Richard T said:

I don't know about TB Joshua but most charismatics are taught that the gifts of the spirit do not equate with the fruit of the spirit.
1 Corinthians 13:1-2 (NASB)
1 If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.
2 If I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.

We are nothing without love but one could still move a mountain, give all money to the poor, or potentially operate in any gift. At some point though the ministry will be impacted. Hopefully, few had faith in Joshua and have lasting faith in Christ.

Click to expand...

Bob8102 said:

I have reached the point of going to online AI for spiritual advice. I have just started using ChatGPT for this. Before totally dumping water on this, please note that ChatGPT, while over all programmed, probably, by non-believers, accepts any user's world view. I tell it I have a Christian, Protestant, evangelical, biblical world view. It researches and answers my questions/concerns from within that perspective, going to resources by experts in that realm, and extracting advice from them. I've done this over the last couple of days. So far, ChatGPT's responses seem solid and helpful. Is anyone else checking out popular, online AI systems for spiritual concerns, and what do you think about doing this?

Click to expand...

Neostarwcc said:

Ok so heres the full deal.

From birth all of us do this particular sin. Its programed into our brains from childhood that its natural to lie and it comes second nature to us and many of us pass off lying as if its "no big deal" but heres the thing, lying is a huge sin and is offensive to God. How do I know this? The Bible tells us so. Jesus tells us so and Jesus also tells us that there will be no liars in heaven just forgiven liars and here's the thing, I've said this on CF before but its becoming a really bad problem but I'm such a pathological liar that I can't stop. Not because I'm lying right now but because I like to lie to get my own way. Because its easier to lie than to tell the truth when telling the truth has consequences and you want to avoid those consequences. And the Holy Spirit has been convicting me like crazy lately about all of the lies that I have been telling lately to my wife in particular but also to my mom.

I'll explain and give examples so its easier for you all to give me Biblical advice and talk me through this.

So basically everytime I get involved in a video game I end up spending thousands of dollars in microtransactions on that game. But that isn't the bad part about it. The bad part about it is that I always NEVER tell my wife about it AND I ALWAYS hide what im doing from her and lie to her. Basically, I'll steal our debit card because I'm bipolar and she doesn't want me to have access to our money (A smart move on her part) and I'll go nuts. Oftentimes I'll steal the debit/credit card out of her wallet. Or sometimes i'll hack her paypal and email and I'll change the information on her and go in her phone and delete the emails that tell her what I did so that she'll never know I used paypal to charge all kinds of money to video games.

Lately there's been this specific video game that I've been spending on that I've so far spent thousands on. She knew about and approved $80 a week but I spent a lot more behind her back and when she questioned me about it I lied to her and I hid all of the transactions from her and did my best to cover it up. Totally not a good or Christian thing to do. Like I said I've been convicted lately really bad about this and I've come completely clean to her and she almost brushed me off like it was no big deal because shes been married to me for so long and she's used to this kind of behavior but I was like "No, Jeanette this is important and this has to stop."

I mean our 10th anniversary is coming up in 2 months. I dont want to spend our 10th anniversary with a slate of "I'm lying to you to get my way in this game right now and in these games in particular and I'm spending our money foolishly in these games to get myself stronger in these games and I don't care about your feelings or that we both worked hard (Well mostly her I just sit on my butt and get a disability check) for our money.

I've given myself a second chance (Although why should I with my history of lying to my wife and telling her im not spending money when I really am) to basically not spend any money without asking her first and if I sneak around because she completely cut me off from the bank without asking her first i'm quitting the game entirely. And hopefully i'm quitting mobile games and steam games for the rest of my life but we all know, that won't happen because i'll always be bored one day and want to play a free to play game and we all know i can't play a free to play game for free and I'll spend all kinds of money on that game.

Anyway, since I've come clean and given myself a last chance on this game I feel a little better but, I dont want to do this anymore. I want to follow Jesus which is way better than lying about things just to get my way in a video game or to get my way financially. Its just not worth it. What do you suggest I do? Because quitting video games forever wont work because, I'll always go back to them. I'll always spend on them. But, maybe setting a budget and maybe just having Jeanette say "If you betray me one more time you're cut off from your finances completely for good and I mean it this time." Will send me the wake up call I need. I don't know... I need ideas and advice.

Click to expand...

xfreakazoidx said:

So this is going to be a long post. I'll use AI to summarize it a bit better of its to long though. I'm also spilling my emotions on here so its going to be intense. There are so amyn details I could add but it would be a book if I did. Skip past the ____ to get to main post, if not the details are below of our situation

So I'm 43 (USA), my wife is 39 (From Philippines). Been married 12 years. Marriage is not perfect, but the love is beyond strong. Neither of us really wanted kids, me more so than her. I am disabled and have never been able to hold a job or work. She knew this going into it. Thus I lived at home. She accepted me and married me. My parents brought her here. Sadly she didn't understand how money worked and over time got herself in debt by 80k.

She learned the hard lesson and filed for bankruptcy. She on a payment plan through debt management. And still paying off some loans that weren't covered by debt management. Needless to say we barely have money for anything. We only pay $100 rent a month because it's so bad. I was on some special version of SSI so at least I had money coming in. Until she started making to much at Amazon and I lost it, I also lost my medicaid.

So as you can tell, we are NOT ready for a baby. I don't know how well my health issues will do (22 migraines a month being the biggest issue) will do with a baby. Among my other health issues. I love kids mind you, she does also, however shes grossed out by kids. Like not wanting to change diapers. She also had a very low pain threshold. Since four of us live in one house, its not even close to being baby safe. Nor is there room for. We have a spare bedroom upstairs, which will work when its older of course. Our room is small and barley could hold a baby crib.

So... I realize it takes two to have a baby of course. We seldom have sex, just because neither of us cares about it that much. When we do there is no protection as we can't afford it (I literally stopped taking some meds to save money). Without going into intimate details I will simply say we still tried to methods to not get pregnant.

She been pregnant for two months now, just found out yesterday from a test (I kinda knew when he missed her period for more than a month). To note she was pregnant four years ago and had a miscarriage.

____________________

So when she went to work (third shift) I spend most of the night crying. I am depressed. This sounds AWFUL. But I don't want the baby. I almost resent her. She's annoyed that I am not being positive. But I don't want to lie and pretend I care, when I don't. I've spent my whole life disabled, with issues. Often hoping God would take me. I also spent my life catering to others. Never asking for anything. The whole meek and humble thing. I let people walk all over me. And now we are having a baby.


I feel like being selfish now. I want what I want. I'm tired of putting up with people doing what they want and screwed up my life. I always gave her what she wanted. I let her do what she wanted (mostly). I figured being a useless disabled husband, I shouldn't ask for anything. Now I have had enough.

No, I don't believe in divorce. I do love her deeply, I'm just depressed, angry...etc right now. And no, by saying I don't want the baby I am nto talking about the A word. That is a sin and awful. However I have been praying for a miscarriage again. I can hear the comments already tearing me apart for even saying such a thing. But I don't know what else to think. We can't afford it, she's not responsible enough to handle one, my health is awful and I can't deal with one.

I also don't want to hear about "Well you shouldn't have been intimate!" That does not help as can't change the past. It's not like we don't know that of course. We only were intimate maybe 2-4 times a year as it was. Just looking for advice for the here and now. To note, while she doens't want a baby either, being pregnant of course has her emotional and now she's happy.

Meanwhile I am stressed thinking about the reality of it. And I know I can't talk to anyone. My Christian friends will judge me for feeling this way. My non-christian friends will just yap about the A word or say things like split up. I also should note I grew up homeschooled. So I was around babies, kids...etc. I love kids. I'd love to be a dad. And of course my parents live with us, so that will help. Even though they are near deaths door and have health issues themselves. Honestly I am tired of my life. If not for the fear of death and God, I'd end it currently. I'm tired of being tired and givingt up everything and getting nothing in return. Tired of being nice.

I just need advice, or comfort. Or something. I know God has things happen for a reason and a baby is a blessing of course.

Click to expand...

xfreakazoidx said:

So yes I have two posts going on here. But since I am back (been gone since Covid), might as well talk about whats on my mind.

So as you know I am in my 40s. Raised Christian, though the denomination varied (Evangelical, Presbyterian...etc) as we switched churches a few times. I always was close with God. Prayed every night, read my bible...etc. I also have had major health issues my whole life. We also haven't been to church or even watched a online service in years. Not because we don't believe. We can't drive, and her work shift ends Sunday morning, so we are usually asleep when church is normally going on. We don't really pray together. Or read together. We are both super stressed becauyse of financialty debt that every waking moment is spent figuring out how to earn money, how to pay one bill, while saving for the next...etc.

I don't even take my pills most times because I am overwhelmed and forget. Mind you even when I was single I was this way. I was always busy just trying to survive and make something of myself.

Which meant around at 16 when I had grand mal seizure and brain injury, I started to get mad at God. I also wanted to end my life, but didn't because I truly believe it leads to hell.

However all this stuff also made me at times stronger in my beliefs because I knew God had plans. Like helping people on here (like the early 2000s and before). Those who were also sick and felt like maybe God didn't care. However in the back of my mind I always had this fear of death. This fear of "what if".

As time went on and I started having health issues, I read my bible less, I stopped doing devotions..etc. Long story short I maybe read my devotions a few times a year. Never really read my bible other than looking up verses. Praying comes in spurts, sometimes I may pray a few times a week. Or just a few times a year.

So... part of me believes God is real. But I always see things online that make me question. Like when people say prayers don't do anything as people's situations never really change. Much of anythink that happens seems to be luck or coincidence. For example I've never seen anyone with stage 4 cancer cured. I remind myself miracles of such scale aren't really a thing and of coruse we have free will so God can't really answer prayers like "God give me a home a for free!"

Then I see people say things about evolution, history...etc. LIke historical events and people that existed before Adam and Eve would have. I don't know how to explain that. Like I know about carbon dating is flawed, but it seems alot of what people tell me is true and I can't explain it. Though in my mind I think maybe its the devil who made things seems a certain way so we can question God on purpose.

But my biggest problem is death. I fear it. Many nights I can't sleep and wake up crying and screaming. If God isn't real, I will just cease to exist. Not even knowing I am gone. It terrifies me. The only thing that keeps that thoughts at bay is knowing that heaven/hell exists. So when I die, I will instantly see heaven and things aren't over. But as I age and get closer the death, its harder to not think about death. Even my dad, a prayer warrior, when I asked about this was unsure and said he really doesn't know what to say.

On the other hand I see Israel still existing and it makes me think if God wasn't real, there is NO way they would not have been taken over/taken out by now. Sadly there is not alot of this stuff to prove God is real. Most everything is based on faith. But I wonder what if God isn't real, what if the whole point of the bible is to fool people into a false sense of comfort. Or as some people have yelled at me "Only naive people believe it because they lack critical thinking skills when evidence is all aroudn them to suggest its not real!"

Again, I don't know what to do or to think. Do I think God is not real? I do wonder. But deep down I still believe of course. Part of me wishes I was dumb, so I wouldn't even be able to understand half of what people try to scare me with into thinking He's not real. This also makes me question am I really saved? Am I destined for hell? I've also done some horrific things in my life. THings I know God would disapprove of. Things I'd probably be in prison for (I didn't kill anyone if your wondering lol).

When I pray for forgiveness, I often can't forgive myself for things I've done. For decades on end. I may sometimes pray again for forgiveness for the same thing. Thinking I'm pure evil and God hasn't forgiven me. I guess I'm harder on myself about not being perfect for God.

I always have felt I am a failure in Gods eyes. When I pray and most often nothing happens, I feel I am ignored because He gave up on me. I feel when I get to heaven I will be one of those people of whom He says "Go away, I do not know you!". I don't want to be. I knowing Thomas was a doubter, so maybe its normal for some to also feel this way and still be saved? Honestly all I want is God to hold me. Show me He's here. I just want to be able to meet Jesus when I die and thank Him for everything. I want to Worship the Lord.

So not sure what I am looking for here. Not judgment, hopefully. Maybe encouragement. Or a reminder of something. A way to repair my spiritual armor to full strength again. In the end, I still want to just please God. Despite all my flaws and struggles with some sins.

Click to expand...

Questioning Brother said:

More and more, I can sense God is near, but it matters less and less to me. His presence does nothing for me. It is not helpful in any fashion. I don't care is he is there, but I do care that he actually helps me, which he doesn't. It is like talking to your friend the cop and a mugger comes up, beats you nearly to death, and your "friend" just stands there and watches it happen. Then afterwards, comes and put a hand on your shoulder and the only thing he does is tell you it will be okay. He doesn't stop the guy or call an ambulanced for you. He just stands there watching and then tries to comfort you. I don't want Him to comfort (meaningless, useless words) , I want Him to actually help (materially change the situation). Comforting is almost worse than nothing. especially from someone who could prevent the problems in the first place. I don't trust Him anymore, I needed action BEFORE OR DURING the problems, not after. After is entirely too little, too late.

What can I do? I don't care about the good on the other side, I don't trust Him, and more an more He is not worth it anymore.

Click to expand...

GoldenKingGaze said:

Deuteronomy 21:22-23 NKJV
22 “If a man has committed a sin deserving of death, and he is put to death, and you hang him on a tree, 23 his body shall not remain overnight on the tree, but you shall surely bury him that day, so that you do not defile the land which the Lord your God is giving you as an inheritance; for he who is hanged is accursed of God.

The curse of the human sinful nature which Paul says lives in our bodies, in Romans, in sum total, past, present and future was in Jesus, so that by the time He said, it is finished, He had resisted sin pressure even to death remaining obedient to the Father and Spirit. Sin's power is finished and can be washed away, replaced by righteousness through Jesus' abundant blood. As when sprinkled as from hyssop. Psalm 51.

Jesus and His blood overcame. Like an infection, the blood remembers immunity.

Hebrews 13:20 mentions the Father using Jesus' sacred blood to make the power of the resurrection. Romans 8 says this can quicken our mortal bodies in regards to sin, for salvation.

Jesus was willing, of course, it was a plan and He obeyed. That decision and overcoming power is in Jesus' blood. Replacing Adamic blood with Jesus perfect sinless and powerful blood. Our sin is in our blood, for now.

And Jesus set the example of willingly dying the seed, being on the cross and laying down His life in death, and coming under the power of death, He overcame it. Done in my place and yours.

Click to expand...

GoldenKingGaze said:

I mean to ask if God wanted more salvations from the apostles than they actually reaped into the kingdom?

Click to expand...

ozso said:

Since when is US law enforcement unarmed? I could see all the uproar making sense if up until now law enforcement only wore t-shirts and were only equipped with their bare hands. But that's never been the case in this universe. Is there a Mandela effect thing going on where people remember US law enforcement never being armed until now? Or a raid not consisting of multiple officers?

Click to expand...

Pommer said:

But look how he was brought back…to face charges.
Not because the Courts had ordered that he be returned, no, the government “forgot” to charge him with [whatever things they’re going to try him for now]. They were going to due-process him into the middle of the century anyway, but “forgot”; that the courts had ordered him brought back was nothing more than serendipitous coincidence.

Cute.

Click to expand...

bèlla said:

Many groups work together for shared concerns but they’re not wholly united and moving as a unit permanently. And persecution isn’t a byproduct for trust and togetherness. If anything people will be more skeptical than not given the advances in our technology. I’m not welcoming anyone willy nilly just because they said they love Jesus.

There was a recent scandal involving a popular individual that went viral last month. Shannon Sharpe was accused of sexual assault by a woman he was seeing for three years. And when civil suit was revealed we discovered that she had been recording him the entire time without his knowledge.

If you believe we won’t be infiltrated and have similar people doing the same you’re naive. Every group the government has taken down usually occurs from within. And I fully expect we’ll have our share of wolves working for the other. While you reference persecution you forget this isn’t the eighties and it will look differently than expected.

We have drones flying in the air, robodogs and humanoid robots functioning as police as we speak, and a ball rolling around in China doing the same. We have cameras along our streets and listening devices too. You won’t be hard to find so you’d better make sure the people around you are trustworthy. That’s the reality of persecution in the modern age.

That‘s why you have to understand times and seasons and make preparations in advance. You’ll be hard pressed to get rid of anyone in that period because you’re afraid they’ll turn on you. So you get your house in order while it‘s calm and examine your connections and make adjustments where needed. Those are the ones you’ll rely on. And I’ve already done that.

I don’t talk about the end times; I live with it in mind and make preparations as I go. That’s a lesson I learned from a nursery rhyme that was validated during the pandemic. There were a lot of people who expected many things from the church and their fellow believers that were sorely disappointed. They never expected to be ignored or left behind. And if you read the room correctly you got the message. It’s easy to talk of brotherhood when times are good. But adversity is a truth serum.

If you can’t be there for one another during a crisis. Why would I expect you to do otherwise in something worse? It’s more than words just like the songwriter said. It’s the things you do that show you care.

~bella

Click to expand...

ozso said:

Raids on business have always consisted of multiple armed officers, way before Trump. Even raids on small houses with one or two suspects have consisted of multiple armed officers, way before Trump. And a raid that's being obstructed by a mob certainly consists of multiple armed officers in riot gear equipped with riot equipment, way before Trump. The idea that there's something new about it is preposterous.

Click to expand...

RamiC said:

Is this because they don't play cricket?

Click to expand...

Bob Crowley said:

An anti-Christ is implied,

Click to expand...

Bob Crowley said:

There's no "Trinity" mentioned either

Click to expand...

Bob Crowley said:

I also happen to believe he's around today.

Click to expand...

Bob Crowley said:

This is the first generation where a world wide government is possible, thanks to modern technology and weaponry that can land a missile through your laundry door guided by satellite, or maybe just a drone to save a lot of money.

Click to expand...

ozso said:

Since when is US law enforcement unarmed? I could see all the uproar making sense if up until now law enforcement only wore t-shirts and were only equipped with their bare hands. But that's never been the case in this universe. Is there a Mandela effect thing going on where people remember US law enforcement never being armed until now? Or a raid not consisting of multiple officers?

Click to expand...