Discovering the Second Half of the Gospel

[Still Alive]

7 minutes ago, Yowm said:

I don't, on principle. He's less than the scum of the earth and he is not proper LOL.

Well, to be fair, I often don't capitalize proper nouns when typing on forums. It's hit or miss. At least I have not stooped to the level of using words like "u" instead of "you".

[Heleadethme]

3 minutes ago, Yowm said:

It was a nice post until you just had to add that. I understood it perfectly otherwise.

You seem to be misunderstanding why I wrote that it is hard to fathom....there is nothing to be offended at.  What I meant was that it seems too incredible to be true, that we are going to receive what is "guaranteed to come" ....imagine the first outpouring was only a little down payment on what the Lord is going to endue His church with in the end.  It will be more than we can ask or imagine.....hard to believe, and I'm overwhelmed at the thought of it.

[Willa]

Back to the OP.  Gal 5:16  ESV But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.  Those who have the life of Jesus in them will produce fruit of the Spirit and works of the Spirit as God leads.  Jesus in us can't help but do that.  The more we crucify our own wills (Nevertheless not my will be done but thine") the more of God's nature can be seen in us.  This crucifying of self can be hard.  Jesus sweat blood over it.   

[FinallyAlive]

20 minutes ago, Yowm said:

I don't, on principle. He's less than the scum of the earth and he is not proper LOL.

Jude 1:9 is an interesting verse.

[angels4u]

3 hours ago, Gideon said:

 I would tell them the basics.....that all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God, and that there is nothing we can to to please Him with our efforts. I will tell them that God so loved us that He sent His Son to die in our place, taking the punishment we deserved. And I would tell them that if they truly are tired of sinning and long to be free of its grip, and repent totally for their walking  in darkness, and turn from it, and are willing to give their lives to Him, and believe that His death was ours, and that the blood will make their  sins as white as snow, they will be saved. Oh, and God will then take full responsibility for our walks as we look to Him to do so. 

OK, now your turn of you would be so kind. How do you witness to a drug addict who is shooting up twice daily? Do you invite him to church? And if he showed up wasted, do you ask him to return? And when he begs you  for a way to stop the drugs that are eating him alive from the inside out,  and to walk in the FREE INDEED that Jesus promised, what advice do you give him? 

Blessings, 

Gideon

Thank you for your reply, I would witness the same as you do and I would witness to the drug addict just the same and would invite him to church, I would ask if he's hungry and give him a meal,if I can I would bring him to a addiction centre. Now if Jesus saves us from our sins and we repent ,we still live in our old body what will sin,the Bible did not tell us that we don't sin anymore,we don't want to sin because we know that Jesus paid a high price to redeem us and since we have the Holy Spirit living inside us,He will guide us with the truth. Many people are in name Christian only or traditional ,we need to be born again ,born out of the Spirit to understand the gospel message, I walked with God for about 37 years and He never failed me, I went through ups and downs but God was always faithful,we can't keep our Salvation on our own,we all fail ,it's only by God's grace we have the power to live the Christian life, do I want to sin? Of course not,but it take only one unkind word to anybody to sin ,we do it all the time Jesus ways are so much higher then ours but Jesus is our mediated,if we confess our sins He will forgive us,did I lose my salvation during that time? I did not ,God promise d to keep me until the end.Do I strive to live a sinful life? Of course  I do ,but my old sinful body rebels by times. I'm sure that happens to you too, people who are not born again are blinded for this truth.God will open the eyes from everybody the day He comes back to earth and then there will be a big revival...and those people will enter the Millenial.

[angels4u]

3 hours ago, Yowm said:

I don't, on principle. He's less than the scum of the earth and he is not proper LOL.

LOL, I write it always with a small s too  for the same reason !

[Blood Bought 1953]

6 hours ago, angels4u said:

Yown is victorious over the world ,Jesus did set us free of bondage so am I ,as I said ,we trust in the finished work of Jesus,we don't need to get higher on the road of holiness,we're saints sons and daughters of the King,is there more we need?

If it wasn't all by grace ,where would we be?

What do we need more then to trust in  Jesus and to listen to the Holy Spirit who helps us with all things? Is there anything that little me can add to the greatness of God,He will use us but apart from Him we're like the little ants,just going to and fro..

Can you share with me how to witness to an unbeliever ?

 

I tell them to do the same thing that Paul told us......Believe the Gospel found in 1cor15:1-4...... or if one 

prefers , simply say, “Jesus save me”.

[Gideon]

3 hours ago, angels4u said:

Thank you for your reply, I would witness the same as you do and I would witness to the drug addict just the same and would invite him to church, I would ask if he's hungry and give him a meal,if I can I would bring him to a addiction centre. Now if Jesus saves us from our sins and we repent ,we still live in our old body what will sin,the Bible did not tell us that we don't sin anymore,we don't want to sin because we know that Jesus paid a high price to redeem us and since we have the Holy Spirit living inside us,He will guide us with the truth. Many people are in name Christian only or traditional ,we need to be born again ,born out of the Spirit to understand the gospel message, I walked with God for about 37 years and He never failed me, I went through ups and downs but God was always faithful,we can't keep our Salvation on our own,we all fail ,it's only by God's grace we have the power to live the Christian life, do I want to sin? Of course not,but it take only one unkind word to anybody to sin ,we do it all the time Jesus ways are so much higher then ours but Jesus is our mediated,if we confess our sins He will forgive us,did I lose my salvation during that time? I did not ,God promise d to keep me until the end.Do I strive to live a sinful life? Of course  I do ,but my old sinful body rebels by times. I'm sure that happens to you too, people who are not born again are blinded for this truth.God will open the eyes from everybody the day He comes back to earth and then there will be a big revival...and those people will enter the Millenial.

Thank you for your kind reply. The last thing I want are wars with people here, even if we disagree. When I get a post like this one  from someone who has withstood my posts a bit, it sets the stage for fellowship to grow, so I really appreciate it. 

As to witnessing to drug addicts, there was a reason for my inquiry.  let me share a bit of my story.  

Between my wife and I, we have six children, eleven grandchildren and five great grandchildren. I am 68, almost 69, my wife is 65. My kids have pretty much avoided the drug scene, but Terry’s two younger daughters have not. Both got involved with opiates first, and then shooting up heroin or morphine. 

Both walked with the Lord at one time, and both have repeatedly tried to get back to the Lord and to get off the drugs. We have witnessed to them, prayed with them, brought them in for detoxing, taken them to church, but they still struggled.... and failed. Both of their husbands were addicted as well. Again, both of them had once walked close to God, and Kevin told me the happiest he had ever been when he was serving the Lord.

We adopted Jack when he was three, and who now 8 because Amanda and Jeremy simply did not want to raise him. Two weeks before the adoption went through, we got a call early one Saturday morning that Jeremy had died of an overdose during the night. 

We were devastated, and Jack lost his dad. But at the funeral, one of his close friends who was a Christian, came up to us and told us that he had run into Jeremy about nine that night he OD’ed and Jeremy asked for him to pray for him  because he said he had never been as bad off as he was doing at that time. My hope and prayer is that he was saved. 

Then, two years ago, another late night all. Terry’s middle daughter, Laurie, had died of an overdose  and it absolutely crushed Terry. Laurie was 35 and had a six year old son. Not finished yet. Laurie also has an older son, Alex who had a boy with his girlfriend. More drugs, but not as bad. Still, they were ill prepared to be parents, emotionally, financially, or spiritually, so early last year, we adopted Gavin, who is now 22 months old. If my calculations are correct, I will be 85 when he graduates high school. LOL. Last year, Terry was diagnosed with stage four cancer in both lungs (never smoked) and one kidney. And yet in all this, God has blessed us beyond measure. I would change nothing. 

I brought all that up to say this. I have witnessed first hand the power of addictive drugs. I was a sex and porn addict for four plus decades, 38 of those years as a Christian. But addictive sins like drugs are a different breed, sins on steroids, so to speak. Shooting up drugs are an especially formidable stronghold unlike any  others.

And for every one soul that gets freed from satan’s clutches, I bet there are 100 or more sincere people, and here I am being conservative, who once walked with God, who cannot get back, no matter how hard they try. They can go to rehab, even Christian rehab, they can be prayed for, they can read their Bibles, they can never miss a service at church and in the end, they simply are too bound to escape. I have witnessed it again and again. 

And why is this? They are trying like we do to change our behavior without changing our nature. And so, when Satan comes accusing, or tempting, with no shield of faith to protect them, they need only one slip to slide all the way back to the bottom. 

I believe there is enough power in the salvation of our Lord to set any man or woman free, totally and completely...... including those that are the worst bound.  And what  I am sharing is the answer they need. Until they break identity with themselves as addicts, they cannot walk free. That is why I share as I do. What God offers each of us is real, and it works. But up till now, many think they are just fine and have need of nothing. 

I am a carpenter and landscaper by trade and although I have had a call to minister since I was about 36, there never was a “right time”. Bills had to be paid, kids had to be cared for,  (and still do, lol) and life got in the way. So here I am now in this  situation I find myself, with my quiver tearing at the seams, and about three weeks ago,God finally tells me  “It’s time”. Don’t tell me our God does not have a sense of humor. LOL.

  As you have witnessed here, I do not think at present people are going to be beating down my door to have me come and share. They may be beating down my door with tar boiling and the sqwauk of chickens, but not to share. So what will I do? The Lord actually told me today. I have a neat little wood shop up on a slight hill along a somewhat busy road. I am having signs made up advertising a new weekly Bible study  for addicts and others struggling with sin. On Sundays, my road is jammed around  12:30 with cars coming back from church so as the Lord blesses, and leads, I hope to awaken those who know they need more than a nice church service where they feel God’s presence. They need to take His presence with them... in them.

You are actually the first person I have told. We shall see as to the results. I am believing for miracles. The proof is in the pudding, amen? I would appreciate prayers from any so led. My ministry is not to hack people off, LOL, despite what many here may think. I simply want us to again see a Christian walk where the devil retreats, and not where we have to make excuses for why the promises are not working. I want to see the hungry come and walk away with victory.

The lost  need what we have been given, but if it is not working for us for our small sins, tied with soft velvet restraints to our ankles,  but restraints none the less, what hope can we give those with balls and chains of iron bolted tight around their ankles? My simple prayer is that we see God ‘s willingness to do for us what we cannot do, ‘cause us’ to walk as overcomers, and beseech Him to do it for us, Lord! Is this scriptural? You be the judge:

Thus saith the Lord God; I will yet for this be enquired of by the house of Israel, to do it for them; I will increase them with men like a flock.
                                                                   Ezekiel 36:37

Blessings to you. 

Gids

[frienduff thaylorde]

5 hours ago, Gideon said:

Brother, are you aware that I have never had a phone call, e mail, PM, text, snail mail or carrier pigeon message from Still Alive. 

I love your zeal but you need to temper your assumptions. If you do not agree with what I share, fine. I do not agree with all you share either. But you have a quickness about you that is not patient and much of what you have said based upon what you believe you hear me saying, I have openly denied. Yet that has made no difference to  you. 

Tou have asked me tons of questions, I have patiently answered them to the best of my ability. And even when I answer that my beliefs are not new age, or Oprah Winfrey, or  universalit, or the emergent church, and I openly disavow them, it matters not to you. You plow on ahead anyway. Do you believe I am lying when I say these things..... all because I do believe there will be an awakening and you do not? 

Frankly, it  seems to me you would be thrilled to have someone encouraging others to press into holiness but you have acted the opposite, and it makes no sense at all to me. 

Blessings, 

Gideon

I did not say YOU.    Even when its identified , they always come and cover tracks .   People always plant ideals IF they have an agenda .  then when its questoined

they always try and cover up .    Staying alive worries me .   I seen several of his repsonses and it sounds like man wise wisdom on some things .

I aint said anything about you.    When anyone , and I don't care how well meaning they are and how much truth they can say,

WHEN they come saying things that don't add up with WHAT JESUS said about the end or nigh the end ,  that worries me .

Not saying you.    But you have to KNOW by now this is how many take captive souls , they come on preaching a good message they know the audience

they desire to reach will relate too.   THEN they just keep throwing in things little by little .    You don't know me ,   nor I you , I don't know staying alive ,  But that is some scary

stuff he has said .  and not just their .   Now something is off .  maybe you cant see it in him .  But something is OFF brother .   I don't say this to be mean

BUT its my duty or anyones to expose error .    You just ponder on that for a bit .    

[Gideon]

Just now, frienduff thaylorde said:

I did not say YOU.    Even when its identified , they always come and cover tracks .   People always plant ideals IF they have an agenda .  then when its questoined

they always try and cover up .    Staying alive worries me .   I seen several of his repsonses and it sounds like man wise wisdom on some things .

I aint said anything about you.    When anyone , and I don't care how well meaning they are and how much truth they can say,

WHEN they come saying things that don't add up with WHAT JESUS said about the end or nigh the end ,  that worries me .

Not saying you.    But you have to KNOW by now this is how many take captive souls , they come on preaching a good message they know the audience

they desire to reach will relate too.   THEN they just keep throwing in things little by little .    You don't know me ,   nor I you , I don't know staying alive ,  But that is some scary

stuff he has said .  and not just their .   Now something is off .  maybe you cant see it in him .  But something is OFF brother .   I don't say this to be mean

BUT its my duty or anyones to expose error .    You just ponder on that for a bit .    

Brother, do you yourself see through a glass darkly, or has the entire sum  of His truths been opened up to you? You seem to want to expose error more than win the one you are sure who is misled with love. 

Here is one thing you can ponder. Jesus told us we will be known by our fruits,  not by our staunch doctrinal stance. Is doctrine important? Of course it is, but if that doctrine does not lead to fruits of the Spirit abounding in one’s life... patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, meekness,   long suffering, one may have zeal but it will change no one. ... and profit nothing.

You know I have reached out to you several times both here in posts and through PMs, and not once have you reciprocated in kind  to try to build a bridge of fellowship. Why is that? Are you so sure I am a false teacher as you have alluded to several times that you have judged already and pronounced sentence so that any fellowship is virtually impossible? Do you see how this in itself is not according to scripture? 

Blessings,

 Gideon