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Post by James Brady on Jan 27, 2017 9:00:55 GMT
This is a testimony about praying something that we call the nuclear prayer at FOTM. It basically goes like this: "Lord, please refine me as fast as possible, until I'm walking in your perfect will all the time." And then you have to actually mean it, actually be willing to sacrifice everything for it (especially including comfort) and maybe even drop everything, including family, job and home for it. If you do that, expect God to move dramatically in your life every day. Expect to feel a LOT of pain, discomfort, and struggling, like every day. Expect for things you didn't even know were a problem to bubble up to the surface of your life and be revealed for the awful sin they are. Expect for Jesus's promise, that NO ONE who leaves that big list of things like family or home for His sake and the gospel's sake will fail to receive more in this life and in the coming age, everlasting life, to come true. Don't pray it unless you mean it. Don't mean it unless you're ready to put yourself naked on the altar and not get off when it gets hard. Anyone who hasn't prayed it and isn't sure if they should, post here so we can pray for you to get there soon.
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Post by Larry Marquez on Jan 27, 2017 18:40:27 GMT
I've prayed it twice. Maybe there is a part of me that doesn't mean it?
Right now I think it's coming down to not spending time with God on a consistent basis everyday that may be interfering. Sometimes I spend time with God in the morning, but at night I don't. The psalms mention spending time with God in the morning and night, then compares that to a tree planted by a river.
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Marianotloggedinoops
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Post by Marianotloggedinoops on Jan 28, 2017 15:51:06 GMT
well I felt I meant it but I'm still struggling. I need to get back to life giving waters still. Pray this again sometime.
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Post by James Brady on Jan 28, 2017 20:30:54 GMT
I've prayed it twice. Maybe there is a part of me that doesn't mean it? Right now I think it's coming down to not spending time with God on a consistent basis everyday that may be interfering. Sometimes I spend time with God in the morning, but at night I don't. The psalms mention spending time with God in the morning and night, then compares that to a tree planted by a river. Maybe not meaning it, or maybe God is answering it right now. God's refinement is not going to look like what we expect. That's almost guaranteed. Jesus was sleeping in the boat, the disciples cry out "Jesus, don't you care that we're dying?" and Jesus rebukes the wind and waves (the devil's attacks) and the sea becomes like glass. To worldly eyes, hey, this is awesome. Now we're in no danger of drowning. But to God's eyes, they were never in danger of drowning, but with the wind, they were making swift progress towards where they were going. Now the disciples would have to row. So just because it seems like things are going poorly, even with your faith, with your walk, that doesn't mean you're dying. It could mean you're on the boat and the harder the enemy blows, the faster you're headed to shore.
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Post by James Brady on Jan 28, 2017 20:37:39 GMT
Maria... Remember, the fruit of the Holy Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.
The more you pray for these, the more you walk in all of them and the more of the Spirit of God you are filled with, the less you will sin.
Ask God to show you where you need to improve and be brutally honest with yourself. Don't justify any behavior you know the Bible says should be another way.
If someone reproves you, don't rush to defend yourself or to accuse them to make yourself feel better (some people do this, not accusing you of it) but instead humbly seek God about it, whether you are doing what's perfect in His sight.
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Post by Larry Marquez on Jan 29, 2017 0:05:37 GMT
I've prayed it twice. Maybe there is a part of me that doesn't mean it? Right now I think it's coming down to not spending time with God on a consistent basis everyday that may be interfering. Sometimes I spend time with God in the morning, but at night I don't. The psalms mention spending time with God in the morning and night, then compares that to a tree planted by a river. Maybe not meaning it, or maybe God is answering it right now. God's refinement is not going to look like what we expect. That's almost guaranteed. Jesus was sleeping in the boat, the disciples cry out "Jesus, don't you care that we're dying?" and Jesus rebukes the wind and waves (the devil's attacks) and the sea becomes like glass. To worldly eyes, hey, this is awesome. Now we're in no danger of drowning. But to God's eyes, they were never in danger of drowning, but with the wind, they were making swift progress towards where they were going. Now the disciples would have to row. So just because it seems like things are going poorly, even with your faith, with your walk, that doesn't mean you're dying. It could mean you're on the boat and the harder the enemy blows, the faster you're headed to shore. Very insightful, the bible mentions there will be hard times & persecution if we follow Jesus. I got to remember/view things from God's perspective and not my own. He's the Potter and has to stretch me or my circumstances for his purposes.
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Mariaoopsnotloggedin
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Post by Mariaoopsnotloggedin on Jan 29, 2017 2:25:01 GMT
James Brady Yes I Will think of areas of my life and write them down. When you get the baptism of the Holy Spirit is it something you have to go through again? As for gifts like tongues I didn't get them yet. When I got the baptism I Got the life giving waters. The peace Love joy happiness was the best I ever felt in my life. However by the next morning I felt the same like my old self before the baptism. I felt a stamp and seal for the day of redemption. Do I need to get re baptized and re stamped and sealed?
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Mariaoopsnotloggedin
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Post by Mariaoopsnotloggedin on Jan 29, 2017 2:27:27 GMT
Making a correction to my last post. I meant the same time I got they Holy Spirit baptism I got a stamp and seal for the day of redemption.
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Post by kitcat1996 on Feb 2, 2017 21:46:57 GMT
I want to prayer the big prayer but I must admit I'm very scared to. I have a LOT of pride and I've been relying too much on my own understanding. I want to be a broken vessel for God to use but I get to pissed off at the little things ;like people beeping at me in traffic or something). I take everything to personal. What is the best move to make? I'm scared that if I prayed that prayer now that I'd get angry and blow the lid off of my cup and then there would be no sacrifice remains for me.
I've been reading my bible everyday and spending time with the Lord. He has heightened my discernment and started to change me. But there is so much of my self that is in the way.
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Post by Jeff G on Feb 2, 2017 23:03:56 GMT
Hi there. So... I'm going to put forward some verses related to all this and then give some thoughts on the matter.
Now in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver but also of wood and clay, some for honorable use, some for dishonorable. Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work. (2 Tim. 2:20-21)
only the gold, the silver, the bronze, the iron, the tin, and the lead, everything that can stand the fire, you shall pass through the fire, and it shall be clean. Nevertheless, it shall also be purified with the water for impurity. And whatever cannot stand the fire, you shall pass through the water. (Num. 31:22-23)
A couple of points: First, notice that not all vessels are ready for the fire - only those that are metal. My understanding is that Christians will generally start with a cup that is "made of" wood or clay, and that after being grown and stretched and cleansed and strengthened, then they can be regarded as being a vessel of gold or silver. In other words, sanctification is a process, and God isn't going to put you through something you're not ready for. It may be something you don't think you're ready for, but if He knows you're ready, that's a different story.
I don't say this to discourage you. My emphasis is that God knows what is best for you; ask Him to refine you at whatever pace He knows is best. If you don't think you're ready to pray the nuclear prayer, pray the Lord will get you to a place where you are ready. And we'll be praying along with you.
As for the washing with water, Ephesians 5:26 says "washing of water with the word," and John 7:38 speaks of the Holy Spirit as rivers of living water. So continue spending time in Scripture, and be filled with the Spirit on an ongoing basis.
Now, concerning reaching a place where there is no sacrifice remaining, consider this: God really doesn't want you to reach that state. Jesus died for you and He loves you more than you can understand.
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Post by kitcat1996 on Feb 3, 2017 15:41:34 GMT
Hi there. So... I'm going to put forward some verses related to all this and then give some thoughts on the matter. Now in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver but also of wood and clay, some for honorable use, some for dishonorable. Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work. (2 Tim. 2:20-21) only the gold, the silver, the bronze, the iron, the tin, and the lead, everything that can stand the fire, you shall pass through the fire, and it shall be clean. Nevertheless, it shall also be purified with the water for impurity. And whatever cannot stand the fire, you shall pass through the water. (Num. 31:22-23) A couple of points: First, notice that not all vessels are ready for the fire - only those that are metal. My understanding is that Christians will generally start with a cup that is "made of" wood or clay, and that after being grown and stretched and cleansed and strengthened, then they can be regarded as being a vessel of gold or silver. In other words, sanctification is a process, and God isn't going to put you through something you're not ready for. It may be something you don't think you're ready for, but if He knows you're ready, that's a different story. I don't say this to discourage you. My emphasis is that God knows what is best for you; ask Him to refine you at whatever pace He knows is best. If you don't think you're ready to pray the nuclear prayer, pray the Lord will get you to a place where you are ready. And we'll be praying along with you. As for the washing with water, Ephesians 5:26 says "washing of water with the word," and John 7:38 speaks of the Holy Spirit as rivers of living water. So continue spending time in Scripture, and be filled with the Spirit on an ongoing basis. Now, concerning reaching a place where there is no sacrifice remaining, consider this: God really doesn't want you to reach that state. Jesus died for you and He loves you more than you can understand. Thank you for the scripture. I am really digging into it now and realizing how important it is. Being in these last days we need to read our bibles daily. I'm trying to really study the bible and reading passages mutilple time over and over. I'm not ready to pray the big prayer but I will continue in praying to be ready to pray for it. Thank you brother in Christ, you have encouraged me. I know this is probably a loaded question, but how long did it take to all of y'all do get to the fire? Did it get easier to fight sin? Like, when did 'the little things' stop being big things?
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Post by Jeff G on Feb 3, 2017 18:02:12 GMT
So I got to thinking, and there's a video Doug made that might be useful to you. Here it is: Is the Baptism of Fire a BAD thing? What does the Bible say?
I don't mention this because I think you need to be convinced that the Baptism of Fire is a good thing. But rather, the process of threshing grain is discussed and this is useful knowledge and could be helpful and encouraging.
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Post by kitcat1996 on Feb 3, 2017 20:06:53 GMT
So I got to thinking, and there's a video Doug made that might be useful to you. Here it is: Is the Baptism of Fire a BAD thing? What does the Bible say?
I don't mention this because I think you need to be convinced that the Baptism of Fire is a good thing. But rather, the process of threshing grain is discussed and this is useful knowledge and could be helpful and encouraging. Thank you. I will check it out.
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Post by James Brady on Feb 21, 2017 6:40:05 GMT
James Brady Yes I Will think of areas of my life and write them down. When you get the baptism of the Holy Spirit is it something you have to go through again? As for gifts like tongues I didn't get them yet. When I got the baptism I Got the life giving waters. The peace Love joy happiness was the best I ever felt in my life. However by the next morning I felt the same like my old self before the baptism. I felt a stamp and seal for the day of redemption. Do I need to get re baptized and re stamped and sealed? Doug uses the cup model. Your cup has yellow stuff in it, which is you. It has blue stuff in it, which is the Holy Spirit, and it has red stuff in it. Sin, demons, the enemy's strongholds and control on you. Any time you sin, that red stuff fills up some of the room in your cup, which means there's less blue stuff. So when you receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit, you're still not yet walking in sanctification, so when you sin, some of the blue stuff drains out, and is replaced by sin. Bad. So confess it and say you're sorry and God forgives it. Red stuff leaves. Pray to be filled with the Holy Spirit and blue stuff returns. Sanctification is growing in the faith and in God's love to the point that you keep your cup full of the Holy Spirit all the time. As far as being restamped... God knows a'll the saved from before the foundation, but if you backslide a lot, maybe God might take back the stamp and seal, then later on you truly repent and He gives it back. I don't know.
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Post by newjameslife2014 on Feb 21, 2017 19:25:43 GMT
Maria... Remember, the fruit of the Holy Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. The more you pray for these, the more you walk in all of them and the more of the Spirit of God you are filled with, the less you will sin. Ask God to show you where you need to improve and be brutally honest with yourself. Don't justify any behavior you know the Bible says should be another way. If someone reproves you, don't rush to defend yourself or to accuse them to make yourself feel better (some people do this, not accusing you of it) but instead humbly seek God about it, whether you are doing what's perfect in His sight. Also ask God how to fill your cup every day. You can spend time with God all the time it doesn't have to be a religeous act, You can ask him what to wear what to eat and what to drink. The baptism of fire comes from obedience, laying down your wants and needs and running after Jesus. If you don't hear anything thing remember what his word says about serving and being servant. Hope this is helpful.
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