Demons believe the gospel but are not saved, what is missing?

VCO · Dec 3, 2020

Blik said:

I have a collection of old books from the mid-to-late 1800's with this kind of artwork in them. I even have a letter from one of those Publishing Houses, that states that artwork that old is no longer on copywrite, and are now in what they call Public Domain. Which means we can use them on any project. I think they would frown if people were trying to sell them though. I found 200 pixels on the longest dimension, seems about right. So they will make Ideal Christian small artwork to separate the Quoted Post, from the Response to that Post. I use the free Program called: FASTSTONE Image Viewer. My oldest book I found was a book by the name "The Raphael Cartoons", dated 1845. That is what they called those kind of Pen and Ink Drawings back then. Raphael (1483-1520) was a Student of Leonardo Da Vinci (1452-1519).

I think it runs deeper than that. The Devil gets gleeful if he can get us arguing. We all tend to forget that CHRIST walks among 7 Candlesticks, who are we to say, "No, it is only one Candlestick." I even can find room for CATHOLICS, as one of those 7 candlesticks. In fact I think it is the CHURCH IN PERGAMUM, and Christ Walks around their Candlestick. I can take a TYPICAL Baptist Doctrinal Statement, and FIND the EXACT Same Statements in the CATHOLIC CATECHISM. Yes, the Catholic Hierarchy has made some statements that are totally FALSE STATEMENTS over the Years. But how many other CHURCHES have DONE THE SAME. Yes, I have Defended Catholics on this site, when I see the Protestants wanting to gang up on them. That Catholic Catechism for the most part is a sound doctrinal book, and Catholics for the most part only goes by what he or she learned in the the study of their Catechism. AND NO THE SCRIPTURE DOES NOT SAY THE POPE WILL BE THE FALSE PROPHET. They Get that FALSE IDEA by Falsely interpreting the Seven hills of Rome, as the Seven MOUNTAINS in Prophecy. MOUNTAINS ARE KINGDOMS OR COUNTRIES in Prophecy. When Push Comes to Shove in the European Union, when electing a DICTATOR, 17 of the will DROP OUT, leaving only 10, and they do not meet in ROME. Then 3 of the smaller countries will merge with other countries, as if they had NEVER EXISTED. HOW MANY COUNTRIES DOES THAT LEAVE? SEVEN!
That is the Beast with Seven Heads, NOT ROME, Rev. 17:7.

Sure I believe DENOMINATIONAL BIGOTRY is of the DEVIL HIMSELF. Christ walks around SEVEN candlesticks, WHO AM I TO RECOGNIZE LESS.

Blik · Dec 3, 2020

VCO said:

Here is a man of reason. Sometimes I think Christians often take Frank Sinatra as their teacher, singing "All or Nothing at All". If you decide that everything about the Catholics is wrong, then could it be that their belief in Christ is wrong? They have the most complete archive of ancient Christian literature and history of anyone. I have used their site to study these ancient writings.

God is love. The greatest commandment, the heart of the matter is in Matthew. (Matthew 22:36 NIV). Jesus replied, ” ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments”

How many posts follow this commandment?

Papou · Dec 3, 2020

Blik said:

This is a very good post ! If demons believe in Christ and are not saved then this proves to a certain extent that demons do not exist... The writer of the bible did not foresee the implications of their writings...

VCO · Dec 3, 2020

Papou said:

I did not know that DEMONS EXISTING, was even a Question, as I thought it was just a GIVEN!

Matthew 25:41 (HCSB)
41 Then He will also say to those on the left, ‘Depart from Me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the Devil and his angels!

Mark 5:2-13 (ESV)
2 And when Jesus had stepped out of the boat, immediately there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit.
3 He lived among the tombs. And no one could bind him anymore, not even with a chain,
4 for he had often been bound with shackles and chains, but he wrenched the chains apart, and he broke the shackles in pieces. No one had the strength to subdue him.
5 Night and day among the tombs and on the mountains he was always crying out and cutting himself with stones.
6 And when he saw Jesus from afar, he ran and fell down before him.
7 And crying out with a loud voice, he said, “What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I adjure you by God, do not torment me.”
8 For he was saying to him, “Come out of the man, you unclean spirit!”
9 And Jesus asked him, “What is your name?” He replied, “My name is Legion, for we are many.”
10 And he begged him earnestly not to send them out of the country.
11 Now a great herd of pigs was feeding there on the hillside,
12 and they begged him, saying, “Send us to the pigs; let us enter them.”
13 So he gave them permission. And the unclean spirits came out and entered the pigs; and the herd, numbering about two thousand, rushed down the steep bank into the sea and drowned in the sea.

Zechariah 13:2 (ASV)
2 And it shall come to pass in that day, saith Jehovah of hosts, that I will cut off the names of the idols out of the land, and they shall no more be remembered; and also I will cause the prophets and the unclean spirit to pass out of the land.

Mark 1:23-26 (ESV)
23 And immediately there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit. And he cried out,
24 “What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God.”
25 But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be silent, and come out of him!”
26 And the unclean spirit, convulsing him and crying out with a loud voice, came out of him.

Mark 9:14-29 (ESV)
14 And when they came to the disciples, they saw a great crowd around them, and scribes arguing with them.
15 And immediately all the crowd, when they saw him, were greatly amazed and ran up to him and greeted him.
16 And he asked them, “What are you arguing about with them?”
17 And someone from the crowd answered him, “Teacher, I brought my son to you, for he has a spirit that makes him mute.
18 And whenever it seizes him, it throws him down, and he foams and grinds his teeth and becomes rigid. So I asked your disciples to cast it out, and they were not able.”
19 And he answered them, “O faithless generation, how long am I to be with you? How long am I to bear with you? Bring him to me.”
20 And they brought the boy to him. And when the spirit saw him, immediately it convulsed the boy, and he fell on the ground and rolled about, foaming at the mouth.
21 And Jesus asked his father, “How long has this been happening to him?” And he said, “From childhood.
22 And it has often cast him into fire and into water, to destroy him. But if you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.”
23 And Jesus said to him, “‘If you can’! All things are possible for one who believes.”
24 Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, “I believe; help my unbelief!”
25 And when Jesus saw that a crowd came running together, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, “You mute and deaf spirit, I command you, come out of him and never enter him again.”
26 And after crying out and convulsing him terribly, it came out, and the boy was like a corpse, so that most of them said, “He is dead.”
27 But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he arose.
28 And when he had entered the house, his disciples asked him privately, “Why could we not cast it out?”
29 And he said to them, “This kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer.”

Etc., etc. So whw do you a BELIEVER, doubt there really are demons ? ? ? In this modern world, Satan his demons have Laid Low Getting the believers to doubt their existence. WHY? So that he gets them to the point that they will BELIEVE anything Miraculous is of GOD, so he in the Antichrist can work Miracles and get all kinds of Christians to Follow him. We are to test the MIRACLES to see if they GORIFY GOD, or the Doers, and that is easy enough; how you can tell the Satanic Counterfeit. TV is FULL OF THEM. I fear lots of Christians are prime to just accept everything that is Miraculous is of GOD for sure; WHEN IT IS NOT. They forget that PHAROAH's magicians did Miraculous Signs, and even turned their Staffs to snakes, too. Thus many, especially the Charismatics, will be ready to accept Satan's Miraculous Signs as coming from GOD.

eternally-gratefull · Dec 3, 2020

Papou said:

Demons know Jesus, they knew him as God, they witnessed him become man, they see all he does.

they believe Jesus is jesus

what they do not do, is have faith in God, they left him because they trusted Satan more,

I know,Joe Biden and believe he is president

it does not mean I have any faith in him at all

VCO · Dec 3, 2020

Blik said:

That was done back when I had a hand scanners on Windows 3.11. Oh my! I just fold those again.

Actually quite a few, but I just came from the Not By Works thread, where most of us there were Evangelical style of Christians.

I will give my Take of how it will be when we ALL Get to heaven, and have a few minutes to chit chat.
WE WILL ALL HAVE A GOOD LAUGH ABOUT HOW MUCH WE ALL had all WRONG about our Theology.

VCO · Dec 3, 2020

eternally-gratefull said:

Then I think it is about UNANIMUOS among Born Again Believers.

Maybe it is time we get out of Dodge.

VCO · Dec 3, 2020

Sorry, I found a couple TYPOS in that discription of and old Scanner on and old system.

Yes this is an example of the type of Vessels that Peter the fisherman, might of had.
So this to was on done on a hand held Scanner on Windows 3.11. It was a BIG learning curve on that hand scanner, to keep from jiggling the scanner to make the image come out with out distorted lines. I just Found those old images Again.

VCO · Dec 4, 2020

Papou said:

Forgot the most important VERSE:

2 Corinthians 11:13-15 (HCSB)
13 For such people are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ.
14 And no wonder! For Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.
15 So it is no great thing if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their destiny will be according to their works.

WORKS DO NOT SAVE YOU, JESUS DOES SAVE, as a GIFT OF GRACE.

Romans 3:10 (HCSB)
10 as it is written: There is no one righteous, not even one.

Salvation happens the MOMENT you TRUST in JESUS with YOUR WHOLE HEART, with YOUR WHOLE SOUL, and with YOUR WHOLE SPIRIT.

After that you WILL WANT TO be busy trying to walk like JESUS, which is the Sanctification Process, and you will not be PERFECT until the RESURRECTION. You may want to ASK, "WHAT IF I FAIL?" Do not worry, HE PROVIDED THIS VERSE for when we stumble into SIN:

1 John 1:9 (HCSB)
9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

See, HE thought of every thing. Just so you know that word CONFESS is in the GREEK VERB IS:
Tense: Present

Voice: Active

Mood: Subjunctive

Which is an ongoing continuous action ever time we SIN, it is the NEW NATURE of our Born Again Human Spirt.

No, that does not constitute WORKING for you SALVATION, that happened the Moment we Genuinely BELIEVED, it is like I SAID, the NEW NATURE OF OUR HUMAN SPIRT.

Like Dr. John MacArthur has said on Numerous occasions: "A Born Again Christian is not SINLESS, but as his or her human spirit Matures, you will sin Less, and Less, and Less."

2 Timothy 1:9 (HCSB)
9 He has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace, which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began.

Titus 3:5-7 (HCSB)
5 He saved us— not by works of righteousness that we had done, but according to His mercy, through the washing of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit.
6 He poured out this ⌊Spirit⌋ on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior,
7 so that having been justified by His grace, we may become heirs with the hope of eternal life.

Galatians 3:13 (HCSB)
13 Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, because it is written: Everyone who is hung on a tree is cursed.

Papou · Dec 4, 2020

VCO said:

View attachment 223237

Forgot the most important VERSE:

2 Corinthians 11:13-15 (HCSB)
13 For such people are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ.
14 And no wonder! For Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.
15 So it is no great thing if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their destiny will be according to their works.

WORKS DO NOT SAVE YOU, JESUS DOES SAVE, as a GIFT OF GRACE.

Romans 3:10 (HCSB)
10 as it is written: There is no one righteous, not even one.

Salvation happens the MOMENT you TRUST in JESUS with YOUR WHOLE HEART, with YOUR WHOLE SOUL, and with YOUR WHOLE SPIRIT.

After that you WILL WANT TO be busy trying to walk like JESUS, which is the Sanctification Process, and you will not be PERFECT until the RESURRECTION. You may want to ASK, "WHAT IF I FAIL?" Do not worry, HE PROVIDED THIS VERSE for when we stumble into SIN:

1 John 1:9 (HCSB)
9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

See, HE thought of every thing. Just so you know that word CONFESS is in the GREEK VERB IS:
Tense: Present

Voice: Active

Mood: Subjunctive

Which is an ongoing continuous action ever time we SIN, it is the NEW NATURE of our Born Again Human Spirt.

No, that does not constitute WORKING for you SALVATION, that happened the Moment we Genuinely BELIEVED, it is like I SAID, the NEW NATURE OF OUR HUMAN SPIRT.

Like Dr. John MacArthur has said on Numerous occasions: "A Born Again Christian is not SINLESS, but as his or her human spirit Matures, you will sin Less, and Less, and Less."

2 Timothy 1:9 (HCSB)
9 He has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace, which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began.

Titus 3:5-7 (HCSB)
5 He saved us— not by works of righteousness that we had done, but according to His mercy, through the washing of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit.
6 He poured out this ⌊Spirit⌋ on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior,
7 so that having been justified by His grace, we may become heirs with the hope of eternal life.

Galatians 3:13 (HCSB)
13 Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, because it is written: Everyone who is hung on a tree is cursed.

What is the link with my post ??? You probably quote the wrong person !!!

VCO · Dec 4, 2020

Papou said:

Not really, the first quote was the only real LINK to you Post. Your comment on "this proves to a certain extent that demons do not exist...", I find that statement, to be VERY STRANGE INDEED for a BELIEVER in the BIBLE. You see I will be 72 in a little over 2 month from now. I was commenting on when Everyone who BELIEVED in the BIBLE, knew absolutely for Certain, that DEMONS definitely existed. I know you were comment to someone else, probably on something they said, but this kind of thinking NEVER EXISTED when I was growing up.

How Far has the CHURCH as a whole, DRIFTED, it gives me cause to fear, because of the warning that there will be many that fall away, but in reality they were NEVER REALLY SAVED:

1 Timothy 4:1-2 (YLT)
1 And the Spirit expressly speaketh, that in latter times shall certain fall away from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and teachings of demons,
2 in hypocrisy speaking lies, being seared in their own conscience,

The rest of that post was just something I wanted to say, so I should have made it a Separate Post. Sorry!

Now I want to share with about Demons who possess People, and NO ONE WHO IS BORN AGAIN NEEDS TO WORRY ABOUT IT. That is because the Holy Spirit is actually IN THEM.

One of the Charities my wife and I were used to supporting was CLOTHING DONATIONS, at the INPATIENT, State Mental Hospital. I figured out about a year before, that non-Christian unsaved Psychiatrists were Labeling Patients, with what we would call Demon Possession, as just MULTIPLE PERSONALITY DISORDER. When the vast majority of them were Demon Possessed.

So we were taking a clothing donation down there about 1984. We had about three loads of clothing so we took one load apiece in to the donation room, and I went back for the third box. There was a LONG Corridor, and about 1/4 ways down that corridor was the Donation Room. As I turned down that hall, there was guy, walking away from me about a fifth of the way down that long hallway. I then noticed a lady was coming at me about a little over half ways down the hall, and I figure she was an inmate. She walked past the other Gentlemen without batting a eye. I was turning into Donation Room, and as she got close to me, AND SHE SCREAMED SO LOUD, that I stopped in my tracks about 20 paces from her. She was yelling at me, "You say away from ME! You stay away from ME!" As she backed up, still YELLING AT ME. "DON'T YOU COME NEAR ME!" And she turned and RAN all the way down that long Corridor, turned the corner and out of sight. I FIGURE she Sensed the HOLY SPIRIT in me when she got close enough, and could not get away from the Holy Spirit in me, as fast as she could.

TMS · Dec 5, 2020

Rom 10:9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
Rom 10:10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

Blik said:

"what more is required?" A true faith leads to change of heart. we can believe that Jesus is coming soon and some will do what they can to be ready to meet Him, others will believe and do nothing.

The best answer is where that question is asked...
Jas 2:17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.
Jas 2:18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.
Jas 2:19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.
Jas 2:20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?

The devils believe but have no works.

Mat 25:1 -13 Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. 2 And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. 3 They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: 4 But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.

They all believed in the coming bridegroom, LORD. But only 5 had the Spirit when He came, Only 5 Knew their Saviour.

p_rehbein · Dec 5, 2020

Blik said:

You are grave error here. Demons DO NOT believe IN Jesus, they believe Jesus is who He says He is.

A HUGE DIFFERENCE THERE. Given your mistaken assertion, there isn't really any need to entertain the rest of this.

Papou · Dec 5, 2020

VCO said:

Not really, the first quote was the only real LINK to you Post. Your comment on "this proves to a certain extent that demons do not exist...", I find that statement, to be VERY STRANGE INDEED for a BELIEVER in the BIBLE. You see I will be 72 in a little over 2 month from now. I was commenting on when Everyone who BELIEVED in the BIBLE, knew absolutely for Certain, that DEMONS definitely existed. I know you were comment to someone else, probably on something they said, but this kind of thinking NEVER EXISTED when I was growing up.

How Far has the CHURCH as a whole, DRIFTED, it gives me cause to fear, because of the warning that there will be many that fall away, but in reality they were NEVER REALLY SAVED:

1 Timothy 4:1-2 (YLT)
1 And the Spirit expressly speaketh, that in latter times shall certain fall away from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and teachings of demons,
2 in hypocrisy speaking lies, being seared in their own conscience,

The rest of that post was just something I wanted to say, so I should have made it a Separate Post. Sorry!

Now I want to share with about Demons who possess People, and NO ONE WHO IS BORN AGAIN NEEDS TO WORRY ABOUT IT. That is because the Holy Spirit is actually IN THEM.

One of the Charities my wife and I were used to supporting was CLOTHING DONATIONS, at the INPATIENT, State Mental Hospital. I figured out about a year before, that non-Christian unsaved Psychiatrists were Labeling Patients, with what we would call Demon Possession, as just MULTIPLE PERSONALITY DISORDER. When the vast majority of them were Demon Possessed.

So we were taking a clothing donation down there about 1984. We had about three loads of clothing so we took one load apiece in to the donation room, and I went back for the third box. There was a LONG Corridor, and about 1/4 ways down that corridor was the Donation Room. As I turned down that hall, there was guy, walking away from me about a fifth of the way down that long hallway. I then noticed a lady was coming at me about a little over half ways down the hall, and I figure she was an inmate. She walked past the other Gentlemen without batting a eye. I was turning into Donation Room, and as she got close to me, AND SHE SCREAMED SO LOUD, that I stopped in my tracks about 20 paces from her. She was yelling at me, "You say away from ME! You stay away from ME!" As she backed up, still YELLING AT ME. "DON'T YOU COME NEAR ME!" And she turned and RAN all the way down that long Corridor, turned the corner and out of sight. I FIGURE she Sensed the HOLY SPIRIT in me when she got close enough, and could not get away from the Holy Spirit in me, as fast as she could.

Ah ok I see ! You are right the church has changed quite a bit within a small laps of time. I am glad to hear about your good service to the LORD. The world needs more people like you and your wife. About the demonic story, it is all a question of interpretation you know. I am convinced that if the events of our Lord had happened in our times, Luke would used modern medical term to report the events. In those times, every things was caused by demons. In any case, keep the good work.

VCO · Dec 5, 2020

p_rehbein said:

That is a play on words. I define it this way:

The Demon believes in his head only, or that which lies between his ears.

The Born Again Christian believes in his or her HEART (Human Spirit). Rom 10:10

Some People do not know that Spiritual Mind is in the Heart, while the Carnal Mind lies between your ears.

The Spiritual Mind was not alive at Natural Birth, It must be Born Again by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Colossians 2:13-14 (GW)
13 You were once dead because of your failures and your uncircumcised corrupt nature. But God made you alive with Christ when he forgave all our failures.
14 He did this by erasing the charges that were brought against us by the written laws God had established. He took the charges away by nailing them to the cross.

Only the Human Spirit was once DEAD, the Soul and Body have been alive since natural birth.

Proof that the Human Spirit was the part of man, that the Holy Spirit brought to Eternal Life, is in this VERSE:

John 3:6 (GW)
6 Flesh and blood give birth to flesh and blood, but the Spirit gives birth to things that are spiritual.

Here is Proof that Carnal Mind is the Soul. Many people confuse the two, but here is JESUS Defining that the Human Mind is the Soul:

Luke 12:16-21 (NKJV)
16 Then He spoke a parable to them, saying: "The ground of a certain rich man yielded plentifully.
17 And he thought within himself, saying, 'What shall I do, since I have no room to store my crops?'
18 So he said, 'I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build greater, and there I will store all my crops and my goods.
19 And I will say to my soul, "Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease; eat, drink, and be merry." '
20 But God said to him, 'Fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided?'
21 So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God."

VCO · Dec 5, 2020

p_rehbein said:

I am sorry, but Remaining Obedient has NOTHING TO DO WITH Secures Eternity. I can prove that with Scripture.

2 Timothy 1:9 (HCSB)
9 He has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace, which was given to us in Christ Jesu s before time began.

Titus 3:5-7 (HCSB)
5 He saved us— not by works of righteousness that we had done, but according to His mercy,
through the washing of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

6 He poured out this ⌊Spirit⌋ on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior,
7 so that having been justified by His grace, we may become heirs with the hope of eternal life.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Galatians 3:13 (HCSB)
13 Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, because it is written: Everyone who is hung on a tree is cursed.

John 10:27-28 (HCSB)
27 My sheep hear My voice, I know them, and they follow Me.
28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish—ever!
No one will snatch them out of My hand. {Not even SELF.}

VCO · Dec 6, 2020

I would like a to show you a FREE BIBLE Program, with serveral free Bible, with some add on Bibles and books you can buy, fairly cheaply.

This is a tremendous help for me, because of the SIDE COLUMN. You see I have to watch Live Feed worship services on You Tube, because one of the COVID 19 symptoms is it produces blood clouts, and I have had 7 strokes in the Last the last 5 years, 2 big ones and 5 mini strokes. So I cannot risk getting Covid 19.

This Program "the WORD" is made in England, has a feature to change the background colors (default color is white), about half of the BIBLES are Red Letter Edition, it is quick and EASY to just click on the Next Bible References, just click on the name of the book in the Side Column, then click on the Chapter number above, and you are there. I can get to the Book and chapter number quicker that Pastor does. And this is the BEGINNER OPTION, but it is the HANDIEST. the only Bible I had to Pay For, was the NASB77, and it was only $11.95. There are quite a few add on books that are a FREE also. Such as Bible Dictionaries, Commentaries, Naves Topical Bible, classics like "Pilgrim's Progress", etc. So on the other half of the Screen, I have the LIVE FEED or Teaching Video that watching.

Pastor said this morning:

"The Word of GOD will give you WISDOM,
While SIN just makes you Stupid."

Very True, LOL. Especially when we are TESTING the SPIRITS.

1 John 4:1 (NCV)
1 My dear friends, many false prophets have gone out into the world. So do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see if they are from God.

VCO · Dec 7, 2020

The Lord has put it on my heart that Someone needs to hear my Testimony, to encourage him or her. This thought would never have entered my mind, as it seems like bragging to me. So I will shorten my testimony as much as I can, and Pray that the right person will find it here, to Encourage him or her to step out boldly, totally trusting and believing GOD IS IN CONTROL.

In 1977, and before, I thought I was Christian, simply because I took up space on a pew regularly, and then day dreamed through every sermon, even though they were only 10-15 minutes in the Church that I grew up in. I was about to find out that I did not even know the meaning of the word, "CHRISTIAN". On Christmas eve, my ex-wife of only 6 months, told me she wanted a divorce, because I could not earn enough money to buy her the things she wanted in life. I hit BOTTOM BIG TIME. Over the Next week, I attempted suicide THREE TIMES.

On the Third Attempt, after sobering up, SOMETHING IN ME BROKE, which I now believe it was the Pride of Life of Living my LIFE my way. I mean it SHATTERED like glass, never to be put together again. THAT STARTED A WAVE OF GUILT FOR MY WHOLE LIFESTYLE, and it WASHED OVER ME, AGAIN, AND AGAIN, AND AGAIN. All the TIME I was weeping and bawling like a baby, and begging him to forgive me, over and over again.

Then something very unusual happened. I usually do not tell this part of my testimony, because some people would just make fun of it. I actually had a Vision, or Dream, and if it was Dream, it was MORE VIVID than any dream I ever had. I on my knees for some time, then I fell face down in the Prone position begging and bawling on my bedroom floor, for HIM to forgive me, when the Vision or Dream started. In the Vision or Dream, I found myself on my Knees below HIS CROSS, bawling, and pleading for Forgiveness. With my arms raised to HIM on the CROSS, and I noticed that nails were through the WRISTS instead of through the Palms of the Hands. It was years later that I learned that Jews consider the WRISTS to be part of the HANDS, which could hold the weight of man without ripping through the flesh.

I believe the Holy Spirit Himself then, gave me a PRAYER, that no one in my Church had ever taught me. It was either then or just before the Vision or Dream. Please forgive me! Please forgive me! If you have a purpose for my life, you are going to have to come into it, and run my life. I cannot do it, I am making a total mess of running my life. That was a TOTAL SURRENDER TO JESUS and I KNEW IT. SOMETHING THAT I COULD NEVER TAKE BACK.

So the Vision or Dream ended this way. While I was focused on the Nails thru the WRISTS, I noticed Blood drip from the Nails, and fall. IT HIT MY FOREARMS AND THE BLOOD WAS WARM! That is where the Vision or Dream ENDED. I KNEW HE HAD FORGIVEN ME EVERYTHING, Past, Present, and Future!

I KNEW the HOLY SPIRIT WAS IN ME without a doubt, I knew the Spiritual Mind of Christ was in my heart, I Trusted JESUS CHRIST had a plan for my life, A TRUST that went way beyond normal, it was a Spiritual Gift from the beginning. But what I did not KNOW, was I had to GET INTO TO THE WORD OF GOD, to grow my Spirit. Soon, I had to leave the Lutheran Church because the SERMONS WERE TO SHORT, and found an Evangelical FREE CHURCH, and I was STILL HUNGER FOR MORE OF THE WORD. Found Sound Words on TV Pastored By Dr. Gil Rugh, and found Charles Stanley on TV, and found Dr. John MacArthur on Radio, and found Dr. Chuck Swindoll on Radio, and found Dr. Ed Young on TV, etc., all Evangelical style of Pastors. HE WAS GROWING ME FAST FOR A SPECIFIC MINSTRY.

I grew closer to JESUS than I had ever been, Knew HIS voice even, WHEN A MESSAGE CAME FROM HIM, "IT IS FINISHED, time to move west!" To make a long story short, HE wanted me to go to CALIFORNIA, and I did not know WHY. People from Nebraska always said "WHO WANTS TO LIVE IN CALIFORNIA!" It was a Town just across the border, and I remember saying to myself, THERE IS NO WAY I AM MOVING WEST OF THOSE MOUNTAINS. I have stopped saying "there ain't no way I am going there" to the LORD, here is why. Two years later after getting involved in Match Two Prison Ministry for over a YEAR, here came the same message "IT IS FINISHED, time to move west!" This time HE moved me all the way to the COAST, only this time HE told me what HE wanted me to do. HE WANTED ME TO START PRISON MINISTRY that would be soon built near there.

After it was opened, I volunteered with head Chaplain. HE accepted me even though he knew I had no BIBLE COLLEGE experience, but he and Warden want me to use the Title, a Volunteer Chaplain, as it told inmate I was part of STAFF. Now How Does a Nebraska Farm Boy, with NO BIBLE COLLEGE, get to be accepted at a Supermax Prison, that is the end of the LINE in state of California ? ? ? I HAVE NO IDEA, you will have to ask JESUS CHRIST. HE opened all the doors, and all I did was just walk through them.

I totally TRUSTED HIM to give me the ABILITY that I did not have on my own, to fulfill HIS MINISTRY. I was in that ministry for 9.5 years, and then my wife got a promotion, so we had to move to yet another town, but there was a Supermax Prison there too, so I volunteered for 5.5 years more, before I retired from the Post Office, and moved yet again, to be by grandkids.

I pray that whoever this is for, that you will have the SAME kind of TRUST that HE GAVE ME.

CS1 · Dec 7, 2020

posthuman said:

every demon in Hell and satan knew who Jesus is when the Tombstone rolled away and ALL Authority and the Title of Lord Supreme Authority that every knee shall bow to. They did not know who Jesu truly was this is why Satan came to test HIm. ON the Cross Jesus said it is Finished The devil lost On Resurrection day the devil's fate was sealed.

Blik · Dec 7, 2020

VCO said:

View attachment 223237

Forgot the most important VERSE:

2 Corinthians 11:13-15 (HCSB)
13 For such people are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ.
14 And no wonder! For Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.
15 So it is no great thing if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their destiny will be according to their works.

WORKS DO NOT SAVE YOU, JESUS DOES SAVE, as a GIFT OF GRACE.

Romans 3:10 (HCSB)
10 as it is written: There is no one righteous, not even one.

Salvation happens the MOMENT you TRUST in JESUS with YOUR WHOLE HEART, with YOUR WHOLE SOUL, and with YOUR WHOLE SPIRIT.

After that you WILL WANT TO be busy trying to walk like JESUS, which is the Sanctification Process, and you will not be PERFECT until the RESURRECTION. You may want to ASK, "WHAT IF I FAIL?" Do not worry, HE PROVIDED THIS VERSE for when we stumble into SIN:

1 John 1:9 (HCSB)
9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

See, HE thought of every thing. Just so you know that word CONFESS is in the GREEK VERB IS:
Tense: Present

Voice: Active

Mood: Subjunctive

Which is an ongoing continuous action ever time we SIN, it is the NEW NATURE of our Born Again Human Spirt.

No, that does not constitute WORKING for you SALVATION, that happened the Moment we Genuinely BELIEVED, it is like I SAID, the NEW NATURE OF OUR HUMAN SPIRT.

Like Dr. John MacArthur has said on Numerous occasions: "A Born Again Christian is not SINLESS, but as his or her human spirit Matures, you will sin Less, and Less, and Less."

2 Timothy 1:9 (HCSB)
9 He has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace, which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began.

Titus 3:5-7 (HCSB)
5 He saved us— not by works of righteousness that we had done, but according to His mercy, through the washing of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit.
6 He poured out this ⌊Spirit⌋ on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior,
7 so that having been justified by His grace, we may become heirs with the hope of eternal life.

Galatians 3:13 (HCSB)
13 Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, because it is written: Everyone who is hung on a tree is cursed.

And who, after he has been justified by His grace, who are heirs with the hope of eternal life, who accept Christ within would speak against living as that person but instead speak against the works that produces?

Demons believe the gospel but are not saved, what is missing?

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