This Elder Has Been A Deceiver: Part Two!

"In Whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of Him." (Ephesians 3:12 KJV)

Hello To All:

When we last gathered, we began the account of when our Lord Jesus Christ was compelled to expose me as a deceiver. It is time for that account to continue. Just recently, I found myself in a circumstance where I was compelled to help someone understand the importance of pain in our lives. I found myself explaining that pain needed to be embraced - pain can and should be regarded as our friend - pain, if we will allow it, can be a very efficient teacher. This was how it was for me, for those two and one-half days of intense pain in the spring of 2007.

This account continues with me back with my family, back in our home; with me sitting in a chair and and an open copy of the King's Book in my lap.  This particular copy was a hard cover New Testament with a single column format (much like a regular book). It had come to be mine shortly after my conversion. In it, I had high-lighted all of the accounts of healing and demonic deliverance that are recorded in the Gospels and "The Acts of the Apostles." For two and one-half days, the focus of my attention was on these accounts. I was looking to Jesus of Nazareth, who is The Christ, the Son of The Living God, to heal me, to deliver me from this pain.

By this time, in my personal journey, I had, on numerous occasions, been blessed to be both a first hand witness of, and recipient of, the supernatural and miraculous work, that our Lord Jesus Christ is willing to do, in both the natural realms and the spiritual realms. I was convinced that Jesus could heal me; and I was convinced that Jesus would heal me. I was convinced that He would deliver me from this pain that had taken control of my body and pinned me to that chair.

But, for two and one-half days, the pain continued in it's intensity. There was no relief! I read, and then read again and again and again, all of the accounts of healing and deliverance. In the midst of my pain, I cried out to God; but, the pain continued, never relenting, keeping me captive. On the second day, I managed to get face down, on the floor, in a nearby room; and there I cried out to God to be healed; and the pain continued, never relenting, keeping me captive.  But, at every moment of this journey through the pain, I was comforted by this one certainty: Jesus was with me. God had not abandoned me nor had He forsaken me. My Creator was with me; and I believed that He would, eventually, deliver me and make me whole and pain free.

For two and one-half days, the ever present question was: why the pain? and why now? I knew that the pain was from God; but, the why, the why was troubling me. Then, on that third day, the question changed from why to what. On that third day, I was being reminded that God always has a purpose. The question then became: What is God's purpose for this pain?

Thus, it was, near the end of my two and one-half days of captivity, in the midst of this clarity, this new found clarity, that caused me to be focused on God's purpose, for my pain, that the revelation of that purpose was given to me. Can we say thank you Jesus? Amen and Amen and Amen!

With the transformation, of my heart, that God's revelation had given me, I returned to that nearby floor, still in pain; and by the grace of God, once again, I managed to get face down on that floor; and in the midst of my silence, before our Creator, His still and quiet voice spoke to me, saying: "Rise up and walk, for I have healed you." By His all sufficient grace, I began to rise up; and, as I did so, my body was purged of the pain and I was made whole. Can we say thank you Jesus? Amen and Amen and Amen!

The revelation, of the lesson learned, must be saved for another day. But, my beloved, if you will take the time to consider the text, from the King's Book, given at the beginning of this posting, you may, with God's help, begin to understand. As you focus your attention, on the whole text, look also to the closing words: "The faith of Him."

Until next time, my beloved brethren, in Christ Jesus, I continue to be:

Your servant and your fellow pilgrim,
Elder Theophilus