Marathoner

; Sorry, I had to respond to the thread title with punctuation.

It would be good to share more regarding how the Lord chose to display His power in me in light of what afflictions remain, my friends. Our Lord did not by any means cleanse this corruptible flesh entirely of maladies; indeed, it pleased Him for some to remain. What remains? Evidence in this body of what I endured when I was close to the grave. My lungs were permanently scarred from fungal pneumonia, and those lymph nodes closest to my heart --- called the mediastinal lymph nodes --- were calcified. They were turned to stone. Calcified remnants of old granulomas in various parts of this body tell the tale of systemic infection by bacterial and fungal invaders. Infection was indeed systemic (spread throughout the body), and my mouth was not spared from harm. Every tooth sported an abscess and virtually all of the teeth in my mouth were themselves infected, causing bone loss in surrounding skeletal matter. Medicine had no effect. Was it a miracle that I did not succumb to sepsis over those two years of a slow, agonizing death? Yes. I only endured because it was the will of the Lord that I live. I only lived because the Lord intended to display His power in me by raising me up from the horror I endured, and others witnessed. My brain was damaged from infection and the effects of sustained malnourishment (I struggled to keep food and water down during the last year of the trial). The Lord rejuvenated the damaged area (Broca's area), making it possible for me to speak and articulate thought into speech, but I had to learn how to think and speak all over again. The Lord taught me how to do both because it pleased Him to raise me up in such a way. This body bears the scars of what I went through. Close to a decade after the Lord did these things, the muscular dystrophy I inherited from my mother presented itself. Oculopharyngeal Muscular Dystrophy generally doesn't manifest until one reaches the age of 40 - 60, which is when it was diagnosed in the woman who gave birth to me. I remember the surgery she had done to make it possible to open her eyelids normally (and keep them open); I was the same age she was when I had that surgery done to my own eyes. The Lord sent me to the doctor who performed that procedure; He instructed me to follow the doctor's directions faithfully, which I did. The type of MD I have is known to occasionally affect muscles in the arms and legs, and my legs were growing progressively weaker due to affected muscles. I'll never forget that day in the Neurology clinic when the doctors informed me that it was only a matter of time before I would need a wheelchair. I was at peace with this... I thanked the Lord for revealing Himself to me all those years ago, for isn't that the greatest honor that any man or woman can receive? To be known by God, and to know Him? Yes! I wasn't bothered by this at all. I have faced far worse in this world. I stirred early the next morning with the strangest sensation in my legs... the same warmth I had experienced when the Lord displayed His power in me in a tiny church, healing a defect in my spine, wrapped around my legs. That, and it felt like a minor electrical current was coursing through the muscles. When I touched the muscles in those legs with my hands, I bolted upright in shock. What? How could this be? It was like the old days when those muscles were strong! I leaped out of bed on those legs, and I jumped up and down in astonishment. I headed outside of my apartment into the stairwell and proceeded to run up and down the stairs like a kid. I struggled to speak to the Lord at all, for I had neither asked for nor expected Him to do such a thing! The Lord declared that the physicians were in error. Every time I report to Neurology for an appointment, the doctors subject this body to poking, prodding and specifically, test my limbs for the possibility of being affected by muscular dystrophy. My legs were like rubber during the wheelchair proclamation visit... but now? The doctor couldn't budge my legs no matter how hard he tried. It's not a matter of the Lord dispensing with all of our afflictions, my friends. Not at all. God does whatever He pleases; if He moves a servant to pray for another and they are healed, then this is the Lord displaying His power in not just one of us, but two of us! Ah, but we don't wait for the Lord to do anything for us. It is our honor and joy to serve others in the name of Jesus Christ regardless of what afflicts us. Praise the Lord!

Thanks. I have the Worthy ToS linked for handy reference. Do you see how making blanket accusations of "false teaching" specifically leveled at Worthy Christian Forums constitutes a personal attack that focuses upon the person, and not the subject matter? Without a specific instance of this accused false teaching, it is a personal attack. This is why I responded to your accusation about WCF by asking for a specific example of false teaching. We debate the subject, not the person. The subject is the example of false teaching, yes? It is indeed. I made an entirely reasonable (as well as scriptural) request. It's unreasonable to persist in personal attacks by crying "foul" when asked to debate the subject matter.

I appreciate the clarification. On trial? Hardly. If one makes an accusation, then one is required to furnish evidence. If you cannot see that your post accuses Worthy Christian Forums of false teaching, then I encourage you to revisit it. That's exactly what you wrote. Are you aware that Oversight receives member reports of anything which runs afoul of Worthy's Statement of Faith? If you run into anything that violates Worthy's Statement of Faith then by all means, use the report feature! This also applies to the Worthy Terms of Service. Oversight and the Moderator relies upon our reports. Let's help them by doing our part.

Gradations of sin were the product of old Roman Catholic dogma, in support of The Vatican's abominable practice of selling "indulgences," my friend. Those "deadly sins" required greater sums of money to acquire the forgiveness of the Church. Lesser sins required less money for the indulgence, of course.

You accused this ministry of false teaching; it is your responsibility to furnish evidence of your accusation. That's entirely scriptural. You do understand that what you have done in this topic is "finger pointing and name calling," correct? You have accused Worthy of false teaching without evidence.

Make your allegations known by naming false teachers on Worthy, @missmuffet. Name them, and be sure to furnish an example of their false teaching. Otherwise, all you are doing is poisoning the well with suspicions, rumor, and slander.

I'm not one to dwell upon hypotheticals, which is the stock and trade of those who relish pointless argumentation. There's always a "But...", yes? It never ends and serves no purpose apart from stirring up strife. Hypothetical argumentation is an exercise in bad faith. Is this happening to your grandmother? Then do what you must to aid her in her peril. Beware that she might despise you for it.

I'll never forget when the Lord promised to deliver me from smoking, brother. I would know when that was going to happen. One morning, the Lord instructed me to dispense with the tobacco I had and everything associated with it (lighters, ashtrays, etc.). To ensure that I wouldn't be tempted to recover those things, I cast them into a perfectly horrid dumpster outside. I never suffered from withdrawal. As the Lord promised, He delivered me from that terrible habit. I praise the Lord for us both!

Is there any reason to believe them? If there isn't, then pay them no mind and go on your way. If you haven't noticed, there is no shortage of charlatans and those who scoff at them in this world. Are you aware that both the charlatan and their scoffer are no different? One makes a display of deceit while the other hurls railing accusations. Both are equally to blame. Consider the hubris of the scoffer, who proclaims in their insolence that they know the mind of God. Ah, but the Lord resists the proud and make no mistake: God mocks the mocker! Therefore, neither the deceitful nor the prideful know the will and purpose of the Lord, who is pleased to withhold the truth from both. For the deceiver, they have received their reward (ill-gotten gain) and as for the scoffer, they have also received their reward (coals heaped upon their head). Here's what I say: don't believe the charlatan and take care to not become a scoffer. Airing one's displeasure is distasteful and does not announce how pure or good the grumbler is to the world. Don't love your own opinion and cherish it to the degree that you are compelled to display that opinion with loudspeakers. There is more than enough of that in this world.

I'm blessed to learn of your report, @Biblican! Our God is in heaven, and He does whatever He pleases. The Lord is not a man-pleaser like those idols that men and women prop up, speaking with their own voices because idols are mute and unthinking. I've shared how the Lord chose to display His power in me on more than occasion, only what the Lord accomplished wasn't requested by any man or woman. What the Lord did, He did because it pleased Him; just like you wrote, it was not for my sake alone. There were witnesses. The Lord, who returned me to strength and vigorous health when I was almost dead, promised to teach me so I would never stumble blindly again. When I asked Him why He chose to display His power in me, He directed my attention to the 9th chapter of John: the man born blind. This man was born blind so that the power of God might be displayed in him. I am no different than he was. To those who witnessed my impossible return from the threshold of the grave, it was a demonstration that nothing is impossible to the Lord God Almighty. Those who counseled my adopted mother to cast me out before I perished in her house witnessed the folly of their uncharitable ways, and my adopted mother learned that the Lord is the One who not only loves her but provides for her every need. The significance? My adopted mother had been mistreated and abandoned by her children and family, all of whom are Christians. Over the years she became bitter and railed against the Lord, but no one was privy to the hidden counsel of God. He reversed what was killing this flesh for her sake, so she would witness the power of God who loves her like no other. He raised me up so those who clamored for my abandonment would witness the power of God who loves the rejected and the abandoned. Just as I pay no mind to the religions of men, I also pay no mind to scoffers and mockers. Let those who scoff continue to scoff, yes?

I never had prior exposure to what @AnOrangeCat describes (faith healing, word of faith, et al). I was never offended by it when I encountered such things but then again, I also didn't pay attention to it. I continue to not be bothered nor offended by it because truly, that is their religion, and they receive the desire of their hearts. Who am I to preach about the sincerity of others? Do I know the hearts and minds? No? Then the matter is settled. If there is a matter that concerns me, it's this: the tendency of some to behave as if they know the heart and mind of their neighbor. Having assumed the seat of judge, they pass judgment upon their neighbor; in the commission of this wicked deed, they wipe their mouth and say, "I have done nothing wrong." How much better it is when one focuses upon their own conduct, so as to show forth the life of Christ given to them by the Lord of glory. Even the archangel Michael didn't level a railing accusation against Satan when contending for the body of Moses (Jude 9). As the Lord Himself declares, "Let the one who does wrong still do wrong, and the one who is filthy still be filthy; and let the one who is righteous still practice righteousness, and the one who is holy still keep himself holy.” (Revelation 22:11 NASB) There is no mistaking the power of God. Even the unbeliever who witnesses the power of God knows what they witness. Only scoffers and mockers refuse to believe what they witness. Am I claiming that so-called faith healings and the like are genuine? I am not making such a claim. However, I am not condemning others. That is not my place.

Brief and simple: 1 Corinthians 12:27 Colossians 1:27

Dear brother, you have just stated why I don't stain myself with political concerns. It is most assuredly not a "duty" to do so. We are burdened with the duty to abide by the laws of the worldly nation we reside in to avoid the appearance of evil, and nothing more. To our dear sister @Jayne, I understand precisely where you're coming from. It's horrendous.

The end of this flesh is not an easy process to witness. I have spoken to the Lord about the certainty of dementia in myself when the end comes; it might happen sooner or later on account of the muscular dystrophy I inherited from my mother. There are many causes behind dementia, and that's one of them. How does this relate to the problem of swaggering? Pride stood in the way of forgiving my mother, my friends. "I am not like her, Lord!" That's not true. I am my mother's son regardless of what transpired under her roof. What afflicted her most assuredly afflicts me and when I learned about what she had suffered during her life before I knew her, I was silenced by that knowledge. I never knew because she never spoke a word to me... but she had confided in my oldest sister. In the end, her hatred of me was fueled by dementia. There was no mistaking the signs. I was comforted by the knowledge that my eldest sibling was with her when she passed. That was sufficient; the Lord saw fit to bless me with the opportunity to be with my adopted mother until the end of her time on earth. That was more than sufficient... My adopted mother urged me to forgive my mother after my birth mother had passed away. She saw the effect that her passing had upon me. She spoke the same words of the Spirit who bid me to do the same, knowing about the tragedy and horror of her upbringing. Not only that, but the Lord has forgiven me of so much that I repented of the error of my ways, and so the forgiveness of my mother arrived with the exit of pride. Here's what forgiveness means: We advocate for one who has trespassed against us. We say to the Lord, "Lord, I hold nothing against this one." I said this to the Lord about my mother. I hold nothing against her! It was such a relief to be released from the terrible burden of pride. Pride stands in the way of forgiveness.

Denying this flesh does indeed relate to the problem of swaggering we might encounter, both in ourselves and in others. Encountering the "storm" of inexplicable behaviors while walking in the Spirit accomplished many lessons: First, I had petitioned the Lord to teach me righteous judgment; Second, I had asked the Lord for endurance so I might serve Him regardless of the weather; I am His student, and He is the Master, and so I asked the Lord to teach me His ways. The Lord is pleased to grant whatever we ask according to His will. This prepared me for what was to come in the years ahead. Having been stabbed by the knives of one whom I loved dearly, I was prepared to receive blows delivered by strangers in need. The latter was more excruciating than the former. Having been mocked by the insolent, I came to understand how the Lord stood silent before His accusers. The student is not greater than his Master. For ourselves, we abandon pride: we have no cause to swagger. We did not create ourselves, nor did we counsel the Lord at any time. Encountering the prideful swagger of another, we have no cause for offense. Let them receive their reward, for what they seek is all they shall receive. If we are moved to speak to the prideful let us do so in meekness, remembering that we are not beyond swaggering ourselves.

Restitution is our way, is it not? Having been lost in the darkness and brought into His marvelous light, we show forth the love of Christ to the sick and dying. We were once sick and dying ourselves. Having been forgiven of much, we forgive others freely. The mercy of the Lord was poured upon us, so we pour ourselves out for the sake of our neighbor... even the stranger. We were once strangers ourselves. What we took, we return tenfold.

I wholeheartedly agree, my friend. Well said and amen!

He builds us up, @AnOrangeCat. I was humbled when, due to the plain example of her suffering and how much she needed someone trustworthy to stand for her during this time in her life, the Lord reminded me of how He loved us even when we were His enemies. Indeed, the Lord gave Himself for a swaggering lot of insolent men and women... So, being well-acquainted with His grace, longsuffering, and kindness, how could I possibly withdraw the same from one in need? I couldn't do that! In my adopted mother's case, she never progressed to the late stage of dementia. No matter my inability to grasp a matter the Lord declared that her heart would soften, and the day would come when she would confess that she knew she was loved. That happened before she passed on. How can I forget that day? I was moving things around in the front porch when she rushed out of her bedroom toward me. She grabbed my shoulders and cried out, "I know beyond the shadow of a doubt that you love me!" She held me tight and cried for a long time. Her pain was released at last. She didn't say that to me... she said it to the Lord. The Lord is so kind to us all.

No matter what I have witnessed and regardless of what I have been through, the despair never goes away. The Lord has moved mightily, and He chose to display His power in me on more than one occasion, and still I despair. It is for this reason that the Lord remains with me just as He was on that day when I was close to the grave, and I hear His voice... and He inclines His ear toward me. When the Lord speaks, I listen only to Him, and when I call out to the Lord, He hears my voice. I never understood why when I am most assuredly the most ignorant and horrible man that ever lived, and I still despaired. He knew that I couldn't understand why, so He has held me in His hand when there was no hope, and all was lost. I didn't know where my next meal was coming from, but He provided that food every time. I didn't have a place to rest my head and yet, He would provide a place for me to rest my bones for a little while anyway. It was always more than sufficient, and still I despaired. When I asked the Lord to reveal the fulness of my affliction and why I despair considering all that I have witnessed, He granted my prayer and revealed the truth... and I despaired. All I could see was vanity and pointless striving for nothing under the sun and so He introduced me to the words of the Preacher in Jerusalem, who despaired long before I was born. I despaired that I had witnessed the same vanity. The Lord comforts me in this knowledge that the world of men is nothing but vanity, assuring me that I remain as it suits His purpose, and still I despair. Despair never goes away. The Spirit permits me to witness how I have encouraged others with words of hope, and it is precisely because I despair that He chose me to be the bearer of encouragement! I was stunned by His revelation. This was His commandment to me after He raised me up from ruin, that I am to speak words of encouragement; so long as I strive to encourage others, it pleases Him to bless those words I speak or write. And so I said to the Lord, Why do I despair? It would have been better to have perished on that day when I finally lost everything, Or to have never been born to a mother who cursed me. Why did I become acquainted with terror before I was old enough to understand it? And why did You not permit me to end my life over those long years when I sought every way and means possible to accomplish the deed? I don't understand anything, Lord. I am an ignorant and stupid man! Even now, do I not inquire when my time on this earth will be over? When will this despair finally come to an end? Please tell me so I will know. And the Lord says this to me, that I only suffer for a little while. Have I forgotten His promise that He is with me always, and that I am always with Him? That He will never leave nor abandon me even though I despair? It is for this reason, being acquainted with terror and hopelessness, that He prepared me to serve those who are afraid and despair. Having been rejected by my first house, I was received into His House; when no one claimed me, He claimed me as His own. Who better to serve the rejected, than one who was rejected? Who better to give the encouraging word, than one who languished without an encouraging word for so long? And so, being encouraged daily by the voice of the Lord Almighty, I understand the value of the encouraging word and how in this world of vanity and strife, the encouraging word is priceless and sorely needed. I had forgotten that I am to deliver the encouraging word, and I despaired. The Lord knows that despair will remain with me until my time on earth is done. It's only for a little while.

Well said. Due to problems I had with being aggressively argumentative in my youth, particularly whenever I encountered a perceived injustice committed against others, the Lord silenced me. I am not an avenger nor am I needed to do anything of that kind; the Lord silenced me when someone I had set aside my own life to serve and protect turned on me in an instant. Why did this happen? Because I informed them that I serve our Lord Jesus Christ, and that He loves them like no other. This individual hated Christians with a passion and they unleashed everything they had in order to offend me and drive me away. What did this individual say? All Christians are hypocritical liars. The Spirit commanded me to say nothing in response, only to continue serving her as He instructed me to do when I first met them. She was my adopted mother. Did her efforts hurt? Yes, very deeply. Her words and actions were like knives, and she would lash out at me all day long like an erupting volcano; the Lord instructed me to say nothing and find work on her land well out of her sight until the volcanic outburst was over. It continued that way for a year. One day, she came at me like a lunatic. She started throwing objects in the room all over the place (some directed at me), and screamed at the top of her lungs to get out. So, after she left the room, I packed my clothes for a swift exit... But the Lord stopped me, saying that I was going nowhere. Just then, my adopted mother found me in the driveway at the front gate with a confused look on her face. She asked me where I was going? I told her that I wasn't going anywhere. She was relieved. She didn't remember any of the events which led me to pack up and leave. I said to the Lord, I see it now: she suffers from early stage dementia. Yes, she was treated horribly and abandoned by her children and family... and they are all Christian. The Lord revealed that, by remaining silent and continuing to help her regardless of how hard she tried to offend me and drive me away, she would at last come to understand how He loves her like no other. That's why the Lord sent me to her. As for remaining silent and denying this flesh regardless of what she said or did, that was the lesson for me to learn. It was the beginning of my calling in Christ as a servant. So, I learned not to engage those who relish disputation. I simply remain silent. Does another desire to have the last word? Let them receive the desire of their heart. There is wisdom in silence.

@missmuffet is correct. Our Lord Jesus Christ is indeed the master of Hades and the lake of fire (also known as hell). He holds the keys to Death and Hades (Revelation 1:18); Satan (Revelation 20:10), the false prophet, and the beast (Revelation 19:20 for the latter two) all are cast into the lake of fire. They will be tormented forever, so this does not indicate any of them will "rule" the lake of fire. Scripture does not state that any of those three have power over the second death.

MM wrote that Hell = the lake of fire, which I agree with. Hades is not hell/the lake of fire.

Here in New Mexico, tucked between Arizona and Texas, wild fires are our primary disaster. We also have to deal with smoke and dust storms coming to us from fires in Arizona, which is our issue right now apart from decades of drought. We had above average rainfall this year which brought NM out of "severe" drought. However, it would have to rain every day for about 5 years to end the drought itself.

Your car's computer, eh? "Hal, turn off the dome light please." "I'm sorry, @Neighbor, but I can't do that. It's statistically proven that lack of a dome light after sunset leads to driver drowsiness."