Not Ashamed

[Michael The Disciple]

I am not ashamed to teach Jesus is the Father and the Son.
I am not ashamed to teach the full salvation message of Acts 2:38.

I am ashamed that Preachers would teach its a sin for a man to have a beard.
I am ashamed Preachers would teach its sinful for a woman to trim her hair.

I fully support and believe in the APOSTLES DOCTRINE.

Therefore I consider myself Apostolic.

[Amanah]

Originally Posted by Adam

As one who has never received the HG, I feel like a Pharisee all of the time. I speak with my lips, but never follow through. Sis Alvear's thread this morning spoke directly to me. I feel like such a fraud. I'm baptised in Jesus' name, have repented over and over again, but still resist his transformation by the Spirit and Fire. I have frustrations. I have doubts. I have fears. I am ashamed. Currently, I'm simply on the path to "do the right thing", much in the same way as the disciples did when they first met Jesus and did their best to turn from their sins and follow him. But, there's Peter... he slipped up so many times... but then became the leader. That is so amazing. I am sick and tired of trying to "fix myself" via constantly doing "1) sin 2) repentance 3) goto step 1" or implementing a philosophy of "do the right thing". To me it is the same as: “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter by the door into the fold of the sheep, but climbs up some other way, he is a thief and a robber." These are the things I'm currently dealing with at the moment.

praying with you Adam

[NotforSale]

Originally Posted by Amanah

I agree with you, but I couldn't help but think back.

I do remember though what is was like to actually live a standard. There was a period of about 12 years that I didn't see a movie, watch tv, listen to anything but a Christian radio Station. Would not go to a restaurant that had a bar in it. Would not go out to lunch with people from work because I was worried they might tell a bad joke, or cuss. Went to church every morning before work to pray before work. Was in church everytime the doors were open. Was in the Choir. Taught Sunday School. Bus Ministry, knocking doors, ect ect. I pretty much felt like I was separate from the world.

We had revival, souls were saved, in a few years we grew from 20 to 500+ people.

Something happened though, people started getting that attitude that others were disgusting sinners, and no one, even other Apostolics were as good as us. No one could be as holy as us. We got to the point where we had a bad spirit. I didn't like what we had become but I didn't know what to do.

Then one day the pastor said that he wasn't going to preach/enforce standards anymore. I backslid hard core. It's taken me a several years to repair my walk with God. I'm still confused, still shaken, still damaged.

Maybe it's like the man of God had a hedge around me, but I didn't have one myself.

Wow!!! The Lord can love a confused, shaken, and still damaged Human Being! He can love you when you're lost, drifting, and unsure! He will leave the 99 for YOU! He will wait for you, like a Father waits for his broken and hurt child!

IMO, I have no doubt, God has never left you! Also, have mercy on your old pastor. We carry a load that others know nothing about. Our choices affect many, and this burden can be overwhelming to the point of feeling hopeless.

[Adam]

Originally Posted by NotforSale

Don't EVER lose your honesty. Your words here are the cry of many. I don't have all the answers, but I do know that everyone one of us will need mercy when all is "Said and Done".

We try, we slip, we fail, and we fall, and that is why we need God's Pardon. You can have a hairdo a mile high and walk the straightest line a human has ever walked, but in the end, none of those things will save you.

The only reason a man is saved is because God sent His only begotten Son! It took me over 30 years to fully understand this. Men are nothing without the Savior!

Thank you, NFS. I really appreciate that.

[NotforSale]

Originally Posted by Adam

Thank you, NFS. I really appreciate that.

[Cindy]

Originally Posted by Adam

As one who has never received the HG, I feel like a Pharisee all of the time. I speak with my lips, but never follow through. Sis Alvear's thread this morning spoke directly to me. I feel like such a fraud. I'm baptised in Jesus' name, have repented over and over again, but still resist his transformation by the Spirit and Fire. I have frustrations. I have doubts. I have fears. I am ashamed. Currently, I'm simply on the path to "do the right thing", much in the same way as the disciples did when they first met Jesus and did their best to turn from their sins and follow him. But, there's Peter... he slipped up so many times... but then became the leader. That is so amazing. I am sick and tired of trying to "fix myself" via constantly doing "1) sin 2) repentance 3) goto step 1" or implementing a philosophy of "do the right thing". To me it is the same as: “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter by the door into the fold of the sheep, but climbs up some other way, he is a thief and a robber." These are the things I'm currently dealing with at the moment.

Will be praying for you, Adam. You are not the only one that has lived that way.

[Cindy]

Originally Posted by NotforSale

Don't EVER lose your honesty. Your words here are the cry of many. I don't have all the answers, but I do know that everyone one of us will need mercy when all is "Said and Done".

We try, we slip, we fail, and we fall, and that is why we need God's Pardon. You can have a hairdo a mile high and walk the straightest line a human has ever walked, but in the end, none of those things will save you.

The only reason a man is saved is because God sent His only begotten Son! It took me over 30 years to fully understand this. Men are nothing without the Savior!

Amen

[Amanah]

Originally Posted by NotforSale

Wow!!! The Lord can love a confused, shaken, and still damaged Human Being! He can love you when you're lost, drifting, and unsure! He will leave the 99 for YOU! He will wait for you, like a Father waits for his broken and hurt child!

IMO, I have no doubt, God has never left you! Also, have mercy on your old pastor. We carry a load that others know nothing about. Our choices affect many, and this burden can be overwhelming to the point of feeling hopeless.

thank you for the encouragement, and yes I still see and love my old pastor and pray for all the pastors that I can think of when I pray, I can imagine that it is a heavy burden to carry as well as a joy.

[NotforSale]

Originally Posted by Amanah

thank you for the encouragement, and yes I still see and love my old pastor and pray for all the pastors that I can think of when I pray, I can imagine that it is a heavy burden to carry as well as a joy.

That's great! I had a pastor back in the late 70's that really blew it! He fell off the deep, deep end. He eventually picked up the pieces and moved on, and I know he lived with tremendous grief and guilt.

I recently came into contact with another member of that Church from years ago, and he was still in touch with my old pastor. I told my friend, please tell him that there are no hard feelings.

He was young, on fire, and the Church back then had revival! I can only imagine the weight of his failure, as the Church fell apart after this experience. He basically lost everything, including his family.

I feel I have a duty to pray for him, asking God to forgive my trespasses as I forgive those who trespass against me.

[Hoovie]

Epley!!!!!