The church at a crossroads....

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marks

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So, an Christian who as become addicted to painkillers comes to you desperate for an answer that will deliver him from his bondage to sin. What do you tell Him?

Gids
Can I turn this question back to you? What do you tell him?

Much love!
 
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Gideons300

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Can I turn this question back to you? What do you tell him?

Much love!
Of course you may!

If they were not saved, I would lead them to the Lord. If they already knew the Lord and have been saved, I then share with them that they are new creatures and are no longer in the flesh, and owe the old man NOTHING. I would tell them that they can walk free of their addiction by reckoning their old nature died when Jesus died. It is this reckoning of faith that breaks the yoke of bondage. Nothing else.

Unless we take the stand of faith that we truly are new creatures, satan can get us to continue to believe the lie that we are 'only human' and he will continue to keep us in bondage through unbelief. Christians ARE new creatures, but their unbelief has kept them bound to sin though believing satan's lies.

Whether one is addicted or not, it is more often than not desperation that drives a man to become willing to believe such an amazing thing. In truth, those severely bound by sin, addictive sins, have a distinct advantage over those who sin 'little sins' but think it is no big deal. Why? They know they need a physician, whereas the others do not. They think that sin is merely an "inconvenience " that we can never escape until physical death.

Is this not exactly what Jesus found when he ministered on earth? This is why so many are 'healed only slightly, saying peace, peace, when there is no peace.' And if Jesus came back among us today, he would not come to our fancy churches. He would go where rhe seeds of faith can grow, where sin has bound people so tightly that it is choking them. He would be ministering to the broken, the hopeless, the addicts and prostitutes. History is about to repeat itself. ☺️

It takes the power of God to truly free a man from sin, and whether it be drugs, or alcohol, or sexual lust, or greed, religious pride or a worldly spirit, it takes us walking in our new natures, our spiritual armor, to walk 'free indeed' as Jesus has promised us.

I believe the next great move of God will not take place within our church walls. We simply do not believe it possible to truly be fully freed from the power of darkness, and there simple is too much acceptance of defeat, thinking true overcoming is impossible in this life. We think grace can offer forgiveness but not that it can also free us and keep us free. We are wrong.

The parable of the servants in the last day busy with their own lives, rejecting their master's call, is most appropriate here. What did the angry master do? He sent His messenger to the poor, the halt, the blind, the bound, the addicted, to share the good news with them, and I love this..... to COMPEL them to come in for His house WILL be full. Glory!

Oh, that we might see how we have limited the Holy One of Israel with our unbelief. Thank God. despite our stiff-necked resistance and contentment without godliness, He is about to awaken us and make us His witnesses.

And what will we say when this happens? Simply that if God set us free indeed from the power of sin that has in the past so easily beset us, how much more will He do it for anyone who asks for deliverance themselves. Ask therefore! A word such as this shared with excitement and joy will move hearts that have remain unmoved by our religious efforts to get them to come to 'our' church bushel basket.

Do we want to simply warm our spot on a pew until Christ returns for us, or do we want to be used by God, not to witness, but to BE witnesses? The church as we know it is in for an amazing change, and it is gong to blow our minds. But first, our hearts must be broken in repentance for how we have turned the gospel into a religion of bickering powerlessness. And that is exactly what the shaking we see beginning are destined to do.

They that sow it tears will reap in joy. WILL. Guaranteed.

blessings,

Gids
 

marks

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If they were not saved, I would lead them to the Lord. If they already knew the Lord and have been saved, I then share with them that they are new creatures and are no longer in the flesh, and owe the old man NOTHING. I would tell them that they can walk free of their addiction by reckoning their old nature died when Jesus died. It is this reckoning of faith that breaks the yoke of bondage. Nothing else.
And when he prays, and seeks, and still craves his drug . . . what do you then tell him?

Much love!
 

Enoch111

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So, an Christian who as become addicted to painkillers comes to you desperate for an answer that will deliver him from his bondage to sin. What do you tell Him?
These are the questions which would need to be honestly answered. So here is what one would say to this person:
1. Do you wish to be totally honest?
2. Do you know that you've been born again?
3. Do you know that you have the Holy Spirit within?
4. Do you know that because of that, addictions shall not have dominion over you? Sin shall not have dominion over you?
5. Do you know that repentance from addiction to painkillers means quitting cold turkey*?
6. Are you willing to do that, or do you love your addiction more than God and Christ?

For those who may not be familiar with the term *cold turkey*, it means "abrupt complete cessation of the use of an addictive drug".
 

marks

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5. Do you know that repentance from addiction to painkillers means quitting cold turkey*?
Why would that be??

Don't you know that in many cases, quiting serious drug addictions cold turkey can be fatal?

Are you assuming God only works one way?

Much love!
 

Gideons300

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And when he prays, and seeks, and still craves his drug . . . what do you then tell him?

Much love!
Stand fast, firm in the faith. Resist satan, and he will flee from you.

Share with him the promises of God and tell him that greater is he who is within him, than he who is in the world.

That God will not allow him to be tempted above his ability to resist and that God has promised to make a way of escape so that he can stand with his shield of faith raised and not fall.

The exact same thing I would tell anyone hungry for walking as an overcomer.

And the sad fact is that many will read these words and scoff. They will see it as impossible, and reveal the depth of the unbelief that has overtaken us and infiltrated the church.

If we do not have an answer 'hypothetically', we do not have a shred of a chance when the occasion actually arises. Either we believe the promises of God or we continue to allow satan to rob us of our birthright. But here is the deal. If we do not somehow get rid of the traitor within us.... our old nature... we will find it impossible to climb out of the boat and walk on the water to our Master.

Jesus asks us the very same question He asked the lame man at the pool of Bethesda.

"Would you be made whole?"

And the shakings that are coming our way will most definitely bring every true sheep to say "Yes, Lord. Yes!!"

blessings,

Gideon
 

Enoch111

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Why would that be??
Why not? Because cold turkey quitting has been proven to be very effective. The general principle in Scripture is that if you hate a sin/addiction, you abandon it totally and immediately, not a little here and a little there. Jesus said to the woman taken in adultery "Go and sin no more". Period.
 

Gideons300

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These are the questions which would need to be honestly answered. So here is what one would say to this person:
1. Do you wish to be totally honest?
2. Do you know that you've been born again?
3. Do you know that you have the Holy Spirit within?
4. Do you know that because of that, addictions shall not have dominion over you? Sin shall not have dominion over you?
5. Do you know that repentance from addiction to painkillers means quitting cold turkey*?
6. Are you willing to do that, or do you love your addiction more than God and Christ?

For those who may not be familiar with the term *cold turkey*, it means "abrupt complete cessation of the use of an addictive drug".
Why not? Because cold turkey quitting has been proven to be very effective. The general principle in Scripture is that if you hate a sin/addiction, you abandon it totally and immediately, not a little here and a little there. Jesus said to the woman taken in adultery "Go and sin no more". Period.
It is the power of God that delivers such a man, but that power is released by our faith, and faith comes by clinging to the promises of God. Can there be a delay between laying hold of the promises and seeing them work? Indeed there can.

So if a brother tries to stand and fails, do we tell him his case is hopeless? No! We reassure him of God's love and rhe fact our God CANNOT lie and that if we continue in the faith, holding onto His promises as rock hard truth, no matter what we see or feel as to the results, God WILL not fail him, nor any who come to Him, refusing to turn away back to doubt and unbelief.

blessings,

Gids
 
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marks

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It describes most all of us, and I was at the head of the line for 38 years.

blessings,

Gids
I'd sooner say it was a broad brush generalization. And overstepping one's boundries when assuming such of others. But that's just me.

We should avoid projection, that is, to think that my faults are your faults, and to think that God's ways with me are His ways with you.

Much love!
 

marks

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If we do not somehow get rid of the traitor within us.... our old nature... we will find it impossible to climb out of the boat and walk on the water to our Master.
You may be surprised to find how much I agree with you about. But there are some things that concern me, such as this above.

But perhaps I'm not understanding correctly. What do you mean when you say "get rid of . . . our old nature"?

Do you not find in Scripture that we will remain in conflict with the old man until we are transformed incorruptible?

Much love!
 
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marks

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Why not? Because cold turkey quitting has been proven to be very effective. The general principle in Scripture is that if you hate a sin/addiction, you abandon it totally and immediately, not a little here and a little there. Jesus said to the woman taken in adultery "Go and sin no more". Period.
Given that "cold turkey" has also proven to be fatal, does that change your POV? Are you thinking that God's way in sanctifying this person is His way with every person?

Much love!
 

marks

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It is the power of God that delivers such a man, but that power is released by our faith, and faith comes by clinging to the promises of God. Can there be a delay between laying hold of the promises and seeing them work? Indeed there can.

So if a brother tries to stand and fails, do we tell him his case is hopeless? No! We reassure him of God's love and rhe fact our God CANNOT lie and that if we continue in the faith, holding onto His promises as rock hard truth, no matter what we see or feel as to the results, God WILL not fail him, nor any who come to Him, refusing to turn away back to doubt and unbelief.

blessings,

Gids
Well said!

Much love!
 

marks

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It is the power of God that delivers such a man, but that power is released by our faith, and faith comes by clinging to the promises of God.
I would like to add that it is also sometimes God's pleasure to simply give freedom at times of His choosing, without some special move of faith on our part, even when we are not even thinking we will be delivered.

But I also believe that we can live in His promises by accepting that It's All True! Beginning with God's love and forgiveness, our complete reconciliation with no going back. I find that understanding the permanence and completeness of my reconciliation with God is what releases my heart to fully trust Him.

Much love!
 

Gideons300

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I'd sooner say it was a broad brush generalization. And overstepping one's boundries when assuming such of others. But that's just me.

We should avoid projection, that is, to think that my faults are your faults, and to think that God's ways with me are His ways with you.

Much love!
Paul told those who wanted to say "I follow Paul" or "I follow Apollos" they they were yet carnal. We now have 500+ denominations, each thinking they are following the truth, and ready to bicker to death about correct doctrine. All the while, lack of love is evident, hypocrisy is rampant, worldliness is everywhere, willful sin is defended, and yet, (here comes the broad brush) most think "we have need of nothing".

Are there exceptions to generalizations? Absolutely, and I praise God for them. But, thething about generalizations is.... well.... they are generally spot on.

I am simply sharing what God has asked me to share. Some will receive it now, some later, some will never open their ears to hear. I cannot make any receive what I share about our great need to put on our new nature by faith. I can simply continue to share, and pray for people to see the walk God has for each one of us.

blessings to you, Mark

Gideon
 

Gideons300

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You may be surprised to find how much I agree with you about. But there are some things that concern me, such as this above.

But perhaps I'm not understanding correctly. What do you mean when you say "get rid of . . . our old nature"?

Do you not find in Scripture that we will remain in conflict with the old man until we are transformed incorruptible?

Much love!
It encourages me to hear that, dear brother. God plants our feet on the highway of holiness and tells us to stand there, as victors. We are to reckon that the old us is truly dead and to yield ourselves to God as those who are alive from the dead.

Is there still a battle to be fought? Absolutely. But it is not like the analogy of the black dog and white dog within us battling it out. Jesus tells us to make our tree good, to not be double minded. So, we stand as new creatures, white dogs, holding up our shields of faith against the accusations of the enemy.

Do we still have old natured tendencies? Absolutely. Why? We have our new natures housed in fleshly bodies, but our spirits? Brand new! Deep in our core being, we are pure, and by abiding in that truth, God grows up them up inside us to the surface, manifested as fruits of the Spirit.

The Pharisees tried it from outside to inside, working on this sin or that sin, and never got to the root which is a flawed old nature. Those who could make a fair show in the flesh simply substituted the sin of pride for whatever sin they overcame. But we are instructed to lay the axe to the root of the tree, declare the old man dead, for it is this that actually truly begins the process of sanctification within us.

We have been taught sanctification is our growing from old nature to new nature. But this is incorrect. You cannot be 40% old and 60% new and then improve to 25% old and 75% new. When we hold up our shield of faith and declare the old us is dead, satan finally has an adversary to battle and he can no longer use lies to keep us chained in our prison. And praise God, as we continue to believe, we discover to our amazement, that God begins growing us into His likeness from glory to glory.

I am convinced by the Lord that it is this truth, and our grabbing hold of it, that is destined to awaken His sleeping giant of a church. My visitation was almost 15 years ago now, and I have never wavered in what I share. My message has not 'evolved'. It is our pathway to joy, to fruit bearing, to abiding in Him, to a prayer life that is alive with His presence. It is how we overcome sin, how we love with ALL of our heart.

Paul tells us "Now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light." He did not say the opposite. He did not tell us to walk as light beings, try to do good 'christian' things, and eventually we would become light beings.

No, it is when we finally stand up to satan and tell him "No more. I am 100% God's possession, made totally new, and you no longer have any authority over me, to our delight, God does exactly as He promised and causes us to obey Him, not by overruling our free will, but by melting our will into His own! Blessed God!

That is the glory of following Jesus with joy and expectation and what will cause the church to escape its prison of religion and again become the bearer of the water of life to any who thirst, no matter how addicted, how evil, how weak they may have been. Any who hunger for Jesus and His righteousness, for victory, for being free indeed, WILL have it!

We have all gone astray. Bur praise God, in these last days, He is restoring that which the cankerworm has eaten. We will no longer look back at the church in the book of Acts as something we ourselves will never emulate. The truth is, the latter rain, whose first drops are even now beginning to fall, is going to be GREATER than the former, and we are the blessed generation that will not only witness, but be a part of, the final outpouring of the Spirit that will usher in the final harvest, for His house WILL be full!

Glory to God!

blessings,

Gids
 

amigo de christo

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Luke 12:11-12
Do not worry about . . . . . what you will say, for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what you should say.’
exactly my dear sister . NOW THROW THOSE HANDS UP and LET THE LORD BE PRAISED .
OH praise the GLORIOUS LORD . HE ALONE IS ALL WE NEED .
 
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Storm

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It is the power of God that delivers such a man, but that power is released by our faith, and faith comes by clinging to the promises of God.

Faith is the gift of God as testified in the scriptures, not the effort nor work of man.

For by grace you have been saved through faith; and this is not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not a result of works, so that no one may boast. (Ephesians 2:8-9 NASB)

Indeed, we know that faith is a gift of the Spirit as described by the apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 12 (verse 9). According to your teaching the power of God is constrained and therefore controlled by man: "...but that power is released by our faith, and faith comes by clinging to the promises of God" in your own words, @Gideons300 . You're in disagreement with Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ.
 

marks

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Jesus tells us to make our tree good, to not be double minded. So, we stand as new creatures, white dogs, holding up our shields of faith against the accusations of the enemy.

That's an interesting thought, but that's not what Jesus was saying there.

Make the tree good, and it's fruit good, or make the tree evil, with evil fruit. They were saying Jesus was evil, though unable to deny that His fruit was good. Jesus was pointing to the inconsistency in their assertions of Him.

Much love!