B
brakelite
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Dont have time to read through the entire thread, so sorry of this had been mentioned previously. I forget who said this, but feelings he said are the most dangerous enemy to faith.
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Hey there.
One thing I have had to learn is God keeps good accounts...He is no mans debtor .
It always seems as if King David knew a lot about God's workings which are not even written before his time...he obviously had prophetic insight.
In Psalm 56 he says:-
8 Thou tellest my wanderings: put thou my tears into thy bottle: are they not in thy book?
9 "When I cry unto thee, then shall mine enemies turn back: this I know; for God is for me."
It seems that David knew that God had 'a bottle' that He kept tears in!!
Nothing with God go unnoticed.
Maybe when the roll call goes out for us all...your heavenly reward will be greater that your friends will be. Hers has cost her nothing, you are "laying up for yourself treasure in heaven ."
Because we are only human naturally we tend to focus on the 'here and now'...but the real issue is Later!!! I promise you , you will not lose out.
Like my own friend is always saying to me..." It is not what happens to you in life, but how you handle what happens to you that matters. Will you come out the other side bitter or better."
I cant argue with that!
Praying for you.
In my own dark time ( healthwise) I have listened to this anointed song over and over...it lifts me up, try it ♥︎ The words hit the spot.
( @Butterfly ...hope you can get this one on here ♥︎ )
Yes, you always will grow in suffering.
Comparison is the worst thing a Christian can ever do. Either with other Christians or non-believers. We don't compare because we are individually important to God and Christ. Your walk, your suffering, your salvation is meaningful to Him in a way only geared for you.
The resurrected Christ directed his attention to Peter and said, "Follow me". (John 21:19) Peter, being Peter, asked Christ what about John? (21:21) "What shall this man do" Jesus answered, "If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? follow thou me" (21:22) In other words, don't worry about John....follow Me.
This is why other believers may not suffer as much as you do. It is also why other believers suffer more than you do. The only thing important is to know Jesus Christ is there and with us on the road we are on. No matter how difficult it is. We have to keep our eyes on Jesus.
Stranger
An old woman who used to teach us bible study told me I was really close to the Spirit. I've wondered if I was given this gift because I pick up undercurrents and "vibes" off of people really well. Especially looking in their eyes and dividing truth. It sometimes gets overwhelming because others don't see what I do until later - sometimes after damage has been done. I never really exercised it in the body yet. My husband said Satan must be afraid for me to use my gift because I seem to be attacked more heavily than others. If God gave me this gift He gave it to the wrong person. I am not one to withstand a lot. I hope He gave me another gift.
That would make a good thread - I still am unsure of my gift after 40 years.
It's interesting that I've found it to be true that babies and dogs seem to have a built-in sense of discernment. A baby will cry when held by someone who doesn't really care about them and a dog will growl at someone that you know you should steer clear of.
God should have picked another way to grow. I know I should be delving into the Scriptures as I've done in times past but sometimes we shun God when we think He's dealing unfairly with us. I feel like Paul who said he despaired of life.
I know Christ said that but still it's hard to see others walk on unaffected while you're crawling trying to stand. I do not wish evil or hardship on my friend - she's one of the most ethical people I've known. It's just that I wonder why me? Why is my life hard? I keep trying to think that like Joseph, God has some work for me to do but it hurts NOW.
On top of physical suffering I just dealt with a corrupt lawyer and screwy sibling in a probate matter. The lawyer actually threatened me to try to get me to sign his accounting altering a legal will. I refused and he threatened me again. He then had a corrupt lawyer in the probate office hide our brief and reject it! It was outright corruption and I wrote to all of the freeholders and there was a total DISCONNECT - they all acted perturbed that I disturbed them. And these are the folks who we've paid their salaries!
So I contacted the prosecutor's office and the same thing. I feel like I'm in the twilight zone. CORRUPTION! Then the lawyer predatorily charged the estate and I can't get the money back. I prayed but not one person in the entire corrupt court would lift a finger to do right. I told the detective that trouble was going to come down on his head by going along with it - he seemed like he was decent and had a struggle with his conscience as he went along with a wrong. But he went along with it. Can you all please pray that God speaks to his heart? His name is Keith.
I appealed to the "Christian" lawyer who owned the firm that the corrupt lawyer is employed in and he threatened to sue me!
So much for his declaration of faith.
God has just let me go through horrible things. I cannot believe how dishonest people are!
It's funny as I read this I recalled a time when I was victimized by ungodly people. God seemed nowhere in sight as I stumbled through it. I had just underwent surgery and was in a lot of pain and they hit me. It was about two years later that I read of those people in the news - they were getting sued for corrupt business practices. They owed me some money so I wisely used the opportunity to ask them for it. They returned it - the lawsuit made honest people of them. I know we're not to rejoice when an enemy falls but it sure does feel good. I hope that isn't rejoicing? I wondered if God brought that to mind to remind me that He does hear me.
Sis, I cannot for the life of me appreciate the frustration you must be experiencing, having never had anything to do with courts, corruption, lawyers, our shonky politicians even. I must live a charmed life.God should have picked another way to grow. I know I should be delving into the Scriptures as I've done in times past but sometimes we shun God when we think He's dealing unfairly with us. I feel like Paul who said he despaired of life.
I know Christ said that but still it's hard to see others walk on unaffected while you're crawling trying to stand. I do not wish evil or hardship on my friend - she's one of the most ethical people I've known. It's just that I wonder why me? Why is my life hard? I keep trying to think that like Joseph, God has some work for me to do but it hurts NOW.
On top of physical suffering I just dealt with a corrupt lawyer and screwy sibling in a probate matter. The lawyer actually threatened me to try to get me to sign his accounting altering a legal will. I refused and he threatened me again. He then had a corrupt lawyer in the probate office hide our brief and reject it! It was outright corruption and I wrote to all of the freeholders and there was a total DISCONNECT - they all acted perturbed that I disturbed them. And these are the folks who we've paid their salaries!
So I contacted the prosecutor's office and the same thing. I feel like I'm in the twilight zone. CORRUPTION! Then the lawyer predatorily charged the estate and I can't get the money back. I prayed but not one person in the entire corrupt court would lift a finger to do right. I told the detective that trouble was going to come down on his head by going along with it - he seemed like he was decent and had a struggle with his conscience as he went along with a wrong. But he went along with it. Can you all please pray that God speaks to his heart? His name is Keith.
I appealed to the "Christian" lawyer who owned the firm that the corrupt lawyer is employed in and he threatened to sue me!
So much for his declaration of faith.
God has just let me go through horrible things. I cannot believe how dishonest people are!
It's funny as I read this I recalled a time when I was victimized by ungodly people. God seemed nowhere in sight as I stumbled through it. I had just underwent surgery and was in a lot of pain and they hit me. It was about two years later that I read of those people in the news - they were getting sued for corrupt business practices. They owed me some money so I wisely used the opportunity to ask them for it. They returned it - the lawsuit made honest people of them. I know we're not to rejoice when an enemy falls but it sure does feel good. I hope that isn't rejoicing? I wondered if God brought that to mind to remind me that He does hear me.
All believers have a certain discernment due to their having the Holy Spirit. But others are given that special gift of discernment of spirits. I cannot tell which you have, as I said earlier, it would be necessary for your fellowship to observe and make that decision. But, make no mistake, even if you don't have a fellowship you attend, you still have a gift, and possibly more than one.
satan does indeed hate the believer, every believer, and his use of his gift from the Holy Spirit. And he comes against every believer to destroy if he can, or to hinder if he can, the use of that gift. And he is very good at it. Every believer is a threat to his kingdom. And every believer is involved in the spiritual warfare whether he wants to be or not. He is either held in check at present or he is standing and moving against the enemy.
I'm not saying what gift you may or may not have, but rest assured, God makes no mistakes in giving the gifts. Like so many other areas, He simply does not ask us. But we are encouraged to seek certain gifts. (1 Cor. 12:31) (1 Cor. 14:39) So, I believe through prayer we can acquire a gift if we seek it.
I love observing the natural instinct in animals. Because it is deer season I have a lot of deer come through. Sometimes I don't see them till I am walking right up on them. I'm not a deer hunter so I don't bother them. If I am just making normal noises while walking, such as coughing or singing a song, they don't bolt. But if I tried to sneak up on them in silence, they are outta-here. I have come as close as 5-10 yards and walked by a group of 4-5 deer. They were watching intently, but their tails weren't up meaning they were not concerned enough yet to run. They watched me go by for quite awhile, and then went back to grazing.
Stranger
Corruption in our governmental and legal systems are hard to bear. But, the less our country is Christian, which is the direction it is going, the more you will see and experience it. It will eventually culminate in physical persecution and death.
satan knows the power he can exercise against Christians if he can de-Christianize our government. Which is what he has been doing. And he has an extreme hatred for the Christians in the U.S. as they have for years been a terrible restraint against his kingdom.
Yes, sometimes God does let us see His vengeance upon those who have harmed us. But not always. The important thing to know is that He sees it all. And we can know that He will make it right. And I am confident that when He does make it right, He reminds them someway as to what it is for.
Stranger
yeh, entropy, hard to fight our perceptions of it huh. South Park is often the most socially relevant tv on the planet, or was, seemed to open a floodgate of relevance in cartoons imo. Sorta like our news becoming comedy, and comedians telling news now? Rick and Morty was rough, but now i'm hooked on it lol. There is an ego lesson in every episode so farI love old westerns. I don't like most of what's on TV now.
i guess it seems that way maybe, huh. But then we so like to anthropomorphize, too, yeh?satan does indeed hate the believer, every believer
and your desire shall be for your husbandDont have time to read through the entire thread, so sorry of this had been mentioned previously. I forget who said this, but feelings he said are the most dangerous enemy to faith.
Do you recall the event of Paul and the event that happened to Him with Lord Jesus, on the road to Damascus?That's 'right'. And I will own those words. I certainly don't want to be an 'accomplice' with your words.
Who told you that you had the gift of discernment of spirits?
Stranger
It is NT scripture, being spoken by the Holy Spirit through Paul. Being that of our "reasonable service" to do, I would say that it is the most important thing that we can do as Christians. If Christ is within you, His request is that we yield to His Mind and His Ways on a daily basis.I don't know if that will work but it's worth a go.
When I researched it - I suspected I had it - and found a website written by a pastor's wife who had it - and everything she said clicked. My husband also made the remark that "Satan must be afraid for you to use your gift" so that made me wonder too. I'm still not sure and our church never got into the gifts. I'm going to bring it up to our bible study teacher.
I have had some wicked attacks that I knew were satanically inspired. The first was with a neighbor high on drugs who came after my husband and I with a torque wrench. She was as high as a kite and beat my husband with it - he's 6'2" and husky build and he couldn't fend her off with a lawn chair. Two cops tackled her and couldn't hold her down - that was when I saw that Satan gives superhuman strength. I almost had a breakdown. I was a young Christian and knew nothing. It was when I got Billy Graham's book out of the library and he described a feeling of "oppression and depression" while traveling to preach overseas that I knew what had hit me. The neighbor's on the other side were also on drugs - she was the head of the PTA. I felt a sense of oppression that hung over the area - we lived in a rural area on a dead end and were the only houses.
The attacks never ceased - the faces just changed. Sigh.
I never thought of asking for a gift - though I did ask for the gift of healing a long time ago. I learned a lot about vitamins and how the body works. A friend asked me what her daughter should take as she developed cancer - so that was realized in small measure. I always wanted the gift of singing but don't have a melodious voice.
That's very interesting about the deer! Yes they do have natural instinct. As I was reading your post I cringed expecting you to say you hunted them. I love animals and stopped eating meat at 16 - in fact the smell of it cooking makes me gag. If someone cooks it in my house I have to open the windows and go in the bedroom and shut the door. You'd be surprised at how healthy you can be giving up meat. My doctor couldn't believe how healthy my blood tests came back and I told him it was due to being a vegetarian.
I was never afraid of dogs because they always took to me, but one day I was walking into my house and a HUGE dog trotted up to me. I didn't pay any attention...but my faithful terrier did. I saw her curiously leaping up off her little feet going at the big dog's neck and I didn't know why. She was a fiercely loyal dog and I quickly learned why. The HUGE dog lunged at me and bit my hip but was thwarted by my terrier. It was able to bite me but it didn't break the skin. That loyal little terrier protected me with all her might. It makes me cry thinking about her since we lost her this year. I prayed and asked God that I see her in heaven. I miss her loyalty. She saved me from a lot of harm as I'd learned later that the owner hadn't been up on the dog's shots.
She was a funny little dog. Our neighbor was out with his two HUGE Rottweilers and our terrier tore across the street and went after the two Rottweilers. Our neighbor couldn't believe it - he had to yank his Roots back on their leashes. He said "that dog has guts!" She was a tiny little thing with so much courage that I've rarely seen. I think that in her mind she saw the Rottweilers as invading her territory or as a threat to us.
But I would like to learn what my gifts are.
An old woman who used to teach us bible study told me I was really close to the Spirit. I've wondered if I was given this gift because I pick up undercurrents and "vibes" off of people really well. Especially looking in their eyes and dividing truth. It sometimes gets overwhelming because others don't see what I do until later - sometimes after damage has been done. I never really exercised it in the body yet. My husband said Satan must be afraid for me to use my gift because I seem to be attacked more heavily than others. If God gave me this gift He gave it to the wrong person. I am not one to withstand a lot. I hope He gave me another gift.
That would make a good thread - I still am unsure of my gift after 40 years.
It's interesting that I've found it to be true that babies and dogs seem to have a built-in sense of discernment. A baby will cry when held by someone who doesn't really care about them and a dog will growl at someone that you know you should steer clear of.
Dont have time to read through the entire thread, so sorry of this had been mentioned previously. I forget who said this, but feelings he said are the most dangerous enemy to faith.
that battle is all over, Stranger, i dont even need to add "imo" do i, but anyway, a reflection of satan and his "kingdom" that you might consider bro:satan does indeed hate the believer, every believer, and his use of his gift from the Holy Spirit. And he comes against every believer to destroy if he can, or to hinder if he can, the use of that gift. And he is very good at it. Every believer is a threat to his kingdom. And every believer is involved in the spiritual warfare whether he wants to be or not. He is either held in check at present or he is standing and moving against the enemy.
Extremely hard to bear. That lawyer harassed me for 11 months trying to alter the will. I tried having it stopped by speaking with a detective but the lawyer was well-connected and I'm not. I'm too honest and don't have friends who would lie for me - and i'd never ask them to. I couldn't believe how all the freeholders shunned their responsibility - the probate lawyer should have been fired. She actually destroyed mail I tried to have sent to the judge because the judge was honest and ruled in my favor (a rarity today).
My husband said I won because the judge let me speak and when the corrupt lawyer stood to speak she said "I don't need to hear from you!" And he slunk out of there with my two ex-hateful siblings. I looked over at them and he could not look me in the eye.
My husband said there is always a gossip chain and that lawyer was made a fool of because he was beaten in a court of law by a non-lawyer.
Still the crook made off with thousands from my father's estate which grinds at me - and some of it came out of my share. I tried going back to court but he had the corrupt woman lawyer hide my brief so it wouldn't go before the honest judge. I've tried to reach the judge but she's the gatekeeper and intercepts my mail. I reported theft of mail to the prosecutor's office and cannot believe how readily they go along with a bold criminal act.
I thought I had reached the detective's heart but he still went along with it. I told him it was going to bring trouble down on his head and he still refused to act. You're up against institutional evil. In fact I just signed on with The Innocence Project - I had belonged to them before and would just send e-cards to the wrongfully convicted. I urge everyone to support them. There are many corrupt individuals who abuse their power.
I'm really afraid of what is to come. I agree that the less Christian our country becomes the more persecution we'll have to bear. I shudder to think. My trial was GRUELING. It went on for a year when I fended off attacks from a corrupt ex-sibling and the corrupt lawyer. He had connections and since he couldn't win on facts he won by deception. It made me want to vomit. But I came to see it as another attack from the enemy.
Then the corrupt probate lawyer had the gall to call me with another crony and demand an apology for contacting the freeholders. I then went and contacted every one of them. People may think they can cower you but I believe in the Scripture that says "The righteous are as bold as a lion." They didn't do anything about her but my husband said it shamed her. Institutionalized evil. I struggled as it was through a time of physical trials and a friend said that my ex-sibling was "frightening" to do that knowing of my hardships.
Yes I haven't always seen justice - and it hurts. There is one particular gaping wound from evil done to me that I cannot come to terms with, with God. I have beat on heaven's door and He has seen my tears. He showed me something of justice but not a full measure. It was an evil worthy of death but my husband said her hell is on this earth - death would be easy.
I don't understand God - why He chooses to show us justice sometimes and not others. The "Christian" lawyer whose corrupt lawyer raided my inheritance is equally corrupt yet calls himself a Christian. He's a Pharasee. I sat with him as he denigrated a loved one - I'll never forget his judgmental face. I then learned that his son had been the town drug dealer (funny isn't it - that I would learn that) So the next opportunity i had to speak with Mr. Christian I reminded him of when he denigrated a loved one and told him that it was known around town that his son was a drug dealer. Mr. Christian threatened to sue me.
His son got away with it. They used drug money to put him through law school. I don't understand that one. All the other youth in town were caught and prosecuted for using the drugs that Mr. Lawyer's son sold to them. That's another one I have prayed about that makes no sense. My husband said their fakes and have to live their fake lives and that's punishment.
I wish God would make things easier. I don't look ahead and see anything good happening in this country, although I have been led to evangelize more.
I hope you're right about God showing evildoers what their punishment is for as there are many wrongdoers who have hurt others. That entire cabal of government workers shirked their duty to fire the corrupt probate lawyer.
Do you recall the event of Paul and the event that happened to Him with Lord Jesus, on the road to Damascus?
When I was 25, so also did a similar event happen to me.
By my repentance towards God and having faith in the Lord Jesus, I was born again, delivered from my sin, and the captivity that I was in.
1 Tim. 4
[1] Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;
[2] Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;