Greetings Mr. Vinson,

First off I would like to say Thank you that your works have ceased, and our Lord works through you, to reap such wonderful Truths and share the Knowledge of Him who is saving us in this age.  I would like to keep this as brief as I possibly can, however I have much to say and ask, for I know that you are a busy man “reaping where you have not sown and gathering where you have not strewed” for you had nothing to do with me being dragged unto the Lord at the first, but yet now you have much to do with this dragging process.

I’m 22 years old, married, no children, kicked out of Babylon a year and a half ago, I have a physical ailment concerning my intestines they’re inflamed, and it is hard to even eat any thing that won’t upset them, in a constant fight to lose my life for Him daily, and in the midst of all this, the fire!  My marriage is by far the most revealing and fiery of relationships that I obtain for this is where I must die the most; it’s also hard because my wife thinks that what we have been through is all punishment because she doesn’t understand the chastisement of the Lord yet.  She also believes that there is hell, some sort of free will, and many other teachings of Babylon, what sort of a head over her am I if she believes these? 

We went to a bible study the other day that taught nothing but heresy, and when it was my part to answer in the discussion, obviously I brought up what I’ve been taught and you know the outcome. I feel like I’ve been forsaken by all except the Lord.  When all the disciples and apostles fled and left Jesus in the Garden scene, and how all in Asia be turned away from Paul, and how Joseph was given (sold) away by his brothers, I understand that “as he is so are we in this world”; is this correct what I go through, have you been through this or still going through it, even w/ your wife? Unfortunately she won’t study for herself some truths, and that’s fine, I believe she is unknowingly keeping her part in this book, and now going through losing her first Love experience.  

Mr. Vinson I thank you for your precious time and I’ll let patience have it’s perfect work in me awaiting your response. One more question, concerning a time frame for the fire and chastisement: does it only end after we have the Lord’s character in the specific area w/ which we are being purified?

In Christ, S____

Hi S____,
Thank you for your very encouraging words. It really does help to realize there are those who appreciate our service through Christ.
I’m sorry that your wife has not yet been given the understanding God has graced you with.  You mentioned how you have been drug to the Lord.  That is the key for ALL of us whose eyes have been opened to deeper truths of His Word.  You are now being drug, and it is not yet her time.  Your example of patience and continued walking as God would have you walk will be an example for your unbelieving wife that will bear fruit. But as she can ‘be won’ by your behavior (I Pet. 3:1), this time of trial will build patience in you.  That is a godly fruit!

Jas 1:3  Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.
Jas 1:4  But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

1Co 7:14  For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband: else were your children unclean; but now are they holy.

Patience is a very important fruit that will have an affect upon your wife.  There are MANY in the body of Christ that walk in similar steps to you.  You have some wonderful, spiritual loving sisters that not only have unbelieving spouses, but in some cases must endure mental and at times physical abuse at the hands of their own mates for believing the way they do.  And you also have brothers in Christ that have experienced losing jobs, homes and their families because they have stood fast to their beliefs.
It is a hard road that is promised to us in the flesh.  And as you realize from the tone of your letter, it will help accomplish the ‘burning out’ of the flesh. 

Act 14:22  Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.

Unless God opens the eyes, and even at times when He does, some experience a very hard time dealing with the doctrines of hell and free will.  For some, the matter of not having a free will is one of the hardest things for the flesh to give up.  The beast on our personal throne does not want to be dethroned.  Only Christ living in us can kick this beast out.
It can be very lonely especially when your life partner is not being given ‘eyes to see’ at the same time.  I have been very blessed in that regard.  These joyous truths are meant to be shared.  And our first choice in sharing these wonderful truths should be our beloved wives.  It is hard indeed, and I have spent many hours in emails and phone conversations with men and women who are going through the trials you now find yourself enduring.  It IS an endurance race – we are told those who will take part in that blessed first resurrection will be those who endure to the end.  End of what?  The very end of our physical lives.

Mat 10:22  And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.

Luk 21:19  In your patience possess ye your souls.

Jas 5:10  Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience.

Jas 5:11  Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.

While we will experience the fiery trials that will mold us into God’s perfect work all our lives, it does get easier with time and spiritual growth. But while one head of our beast is being subdued, it is done only to prepare us to fight and overcome the next head of that seven- headed beast. And ‘seven’ is not a literal number which you can count off and say “well, I have those seven heads behind me now, so I can take it easy” That is not intended to be our lot. Seven heads just means that we are a complete beast, and that is what our flesh is.

1Pe 4:12  Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:
1Pe 4:13  But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.

Here is an entire parable warning us against ever becoming complacent about our spiritual accomplishments:

Luk 12:16  And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully:
Luk 12:17  And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits?
Luk 12:18  And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods.
Luk 12:19  And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, [ and] be merry.
Luk 12:20  But God said unto him, [ Thou] fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?
Luk 12:21  So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.

Is this parable speaking of physical goods? To the physical minded, of course it is. To those whose minds are spiritual, it has an even higher meaning. It becomes an ‘Is, Was and Will Be’ Truth about fighting against complacency to the end.
Your physical infirmities will definitely be in our prayers.  The stress you are under with family and friends turning their backs on you because of your beliefs does not make it any easier on your afflicted intestines!  I pray that the peace that passes all understanding will help you to deal with the physical pain you are surely enduring.
You are not alone in your struggles.  As Elijah, who felt he was the only one serving God, found as we read in Hebrew 11 that God had reserved 7000 who had not bowed the knee to Baal, so you are a part of the body of Christ, and we are all one body in Christ.

Rom 12:5  So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.

As such we are to ‘bear one another’s burdens.’

Gal 6:2  Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.

And…

Gal 6:9  And let us not be weary in well doing: f or in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.

God bless your walk,
Mike >