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Post by delo63 on Jul 14, 2017 6:55:15 GMT -6
Hey guys,
I just thought id share this, I was talking to my one friend yesterday and I tried telling him about the rapture. Well I expected him to think I was crazy, because he doesn't believe, but instead he like got really angry and offended and started lashing out on me. I have had similar experiences with other friends of mine. I believe the devil has amped up his spreading of hatred with the lost. Anyone else seeing this?
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Post by kjs on Jul 14, 2017 7:25:24 GMT -6
Delo63 – one must make many assumptions based on your short statement.
One assumption is when you said “He does not believe” – You’re stating he is not a believer in Jesus Christ.
If this assumption is correct, then I suspect the anger and lashing out comes from the fact that he felt you were claiming to be a better person than he is. In other words, he felt you were saying you were morally superior to him. It all depends how you were describing the rapture and who would be taken and who would not.
If he is not a believer, I think the best approach would be more along the lines of sharing with him, what God has done in your life. How you were freed from all the guilt and fear of not being able to measure up to God’s standard. Then pass on how he too can experience that same type of freedom.
Another assumption is when you said “He does not believe” – Your stating that he is a believer in Jesus Christ (or a Christian) – but he does not believe in a rapture (or possibly a pre-tribulation rapture). If this assumption is correct, than the issue would be to find out what his understanding of the purpose of the rapture. Most who disagree with the rapture, especially the Pre-Trib version – is that they do not understand it’s purpose.
The purpose of the rapture is – to “wipe the board” so to speak of the Church Age (or the Age of Grace) and allowing God to return to dealing strictly with Israel again. One of the ways He (God) will do that is to make life so miserable – that the people of Israel will be calling out to Him again. That is why the tribulation is also known as Jacob’s Trouble.
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Post by whatif on Jul 14, 2017 10:42:45 GMT -6
Hey guys,
I just thought id share this, I was talking to my one friend yesterday and I tried telling him about the rapture. Well I expected him to think I was crazy, because he doesn't believe, but instead he like got really angry and offended and started lashing out on me. I have had similar experiences with other friends of mine. I believe the devil has amped up his spreading of hatred with the lost. Anyone else seeing this? Yes, it seems truth is being particularly hated in these last days by those who don't believe. I think because truth is a threat to what they would rather believe. It feels to me like maybe the lie that there is no God has spread so thick over time, and now that there are increasingly clear signs that the lie is false, those who want to continue believing the lie get very touchy--not only defensive, but hostile--when truth pops up. And so the truth has to be beaten down so it can't have a voice.
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Post by delo63 on Jul 14, 2017 13:16:16 GMT -6
hey kjs,
He doesn't believe in God, he was asking me about something that was for the end of the year and I told him if im still around and that's what brought up the rapture. All I said is that I believe that Jesus is gonna come back soon and he started yelling and getting very hostile, the second I mentioned Jesus. Then he told me when im still here in December he will laugh at me.
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Post by whatif on Jul 14, 2017 13:39:33 GMT -6
Wow, delo63! I think you just got a heavenly reward, as Jesus says in Luke 6:22-23:
"Blessed are you when people hate you, when they exclude you and insult you and reject your name as evil, because of the Son of Man. Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because great is your reward in heaven. For that is how their ancestors treated the prophets."
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Post by delo63 on Jul 14, 2017 14:02:12 GMT -6
yeah i would rather him be saved though, i am having so much trouble with my friends. i really don't have any christain friends at all and its so hard to watch them destroy themselves daily. I know i don't know everything but it stinks being surrounded by so much negativity when you love these people so much.
I would die for any of my friends willingly, but most of them only talk to me anymore if they want to play a sport or play a game or just to hangout, but they don't want to talk about anything serious. I honestly get so depressed when i contemplate my friends. Its been getting to a point where they avoid me because of the differences in the way we live.
How do you guys handle this?
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Post by kjs on Jul 14, 2017 14:38:22 GMT -6
This is just me, but I would start off how I just keep screwing things up.
Of course tailor it to your own situation….
But say you just lost a job – then point out that you realize your job was lost because, you did not show up on time ever day, or you were sick to often or whatever….. Lead the conversation toward his own failings (getting him to admit his own failings will be half the battle) ….
Then either lead directly into your testimony – or the Gospel – that no matter how much we screw up; there is someone who is/was perfect and wants to grant him a gift of everlasting life.
Each person is different though (and should pray first that God opens the way for you to witness)… but I notice IF I first mention my own failings – people are more open to admitting their own shortcomings.
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Post by delo63 on Jul 14, 2017 16:31:11 GMT -6
That's good advice I'll try that next time thanks!
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Post by whatif on Jul 14, 2017 18:17:34 GMT -6
How do you guys handle this? That's a very hard situation, delo63, and many of us here have experienced it. One big way we handle it is to pray for them. The Lord hears us and knows our hearts. Keep praying for them that He will touch them and open their eyes and hearts. And don't stop speaking with them about Jesus when moments arise where you feel the Holy Spirit directing you. People who don't believe in the Lord may seem to us to have closed ears, but they do hear, and it may very well be that one day they will remember what you've said--even if it's years from now--and realize the truth and be drawn to the Lord.
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Post by delo63 on Jul 14, 2017 19:02:28 GMT -6
Your right, sometimes I feel like I'm pushing them away when I talk about God when I know they don't believe in Him
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Post by whatif on Jul 14, 2017 19:57:25 GMT -6
I know that feeling, delo63. How well I know it!
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Post by watchmanjim on Jul 14, 2017 22:36:51 GMT -6
Christ is, or can be, to the lost a stumbling block. Our way is not an easy one, but He sustains us.
I have had persecution today from a source that really hurts.
I've said before, I think, and I'll say again--if anyone wants to let people know where you live (roughly, don't be too specific), we can see which ones of us live near each other, and get together for fellowship.
I live in South Carolina. I also have good Christian friends throughout most of the US, and around the world. Some of them believe in the Rev. 12 sign, or are open to it, and some are not.
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Post by sawdy on Jul 15, 2017 18:34:34 GMT -6
. I would die for any of my friends willingly, but most of them only talk to me anymore if they want to play a sport or play a game or just to hangout, but they don't want to talk about anything serious. I honestly get so depressed when i contemplate my friends. Its been getting to a point where they avoid me because of the differences in the way we live. How do you guys handle this? It is truly hard to want to share about Jesus and not be able to. I feel that over the last several months my personal ability to communicate about the mundane has lost its desire to me. I don't socialize with my friends much since I have made several Facebook posts about my faith journey and no longer receive invites to things. Honestly, I have been so busy that I haven't really noticed the lack of communication with my friends. I spend most of my free time working on a bible study I am wanting to complete, reading, or researching online. I have been trying to get out and enjoy these "last days". I feel that maybe some Christians are kind of kept from the knowledge of the end because they truly couldn't handle continuing on in their daily activities. It is hard to have knowledge about something and continue to be involved in all the rest. For example, I am taking my kids this summer to skating camp. Is it worth it? Depends on how you look at it. It could either be a waste of money and time as the end is near or an opportunity to potentially be in the right place at the right time to witness to someone. Yes, I sometimes get anxiety over not properly being prepared to share my faith but I have to remember the message (salvation) is separate from the messenger (me). Even if I truly mess up what I am trying to say, if their heart is yearning, they will seek out him. I don't even talk spiritually with my husband. I have no clue where he stands in his faith. He is too busy absorbing the things of this world to talk about anything I care about right now. I try dropping hints like "I'm doing research" or have had conversations about my children accepting Jesus with other family while he is part of the conversation but he doesn't join in or care to mention it later. It truly is sad that I can't seem to reach him. He attends church with us but never has a conversation or a prayer about God with me or our children. He will watch questionable (Superhero movies, space themed stuff) material in front or with my children without recorrecting or rebuking the offense they are viewing. I also struggle with discussing things with my parents as my Dad believes this is the year of jubilee and we will all receive what we ask for and be blessed by the Lord. In fact, his weird statement about Jubilee is what started my search and led me to fining out about Sept 23 and what is truly coming soon. Keep trying to make friends in the faith to help to encourage you. They don't have to be the same age as you. In fact, the easiest person for me to talk about the end with is my Grandma who is 84 years old. She prays often for God to take her home and is quite welcome to talking about the rapture and other things that are happening. Seek out a mentor in the faith to speak to. Depression can be a struggle if you don't get the chance to speak. As for you secular friends, keep trying to be an example of your faith so that they can see him in you. Also, take time to pray for strength and to ward off depression.
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Post by whatif on Jul 15, 2017 19:01:31 GMT -6
Hi, sawdy! I will be in prayer for your husband! That is such a difficult situation...
One thing I would encourage every family to do is to spend just a little time reading the Bible and praying together each night before heading the kids off to bed. If you ask him, sawdy, perhaps your husband would be open to a 10 or 15 minute time together...? It can make such a difference in a family, drawing hearts closer to each other and to the Lord. That may be a place to start...
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Post by watchmanjim on Jul 15, 2017 21:15:15 GMT -6
Sawdy, I really feel for you and I'm praying for you just now.
I am reminded that one thing Jesus told His disciples was to "watch and pray." We are watching, but are we praying? We ought to be spending more time in prayer. I speak of myself as well as anyone else--I do not spend enough time in prayer. We need to be on our knees before the Lord.
I am also reminded of an account I remember hearing many years ago of a lady whose husband did not believe in Christ, and told her he did not want her to talk to him about God at all. She, of course, was heart-broken about him. She spent hours in prayer, day in and day out, especially when he wasn't around. When he was at work, and she was doing her housework, or other activities, she would be praying while she worked. At night when she couldn't sleep, and he was sleeping, she would go in the bathroom and pray. This went on for quite some time. Finally one night she was praying in the bathroom and she was so distraught before the Lord that she couldn't help herself and broke down crying, still praying to the Lord through her blubbering. Her husband woke up and heard the noise, and went to see what was going on. She was kneeling on the floor using the toilet for an altar, and still trying to pray through her weeping. He was shocked by the scene, and went in to find out what was wrong. He had never seen her like that before. He guided her back to the bedroom and comforted her. When she finally stopped crying enough to talk a little, he asked her what was wrong, and she blurted out between sobs that she didn't want him to die without Christ. He was so moved by her ordeal (and the prompting of the Holy Spirit) that he broke down and wept too, and was finally ready to listen to her about Jesus.
Don't. Give. Up.
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