Though he was thankful and praised God for his life, Lazarus had to deal with unexpected consequences. The fear and suspicion of others. After being dead then brought back to life he would have seemed a creepy person to many and others would say he was never dead in the first place. I suspect his life was not normal after that. He was grateful for his life but would never have expected that everyone wasn't rejoicing. Suspicion and superstition being common these days how much more twenty centuries ago?
Such is the way with many that have received miracles from God. I've said to God more than once "Lord why couldn't we have had children the normal way like everyone else, just decide to have them and be done with it"? He had his way though and that's best. It's a peculiar sense being selected by God to get a gift that that no man can give. You feel as if he's done something tremendous but who am I to receive this? But Jesus giving his actual life for you is the greatest miracle of all and we all have received with amazement. Amen
When we were telling others about our promised miracle they felt sorry for us. Many made a study of their shoes when we excitedly told how God was giving us a son. Some even laughed aloud at the ridiculousness of our belief. My FIL said when we told him that his daughter was with child "are you sure" with snide contempt dripping from every word.
When God told me "the mouths of the scoffers will be shut at the telling". They were. I actually got to see mouths fly open in shock when we told that God had done what he promised. "well, what scriptures did you claim to get this"? Some really asked! No need to attempt to get through to such. My own mouth may have flown open when I heard the astoundingly ridiculous question. I realized how little that person knew Jesus. Sad. Miracles were things received by using the right words. A form of religious magic.
We were and are still overjoyed at seeing what God had done but never expected the things that happened. Our son since birth has endured untold discrimination and even attacks. We taught him to turn the other cheek but he is short of cheeks. His school years were a torment to him. Because he didn't participate in drugs, sex, drinking with other students he was deemed a wuss. He was deemed a "homo" because he didn't participate with the high school whores. He endured things that we didn't and still don't know of.
He's a big handsome fellow, a gentle giant a prophet told us. One funny incident in high school is worth recounting. A history teacher that Nathan liked saw how the "macho" would be hetoes treated him because of his quiet easy going manner. Being an A student in history was a no no also. One day one of the class wise guys began to taunt him and refer to him as a wimp and so forth. Nathan reached out and took an ear between thumb and forefinger and gave it a half turn.
The boy was yelling for the teacher's help but the good teacher just continued grading papers. He said "one day Nathan is going to work you over and when he dies I'm going to get popcorn and just watch". I shouldn't but I love that story!
Be told us that girls would offer themselves to him. They couldn't believe he wasn't interested in them. After all there's something wrong if you're a teen and don't act like a stray dog.
Many years later some have apologized to him for the way they acted. Fortunately he's a bigger man than they were. He suffered things he never told us about such as being shut in a closet at eight years of age by a vindictive nun named Sister Pauline. I'm glad she wasn't his sister by the way. We didn't want to enroll him in a catholics hoop but desperate personal circumstances made it necessary. I'm glad I didn't know about it. Nathan had never said a word about it to us. Protestant, so called, children were shamefully dealt with. He refused to bow and pay homage to Mary and do other non Christian things. He was young yes but he knew Jesus and what mattered. Since his birth we poured Jesus into him.
Before our miracle my wife was looked down upon by other women in our church as deficient and less than a whole woman because we didn't have children. Females can be very cruel to each other. Even those professing to serve God When we fought through in faith and believed we heard from God about a son and he was indeed born then they sang another tune.
Instead of being glad for us the harpies said "well if she'd had more faith she wouldn't have had to have a caesarian section"! Before and after our miracle were actually the same. I keep wondering where true Christian fellowship is. We left that place.
I would had not expected this from other Christians. There is I find much worse things than being alone. Miracles are a wonderful thing but with them will come many things unexpected. But basking in the knowledge that the Lord of creation has sent you presents is a balm that endures.
I can honestly say that most of our conflicts have come from those inside the church. When street witnessing I had one church man privately tell me "I can't figure out why you're out there doing this unless you just want to get back into all that stuff on the street". So much for spiritual support. Often we hear Satan speak from the mouths of the false prophets. The congregation in that church prayed for very sick man to be healed. The same fellow that belittled me spoke up and prophesied that the sick man would be raise up and healed. A few days later the sick man died. You will indeed know them by their Fruit... Or lack thereof.
Has anyone experienced the attacks, bitterness and jealousy from those who ought to have been glad at your deliverance? I suspect it's a common event. I try to be joyful for others. Weep with those that weep, rejoice with those that are blessed and rejoicing. Having lived long and endured many afflictions I can feel the relief and joy that comes with heavenly deliverance. Amen
It's just that we never expected such negative things from the church. We lament not having a group to really worship God with. I'm not certain such things really exist after being apart from true believers and worshippers for so long. But they do thank God.
Look at those with gnashing teeth at this and other sites. Whatever you say that is good no matter how well intended, is set upon by the rabid sanhedrin. Perplexing at the least. But their problem is larger than those that arec laboring to lift others and speak the truth in love.
Who needs tbose Grim assaults? Those here with good and upright hearts are a blessing. The others who seem themselves teachers and instructors of the deluded like me, who think God still does things, may take a hike. They remain in the congregation of cold, dry and dead. They are blind leaders of the blind. The otable to lift up, only to push down with a jack boot of religious ignorance and mean spiritedness.
If you have received a miraculous event in your life. One that you know God did for you, then perhaps you understand what I am saying. A miracle brings against you forces of evil that do not want God's wonderful works to be broadcast.
God makes all things well though, "doeth all things well".
I'm grateful that God has done miracles for us. It's good though if you don't need one in the first place. A lot of affliction can be avoided. I know brother Lazarus would agree. Amen
Such is the way with many that have received miracles from God. I've said to God more than once "Lord why couldn't we have had children the normal way like everyone else, just decide to have them and be done with it"? He had his way though and that's best. It's a peculiar sense being selected by God to get a gift that that no man can give. You feel as if he's done something tremendous but who am I to receive this? But Jesus giving his actual life for you is the greatest miracle of all and we all have received with amazement. Amen
When we were telling others about our promised miracle they felt sorry for us. Many made a study of their shoes when we excitedly told how God was giving us a son. Some even laughed aloud at the ridiculousness of our belief. My FIL said when we told him that his daughter was with child "are you sure" with snide contempt dripping from every word.
When God told me "the mouths of the scoffers will be shut at the telling". They were. I actually got to see mouths fly open in shock when we told that God had done what he promised. "well, what scriptures did you claim to get this"? Some really asked! No need to attempt to get through to such. My own mouth may have flown open when I heard the astoundingly ridiculous question. I realized how little that person knew Jesus. Sad. Miracles were things received by using the right words. A form of religious magic.
We were and are still overjoyed at seeing what God had done but never expected the things that happened. Our son since birth has endured untold discrimination and even attacks. We taught him to turn the other cheek but he is short of cheeks. His school years were a torment to him. Because he didn't participate in drugs, sex, drinking with other students he was deemed a wuss. He was deemed a "homo" because he didn't participate with the high school whores. He endured things that we didn't and still don't know of.
He's a big handsome fellow, a gentle giant a prophet told us. One funny incident in high school is worth recounting. A history teacher that Nathan liked saw how the "macho" would be hetoes treated him because of his quiet easy going manner. Being an A student in history was a no no also. One day one of the class wise guys began to taunt him and refer to him as a wimp and so forth. Nathan reached out and took an ear between thumb and forefinger and gave it a half turn.
The boy was yelling for the teacher's help but the good teacher just continued grading papers. He said "one day Nathan is going to work you over and when he dies I'm going to get popcorn and just watch". I shouldn't but I love that story!
Be told us that girls would offer themselves to him. They couldn't believe he wasn't interested in them. After all there's something wrong if you're a teen and don't act like a stray dog.
Many years later some have apologized to him for the way they acted. Fortunately he's a bigger man than they were. He suffered things he never told us about such as being shut in a closet at eight years of age by a vindictive nun named Sister Pauline. I'm glad she wasn't his sister by the way. We didn't want to enroll him in a catholics hoop but desperate personal circumstances made it necessary. I'm glad I didn't know about it. Nathan had never said a word about it to us. Protestant, so called, children were shamefully dealt with. He refused to bow and pay homage to Mary and do other non Christian things. He was young yes but he knew Jesus and what mattered. Since his birth we poured Jesus into him.
Before our miracle my wife was looked down upon by other women in our church as deficient and less than a whole woman because we didn't have children. Females can be very cruel to each other. Even those professing to serve God When we fought through in faith and believed we heard from God about a son and he was indeed born then they sang another tune.
Instead of being glad for us the harpies said "well if she'd had more faith she wouldn't have had to have a caesarian section"! Before and after our miracle were actually the same. I keep wondering where true Christian fellowship is. We left that place.
I would had not expected this from other Christians. There is I find much worse things than being alone. Miracles are a wonderful thing but with them will come many things unexpected. But basking in the knowledge that the Lord of creation has sent you presents is a balm that endures.
I can honestly say that most of our conflicts have come from those inside the church. When street witnessing I had one church man privately tell me "I can't figure out why you're out there doing this unless you just want to get back into all that stuff on the street". So much for spiritual support. Often we hear Satan speak from the mouths of the false prophets. The congregation in that church prayed for very sick man to be healed. The same fellow that belittled me spoke up and prophesied that the sick man would be raise up and healed. A few days later the sick man died. You will indeed know them by their Fruit... Or lack thereof.
Has anyone experienced the attacks, bitterness and jealousy from those who ought to have been glad at your deliverance? I suspect it's a common event. I try to be joyful for others. Weep with those that weep, rejoice with those that are blessed and rejoicing. Having lived long and endured many afflictions I can feel the relief and joy that comes with heavenly deliverance. Amen
It's just that we never expected such negative things from the church. We lament not having a group to really worship God with. I'm not certain such things really exist after being apart from true believers and worshippers for so long. But they do thank God.
Look at those with gnashing teeth at this and other sites. Whatever you say that is good no matter how well intended, is set upon by the rabid sanhedrin. Perplexing at the least. But their problem is larger than those that arec laboring to lift others and speak the truth in love.
Who needs tbose Grim assaults? Those here with good and upright hearts are a blessing. The others who seem themselves teachers and instructors of the deluded like me, who think God still does things, may take a hike. They remain in the congregation of cold, dry and dead. They are blind leaders of the blind. The otable to lift up, only to push down with a jack boot of religious ignorance and mean spiritedness.
If you have received a miraculous event in your life. One that you know God did for you, then perhaps you understand what I am saying. A miracle brings against you forces of evil that do not want God's wonderful works to be broadcast.
God makes all things well though, "doeth all things well".
I'm grateful that God has done miracles for us. It's good though if you don't need one in the first place. A lot of affliction can be avoided. I know brother Lazarus would agree. Amen
