If this is your first time here to this blog, you can see that in this post title it says (Part 3). For the first parts 1 & 2 just scroll down a bit to the previous posts to read them. And that way you can do it in order.
It is my hope that as you are reading these posts about heaven and what it will be like, that you are able to get some sort of picture in your mind of it. For me when I think on these things, the Holy Spirit shows up in my mind giving me the encouragement that I need to continue pressing on.
"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." -Philippians 4:8
Writing, reading, or thinking about these things in these posts is a practicing of the above scripture in Philippians chapter 4. This is probably one of the healthiest things we can do for our brains!
Now to continue about heaven. Where I left off in the previous post was the part about the fruit in heaven. The fruit in heaven will be like spiritual food. We will not eat to satisfy hunger pains but rather for enjoyment. To eat one fruit will fill us with joy. Another fruit will fill us with peace, another with love, and so on. The bible doesn't say this specifically, but I personally do think that the fruit or food there will have some significant benefit to us besides the ordinary satisfying of the flesh that we are used to in this life.
"And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever." -Daniel 12:3
It's amazing how many scriptures there are in the bible concerning what heaven will be like. The above scripture makes me wonder if we will be able to travel to the stars in the universe. It is heaven after all. And I think natural man has always had a desire to travel through space. Could it be God who gave us that desire? Could it be that is what He intended for us to do in eternity? Perhaps we will each have our own planets to share. We may spend time exploring the new universe and planting gardens on these other worlds? All we can do is look at what the scriptures say about it and speculate.
"But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him." -1Corinthians 2:9
There are many things in God's Holy Word that may be a mystery to us. But the main key to unlocking those mysteries is having a relationship with the Holy Spirit. He is the one who reveals to us these mysteries.
"But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city." -Hebrews 11:16
"And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband." -Revelation 21:2
The book of Revelation chapter 21 gives us a good description of this city from heaven. Some people will try to say it is merely symbolic. But the description in the bible says that an angel measured it giving it physical properties and dimensions. This city of God is absolutely astounding in it's beauty as described in the bible. It has walls 214 feet thick made out of precious stones and pure gold. The walls are translated to be 1500 miles long by 1500 miles wide by 1500 miles high! That is a big city indeed. There are 12 gates to the city each made out of pearl. It has streets of gold and a river of life running through the middle. It may sound hard to believe now while we are living on earth, but this place is true and is heaven. This is where all the believers in Jesus will spend eternity with God.
Just think, a million eons from now, we will be there still rejoicing and celebrating and enjoying God's loving presence forever. I believe that God has plans for us far into eternity that he has never revealed to anyone yet. Not even the apostles or anyone in heaven knows yet what God is going to do. Millions of eons from now we will be in celebrations with God doing new and exciting things that He has planned for us.
For the final post of this article: What will heaven be like? (Part 4) , Please visit this blog again tomorrow. Thank you for stopping by WordofTruth blog today! May God bless you with His abundant Joy!
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
What will heaven be like? (Part 2)
In the last post I wrote about the new bodies that all Christian believers will receive when they go to meet the Lord in the air at the rapture. It may be hard to imagine, but it is true. Everyone will be pinching them selves to see if it's real, but there will be no pain there so I don't think that will work. We will just have to accept God's goodness and kind generosity that He so graciously provides to all those who believe in Him.
Everyone in heaven will be made perfect so that we will be like Jesus. Everyone you meet there will be kind and godly. Even you yourself will be as loving and as kind as the Lord wanting to show love to everyone that you meet. No one there will ever talk behind your back ever again. No one will ever laugh at you or make fun of you. You will always be accepted by everyone forever and will experience the perfect love and joy of the Lord.
No one will ever try to harm you in heaven or take advantage of you or be abusive toward you in any way ever! You will be in a completely safe and secure environment forever throughout eternity.
"But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up." -2 Peter 3:10
"Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness." -2Peter 3:13
So after the final judgment we can expect that God will make all things new. That's what the bible says is going to happen. So that new heavens and earth is going to be in heaven. In fact the entire universe that is new will be in heaven. Because our new heavenly glorified bodies are physical and spiritual they will match the new environment of heaven perfectly. In heaven we will be in a physical environment with new laws of physics. And we will interact with the spirit realm at the same time. These two realms, the physical and the spiritual will be inseparable in heaven. They will be made one together. The only thing that will be separate from us is hell and the lake of fire which are separated from God for eternity. We will be able to eat for instance and at the same time see the activities of the angels working around us.
Speaking of eating, there will be fruit in heaven! In the book of Revelation the bible speaks of trees:
"In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations." -Revelation 22:2
Possibly this fruit is the same as the fruits of the Spirit? I'm not sure. There are nine fruits of the Spirit spoken of in the bible that I know of. They are in the following scriptures:
"22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering(patience), gentleness, goodness, faith, 23Meekness, temperance(self-control): against such there is no law." -Galatians 5:22,23
I am missing three fruits if there are twelve different ones on these trees in heaven. If I find out what they are, I will come back and update my post to include it. The leaves are for healing but they are not a fruit. This would make a great bible study. There again maybe these twelve fruits on the trees represent something other than the nine fruits of the Spirit.
Please see my next post for the continuation of this article entitled: What will heaven be like? (Part 3)
Everyone in heaven will be made perfect so that we will be like Jesus. Everyone you meet there will be kind and godly. Even you yourself will be as loving and as kind as the Lord wanting to show love to everyone that you meet. No one there will ever talk behind your back ever again. No one will ever laugh at you or make fun of you. You will always be accepted by everyone forever and will experience the perfect love and joy of the Lord.
No one will ever try to harm you in heaven or take advantage of you or be abusive toward you in any way ever! You will be in a completely safe and secure environment forever throughout eternity.
"But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up." -2 Peter 3:10
"Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness." -2Peter 3:13
So after the final judgment we can expect that God will make all things new. That's what the bible says is going to happen. So that new heavens and earth is going to be in heaven. In fact the entire universe that is new will be in heaven. Because our new heavenly glorified bodies are physical and spiritual they will match the new environment of heaven perfectly. In heaven we will be in a physical environment with new laws of physics. And we will interact with the spirit realm at the same time. These two realms, the physical and the spiritual will be inseparable in heaven. They will be made one together. The only thing that will be separate from us is hell and the lake of fire which are separated from God for eternity. We will be able to eat for instance and at the same time see the activities of the angels working around us.
Speaking of eating, there will be fruit in heaven! In the book of Revelation the bible speaks of trees:
"In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations." -Revelation 22:2
Possibly this fruit is the same as the fruits of the Spirit? I'm not sure. There are nine fruits of the Spirit spoken of in the bible that I know of. They are in the following scriptures:
"22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering(patience), gentleness, goodness, faith, 23Meekness, temperance(self-control): against such there is no law." -Galatians 5:22,23
I am missing three fruits if there are twelve different ones on these trees in heaven. If I find out what they are, I will come back and update my post to include it. The leaves are for healing but they are not a fruit. This would make a great bible study. There again maybe these twelve fruits on the trees represent something other than the nine fruits of the Spirit.
Please see my next post for the continuation of this article entitled: What will heaven be like? (Part 3)
Monday, June 28, 2010
What will heaven be like? Our heavenly glorified bodies (Part 1)
This post is part 1 of answers to the question: What will heaven be like ?
In this first part I will write about: Our heavenly glorified bodies. I have to write about our heavenly bodies first so that you can get a more clear idea of what heaven is going to be like. It's almost heaven just talking about the body we are going to receive from the Lord. It is so exciting, so that is why I am writing about it first and will write about the actual place of heaven in the next post.
In the second part I will write about: Heaven: the place
When the church, those who are believers in Jesus Christ are raptured, the bible says, "we shall be changed."
"50Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. 51Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
52In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed." -1Corinthians 15:50-52
There is going to be a rapture! That word is not in the bible, but it is a term that modern scholars use to refer to the catching away of the believers in Jesus Christ. The idea of a rapture is expressed in the above scripture. One day very soon these Christians who are currently deceased will be resurrected from their graves by God! And those of us Christian believers who are still alive shall be caught up with them in the air to meet the Lord and we shall all be changed.
This change is primarily speaking of our physical body. It will be changed into a glorified body so that we can be with the Lord wherever He goes.
The first thing and most important change we will receive is that these new "heavenly" bodies will be without sin! Unlike these earthly bodies we have that were born with the sin nature, our new bodies will be made without it.
This is how we will be able to stand before God! So the second benefit to having this new glorified body is that with it we will be able to stand in the fullness of the Holy Presence of God Almighty! Something we cannot do in these earthly bodies we have now. (even if we are born again) Born again Christians have a saved spirit, not a saved physical body. See again verse 50 in the above scripture quote from 1Corinthians.
This body will be totally perfect. No missing limbs or digits. No bad teeth. No dwarfism, or down syndrome, or any other disease or imperfection will exist in anyone. People who are alive on earth now in ordinary sinful bodies who have these problems, will be relieved to know that throughout eternity they will never have to deal with those pains again! They will be living in a perfectly healthy body with no pain ever! War veterans, or accident victims who have lost limbs will find out that they have new limbs in heaven.
In heaven our teeth will never need brushing. There will be no decay in those bodies ever! No sickness, No disease, or death. No pain will ever be possible.
These glorified bodies will be in a constant state of youthfulness and energy. We will use that energy to praise the Lord with singing and dancing! We will use that energy to express joy and share in the perfected love of God with all of the saints!
These new glorified bodies will never need to sleep or use the bathroom. -ever again!
There will be no gluttony, because there is enough for everyone. No one will be hoarding apples in a secret pile somewhere. We will not need to eat but will do it for enjoyment and celebration to God. In my next post I will write about the fruit in heaven.
The state of being that I am describing here will be constant and continuing daily forever and ever throughout eternity. How exciting it will be just to receive this heavenly glorified body!
Please see my next post entitled: What will heaven be like? (Part 2)
In this first part I will write about: Our heavenly glorified bodies. I have to write about our heavenly bodies first so that you can get a more clear idea of what heaven is going to be like. It's almost heaven just talking about the body we are going to receive from the Lord. It is so exciting, so that is why I am writing about it first and will write about the actual place of heaven in the next post.
In the second part I will write about: Heaven: the place
When the church, those who are believers in Jesus Christ are raptured, the bible says, "we shall be changed."
"50Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. 51Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
52In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed." -1Corinthians 15:50-52
There is going to be a rapture! That word is not in the bible, but it is a term that modern scholars use to refer to the catching away of the believers in Jesus Christ. The idea of a rapture is expressed in the above scripture. One day very soon these Christians who are currently deceased will be resurrected from their graves by God! And those of us Christian believers who are still alive shall be caught up with them in the air to meet the Lord and we shall all be changed.
This change is primarily speaking of our physical body. It will be changed into a glorified body so that we can be with the Lord wherever He goes.
The first thing and most important change we will receive is that these new "heavenly" bodies will be without sin! Unlike these earthly bodies we have that were born with the sin nature, our new bodies will be made without it.
This is how we will be able to stand before God! So the second benefit to having this new glorified body is that with it we will be able to stand in the fullness of the Holy Presence of God Almighty! Something we cannot do in these earthly bodies we have now. (even if we are born again) Born again Christians have a saved spirit, not a saved physical body. See again verse 50 in the above scripture quote from 1Corinthians.
This body will be totally perfect. No missing limbs or digits. No bad teeth. No dwarfism, or down syndrome, or any other disease or imperfection will exist in anyone. People who are alive on earth now in ordinary sinful bodies who have these problems, will be relieved to know that throughout eternity they will never have to deal with those pains again! They will be living in a perfectly healthy body with no pain ever! War veterans, or accident victims who have lost limbs will find out that they have new limbs in heaven.
In heaven our teeth will never need brushing. There will be no decay in those bodies ever! No sickness, No disease, or death. No pain will ever be possible.
These glorified bodies will be in a constant state of youthfulness and energy. We will use that energy to praise the Lord with singing and dancing! We will use that energy to express joy and share in the perfected love of God with all of the saints!
These new glorified bodies will never need to sleep or use the bathroom. -ever again!
There will be no gluttony, because there is enough for everyone. No one will be hoarding apples in a secret pile somewhere. We will not need to eat but will do it for enjoyment and celebration to God. In my next post I will write about the fruit in heaven.
The state of being that I am describing here will be constant and continuing daily forever and ever throughout eternity. How exciting it will be just to receive this heavenly glorified body!
Please see my next post entitled: What will heaven be like? (Part 2)
Sunday, June 27, 2010
Psalm 1
Psalm 1
"1Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.2But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.
3And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.
4The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away.
5Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.
6For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish." -Psalm 1
Saturday, June 26, 2010
The Ten Commandments
The Ten Commandments:
1) Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
2) Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image,
3) Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain;
4) Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.
5) Honour thy father and thy mother:
6) Thou shalt not kill.
7) Thou shalt not commit adultery.
8) Thou shalt not steal.
9) Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.
10) Thou shalt not covet
-Exodus 20:3,4,7,8,12-17
1) Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
2) Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image,
3) Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain;
4) Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.
5) Honour thy father and thy mother:
6) Thou shalt not kill.
7) Thou shalt not commit adultery.
8) Thou shalt not steal.
9) Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.
10) Thou shalt not covet
-Exodus 20:3,4,7,8,12-17
Friday, June 25, 2010
Praise God!
One of the greatest things a person can do is to give God Praise!
Praise is our spiritual weapon! It shatters the darkness. Praising God causes our spirit to be refreshed, strengthened and encouraged. To praise the One who made us is the most fantastic thing.
People do not know what a wonder it is to praise God until they start doing it.
Praising God brings health to your soul. It brings health and healing to your mind and body too!
Praising God is a form of thankfulness. It is rejoicing in who He is and what He has done.
Praising God is communicating with our creator how much we appreciate Him! It is an expression of Gods greatness.
Praising God brings Him glory!
So let us praise the Lord! Let us shout to Him our expressions of what joy we have because of Him!
Let us praise God all the more until our hearts are taken over by His loving Holy Spirit!
"Let every thing that hath breath praise the LORD. Praise ye the LORD." -Psalm 150:6
Praise is our spiritual weapon! It shatters the darkness. Praising God causes our spirit to be refreshed, strengthened and encouraged. To praise the One who made us is the most fantastic thing.
People do not know what a wonder it is to praise God until they start doing it.
Praising God brings health to your soul. It brings health and healing to your mind and body too!
Praising God is a form of thankfulness. It is rejoicing in who He is and what He has done.
Praising God is communicating with our creator how much we appreciate Him! It is an expression of Gods greatness.
Praising God brings Him glory!
So let us praise the Lord! Let us shout to Him our expressions of what joy we have because of Him!
Let us praise God all the more until our hearts are taken over by His loving Holy Spirit!
"Let every thing that hath breath praise the LORD. Praise ye the LORD." -Psalm 150:6
Thursday, June 24, 2010
God is the Treasure !
God wants us to look for Him like we're looking for treasure. Speaking about Wisdom this scripture says:
"4If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures; 5Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God." -Proverbs 2:4,5
When I first saw this scripture, I thought of how men in the 1800's would give everything they had to take a horse and wagon all the way across America so they could search for gold by panning or some other method.
If you think about that for a second. These men had to put whatever life they had on hold till they completed their journey and months of hard work. Think about the hard work of just driving a wagon across the rugged terrain through the rain and weather just to get the chance to work hard at finding some gold. I wonder how long it took for them to do the panning before they found anything. And then probably had to fight off robbers. Who in the world would want to go through all that.
This is what God wants from us. To search for Him as men search for treasure.
"And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart." -Jeremiah 29:13
This is one of my favorite scriptures. God is calling all of us closer to Himself. The way to find Him is to search for Him. Pursue God with everything you have and He will more than notice you!
"Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you." -James 4:8 (Nigh means near in King James English)
I love scriptures that deal with getting closer to God. These kinds of scriptures are a light to our path. They are a guide to us, helping us to find the way. This way to God is safe and secure. It is a sure way. You know you could trust in God when He is showing you the safer way to live by seeking Him.
God is the treasure!
"4If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures; 5Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God." -Proverbs 2:4,5
When I first saw this scripture, I thought of how men in the 1800's would give everything they had to take a horse and wagon all the way across America so they could search for gold by panning or some other method.
If you think about that for a second. These men had to put whatever life they had on hold till they completed their journey and months of hard work. Think about the hard work of just driving a wagon across the rugged terrain through the rain and weather just to get the chance to work hard at finding some gold. I wonder how long it took for them to do the panning before they found anything. And then probably had to fight off robbers. Who in the world would want to go through all that.
This is what God wants from us. To search for Him as men search for treasure.
"And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart." -Jeremiah 29:13
This is one of my favorite scriptures. God is calling all of us closer to Himself. The way to find Him is to search for Him. Pursue God with everything you have and He will more than notice you!
"Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you." -James 4:8 (Nigh means near in King James English)
I love scriptures that deal with getting closer to God. These kinds of scriptures are a light to our path. They are a guide to us, helping us to find the way. This way to God is safe and secure. It is a sure way. You know you could trust in God when He is showing you the safer way to live by seeking Him.
God is the treasure!
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
My Death Experience
The following account is of a thing that happened to me in my earlier 20's. Approximately 20 years ago. It is a true story.
At this time in my life I had been a true Christian believer for only a couple of years. And had much zeal for the things of God. I had volunteered my time and efforts to a ministry outreach program in the inner city of a large city. I did not have much money at the time. In fact I had become jobless and nearly homeless when the pastor of this outreach told me that I could live inside the ministry building. The building now was an old warehouse that was being converted into a place where they could meet for church services, and for reaching out to help the needy in the community. It was a dirty building needing lots of work. I volunteered to do some of that work as well as ministry activities. I slept on a cot that was donated by someone to the church.
One day, I became very ill. I don't know what it was. Maybe it could have been food poisoning. Or,...just poisoning of some kind.
This was not the only time I had been poisoned. In fact I have since had poisoning of some sort a few times since. Not ever knowing what exactly caused it.
Living in such a place I knew there were some strange things going on around me, to other people as well.
Anyway, one night I did not feel well and went to bed. Some time during the night as I was sleeping, I became very aware of my surroundings. I knew it was in the middle of the night as I sat up in bed. Even though the lights were off, I could still see in the dark. I would describe it as night vision the military uses those special night vision goggles they have. Anyway, I felt strange like something was different. I tried to look at my hand in front of my face, but I could not see it. I tried to touch my face, but my hand went right through my head! I looked down at my knees as I was sitting on the side of the bed, but only saw the side of the bed and not my knees. It was as if I was hovering. Then I looked back at my pillow and saw myself laying there! I actually was experiencing being outside my body and seeing my body laying on the pillow. It was scary. I did not see any one else. No angels or demons, or God. No one was there with me. I was all alone. I didn't see any tunnel or heaven or hell, just the room in the natural. I tried to move a pencil laying near by but it wouldn't budge. The pencil seemed to weigh 10 tons!
I became a little more fearful being outside my body. And I didn't like it. I felt that outside my body I had no control. I could not interact with the physical realm at all. All I could do was float.
I became increasingly alarmed and concerned. Luckily I knew some scriptures. I immediately moved my self back toward the bed where my body was laying. I decided that I wasn't going to accept this situation that was happening to me. So I began to fight. I was wrestling against the spirit of death. Even though I didn't see it.
The bible says: "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places." -Ephesians 6:12
So I spoke loudly in my spirit. (I couldn't control the lips on my body) I said, "In the name of Jesus, I shall NOT die but live and declare the Word and works of the Lord! I command this body to live and function normally in Jesus' name." I repeated this a few times and in addition I said other things too like, "I command this body to rise up in the name of Jesus! Arise and walk! I command this body to line up with the Word of God! I bind the spirit of death in Jesus name. I command sickness, disease, and death to leave me and leave my body in Jesus name!"
So I went on praying like this for a while. It felt like a wrestling match! I had to work at it. I had to fight! Then surely but slowly I could feel my body. It felt like a dead weight. It felt like a million tons of lead. But I kept fighting. Even though I began to feel my body, it didn't move at first. It took a while. But then I forced it to sit up in bed. It was so heavy that I felt literally like I was trying to pick up a dead body.
Finally I stood in my physical body out of bed! I still felt like a ton of bricks. And I also felt extremely ill. I felt like food poisoning or some other kind of poison was in my body. I struggled to the hall way and then collapsed. I opened my eyes to find myself on the floor flat on my back. I struggled again trying to get my body to function.
The next day I was sick in bed all day, but eventually regained my strength and health. And I am now alive over 20 years later to tell the story.
The strange thing is that this was not the only time I went through this. Other times I had similar experiences. I feel that the enemy of my soul was trying to kill me so that I couldn't tell people about the love of Jesus Christ which is the only reason for my existence on this earth. My relationship with God is everything I have. That is why I feel it is my reason for being alive.
I feel this is important to share with people to let them know that if you or someone you know is sick unto death, Do NOT give up! You can make it. Believe in Jesus and pray the scriptures! Some things may seem impossible to us in the natural. But all we have to do is believe in God and fight the situation! God has given those of us who believe authority in His name!
"I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the LORD." -Psalm 118:17
At this time in my life I had been a true Christian believer for only a couple of years. And had much zeal for the things of God. I had volunteered my time and efforts to a ministry outreach program in the inner city of a large city. I did not have much money at the time. In fact I had become jobless and nearly homeless when the pastor of this outreach told me that I could live inside the ministry building. The building now was an old warehouse that was being converted into a place where they could meet for church services, and for reaching out to help the needy in the community. It was a dirty building needing lots of work. I volunteered to do some of that work as well as ministry activities. I slept on a cot that was donated by someone to the church.
One day, I became very ill. I don't know what it was. Maybe it could have been food poisoning. Or,...just poisoning of some kind.
This was not the only time I had been poisoned. In fact I have since had poisoning of some sort a few times since. Not ever knowing what exactly caused it.
Living in such a place I knew there were some strange things going on around me, to other people as well.
Anyway, one night I did not feel well and went to bed. Some time during the night as I was sleeping, I became very aware of my surroundings. I knew it was in the middle of the night as I sat up in bed. Even though the lights were off, I could still see in the dark. I would describe it as night vision the military uses those special night vision goggles they have. Anyway, I felt strange like something was different. I tried to look at my hand in front of my face, but I could not see it. I tried to touch my face, but my hand went right through my head! I looked down at my knees as I was sitting on the side of the bed, but only saw the side of the bed and not my knees. It was as if I was hovering. Then I looked back at my pillow and saw myself laying there! I actually was experiencing being outside my body and seeing my body laying on the pillow. It was scary. I did not see any one else. No angels or demons, or God. No one was there with me. I was all alone. I didn't see any tunnel or heaven or hell, just the room in the natural. I tried to move a pencil laying near by but it wouldn't budge. The pencil seemed to weigh 10 tons!
I became a little more fearful being outside my body. And I didn't like it. I felt that outside my body I had no control. I could not interact with the physical realm at all. All I could do was float.
I became increasingly alarmed and concerned. Luckily I knew some scriptures. I immediately moved my self back toward the bed where my body was laying. I decided that I wasn't going to accept this situation that was happening to me. So I began to fight. I was wrestling against the spirit of death. Even though I didn't see it.
The bible says: "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places." -Ephesians 6:12
So I spoke loudly in my spirit. (I couldn't control the lips on my body) I said, "In the name of Jesus, I shall NOT die but live and declare the Word and works of the Lord! I command this body to live and function normally in Jesus' name." I repeated this a few times and in addition I said other things too like, "I command this body to rise up in the name of Jesus! Arise and walk! I command this body to line up with the Word of God! I bind the spirit of death in Jesus name. I command sickness, disease, and death to leave me and leave my body in Jesus name!"
So I went on praying like this for a while. It felt like a wrestling match! I had to work at it. I had to fight! Then surely but slowly I could feel my body. It felt like a dead weight. It felt like a million tons of lead. But I kept fighting. Even though I began to feel my body, it didn't move at first. It took a while. But then I forced it to sit up in bed. It was so heavy that I felt literally like I was trying to pick up a dead body.
Finally I stood in my physical body out of bed! I still felt like a ton of bricks. And I also felt extremely ill. I felt like food poisoning or some other kind of poison was in my body. I struggled to the hall way and then collapsed. I opened my eyes to find myself on the floor flat on my back. I struggled again trying to get my body to function.
The next day I was sick in bed all day, but eventually regained my strength and health. And I am now alive over 20 years later to tell the story.
The strange thing is that this was not the only time I went through this. Other times I had similar experiences. I feel that the enemy of my soul was trying to kill me so that I couldn't tell people about the love of Jesus Christ which is the only reason for my existence on this earth. My relationship with God is everything I have. That is why I feel it is my reason for being alive.
I feel this is important to share with people to let them know that if you or someone you know is sick unto death, Do NOT give up! You can make it. Believe in Jesus and pray the scriptures! Some things may seem impossible to us in the natural. But all we have to do is believe in God and fight the situation! God has given those of us who believe authority in His name!
"I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the LORD." -Psalm 118:17
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
The Offensive Gift
As a gift for Christmas last year, my Niece gave me a calendar with pictures of Hot Rods and fancy automobiles on it. I didn't really like it. But because it was a gift from my Niece, I hung it on the wall above my desk.
Then one day God spoke to me about the calendar. He said that the calendar was offensive to him. I said, "why God?" He said, those cars are some peoples idols! Some people actually worship those fancy cars. They spend all of their hard earned money on them. They spend all of their time with them. They work hard on them constantly washing and waxing those automobiles. And they try to fill their hearts with satisfaction from owning those idols.
"For thou shalt worship no other god: for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God:" -Exodus 34:14
So I took the calendar down off my wall and threw it in the trash. At that point it didn't matter that it was a gift. I know my Niece meant well. But I have to obey God.
Something that may seem small to us is not to God! He cares about every little detail in our lives. When we have a close relationship to God, even the small things in our lives are important to Him.
Then one day God spoke to me about the calendar. He said that the calendar was offensive to him. I said, "why God?" He said, those cars are some peoples idols! Some people actually worship those fancy cars. They spend all of their hard earned money on them. They spend all of their time with them. They work hard on them constantly washing and waxing those automobiles. And they try to fill their hearts with satisfaction from owning those idols.
"For thou shalt worship no other god: for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God:" -Exodus 34:14
So I took the calendar down off my wall and threw it in the trash. At that point it didn't matter that it was a gift. I know my Niece meant well. But I have to obey God.
Something that may seem small to us is not to God! He cares about every little detail in our lives. When we have a close relationship to God, even the small things in our lives are important to Him.
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