Hello to all.
I heard about Jesus and met many Christians trying to do good, and not being themselves. So I read the Bible and could not make head nor tail of it.
I heard a Jewish man on the radio speak with authority about Jesus and he could tell me where I was at with my backend facing forward. He said if I did not forgive my parents I would not live a long life. I had to give up resentment. I acted on this like listening to a Prophet and in trembling approached my bully of a father. I apologized for resenting him and explained why. I did not ask for forgiveness. The scales fell from my eyes and an old man appeared who I did not have to like but whom I loved.
Then I hunted for this Jewish man's rope, the faith that he lived by, and I found it was in Jesus.
So one night I prayed and said 'I do not understand you Jesus, yet I know you deliberately died for me, so I ask you and your Father to come into me for my life has been nothing but confusion and selfishness.'
Nothing happened and I went to bed. The next morning I woke up and it was like I was seeing in colour. I knew no person was evil but they were slaves to their compulsions and anger. So my journey began. This was 19 years ago.
Dealing with temptation is character building. Like in professional soccer, when you get down you've got to quickly get up again. You develop perseverance.
I joined a Church and found love, and also people willing to exceed faith, like creating situations and say "there see, God was in that." I wanted to walk with every moment and so felt out of step.
Then there came a time to put my staff in the ground, and say this is where I stand and heaven and hell will not prevail. That was then Jesus's words became truly real, speaking to my heart, and him saying 'my purpose is that you will become like me'. I was not following my idol anymore. I was becoming myself as God intended, as Jesus intended, by living by the Spirit. It is like an out pouring of love for reality. I do not just see words of scripture but the people who wrote those words as well. And this is not me being special but me being normal. The Lord has freed me to come back to myself. I was once lost, but know I am found.
Jesus said 'I am the truth the Way and the Life, no one comes to the father except through me.' You won't unless you live and be like Jesus.
Belonging to a Church, or asking in The Name of Jesus, wont cut it. You will cast out demons only because you have authority from God. But that will not be a sign to say you are a follower of The Way. Your sign will be you love of God with heart mind and soul and love of your neighbor as yourself; to carry the sword of love and truth, and the breast plate of Righteousness.
If I am welcome I will cut through the curtain of religion and heal with the love of Christ, and reveal how the world has been put together.
If you would like to know this elderly Jewish man's website I will share it, for he is providing a nursery where the fallen are at. He is getting his hands dirty for God.
For now you may wish to see my son's website
http://www.soclose.co.uk and later a website for more searching and challenging theology.
May we all support one another on this walk.