Quote:
Originally Posted by LUKE2447
I will have to go back and rewatch his videos. Been over a year ago. I thought the guy looked familiar on the other video he posted and when you pointed out 52 lies.. well I checked and yep. It was him.
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I found his teaching refreshing. I'd been in church for 21 years. I'd attended two different Apostolic churches that were very legalistic. I never had full confidence in my salvation (I know my imperfections all too well). I was suffering from "burnout" because each church focused on "service"... service, service, service, service. I found myself operating in areas outside of my calling to please the church. Nearly everything I did was to please the church. I was in the mindset that if I wanted to please Jesus I had to do all these religious things. Also... I thought that I'd find my fulfillment in serving the church. The result? Total burnout and break down of my family. My wife abandoned the faith and eventually even left me to go "live it up".
I've now discovered "grace". I've discovered that Jesus DOESN'T want ME doing anything for Him... but rather Jesus desires for me to overcome by allowing Him to live through me. My fulfillment comes from serving Him and being one with Him. I was purchased by His blood. ALL sins are forgiven. Even those I've not committed yet. If you think about it... all my sins were still future when He was crucified. Jesus is all knowing... Jesus already knows who are His and who are not His. It's set. He isn't in Heaven HOPING we are saved... He knows who the elect are, called according to His purposes. And daily I make my calling and election sure through prayer and seeking to be "one" with Him.
It's amazing really. Since learning this principle I've discovered that as I walk down the street... I feel Christ's thoughts impressed upon me. I don't see things the way I used to see them. I don't see people the way I used to see them. Sometimes it's like Christ's own heart is beating in my chest. There are times in prayer when I'm home that I feel as though He could call me home that very instant. When I do sin now... I realize that the guilt and shame that I feel is due to me acting below the nature He's given my through the presence of His Spirit in me. It's so true what the Bible says. If any man truly knows the Lord... he cannot continue in sin. The child of God will eventually say, "I can't take this anymore. I'm getting outa here." God is so good to us. It's ALL about Him. It's not about us or our silly little standards. It's about Him IN us. Here's a verse I used to live by....
Philippians 2:12
12Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.
But I never really internalized the very next verse....
Philippians 2:13
13For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.
In the NLT it reads:
Philippians 2:12-13 (New Living Translation)
12 Dear friends, you always followed my instructions when I was with you. And now that I am away, it is even more important. Work hard to show the results of your salvation, obeying God with deep reverence and fear. 13 For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.
It's all about allowing JESUS to work in us, giving us the desire and the power to do what pleases Him. Our own vain efforts and religiousity will never suffice. It shocked me when in prayer Jesus said He was disgusted with me. He impressed upon me that He didn't want me to be a good Apostolic...nor did He desire that I follow the ways of our "elders" in Pentecost. I wept in prayer and asked Him, "Lord, then what do you desire me to do?" He said, "Be like me. I'm your standard." I was worried because no man can be like Jesus. That's when He said, "This is only possible if I live MY life through you."
Since then... I've been so free and I've experienced victories in areas of my life I had struggled with for years.
That's my testimony. I just wanted to give God some glory.