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Becoming Ourselves, in Christ
Greetings everyone!
Our friend Eric wrote us, saying: “I’ve
come to accept where I am and am still finding out who I am. I
believe that knowledge and acceptance for both where and who I
am will come in His time.”
That’s an interesting subject, don’t you think? Just
who are you, beyond all the things you think and do? Who is the
real essential “you” that will remain, perhaps still
waiting to emerge, when this life is over? What we have here, in
this world, is only the scaffolding, not the enduring structure
that is being built by God. More from Victor on this central purpose
of our existence, becoming ourselves!
From Victor:
Hi Eric!
Years ago, the Lord revealed to me that salvation was all about
becoming the real me that He originally intended. It was becoming
free to be just me, not what I thought, pretended, wished I was,
or hoped to be, and not somebody else, like some billionaire, movie
star, or "great man of God." We all have ambitions, delusions
of grandeur, pipe dreams, and silly wishes, all these coming from
within, from the proud, independent, so very foolish carnal man,
the self, the ego, the guy who, in Adam, walked away from God, deciding
he could do it on his own - that man of sin, the son of perdition.
In effect, we lie to ourselves. And all the time we try or pretend
to be something we're not, we suffer failure, loss, defeat, and
humiliation in varying degrees. We continuously suffer disappointment,
frustration, and disillusionment (we are in a continual state of
illusion). In our horrid selfishness, we hurt ourselves and everyone
around us, 24/7. It is that Death and Hell the Scriptures talk about,
a horrible prison where we pay every penny for our lawlessness,
for our refusal to acknowledge and appreciate our Maker, Jesus Christ.
So He died to deliver us. He subjected Himself to Death and Hell
personally, directly, that He might bring us up and out of there.
To leave Death and Hell ironically entails death - death to what
we thought we wanted, and death to what we were in - that terrible
state we called "life," that state we, in our madness,
clung to as so precious and promising. In the state of sin and separation
from God, we are in a state of being delirious and delusional, though
sincerely thinking quite otherwise - that we are intelligent and
rational; in our darkness, we don't have a clue about the reality
of things.
Worse still, we even find ourselves enjoying our chosen path of
self-destruction, we encourage all those around us in it, and we
spend our existence digging our pit ever deeper! Isn't that crazy?
But it's true! That's the way it is. That's the madness of sin and
separation from our God. And to comfort ourselves (because we know
we also suffer), we set up other gods. We do things to occupy, entertain,
and relieve ourselves in our death, darkness, and insecurity.
Without Christ, what we have called “life” is a living
nightmare, a continual state of being surrounded or pursued by some
danger, constantly trying to escape, but finding we are on a treadmill
going nowhere fast, or that the enemy is just a bit faster and smarter.
And should we temporarily get what we are after, we are destined
to lose it, or we live in the fear of losing it, which is as bad,
or worse. This is the lot of all men on earth without the sure and
personal connection to their Maker. And they don't know it.
So in His chosen time and way, Jesus comes to turn us around 180
degrees, upside down, and inside out. As Peter could not see himself
being crucified right side up when his time came, so we die with
Him upside down, not worthy to die right side up as He did. Get
that? We aren't worthy to die, to identify with Him in any way,
but He accepts us anyway. That's love. That's mercy. That's grace.
And all of these things the world calls madness or fantasy or escapism,
and despises them, but we know these things to be true, having experienced
them for ourselves. And we aren't the only ones. Many have gone
before us, including those who wrote the Bible, testifying to these
very things and willing to lay down their lives, so that others
might enter into life as well.
Now I am free to be me, the guy God intended me to be. I have peace,
power to live, and fulfillment in Jesus Christ, Who redeemed me
from the grave. He took away my bitterness and shame and fears.
He paid off my debts to Him and fellow man. He awakened me from
my sleep of nightmares to a reality of cool, comforting breezes
and sunshine, and has placed me in a verdant, fruitful garden with
beautiful flora, birds singing, and a fresh brook of sparkling water
- all things pleasant and enjoyable. He cleaned me up to enjoy these
things and has set me firmly on a rock foundation that can never
be moved or shaken. He put a new song in my mouth and in my heart.
And He has called me to help guide whoever will to that same place,
that same state of being.
So far, few have come, but that's okay, because each person has
his/her appointed time. Meanwhile, they must suffer their chosen
way. When they are made ready by their trials and circumstances
to choose a better way, they will come. That's the way it was for
me. "Hot shot" Hafichuk to "holy" Hafichuk.
The world loved the former and hates the latter, but I wouldn't
trade my change anymore than I would trade a sumptuous, delicious
banquet of the finest and most wholesome foods for dog dung. Honestly,
without exaggeration, that is the way it is. And I thought I had
something before Christ, the Way, the Truth, and the Life introduced
Himself to me nearly 40 years ago. Wow!
I write this for you, Eric, I write it (just now come to think
of it) for all the timber framers who spent weeks with us, and I
write it for all. God is great. To know that, we need to confess
Jesus Christ as Lord and believe that God has raised Him from the
dead. Confessing it with our lips and believing it in our hearts,
He raises us from the dead and proceeds to set us up to reign with
Him on His throne in the heavenlies. What a change! What madness
of thought to the world! What reality! What deliverance from a nightmarish
existence to dreams come true! The delusioned call it delusion and
the enlightened call it reality.
That's the way it is for me. That's the way God will make it for
those He calls and chooses, even as the Bible, that most hated Book
of books, testifies. It can't get better than that.
Victor Hafichuk
- November 17, 2010
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False Accusations Often Come from Confusion
Last month, we received this note at ThePathofTruth.com (sent
by littlemailboy@...):
Your group is a cult by definition not only do you attack the KJV
and living right and the gifts of the Spirit of God (which is obvious
evidence that you have not the Spirit I testify to you I have been
saved from sin continued in the word of God and received the second
work of grace the baptism in the Holy Ghost it's all clearly in
scriptures. How many sins are you living in daily pride contention
rebellion heresy? Sir the Godhead is clearly in scripture For there
are three that bear record in heaven and these three are one 1 John
5:7 (KJV) do you even have a prayer life? No you do not have a real
relationship with God as you do not bear forth the fruit. Too sad
you attack other ministries as cults. Are you a lutharin OSAS believe?
Once saved always saved is a doctrine of devils as it is lascivious
(licentious) to licence people to sin you need to continue to repent
of sin and be under a pastor! Your off wayward and lost and twist
scriptures to your own destruction friend you need to be saved!
Our reply:
"Little mail boy,"
If the fruits you demonstrate in this letter come from being under
a pastor, then woe to that pastor, and you would be far better off
without one.
What are your fruits? Confusion, misunderstanding of what we really
do teach, presumption, bitterness, ignorance, false accusation,
and incoherence, to mention a few. If your prayer life does this
to you, perhaps you should examine who it is you are praying to.
Furthermore, you refuse to identify yourself, while we openly teach
what we teach, which isn't what you think we teach. We come to the
light, while you hide in the shadows.
"For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not
come to the Light, lest his deeds should be exposed. But he who
practices truth comes to the Light so that his works may be revealed,
that they exist, having been worked in God" (John 3:20-21 MKJV).
And in all your darkness and confusion, you say WE are a cult?
Do you really think we can believe you?
"Little mail boy," you need help badly, and only the
Risen Christ can do that for you. As for a need to be saved, try
reading How One Is Saved.
You are certainly indoctrinated, but you are far from the Kingdom
of God.
Jesus Christ is Lord!
Victor
That note from “little mail boy” was a good example
of the mail we get from false accusers who have no understanding
of what we teach, not knowing or recognizing the Lord Whom we preach.
When contacting us, “little mail boy” didn’t
tell us he had contacted us before under the name "Brother
Jerry." Click HERE to
read our previous conversation where we also pointed out his sin
and need of Jesus Christ.
- September 29, 2010
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“Time and Chance Happens to Them All...”
“I returned and saw under the sun that the race is not to
the swift, nor the battle to the strong, nor yet bread to the wise,
nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favor to men of
skill; but time and chance happens to them all” (Ecclesiastes
9:11 MKJV).
I received revelation on the word “chance” in this
version.
Another version is pretty much on the money:
“I returned and saw under the sun that the race is not to
the swift, nor the battle to the mighty; nor even bread to the wise;
nor even riches to the men of discernment; nor even favor to knowing
men. For time and occurrence happen to them all” (Ecclesiastes
9:11 LITV).
What that verse is saying is that nothing happens by our power;
God does it all, “chance” meaning “fate” or “all
things are determined from above.” Aesop’s fable of
the tortoise and hare race are an example, but not a good one. That
story illustrates that the race can be won by the slow on occasion,
that speed is not the only determining factor. What Ecclesiastes
says is that whatever happens is out of our hands, though we go
through the motions.
Fatalism? No; that is an attitude, though definitions don’t
always describe it that way. I speak of wisdom, knowledge, and understanding
of the way things are. But to the definition one source gives the
word, I say, “Yes.”
WordWeb:
“1. A submissive mental attitude resulting
from acceptance of the doctrine that everything that happens is
predetermined and inevitable
2. A philosophical doctrine holding that all events are predetermined in advance
for all time and human beings are powerless to change them”
Victor Hafichuk
- July 27, 2010
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Roman Heresy and a Question about Prayer
A website reader wrote to Victor:
I'm talking with a Catholic young man in his early twenties and
you have helped me withn your testimony. Fortunately I was a stranger
to Roman heresy. I already knew a verse to tell him, but the rest
of your testimony helped me see where the young man in front of
me is at.
I love you brother, take care.
-John
Victor's response:
Hi John,
I am thankful I can be a signpost leading in the right direction
as people learn where I came from and how good the change has been
for me.
As for your unfamiliarity with Roman heresy, that would be a rare
spectacle. Perhaps you aren't aware of its unidentified prevalence.
For examples, do you celebrate "Christ's Mass" (Christmas)?
Do you celebrate "Ishtar/Ashtoreth" (Easter), substituted
for Passover?
Do you believe in the trinity, which was brought forth by pagans
into the nominal Christian identity?
Do you believe in eternal torment?
Do you believe in infant baptism, sacraments, praying the "Our
Father," spiritual promotion through catechism and confirmation,
and several other such doctrines and practices?
Do you believe in buildings called "churches," particularly
with steeples and arched entrances, which are considered holy places?
Do you believe in pictures of Jesus?
Do you believe in any kind of clerical privilege versus that of
laity?
If your answer is "yes" to any of these questions, you
are not a stranger to Roman heresy, much of which preceded the Roman
Catholic Church, only a stranger to your familiarity with it (see
our Statement of Doctrine for
more information on all of these subjects, and much more).
I am thankful to be able to share these things with you now. I
am so very thankful to be free, not only from the primary bondage
of sin and the works of darkness men have devised and fashioned,
but also from the subtle vestiges of these.
Victor
Daphne asks Victor:
Why is praying the “Our Father” wrong? Does it have
to do with the repetition of prayer?
Victor’s reply:
Hi Daphne!
Yes, it does have to do with repetition of prayer, but not only repetition
(which is the worse). Jesus never meant for those words to even have been recited
once as personal prayer. When He said, "Pray like this," or, "Pray
after this manner," or, "Pray in this way," He was giving an
example of the attitude and understanding of, and in, true prayer. In the sample
words of the "Our Father" or the "Lord's Prayer," He addresses
our hearts and expresses how we should be at all times, not only when we make
specific prayers. It is this attitude to which Paul referred when he said, "Pray
without ceasing" (1 Thessalonians 5:17 MKJV).
While there is no harm in repeating those words in and of themselves,
the great error lies in thinking that God is so removed and base
that He would listen to a mere creature repeating him or herself
over and over in their own righteousness. What is He supposed to
get out of that, except an upset stomach and sore eyes from rolling
them? The very thought is contemptible. Even saying those same words
once and assuming He is going to hear or be pleased, simply because
they are the "Lord's prayer" (which is a sycophantic attitude)
or because they are in the Bible (which is Bibliolatry) is unacceptable
to God.
An exception might be if a child (whether a physical or a spiritual
one), not knowing any better, sincerely speaks that sample prayer,
believing (the Lord knows and judges by the heart), but even there,
He cannot approve the ways of the heathen and is limited by unbelief
in general.
The Lord's message is, "Be reasonable, be respectful, understand what
He is like and what He desires; understand your duty before Him, and know that
He is running the show. Have knowledge of, and faith in, your Father (for He IS your
Father), recognizing all your sustenance comes from Him. As you treat others,
so will you be treated. And remember that you and this world are not where
it's at. It is all about God and the Kingdom of God over all. Focus there,
always."
Victor Hafichuk
- July 13, 2010
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Did Jesus Add a Commandment?
"It is not those who hear the law who are righteous in God's
sight, but it is those who obey the law who will be declared righteous." Rom.
2:13
I think you need to find out which law he is speaking of in regard to the fact
that a law has been added after Jesus' crucifixion.
Paul's reply:
We agree with Romans 2:13, so it is not clear where you disagree
with us, or what point you are trying to make.
Do you believe the following, spoken by the Lord Jesus Christ?
"Do not think that I have come to destroy the Law or the Prophets.
I have not come to destroy but to fulfill. For truly I say to you,
Till the heaven and the earth pass away, not one jot or one tittle
shall in any way pass from the Law until all is fulfilled. Therefore
whoever shall relax one of these commandments, the least, and shall
teach men so, he shall be called the least in the Kingdom of Heaven.
But whoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great
in the Kingdom of Heaven" (Matthew 5:17-19 MKJV).
There is no new Law, only a new heart and understanding given to
those who receive Christ.
Paul Cohen
Victor then asked this question of Paul and Sara:
Did you know that the Law of Moses (the 10 Commandments) is the
Law of Love?
Sara's reply:
Amen.
Matthew 22:35-40 MKJV
(35) Then one of them, a lawyer, asked, tempting Him and saying,
(36) Master, which is the great commandment in the Law?
(37) Jesus said to him, You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart,
and with all your soul, and with all your mind.
(38) This is the first and great commandment.
(39) And the second is like it, You shall love your neighbor as yourself.
(40) On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.
Victor's reply:
This fellow says there was a law added, which, as you point out,
is patently false. As nothing shall be subtracted from the Law,
neither shall there be anything added to it because it is complete,
representative of God's nature and character. God missed nothing
in the Ten Commandments. The difference is not in the Law, as you
say, but in its fulfillment, which comes through Jesus Christ, Who
gives us a new heart with the Law in it and the love for it. Any
who think there is a new law added are still in their sin nature.
- June 27, 2010
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Serving the Cause of Truth
One of life's great pleasures for lovers of truth is being able
to heartfully agree with your enemies. Though we do not personally
count him an enemy, Richard Dawkins, author of several books championing
evolution, is a great enemy of the truth and the Creator in this
matter. We find his attitude and teachings grossly untrue, irresponsible,
and even reprehensible, intellectually, scientifically, socially,
and spiritually.
But when we hear that Dawkins, along with Christopher Hitchens,
is initiating legal proceedings to have the pope arrested on his
upcoming trip to England on charges of obstruction of justice, we
could not agree more, and we applaud his efforts. Their reasoning
is certainly legitimate. Why should the pope and his minions be
above the law? Ought they not be held to at least the same standards
of justice as the common pedophile, if not more severe for their
pretensions of morality?
Get this: The Catholic Church preaches eternal damnation and torture
for sinners, but pleads for the statute of limitations regarding
their heinous sins! As they say in Yiddish, that is some chutzpah.
You go, Richard!
Pertinent article:
Richard
Dawkins Calls for Arrest of Pope Benedict XVI
- April 15, 2010
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Deathbed Conversions
The Lord opened our eyes to see this false doctrine that had been
slipped into the Scriptures:
- March 12, 2010
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We Want You to Know...
In less than five minutes, here is what's important and what -
- January 27, 2010 |
