I Once Knew A Man

I knew a man ten years ago. A man that had known personally of God's manifested Presence. A man that had known God for fifteen years. A man that had operated in the gifts of The Spirit. A man that heard God's voice. A man who was a gifted teacher. A man of much prayer and study of the scriptures. And yet though he had been in God's Presence, operated in the gifts of The Spirit, heard God's voice, sought God with all his heart, he still at different times struggled with sin. When the enemy attacked he was unrelenting. I watched as this man struggled with his relationship with God. He knew what the scriptures said about sin, about righteousness. He knew what the scriptures said about tasting of the powers of the world to come. I prayed for him and watched his life spiral out of control. I watched and prayed, as crack cocaine sunk its hooks into his flesh. I watched as the war raged in the very depths of his soul. I watched as he cried out to God for deliverance time and time again and yet the battle raged on. I watched as this man lost everything in his life, his relationship with his wife, his relationship with his children(a son and daughter), his job, his health, his ability to provide. He was involved in an accident, high on cocaine and arguing with God. The accident had left him with bones broken in twenty different places in his body, had left him in a coma for two weeks. He later found out that he had had congestive heart failure while driving. He had also punctured his right lung. Amazingly he survived, obviously for a reason. He thought that he had gone to far, that he had gone beyond God's grace, beyond God's mercy, beyond God's love. After recovering for about six months the man checked himself into a christian rehab. He could barely even walk six months after the accident. During one of his counseling sessions, the man that thought he had gone beyond God's grace and love, God Himself decided to pay a visit to. In the middle of the counseling session, God Himself, filled the room with His Presence. He said there was no denying that it was The Presence of God. Neither man could say a word, the room was just encompassed with a presence of peace that was beyond their understanding. A peace that was absolutely paralyzing. As they both bask in the Presence of God, he said he felt something touch his wrist as he sat in his chair unable to move. It was his counselor, on his knees, tears streaming down his face as he looked up at him and said, "There's nothing else I can say." What else can you say, when God Almighty Himself, decides to manifest His Presence to His children. The God of Peace. Later that day the man went to prayer, lifting up his daughter and son, asking God to take care of them, because he knew that he could not. He started praying for his daughter first, then as he was praying for his son, he was telling God about how angry his son was with him, how he had let down his son. How his son had been telling kids he knew, that he did not have a father, his father had died. In the middle of his prayer God, cut him off, and said these words to him that absolutely changed his life, and changed his theology. He said,"It doesn't matter what your son says, about you, it doesn't matter what your son thinks, about you, it doesn't even matter what your son believes, about you, he can never change the fact, "the truth", that "you will always be his father", and "he" will "always", be your son, and you Joe(He called him by his name, Hallellujah!) "will always be My son". When God Himself spoke this to him, he said he finally understood what it meant to truly be a Son of The Living God. God showed him the difference between religion and reality. There was no more hoping, that someday, he just might be accepted by Him, just an understanding of Him, truly being his "Father". There is a reason Jesus taught His disciples to pray this way, "Our Father". This man I once knew, is me. Thank you Father

Hallelujah! Thank you, Father. Good bless you. Joe.

I am thankful that you have turned back to God. But I am not amazed as God;s love is tenacious. The Father who created you will always want you whole and in relationship with Him just like you want your children in relationship with you.

I have asked the question - how does one abandon God so totally that He gives up on one. I am not sure He ever does.

I am currently reading a book "Intimacy Anorexia" and walking with a really special friend through his dark time. He has a sex addiction sin. Some of his behavior has been horrible but I see God still with him. My wife and I are loving them and are convinced their marriage will be restored and his and her lives a testimony to just how God;s grace never leaves.

You are a living testimony to the wonderful love of the Father of whom you are re-born.

stay close to Him now brother and show the world how great God is.

Praise the Lord, Joe. Hallelujah!

WOW. I've not got words for this one. "inspiring" seem a lame attempt at how to get my mind around this one. Thanks be to Father God!

I consider it something to ponder as I struggle with my own understanding of the Father's love towards me. And this inspires me to crowd in to Him for a deeper experience and knowledge of His heart toward me. Thank you Joe.