I offered the advice from experience and things that I've seen. Example:
One fine man was highly used of God to pray for the sick and to see them recover. He was not a preacher or even a Sunday School teacher. He was just a layman but people called him from far and near to pray for them because of the tremendous results that would follow.
He worked a job for a living but prayed for the sick as his service to the Lord. Once during the night he was awakened to hurry to the bedside of a very sick man to pray for him. He got out of his warm bed in the middle of a very cold night to make his way to pray for the man. Just one problem. He started complaining.
Very soon, he found something had changed in his life. There was no more good results following his praying for the sick. God had lifted the gift from his life and service toward him. It never returned though he sought it in deep repentance. It was gone. Gone until he passed away.
If God is pleased to give you a dream or a vision, you must never make a joke of it or even take it as a light matter. It could be your last one to receive from heaven.
Your Friend,
Apprehended
I have experience something similiar to this. And because of this, I have to wonder if we are totally forgiven. If so, then why wouldn't God restore back to you what He took from you? He says in His Word that if a father knows how to give good gifts how much more does He know.
If you have a child that repents for doing something wrong to you, and you know he is sincere, you would not as a natural father withhold it from him, so why would God?
Plus, when you have something and it is taken from you and you sincerely seek to get it back, it means more to you the second time around than the first.
This is an area I have many questions about.
__________________
Happy moments, PRAISE GOD.
Difficult moments, SEEK GOD.
Quiet moments, WORSHIP GOD.
Painful moments, TRUST GOD.
Every moment, THANK GOD.
I have experience something similiar to this. And because of this, I have to wonder if we are totally forgiven. If so, then why wouldn't God restore back to you what He took from you? He says in His Word that if a father knows how to give good gifts how much more does He know.
If you have a child that repents for doing something wrong to you, and you know he is sincere, you would not as a natural father withhold it from him, so why would God?
Plus, when you have something and it is taken from you and you sincerely seek to get it back, it means more to you the second time around than the first.
This is an area I have many questions about.
I see what you are saying Sis.
It is a mystery to me as well. I don't understand why God does some of the things that he does. All I can say is that I must recall the scripture that says "...as high as the heavens are above the earth, so is my ways above yours." His thoughts are very often very far past finding out.
All I know is that we are cautioned to walk softly before God. Blind fools will rush in where angels fear to tread. There comes a time that we must mature to the point that we must not joke, complain, take lightly the things of God lest his fellowship in whatever capacity that he fellowshipped with us in times past, be lifted.
That is why anyone who turns their back on God, walks away into sin, taking up a love for the world, can never come back and be in the same relationship with God as before. True, they can be forgiven. True they can have sweet communion with God. True, seemingly everything is as it was before...but the truth is...things will forever be different. That first relationship will never be restored in the same manner as before.
This is why I caution those who are tempted to turn back into the world to think it over very, very carefully. When, and if you can find your way back (many cannot find their way back) things will forever be different.
It is a mystery to me as well. I don't understand why God does some of the things that he does. All I can say is that I must recall the scripture that says "...as high as the heavens are above the earth, so is my ways above yours." His thoughts are very often very far past finding out.
All I know is that we are cautioned to walk softly before God. Blind fools will rush in where angels fear to tread. There comes a time that we must mature to the point that we must not joke, complain, take lightly the things of God lest his fellowship in whatever capacity that he fellowshipped with us in times past, be lifted.
That is why anyone who turns their back on God, walks away into sin, taking up a love for the world, can never come back and be in the same relationship with God as before. True, they can be forgiven. True they can have sweet communion with God. True, seemingly everything is as it was before...but the truth is...things will forever be different. That first relationship will never be restored in the same manner as before.
This is why I caution those who are tempted to turn back into the world to think it over very, very carefully. When, and if you can find your way back (many cannot find their way back) things will forever be different.
It makes me think of the last few chapters of Job where He answers Jobs questions -by not really answering them. His answer is that He is so far above us and sees so much that we don't that we cannot always KNOW His reasons.
It makes me think of the last few chapters of Job where He answers Jobs questions -by not really answering them. His answer is that He is so far above us and sees so much that we don't that we cannot always KNOW His reasons.
Amen.
Well said.
It seems that just about the time I got all things figured out to my satisfaction, it is then that I realize just how far away I am from a clear understanding of all of God's ways.
I am just thankful that I do understand his graciousness, kindness and his mercy toward me...especially me.
It is a mystery to me as well. I don't understand why God does some of the things that he does. All I can say is that I must recall the scripture that says "...as high as the heavens are above the earth, so is my ways above yours." His thoughts are very often very far past finding out.
All I know is that we are cautioned to walk softly before God. Blind fools will rush in where angels fear to tread. There comes a time that we must mature to the point that we must not joke, complain, take lightly the things of God lest his fellowship in whatever capacity that he fellowshipped with us in times past, be lifted.
That is why anyone who turns their back on God, walks away into sin, taking up a love for the world, can never come back and be in the same relationship with God as before. True, they can be forgiven. True they can have sweet communion with God. True, seemingly everything is as it was before...but the truth is...things will forever be different. That first relationship will never be restored in the same manner as before.
This is why I caution those who are tempted to turn back into the world to think it over very, very carefully. When, and if you can find your way back (many cannot find their way back) things will forever be different.
What you have said for the most part is probably true, however, my personal experience is I had a greater walk and relationship with God. Could be because I was older and more mature.
__________________
Happy moments, PRAISE GOD.
Difficult moments, SEEK GOD.
Quiet moments, WORSHIP GOD.
Painful moments, TRUST GOD.
Every moment, THANK GOD.
I had a strange dream last night. In my dream the world was holding its breath because of war breaking out all over the Middle East. I was at home watching the news and as the news reporters reported that armies from Arab nations were rapidly deploying and Israel appeared to the primary theatre of war a very serious and ominous feeling began to settle on me. Russia was issuing threats of nuclear war against the United States and the President was expected to address the nation shortly. Then a Scripture came to mind,
Revelation 20:9
9And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them.
I got this strange buzzing in my ears like something horrible was about to happen and suddenly there was a loud flash of brilliant light on the horizon and an believably loud sound of a “CRACK” that shook my house. I called out to my wife and my son to get into the basement but at that second a blast wave shattered my windows and suddenly it was like I was in total darkness and silence. I couldn’t breathe or scream. Then it seemed as though I could hear the voices of other people. Everyone was crying, praying, and weeping. There was a lion’s roar and then there was total silence again. Suddenly it was like the lights begun to come up and I was in an innumerable mass of people standing before the throne of God… and the books were opened.
I know the dream isn’t theologically correct. But what has stuck with me all morning is how suddenly it all came to an end. No warning. No time to get right. Everything I had ever imagined about what the end would be like was fantasy.
It just left me feeling weird all morning.
What did you eat before you went to sleep?
__________________ "all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed."
~Declaration of Independence
This is why I caution those who are tempted to turn back into the world to think it over very, very carefully. When, and if you can find your way back (many cannot find their way back) things will forever be different.
Forever, and ever, and ever different. More amazing than anything I could possibly describe. I appreciate in new ways every day what God has done for me, what He is doing for me. I am committed to Him unlike any time before in my life. He is more precious to me than ever before. The relationship I have with Him is more precious, more intimate than I ever imagined was possible.
God is not a weak, impotent God. He is able to restore, and He is willing.
No, I wouldn't suggest trying this out just to see.... The journey back has been unlike anything I could possibly describe. Difficult and painful and absolutely miserable sometimes. But God is faithful.
__________________
You become free from who you have become, by becoming who you were meant to be. ~Mark from another forum I post on
God did it for us. Out of sheer generosity he put us in right standing with himself. A pure gift. He got us out of the mess we're in and restored us to where he always wanted us to be. And he did it by means of Jesus Christ. ~Romans 3:24 from The Message
Forever, and ever, and ever different. More amazing than anything I could possibly describe. I appreciate in new ways every day what God has done for me, what He is doing for me. I am committed to Him unlike any time before in my life. He is more precious to me than ever before. The relationship I have with Him is more precious, more intimate than I ever imagined was possible.
God is not a weak, impotent God. He is able to restore, and He is willing.
No, I wouldn't suggest trying this out just to see.... The journey back has been unlike anything I could possibly describe. Difficult and painful and absolutely miserable sometimes. But God is faithful.