,,,,,,is that of the outward appearance. The fruits of being Born Again. The demonstration of our Faith. When a Christian,,,,is down in the dumps,,,,,,no there isn't much demonstration of their faith,,,,,,that most people can see,,,,especially the Christian world,,,,,except for maybe that hanging on of their FAITH through it all. Now the unbeliever who sees the down and out Christian,,,still clinging to their faith,,,through all the troubles,,,,, KNOWING that they will pull through. What a witness! Please don't misinterpret this. I am not advocating going your own way and depending on God to pull you back in. You won't like it,,,,it's not fun! I guess what I am trying to get at,,,,,and not too eliquently,,,,,,,Is that no matter how bad a mess,,,,a born again believer gets themselves into,,,,,,,"GOD IS RIGHT THERE WITH THEM." He is ready to pull them out,,,,,in His time,,,,,and when they are ready to turn from their sin,,,,,,and return to Him. The Holy Spirit will continue to whisper in your ear,,,reassuring you,,,that you aren't alone. And from these down and out experiences,,,,,we gain knowledge on how to help others from ever going where we have gone. Because of my past experiences,,,God has opened a whole new ministry for me, that I couldn't have been able to have done,,,,,without that training. Now,,,back to topic: I knew where my sin would take me,,,,,,I was in a full time ministry,,,,I prayed,,,,fasted,,,,,asked for prayer from others,,,,,had hands layed on me,,,,,prostrated myself before the LORD for hours every night,,,,,,and I recieved no victory. I did recieve a Vision that showed me,,,my downfall,,,,3 years before the fact. That downfall did take place exactly as God showed me. I then spent 17 years in the wilderness,,,,,,with very little demonstration in my Christian life. Oh,,I went to church,,,,,witnessed as I could,,,,lived the life and walked the walk, but there wasn't much to a ministry. The last 2 years,,,,I prayed fervantly to be placed back in God's Will and place of service,,,,,,,for the first 15 years,,I felt unworthy to serve my God,,,because of the things I had done in the past. (GUILT) One day,,,,,Talking with another Christian,,,,,,,I discovered,,,,I was in a ministry right where I was,,,,,,My eyes were opened. Since then,,,,,God has been opening more and more opportunities for me. My past experiences are coming into play,,,,,,I am being guided to people who are, where I was. I have the opportunity,,,,to help others before they fall, like I did. God has given me a ministry. That's what led to my question,,,,,,,,,I am in the middle of God's Will at present. I believe that I was always in the middle of God's Will. God could have given me victory at any time. I did not have to fall. He allowed me to go through the tribulations I went through. There is absolutely no doubt about that. Now, He is working through me to reach others,,,,so they don't have to go through what I did. Now,,,I know why I had to go through the fire. Oh,,,God was in the fire with me. I was never alone,,,,and I knew it. But he didn't keep me out of the fire,,,,no matter how much I begged Him. I went through the fire,,,,,,but I was not burnt. That gets hard to explain,,,,,,but suffice it to say,,,,,I could have been ruined from ever serving God again,,,,,,,but He kept that from happening. Now,,,I'm not talking about any New Aged,,,,Idea....... I'm talking about a God that preserves His servants,,,,,who trains them,,,,and puts them through the test of fire, and then puts them to work. I look forward to your response,,,,,,I am always learning,,,,,,I am not there yet. I am a work in progress. |
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