| Author | Message | ||
| Busymom Registered user Username: Busymom Post Number: 55 Registered: 4-2004 |
Would anyone be willing to share a prayer for an Adventist that has hurt them? I have been convicted that I need to pray for the Adventist who was pastoring the church when I left. Several weeks after I turned in my letter of resignation, the pastor preached a sermon about me. He gave enough of the specifics of my situation that everyone who attended church knew it was me. He ridiculed the fact that I was leaving and that I hadn't done my homework. He provided verses that talked about how much God loved his law intimating that I was no longer following God's law. I listened to the sermon only when a friend gave it to me weeks later telling me it would answer my questions about the IJ. Lately sitting in the new church a little voice in my mind keeps telling me I am crazy to risk being ridiculed again. The rational side of me keeps saying that it is not fair to assume that I would ever be the subject of a sermon again. Anyways the only way that I can pray for this pastor is just to pray that he would really know God. He is very old school when it comes to EGW. At his current church he copies pages of her Testimonies into the church newsletter. Jesus never ridiculed people who were honestly seeking him. Anyways is there a specific prayer you have prayed when a church leader has hurt you? | ||
| Flyinglady Registered user Username: Flyinglady Post Number: 4031 Registered: 3-2004  |
YES!!! Pray for him for two weeks. Tell God how you really feel about him. Then ask God to give him everything you want for yourself. Here is how I have done it for some one that I was angry with: Lord, that lady is a &*%^$#* and I do not like her and she does not deserve all the things I want. I do not mean any of this right now, but I am told to pray for her for two weeks asking that you give her everything I want for myself. I want to get rid of this feeling inside me and I want you to change me. So, in spite of how I feel, give this person everything I want for myself-peace with you, with their family, serenity and what every else I want for myself. After a few days I do not want to call this person any names. I am honest with God because He knows what I am thinking anyway, so I tell him exactly what I am thinking/feeling. Before the first week is over, I am thinking differently about that person and by the end of two weeks I sincerely mean my prayer. The prayer does not change the person, it changes me and my stinking thinking. Let me know how this goes, please. We do have an awesome God. Diana | ||
| River Registered user Username: River Post Number: 1127 Registered: 9-2006  |
A good question to ask yourself is what would you want the Lord to do to the man. What would you think it would take to usage your hurt? What would you want for him, is it heaven or hell? Blessing or cursing? What will your prayer be? If you choose the right one it will soften your heart and heal the blow. If you choose the wrong one it will harden your heart and prevent healing. River | ||
| Sara Registered user Username: Sara Post Number: 21 Registered: 5-2007 |
wow Diana, that is an awesome example of how to relate to an awesome God. Busymom, I am sure that hurt. On the positive side, you must have touched a button in him, or he wouldnt be so defensive I wouldn't think--maybe the Holy Spirit is already working in him. Jesus said you are BLESSED when people say all manner of evil against you falsely. (In the beatitudes, Matt 5). Jesus means what he says. He will bless you. It is a promise. He considers your hurt in the same ballpark as the prophets before you! Persecution and hurt for His sake equals bigger blessings from God Himself. Diana, I will try that prayer, but it will be difficult at first like you said. Sara | ||
| Flyinglady Registered user Username: Flyinglady Post Number: 4034 Registered: 3-2004 |
Sara and Busymom, just be honest with God about how you feel and think about the person. It works best that way for me. Let me know what happens. We do serve an awesome God. Diana | ||
| River Registered user Username: River Post Number: 1128 Registered: 9-2006 |
To love and forgive is a decision we make and if we make that decision it plows the hard top soil of our hearts and prepares the ground for seeds of grace to be sown. Those seeds of grace will grow and bear fruit. River | ||
| Reb Registered user Username: Reb Post Number: 424 Registered: 5-2007 |
Busymom, I know how you feel. A sermon was preached about me also. I wasn't mentioned by name, but the Pastor was going on about how Adventists should go ONLY to Church officers and the Pastor with questions about Adventism and NOT outside sources. He said their salvation depends on that. And he was looking right at me when he said that and later admitted to me that the sermon was directed at me because I had been reading Proclamation magazine and going on Bro. Dirk Anderson's EGW Website. SO I know what it's like to be judged and have a sermon preached about you. But hey, I forgive him. | ||
| Jay_g Registered user Username: Jay_g Post Number: 15 Registered: 7-2007 |
Diana that is a really good idea! I don't think Prayer will change another person but it will change the one who prays. BusyMom, that is just terrible what was said about you. I think that many are so afraid of loosing the rest of their congregations that they will not even consider the feelings of one of their sheep, in oder to try a keep the rest of the flock from escaping. The thing to remember is that this pastor though he did WRONG, it was not because he wanted to hurt you. He did it because he is the one who has been deceived. He believes that you left the Remnant Church, Gods only True Church. Now I think we all know you didn't but it shouldn't be too hard to see were he was coming from. | ||
| Flyinglady Registered user Username: Flyinglady Post Number: 4035 Registered: 3-2004 |
I have to be honest. I did not make up that way to pray. I belong to a 12 step program and one of the books I have read is Alcoholics Anonymous. That prayer come for the AA book. I have used it so many times and each time it has worked on me. We do serve an awesome God. Diana | ||
| Colleentinker Registered user Username: Colleentinker Post Number: 6374 Registered: 12-2003  |
Diana, good advice re: your prayer. Busymom, I am so sorry. Along with Diana's prayer, I'd also pray that God teach me what is true and keep me in reality. That creeping fear that you're opening yourself up to ridicule again is a temptation playing on the shame created by your former pastor. It's not actually the truth. I often have to pray that God will hold me in truth and reality and teach me what is true, that He will protect me from self-deception. The truth is that you left the church because you know Jesus. Belonging to another chruch, a Christian church, is not in the same category as being Adventist. Ask God to hold you in truth. You might want to read an excellent article on forgiveness in a past issue of Proclamation here: http://lifeassuranceministries.org/Proclamation2006_JanFeb.pdf With prayers for you, Colleen | ||
| Honestwitness Registered user Username: Honestwitness Post Number: 276 Registered: 7-2005  |
When I was hurt badly by someone in my family, I confessed to God that I knew He had commanded me to forgive, but I was unable to do it. I asked God to put into my heart HIS love and forgiveness for that person, because I didn't have any of my own. I also asked the same things Diana said...whatever I wanted for myself to be given to that person also...peace, righteousness, a strong relationship with Jesus Christ, etc. As I continued to pray this way, God did answer my prayers and I found myself having pity in my heart for that person. I was also surprised that I found in my heart an understanding that they had also been hurt badly in their past and had never learned to deal with it by taking it to God. I actually found that God DID put HIS love for that person in my heart. And it's still there many years later, even though the repercussions of the devastating hurt are still surfacing in me and my grown children. God is BIGGER than the hurt. Perfect LOVE casts out all FEAR! God is perfect LOVE! Honestwitness | ||
| Reb Registered user Username: Reb Post Number: 430 Registered: 5-2007 |
No individual Adventist has hurt me actually. It is Adventist DOCTRINE which is a deadly spiritual poison that hurt me. I think about the Adventist church I attended and I love the people there, I've got NOTHING personal against ANYONE there. It's the DOCTRINE, the LIES that I hate. | ||
| Busymom Registered user Username: Busymom Post Number: 56 Registered: 4-2004 |
Thank you Diana for sharing the prayer. I am going to try praying it for two weeks. My dad always said his ideal church would be more like an AA meeting where it would be okay to say you screwed up. No River, I would not choose hell for anyone. I am not sure at this point how to use this particular experience or pain. Reb and Jay, you are right it is the Adventist system that is responsible for his actions. He said in his last online newsletter that "God will never pour his Spirit out in the life of a disobedient person." There is a huge difference between life in the old covenant and life in the new covenant. I have been studying this week "Sabbath in Christ" how the new covenant is between Jesus and God not like the old covenant that was law based. I am so thankful that being born again is not based on my obedience! But rather my acceptance of Jesus as my savior. Thank you Colleen for your prayers and advice. It is true what the article says, it is difficult to forgive myself for having believed Adventism for so many years, but I will continue to pray for forgiveness for myself and the pastor. | ||
| Flyinglady Registered user Username: Flyinglady Post Number: 4038 Registered: 3-2004 |
While still attending SDA churches, before moving to Nevada, every so often the SDA pastor would preach a sermon that sounded like it came from a 12 step program. I remembered those longer than I remembered any others. I remember telling the pastor I wanted a church that accepted me like my 12 step program does. An "AHAA" moment. God told me which church to go to and they accept me like my 12 step program does. WOW. Thank you God. You are awesome. Diana | ||
| Agapetos Registered user Username: Agapetos Post Number: 934 Registered: 10-2002  |
This is an awesome thread. I don't think I remember being hurt by Adventists. But I add my prayers for everyone's here, 'cause forgivess is so awesome. | ||
| Busymom Registered user Username: Busymom Post Number: 57 Registered: 4-2004 |
Hi Diana, It has only been four days of using the prayer that you suggested, but I feel 100% lighter. Like a burden has been taken off my shoulders. Anyways, you asked to let you know how the prayer went. I am heading off for a couple of weeks of vaca in the mountains so probably won't be checking in for a while. Honest Witness is right, God is bigger than the hurt! | ||
| Flyinglady Registered user Username: Flyinglady Post Number: 4058 Registered: 3-2004 |
Busymom, I knew it would work for you as it has worked for me. God took me into that 12 step program to learn how much he loves me. Thank You God. You are SO AWESOME. Diana |
