| Author |
Message |
Valm
| | Posted on Tuesday, November 21, 2000 - 10:24 am: |     |
Denise, I look forward to the continuation of this story. Please keep us posted. Valerie |
Colleentinker
| | Posted on Tuesday, November 21, 2000 - 9:21 pm: | |
Denise, I'm thrilled by your story! Like Valerie, I'm looking forward to the next update. God is using you. Your love for him and his power in your life is visible to all of us. I praise him for you! Call for Friday night details.
Colleen |
Denisegilmore
| | Posted on Wednesday, November 22, 2000 - 12:00 am: | |
Hello Bruce,
I sure thank you for those verses in 1 Corinthians. I am going to memorize them as suggested by you. Now I can see why having those verses in my memory will benefit all involved in these studies. Thank you for your encouragement and you can bet that my friend will take note on those verses as well. They are much needed and an absolute must in all situations.
I'm not as confident as you are about me showing all the love I could have though. Next time, I'm going to keep these verses in the forefront of my mind.
God Bless you,
Denise |
Denisegilmore
| | Posted on Wednesday, November 22, 2000 - 12:09 am: | |
Valerie and Colleen,
It is good to hear that some like to hear of the actual battles that do occur. This whole thing is amazing because,, who knew? Who, especially myself, would've guessed that 'believing the Gospel' would cause such a thing? In my mind right now, the word 'Dunamis' is going around and around. The Power in the Gospel. Our God is an awesome God! He is the lifter up of my head.
God Bless you both,
Denise (the berean)
P.S. Colleen, I will call tomorrow. |
Chyna
| | Posted on Thursday, November 23, 2000 - 1:03 am: | |
dear denise,
it really lifts my heart to read your story. i swear i was holding my breath the whole time while reading about the bible study between you and the pastor and his wife and the elderly woman and the man ...
it really gave me hope. you know, above all things I think just showing God's love is a testimony in itself and I think it really shone through how you cared about these people and you didn't want them to be misguided by the pastor and his wife.
pray for me as I'm chatting with one adventist woman who shuns the adventist church (fallen) but relies on the doctrine and ellen. hm.
you know I don't know how these adventists go around saying: the church is going to get better, when it's because of the doctrines they've been holding onto so dearly that's causing the church to not be healthy. they just go around thinking if they observed their false beliefs better (observing the sabbath ... THE correct way) that the spiritual health of the church will somehow ameliorate itself. it just causes me grief to see their mentality, rather like walking in circles, instead of walking out of the circle.
God be with you, Denise,
love, Chyna |
Denisegilmore
| | Posted on Thursday, November 23, 2000 - 3:45 pm: | |
Hello Chyna,
It good to hear from you again. My prayers will go up for you as you deal with the sda woman. It can be taxing to say the least. Those verses that Bruce posted are essential. Keep them in your heart.
The woman that is shunning the Church but clinging onto the Doctrines and Ellen White might be doing so because she doesn't know any other way at this point. There is a parable in the Bible about how a demon is cast out of a man, but comes back to find that the house is all swept and clean (meaning the man is now demon free), however this same man has nothing to replace what was removed. So he is swept and clean but empty. Perhaps this woman you are currently working with has this same 'emptiness'. I have found that to take away or prove the doctrines to be false is one thing, but at the same time it is necessary to replace that gaping void with something they can cling to. Jesus Christ is that something. The Gospel of our salvation. Tell her the simple Gospel and show her Scripture that says it so well. Give her Jesus Christ to hang onto. He is our Rock, our Redeemer, our Salvation. Pray for her too (I'm sure you are doing this), the Holy Spirit will do His part. It is promised. That is, if she really wants to know.
I am always amazed at others I've met that have stopped going to the sda Church but they, like your friend, still cling to the very doctrine that is false and still very much cling to Ellen White. It is all they have ever known. I have found that once they hear this great news of the Gospel (sometimes many many times), that something starts happening and they find themselves back at my apartment, asking questions. I know it is the 'dunamis'=power of the Gospel, the Holy Spirit is at work. It is sometimes a slow process because they fight against giving up their cherished beliefs. But there is hope because we have a great God and the people that REALLY want to know truth will eventually grasp this Truth and thus, they see the light but still find it hard to believe. I did too. I was not believing the Glorious Gospel either because it seemed to me that there should be something I must do in the way of works. Eventually it hit me and believe me, when the Gospel hit me, I leaped for joy and haven't stopped. This is what still has me going. This Good News is what I want everyone to know and experience.
Never give up Chyna, never give up praying and hoping. If she keeps coming back to you then she does feel a void already but without something to replace her sda doctrines with, she is fearful. Give her hope. Tell her this Wonderful News in such a way that she will see it in you. This Gospel will not be stopped, God is in charge and Truth is Truth.
I know that you have a big heart. I read that right through all of your posts. I will be praying for you and your woman friend.
If ever you would like to talk in email here is my email address Lampdot@aol.com.
It will be a delight to share our common goals together and encourage one another. I can always use encouragement as sometimes, like yourself, I'm at my wits end. But the Lord comes through. Sometimes, infact very many times, through people on this forum and in email.
God Bless you Chyna in your journey,
Denise, your sister in Christ our Lord |
Denisegilmore
| | Posted on Thursday, November 23, 2000 - 3:52 pm: | |
Chyna,
Here is that parable.
Matthew 12:43-45
"When an evil spirit comes out of a man, it goes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it. Then it says, 'I will return to the house I left.' When it arrives, it finds the house unoccupied, swept clean and put in order. Then it goes and takes with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there. And the final condition of that man is worse than the first. That is how it will be with this wicked generation."
God Bless you,
Denise |
Chyna
| | Posted on Thursday, November 23, 2000 - 5:01 pm: | |
dear denise,
thank you so much for your reply, you don't know how much I am cheering for you while you post your messages. akin to someone who watches a boxing match on TV and tries to mimic the actual action.
thank you for encouraging me. there are times when I just feel so beaten down. when I was in Thailand I would see the Seventh Day Adventist church in Chiang Mai and just feel so heartsick for all the people being deceived on a worldwide scale, and then sometimes when I go online and type in Adventist on a search engine, the amount of pages sort of overwhelm me and I feel like the battle has already been lost. but it can't be lost because God has stirred up the hearts of people like us.
I really did need to hear not to give up. as I pray daily for those i know in adventism, it starts to get wearying: the sorrow i have in my heart for them. sometimes it's just so hard to trust God is working when you can't see what's going on, we don't get the same aerial view as God does on our lives. although just like witnessing, God is so powerful He doesn't even need us, but it is our privilege to get to participate in God's work. but all the same, I feel lucky I get to witness what you are doing and see how God is working in hearts. Our God is Faithful.
Keep at 'em, Denise,
in Him, Chyna |
Denisegilmore
| | Posted on Tuesday, November 28, 2000 - 12:58 am: | |
Well, here I am, back with your weekly report :))
This weeks study was actually a pleasant study with virtually no debate issues. Infact, at one point the pastor and myself were together answering a question that my man friend had asked. To work together was a blessing and I'm sure that the pastor was just as surprised as I was when this came about. God is good.
As a matter of fact, the pastor was very polite to me and did not cut me off but one time. Of course, me being me, I insisted on being heard. Not only was I heard but the pastor even conceded that I was right! I've got to give the man credit as he will take Scripture as Truth when it is pointed out to him. God is Gracious.
The entire study was calm, except for the one point, and all is well.
My male friend, who you all at FAF meetings, will meet, is a bit intimidated with verbal debate and feels not prepared for it. So he, this far in his journey, preferes to remain quiet. I'll tell you why although I'm not sure it fits in this thread:
Two weeks or so ago, my male friend had contacted me, letting me know how much the Holy Spirit was working on him. He also informed me that he wanted to be my 'assistant' (I don't like that term but he uses it) in these heated studies. I've known him for 2 years and he has this love for our Lord that keeps us close. However, about one and half weeks ago, he said something about trying to work things out with God regarding his sins. I can't remember exactly what he said but it was so shocking as at that very moment, I realized he did NOT know the Gospel. Isn't this amazing!? Well, by now you should all know something about my behavior. I looked at him and asked him to repeat his statement and he did. With that, I passionately told him the Gospel. He listened intently and his eyes teared up and he started crying. He never knew the Gospel!! Somehow, in all of his Church going years, with a family in the same Church, he received a message of works. All those years! My friend! This was yet another experience for me that demanded my telling this story all over the world of God's Sovereingty and Love! I wasn't sure if I should post another post so I waited and waited. Upon talking with another FAFer, she encouraged me to post this story. Tonight I would like to thank you Maryann for encouraging me to post this one.
Our Lord is so profound and on top of things that this is another happening that I witnessed, that still runs chills down my spine.
I thank my Lord, my God Jesus Christ for allowing me to see his Power once again. Amen.
My friend is still in his leaping for joy state knowing that he is saved and that our God loves him! Things have really taken a turn with him knowing this Good News, I can tell you that! He is a very happy and thankful man.
Since I'm here and having been encouraged, I would like to tell of yet another miracle this week. A neighbor across the hall from me comes to my apartment daily to chat and have coffee. When He first came in, his language was awful! But that wasn't so bad except then he often would use the Lord's name in vain and that is not okay. I corrected him and he protested, telling me that he can talk however he wants to talk. With that I simply stated, 'not in my home you won't'. So, we had a mutual agreement that in my home he would cool it on the Lord's name being used in such a manner. He absolutely did NOT want to talk about any God nor was the least bit interested in my life as a Christian. Infact, he opposed it. But I informed him that my talk of the Lord will come out as I live for the Lord and because of the Lord, I'm alive and peaceful today. He reluctantly said 'fine, you talk but I don't care about any of that'. I said 'that's fine', but 'just so's ya know'. This has been an exciting week. He stopped using the Lord's name in vain. He began to take interest in what I do. He started asking questions on why I do it and of course I would be sharing all the time as well, as to the happenings of my life. This week, I'm over at his apartment because he had a heart attack and needed help showering (he has one leg). As I finished up, he asked if I would like a cup of coffee. I gladly accepted. Out of the blue he looked at me and said 'let me ask you a question'. I said 'sure'. He then proceeded for the next 2 hours asking questions about God, Jesus Christ, History, the Holy Spirit and what He does and on and on. This man, who was so opposed to any talk of that sort was now wanting to know everything!! We had a great talk and then he told me that he had always believed that there had been some sort of God but he didn't know much else. I laid the Gospel on him and was he ever happy with that! Praise the Lord!!! Our God is a Most Holy God.
Tonight, my next door neighbor came in. He mentioned to me that the one legged man was asking him questions on God. Turns out that my next door neighbor and him were talking about God and me. My neighbor is really happy that our mutual friend is now interested and happy to know God! I tell ya, Our Lord God is Wonderful!
Two people heard Good News this week and both are now part of our family. Praise His Holy Name.
I hope I didn't offend anyone by this very long post but I have to tell someone of just how Great our God is! He loves.
God Bless all,
Denise |
Chyna
| | Posted on Tuesday, November 28, 2000 - 1:20 am: | |
definitely not an offense denise, but a great blessing! i love reading your weekly updates. i'll pray for you, so i get to participate in all this excitement. love, Chyna |
Denisegilmore
| | Posted on Tuesday, November 28, 2000 - 1:33 am: | |
God Bless you Chyna. I believe with everything in me that prayers are what keep us strong, and give us the endurance and words and ways and everything we need. Keep praying as this is really becoming a challenge for me. I can feel it very much at times, that my strength or courage are gone. Ya know, it's strange though because usually it's these weakened moments or days that something absolutely fantastic happens. God is our Rock, He is the uplifter of my head. For that I'm always thankful.
His Peace be with you Chyna,
Denise |
Loneviking
| | Posted on Tuesday, November 28, 2000 - 5:13 am: | |
This is a little off topic, but since this is an active thread and I don't know where else to put it....here goes!
A couple of weeks ago at the Sunday evening service, one of our pastors gave this great presentation on a 'one verse explanation of the gospel'. What is so neat about this is that this presentation is both verbal and visual--and so simple it can be done on a napkin or an envelope.
The text used is Romans 6:23 and this is how the diagram looks:
Wages Jesus Christ Free Gift
Sin God
Death Eternal Life
Wages--soemthing you work for, and in this case any sin is enough to gain you this wage.
Sin---rebelling against God.
Death---eternal seperation from God.
Instead you can have:
Free gift---absolutely free! Just as you are!
God---the creator of the universe cares about you!
Eternal Life--this is what a God filled life results in.
How is this accomplished?
'Through Jesus Christ our Lord'---who is the bridge between the sin-filled life and the God filled life. You can't leap that chasm on your own. Only through Jesus can you make it from one side to the other.
And that's all there is to the presentation! Simple to memorize and use............. |
Cindy
| | Posted on Tuesday, November 28, 2000 - 6:26 am: | |
Loneviking, Thanks for posting that...And I think it fits fine under the title of "Spiiritual Warfare!"
And a lot simpler to understand than all the prophetic 1844 schema! We had kept for many years (not sure if it survived this last move of ours, it may be packed away still) a LARGE CHART of "last-day events" by some guy named Collier. (an Adventist evangelist back in the 60's or 70's?) It was unbelievably detailed and unbelievably complicated!! To have to know all of that to be prepared for Jesus to come would have been enough to invite despair... And yet, for some, it gave a sense of confidence that they had the prophetic doctrine figured out so well that at least they would be prepared for the Sunday laws! They would have to keep WORKING on their character perfection, though...
Grace always,
Cindy
P.S. (For those who may not realize this, you can also start a New conversation by clicking 'Topics' over to the left, then clicking 'Discussions', then scrolling down through the numerous discussions to the bottom and then clicking 'Create New Conversation'. You can always add to any of the previous discussions, also. Postings often go from topic to topic, so what might start out on one thought may end up on another!) |
Valm
| | Posted on Tuesday, November 28, 2000 - 7:05 am: | |
Dear Denise, Thank you for your weekly installment. I look forward to it. God has blessed you and you have taken the opportunity to be a dynamic part of his work!!!!
Cindy, Thank you for telling the technologically disabled (ME) how to create a new conversation. I have had something in mind to create but couldn't figure out the mechanics. I too am thankful that the charts are becoming erased from my mind; there is now so much more room for happier thoughts now that my Christian life is based on grace!!!! |
Denisegilmore
| | Posted on Tuesday, November 28, 2000 - 5:48 pm: | |
Hello Loneviking,
Thank you so much for sharing that verse and the way in which you put it in writing. That really spells it out clearly. I will remember this and am printing that out as well.
God bless you,
Denise |
Valm
| | Posted on Monday, December 11, 2000 - 3:47 pm: | |
I did not know where to put this so here I am. Remember a few weeks back someone wrote somewhere about a SDA in prison and gave the adress? Well I wrote to him and sent him one of the stories from a former SDA. He wrote back to me.
Well he has 2.5 years to go and really doesn't receive much mail except from his daughter. He had asked for and SDA pastor to visit and none showed. He seems very hungry for people to reach out to him as well as to hear the Gospel message. He sates he is closer to Jesus now than in the past 1o years.
He can not recieve books in the mail but the 17 page story I sent him went through althou he reports that 5 pages were missing. I plan to send him some info from Clay Peck's web site on new covenant Christian. I think its Clay's site.
Anyway I think his adress is worth repeating. Wouldn't it be great if we could get a group of Christian people to send him cards this Christmas? And wouldn't it be great for him to have correspondence with people who could encourage him in his journey?
PhilipWatson P94-662
FCY-B 266L
Wasco State Prison-RC
PO Box 6600
Wasco, CA 93280-6600 |
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