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check, devil, discerning the spirits, drawing boundaries, evil spirits, experience, following Jesus, freedom, God's guidance, heart, inspiration, loving your enemies, Oswald Chambers, restraint, thought life, wisdom
Well, God’s leading is never predictable…
Yesterday I had begun to write a longer blog article in which I described one of three dreams I had two days ago, as I felt this morning that God did not want me to publish these things. Maybe later? Only He knows. 🙄 Instead, He began to explain them to me on a deeper level than before, however, since God’s Spirit always shows us the things to come (cf. Jn 16:13), I cannot say when and how these events will finally happen. But lately God often told me one thing in a dream and the very next day, or only two days later, it really happened. Not that He ever shows me literally about whom or about what He is talking to me in pictures. No, without interpretation no dream ever makes sense. The worst thing we can do is trying to interpret dreams from our own (carnal) understanding and reason since God alone knows what He wants to reveal to us. The apostle Paul told us a lot about the difference between the spiritual and the carnal mind, for example here.
But, as it is written, “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him”— these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. For who knows a person’s thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God.
And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual. The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned. The spiritual person judges all things, but is himself to be judged by no one. “For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ. (1 Cor 2:9-16 ESV)
So, continuing in my series about discerning the spirits, I want to tell you that as of late I had to block commenters on my blog who approached me in a wrong, controlling spirit. Actually, if I really sense the Spirit of God in a comment, I always rejoice. And if a commenter once was on the wrong path because he had listened to evil spirits and I had to finally block him or her from commenting, but eventually comes back with a new and spiritual understanding that now comes from God, I will rejoice again. Indeed, I am always happy when I hear God’s voice through whomever. But as I recently declared, I won’t allow demons to speak on here (see https://enteringthepromisedland.wordpress.com/2015/11/11/do-not-allow-demons-to-speak/), both to protect my own spirit and to protect my other readers as well. Just yesterday I found an inspiring quote I want to share with you on here. It reads,
The author or speaker from whom you learn the most is not the one who teaches you something you didn’t know before, but the one who helps you take a truth with which you have quietly struggled, give it expression, and speak it clearly and boldly. (Oswald Chambers)
With his words in mind, I am trying to explain now how we could improve our discernment as for everything we hear and read, privately or on the net. Lately I realized that God also offers His help to those who do not have His Spirit yet, to non-Christians, so to speak. If there is something they should avoid to do, He gives them an immediate feeling of uneasiness or even anger about it. If they are confronted with certain persons, maybe for the first time in their life, and they realize that they cordially dislike these persons, even these negative feelings came from God. Just think about it for a moment…
If we never had enemies, God would have never told us to love them. If we serve the Eternal God by following Christ, we will have a lot of enemies. Not that people themselves are to be hated, but the evil spirits inside them that want to take control over us in order to lead us astray and away from God. But how can we love our enemies then? Should we try to be their doormat by doing their will instead of God’s who only wants our best? Of course, there is only one answer possible, “No.”
Therefore we need to set distinct boundaries concerning those who try to bring us back under a law by forcing their will on us since “for freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.” (Gal 5:1 ESV) As soon as someone tries to tell us what God wants us to do according to their “insights” although we feel an immediate check in our spirit, a restraint as Oswald Chambers put it, we should RUN (or say “No!” in case we cannot avoid meeting these people). This is difficult at times because some evil spirits have forceful personalities. However, it should always be possible with God’s help as He wants to see His children freed of any yoke but the easy yoke of His beloved Son who said,
“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (Mt 11:28-30 ESV)
In closing, just a sidenote as for listening to God’s voice as soon as possible. Often times in the past as I had ignored God’s very first warnings, that fact truly got me in hot water. If we do not listen to Him in the first place, He will give us several warnings later. However, it will be more and more difficult to get rid of these evil spirits to which we once opened up by not obeying God. Eventually, if we continue to ignore God’s voice, He turns us loose and lets us have our share of (sometimes very) negative experiences. Those evil spirits can deceive us so much that we even believe it is God who wants to see us suffer extremely. But no, it is only an urgent wake-up call for us! If our health has been attacked a lot lately, it might be that God wants us to draw new boundaries in order to set us free and heal us. God does not “punish” us with sickness. But sometimes He uses a vise-like situation in our life so that we finally cry out to Him and change our attitude toward others with His help and authority. That is at least the way He dealt with me lately…
Entering the Promised Land 
You answered a question I have had.
“Should we try to be their doormat by doing their will instead of God’s who only wants our best? Of course, there is only one answer possible, “No.”
Thank you for that.
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You are very welcome. I am glad to hear that you found this helpful, Fred. 🙂
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Susanne, this post really resonated with me. Earlier this year, by the leading of the Holy Spirit, I (and my husband who was not yet saved at the time) were convicted to leave (‘called out’ of) the church system. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. John 10:27. I know His voice! Our leaving was out of obedience to the Lord’s will, not ours as it was always our understanding that Christians always go to church to worship on Sunday (AM/PM/& Wed.PM). It wasn’t until after we had left the church system that my husband received the gift of Salvation (all glory to God) and then a few months following was baptized. We have been worshipping and fellowshipping together at home, studying God’s Word and continue to grow in our walk as our relationship with Jesus Christ continues to grow deeper and deeper. Even our marriage has grown as I am slowly becoming less and less of the spiritual leader in our home (this was by default before he was saved). Well, about a month ago, I was visiting family across country and asked if I could join them for Sunday service at their Reformed Baptist Church (I had left the SBC). The Bible study, taught by their pastor, prior to worship was all about making sure you are part of a church family in a church building and if you cannot find one, well you just keep on looking until you do. I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. This man was commanding us to not forsake the assembling of ourselves together…Heb. 10:25. During the break prior to worship, I went up and gently spoke to him about having been ‘called out’ by the Holy Spirit and that it was by his leading that we had left out of obedience, and that I had also exhausted my search in my area for a church that didn’t teach and or promote false teaching/error (not willing to compromise). Suffice it to say, this didn’t go over real well. All he chose to hear was that I was in disobedience because I had decided to no longer attend a church (it felt legalistic in my spirit). When I returned home, my sister and her husband who have been committed Christians for 30+ years who take their ‘walk’ very seriously, and are very, very knowledgeable about Scripture (especially the OT), shared with me (firmly I might add) that I was probably listening to a spirit of error and not the Holy Spirit because what my husband and I did by leaving the church system as part of the Body of Christ was going against God’s command, His Word. And again, she shared all the scripture verses (especially Heb. 10:25) that her pastor had covered. Not once during all of our conversations have I ever heard either of them discuss the power of the Holy Spirit in our lives. This discussion is kept to a minimum. Sometimes we are put in a position where we have to chose to either please man or please our Heavenly Father. My husband and I know that we are right where we are supposed to be as we remain sensitive to our Lord’s leading through His Holy Spirit. What can appear as error to the religious man (and his traditions), is actually obedience to our Heavenly Father. We remain unmoved by their (mis)understanding knowing that the safest place to be is in our Heavenly Father’s will.
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Oh, Nancy, thank you so much sharing your testimony on here in such a detailed way! I do hope that Michael Clark will weigh in since he wrote some good stuff about the proper exegesis of Hebrews 10:25.
Nonetheless, I am relieved to hear that you and your hubby rather listen to the Lord’s voice than to the voices of men. It is not that easy as I know it myself. What you wrote here I experienced even several times in the past, too. You said,
“The Bible study, taught by their pastor, prior to worship was all about making sure you are part of a church family in a church building and if you cannot find one, well you just keep on looking until you do. I couldn’t believe what I was hearing.”
Pastors, priests, and non-denominational preachers need an audience that pays for their lifestyle (tithes and donations) so that they need to talk that way. Thinking about that finally opened my eyes to the truth.
Thanks again for your helpful contribution. I hope many will read it! 🙂
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Dear Nancy,
I relate to what you and your husband are going through. These people who push this doctrine are unwittingly part of a personality cult following, and are blind to the fact that they trust men more than they trust the Spirit of Christ. What they are saying about Hebrews 10:25 is always taken out of the context of the rest of the chapter. The point being made is that we are all called out of this world and the worldly church system (buildings, top down authority of men, legalistic tithing and giving, etc) unto a wonderful equal fellowship IN Christ as members one of another with Christ as our Head.
Here is the URL of what I have written on this subject:
https://awildernessvoice.wordpress.com/2014/03/20/just-who-is-really-forsaking-the-assembling/
Also, we devoted a chapter to this subject in the book that George Davis and I wrote, “The Vast New Covenant Transition.” You can read it online here.
http://awildernessvoice.com/VastNCTransition-Chapt03.html
It is also available in PDF format if you would rather print it out and all our books are free for the asking including the shipping.
God bless you both as you follow the wind of the Spirit,
Michael
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Dear Nancy, what a wonderful post you wrote! Wow, and God be praised for the salvation of your dear husband and that you BOTH are in agreement on what the Lord showed you concerning the communion with HIM in your own home. Thank you, Jesus!
Having been part of numerous churches and cults in my earlier walk, and eventually ending up leaving every one of them…I can still recall the “mental” lacerations we had to endure from the “leadership” every time the moment of truth came up and our eyes were opened to the fact that Jesus was not there. If there would be a place lower than the devil himself, that was the designated term placed on us. Those were very difficult years, and after the second last incident I was plunged into such an awful dark depression for about 6 months – I actually needed a vacation from God, that is how confused I was. During that time, I did not read my Bible or prayed at all, I just wanted my mind to clear and somehow find healing. And praise God, healing and clarity came… He has His eye on the sparrow, and me and you. 🙂
Nancy wrote: “We remain unmoved by their (mis)understanding knowing that the safest place to be is in our Heavenly Father’s will.”
That is so wonderful, I pray the Father will solidify His peace in your hearts to guide you with, as you continue on this exciting journey in discovering Jesus more and more. And the more you learn Jesus, you will realize that everything about our western concept of Church and Christianity is wrong! Completely un-biblical, but few dare say it so boldly.
E.
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That was a wonderful reply to Nancy, Elli! I really relate to what you have been through in the churches and cults… been there, believe me. Yes, His eye is on the sparrow and not one of them falls that He does not take notice and come to our aid.
Thanks for sharing this,
Michael
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Susanne, thank you for your thoughtful response. You said, “Pastors, priests, and non-denominational preachers need an audience that pays for their lifestyle (tithes and donations) so that they need to talk that way. Thinking about that finally opened my eyes to the truth.” This is what the Lord has been showing us as well. In fact, I just ran into a sister in the Lord last week who shared with me how much her pastor and the worship leader make and the raises they just gave themselves. This is not a mega church, but they do offer a traditional service and a contemporary service. Out of the blue, she just shared this info with me (I had not asked her about this). I was floored!
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You’re very welcome, Nancy. I am glad to hear that God showed you similar things. It is always good to be led by God Himself. 🙂
If we ask Him about something and we are still insecure, He is so gracious to offer us more and more confirmation over time until we have been assured of His continued leading and care for His children.
By the way, did you see Michael’s response to you above? 🙄
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Michael, thank you for your encouraging words. Your two links gave me much food for thought, thank you for attaching. I will need to reread them again. Unfortunately, what you said concerning those who are blind to the fact that they trust men more than they trust the Spirit of Christ is quite true. If this is true concerning my sister and her husband, this truly grieves me (I know my sister has a tender heart). Not sure if this is more indicative of those who seek head knowledge over a changed heart and don’t even realize it. In fact, being able to discern and hear our Shepherd’s voice amongst all the other chatter that is going on today is a very serious issue within the visible church. I had noticed that there was not a lot of preaching and teaching on the power of the Holy Spirit and hearing our Lord’s voice (perhaps it was just a Baptist thing? Not sure.) Do pastors, preachers and teachers feel threatened that the Holy Spirit will put them out of business? Can’t believe this actually crossed my mind. You said, “I had to come out of that system so I could learn to hear His voice as my Shepherd instead of constantly listening to the voices of men taking His place.” Oh how true, and for those who hear His voice yet continue to remain in the church system, it will be a difficult battle as you will be considered judgmental, arrogant, narrow minded, one who causes division and prideful. I do not see that environment of worship and fellowship as “true assembling of ourselves together,” since we would have to go along to get along. I am reminded of Amos 3:3, “Can two walk together, except they be agreed?”
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Nancy, as I read your response to what I shared here about people leaning on what Pastor Wonderful says instead of the still small voice of the Spirit who is trying to lead them into the truth, I was reminded of the instances where Jesus told people to not tell anyone about their healing, but just give glory to God. In almost every case they went and told the Jewish church authorities and then those wolves went after Jesus for healing on the Sabbath or some such thing. It was ingrained in them to submit to the systems of men instead of to the voice and will of God.
I found myself in this very same place because of a lifetime of submitting to authority; first my mother and father, then my teachers, then my military leaders and so when I got into the Protestant church setting at about 23 years old, I did the same. I always listened to the pastor and HIS will over me instead of the voice of the Spirit and what HE desired me to do. When I did venture out in faith and do what the Spirit said I soon found the wrath of that false shepherd coming down on me and it made me wish I had not. God had to unplug me from the church system altogether for 14 years, much of which I was on the back side of the wilderness and not sure if I was hearing His voice any longer, either! It was like drying out an alcoholic, except my “ism” was religion and submission to false authority.
What would have happened if Peter and John had listened to the Sanhedrin and never spoke in the name of the ascended Christ again, because they wanted to not rock the boat with the thieves and robbers in charge of the “church”? Thank God they made it clear to these men that it was better to obey God than men!
You asked, “Do pastors, preachers and teachers feel threatened that the Holy Spirit will put them out of business?” Well, my dear sister, my experience with these men is that they always make sure that when the bread falls off the plate to the floor, that it lands buttered side up. In other words because they are hirelings and work for a wage in their “work for God,” Mammon always wins. I sat there in the pews Sunday after Sunday and would watch the worship leader bring the people into the presence of God in their praises or hear a dear saint stand up and speak what the Spirit wanted the people to hear only to watch the pastor grab the microphone and say, “Well folks, we need to get back to the order of the service” or some such thing and I could feel the Spirit being grieved in my heart. The bottom line is about CONTROL. Who is going to have the pre-eminence over the people, God or man?
When John warned the people that they had no need that a man should teach them because they had the Spirit in them (1 John 2:26-27), the context was a dire warning that many antichrists were already among them. If you look up the meaning of the Greek word, “antichristo” it not only means “against Christ” but it means “INSTEAD OF CHRIST.” We all in the beginning have to deal with this old man in us that wants to rule our lives instead of Christ! Paul wrote, “The flesh wars against the Spirit and the Spirit wars against the flesh…” We have to allow the cross to deal with the antichrist within US! When a man gets a title and a position in the church and this flesh has not been crucified, antichrist will reign over that church, not the Spirit or unction in the body of Christ who desires to teach them and manifest through His power in them. To answer your question, YES, a man who stands behind a pulpit (find that one in your New Testament) and lectures the people for an hour while they sit there in dumb silence is not about to let the Spirit raise up in the people into the fullness of Christ and decrease so HE may increase. Like Diotrephes, they love the pre-eminence.
Ephesians 4:11 will be taught and emphasised readily by them as they exalt their own positions (pastor, teacher, etc.), but not in the context of the rest of the chapter, “the perfecting of the saints for the work of the ministry for the edifying of the body of Christ till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.” Because of human top down authority the perfecting of the saints into the fullness of Christ never happens in that system.
God bless you and your husband, dear Nancy, as you submit to His leading in your life.
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Susanne, I have been so blessed through the participation of your post. I have been following some of your posts lately as I just recently found you (and Michael). Last night I wrote a reply before going to bed and then deleted it. I could not sleep as it kept going through my mind what you were sharing. I rewrote it and sent it and am so thankful for the Lord’s nudging. Being ‘called out’ can be a lonely journey, but what a gracious God we serve. He puts people in our pathway for encouragement and fellowship, thus allowing us to continue on for His glory and His purpose.
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Thank you very much for your edifying words, dear Nancy! ❤ They did me a power of good today. 🙂
I have also been blessed by your contribution on here and I enjoyed reading your response to Michael. What hit me in your reply to Michael was the following question. You wrote,
Indeed, many in the visible church long for revival in their pews but do not experience it. It seems that they have their preconceived ideas of how the Holy Spirit should work. But the Holy Spirit Himself would clarify that repentance is necessary for everyone who has not listened to God’s voice before. Thus the autocratic management in churches would collapse like a house of cards so that God’s spiritual temple of which all members are regarded as members with equal rights could be build up. ALL of us are able to hear God’s voice if we seek Him and ALL of us are being given spiritual gifts. Do we see such a beautiful picture when we look at the appearance of churches today…? 🙄 If you have time and are interested, I wrote an article about true fellowship and spiritual gifts on here.
https://enteringthepromisedland.wordpress.com/2015/03/06/spiritual-gifts-and-fellowship/)
Every blessing to you,
Susanne
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Cie, thank you for your kind words of encouragement and for sharing your experience regarding ‘church’. It’s amazing how the longer we are out of it, the more clarity we have. The blinders have been removed, Praise God! And once our eyes have been opened, I can’t imagine why anyone would want to go back in. There is freedom outside of the institution – no more bondage to the traditions of men. You said, “And the more you learn Jesus, you will realize that everything about our western concept of Church and Christianity is wrong! Completely un-biblical, but few dare say it so boldly.” This is what I am beginning to see and understand. Cie, I am so glad to hear that you received healing and clarity from your experience. I know of another sister in the Lord who is just now coming to terms with the hurt she has endured from the leadership of her church as well as from other sisters in the Lord. It is our Heavenly Father whom we turn to for provision and not man. What a faithful and gracious God we serve! Psalm 25:4-5, “Show me thy ways, O Lord; teach me thy paths. Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day.
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I am glad you received some encouragement from my thoughts, Nancy and you are very welcome indeed. And yes, the hurts can run deep from the abuses (especially) from those we deemed sheep and not wolves. I am not saying everyone in the churches that have caused hurt to us are wolves, but they themselves do not “see” what they are doing.
The answer really is in the “crucifying of the flesh”, that is our 5 senses in what we feel, hear, see, touch and smell… and truly reckoning those senses dead, and not to take the offences personal. I know it is easier said than done, but it begins with recognizing where the “landing strip” for this stuff is… and then to start reeling it in and not give those “uglies” a place to land in us. Again, it always comes back to “death to self”, my SELF “feelings” should not have a voice, period!
We grow into this gradually, it certainly is a process as with everything. 🙂
Blessings of Jesus to you.
E.
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Susanne, thank you for providing the link to your excellent article, spiritual gifts and fellowship. As with the other links provided, I have printed them and will reread. They have all truly blessed me. Yes, “To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.” (1 Cor 12:7 ESV) The gift is not for the one who receives it, but for those who are in need of it. It’s always rather interesting when one has received the gift of discernment. That is one gift that is often rejected by others, and as I am learning, needs to be handled with humility. Ever learning and growing in His ways.
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You are so welcome, dear Nancy. And thanks a bunch for your encouraging words! 🙂
Yes, spiritual gifts are given so that all benefit from them since the Body of Christ is one (or at least, should be one). What you mentioned at the end of your response is something that God just lately affirmed to me insistently. Without humility we can be tempted to use our gifts as we see fit, that is, by using them according to the desires of our old self (with pride).
As for the temptation of misusing our gifts, I wrote a (not so long 😉 ) article about my own experiences in the past. Being put on a pedestal by other human beings because we seem to be able to do something they cannot was truly a BIG temptation for the old and uncrucified Susanne. From hence I saw the necessity of dying to my old self nature completely so that “no longer I live but Christ in me” (paraphrasing the apostle Paul). Just in case you want to know what I spoke of here, I wrote about it there:
PS
Nancy, and I am so thankful for your warm, honest, humble, and wise replies on here! ❤
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I am thankful for you sisters, too! Great stuff you have been posting on here. ❤
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Triplets! I’m in this with both of you 🙂
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Spiritual riches in this thread, as I was reading it and praising God I got this idea about the beauty of the Lord in dialog such as this. It is truly what beauty is. Maybe that makes no sense without seeing it for yourself but I was taken aback by the beauty of this discussion and wanted to tell you all that.
First of all, I love the name Nancy as that is my mom’s name and she recently passed away. And secondly Nancy, it is so wonderful to hear about your newfound freedom in Christ – yay glory to God!
You said, ” And once our eyes have been opened, I can’t imagine why anyone would want to go back in. ” ok so I will be transparent here and share that hubs and I came to Christ late in life and had a blastoff honeymoon of great intensity. The Lord woke us up early on though (after just 3 years in the IC), thanks to inspired writings from Michael Clark and George Davis (especially The Great Ecclesiastical Conspiriacy) and through the Holy Spirit’s leading, we disengaged from institutional everything. But the hardships over the years (in and out of groups, cults, cult-light groups and many different types….) wore us down and eventually – due to undealt with idols of the heart – we did go “back in” .
Our rationale was to go get the lost sheep of Israel. Yeah right. What we were thinking was….. To find those few who “might” be questioning the status quo (as we once did) and be willing and to pay the high price required to lose their lives for the sake of the Kingdom.
Can’t say we didn’t try…..Nancy, we too were SBC tainted, then independent baptist etc but in no time at all, we could see that the fruit we so desperately hunted for, was no where to be found. Even in small group fellowships, the Holy Spirit was just unable to operate in the midst of heart/mind-numbing tradition and enmity with God flesh. Oh, the heartbreak.
I remember one time when we had an issue with the head-guy’s teachings and wanted to help “straighten him out” using the Bible, (LOL) the first thing he said to my husband was “What’s SHE doing here?”
Doesn’t that just speak volumes? So Nancy, you are in good company here, we have all been there and continue to seek and grow and trust, even in the face of great loneliness. Assembly of course. But only on His terms.
Many thanks for all your input, has strengthened and edified Christ in me today.
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Thank you very much for your great testimony and input, dear Skylla. Very inspiring! 🙂
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[ Michael wrote: “The longer I live (now 71) the more I see that there is not much we can do to set people free as long a it is US trying to do it. “Unless God builds the house, they who build it labor in vain.”” ]
Wow Michael, you are 71 already? I am trying to remember when we were down there to visit you. I think the last time was when Skylla and hubby were camping out in your neck of the woods, that has to be at least 12 years ago. Still have fond memories of that.
But to the other subject of trying to bring people out of the system, I am reminded of a dream mom had about that very issue when we were in the midst of the zeal of “helping” people come out of HER.
In her dream she was on a farm at night time and the chicken house was on fire. She rushed to the burning shed to try and get the chickens out to safety. But as soon as she had set them down on the ground, they would turn around and run back to the burning shed. A chicken is blind in the dark and they are running toward the only light they see, which in this case was the barn fire. From this dream, we realized that it was a futile attempt to pull people from the churches in our own zeal, they would only end up going back.
E.
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Elli, I think that Skylla and Shannon were out here in about 1999. Will have to ask them, I guess. That was a very revealing dream your mom had… reminded me of the proverb “A fool returns to his folly like a dog returns to he vomit.” Hmmmm…
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Sky, thank you for your encouraging words. And thank you for sharing what you and hubby experienced going back into the ‘institution/system’. Wow! It sounds like it may have been worse going back into the ‘system’ after you were ‘called out’ than to have remain in it. Following my phone conversation with my sister upon my return home from visiting, yes, I remained unmoved concerning having been ‘called out’, but still…I actually picked up the phone book and started looking at the listing of all the churches in my area…did I miss one, perhaps, that needed to be considered? At that moment, the feeling I had in my spirit was of such conviction that I was in disobedience that I shut the phone book and repented. The consequence of disobedience was something I did not want to endure. The book of Jonah is an excellent example. If we have been ‘called out’ by the leading of the Holy Spirit, and then turn around and go back in, Christ’s Spirit has been quenched, and as you noted based on your experience…His Spirit was unable to operate. That renders us “ineffective” for God’s glory and purpose. So glad to hear you and hubby are right where you are supposed to be…in His will.
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Michael and Cie, Shannon and I went out west in 2000. Left a piece of my heart up in NW Idaho I think…and would have settled out there were it not for having elderly parents back east. Meeting the two of you face to face will always be a treasured memory. And yes Nancy, you are quite right – a ridiculous blunder and horrific dismissal and yet that too has been redeemed. We often think of a hungry heart as spiritual seeking but there is a fleshly seeking that produces nothing but flesh, profits nothing. Once I was willing to cease……. become still…….and wait…….then I began to have ears to hear.
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Sky, that makes it official! 🙂 2000 it is. A lot of good things happened that year. I met George Davis about then and what a rich fellowship we have had together around the truth of the New Covenant and our freedom IN Christ. Did you happen to meet him as well on your trip out here back then? You might have been here just before God put him and I together. I still remember sitting there by your motor home in Farragut State Park and fellowshipping into the night. If you two can ever get away to come out here again, we have lots of room for putting up house guests in our new location. We will leave the light on. 🙂
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Yes, I remember our time together very well – abit of heaven on earth. 😉 No, we did not meet George sad to say. Do you recall that we were searching for my Great Grandmother’s old homestead and you led us to it? They were pioneers looking for a place to settle and when they came across Jewel Lake, my Great Grandmother got to name it and they stayed. I have a photo of my Grandma there when she was in her 80s or 90s. I hope to see again someday (and you!)
XOXOXOXOX
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Sky, I know where Jewel lake is, but I do not remember me taking you there. I am afraid my memory is not what it used to be, though. I hope you two do get out here again. It would be good to see you, both.
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