Thinking of you, John.
I’ve tried to respond to your post several times but deleted it. I’m not saying I’ve had an experience like Paul had on the road, but I am bringing it up for an example. Especially with the video on what we have been told of God. I can see Saul in the way the video spoke of those who want to imprison, persecute, consent to death— as Saul consented to Stephens death, consenting to the shedding of blood of a brother. I don’t know for sure but I would think Paul would have had questions when asked “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute Me?” The first is a question, “Lord, who are you?”
I can relate asking that question before also, many times “Lord, who are you?”
The point I’m making is I don’t see how a person would not have questions when believing for so long you are serving the One true God (in my case saying a prayer over and over again saying i was a Christian when I knew nothing about God’s Nature), to find out instead you have persecuted the Way. I see your point in Paul saying he was taught the True God not of men, but taught the True God by the Revelation of Jesus Christ. Paul having to unlearn (Imo) misconceptions held for a long time. This I can relate to. For decades being taught God is a tyrant, a respecter of persons so much so that I was fully convinced women are just cattle or a possession to God. All I learned about the Nature of God where there came a point, I opened the word and asked “why do you hate me, God?” If and when we have all had a time when all our own thoughts about God, our own theology and our own beliefs have failed…I don’t see it as an evil thing to stand up and question what men have taught of God. Almost every verse in the Bible I’ve had to relearn where nothing is as I thought it was through the lens of God as a tyrant. Even His followers. I’ve had to relearn their words that I always heard as demeaning or crushing, yet the Spirit within them edifies. Even when God gives them over to a reprobate mind …men’s focus is on God destroys them —but (Imo) the Nature of God is for the flesh to be destroyed so that the spirit may be saved. Regardless of countless verses on destroying (Imo) it’s always for that which is better and profitable. Freeing… liberating from what? Makes me consider Ephesians 4:14-16 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; [15] But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: [16] From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplies, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, makes increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.
Thank you for remembering me. According to the flesh I guess people might say I am going through some difficult times, but when such things want to get the better of me... I then remember to look to the Lord for something good.
Perhaps all of us, those who really do love the Lord, have had at least a type of a “Damascus Road experience” even though probably not often so bright in the eyes of others as Paul’s.
Who among us knows
alot about God’s nature? [How much is "
alot"?]
It is not only new converts who come short of God’s glory and come short of a full knowledge of Him and a full and perfect vision of Him. We may read and study and pray and worship daily receiving at times new revelations, new visions of Him... but who has gone beyond “in part”? Who has gone beyond “through a glass darkly”? What does "face to face" with God mean?
We can also listen to preachers and teachers and prophets... and receive good things, but remember while listening to them [and also including me] the warning given here:
Lu 17:20 And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God
cometh not with observation:
Lu 17:21 Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold,
the kingdom of God is within you.
Do we have all of the ingredients necessary to see and understand but without the ability to even see what we have? Do we not still have at least a foot in the world even though we may not be “of the world”.
Joh 17:11 And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world...
Joh 17:14 ...they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
And, No, it is not an evil thing ask such questions. We are all of still in the flesh even at the best of our times. This take me back to my own method of sifting through what I have heard and read and believed. Each day it is trying to go to the lowest room striving to empty myself and asking God to help me do so then as He wills that He may fill me anew with only things from Him.
Lu 14:10 But when thou art bidden, go and sit down
in the lowest room; that when he that bade thee cometh, he may say unto thee, Friend, go up higher: then shalt thou have worship in the presence of them that sit at meat with thee.
Lu 14:11 For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.
Remember also not to remain empty:
Mt 12:44 Then he saith, I will return into my house from whence I came out; and when he is come,
he findeth it empty, swept, and garnished.
Mt 12:45 Then goeth he, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first. Even so shall it be also unto this wicked generation.
Stay hungry and thirsty for the right things:
Mt 5:6 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.
Ask God to help you have and to retain the right hunger and thirst for alone we will not make it:
Mt 7:7 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:
Joh 15:5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for
without me ye can do nothing.
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