Hi Steel,
You didn't answer the second portion of the following question, in blue:
“What was the experience you had regarding your path to being obedient to the Lord,
and in what way has that obedience been manifested?”
Are the “shortcomings” you mention sins you can't shake, since you're not “
out of the water yet”? Are you still in bondage? Have you confessed your sins as God call for
confession?
You go on to say:
“
Anyway you don't have to approve of me cause I'm just going to keep trying to be the best I can for my Lord regardless of who shuns me, and if I'm a bad man, or deserved to be shunned then I'll keep the faith alive that the Lord will help me to find the way no matter what I must face.”
The Lord said “no man is good,” which means all men are bad. And it's for “bad men,” sinners, that He came:
“When Jesus heard it, He said to them, Those who are healthy have no need of a physician, but those who are ill. I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance” (Mark 2:17).
By the grace of God and faith of His Son working in us, we dare not shun any person, except heretics and those who refuse to listen or receive the Lord.
“And whoever shall not receive you, nor hear you, when you depart from there, shake off the dust under your feet for a testimony against them. Truly I say to you, It shall be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city” (Mark 6:11).
“Have nothing to do with people who continue to teach false doctrine after you have warned them once or twice” (Titus 3:10).
Are we not extending ourselves to you, sharing the Good News with you specifically and personally? What are you doing with the writings selected for your edification and welfare? You say you'll read our website, but what about taking the prescription given to you in the wisdom and knowledge of God? Or don't you believe we're serving Him?
You write:
“
What I mean by the power in the blood of Christ is what he was willing to sacrifice for the world, and I myself must be willing to do the same for love.”
Isn't that what Peter said to the Lord? How well was Peter able to love as the Lord loved? Didn't Peter deny Him three times, just as the Lord said? So how was he converted from an incapable liar to a sure witness? How did Peter receive “the power in the blood”? Do you know and have you received this power? Tell us about it.
“
As for the lol it means lots of laughs, and I'm not sure how that relates to me being sober. It was merely an expression to the joy that praising Christ has recently brought to my life. Before I exalted the Lord in a ritualistic manner. It's truly not the same as before.”
Ritualistic praise doesn't exalt the Lord - it exalts man, but it's surely a good thing to praise the Lord in spirit and truth. We see much “laughing out loud” among those who receive false religious spirits that tickle their ears and fancies. Laughter of the godly sort comes to those in Christ who through faith and patience endure necessary humiliation in the fires of God:
Psalms 126:1-6
(1) A Song of Ascents. When the LORD restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like those who dream.
(2) Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with shouts of joy; then they said among the nations, “The LORD has done great things for them.”
(3) The LORD has done great things for us; we are glad.
(4) Restore our fortunes, O LORD, like streams in the Negev!
(5) Those who sow in tears shall reap with shouts of joy!
(6) He who goes out weeping, bearing the seed for sowing, shall come home with shouts of joy, bringing his sheaves with him.
What have you come here for, Steel? In case you're still interested in coming to the meeting, Sara will send you instructions on how to attend.
Paul