| Author | Message | ||
| River Registered user Username: River Post Number: 917 Registered: 9-2006  |
Ramone made the point that many of the former Adventist have doubts when it comes to such things as visits by Angels and other supernatural happenings because they are leery for good reason and I totally agree, and furthermore I agree whole heartedly that they should be. Earlier I used the term to describe this as “Too hold in tension” things that we may be unsure about, it is neither a rush too judgment against nor an assertion of endorsement. It means that we wait (hold) in “tension” I am going to be using that word quite often for a feel it is a better word to describe some lines of thought. Someone made the statement earlier something to this effect “If I was fooled so thoroughly all my life, how do I know what is truth now? That wasn’t exactly how it was stated maybe but that’s what it boiled down too and it is a valid question. The former Adventist has been subjected to the writings of E.G. White as she met with her “Angel”. So says the former Adventist, “I have been fooled before, what is to protect me from being fooled now?” So when someone says “Angel”, or for that matter it may pertain to other supernatural happenings that they may hear claims off, he most times may go into the defense mode. I believe this is known in Psycho Babel as “Classical Conditioning” although I may stand corrected by the Psychologist out there. Feel free. He has been conditioned by his past to respond negatively to certain things. I will use the cognitive activity side and go with that. Put in the Arky language “Thet mule kicked me once, he ain’t gonna get a chance to kick me agin!” There are many here I am sure who has been “Kicked” by that Adventist mule. Even I have been kicked by that Adventist mule, sometimes I feel I am more of a former Adventist than an evangelical, I have more in common with the former than with my own church, don’t ask me to explain all that. So how can we know the difference between prophets and Angels and spirits n’ sich? That is what I want to try to address. We use common sense, as my loving Dad used to say to me just before he slapped me upside the head “Boy, ain’t you got no common sense?” Guess he thought slapping me upside the head or kicking me clean across the room would be a great induction to using common sense, but mostly it just hurt, not only my body but my spirit as well. I will use E.G Whites Angel as an opposite, what did her Angel bring? Could I say misery and be truthful? Now lets take the Angel Old Jacob wrestled with all night, what was Jacob after there Genesis 32:26 And he said, Let me go, for the day breaketh. And he said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me. Blessing was what he was after and isn’t that what we are after? Jacob knew that Angel had brought a blessing and he wasn’t going to turn loose until he blessed him. No more living under the curse of E.G. White, no more IJ, no more, no how. What did her Angel bring with him? No pork rinds, just IJ and misery and struggle to carry his load, struggle to satisfy a day of the week and threats of the curse of E.G.White. No Joy, No how. Oh, I believe she saw an Angel alright, but it’s not the kind I would want to meet in a dark ally. The good Angels brought blessing, they are Gods messengers of Good and not harm, the one that appeared to Mary the mother of Jesus, what did he say? Luke 2:10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. All the people! Now that is quite the opposite from the elitist teaching of E.G. That is how we can fully recognize and tell the good Angels from the bad Angels or Spirits, any time we encounter things of God, supernatural acts, Angels, spirits, the out come will be blessing, deliverance, joy, rest and things of that nature. Anytime we encounter Satan and his cohorts it will bring misery, pain, torment, imprisonment, death, destruction, cursing, it will bring some of those things with it and maybe all of them. Satan and his cohorts is death, misery and destruction personified. So really, I think we can know the difference and so really we don’t have to be afraid of getting roped in, just examine the things that come along with these claims. Wait, hold it in tension, see what comes of it, be patient until it bears its fruit. Watch it. Does it bring healing, delivery, blessing, joy, peace? Or some other thing? No need to rush to judgment, stand still and wait on God, he will protect us and provide for us. Kinda like Photography, we snap the picture, the wait and see what develops. We “Hold it in tension”. River | ||
| Reb Registered user Username: Reb Post Number: 166 Registered: 5-2007 |
Wow, that is so true, River! Well said. | ||
| Jim02 Registered user Username: Jim02 Post Number: 100 Registered: 5-2007 |
My common sense tells me that if they bring a message it must agree with scripture and be clearly understood. Not vague and mutiplex meanings. But specific and to a point. I agree about the fruits aspect. But , sometimes the evidentary fruits could be a bait and switch. (Too good to be true) Good on the surface, but consequential or deceptive in the aftermath. We are , cautioned that a false message could come in the guise of an Angel of Light performing miracles. I read heard reference in the past that EGW had questioned if her "contact" was genuine and she was struck ill. She concluded it must be real. That seemed odd to me. I think if I were presented with a close encounter like that, I would simply have to go into wittness mode and check my facts later. I have never wittnessed "miracle healings" with first hand knowledge before and after results. I am not so sure I would know what to do if I saw people hitting the floor left and right. Has anyone seen limbs regrow? Or visible wounds heal in seconds? Not suggesting doubts here. But that would be a very visible example. I believe God does heal people everyday in many many ways, both through medicene, natural healing desgins and inetrventional or a combination of the three. I believe prayer very much changes things. Events happen from prayer and fail from lack of it. I desire the Gifts of The Spirit, but only if they will be a blessing and when God wants me to experience them, when He has taught me to understand how to use them to His Glory, not mine. But if I am not equiped to deal with it, then it is in His mercy that I do not experince any of this extra level contact. Scripture and The Holy Spirit is enough. | ||
| Colleentinker Registered user Username: Colleentinker Post Number: 6112 Registered: 12-2003  |
Good points, River and Jim. As you mentioned, Jim, evil angels can appear as angels of light and can even say things that sound very much like truth--witness Ellen's angel And River, you are right about conterfeits bringing bondage. The problem is that at first, those counterfeit angels of light can sound, feel, and seem like blessings. Bottom line for me: I pray that God will protect me from deception and from self-deception. I use the Bible as my standard, and I have to be willing to subject every experience to Him and ask Him for His ongoing protection. The armor in Ephesians 6:10-18 is for our protection! He is faithful, and we are His! Colleen | ||
| River Registered user Username: River Post Number: 918 Registered: 9-2006 |
Beam me up Scotty! | ||
| Flyinglady Registered user Username: Flyinglady Post Number: 3831 Registered: 3-2004  |
When I first heard the voice that told me that job in VA was mine, I told myself and God that I would not believe it until I had the job interviews. I was offered the job, at the interview, at more than what the HR manager offered it to me. So when I heard the voice tell me to "go to that big church on Russell Rd off 95" I said I would go, not knowing what I would find. As I had told, when I walked in and sat down I had the most incredible feeling of coming home. That feeling is with me every time I enter the church. I get a big smile on my face and am genuinely happy. I do not know if God will talk to me again. He is so awesome. Diana | ||
| River Registered user Username: River Post Number: 920 Registered: 9-2006 |
quote: "And River, you are right about conterfeits bringing bondage. The problem is that at first, those counterfeit angels of light can sound, feel, and seem like blessings." That is why we should be careful to wait and examine the fruit and of course use our Bibles. It is also important that we do not be quick to laugh at something that may very well be the works of the Holy Spirit, I think it is dangerous to mock the Holy Spirit and I have seen people do this. Jesus said to "be wise as serpents and harmless as doves". I think that indicates he wants us to use great wisdom as we make our way through this life. River |
