Brother Karl,
Take heart, fear not, and be of good cheer ...
The mere fact that this passage from over on "The Terrain has Changed: A Word to you Lonely Elijahs" stuck out for you ...:
Quote:
"the lessons they have learned and the brokenness gained from having endured and overcome in this place will prove to be of immeasurable benefit to the Bride in the days to come" ...
... means to me (and i dare say to God) that you are a willing instrument just waiting to be picked up to use by the Holy Spirit ... You have a testimony in Jesus Christ (and you've not even known it - but i sure hope you do now) as an "overcomer" and tho you've not overcome to the point (in your own mind) that you're longing for, just keep on surrendering to the Word, will, and way of our Lord via your only power in doing anything in Christ Jesus, that being the Holy Spirit ...
And brother please remember that whatever sin you, or any saint may be/have been susceptible to prior to coming to Christ, if we learn to love Christ more than that sin we'll eventually find ourselves numbered amongst the following in not only our faith, but our deeds ...
"Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,
Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God. ... 1 Cor. 6:9-11
So brother Karl i'm praying that you'll never let any man, the devil or especially yourself attempt to convince you, or condemn you, that the sin you've fled from is any worse than any of the others mentioned above as apparently God has lumped them all together as "SIN"! ...
Rom.8
[33] Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth.
[34] Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.
[35] Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
[37] Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
[38] For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
[39] Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Amongst christian men Holy Spirit has had me point out on a few occasions their covered implications that somehow heterosexual whore-mongering isn't quite as bad as homosexual encounters ... Sex period, outside God's specified institution of marriage between one man and one woman, is sin to Him period! ... Were all in need of admonishing Jas.4: 7 ... "Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you" ...
So brother Karl just keep on leaning on His everlasting arm by faith, relying solely on the strength of Christ and comfort of the Holy Ghost, always remembering that out of love Christ will always convict us/you to repentance from sin, but only the devil condemns us/you, "There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit - Rom. 8:1 ... That "walking after the Spirit" can't be emphasized enough!!!
In Christ God the Father now sees you with new eyes, Christ Himself views you with the compassion of your High Priest in heaven who is well aware of any infirmity you may have, and has promised you that not only are you more than a conqueror in Him, but that also if you but rely on His Power, the Power of His Holy Spirit of promise, He will enable you to do ALL things thru Christ who strengthens you ...
And be renewed in the spirit of your mind - Eph.4: 23 ... with God's Word, studying the Bible in all diligence ... "Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your heart and mind through Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you" - Phil. 4:6-9
Perfect peace ... that's exactly what He meant when He said in Matt.11: 28 ... "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest" ... Trust in Jesus by His Holy Spirit to speak empowerment to you ... Trust Holy Spirit to interpret your prayers in tongues, and your moans before our God, and have unshakable faith that He's answering you, and as Christ told so many of those whom He healed, "You're faith has made you whole" ... His strength and power to you in Jesus all conquering name! ... Amen
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