Today, I Saw One of the Most Horrifying Things...

[ManOfWord]

Originally Posted by Pastor Poster

BTW Mow, have I told you lately how much I appreciate your wisdom?

I really do.


Thanks.

Thanks for your kind words.

However, it's really more simple than that.....the more times you get "stabbed" the easier it is to describe the experience. Remember that. You'll need it when someone comes to you for help.

[LadyChocolate]

Originally Posted by Pastor Poster

Today, I Saw One of the Most Horrifying things.

I saw the vengeance of God in action.

For months I have been praying and begging God to help me overcome some horrible personal wrongs that had befallen me. I have been asking God to remove the hurt, bitterness and anger I felt toward those who reached out a hand in an attempt to destroy me and silence a quiet truth of religious abuse that I had come to know.

I had attempted (in a subtle way) to make a religious power aware of an abuse that was hurting an institution, only to be silenced in an attempt to cover the situation up. After I attempted to help, I became a target of retribution by a few who wanted to protect their personal kingdoms.

Today I saw God intervene. And in a way that both awed and terrified me. I saw God bring to rubble the kingdom of a man who sought to steal the vengeance of the Lord.

What to say?

For months my emotions have vascillated wildly between mercy and hatred.

Such an intense inner struggle.

I would have thought that there would be some glee as the wicked received just desserts. Instead, I am left sobbing and broken.

Dear God, please help me to have a spirit of mercy!
Dear God, please be merciful to those who hurt me!
Dear God, help me to have a clean heart and a right spirit!

I am left to ponder the words of Hebrews 10:31...

"It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God."

sad to say, but I understand exactly what you are saying!

Wasn't too long ago, there was a situation that just kept coming up in our lives. We didn't things to happen the way they did but sometimes people just don't leave things alone. I asked God to stop the mess that was going on. I struggled with it for many years. When it finally stopped and God had answered our prayers, I was relieved but I felt so sorry for those involved. It just didn't have to be that way!

apologies if that doesn't make sense to anyone.... I cannot and will not go into full detail..... somethings are better left unsaid!

["GL"]

Just a quick thought...

Job had to pray for his accusers prior to him receiving the double portion.

Over the years, I've had to learn to genuinely pray for my enemies. I've prayed mercy over them and told the Lord that I would not hold them accountable for their sins against me - neither should He. I asked that He bring them to a place of repentance and wipe their slate clean. It's been a protection for my spirit and healing for my heart.

[Felicity]

I've seen some horrible things happen which I felt was God's vengeance but I learned it's best not to credit the bad thing that happened to that.

I've also prayed fire from heaven to rain down on some peoples' heads. Just like David did. I was angry enough and felt justified at the time, but now I just love those people and bear no ill will toward them.

I've found that it's best to leave judgment and vengeance to God. He has His own ways of taking care of things. My responsibility is to keep my heart right. To make sure bitterness doesn't take root in my heart. To pray for people and to love them and to make sure my feelings line up with the fact of the Word of God which is that I must forgive. There is no other option.

[Nahum]

Originally Posted by "GL"

Just a quick thought...

Job had to pray for his accusers prior to him receiving the double portion.

Over the years, I've had to learn to genuinely pray for my enemies. I've prayed mercy over them and told the Lord that I would not hold them accountable for their sins against me - neither should He. I asked that He bring them to a place of repentance and wipe their slate clean. It's been a protection for my spirit and healing for my heart.

Originally Posted by Felicity

I've seen some horrible things happen which I felt was God's vengeance but I learned it's best not to credit the bad thing that happened to that.

I've also prayed fire from heaven to rain down on some peoples' heads. Just like David did. I was angry enough and felt justified at the time, but now I just love those people and bear no ill will toward them.

I've found that it's best to leave judgment and vengeance to God. He has His own ways of taking care of things. My responsibility is to keep my heart right. To make sure bitterness doesn't take root in my heart. To pray for people and to love them and to make sure my feelings line up with the fact of the Word of God which is that I must forgive. There is no option.

A few things to remember here...

For the record, I did not try to mete out vengeance myself.

I did not go all over creation talking specifics about the wrongs done to me.

I did not pray for or against them, I ignored them.

I did pray for me, cause I knew this had the potential to harm me permanently.

But your advice is very good.

["GL"]

Originally Posted by Pastor Poster

A few things to remember here...

For the record, I did not try to mete out vengeance myself.

I did not go all over creation talking specifics about the wrongs done to me.

I did not pray for or against them, I ignored them.

I did pray for me, cause I knew this had the potential to harm me permanently.

But your advice is very good.

Bro, chill out my friend. I didn't read the entire thread, but I didn't see where anyone accused you of anything.

I was just posting from my personal experience.

[Falla39]

Originally Posted by OP_Carl

I have heard this preached before. You all are right that it is a very powerful concept to internalize. I just wish I could remember when, where, and from whom I heard it.

Bro. OP_Carl,

I heard a tape of Bro. William Sciscoe preaching, and I believe he made

the statement that there are two things we had better not touch.

He said we had better not touch God's glory and we had better not

touch vengeance.They belong to God alone. I believe he preached it

at a "Wings" Conference in Dallas, Tx., where Bro. Tom Foster pastors.

It has been several years. I wasn't there but heard the tape.

Blessings,

Falla39

[Felicity]

Originally Posted by Pastor Poster

A few things to remember here...

For the record, I did not try to mete out vengeance myself.

I did not go all over creation talking specifics about the wrongs done to me.

I did not pray for or against them, I ignored them.

I did pray for me, cause I knew this had the potential to harm me permanently.

But your advice is very good.

Well then, I guess you were exemplary.

The greatest thing I've learned is how situations and relationships can be resolved and repaired to the place where it's almost like they never happened. This can happen only by the grace, mercy and love of God ..... and of course the resolve and desire on the part of people to deal with things properly and to live in right relationship with one another and with God.

Nothing short of a miracle really.

With the passage of time, you might even change your mind about whether what has happened to who we might consider were or are evildoers is actually God's vengeance or not.

[Nahum]

Originally Posted by Felicity

Well then, I guess you were exemplarary.

The greatest thing I've learned is how situations and relationships can be resolved and repaired to the place where it's almost like they never happened. This can happen only by the grace, mercy and love of God ..... and of course the resolve and desire on the part of people to deal with things properly and to live in right relationship with one another and with God.

Nothing short of a miracle really.

With the passage of time, you might even change your mind about whether what has happened to who we might consider were or are evildoers is actually God's vengeance or not.

Stop being so sensical!!!!!!!!!!!

Is this the equivalent of being taken to the woodshed?

BTW, you and GL are awesome, and of course, you are absolutely right.

[freeatlast]

Been down the road of hurt a couple times.

I've never held ill will towards any offenders.

I've seen things happen and yet even today I see things clouding up in the lives of the offenders.

I can not in my wildest of dreams think that God would be avenging my adversaries.

It helps me to know that those who have done harm to me and my family acted in ignorance.

I've known some mighty ingnorant people in my 37 years a sa Christian.

Pastor Poster...I do believe God is definetly in your corner.