More signs & wonders (part 1)

bearbear · 12-16-2013, 05:41 PM

Hi Carol,

I was touched by the dream you posted and was wondering if you had the youtube link.

There have been a lot of crazy things happening in my life since I've posted here a while back. In the past year I've drawn pretty close to the elders and a senior pastor at my church. We're all interested in end times and bible prophecy and yes I agree there are many biblical indicators in scripture that Jesus is coming soon!

Here's one of my favorite sermons that compiles a lot of the research those in the bible prophecy community have put together regarding signs in the heavens:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HXUqfNQ3J0o

Anyways some time after I left the local church and found this new one, God led me to a place to fully repent of my sins (it's funny I never learned about real repentance (metanoia in Greek, or a change of mind, not just confessing sins) in the 20 some years I grew up in LSM churches). Soon after, I read about the baptism of the Holy Spirit and I knew that's what I needed. After praying to receive it I felt this peace come over me unlike anything I ever experienced. I believe it's "the peace that surpasses all understanding" in Phil 4:7 that Paul describes.

After that experience, whenever I read the bible I just get so much revelation. I used to be so dependent on commentaries but now I don't feel much need to read books anymore but I just feel an intense desire to go directly to the word of God. Jesus commanded we live on *every* word that proceeds out of the mouth of God (Matthew 4:4) and not any Christian teacher's commentary. Since then I've experienced God working through my life wonderfully in many ways, in not just words but also in actions (don't just be hearers of the word deceiving yourselves James 1:22). And let me just say that Father God, who Jesus says is our only Teacher (Matthew 23:8) is the best Teacher you could ever have! Don't settle for anything less. Everyone who teaches should really consider themselves to be a guide to lead us to the One Teacher, just as the Holy Spirit whom Jesus sent will guide us to all truth (John 16:13)

Recently my senior pastor realized I had the gift of teaching and asked me to give a sermon in front of 150. I was nervous about speaking in front of so many, but I felt a great burden come on when I did and the words just came out naturally by God's grace. I preached about the need to give our hearts whole heartedly to the Lord and how God delivered me from video game addiction. Towards the end many in the audience were convicted and repented. I never would have suspected the Lord could use me in this way because back in the local church I was pretty much a nobody. Well I still am, but I've just been able to develop the gifting God gave me that was stagnant for all these years. Praise God though, all the glory really belongs to him, there's no need to boast because everything we do is just what God had already prepared beforehand and given to us! And I'm sharing this because I want it to be an encouragement to others that there is hope after you leave the local church if you seek God with all your heart! All you need is the Holy Spirit! Invite him into your life and you will never be the same.

I've also started a website for preaching the gospel. My main concern with those meeting in the local churches as well as many other Christians from an extreme dispensational background is that their doctrines of grace and salvation may damn them because they didn't realize their need to repent and be delivered from addiction. I did a pretty intense bible study and I *really* don't think the bible teaches eternal security after a simple sinner's prayer or "calling on the Lord" and many Christians and LSMers who think they're saved may end up in outer darkness for *eternity* not just a thousand years because they only believed in Jesus with their mouth but not fully in their heart.

I've detailed my research into what I believe is biblical grace and salvation for all those interested here:
http://eternityinourheart.com/salvation

bearbear · 12-16-2013, 07:38 PM

Also to keep with the subject. One night I asked God for a dream about his coming before I went to bed.

That night, I really did get a dream and remembered it, which is rare because I usually forget all my dreams.

I was in a house with a bunch of computers. Everyone all around me were playing my favorite video games I played growing up. The people who were playing included some of my friends and people around the age of those in my youth group. (I'm a youth counselor at my church). I enjoyed watching them but I never yielded to the temptation to play.

Then one of the elders of my church approached me and ask "What makes you accountable?"

And then I responded "It's the glory of heaven that awaits!"

It had nothing to do with the second coming, but I believe God was telling me to persist in faithfulness and spread the message that our momentary suffering is working out to an eternal weight of glory (2 Corinthians 4:17).

But, as it is written, “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him”— (1 Corinthians 2:9)

During the dream I had a short glimpse of paradise that is referenced in this vision:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NyXZoitrAxQ

I love this vision because as awesome as the kingdom of heaven is, no one is staying put and enjoying the wonderful creation in heaven. Instead they're all running towards God because there's something just deeply awesome about his presence and his love that draws us to him. In the end it's all about God in eternity. And we don't have to wait until then because we have what is at the center of heaven right now living inside of us.

(Note: I believe Jesus lifted paradise from Sheol to heaven after he died - 2 Cor 2:14. The bible teaches that to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord (2 Cor 5:8). And where is Jesus right now? But at the right hand of the Father in heaven.)

countmeworthy · 12-16-2013, 11:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bearbear

Also to keep with the subject. One night I asked God for a dream about his coming before I went to bed.

That night, I really did get a dream and remembered it, which is rare because I usually forget all my dreams.

I was in a house with a bunch of computers. Everyone all around me were playing my favorite video games I played growing up. The people who were playing included some of my friends and people around the age of those in my youth group. (I'm a youth counselor at my church). I enjoyed watching them but I never yielded to the temptation to play.

Then one of the elders of my church approached me and ask "What makes you accountable?"

And then I responded "It's the glory of heaven that awaits!"

It had nothing to do with the second coming, but I believe God was telling me to persist in faithfulness and spread the message that our momentary suffering is working out to an eternal weight of glory (2 Corinthians 4:17).

I think you answered perfectly! You were not attached to the computer games!!

In one of little John's messages (the 10 yr old) he preaches on detachment. "Detach! Detach! Detach!!" Really cute.

Quote:

During the dream I had a short glimpse of paradise that is referenced in this vision:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NyXZoitrAxQ

That voice sounded so familiar...then I realized it was Jesse Duplantis. LOL.. I had his video until I lent it out.. and you know how that goes! I haven't seen it in years! The video does not have the techno noise though. LOL..the viewers all complained about the techno crap. In the original video, he is sharing from the pulpit.

Here is another video you will like. This man has visited heaven more than 80 times. it is an hr & 38 minutes though but very, very interesting!! No techno noise. :-) There are no pictures but the man's description of the outer court, the Holy Place & the Holy of Holies is awesome.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G5QBZU870Ms

Quote:

(Note: I believe Jesus lifted paradise from Sheol to heaven after he died - 2 Cor 2:14. The bible teaches that to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord (2 Cor 5:8). And where is Jesus right now? But at the right hand of the Father in heaven.)

Why of course !! That reminds me....

A couple of years ago, I was talking to an LC friend who had no clue whatsoever that Paradise was now in heaven.

I explained to her that before Jesus death, the old testament saints went to Paradise which is in the middle of the earth. Hades was the compartment where the wicked reside. I pointed her to the account of the rich man & Lazures. I explained when the Lord ascended, He took paradise with Him to heaven. That is why believers go to heaven when they die because that is where Paradise is and the wicked go to hell/hades located in the middle of the earth.

She had never heard that. Wow. The LC doesn't teach any thing about heaven, paradise does it? or does it? She didn't know.

But she couldn't bring herself to say the word 'heaven'. When I asked her where believers go when their bodies die, she replied "with the Lord" AND WHERE is the LORD at? I would ask. Her reply was a question "Well. Where is He?" She could not bring herself to say HEAVEN!!

Weird...don't know if it was her or the LC..or both. But Lee was way too focused on 'the Recovery'....among other things.

Blessings...
More later!
Carol

bearbear · 12-17-2013, 06:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by countmeworthy

She had never heard that. Wow. The LC doesn't teach any thing about heaven, paradise does it? or does it? She didn't know.

But she couldn't bring herself to say the word 'heaven'. When I asked her where believers go when their bodies die, she replied "with the Lord" AND WHERE is the LORD at? I would ask. Her reply was a question "Well. Where is He?" She could not bring herself to say HEAVEN!!

Weird...don't know if it was her or the LC..or both. But Lee was way too focused on 'the Recovery'....among other things.

Haha, I've had the same conversations with friends and relatives in the LC. I need to give them grace though because I was brainwashed to think the same. I believe Witness Lee teaches that paradise is still in sheol and you don't go to heaven when you die. I think there's even the belief that your spirit man may stay asleep and you won't see anything until the first resurrection. I think this teaching isn't limited to the local church because some evangelicals hold to the same belief (such as the producers of chick tracts).

I remember the word "heaven" was like a dirty word. Instead we were always supposed to say the "New Jerusalem". But where is the New Jerusalem? But in heaven! Of course it will come down to earth during Jesus' millennial reign but where does it come from in Revelation?

Revelation 21:2
And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.

Jesus said I go to prepare a place for you. I believe that's what he's been preparing for us all along.

The disappointing thing is that Watchman Nee taught that the NJ was a spiritual city and not a physical one. I contend that it is both *physical* and *spiritual* in the same way that man was created with both physical and spiritual components.

When I was in the LRC I always thought the New Jerusalem would be pretty dull without knowing it. I mean if the church meetings were a foretaste of the NJ, then it wasn't much to look forward to!

But I believe Apostle Paul was taken up to heaven and what he saw absolutely blew his mind but he wasn't allowed to describe it in detail:

But, as it is written, “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him”— 1 Cor 2:9

Now that God is taking many people there finally and revealing the glory that awaits us, it's probably a sign that he's coming soon.

On an unrelated note, I wanted to share something I just wrote on my blog. The key to finishing the Christian race is intimacy with God. A lot of the things I write on my blog are also revelations I've made about unscriptural teachings that are held as dogma in the LC for those interested.

http://nodustybunnies.blogspot.com/2...-if-jesus.html

Also here's a revelation I believe God gave me concerning the rapture back in April:

http://nodustybunnies.blogspot.com/2...ures-will.html

That said as much as everyone including me likes to poke fun at the LRC, we have to remember to love and forgive! Jesus taught us to love our neighbors especially when our neighbors are the ones who've hurt us (Matthew 5,6). I realize many here are hurt with broken hearts, but sometimes the best way to heal is to just love and forgive. I remember reading John Ingall and John So's letters about what really happened and getting so upset at Witness Lee and Philip Lee. Whenever that bitterness surfaced, I asked Jesus to help me forgive and eventually my feelings towards the LRC softened and now I'm just really worried for their salvation. If you have trouble forgiving then ask God to give you the grace. Father God loves to give good gifts to his children and those are the kind of prayers he loves to answer. Bitterness needs to be dealt with because it can be like a cancer that destroys us.

There are still some things from the LRC I really treasure and I think we should never throw out. I think Witness Lee was right when he said eating Jesus was the way. All the teachings about having a relationship and intimacy with Jesus are also great. Those are things we need to hold on to! It's unfortunate that he may not have practiced what he preached, but Jesus also said this in Matthew 23:3:

"so practice and observe whatever they tell you—but not what they do. For they preach, but do not practice."

12-16-2013, 05:41 PM	#1
bearbear Member Join Date: May 2012 Posts: 765	Re: More signs & wonders (part 1) Hi Carol, I was touched by the dream you posted and was wondering if you had the youtube link. There have been a lot of crazy things happening in my life since I've posted here a while back. In the past year I've drawn pretty close to the elders and a senior pastor at my church. We're all interested in end times and bible prophecy and yes I agree there are many biblical indicators in scripture that Jesus is coming soon! Here's one of my favorite sermons that compiles a lot of the research those in the bible prophecy community have put together regarding signs in the heavens: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HXUqfNQ3J0o Anyways some time after I left the local church and found this new one, God led me to a place to fully repent of my sins (it's funny I never learned about real repentance (metanoia in Greek, or a change of mind, not just confessing sins) in the 20 some years I grew up in LSM churches). Soon after, I read about the baptism of the Holy Spirit and I knew that's what I needed. After praying to receive it I felt this peace come over me unlike anything I ever experienced. I believe it's "the peace that surpasses all understanding" in Phil 4:7 that Paul describes. After that experience, whenever I read the bible I just get so much revelation. I used to be so dependent on commentaries but now I don't feel much need to read books anymore but I just feel an intense desire to go directly to the word of God. Jesus commanded we live on every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God (Matthew 4:4) and not any Christian teacher's commentary. Since then I've experienced God working through my life wonderfully in many ways, in not just words but also in actions (don't just be hearers of the word deceiving yourselves James 1:22). And let me just say that Father God, who Jesus says is our only Teacher (Matthew 23:8) is the best Teacher you could ever have! Don't settle for anything less. Everyone who teaches should really consider themselves to be a guide to lead us to the One Teacher, just as the Holy Spirit whom Jesus sent will guide us to all truth (John 16:13) Recently my senior pastor realized I had the gift of teaching and asked me to give a sermon in front of 150. I was nervous about speaking in front of so many, but I felt a great burden come on when I did and the words just came out naturally by God's grace. I preached about the need to give our hearts whole heartedly to the Lord and how God delivered me from video game addiction. Towards the end many in the audience were convicted and repented. I never would have suspected the Lord could use me in this way because back in the local church I was pretty much a nobody. Well I still am, but I've just been able to develop the gifting God gave me that was stagnant for all these years. Praise God though, all the glory really belongs to him, there's no need to boast because everything we do is just what God had already prepared beforehand and given to us! And I'm sharing this because I want it to be an encouragement to others that there is hope after you leave the local church if you seek God with all your heart! All you need is the Holy Spirit! Invite him into your life and you will never be the same. I've also started a website for preaching the gospel. My main concern with those meeting in the local churches as well as many other Christians from an extreme dispensational background is that their doctrines of grace and salvation may damn them because they didn't realize their need to repent and be delivered from addiction. I did a pretty intense bible study and I really don't think the bible teaches eternal security after a simple sinner's prayer or "calling on the Lord" and many Christians and LSMers who think they're saved may end up in outer darkness for eternity not just a thousand years because they only believed in Jesus with their mouth but not fully in their heart. I've detailed my research into what I believe is biblical grace and salvation for all those interested here: http://eternityinourheart.com/salvation

12-16-2013, 07:38 PM	#2
bearbear Member Join Date: May 2012 Posts: 765	Re: More signs & wonders (part 1) Also to keep with the subject. One night I asked God for a dream about his coming before I went to bed. That night, I really did get a dream and remembered it, which is rare because I usually forget all my dreams. I was in a house with a bunch of computers. Everyone all around me were playing my favorite video games I played growing up. The people who were playing included some of my friends and people around the age of those in my youth group. (I'm a youth counselor at my church). I enjoyed watching them but I never yielded to the temptation to play. Then one of the elders of my church approached me and ask "What makes you accountable?" And then I responded "It's the glory of heaven that awaits!" It had nothing to do with the second coming, but I believe God was telling me to persist in faithfulness and spread the message that our momentary suffering is working out to an eternal weight of glory (2 Corinthians 4:17). But, as it is written, “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him”— (1 Corinthians 2:9) During the dream I had a short glimpse of paradise that is referenced in this vision: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NyXZoitrAxQ I love this vision because as awesome as the kingdom of heaven is, no one is staying put and enjoying the wonderful creation in heaven. Instead they're all running towards God because there's something just deeply awesome about his presence and his love that draws us to him. In the end it's all about God in eternity. And we don't have to wait until then because we have what is at the center of heaven right now living inside of us. (Note: I believe Jesus lifted paradise from Sheol to heaven after he died - 2 Cor 2:14. The bible teaches that to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord (2 Cor 5:8). And where is Jesus right now? But at the right hand of the Father in heaven.)