Who is the Lord Jesus to you and why.......

[Cassia]

Enjoying this thread as a great way to get to know everyone. Great posts!

 

[Stravinsk]

It was a packed audience, and the speaker and host, Mr Alithis, had taken center stage.

Alithis: "My dear people. I would like to proclaim to you the Lord Jesus Christ. His power and majesty is breathtaking. He is Lord of All and and He works in my own life. After all, I was once a smoker, and now I am free! Thus, Jesus is my Lord and Savior! Anyone else?"

Jew: "Gee, I once smoked too. Gave up the habit 10 years ago. But I didn't pray to Jesus about it"

Muslim: " Jesus? No, Allah be praised! His peace be upon the prophet Mohammad. Mohammad delivered me from tobacco! (moderate) 'I hope all non-muslims come to know the power of Allah and his prophet Mohammad' (radical) 'non-Muslim smokers, meet my sword!!'"

Atheist: " Uh huh. I was a smoker for 20 years. Doc said I had to give it up or I'd die within 5. Made a decision. Smoke free now for 10 years. "

Agnostic: " If that's a testimony of the power of Jesus, it doesn't convince me. I once smoked too, and it didn't take me becoming a Christian to quit the habit "



Alithis:

"Now now! This is for Christian testimonies only! All you non-Christians - move to another room! I will not discuss this with you!"


The point I'm making, Mr Alithis - is that your position and evidence for that position, along with your refusal to answer a simple question shows the weakness of that position. To an outsider of the faith, especially one who has overcome a bad habit (like smoking), it lends no believability to that faith.


I have a testimony of sorts. I'll say plainly what it is.

In my youth, early adulthood - I had a major substance (drug) abuse problem. I went to jail over it. I was homeless for a while partly because of it. I typically could hold down work but would spend a great deal of my income on the substances I was abusing.

I quit. One could say Jesus was involved - because I did pray. However - the practical application of changing attitudes came through certain actions of speaking and doing - and becoming single minded in this particular area. I do credit certain passages of Scripture for giving me wisdom though - those that deal with being single minded, being honest, utilizing the power of the tongue and to help with all of these - prayers to this effect.

The wisdom used could be found in a number of self help books, but the original source for it, as far as I know or knew - were biblical passages. Proverbs specifically and also some teachings of Yeshua and of James.

Alithis's snip of my entire post:

I <snip>

"Now now! This is for Christian testimonies only! All you non-Christians - move to another room! I will not discuss this with you!"

I left the only relevant part of your post that relates to the topic of this thread.
-To testify of the goodness of the lord jesus. Not deny and mock him.

Thankyou for clarifying that you are not a deciple of the lord jesus.by referring to your self as non-christian.

Re: Your last quote here and your snip of my post, along with the line taken out of context for your mischaracterization of it -

I like this testimony much better. It's so much more - YOU.

Btw, Alithis. Do you see my symbol? I asked for it when I first joined. Deist. A Deist with some beliefs commonly accepted by Christians. I have no need to prove myself here, but just for the record - I'm sure your quitting tobacco after 7 days is much more impressive than my quitting cocaine, lsd, heroin and speed - which took me months and a lot of praying and applied principles found in the Bible. But wait, Jesus needs to look good. If only I had your "poof, I'm healed - praise the Lord" experience - my gosh, it would have been so much easier than what I went through.

 

[Alithis]

THREAD TOPIC FOCUS

I understand that some folks cannot yet testify of the lord JESUS's effectual working and speaking of the lord JESUS into their lives .
as knowing "of ' him ,they do not yet know him .this is the vast difference between knowing about Jesus and knowing him resurrected and indwelling by the holy Spirit . By his spirit he lives within ,speaks guides teaches, corrects ,admonishes and "chastises those whom he loves as a father the son(child) in whom he delights .

There have been some wonderful testimonies shared of how he has been doing all these things in folks lives and it would be awesome to keep them coming .
and keep the thread topic discussed in that direction .

if you want to discuss aspects of someone's testimony please DO start a thread and draw their/our attention to it so they can address those questions elsewhere .

 

[Alithis]

The Lord is my help in peril, my direction when lost, my strength when weak.

This is a copy/ paste from an explanation of sorts of the things that gave me faith. Indeed a testament of Christ working for the sake of man, namely, me.


From early childhood up until what happened I was an atheist or agnostic. I remember thinking at a young age that there couldn't be a God because pain and suffering seemed to be observable everywhere. At some point I did consider the Sun to be a higher power of sorts as no life that I knew of could live without it. I remember asking my father once if he thought there was a God. After careful consideration he replied that he did not know. I lived with my mom. We didn't go to church much; maybe a handful of times in early childhood. She wasn't really spiritual or religious that I could tell. I do recall my grandmother being a believer because at family gatherings she would insist that someone said grace or have thanks to God. Anyway, I went through life in relative solitude, always being somewhat odd or different I guess. At an early age I recognized pain as an electronic signal of sorts. In doing so I was able to train myself to endure quite a bit of it. I turned myself off emotionally somehow, letting little really affect me. I began to realize that anger and pain could be channeled and used as strength and motivation. Not being spiritual in any way, I guess I didn't realize the ramifications this could have later.

Fast forward to mid twenties. All lessons I learned the hard way, taking no advice from any, finding out for myself. Personal failure and disappointment on a constant level made me self loathing. Severe drug addiction made it worse. Though I had strength I couldn't stop by my own will seemingly. I hated pretty much everything, but most of all, myself. I awoke angry and fell asleep angry for years, even before serious drug addiction. I fought myself for a couple of years trying to change the direction I was witnessing myself going. I used to park at graveyards and contemplate death. I fervently wished I had the strength to kill myself, and hated myself that much more for being too cowardly to go through with it. Throughout my life, but mostly throughout my addiction, I had a lot of time to contemplate things, and view my own actions or the lack there of retrospectively. Somewhere in the midst of all this I recall sincerely swallowing my misplaced pride which was all but gone already, and asking for help. I pleaded to GOD, Christ, Jesus, whatever. I did this once. I realized that regardless of what I thought and how strong I thought I was, I couldn't seem to be able to make the change for better happen. Down, at my lowest point, I recall seeing what most likely would have been explained away by anyone(including myself) as a smudge on a window. There was light coming through. Regardless, the smudge had the vague form of an Angel. I don't know exactly why, but seeing that gave me an inkling of hope. I was still severely addicted though I had lost almost everything I had ever cared about. A woman I had a child with had taken me in at this point and the three of us were struggling pretty bad. She told me she was moving back home and said I could come. I did. I vaguely recall seeing something again when we moved. I don't even remember what it was, but I do remember that it reminded me of what I had seen on the window, and again that misplaced hope surfaced. Months went by. Her, my son, and myself moved in together in her home town. I had not used since we moved. I made a trip back home and used for one night. I returned and went back to not using. Throughout this time I still had all the same hate and anger that I had before. Though I was doing better as far as my drug addiction was concerned, she wasn't really trying to change. Our son was in the middle. This and other things brought great tention on our relationship. I went to jail for a somewhat unrelated reason. I got out about a month later I guess. When I returned home with her and my son I realized she had been doing some really messed up things while I was gone. I was so worried for the upbringing of my son that I justified killing her and going to prison, because I thought my son would be better off. I chased her for about a half an hour, methodically. She couldn't leave because I had her car keys. For those minutes I did intent to take her life with my hands. Thankfully, I eventually have her her keys and she left.

Okay, so that was a lot of back story. Sorry if it bored you. I've never went into that much detail about it but it seemed necessary to convey the state of mind I was in.

I'm not sure if it was the next day or a couple of days later.

I'm driving home from work on a usual road. Listening to the radio as I drive. The radio fades out to silence. This never happened before. I adjust the station and volume to no avail whatsoever...silence. Suddenly and inexplicably I feel this great weight, this huge burden lifted from me. My anger, pain, and hatred are removed all at once. I am overwhelmed with joy as tears flow freely from my eyes( something that previously just didn't really happen). I am utterly and wholly grateful and thank GOD. Many things begin to come into my mind. Things I never even fathomed. I am shown, in my mind, how GOD was with me through all things I had endured. I was shown how every step in my life had been for a reason and that GOD had been ever present through it all regardless of my obliviousness to it. I was shown how GOD was there before my conception and through my troubled birth. I was shown that I was here for a reason and that all I had been through was too, for a reason. Many understandings and revelations took place. Then things stopped coming into my mind. An utter peace never thought possible was with me. A joyous expectation of life filled me. The radio fades back in to the same station and volume it had been at. I felt the strong edge to write down what had taken place. When I got home, I found the nearest utensils at hand and began writing. I had intended to describe the happenings that had taken place. What I wrote is more of some sort of moral code. This all happened when I was thirty in 2011. I never really looked at those writings again for about four years. At which time I started reading the bible. For some reason I don't recall I found this invoice book that I had written in years before. When I read it it was as if it had been taken out of the bible or something because of the nature of the written material.

I had never read the bible or really even heard it prior to writing what I wrote.


In the past couple of years other things have happened and changes have taken place. But that is a different story I suppose. Regardless of what happens to me for whatever reasons, I will never forget the miraculous event that took place in my life by the grace and mercy of GOD.
All praise and thanks is to GOD.


I hope none are offended by my testimony, and that it is could to be pertinent to the topic at hand.

Peace

Faith in selfless Unity for Good.

re the line in red ... if these "other things ' are a result of the lord jesus speaking into your life it would be great to hear about some of them as mini testimonies of how he done ,is doing , this .

it is great to ,.. as David put it .. ,"call to remembrance the good things God has done "

 

[popsthebuilder]

I feel like enough of an outcast. I don't feel comfortable talking about such personal things. Not to mention it manages to bring out feelings of contempt, envy, fear, and hatred for some because they don't understand or think I'm crazy or regard myself as something special, which I do not.

Maybe some other time. That's quite enough spotlight for me or the things that have happened to me. Most people already act like I'm some heretic or antichrist. I'd really like to not differentiate myself from others too much right now.

Maybe after some others have commented on their experiences or at least express that they are okay with me expressing mine.

I come here for some sort of fellowship because I think it is beneficial, and I don't belong to any church. I don't have anyone to talk to about faith related things, and just don't want to be alienated anymore at this particular momment.

I hope you understand.

Peace

Faith in selfless Unity for Good.

 

[MoreCoffee]

Jesus is who he is. It doesn't matter what this or that person feels/thinks/conceives him to be. Objectively Jesus is the Only Begotten Son of God, born of the Father before all ages. God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, consubstantial with the Father; through him all things were made. For us men and for our salvation he came down from heaven, and by the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the Virgin Mary, and became man. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate, he suffered death and was buried, and rose again on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures. He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead
and his kingdom will have no end.

 

[Stravinsk]

THREAD TOPIC FOCUS

I understand that some folks cannot yet testify of the lord JESUS's effectual working and speaking of the lord JESUS into their lives .
as knowing "of ' him ,they do not yet know him .this is the vast difference between knowing about Jesus and knowing him resurrected and indwelling by the holy Spirit . By his spirit he lives within ,speaks guides teaches, corrects ,admonishes and "chastises those whom he loves as a father the son(child) in whom he delights .

There have been some wonderful testimonies shared of how he has been doing all these things in folks lives and it would be awesome to keep them coming .
and keep the thread topic discussed in that direction .

if you want to discuss aspects of someone's testimony please DO start a thread and draw their/our attention to it so they can address those questions elsewhere .

re the line in red ... if these "other things ' are a result of the lord jesus speaking into your life it would be great to hear about some of them as mini testimonies of how he done ,is doing , this .

it is great to ,.. as David put it .. ,"call to remembrance the good things God has done "

Bold and size = my emphasis.

Posts are mere minutes apart.

Alithis Method of Operation =

You may not question me in my thread - please take it elsewhere or I'll get nasty, but I am free to question you.

Alithis Method of Operation part deux =

I started this thread with a proof text of why and how I am a true Christian, which is a main theme of mine on this board (and thus how many others are not) - but if you challenge me, I'll say you're mocking Jesus and that my thread is really about praising Jesus rather than giving a personal testimony that provides one's Christian Credentials (TM).


Don't think all of us are fooled, Alithis. Why is this thread in the "off topic" section of a Christian message board, btw?

 

[Alithis]

Bold and size = my emphasis.

Posts are mere minutes apart.

Alithis Method of Operation =

You may not question me in my thread - please take it elsewhere or I'll get nasty, but I am free to question you.

Alithis Method of Operation part deux =

I started this thread with a proof text of why and how I am a true Christian, which is a main theme of mine on this board (and thus how many others are not) - but if you challenge me, I'll say you're mocking Jesus and that my thread is really about praising Jesus rather than giving a personal testimony that provides one's Christian Credentials (TM).


Don't think all of us are fooled, Alithis. Why is this thread in the "off topic" section of a Christian message board, btw?

i said i'm happy for you to question me and i am happy to reply .. start another thread .

 

[MarkFL]

Strav,

Why not start a new thread as Alithis requested? It seems to me he is willing to answer your questions, but doesn't want this thread to be the place.

Alithis,

You did post this in an area where non-Christians are encouraged to post, which is of course your prerogative. However, in doing so, you opened the floor to those whose relationship to Jesus might not be conducive to the type of discussion you intended. Would you prefer if one of the moderating staff moved this thread to the Christian Fellowship area and split the thread into one for Christians (for those who profess Christ as their Savior) and one here where you can address questions like Strav posed to you?

Moderating Staff,

Once this issue has been resolved, please feel free to delete this post. I just want to see both users happy and constructive discussion ensuing.

 

[Alithis]

Strav,

Why not start a new thread as Alithis requested? It seems to me he is willing to answer your questions, but doesn't want this thread to be the place.

Alithis,

You did post this in an area where non-Christians are encouraged to post, which is of course your prerogative. However, in doing so, you opened the floor to those whose relationship to Jesus might not be conducive to the type of discussion you intended. Would you prefer if one of the moderating staff moved this thread to the Christian Fellowship area and split the thread into one for Christians (for those who profess Christ as their Savior) and one here where you can address questions like Strav posed to you?

Moderating Staff,

Once this issue has been resolved, please feel free to delete this post. I just want to see both users happy and constructive discussion ensuing.

yes i see that now ,
Albeit we should at least stay in the scope of the topic no matter what our religious stance

 

[Stravinsk]

Strav,

Why not start a new thread as Alithis requested? It seems to me he is willing to answer your questions, but doesn't want this thread to be the place.

Alithis,

You did post this in an area where non-Christians are encouraged to post, which is of course your prerogative. However, in doing so, you opened the floor to those whose relationship to Jesus might not be conducive to the type of discussion you intended. Would you prefer if one of the moderating staff moved this thread to the Christian Fellowship area and split the thread into one for Christians (for those who profess Christ as their Savior) and one here where you can address questions like Strav posed to you?

Moderating Staff,

Once this issue has been resolved, please feel free to delete this post. I just want to see both users happy and constructive discussion ensuing.

Because from past experience this user makes these types of promises then fails to follow through.

Instead I'm often(not always) given some version of "you need to repent of your unbelief", "you did not ask the question correctly", something about not having the Holy Spirit or simply ignoring the question.

But Mark, you may be right. Perhaps now that Alithis has stated multiple times in this thread that that's what I need to do in order for him to answer a very simple question about his own assertion, then perhaps that is what I do. Seems like a waste of a thread for such a simple question, but alright.

 

[MarkFL]

Strav,

I suggest waiting until the moderating staff can make a decision about how they wish to handle it, and if they split the thread (and delete these posts discussing what to do), then you won't have to create a thread.

 

[Stravinsk]

It's already created

 

[MarkFL]

It's already created

No worries...and I appreciate your effort. :thumbsup:

 

[Lamb]

Alithis, if you will tell us which posts in this thread you want moved to Strav's new thread that would be helpful and I'll split the ones guiding you through this into the Trash. I'm off to church in a bit.

 

[Alithis]

Alithis, if you will tell us which posts in this thread you want moved to Strav's new thread that would be helpful and I'll split the ones guiding you through this into the Trash. I'm off to church in a bit.

just leave it as it is and hopefuly more will post to testify .

 

[Alithis]

Not long ago my wife and i were looking at refinancing and had spoken to the bank. In this regard.

But ever learning ,we prayed together and acknowledged the lord asking him if this was his will..
Its written "acknowledge the lord in ALL your ways and he will direct.............."

Then i began to experience a strong discomfort with the whole idea...then my wife had a very strong dream ...
A few days later the bank phoned and said its all accepted and preapproved ,come on in a sign the paper...easy as that.
But the lordhad now made it clear we were not to do this and it was with great ease we obeyed.
The lord truley does Everything he says he does.

 

[Stravinsk]

^^

I get a similar discomfort driving by the pokies. The thought comes in "maybe it would be fun to play a few slot machines"

Then what I only imagine could be the Lord says: "Strav, this isn't a habit you want. You would be wasting your money and you have goals for your savings"

Then I reply: "Yes, Lord, of course you are right"

The Lord is good.

And then, I break out into song:

"He walks with me, he talks with me...."

And for some strange reason, every monetary transaction that follows I find myself exclaiming "praise the Lord!" The people think I am strange, but I know only the special ones have our secret code down.