| Poster | Thread | Eli_Barnabas
Member
Joined: 2005/2/16
Posts: 621
Cache Valley, Utah
| | MyNew Prayer | | Brothers and sisters at Sermonindex, this is my new prayer:
"Grant that I may share in Your suffering, Lord Jesus Christ."
-Eli
_________________
Eli Brayley
|
|  2005/6/16 8:58 | Profile | sermonindex
Moderator
Joined: 2002/12/11
Posts: 39795
Canada
Online! | | Re: MyNew Prayer | |
"That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and [b]the fellowship of his sufferings[/b], being made conformable unto his death; if by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead." - Philippians 3:10-11
"Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, [b]arm yourselves likewise[/b] with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin;" - 1 Peter 4:1
Amen brother.
_________________
SI Moderator - Greg Gordon
|
| | 2005/6/16 12:00 | Profile | ellie
Member
Joined: 2005/5/25
Posts: 189
UK
| | Re: MyNew Prayer | |
Concerned for you.
Hi, I replied to your cry for help on 24th/6/05.
I have been troubled for you, by the enormaty of your plight.
I thought maybe it was something that had touched you, from the friend who had been travelling and the hard time both friends gave you.
Then today I came across this Post. Your New Prayer.
"Grant that I may share in Your suffering, Lord Jesus Christ."
on the 24th June you speak of your suffering.
Suffering is what you have been experiencing.
Your prayer is taken 'out of' the context of the scripture.
When I saw the prayer It shocked me, it is something I would never ask for. I would pray the scripture.
God answers our prayers. That is why we are to be careful, what we ask for.
Ask God, come before him and ask if this is so.
ellie
|
| | 2005/6/26 10:16 | Profile |
| | Re: My New Prayer re Eli | | Quote:
Christ hath suffered [b][i]FOR[/b] us[/i]
1 Peter 4:1
Dear Eli,
Ellie has touched on something true here.
You may not understand the subtle difference between what you have written, and what the scripture exactly says, but, the scripture is safe. The verses quoted by Greg can be prayed word for word, but it is spiritually unwise to ask to share in [i]The LORD's[/i] suffering. This is not possible.
It may be the thought you expressed is familiar. It may come from manner of thinking from your childhood (even), which those around you believed to be 'sound doctrine', but, this idea (that you can suffer [i]with Christ[/i]) opens you up to real spiritual danger.
If only you posted this prayer to be stopped in your tracks by ellie's thoughts,
'God answers our prayers. That is why we are to be careful, what we ask for.
Ask God, come before him and ask if this is so.'
it will have been inspired by the Lord that you thought to post this thread and [i][b]much good[/b][/i] can come of a clearer understanding in [i]all[/i] who read.
I also, had wondered whether there is a spiritual connection between what you have been experiencing (as 'a sifting'), and the contact with your old friend.
He may have been open about some of his misdemeanours, but, not all. It will be important to know a true separation of his life and yours, no matter how much you've had in common in the past... We can so easily be emotionally overlapped with people whom we've known for a long time. We are then unaware of inadvertently becoming party to the violations of integrity to which they exposed themselves.
Love makes us want to think the best, depsite what we are hearing. This can be a mistake... Not the [i]loving[/i], but the trying to think the best, when the truth is, there is nothing [i][b]good[/b][/i] about what you are hearing. Then, a Christian needs to say firmly - 'no can do. The basis of my relationship with you has to change - until (or unless) you change.' The other party may employ many ruses to make you feel like a heel for standing your ground, but you do them more favours by [i]standing[/i], than by entertaining compromise.
I pray you receive these thoughts prayerfully. I know the Lord can divide the word of truth to your understanding, as you are open to hear from Him. Your heart is [i][b]so much in the right place[/b][/i] towards Him, this refining can tend only towards His glory and your enlargement in His service, with all spiritual blessings. |
| | 2005/6/26 11:20 | | Eli_Barnabas
Member
Joined: 2005/2/16
Posts: 621
Cache Valley, Utah
| | Re: | | Dear friends, thank you for these replies and concerns.
I do understand what you are coming at, but, even though Jesus took the cross for us, He also bids us follow and take up our cross. Perhaps I'm wrong, but if I want to be like Jesus, are not His sufferings, heartaches, trials, all apart of that?
Paul said, [i]"I bear on my body the marks of Christ"[/i] and Philippians he says, [i]"For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for him"[/i]. It does say, "suffer [b]for[/b] Him". Maybe this is where the confusion arose.
You are right, for I have no doubt that all this is happening because of this prayer. I'm trusting that God will bring me out strong, and I continue to ask for your prayers!
Suffering FOR Him,
-Eli
_________________
Eli Brayley
|
| | 2005/6/27 9:07 | Profile |
| | Re: My New Prayer | | Dear Eli,
Thank you for receiving our comments so well and yes I will continue to pray.
There is a thought that the enemy uses subtley, to twist the import of the subject of suffering, and this is perpetuated in one denomination, which encourages believers to associate their right to receive salvation, with the obligation to suffer for the privilege of later being saved.
There is also the thought amongst some believers, that they can ask to suffer on behalf of another (a friend or relative), as a way of alleviating their pain. I am not sure whether it is the Lord who transfers the pain to them, or it is another subtle display of power from the enemy.. but, something does happen in response to this sort of prayer, which can be very distressing to the person who prayed it. Therefore, it is not recommended at all. It is enough to bear what we must of our own trials each day and to pray for one another. This is scriptural.
My concern is that you should not fall into spiritual trouble through not discerning between these manners of thinking. Another lie which can creep into people's minds, is that they are being punished for something from which Christ's blood is unable to deliver them. Again, this is a very subtle untruth from the pit, which must be resisted.
Christians who suffer [i]for[/i] the Lord, that is, because of their faith in Him, tend to testify of great strengthening by His Spirit, or angels, or, of great joy in the face of persecution.
Anyone still battling with the flesh, after salvation, is going through the normal throes of being delivered from sinful practice. There can be spiritual components to this battle too, but the simple truth is, Christ's blood DID DO ALL that is necessary to set the captives free. Our part, is to believe. |
| | 2005/6/27 9:39 | | ellie
Member
Joined: 2005/5/25
Posts: 189
UK
| | Re: | | Thankyou Eli, for being so lovely with your answers to our writings to you.
'For Him' Amen.
You truly want to serve God, there is no doubt about that. I say many times God, Needs, Men. Amen.
Praise you God for Eli. |
| | 2005/6/27 11:00 | Profile |
|
