Job trials... can you induce one?
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Well, that was interesting.
First thing is, they had been inundated for some time with stormy weather, with more forecast for the week I would be there. Michael told me to pray for good weather so I did. We had a week of beautiful sunny warm days, despite the forecasts. I'm not claiming this as a miracle, but...
So we talked. Michael stayed stoic and resistant, on the outside, but I could tell that inside some very hard ground is being tilled. It was a milestone birthday for him, and at the party he put himself under the influence of too many martinis. I took him outside for some fresh air. At that point he began sobbing, crying "if you've condemned me, how can I succeed?" Not too long after that he passed out, and I spent the time praying over him. He did eventually concede to several points I presented regarding the issue. He asked if I would rescind my prayers against him, I told him that would only happen when God tells me to. I did tell him that I would seek to do so if he would read the accounts of Jesus' life in the books of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, but he started giving excuses for why he wouldn't. So, at this point, the battle is not won, but the warfare will continue.
But for me, the most amazing revelation I received mirrored precisely what I have been battling several people here about. While talking about the scriptures, he said that he didn't believe them. "How do I know that the books of Moses are true? I wasn't there." Incredible. As tenaciously as he holds to his Jewish faith, he doesn't even believe the very words of God that established it. "How can your house stand if you don't believe in it's very foundation?" I asked him. He pins his faith on his 'birthright', and that the Jews have survived for all these years. I can only imagine the exasperation God must feel, having to deal with those who call upon His name, but deny His words and power, on both sides of the aisle.
To be continued... It ain't over until the Holy Spirit sings!
First thing is, they had been inundated for some time with stormy weather, with more forecast for the week I would be there. Michael told me to pray for good weather so I did. We had a week of beautiful sunny warm days, despite the forecasts. I'm not claiming this as a miracle, but...
So we talked. Michael stayed stoic and resistant, on the outside, but I could tell that inside some very hard ground is being tilled. It was a milestone birthday for him, and at the party he put himself under the influence of too many martinis. I took him outside for some fresh air. At that point he began sobbing, crying "if you've condemned me, how can I succeed?" Not too long after that he passed out, and I spent the time praying over him. He did eventually concede to several points I presented regarding the issue. He asked if I would rescind my prayers against him, I told him that would only happen when God tells me to. I did tell him that I would seek to do so if he would read the accounts of Jesus' life in the books of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, but he started giving excuses for why he wouldn't. So, at this point, the battle is not won, but the warfare will continue.
But for me, the most amazing revelation I received mirrored precisely what I have been battling several people here about. While talking about the scriptures, he said that he didn't believe them. "How do I know that the books of Moses are true? I wasn't there." Incredible. As tenaciously as he holds to his Jewish faith, he doesn't even believe the very words of God that established it. "How can your house stand if you don't believe in it's very foundation?" I asked him. He pins his faith on his 'birthright', and that the Jews have survived for all these years. I can only imagine the exasperation God must feel, having to deal with those who call upon His name, but deny His words and power, on both sides of the aisle.
To be continued... It ain't over until the Holy Spirit sings!
your DIALOGUE (if anything) is what is helpful.
telling the guy you're cursing him (condemning him) ??? you don't have the power nor the authority to do that.
Dear God....speak to him about the LOVE of God reconciling the man to Himself even as the man is rejecting Him.
tell Him about Saviour's bitter sufferings on his behalf....tell Him he wants to be saved, not so a "Bad God can be nice to a good man"....or so a "Good God can be good to a bad man" - but so JESUS CHRIST gets the Glory and Reward He paid for and is DUE! (Paris Reidhead pp)
telling the guy you're cursing him (condemning him) ??? you don't have the power nor the authority to do that.
Dear God....speak to him about the LOVE of God reconciling the man to Himself even as the man is rejecting Him.
tell Him about Saviour's bitter sufferings on his behalf....tell Him he wants to be saved, not so a "Bad God can be nice to a good man"....or so a "Good God can be good to a bad man" - but so JESUS CHRIST gets the Glory and Reward He paid for and is DUE! (Paris Reidhead pp)
Ten Shekels and a Shirt
1/1/1980 (TUE) | Bible: Judges 17
Paris Reidhead
Ten Shekels and a Shirt - SermonAudio.com < click
1/1/1980 (TUE) | Bible: Judges 17
Paris Reidhead
Ten Shekels and a Shirt - SermonAudio.com < click
I understand what you are saying Zone. I have been sharing the love of God and Christ with him for two decades, and the words always fall on harsh unyielding grounds. There comes a time at which people have to be let loose to experience in full that which they cling to. satan has spent considerable time and effort keeping his eyes and ears closed by making him comfortable with the world apart from Christ. God's impression on me is that he's not even going to entertain the idea of changing lest his comforts be removed and replaced by the reality of life in satan's harsh hands. I use to support the authority the passages of 1 Cor. 5, which deal with a brother in sin refusing change being handed over to satan so the flesh may be destroyed for the saving of the spirit.
And please understand, I have only prayed this way once. What was loosed in heaven was loosed on earth that one time. And he knows I did it out of love, that's why he's not angry. And he does consider it, if only a little bit.
I pray now for the day that he sets himself free.
Thank you to those who have joined me
I pray now for the day that he sets himself free.
Thank you to those who have joined me
So, it continues. The stress on him mounts, he gets closer and closer to cracking, he stands just as hard and unyielding, I still pray for his redemption... It ain't over till it's over, amen.
I've been rereading Acts, it's been a while since I've sat down with it from beginning to end. There are four occasions where people are cursed for being contrary with God (5:1-10, 8:18-20, 13:8-24, 18:6); in these events 2 people died, one man was blinded, and one man repented. I pray my friend be in that 25% who repent. But seeing it done in Acts, topped by the admonition in Corinthians to do so to a brother who does not correct under love, reconfirms to me that it is God's will being done in this. That and the fact that it's all coming to pass.
Our department Chaplain agreed with me when we talked about it today. Said it was a little unusual, but by all means scriptural. And given the evidence, being supported by God.
Those who will please pray with me, that through this trial Michael will be saved, the rewards of the flesh stripped away to free his soul to God.
And all those who will consider these words, Praise God for the demonstration of His power here and now, and for the size of the mountains we may cast into the sea, if only we be faithful and believing participants.
I've been rereading Acts, it's been a while since I've sat down with it from beginning to end. There are four occasions where people are cursed for being contrary with God (5:1-10, 8:18-20, 13:8-24, 18:6); in these events 2 people died, one man was blinded, and one man repented. I pray my friend be in that 25% who repent. But seeing it done in Acts, topped by the admonition in Corinthians to do so to a brother who does not correct under love, reconfirms to me that it is God's will being done in this. That and the fact that it's all coming to pass.
Our department Chaplain agreed with me when we talked about it today. Said it was a little unusual, but by all means scriptural. And given the evidence, being supported by God.
Those who will please pray with me, that through this trial Michael will be saved, the rewards of the flesh stripped away to free his soul to God.
And all those who will consider these words, Praise God for the demonstration of His power here and now, and for the size of the mountains we may cast into the sea, if only we be faithful and believing participants.
The saga continues. Michael is now praying regularly, and letting me know he's praying regularly, but they're the old law-abiding Jewish prayers that deny the Christ. Meanwhile job offers continue to evaporate, legal issues continue to bite him in the kiester, and he's just dead in the water. It's good he's praying, it means he's hearing the Holy Spirit's call, he just has to learn how and thru Whom to pray now. Especially the Whom part.
So, I am late to update this thread. Life is busy and I don't get much time here and have spent it attending others. But things here progress. Having returned from my visitation, and Michael having acknowledged the condemnation, I prayed that he be loosed to find employment. A short time later a contact from years ago calls out of the blue and hands him a job. At the terms he was looking for.
But he still battles with that which was loosed. He brings it up from time to time, my having done so, he knows there is something behind God's words in me but he is afraid to acknowlege it. It would mean a complete betrayal of his whole life and family.
I pray, oh Lord, that He betray anyone but Christ. May the Holy Spirit continue to bear upon him, and to woo him, that he may fulfill that prayer.
But he still battles with that which was loosed. He brings it up from time to time, my having done so, he knows there is something behind God's words in me but he is afraid to acknowlege it. It would mean a complete betrayal of his whole life and family.
I pray, oh Lord, that He betray anyone but Christ. May the Holy Spirit continue to bear upon him, and to woo him, that he may fulfill that prayer.
That which was set in motion continues to percolate! Michael has been quite interested lately in Christian programming... not the TBN kind, but with The Bible series and now it's follow up AD, Noah, Heaven is Real... he's engaged and asking questions. We even watched the movie Dogma, which despite it's majority being stupid, still has moments of enlightenment, which Michael showed discernment between the two. We discussed his failed venture and my part in it. It seems he's even read a bit of the New Testament!
The Holy Spirit is obviously wooing him!
The Holy Spirit is obviously wooing him!