Where We All Once Were

Where We All Once Were J____ wrote: Hi Mike, I got your other post you sent me concerning Isaiah 9:6, and it has been very helpful. Sadly the guy who I was talking to has ironically banned me from the Christian chat line I was talking to him on. The site moderator said I was particularly difficult in what I believe and was misleading others not to believe in hell. I guess these site moderators are simply nothing more than cult leaders themselves, it just shows that a little light and truth creeping in sends them running a mile with fear and hatred instead of sound debate and reasoning together so that there is no schism in the body of Christ, I can just imagine them with pitchforks in hand yelling, "burn him!" Never mind though; love conquers all things. I read this scripture yesterday which I'm sure you're aware of but I think it is relevant: Phil 2:6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: Phil 2:7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men. Phil 2:8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Phil 2:9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: Phil 2:10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; Phil 2:11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Anyway as insane as some Christians sound though with some of the twisted doctrines they come up with, I can't help remembering where I was 5 yrs ago when I left church with just as many twists in my mind, but out of nowhere I suddenly with my wife began feeling sick to my gut with all the hypocrisy around me. In the end I found the church to be nothing more than a self-glorifying self-righteous private club. The sad truth is that orthodoxy is a cult with many denominations to suit every whim, the leaders crush and restrict the members from free thought and in some cases ruin peoples lives and there relationship with Christ that they once had. All Christians in Christendom seem to be interested in is their calling or ministry. It's all rather sad isn't it, if it weren't for the grace of God giving us a snapshot of the bigger picture. Yet even with a glimmer of God's grand plan we can rejoice and boast of Him in us controlling us to be better as He will have all beasts of the field saddled and fit for bidding. Every false doctrine still in me that God brings to my attention in His timing often comes out like a long-rooted wisdom tooth, but nevertheless out it has to come, and then I must sweep the temple clean. His purging of me helps my belief in Him, because I know this transformation could not have come from me, it has to be Him in me. What a awesome privilege it is to have this place in His plan. I hope I can overcome and remain faithful when He comes for me. This is my daily prayer and that all men come into the knowledge of Jesus.

This glimpse into the kingdom is destroying my flesh for my own good for all mankind's own good. What a day is coming when all is in all, Mike. I'm tearful as I type these words as I 'm touched by His incomprehendible love for all His creation. I suppose love gets even the hardest of hearts in the end as it never fails. What glory to God when Hitler bows, Poll Pot bows, Stalin bows, Anton Lavey worships, when Satan confesses; it's an incredible vision. Just want to say thanks, Mike for all you do. Your site is a God-send. Hope to talk with you many more times as God sees it fitting. God's will be done. Amen. Hi again J____, I am thrilled when I get a letter that expresses appreciation for the bounty of spiritual wealth and spiritual nourishment with which we have been blessed. That is especially true when you mention that you remember being in darkness just yesterday. It is knowing from where we came that should always provoke such a spirit of gratitude as you express in this e-mail. I am sorry that you were banned from the Christian chat room, but that is exactly what I would have expected. Matt 13:10 And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables? Matt 13:11 He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given. It simply isn't given to them to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God. That is not to say that we are not to witness. To the contrary, we are to tell like it is,just as Christ did: John 8:37 I know that ye are Abraham's seed; but ye seek to kill me, because my word hath no place in you. John 8:43 Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word. As Christ's witnesses, we are "dead in the streets of [their] great city... Babylon." Rev 11:8 And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified. We can see all of this simply because we "look behind us" and can "see the voice which is speaking with us" showing us that we too, must "keep the sayings of the prophecy of this book." It is only as we "look behind us" that we see that it was us who crucified our Lord "in the streets of that great city" only yesterday, and we too must "live by every word which proceeds out of the mouth of God." Matt 4:4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. Rev 1:3 Blessed [is] he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time [is] at hand. Rev 1:10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet, Rev 1:12 And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned , I saw seven golden candlesticks; As you say;

"I suppose love gets even the hardest of hearts in the end as it never fails. What glory to God when Hitler bows, Poll pot bows, Stalin bows, Anton Lavey worships, when Satan confesses; it's an incredible vision." Yes, indeed, "love gets even the hardest hearts," but it gets them through the chastening grace of God's love: Heb 12:6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. His chastening is through His fiery Words and when those words are rejected as you have just experienced, then this is the spiritual condition of those who reject His word Heb 12:7 If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? Heb 12:8 But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. But God will not be denied. His will will be done, and in the end, he will drag all men to Himself. I too, am moved by the overwhelming love of God for His entire creation. It really is something we have been given to anticipate, and in the meantime we will enjoy our continued fellowship. Mike