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Oh..I knew within myself..in my spirit ... I was living far below what was available in Christ...but there is a blindness that comes with not having proper knowledge of the truth of the grace of Christ whether one is going to church or not.
Walking in love is a commandment...and yet how many church going Christians do not live by the law of love..they are in total disobedience to His word too by this standard....but they would never admit that they are 'away" from the Lord too but just in a different form. Religion is subtle and deceptive and deceives our un-renewed minds.
Walking in love is a commandment...and yet how many church going Christians do not live by the law of love..they are in total disobedience to His word too by this standard....but they would never admit that they are 'away" from the Lord too but just in a different form. Religion is subtle and deceptive and deceives our un-renewed minds.
I had been saved about 22 years, when the pain and deformities of Rheumatoid Arthritis overwhelmed me. I felt abandoned by God and people. If it wasn't for my teenager daughter during that time, I don't know if I would have made it. My husband was singularly unequipped to deal with my disability. He finally figured things out about 7 years later when I had reconstruction surgery on my foot, and he realized how bad the disease was.
So for about 2 years, I shut my Bible and stopped praying. I stopped attending a big church where no one had spoken to me in two years. I was completely disabled and depressed beyond comprehension. I turned my back to God and towards the wall, like Hezekiah. Except I didn't have the energy to call out to God anymore.
I did know God was there, I was just so angry at him. There was no overt sin, except the sin of not acknowledging God. I do believe God was there for me through it all.
The way I came out of it was God called me back. He was insistent and persistent. He never stopped calling, night and day. It started out simply. "Read the Psalms" So finally, I started reading the Psalms. I had heard that Billy Graham read 5 a day, so I started reading 5 a day. That meant I was literally reading all 150 in a month. I did that for almost 2 years.
God spoke to me over and over through his word. He showed me that no one has a perfect life. There are so many cries to God in the Psalms, esp. about bones.
"For when I kept silent, my bones wasted away
through my groaning all day long." Psalm 32:3
Some might not think that RA attacks bones. But my bones were twisted so badly when the joints were flared, they are not usable. To this day walking is a challenge.
Anyway, God kept on calling me. My daughter got me going to just the small church I needed, where there was good preaching, and people who cared enough to take the time to help me heal. Then I got on good meds, and I was able to be restored physically, (for that time, at least!)
But the most important thing was God called me to Seminary. So I went from turned away from God, to studying on how to serve God for the rest of my life. It was an amazing time of getting to know God again, of studying the Word in depth, of learning tools and skills to minister to people, and healing the brokenness inside me, not just because of my illness, but also because of things that happened to me in my past.
God was so good to me, and I know he will be good to any sinner that repents. For someone who once served God, but turned away, God is always calling. In fact, the following verse is for Christians, not for unbelievers.
"Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me." Rev. 3:20
God is not just willing to accept you but he is calling. He is knocking at the door of your heart and loves you and wants you to return to him. But you need to repent and turn back to him.
Please pm me if you want to talk about this. I am a pastor, and I hope I can encourage you or whoever you are speaking about, because God is always there for a repentant sinner.
"Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?36 As it is written,“For your sake we are being killed all the day long;
we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.”
37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 8:35-39
So for about 2 years, I shut my Bible and stopped praying. I stopped attending a big church where no one had spoken to me in two years. I was completely disabled and depressed beyond comprehension. I turned my back to God and towards the wall, like Hezekiah. Except I didn't have the energy to call out to God anymore.
I did know God was there, I was just so angry at him. There was no overt sin, except the sin of not acknowledging God. I do believe God was there for me through it all.
The way I came out of it was God called me back. He was insistent and persistent. He never stopped calling, night and day. It started out simply. "Read the Psalms" So finally, I started reading the Psalms. I had heard that Billy Graham read 5 a day, so I started reading 5 a day. That meant I was literally reading all 150 in a month. I did that for almost 2 years.
God spoke to me over and over through his word. He showed me that no one has a perfect life. There are so many cries to God in the Psalms, esp. about bones.
"For when I kept silent, my bones wasted away
through my groaning all day long." Psalm 32:3
Some might not think that RA attacks bones. But my bones were twisted so badly when the joints were flared, they are not usable. To this day walking is a challenge.
Anyway, God kept on calling me. My daughter got me going to just the small church I needed, where there was good preaching, and people who cared enough to take the time to help me heal. Then I got on good meds, and I was able to be restored physically, (for that time, at least!)
But the most important thing was God called me to Seminary. So I went from turned away from God, to studying on how to serve God for the rest of my life. It was an amazing time of getting to know God again, of studying the Word in depth, of learning tools and skills to minister to people, and healing the brokenness inside me, not just because of my illness, but also because of things that happened to me in my past.
God was so good to me, and I know he will be good to any sinner that repents. For someone who once served God, but turned away, God is always calling. In fact, the following verse is for Christians, not for unbelievers.
"Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me." Rev. 3:20
God is not just willing to accept you but he is calling. He is knocking at the door of your heart and loves you and wants you to return to him. But you need to repent and turn back to him.
Please pm me if you want to talk about this. I am a pastor, and I hope I can encourage you or whoever you are speaking about, because God is always there for a repentant sinner.
"Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?36 As it is written,“For your sake we are being killed all the day long;
we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.”
37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 8:35-39
R
If you are "away" from the Lord it is by your choice and is not an easy life. Why, because I will leave the 99 and go after the one. Interestingly enough. When a Shepard had a wayward sheep, He would look for it and break it's leg and carry it own it's shoulders and the sheep would learn not to be wayward anymore but listen to the Shepard.
What?..the shepherd would break a sheep's leg?...that's an evil shepherd doing that to his sheep..
I can't see our Lord doing that..we would have to change some things in Psalm 23
"The Lord is my Shepherd, He breaketh my legs."
Jesus does not go around and break people's legs......God does not cause bad things to happen but He can cause good to come out of the bad stuff we get ourselves into by going our own way..
...look at the life of Jesus..He is the exact representation of the Father's nature..did He break anyone's legs ?..no... of course not..But He will be caught in the act of being Himself to turn those ashes into beauty as we trust in Him.
I can't see our Lord doing that..we would have to change some things in Psalm 23
"The Lord is my Shepherd, He breaketh my legs."
Jesus does not go around and break people's legs......God does not cause bad things to happen but He can cause good to come out of the bad stuff we get ourselves into by going our own way..
...look at the life of Jesus..He is the exact representation of the Father's nature..did He break anyone's legs ?..no... of course not..But He will be caught in the act of being Himself to turn those ashes into beauty as we trust in Him.
Yeah, I don't get the whole "breaking it's leg" thing.... I've never heard of that. Sheep are, by MOST peoples' estimation, some of the dumbest animals on earth. Thinking that breaking one's leg would "teach" it not to wander is, actually, pretty hilarious.
IF it taught the sheep anything, it would be "don't let the shepherd NEAR you"....
IF it taught the sheep anything, it would be "don't let the shepherd NEAR you"....
The breaking of the sheep's legs are a fallacy...do a search on google and you will see there isn't a shred of evidence that shepherd's break the legs of sheep.
The saying or belief came from a William Branham sermon in 1957 where he got the idea from where some shepherds put a "brake" on lamb's legs which is a weight so that they would have to drag it around when they are young. Brother Branham got this "brake" story which is a weight and transferred it to "break" as in breaking a sheep's leg. My understanding is that he wasn't well schooled and got the words mixed up.
You know how stories get...if you tell it enough times..it becomes true...but
"The Lord is our Shepherd and He keepeth our legs intact"...for His name's sake..
The saying or belief came from a William Branham sermon in 1957 where he got the idea from where some shepherds put a "brake" on lamb's legs which is a weight so that they would have to drag it around when they are young. Brother Branham got this "brake" story which is a weight and transferred it to "break" as in breaking a sheep's leg. My understanding is that he wasn't well schooled and got the words mixed up.
You know how stories get...if you tell it enough times..it becomes true...but
"The Lord is our Shepherd and He keepeth our legs intact"...for His name's sake..
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R
The breaking of the sheep's legs are a fallacy...do a search on google and you will see there isn't a shred of evidence that shepherd's break the legs of sheep.
The saying or belief came from a William Branham sermon in 1957 where he got the idea from where some shepherds put a "brake" on lamb's legs which is a weight so that they would have to drag it around when they are young. Brother Branham got this "brake" story which is a weight and transferred it to "break" as in breaking a sheep's leg. My understanding is that he wasn't well schooled and got the words mixed up.
You know how stories get...if you tell it enough times..it becomes true...but
"The Lord is our Shepherd and He keepeth our legs intact"...for His name's sake..[/QUOTE
Then why was the Shepard staff in the form of a hook? Why was the prodigal son life miserable? Why did Jonah tell the men to throw Him of the boat? It is written in Jewish tradition that if a sheep was wayward that the shepard would take his staff and break the leg of the Lamb and carry it on his shoulders until the wound was healed and the lamb/sheep would not wander off as before. What is the guy's name, I can't spell it but it was Josephus.
The saying or belief came from a William Branham sermon in 1957 where he got the idea from where some shepherds put a "brake" on lamb's legs which is a weight so that they would have to drag it around when they are young. Brother Branham got this "brake" story which is a weight and transferred it to "break" as in breaking a sheep's leg. My understanding is that he wasn't well schooled and got the words mixed up.
You know how stories get...if you tell it enough times..it becomes true...but
"The Lord is our Shepherd and He keepeth our legs intact"...for His name's sake..
[/QUOTEThen why was the Shepard staff in the form of a hook? Why was the prodigal son life miserable? Why did Jonah tell the men to throw Him of the boat? It is written in Jewish tradition that if a sheep was wayward that the shepard would take his staff and break the leg of the Lamb and carry it on his shoulders until the wound was healed and the lamb/sheep would not wander off as before. What is the guy's name, I can't spell it but it was Josephus.
D
He's not lost. He's right there/here.
I fear your question comes from trying to see how long you can stay away and then getting in with him before you die. I can tell you what draws people back after backsliding isn't, "Will God make it tougher on me?" It's repenting. Truly feeling the guilt and begging God for help because you know you can't get better on your own. It's hopelessness and desperation all at once. It is continuing to feel that without him that keeps us home with him from that point on. It is the prodigal son!
How is the pig slop? If you're to the point of eating pig slop you wouldn't be asking if going home to a forgiving Father and a huge feast might be tough. You'd be happy just thinking Dad might give you a job as a hand on the farm. That your testing to check out how God's going to treat you when you come home, I'm not entirely convinced it ever was home or if you want to come yet. Asking proves lack of desperation.
I fear your question comes from trying to see how long you can stay away and then getting in with him before you die. I can tell you what draws people back after backsliding isn't, "Will God make it tougher on me?" It's repenting. Truly feeling the guilt and begging God for help because you know you can't get better on your own. It's hopelessness and desperation all at once. It is continuing to feel that without him that keeps us home with him from that point on. It is the prodigal son!
How is the pig slop? If you're to the point of eating pig slop you wouldn't be asking if going home to a forgiving Father and a huge feast might be tough. You'd be happy just thinking Dad might give you a job as a hand on the farm. That your testing to check out how God's going to treat you when you come home, I'm not entirely convinced it ever was home or if you want to come yet. Asking proves lack of desperation.
Those are consequences to sin....these we will always have with us...and they come on their own...
Here is the link that shows that it's a fallacy....
https://greenegem.wordpress.com/2011/12/03/myth-busting-8-breaking-a-lambs-leg/
it's a mis-understanding of the true nature of God Look at the life of Jesus..He is the exact representation of the nature of the Father...
.Jesus went about healing people not breaking their legs and causing bad things to happen to them He came to destroy the works of the devil.
Acts 10:38 (KJV)
[SUP]38 [/SUP] How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.
Here is the link that shows that it's a fallacy....
https://greenegem.wordpress.com/2011/12/03/myth-busting-8-breaking-a-lambs-leg/
it's a mis-understanding of the true nature of God Look at the life of Jesus..He is the exact representation of the nature of the Father...
.Jesus went about healing people not breaking their legs and causing bad things to happen to them He came to destroy the works of the devil.
Acts 10:38 (KJV)
[SUP]38 [/SUP] How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.
The breaking of the sheep's legs are a fallacy...do a search on google and you will see there isn't a shred of evidence that shepherd's break the legs of sheep.
The saying or belief came from a William Branham sermon in 1957 where he got the idea from where some shepherds put a "brake" on lamb's legs which is a weight so that they would have to drag it around when they are young. Brother Branham got this "brake" story which is a weight and transferred it to "break" as in breaking a sheep's leg. My understanding is that he wasn't well schooled and got the words mixed up.
You know how stories get...if you tell it enough times..it becomes true...but
"The Lord is our Shepherd and He keepeth our legs intact"...for His name's sake..[/QUOTE
Then why was the Shepard staff in the form of a hook? Why was the prodigal son life miserable? Why did Jonah tell the men to throw Him of the boat? It is written in Jewish tradition that if a sheep was wayward that the shepard would take his staff and break the leg of the Lamb and carry it on his shoulders until the wound was healed and the lamb/sheep would not wander off as before. What is the guy's name, I can't spell it but it was Josephus.
The saying or belief came from a William Branham sermon in 1957 where he got the idea from where some shepherds put a "brake" on lamb's legs which is a weight so that they would have to drag it around when they are young. Brother Branham got this "brake" story which is a weight and transferred it to "break" as in breaking a sheep's leg. My understanding is that he wasn't well schooled and got the words mixed up.
You know how stories get...if you tell it enough times..it becomes true...but
"The Lord is our Shepherd and He keepeth our legs intact"...for His name's sake..
[/QUOTEThen why was the Shepard staff in the form of a hook? Why was the prodigal son life miserable? Why did Jonah tell the men to throw Him of the boat? It is written in Jewish tradition that if a sheep was wayward that the shepard would take his staff and break the leg of the Lamb and carry it on his shoulders until the wound was healed and the lamb/sheep would not wander off as before. What is the guy's name, I can't spell it but it was Josephus.
The reason the prodigal son was miserable was because he went against everything he had been taught about how to live the "right" kind of life. His misery is the direct result of his rebellious actions.. which is a perfect illustration for us, and what we should expect if we refuse to live the way Jesus taught us.
Sounds sort of like a parable, doesn't it?
This particular parable taught us a LOT of things... how God forgives us when we come back, how jealousy can hurt us.... lots of good lessons in that story.
Sounds sort of like a parable, doesn't it?
This particular parable taught us a LOT of things... how God forgives us when we come back, how jealousy can hurt us.... lots of good lessons in that story.
That's a different topic ...but to keep in line with the topic.....did the Father come and break his legs so that he would come back to him?...no..the consequences of his lifestyle caught up with him...
if you want to believe that Jesus comes to break people legs and do harm to them..that is your choice....I'm just saying ..it is not consistent with Jesus and He is the definitive exact representation of the Father's nature..Jesus is perfect theology..
if you want to believe that Jesus comes to break people legs and do harm to them..that is your choice....I'm just saying ..it is not consistent with Jesus and He is the definitive exact representation of the Father's nature..Jesus is perfect theology..
R
How different is the topic, Did He break his leg or his pride. The Shepard broke the leg to detour the stubbornness of the sheep, You must see the Spiritual from the physical. Be spiritual minded and not carnal. Whosoever falls on this stone shall be broken and whosoever the stone falls on shall be broken into pieces.