I've spent a little time going over your background; reviewing previous threads and posts. The one in which you told of your conversion was enlightening, as was just getting an overall tenor of your 'theology'. So was hearing you apologize for something two people then said you didn't really have to. Kinda showed your overall tenor of humility. Having (at least tried to) get a sense of you, one thing stands out in my mind:
I've always said that you can tell how powerful one might be in the realm of God by how hard hell works to hold them under.
You have gifts that make you a real threat to the enemy. So be not surprised when they make real attacks upon you. These will pass but more will come - and they will escalate. To be honest, until we are out of here that's how it's going to be. Or, until you no longer pose them a threat. Which I imagine will be until the day you are out of here.
It's all faith in dealing with such things (read Matthew's accounts of the powers of faith
http://christianchat.com/blogs/rickyz/6714-power-faith.html). Be founded on the rock that God is real. You know that, and that no matter how much mud they fling your way that will always be true. Sometimes when I'm at my spiritual wit's end I face my demons and say what, even if you broke me and I denied Christ was real it wouldn't change the fact that He is. Then I tell them to take it up with Him, as it's His authority anyway not mine. And sure they may be gone. But there's always more on the way. I try to keep them at bay by coming here
. Keep doing what you are doing, and more, and know that eventually (God says it's all in the perseverance) they will be permanently silenced and bound. Stick that in their face when they get pushy.
If I may ask, how do you pray? Do you believe in the Spiritual gifts and fruit?
God bless you and protect you!
Hi, RickyZ.
Well, I'm glad that you find some humility in me/my posts because I've been posting on different forums for about 10 years now and I've been called everything in the book during that timeframe. You know, "proud", "arrogant", "self-righteous", "a Pharisee", "condescending", etc., etc., etc. Anyhow, the "fires" that I've been enduring are intended to have a purify effect and PRIDE is certainly a killer which I regularly address in my own life. We truly are not our own in that we've been bought with a price and I'm sincerely trying to get to the place (and I am getting there...slowly but surely) where I truly love THE LORD with my whole heart, soul and strength or to the place where it's truly "not my will, BUT THINE BE DONE". Anything less than that, in my estimation (and I believe in God's estimation, too), reveals some yet undealt with area or areas of PRIDE. God's Word says that it is our "reasonable service" to be "living sacrifices"...and I think/know that there's still some life of my own that God is seeking to deal with that Christ might be the One Who fully lives, reigns and operates both in and through me:
"I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me." (Galatians 2:20)
Regarding your "faith" quotes from Matthew's gospel, again, I'm familiar with them all. Interestingly enough, whenever I need a "refresher course" in "faith", Matthew's gospel is generally the first place where I head for the same. Isn't it amazing that Jesus rebuked Peter for not having enough "faith" TO WALK ON WATER?!? Seriously, God expects us to REALLY have faith. He also got angry with the children of Israel for not believing that He could PART THE RED SEA. Anyhow, I'm trying to get to the place where I believe God for everything...and I've honestly reached the place where I thank God for my next breath. Apart from Him, we can do nothing...not even breathe.
I most definitely believe in spiritual gifts and fruit...even though, if forced to choose between the two (and we can and should have them both), then I would choose the "fruit" over the "gifts" in that people can have "gifts" and not be bearing good "fruit" at the same time and I believe that Paul addressed as much with the church at Corinth. I might be mistaken, but since you asked how I pray, I'm kind of guessing that you're inquiring whether or not I "pray in the Spirit". Before I answer that question, I will say this:
God has used me in the area of deliverance (the casting out of demons in Jesus' Name) for twenty something years now, so you'd better believe in spiritual gifts if you're going to be involved in such a spiritual battle.
Anyhow, as controversial as what I'm about to say might be, I do believe that there is a legitimate gift of speaking in tongues (I'm guessing that you're asking about the same in relation to prayer, but I could be mistaken) and that there is also a counterfeit of the same. Paul wrote:
II Corinthians chapter 11
[1] Would to God ye could bear with me a little in my folly: and indeed bear with me.
[2] For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.
[3] But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.
[4] For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.
I'm firmly convinced (unshakably so) that Satan has beguiled multitudes with "another Jesus", "ANOTHER SPIRIT" and "another gospel" and that the three counterfeits work in conjunction together. IOW, when somebody embraces "another Jesus" Who is not the Jesus of scripture and "another gospel" which is not the true gospel, then there is inevitably "ANOTHER SPIRIT" behind the same. Anyhow (here comes the controversy), I've actually cast spirits of false tongues out of people in Jesus' Name on more than one occasion. Again, this does NOT mean that I don't believe in a true gift of tongues, but it most certainly does mean that I believe that multitudes have embraced the counterfeit.
Well, I hope that this thread doesn't turn into a discussion on doctrine...but I am more than willing to discuss anything on a thread dedicated to any topic.
Anyhow, thanks for your comments and blessing.
