Is there a better place to discuss things in depth?

I really like the spirit of the Christians that respond here overall. It's wonderful.

But it is a bit disappointing too in that I so want to discuss things in depth until the Lord leads us to some steps of conviction together or things that we can apply in what we are discussing.

But what happens here is that people will come into a thread that I begin, say something...usually very insightful and wonderful, perhaps over several posts (allelujah!) and then when I get all excited and start sharing more...they seem to disappear and I start talking to myself.

There are two threads where this is happening now.

I am just wondering, for those of you that have been in the threads I began, is it me somehow?

If not is there some way to encourage more in depth discussion?

Is the internet not conducive to that type of discussion?

I just don't know.

Like I said...it's rather disappointing and I don't know what if anything I can do about it.

Any advice or input would be most appreciated.

If you know of a better place to discuss things in depth (along with an easier to use forum with more freedom to use things like bold and with notice of replies) with other Christians I would sure appreciate hearing about that too.

Thanks.

Carlos

Any advice or input would be most appreciated.

If you know of a better place to discuss things in depth (along with an easier to use forum with more freedom to use things like bold and with notice of replies) with other Christians I would sure appreciate hearing about that too.

Thanks.

Carlos
___________________________________

I don't know of any other forums out there but I will say that if you have a desire to hear, as well as share, then this forum can be an awesome place to learn. I find that being humble and having an open heart to listen to what others are seeing really has been beneficial to me personally. I have grown so much in my walk with the LORD just from reading the thoughts shared by others. As was mentioned they don't have to be lengthy discussions on doctrines or theology. Sometimes the things that have blessed me the most is reading a testimony of how the LORD is working in another persons life. I love reading about the work that GOD is doing in their hearts and lives and HE uses that to stretch and grow me too.

God bless
maryjane

Thanks for sharing you all and I do appreciate the input yet...I wonder if it is of God.

I mean is what you all are sharing God's perspective on this?

I do not say that in the least in defensiveness of my long posts or the frequency of starting threads that I have engaged in. Not at all.

But I have something wonderful to share this morning that I believe is of the Lord in that He touched a very deep wound in my life and gave me some revelation knowledge of His delight in me.

Now I know that may sound like some teacher wannabe at it again but I have to ask...what if God DID touch my heart?

What if He does want me to share at length what He touched my heart about?

Your all's suggestions that I seek to learn more than to share would go against the grain of that. And it would go against the grain of my gifting which is not by the way to be a teacher as much as to be a prophet as in to communicate the heart of God to His people.

Now I know that just my saying that probably has red flags raising all over the place as in that I might be one of those prophet types who come into a place and start trying to get others to see how great I am and whatever other stereotype you might have about prophets.

But I ask what IF I am gifted to be a prophet?

Would your advice be advice that a prophet should follow?

With respect to seeking to learn and not sharing much of anything at all?

It seems like your all's suggestions are in line with what I have encountered in much of established and organized churches. Where I am expected to come in like a good little sheep, sit in a pew and listen and learn from others before potentially, if ever, being able to operate in what seems like God's gift to me.

I do not say that defensively or to offend anyone. Only to point out that God may want things done differently.

I would NEVER discourage someone from speaking out what they believe God is putting on their heart to share with others. NEVER.

That is one of the problems with the church of today and I am afraid this post is getting to be quite long but I feel a need to say this.

The church of today frowns upon a young whipper snapper coming in to an established place and up and speaking the things God lays on their hearts.

Yet such a way of being toward those who are learning to fly in their gift is NOT the way of God as far as I read it in the New Testament.

We are to encourage every single believer to speak up and speak fully whatever God is laying on their hearts. There is to be a free operation of the gifts of the spirit.

Not a restraint from those who have been around for a while.

Correction...absolutely. Redirection...you bet. A sharing of insight with where I or others might be off...by all means. Perhaps help in learning how to express things more succintly...no question.

But NOT restrained exuberance because it is considered impolite or less than acceptable to come into an established thing like this forum and up and expressing things as though one has been around a long time and has earned the right to speak.

It is GOD who gives any of us the right to speak for Him. Not this forum or it's owner or anyone else.

Those are just some thoughts that I would encourage each of you to prayerfully consider.

I may just share one last thing which the Lord laid on my heart to share and go elsewhere. I will not restrain myself from speaking out about what God lays on my heart.

You may look at that as rebellious or otherwise but I look on that as madly in love with God.

Jesus Himself said that whatever God whispers in our ears we are to SHOUT from the housetops.

Thanks again for your input.

Carlos

Greg,

While I appreciate a listing of the guidelines for posting here I have to ask...do you see me as not following them in some way?

Specifically...

BEING TEACHABLE is a noble and wonderful thing. Am I not being teachable because I am excited about what God lays on my heart and want to share it with others? Being teachable is a state of heart. Not sharing is not proof of anything other than not sharing. Before God I believe I am as teachable as I can be...as far as I know how to be teachable. I am open to correction, open to seeing things differently, open to anything and everything that is of God.

HAVING A PERSONAL AGENDA...do you see me as having a personal agenda? If so...what might that be? Is it a personal agenda to want to share the things of God with others for their edification and the well being of the Body?

SERVANTHOOD...it is most definitely indicative of servanthood for me to come into a forum like this and share as I do. Because more often than not people come at me with all kinds of undeserved flak. I come into a place and stir things up. Not out of a desire to do so. It's the last thing I would want to do but God seems to often have other plans. I personally would just as soon shut my mouth and have the flak cease but I would not be faithful to God if I did that.

SPEAKING WITH GENTLENESS...ah now here I can learn. By all means I want correction in this if I ever don't do so. I want to be gentler in how I say things. But that does not involve shutting up and taking on the role of learner, assuming of course that a learner lets others speak and doesn't say much. If I am a prophet...is a true prophet of God supposed to keep their mouth shut? Now I know that you may not know me enough to say whether I am or not but don't you think it's possible that I might be? If that is so...is a prophet supposed to not express? Of course not.

SELF-PROMOTION ... I am not doing that at all unless you can point to something I am self-promoting. The only thing I am guilty of promoting is what God lays on my heart. Is that frowned upon here? Are the only one's who can promote that the one's who have been around here a long time? Is that God's way?

I fail to see why you even bring these things up Greg. Really.

I mean I appreciate it but unless you can point me to where I am falling short in these guidelines (with the exception of gentleness) I don't see the point of bringing them up in a conversation I started asking where I can find deeper discussion.

Carlos

I was going to share some incredible things the Lord showed me this morning...absolutely unreal...but I think I won't at this point.

There is no sense doing so.

If this forum is not open to new one's coming in and opening their hearts up about what God is laying on their hearts under some misguided notions of what is proper it is no place for me to be hanging around at.

The things the Lord revealed to me would have required yet another thread to be started by me and another long post.

Neither of which I am encouraged to do here at this point.

I'll check back a few times to see if any further responses warrant my attention on this thread since there is no notification of replies on this forum but if there are no new posts here I will go elsewhere.

May God keep and bless you all.

Carlos

Your desire for people to read "what you have to say" and comment "on what you feel the Lord is telling you" can seem like a good desire but I challenge you to search the motives of your heart.

I have searched my motives in the Presence of God a thousand times a thousand Greg.

In the Presence of God I see absolutely no problem at all in my desire to express the things of God for the edification of others and well being of His Body.

That is the same desire that undoubtedly you and many others have. It is the same desire that beats in my heart too.

The ONLY difference that I can see is that I am a newbie and am thus considered less able or perhaps less in the place of being able to share as freely as others here might.

But that is NOT God's perspective Greg. God is no respecter of persons and will as likely speak through one or another even to the point of speaking through a donkey (i.e. Balaam's).

Thanks again for your input bro.

Carlos

Hi, CarlosBCG

I know when I first came on to these forums on SI that I felt like a new inmate in a prison or a Public school boy in a new School, I was some what on the defensive because I new that many of my views are not popular and would be heavily criticized yet Many of them I feel are very benificial in the Christian walk so i feel a need to express them.
I have to say the moderators Here are very mature and do a great Job keeping everyone accountable and getting everyones focus back on Christ as we start running down a rabit trail. The rules are tight on SI but in all reality that is a blessing otherwise we would bite and devour one another, and we would become consumed one of another.

Do you truly feel that when you first joined that it was GOD that caused you to complain so about this site, right off the bat?

I am afraid that such was of me and not of God. That's good that you questioned me on that.

Sorry for having spoken my mind too readily on what I thought about the forum.

You've been demanding.

I apologize sincerely if I have come across as demanding though I must point out that I did not ever demand that anyone respond to me. I only expressed disappointment that I ended up talking to myself on a couple of the threads I began.

That's a bit different than demanding but still...I may have been demanding or at least may have come across that way in some other things I said and for that I am sincerely sorry.

When you enter a Church for the first time - do you immediately begin to tell them where you think they're running it not up to your own standards...

Absolutely not. That would be foolish and counterproductive.

Perhaps I have assumed too much about how forums are a different, better place closer to God's ideals for giving saints freedom of expression than many churches are. I'll have to prayerfully consider that.

Thanks very much for your correction.

Carlos

CarlosBCG wrote:

"I apologize sincerely if I have come across as demanding though I must point out that I did not ever demand that anyone respond to me. I only expressed disappointment that I ended up talking to myself on a couple of the threads I began.

That's a bit different than demanding but still...I may have been demanding or at least may have come across that way in some other things I said and for that I am sincerely sorry."
___________________________________________________________

I always have time for and admire saints who possess the divine humility to apologize, Carlos!

Though, you should not repent of your "exuberance" for our Lord God as well as your desire to fellowship in "holy converse" with your brothers in Christ. This is what comes across as awesome about you, Carlos - that you admit how "in love" you are with the Lord. Don't allow the discouraging words of others to dilute your utter enthusiasm for fellowship in God's Word.

Please don't get discouraged by some of the responses you've received, thus far. And I hope that you will continue with SI. I love the folks who contribute to this site.

However, what I don't like is how easily this forum will dismiss, cancel out or turn away someone who may get off on the wrong foot. Even after they've apologized. An apology signals that some inner transformation has taken place and it is a holy opportunity to support and sustain the change which takes place in the heart of one who repents. What a ministry it is to forgive and accept. Instead, I've seen this site reject folks right at this point of opportunity. It has saddened me as we of all people should understand the value of repentance.

I don't like to see a fellow-in-Christ discouraged or rejected by his/her very own brethren. With that, Carlos, I accept your apology and hope that we haven't missed out on the opportunity to hear about your heart's most recent encounter with the Lord.

Love-in-Christ,

KP

Thanks very much for your encouraging words KP. Given that you at least are desirious of hearing an absolutely wonderful thing that God did in my heart this morning I will post once more.

It will be a new thread and it will be long. There is no other way for me to share it.

I would encourage you all to read it and consider whether it is of God or not.

And if it is, to consider that maybe, just maybe this forum is misconstruing where I am coming from and putting on me a burden of acceptable behaviour that is man-made and not of God.

To Him be the glory and honor for anything good that I am about to share.

Just look for a new thread that I think I will title...

"God speaks to a deep wound through an amazing revelation!"

Carlos

I posted what I experienced from God this morning in a new thread https://www.sermonindex.net/modules/newbb/viewtopic.php?topic_id=46407&forum=35&0

And yes JIG I do apologize to Greg or anyone else that I have unintentionally offended or if I have in any way acted foolishly or presumptiously.

I still think this forum is not a place for me for reasons that I won't go into here as it would simply promote more controversy.

God's best to you all.

Carlos

Sister,

my email address is in my profile. I would love to have a way to contact you for prayer and encouragement if you are not on SI very much.

Travis

I don't think you're born again, despite your claims of being a prophet your words do not resonate with Spirit of the Word. If you honestly look at your description of your life, the areas where you see failure are areas of pride, children, spouse, career, and dwelling. I believe your 'god' is the American Dream rather than Jesus Christ so when all things have fallen apart, only a little 'Jesus' remains. The kind that completes the American Dream. The real Jesus says we are not worthy to be His disciples if we are unwilling to cast off every hindrance to follow Him, that includes job, children, wife and even our very life. Notice that doesn't follow the American Dream plus 'Jesus' model? The real Jesus is all. All. All.

You need to be quiet. You need to read this http://www.vejvoda.com/DEAR-ANABAPTISTS.html, http://www.vejvoda.com/qa-life.html and http://www.vejvoda.com/wotc.html

Are you sure you are born again?

May the Lord judge between me and you Jeremy and deal with you Himself if what you say about me is not true.

I leave you in God's hands.

Carlos

Indeed a spirit is speaking through you, but Carlos, how can you possibly think that the saints of God are going to believe that it is the Spirit of the meek and lowly Lamb of God whom we follow, and whose voice we know, how can we possibly turn from the voice of the Holy One who has our best interests at heart, and longs to fellowship with us and He in us with each other in love and humility? Can you not see that we just want to keep our lamps trimmed and our virgin hearts prepared for the Bridegroom? How can we possibly do that if we listen to the voice of satan, man, self or the world? We want the Lord Jesus whom we adore. I'm never afraid of the imposter, he is always easily discernable, I am always slow to speak, and quick to listen, because what I am afraid of is the imposter in me. And you should be, too.

Hi Carlos,

I read your other post... I had to log in just to comment.

I'm not sure i got what it was that you are asking for here,, but the experience you shared there is very touching.

It's wonderful how the Holy Spirit works in us, so I'd just like to encourage you to keep keeping your eyes focused on Jesus through it all.

This is a wonderful site as far as have experienced here so far, with the audio sermons especially. But as everything else with human involvement, we can't expect perfection from it. Even the term perfection it's self is flawed in common definition.

Being new myself I read alot of discussions and almost always have a comment or two that i sometimes first compose, edit several times and eventually end up canceling. Sometimes it's because I consider the yellow highlight above the submit button and I find my post (or myself) lacking in enough insight to serve and edify others, as many here seem so much more mature.

I then resort to listening to the wonderful collection of audio sermons that challenge me so much in my day to day walk with Christ. Some I even play on repeat:-)

My point is, you're not alone in not having your expectations met, but if you take a closer and deeper look... There is so much more that you can take away from here so I hope you don't deprive your spirit just because of offense from people with their own experiences and journeys.

I'm not saying that you should shy away from posting as I sometimes do, just that there's so much more to this site than the forums that you might find very edifying especially in your current circumstances.

You are still breathing, still searching for God and still blessed with internet access so hold on to Jesus for dear life and see how he will transform you.

PS: I know a bit about difficult times from my childhood so this is the best time to rejoice in Christ because he's all you've Got right now, and what a joy. Resist dampening that peace from the Lord you experienced, with nostalgia, remorse and all that is self. Right now, acknowledge that you knkw, nothing. Nothing except that It is finished.

You'll be in my prayers tonight.

Showers of Love fron Namibia,
Etuna:-)

I just checked in to see if there were any posts that I needed to respond to and found some more comments on this thread.

I have only one question for those of you who are inclined to continue beating up on me spiritually so to speak.

Where is the sin?

In my life?

That warrants your words to me?

One person said I that I do not have a teachable spirit. Could be. I don't feel convicted of that but it still could be and I could just be deceived.

So regarding a lack of teachable spirit...teach me. Show me what it is that I said or what I have done, spell it out, that shows a lack of teachable spirit. If you do and it is true I will be the first to confess my fault before you all.

Several of you are all up in arms about my saying that I am a prophet or gifted to be a prophet. Do you even know why I said that?

Was it a sin for me to say that?

I said that to make the point that prophets speak. That is what they do. They open their hearts to express God's heart into a situation or to highlight God's ideals.

I did that in so far as I knew how to by starting threads here and otherwise speaking what the Lord impressed my heart to say.

Was that a sin?

How?

Show me my sin? Make it plain. Don't just accuse me of this or that. That's Satan's way.

Lay it out for me. Teach me. Show it to me from the Word.

Help me see my sin...if indeed there really is any.

All I have heard to now is just accusation after accusation and condemnation of my person or what I have done here trying to share God's heart.

Where is the sin?

If there is no sin then why are some of you making me out to be in sin?

Carlos

Greetings Carlos

I just wanted to respond in love to your last post while referencing this first one. I don't know about others, why they felt led to respond to you as they did but I can share with you about how I felt after reading this fist post at the beginning of this thread :)

____________________________

You wrote:But it is a bit disappointing too in that I so want to discuss things in depth until the Lord leads us to some steps of conviction together or things that we can apply in what we are discussing.
____________________

My response: It can sometimes be disappointing to share what the LORD puts on your heart only to have others not see the same things you are seeing. I have over the years learned to just post as the LORD leads me and leave the rest to HIM. Honestly even if only three people read my post then they were the only ones GOD wanted to have read it and that is great right? Try not to get discourage or disappointed but continue to share in love and leave the rest to GOD.
_____________________________

You wrote:But what happens here is that people will come into a thread that I begin, say something...usually very insightful and wonderful, perhaps over several posts (allelujah!) and then when I get all excited and start sharing more...they seem to disappear and I start talking to myself.

___________________________

my response: topics move pretty fast around here sometimes. I myself have read a thread and there are times I feel no leading from the HOLY SPIRIT to respond then there are other times when I will be compelled to drop everything and post...I think what will help you as you share here is to learn that just as GOD is giving you leading to share HE is also working in the lives of others here in leading their actions also. Again do not get discourage trust in the LORD that each topic or thread will go exactly as HE has planned for it to, but remember that may not be the vision you had for it. Share the things the LORD gives you and then rest in HIM.

______________________________

you wrote:There are two threads where this is happening now.

I am just wondering, for those of you that have been in the threads I began, is it me somehow?

If not is there some way to encourage more in depth discussion?

Is the internet not conducive to that type of discussion?

I just don't know.

___________________________

my response: Perhaps you are attempting to force the discussion to go further then the LORD is leading others in at that moment.(I am not saying that you are doing this just giving you something to consider) I have seen threads drop off topic only to come back months later as the LORD opens the door to others to read and grow. Don't get discouraged and don't try to force deeper discussions if they don't happen. Share as you are lead and then trust in HIM :)

Also you might find it beneficial to visit other threads started by other members.Pray on those topics as well see what the LORD leads you to share. Often I have found that some of the deeper discussions and threads that have caused me the most growth were not even started by me. Be ready and willing to learn we are all here to do the same things you are share what GOD gives us with one another, grow in HIM and further the KINGDOM of CHRIST!!

I realize I repeated myself a few times but I just really wanted to drive the point home that things happen when we leave them to GOD and don't try to be in control. :)

God Bless
maryjane

Edit: Carlos I did struggle at one time with feeling discouraged but remember GOD is in control. Trust HIM to let the discussion flow as HE leads. That is what really helped me :)

Hi Mary Jane,

Wonderful points made by you. And yes...I do have a tendency to grow discouraged when no one changes their mind on things I might post about or where a thread doesn't seem to go anywhere with respect to having us all, including me, come to a place of learning something from whatever discussion is occurring to apply.

I eagerly read all posts made on any thread I participate in and pick up things from this or that person, and often say so, so this is not all about me and what I post.

But I do tend to share more often about what God has laid on my heart to share as that tends to excite me. I make no apology for that unless someone can show me where that is sin.

But let's not kid ourselves Mary Jane. While your points are well taken by me and are things I need to keep in mind and will (by God's grace) there is no sin (unless it is the tendency to get discouraged) in what you responded to.

The question I asked about was respecting accusations of my being unteachable, a prophet wanna be, having ulterior motives than just sharing what God lays on my heart, wanting to promote self, not being a Christian and so on and so forth.

I am still waiting for those of you who have accused me of such to lay out where the sin is? Where the substance of your accusations can be supported by anything I have said and done here.

If you cannot show me my sin and if there is no sin then may I say that you are walking in unrighteousness to so accuse me and insinuate evil about me.

I especially would like to hear from the person who accused me of being unteachable given that I am sitting here waiting with all ears to be taught about my sin and sincerely so. If there is wrong in me I want to know it and confess it before God and you all.

God gives grace to the humble and opposes the proud. I do not wish to be opposed by God but rather to place myself under His continuing grace.

So I will admit whatever sin there is in my life or heart if those of you who have accused me will do the honorable and godly thing and help me see it.

Carlos

I appreciate the input Approved (don't know what else to call you) and will check out the place you mentioned but may I ask...

With all due respect when have I EVER said that I want to be the teacher in an in-depth discussion??

What leads you to believe that I am this big, teacher person who is overinflated with a sense of his own importance and ability to teach others the truths of God?

Others have accused me of such but that is simply not true.

I want an in depth discussion so that I might carefully check what I believe the Lord has given me understanding of through others in the Body. For my own protection and that of others I might pass those things along to. I can think of few better ways to check on what I want to share from God than to have others on Christian forums give me their input that may reveal a less than perfect understanding on my part.

That is the primary purpose for which I want in depth discussion.

Secondary to that I want to pass along what the Lord has shared with me about a topic in the event that it is indeed right on. For the benefit of others in the Body.

Is either of those motives sinful in some way?

Is either of those motives indicative of a lack of submission (something I have also been accused of here for who knows why)?

Carlos

you wrote:But let's not kid ourselves Mary Jane. While your points are well taken by me and are things I need to keep in mind and will (by God's grace) there is no sin (unless it is the tendency to get discouraged) in what you responded to.

___________________

my response:Discouragement can be a sin in our lives especially sense it leaves open the door to the enemy to take our focus off of JESUS and place it on the situation or "how I feel". I did just want to encourage you not to let this attitude rule your heart. In my own walk discouragement has caused me to stumble into further sin so I do encourage you to consider this.

I just also wanted to say that I did read through your thread on healing and it seemed as if there was a very in depth discussion that went on. Each poster shared the things the LORD placed on their heart. I believe it got up to 130 responses which is really pretty good so I think that LORD was able to use all who took part and perhaps there were those who learned and grew from what was being shared. Perhaps that will encourage you :)

God bless
maryjane

Discerning of Spirits

This may very well be the most neglected and rejected spiritual gift in the body of Christ. Spiritual discernment tells what the heart is saying despite the words that pass through the lips or written with the pen. Discerning good words and evil words does not lie in the arrangement, context, nor even the doctrinal accuracy of what is being spoken, but in the spirit and power behind the words in the heart of the speaker. Preacher "A" may speak the exact same words as Preacher "B", yet one may be spoken out of the flesh, and one may be spoken out from the Holy Spirit, one out of a sanctified heart, one out from an unsanctified heart, one from the "spiritual man", one from the "natural man", one from God, one from satan. Discerning of spirits is the knowledge of this in the believer that teaches what is of God, and what is not. All true believers have an "anointing" within, some have their spiritual senses exercised through experience, and it is exercised over time unto Christian maturity. Some receive this gift in a magnified degree as a babe. Nevertheless, it is a gift that is meant for intercession, the protection of God's people, correction, building up the body, and identifying the true need in the speaker that the minister of the Life of Christ might know what to give the speaker unto true Life in Christ.

SonsOfLevi,

Are you saying that in your own accusations of me, I forget what you accused me of but I know you were one of those accusing me of something evil within my heart (I can look it up if you like)...that you discerned that evil in my heart by a supposed gift of discernment?

If that is so...may I ask how you are accountable to make sure that what you discern is of God and not your own?

I mean am I supposed to take whatever you accuse me of because you have a potential gift of discernment regardless of how innocent my words actually are such that you cannot point to my words and prove your accusations by my words?

Carlos

Hi Approved,

I appreciate your clarification Approved. By the way I don't think I am some big teacher person that others are to bow to or something...just so you know :).

Only that some have implied that I am is all I was saying.

If I may ask...

Your motives are okay, I guess what Admin Greg is concerned about is how your wording your request. It's in the wording and I do see from it that one could interpret your request to mean that you have an agenda, which is frowned upon and please understand the apprehension, SI has had many such instances in the past.

One could interpret all kinds of things from the subject of this thread but what exactly did I ask in the subject?

"Is there a better place to discuss things in depth?".

The only way one could see sinister motives in that question is by way of assumption.

Are we not to think the best of each other?

Are we not to ASK if something doesn't quite look right instead of assuming?

The bible says assumption leads to strife (well proved by this fiasco of my supposed hidden agenda and so forth) but with those who accept counsel there is wisdom.

Why couldn't it have been where Greg (or anyone else for that matter) just took my question as an innocent question that was intended to help me find a...well...better place to discuss things in depth?

That IS what I asked!

And why?

Because I wasn't getting enough depth of discussion in the few threads I started here!

No sinister anything in there at all.

However much SI has had bad things happen before through people that might have had some sinister motive or hidden agenda...there is NO excuse at least by God for assuming such in the heart of another believer by an innocent question that could well be sincere!

NO excuse whatever.

As for continuing to post and start new threads I was all but discouraged from doing so. That doing so was not in line with having a teachable spirit. That I was not out to learn but to teach. And so on and so forth.

Who in their right mind would want to post further in an atmosphere where one's motives will be continually assumed to be the worst, where people will see evil behind every word uttered, where one is seen to be unteachable and unsubmissive by way of starting too many threads and so on?

Where assumptions will be made that are not line with truth?

And now apparently where someone with a supposed gift of discernment has seen evil that I myself don't even feel convicted of or where the supposed evil cannot even be proved by the words I have spoken?

Carlos

One does not need a gift of discernment to see what is in plain sight for all to see.

That there is an evil on this forum that needs to be repented of.

Deep down.

And that my life and posting has touched on such and has caused it to rise to the surface.

May I suggest and I can back up why I think this may be the case if anyone is interested in hearing why...that that something is SPIRITUAL PRIDE.

Carlos

I'm sorry you feel accused, I simply posted what the gift of the Spirit is. You can use that for your good just the same as anyone else. That was for everybody's encouragement. It sounds more like a blessing that Jesus Christ is powerful and loving enough to bless "all" believers with the inward anointing which John the Apostle talks about in his first epistle. It's a blessing.

Approved,

I ask valid questions that cut to the heart of an assumption by SonsOfLevi and others and all you can respond with is that you are done with this childish thread?

I am not returning evil for evil.

I am exposing what seems like evil in how I have been dealt with.

Rather than confessing that evil and it is evil by the very Word we all use...all I am hearing are excuses.

Many Christian forums, including apparently this one, cover evil up. They don't confront it. They don't expose it. In love, yes but they don't expose the evil.

They simply close threads and the evil that was present in the heart and was expressed through words is simply made to vanish by closing the thread.

When I say expose I don't mean just to make accusation. I mean to lay it out such that one can repent from it which has not been done.

That is evil and wrong by God!

Carlos

This may very well be the most neglected and rejected spiritual gift in the body of Christ. Spiritual discernment tells what the heart is saying despite the words that pass through the lips or written with the pen. Discerning good words and evil words does not lie in the arrangement, context, nor even the doctrinal accuracy of what is being spoken, but in the spirit and power behind the words in the heart of the speaker. Preacher "A" may speak the exact same words as Preacher "B", yet one may be spoken out of the flesh, and one may be spoken out from the Holy Spirit, one out of a sanctified heart, one out from an unsanctified heart, one from the "spiritual man", one from the "natural man", one from God, one from satan. Discerning of spirits is the knowledge of this in the believer that teaches what is of God, and what is not. All true believers have an "anointing" within, some have their spiritual senses exercised through experience, and it is exercised over time unto Christian maturity. Some receive this gift in a magnified degree as a babe. Nevertheless, it is a gift that is meant for intercession, the protection of God's people, correction, building up the body, and identifying the true need in the speaker that the minister of the Life of Christ might know what to give the speaker unto true Life in Christ.

Many young believers are, quite naturally, still immature in the things of God and are yet unable to sense their own budding pride. Others have never been truly regenerated to begin with. The Holy Spirit will expose these things to us secretly, and then great care must be taken on our part with how we handle it. If God tells you something in your heart about a person, it was given to you secretly for a reason and not meant to be blurted from the rooftop. If He wanted a trumpet blown about the truth of someone's spiritual state, He would have exposed the person publically, to their great shame through a false prophecy, moral failure, etc. He doesn't need our help with bringing wolves out of the closet.

He does expect us, however, to be responsible in the exercising of His gifts, and the gift of discernment is as important as any in its proper handling.

Brother Paul

Quite frankly, I've never seen a user intentionally direct so much attention towards themselves as in this thread.

So now...I am the great redirector who is using this thread to get attention. Sigh.

You don't deal with the issues themselves or carefully help me see my sin.

You just add yet another accusation on inuendo on top of all the others.

It is evident that this thread will go nowhere and that those of you who have accused me falsely will continue to hang on to your false accusations and rationalize what you have done by any and every means.

There is no point in me posting further here.

May the Lord deal with the evil on this forum and break any pride that exists in all our lives.

I won't be coming back to this thread or this forum for that matter so you all can post whatever you like and say whatever you like but when you spend time with the Lord may He bring to mind what I have said and bring your own words back to your remembrance in so far as any of them were not pleasing to Him.

Carlos

They simply close threads and the evil that was present in the heart and was expressed through words is simply made to vanish by closing the thread.

Carlos, the thread you are speaking of was closed because of the ill-spirit it was generating. I acknowledge that this was not your fault or motive in creating it. Nonetheless, the way you are coming across in these threads is obviously not conducive for an in-depth discussion to flourish. I wish it were so, for I for one would like to hear more of what's on your heart, but your consistent dissatisfaction with the forum always seems to get in the way.

I hope you can work through whatever is frustrating you and find comfort in the One who transcends these places and brings real joy and peace to dissatisfied hearts. Please try to avail yourself to all the great free sermon resources on this website! May they be a wealth of edification to you, may they comfort you, may the Lord use them to impact your life in an irreversible way.

God bless,

Paul

Indeed Brother Paul, a timely word well spoken.