The TEST of YOUR Discipleship!

[WayneB]

Brother Nate,

Awesome post and sound teaching brother. I appreciate your openness and willingness to share with us. The saints of God need to know that every one of us has a unique story to tell, no two being exactly the same. Some of us focus on our conversion whereby others may focus on their surrender. Regardless, the important thing is where we are now...in the will of Almighty God with Jesus Christ as the focus of our adoration, praise and worship.

I understand your teaching because my conversion was a process. I do not remember the exact day or time that I finally surrendered my life to the Lord BUT I do recall the season and under what circumstances. Looking back now, many years later, I can even see the process that God took me through to get me to the point of surrender. As a new believer, I use to feel like less of a Christian because I couldn't pin my acceptance of God's plan for my salvation down to an exact moment in time (like my wedding day, which I rely on my wife to remember by the way). It just came after much study and reading and prayer with me finally reaching up to take the Father's extended hand. I may not remember the exact day & time BUT I do remember the season and many of the events that led me to the Truth.

By the way, C.S. Lewis, one of my favorite Christian authors, described his conversion as a process as well. I think that puts me in pretty good company!

Thanks brother,

Wayne

[WISDOM]

Beau and Wayne:

Thank you so very much for your deeply sincere & understanding posts. I am most thankful for the HOLY SPIRIT's blessing the two of you, with the ability to discern what was being passed on involving the spiritual growth for the members of the Body of CHRIST....... especially newborn "babes in CHRIST", who have ALWAYS been near and dear to my heart.

Here at Worthy we have been gifted with a tremendous amount of spiritual talent/abilities. The trick is to use it ALL to bring more glory and honor to our LORD/SAVIOUR JESUS CHRIST, and to the best FATHER in the universe.

When GOD saves a soul and brings them into HIS family, HE doesn't leave them out in the cold lacking a way of growing spiritually on the milk and meat of HIS Word. HE has given EVERY Believer in the Body a particular spiritual gift, and expects us to use it to encourage, educate and edify others. The things I've identified in this thread happens to many Christians, although NOT necessarily to YOU and I. Still, it impacts the Body as a whole. I felt it was only fair to let those of us, who have experienced this to know that it's okay, IF you don't remember ALL the details. Your "FRUIT" will tell the truth. And more importantly, YOUR Heavenly FATHER knows ALL the pertinent facts/details! Sometimes the Enemy tries to "sidewind" us, but even when there are detractors along our path, we are to move forward with HIS message. I thank you for helping to bring this thread back on track the way it was intended, and I can honestly tell the two of you it has been my most gracious honor to serve on this Board's staff with the two of you (and the others!). (Proverbs 17:17)

May we continue to shed the "LIGHT" of our LORD's Good News here and abroad, and reach out both to those who are enveloped in darkness, and those who walk the same path as you and I, yet are fearful of their surroundings., and need.....a "Guide". (Matthew 5:14-16)

In HIM

Nate (WISDOM)

[traveller]

And what a wonderful "guide" you (WISDOM) are, my brother. Keep 'em coming!!

[WISDOM]

And I appreciate YOU, Sis.....much MORE than you can ever imagine!!!

You're the best!!!

[irishcowboy]

YOU and I may not be able to tell the EXACT time or place, or trace all the chain of circumstances in the process of our conversion...

Are you married? Do you know how that happened?

Did you graduate from college? Do you know how that happened?

I sure hope so.

How can you possibly not know how you became a Christian?

I do not know every thing that took place in my life that lead me to the Lord, to take Him as my Savior........

I do know that when I was 7, I was saved. Saved from drowning in a deep pool, when I did not know how to swim, and when i was pulled out, there was no one else there but me standing on the side of the pool. how do I know i was pulled out? I could not reach the side, i could not get to the surface, and i could not touch bottom. and there in front of me was a hand. I reached out and grabbed on to that hand, and i was then standing on the side of the pool.....

there are times in our lives that we see the Lords hand, but until we actually reach out and grab on,

as far as each and every step of the way, do I remember or know what took place to get me where I am this day? no, not each and every step. I am not concerned with that, what I am concerned with is where I use to be, and where I am now, and where I will be on down the road.....

where I use to be, and where I am now is good to know for those that i come in contact with so I can share with others..... adn where I am going is where the Lord is taking me....

do I know the day and the hour I surrendered all????

no, i do not recal, that is not important to me. what is important, is that God Heard my plea, and accepted me into His Royal Family..... for some it is important.....

do I recall the day I was first totally overcome by the Holy Spirit?

I remember parts of that day, but what the date was, or what the hour was, i can not say..... that was a while back and well, i know what He done for me...... and i know what I can not do for Him.... i can never repay Him for what He has done for me......

some things are important to some people, like college degrees, high paying jobs, fancy cloths, expensive cars, big houses, ................... those dont mean much to me.

anyways.

Yes, I am married, and Yes i know how that Happened, not by my doings, but by Gods doings.

Yes, I graduated from college, carry over 200 credits, and when i got my degree, i carried a 4.0 and perfect attendance, and yes, i know how that happened, with much discipline and the Lords Good Graces.

how God places people in our lives, we have no idea when we see some one how they will affect us and either chase us away from the Lord or draw us closer, even if we never see this person again or even talk to them. every one that has come by us, even just as a passerby, affects us. and only God knows why they were there....

do you know of every one that prayed for you until you accepted the Lord?

do you know of every one that prays for you on a daily bassis?

do you know of everything that will affect your walk with the Lord from here on out?

doubt it.....

that is all...

mike

[Guest Jeannine]

[HE sits at the right hand of GOD, and never turns HIS back on HIS true disciples (1 John 2:1....John 16:27). HE has begun a good work in YOU, and will carry it forward to HIS day....So NEVER let ANYONE tell you otherwise.QUOTE]

I am new to worthy boards, and since I have been reading I have been totally encouraged. I wrote the other day about how discouraged I was with my walk, and I am now being renewed as I read the words on the boards, and scripture. I read my bible daily. However, have been out of fellowship. Right now this is a great way to fellowship with other believers. Anyways, your message really spoke to my heart. God is not finished with me, and he won't be until I meet him face to face. Thank you.

[WISDOM]

M&M Mike I:

I just wanted to let you know how much I appreciated reading your imput here. And other posts you've made on various threads. Please continue to press forward the encouragement for others our FATHER has gifted you with, in the style and manner that I and others on this Board have come to know you by.

[WISDOM]

[HE sits at the right hand of GOD, and never turns HIS back on HIS true disciples (1 John 2:1....John 16:27). HE has begun a good work in YOU, and will carry it forward to HIS day....So NEVER let ANYONE tell you otherwise.QUOTE]

I am new to worthy boards, and since I have been reading I have been totally encouraged.  I wrote the other day about how discouraged I was with my walk, and I am now being renewed as I read the words on the boards, and scripture.  I read my bible daily.  However, have been out of fellowship.  Right now this is a great way to fellowship with other believers.  Anyways, your message really spoke to my heart.  God is not finished with me, and he won't be until I meet him face to face.  Thank you. 

Jeannine:

If it hasn't been done yet, I want to welcome you to the WorthyBoard!

It appears that you've already scanned the different forums, and sound as if you're pleased. Let me just say this .......it gets better! Get to know the posters....share with them, and learn from them all. If there is anything I, or any of the other Moderators can help you with, please feel free to PM (Personal Message) us. We are YOUR servants!

Now....your post is wonderful. I love to "hear" people speak from their heart...and not necessarily because of what others may want them to say. I sense a yearning in you to get back on track. Our FATHER is honoring YOUR prayers. And I and many others here WILL encourage you to trust and obey HIM.

I thank you for the kind words, but they were for YOU! CHRIST knew (even when I didn't) you'd need them for encouragement. So give HIM the honor and praise due HIM for the edification received by you.

I am very glad to hear you say HE is not finish with YOU yet. BELIEVE IT! YOU are still "under construction", just as I and every member of the Body of CHRIST is. No matter how much you've fallen on your face, HE won't allow you to stay down and out of the race. What you have done now is to let HIM get you up on your feet, HE's dusted you off, and wiped away your tears, plus you've allowed HIM to treat YOUR wounds with some "HOLY SPIRIT's Salve", along with some Words of encouragement (Bible), and once again you have started running towards YOUR Heavenly Home.

As you read your Bible, Jeannine, remember......our LORD loves us with boundless compassion. We have redemption through HIS precious, shed Blood, the forgiveness of sins (Ephesians 1:7). Whatever you've done prior to now that got you offtrack, HE wants to restore HIS moral image in YOU! As you continue to read daily, draw near to HIM with confession and repentance (1 John 1:9)....HE will draw near to YOU with mercy and forgiveness! Trust HIM...not others. Believe HIM....not YOUR feelings. HE has something very good planned for YOU!

Jeanine....Welcome to the WorthyBoard family!!!