Yada wrote:Faith in that which is not valid is of no value. It is false hope. It is courageous to stand up against persecution, I give you that. But millions have done so throughout time without any clue who God is. This is a case of the devotees of one religious lie tormenting the victims of another religious lie.
Mark 13:9-13
American Standard Version (ASV)
9 But take ye heed to yourselves: for they shall deliver you up to councils; and in synagogues shall ye be beaten; and before governors and kings shall ye stand for my sake, for a testimony unto them.
10 And the gospel must first be preached unto all the nations.
11 And when they lead you to judgment, and deliver you up, be not anxious beforehand what ye shall speak: but whatsoever shall be given you in that hour, that speak ye; for it is not ye that speak, but the Holy Spirit.
12 And brother shall deliver up brother to death, and the father his child; and children shall rise up against parents, and cause them to be put to death.
13 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that endureth to the end, the same shall be saved.
Yada wrote:No Christian knows Yahowah. If they knew Yahowah, they wouldn't be Christians.
Yahowsha said, "If you've seen Me, you've seen the Father". So, the people facing persecution for their faith in Yahowsha (Jesus, as they know Him), are hated for HIS name's sake.
Sigh.......Yada, I know you know waaay more than me. But, it would be really cool if I could sit down with you, face to face, and just chat.
It's wearying sharing what you will not hear. Plus, a lot of true communication is lost via emails.
The one thing you can't argue with, is another's testimony of God working in their lives. You can flat out reject it, I suppose.
I don't know what kind of "God experience" you had before doing ITG, but it must have been deader than a doornail.
I really don't even consider myself a Christian anymore. I just want to follow Yahowsha and Yah. But, I DO know Yah has been protecting, providing, speaking to, and loving me, BEFORE I even was aware of Him, and He definitely has been speaking to me very clearly, since I was born from above.
How the heck would anyone even find God, if He didn't first draw them to Himself?
He first draws you to Himself, through the Spirit. He also responds to those who cry out to Him and ask to know His Son.
John 3:12-21
American Standard Version (ASV)
12 If I told you earthly things and ye believe not, how shall ye believe if I tell you heavenly things?
13 And no one hath ascended into heaven, but he that descended out of heaven, even the Son of man, who is in heaven.
14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up;
15 that whosoever believeth may in him have eternal life.
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on him should not perish, but have eternal life.
17 For God sent not the Son into the world to judge the world; but that the world should be saved through him.
18 He that believeth on him is not judged: he that believeth not hath been judged already, because he hath not believed on the name of the only begotten Son of God.
19 And this is the judgment, that the light is come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the light; for their works were evil.
20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, and cometh not to the light, lest his works should be reproved.
21 But he that doeth the truth cometh to the light, that his works may be made manifest, that they have been wrought in God.
Yada wrote:This is not my opinion. Read the conclusion to the Sermon on the Mount. Yahowsha' rejects everyone who is without the Towrah.
Matthew 5:3-12
American Standard Version (ASV)
3 Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.
5 Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.
6 Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.
7 Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.
8 Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.
9 Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called sons of God.
10 Blessed are they that have been persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 Blessed are ye when men shall reproach you, and persecute you, and say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
2 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets that were before you.
It sounds like those believers in other countries, who are standing for their faith in Yahowsha (Jesus). American believers haven't truly faced that kind of persecution...yet. But, it's coming. Those who truly love Him, will stand. I see no rejection in the above verses, for not following Towrah. I see us being called to be meek, merciful, pure in heart, seekers of righteousness, and to know we will be persecuted for that and standing for Him.
Here's my take on it....there are TRUE believers (who are definitely changed by knowing Yahowsha) and there are those who say they know Him, but don't have any fruit of a changed heart, or who love this world more than God. Those are the pew warmers in churches all around the world, or the Sunday/Wed. Christians that don't know much more than what their preacher tells them to think, and believe Paul's gospel over Yahowsha's.
But, the Father is drawing those that are truly His, away from organized Christianity. They do have a relationship with Him. I know people like that.
If Yahowsha is the "Towrah made flesh", then wouldn't those really trusting Him, have the Towrah? It's written on their hearts, to follow Him and do what He says.
I'm not the same person I was 20 years ago. I give Him all the credit for that. Yahowsha said "he who is forgiven much, loves much".
The woman who sat at Yahowsha's feet, and washed them with her tears, then dried them with her hair....I get that. Yahowsha is worthy of that kind of love. I follow Him and do my best to do what He asks of me, because I love Him. He loved me first, and forgave me.
Oh, and I understand how speaking out about Paul can get you ostracized.
I have been told I'm going to hell, I'm the "synagogue of Satan", I'm religious, etc., etc.
Most I know understand Islam for what it is.
The battle lines are being drawn in this world. The evil is becoming greater, and the veil is thinning. If the Bible wasn't a threat and those who believe in Jesus weren't a threat, they wouldn't be ostracized for that belief. If the Bible is leading people to a false religion, then why is Satan so dead set on getting it's influence out of schools and society?
These are questions I've pondered. I know Paul is a false apostle, but the truth is still in the Bible. So, even with Paul's influence, to believe in Yahowsha is a threat to the accuser.
Anyway, I've rambled on enough. I hope you have a blessed weekend, Yada.
Take care,
Cathy
ps
I've spent quite a bit of time reading your forum. I find it ironic that most the people on there are even more religious than most Christians I know. The lack of love in there turned my stomach. They also have put you on quite the pedestal. It seems humans have this propensity to do that. Yahowsha said the world would know we were His by our love for one another....and doing what He said, of course.