Results 1081 - 1100 of 1251
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Results from: Notes Author: mark d seyler Ordered by Verse |
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Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
1081 | Newcomer's Guide to StudyBibleForum.com | 2 Tim 2:23 | mark d seyler | 154758 | ||
Hi Kalos, For myself I will say that this well represents my views. Thank you for posting this. I hope all will take it to heart. Love in Christ, Mark |
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1082 | What To Shut Your Mind Against | 2 Tim 2:23 | mark d seyler | 169885 | ||
Hi Tim, It occurs to me that some of the historical theological studies have advanced themselves over the course of decades, if not centuries! Why should we grumble over a couple of dozen posts in a row? I do wonder, though, what this forum would be like without any sarcasm, derision, condemnation, ulterior motives and agendas, criticism, and insults. What if every answer was Biblically based, and every subsequent comment was again, Biblically based? What if each of us had as our primary motivation the well-being of each other (including mental and emotional state)? What if the defining characteristic of every post were the sense of love you got from reading it? I wonder that perhaps we could discuss the deepest and most sensitive Biblical matters until reaching a conclusion, without degenerating into the destructive patterns we've seen time and again. And I would like to just put this thought out there, which is the best way to achieve this? By requiring it of others, or by modeling it yourself? Tim, I want you to know I appreciate your posts very much, and I think that you are a very good example that we can all benefit from emulating. And as soon as I have the time to do my preliminary work on Romans 7, I look forward to taking up that discussion with you! (-: Yet more ramblings from, Mark |
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1083 | What To Shut Your Mind Against | 2 Tim 2:23 | mark d seyler | 169997 | ||
Hi Doc, I will agree with you on the solution - remove the human ingredient - in each of us! The more we can walk in the Spirit, the less we will engage in behaviors that tear down instead of build up. In the home fellowship I attend, we went through a time of trouble. There was a very dear, kind, mature brother, who began to be the butt of an increasing number of jokes and jibes. Although when he and his wife, equally dear and beloved, left the fellowship, they told us that it was because they were missing the home fellowship they attended before, they didn't actually go back to that one, and I, for one, believe the actual reason they left was that they got tired of being treated that way. They came for edification, not to be torn down. So how much ministry are they receiving now from our little group? Before it got that bad, a couple of us said things to the group, about how that is not what we are called for. This was not popularly received, since everyone was having such a jolly ol' time. After those who were behaving that way drove out a very dear couple through their insensitivity, the message got through a little more clearly. Now we no longer behave that way. We welcome people in true love, knowing that we have a choice, to either build up, or tear down. I don't think God looks with approval on our tearing each other down. You don't give me very many options, Doc. Either remove the human element, or live with the sin. Should we not encourage each other to rise above it? To put it behind us? I think that there is fruit being produced among us, although I sometimes wonder what we would see if we saw through the Lord's eyes. This forum sends away far more people than it retains, and I just don't believe that is happening because we are all such a loving bunch. Do you actually think that the sarcasm of this forum is comparable to the sarcasm used by God?? It sure hasn't struck me that way! Just one man's opinion... But if it were only truth that I saw dividing between us, I wouldn't be saying a word, other than to rejoice that the truth is both known and taught. But I see a lot of other things tearing apart the fellowship. Is any focus a "hyper-focus"? Jesus didn't just ignore things that were wrong. He called people on what they were doing, and especially when it was behaviors that served to take people away from God. I don't just say, well, we're all fallen, what are ya gonna do? I am trying to encourage Redeemed Men to consistently show the love of Christ in their lives, and in their speech. Not your "sickly sweet, pie in the sky" phoney baloney love that people see through in a moment, as soon as they cross you (not "you" personal, but "you" general), but real love, love that genuinely desires the complete well-being of others, and is committed to that. You wrote "In other words, the fact that we even notice this stuff is indicative of something wrong inside us rather than something wrong "out there." Well, thank you for telling me what is wrong with me! That was certainly edifying! Doc, I don't care what people say to me. I do care when someone else reads inappropriate things said, and goes away, having seen yet more evidence that Christianity isn't worth the pew it sits in. I care very much when someone asks a question, and receives an inappropriate response. I don't Want to stop seeing such. I care too much about the flock for that. And should I continue to see behavior inappropriate for the people of God, I will continue to encourage them to rise above it. well, enough said. Love in Christ, Mark |
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1084 | What To Shut Your Mind Against | 2 Tim 2:23 | mark d seyler | 169999 | ||
Hi Tim, I pray we may learn to do so, and so doing, meet with our Master's approval at His coming! Thank you for your encouragement, my brother! Love in Christ, Mark |
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1085 | What To Shut Your Mind Against | 2 Tim 2:23 | mark d seyler | 170122 | ||
Hi Kalos, 2 Timothy 2:23 "But refuse (paraiteomai - decline, avoid) the foolish (moros - meaning mentally dull or stupid) and uninstructed (apaideutos - untrained or uneducated, Roberston: undisciplined) questionings, knowing that they generate quarrels." (LITV) Vincent says this: Rev. ignorant is better; but the meaning at bottom is undisciplined: questions of an untrained mind, carried away with novelties: questions which do not proceed from any trained habit of thinking. So I would say that this meanse we are to ignore, and not answer, questions which we deem to be of this variety. Putting this in context, this is in contrast to the previous verse, which instructs us to "pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace, with the ones calling on the Lord out of a pure heart." So we join with those calling on the Lord out of a pure heart, ignoring those who ask ignorant and undisciplined questions, because (vs. 24) the slaves of the Lord are not to quarrel. We are, however, to gentle, patient, "apt to teach" (instructive). I would summerize this portion of Scripture to be saying that we are to join with those who are true in the faith, and not let ourselves become sidetracked into agruments, and fighting, but to continue gently and patiently teaching, even those who oppose us, in hopes that God will rescue them also. In context of the letter of Paul writing to Timothy, this comes as a personal, individual instruction, which we all do well to heed, and especially those who have been placed in the body as pastors and teachers, or other church leadership. Of neccessity, since we are not given a list of which questions are considered "foolish and ignorant", this requires a judgment on the part of the hearer. Considering that the heart of the questioner is in question (as this person is contrasted with the one who calls on the Lord out of a pure heart), we are not capable of judging this, and require a gift of discernment from the Holy Spirit. Without that discernment, we cannot always really know if someone actually has an issue with knowing who Cain married, or if they are just trying to muddy the water. So perhaps the best thing to do is answer or not, according to whether you (or I) believe the Holy Spirit is leading us. And if we choose to not answer, we are to ignore the question. I do not see where this gives place for us to give commentary on the question itself, or on the one asking it. We simply ignore it. If we choose to answer, we should be careful to not get dragged into an argument, but hopeful to bring someone to Christ. What if we disagree with another? Say I have chosen to ignore a question, but someone else has chosen to answer? Should I fault them for answering? Would my faulting them risk my being in disagreement with God, if perhaps God has led them to answer? Would I be better to "call" them on it, and inform them that I don't think they are doing the right thing? Or would I be better to pray for them, that they would be fruitful, and bring another to the Lord, or if they are barking up the wrong tree, for the Holy Spirit to give them understanding? So here is one of three. I will look at the other two passages you have asked about as I have time. Love in Christ, Mark |
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1086 | What To Shut Your Mind Against | 2 Tim 2:23 | mark d seyler | 170124 | ||
Hi Kalos, Regarding the second passage you asked about: 1 Timothy 6 3 If anyone teaches differently, and does not consent to sound words, those of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching according to godliness, 4 he has been puffed up, understanding nothing, but is sick concerning doubts and arguments, out of which comes envy, strife, evil-speakings, evil suspicions, 5 meddling, of men whose mind has been corrupted and deprived of the truth, supposing gain to be godliness. Withdraw from such persons. (LITV) This is the passage in question from the ESV: 1Ti 6:4 he is puffed up with conceit and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy craving for controversy and for quarrels about words, which produce envy, dissension, slander, evil suspicions, This is a description of the person who teaches differently from Jesus and Paul. Of course, if a person is taught by the Holy Spirit, they will be in complete agreement with Jesus and Paul. Now, this description does not necessarily apply only to those whose teaching disagrees with Jesus' and Paul's teaching. There are other people, who perhaps do not teach at all, who can be described this way. Basically, Paul is telling Timothy to withdraw from someone who teaches differently, and does not consent to sound words. He includes a description of what such a person is like. The only action prescribed here is to withdraw from such a person. We are not told here to debate such a person, or to critique them to another, but to withdraw. This person can be positively identified, in that their words do not agree with the Bible. But then comes in the whole thing of "that's your interpretation". So each must be true to their conscience, and if I honestly believe that what "you" are teaching disagrees with Scripture, and "you" won't "consent to sound words", I am to withdraw from you. If we omit "withdraw from such", as according to the critical text, we have a description of the one who teaches differently from Jesus and Paul. This gives us greater insight and understanding of these people. As for what we are to do with this understanding, we would have to look to other passages. I would first go to the Law of Love, and prayer, and any passages about contentions and divisive people. Love in Christ, Mark |
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1087 | What To Shut Your Mind Against | 2 Tim 2:23 | mark d seyler | 170131 | ||
Hi Kalos, The third, of three :-) Titus 3:9 But keep back from foolish questionings and genealogies and arguments and quarrels of law, for they are unprofitable and vain. This passage strikes me as quite straightforward. It is very much in keeping with the other passages we have looked at, and assumes that we are able to correctly judge what is foolish, "moros" (same as in 2 Tim 2:23). I think that the Amplified reads too much into this passage (also 2Tim 2:23) in saying "avoid stupid and foolish controversies", is this to say that we are not to avoid "learned and wise" controversies? The text just says avoid stupid questions, and genealogies, and arguments (controversies), and etc., but does not apply the adjective of moros to arguments. My understanding is that we are not to argue at all. Jameison, Fausset, and Brown have this to say: "strivings about the law — about the authority of the “commandments of men,” which they sought to confirm by the law (Titus 1:14; see on 1 Tim 1:7), and about the mystical meaning of the various parts of the law in connection with the “genealogies.”" They seem to think that there was a particular argument going around that regarding this, and Paul was telling Timothy not to get involved in it. There would just be no possible benefit. Whether that was the case or not, this passage tells us that there is no gain or benefit to be had by arguing with someone (about any of these things), or answering stupid questions. So what questions are "stupid" questions? As I understand it, this is the heart of this thread. What questions should not be asked? What questions should be ignored? When does discussion become an argument? How much do we know about the one asking? 2 Timothy 2 speaks of this as related to the heart one comes asking in. How can we know the heart of another? Now, I am not saying we can never know when someone is asking a question intended to cause contention, or striving, or that they couldn't care less what the answer is, and they are just trying to throw a wrench in. For many people, this is a fairly simple matter in person, when you have all sorts of verbal and physical cues. On the internet, it becomes more difficult as we only have written cues. No voice tone, no body language, nothing! So again, I must rely on the discernment which the Holy Spirit gives to me. An I must be very sensitive to the Holy Spirit's leading, and especially conviction, for when my discussion becomes personal, and heated, and becomes sinful arguments. Above all, Love, the devotion to the well-being of others. How can I best serve you? Sometimes by speaking, and sometimes by shutting up. And all things in prayer. Thank you, Kalos, for insisting on an answer! I hope I have been able to add something to the discussion, and I look forward to what others may also add. And, if I may, what do you think these verses mean? Love in Christ, Mark |
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1088 | What To Shut Your Mind Against | 2 Tim 2:23 | mark d seyler | 170138 | ||
No worries, brother! Patience is a good virtue! Mark |
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1089 | What To Shut Your Mind Against | 2 Tim 2:23 | mark d seyler | 170172 | ||
Hi Kalos, Thank you for some very sound answers! :-) One of the more difficult things I have had to learn is to keep my opinions to myself, and let God be the judge. But I will always benefit from Scriptural remainders! Love in Christ, Mark |
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1090 | What To Shut Your Mind Against | 2 Tim 2:23 | mark d seyler | 170173 | ||
Hi Kalos, Again, you have shared some good and sound thoughts. I pray that we can all grow in wisdom, and understanding of each other, and that we can be Godly in our communications. And thank you for your kind words. It matters not whether or not you may agree with me, so long as you agree with Him! But no matter about that, you are my brother in truth! Love in Christ, Mark |
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1091 | Don't argue... | 2 Tim 2:24 | mark d seyler | 173700 | ||
Hi Kalos, This is a very good passage to keep in mind: 2 Timothy 2:24-26 (24) But the servant of the Lord must not strive, but to be gentle to all, apt to teach, patient, (25) in meekness instructing those who oppose, if perhaps God will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth, (26) and that they awake out of the snare of the Devil, having been taken captive by him, so as to do the will of that one. The servant of the Lord must not (KJV, LITV, YLT - Strive, NASB, ESV - be quarrelsome) Greek is "machomai", to war, to fight and contend. Still instructing those who oppose, but we must do that without striving, or turning it into a fight. Thank you, Kalos, for a sound reminder! Love in Christ, Mark |
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1092 | SEARCHING FOR THE TRUTH | 2 Tim 2:25 | mark d seyler | 155953 | ||
Hi Bows44, These are the three examples you gave of being "slain in the spirit": Dan 10:9 Yet heard I the voice of his words: and when I heard the voice of his words, then was I in a deep sleep on my face, and my face toward the ground. Rev 1:17 And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last: 1 Kings 8:11 So that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud: for the glory of the LORD had filled the house of the LORD. 2 Chron 5:14 So that the priests could not stand to minister by reason of the cloud: for the glory of the LORD had filled the house of God. These include: Daniel's vision of an angel. John's vision of Jesus Christ. The physical presence of the "Shekinah", the Glory of God which shows His physical presence. Each of these was a spontaneous reaction to these visions, and to God's Glory. No action was taken to "cause" these men to fall. One saw an angel, one saw the glorified Christ, and the priests saw God's glory. Daniel and John describe their experience as like "sleep", and like being "dead", the priests simply could not stand up. These are not just three different experiences, they are different types of experiences. On is a response to an angel, and not everyone who had a vision of an angel had the same response. John's vision of Jesus caused him to fall as though dead. The priests, in the actual presence of God, simply could not stand. Examples of the modern day "slain in the spirit" phenomenon that I have seen do not seem to involve visions of angels or of Jesus, nor do they seem to involve the presence of the Shekinah Glory of God. Are you refering to examples that do involve these things, or to the practice of a person putting their hand on someone who then falls down? If that is what you mean, where is it in the Bible? Did Jesus or the Apostles do that? Is it taught about in the Epistles? What do you think? Love in Christ, Mark |
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1093 | What are the limits of salvation? | 2 Tim 3:15 | mark d seyler | 165862 | ||
Hi MJH, You make a good point, or rather, you make several good points! :-) There is one in particular I wish to comment on. You say that hell was not the main thing Jesus came to save us from, and the Scriptures agree: Matt 1:21 "She will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins." Take away sin and its consequences, and what do you have? Sure sounds like a heavenly life to me! Let that heavenly life begin now. There's no reason for it not to, except my own tolerance of sin in my life, and that is up to me. One other thing I though of. While Jesus was teaching His disiples on His way to the garden, and to the cross, of all the things He could have taught, like when the rapture would be, when tongues would cease, how to organize a church, should women pastor, is Peter really th Pope, of all the things, He taught about love. Love, and unity. I love the way Keith Green ends his song, The Sheep and the Goats: "the only difference between the sheep and the goats, according to this Scripture, is what they DID and DIDN'T DO!" God knows who is and isn't His, and certainly, that is based on faith in Christ alone. I forget where I heard this, someone taking on a Jewish accent so they could sound like James, "Don't tell Me you are a Christian! I will move into your house with you, and I will live with you for a month, and I will tell YOU if you are a Christian!" There's another Keith Green song I just love, (alot of them, really), but it comes just after the Sheep and the Goats, "Do you see? Do you see all the people sinking down. Don't you care? Don't you care? Are you gonna let them drown?" That man really had a heart for the lost. And I can sure tend to ramble! :-) Sorry! Good post! Love in Christ, Mark |
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1094 | Paul our pattern to follow, not Jesus? | 2 Tim 3:16 | mark d seyler | 169581 | ||
Actually, I would disagree with you on this. Peter was not operating in the "old dispensation", he was only acting as if he was, apparently to avoid critizism by those who actually were. He freely mixed with Gentiles before these certain people arrived. 2 Peter 3:16 as also in all his epistles, speaking in them concerning these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which the unlearned and unsettled pervert, as also they do the rest of the Scriptures, to their own destruction. Peter wrote that some things Paul wrote "are hard to understand" which is an objective statement, and is not only applicable to Peter. Do you find that to be true for yourself? I find it to be true for me. Paul wrote the "hard to understand" stuff. This statement of Peter's does not speak to Peter's capabilities, but speaks to Paul's topics. Again, I hope this helps! Love in Christ, Mark |
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1095 | Paul our pattern to follow, not Jesus? | 2 Tim 3:16 | mark d seyler | 169589 | ||
Please remember that using ALL CAPITAL LETTERS IS CONSIDERED SHOUTING and is not good manners on the internet. You wish to exclude Jesus as your example to follow and I say do so at your own peril. You already know what Paul said, you have quoted it, we have discussed it: "Be imitators of me as I am of Christ" so is Paul one to emulate? Yes, but not the only one. Are you asking me "Do I have to be like Jesus?" Are you asking "Can I ignore Jesus?" Hear the Word of the Lord, that others have already brought to your attention: 2 Timothy 3:16 All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; God is telling you to not ignore any of His Scripture. Are you suggesting that although God saw fit to include these portions that were not written by Paul, you see fit to remove them, and ignore them? The Bible does not give you that permission, to discard as unimportant any portion of it. I believe you would be wrong to select a portion of the Scriptures and say "this is all I need." Love in Christ, Mark |
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1096 | Paul our pattern to follow, not Jesus? | 2 Tim 3:16 | mark d seyler | 169605 | ||
Your what if questions can only call for speculation. What if I only had the writings of Paul? Have you seen the movie "Time Changer"? This movie seeks to answer the question "what if you separate the teachings of Jesus from the authority of Jesus? Without the Person of Jesus, without the authority of God, why should anyone obey the Law of Love? It all points to Jesus, and the fact is, we have the entire Bible. So to ask "what if we didn't?" is looking for an answer that we don't know. I believe the Holy Spirit is able to teach a man who does not have the Scriptures, or the complete Scripture, but that does not describe you, or me, or whomever is asking you this question. Did the early Gentile believers have access to all of the Bible? Obviously not, so long as the New Testament was still being written and distributed. But the did have the Apostles who penned the New Testament. Acts 2:42 They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. The Apostle's teachings, whether spoken or written, fed the early church. Do I think that God gave sufficient Scriptures to Paul for the Gentiles? How many are enough? Is some of God's Word enough when there is more available? Not to me! Is some enough when that is all you have? God will make it to be enough. He Who multiplied the fish and the loaves can multiply His Word in your heart. Think of how much depth you can receive as you sit and meditate on one verse! But is that any reason to think we don't need something that God saw as important to give us? I would not be so bold to say that. We have been given a Law of Love to keep, which is the summation of the entire Law. It is from Jesus example first that we can learn to keep that Law, and also through Paul's example. Understanding what the Law means to the New Covenant believer will add a richness to life that does not come another way. We do not gain righteousness by the keeping of the Mosaic Law, and yet, Jesus lived that law, and wants to live His life through us. The Law tells us how to have relationship with God, with others, how to treat animals, and the planet, and ourselves. What part would you say in unimportant? Love in Christ, Mark |
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1097 | Paul our pattern to follow, not Jesus? | 2 Tim 3:16 | mark d seyler | 169637 | ||
Jesus taught: Mat 5:19 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. and so I will not tell you that I think God no longer cares if you worship other gods, or commit adultery, or don't have a fence around your upstairs patio. As I said earlier, we are not justified by the keeping of the Law. The Law we are commanded to keep is the Law of Love. Mat 22:37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. Mat 22:38 This is the first and great commandment. Mat 22:39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. Mat 22:40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets. Mat 7:12 Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets. Jesus does not tell us to ignore the Law and the Prophets, He tells us how to keep them. Not by just abstaining from outward behaviors, such as adultery, but by abstaining from inward behaviors and attitudes, such as lust and hate. And of course, we can only do that by faith in Him. Again, this is not how we are justified, not how we are saved. But it is still God's will for us, that we would love as He loves, and His love is in keeping with His Law. Jesus was the perfect expression of Love, never deviating from love, and never violating the Law. Trying to be justified by the law is what is against grace. It is because God said "do not murder" that we know God does not wish us to murder. Because God said "pay for the loss your ox incurred" that we know God wants us to take responsibility for our negligence. When we endeavor to not steal even when we want to, we are not "frustrating grace", we are living love. You want to divide the various laws to say "this one I should keep", and "this one I don't need to keep." I will leave that as a matter for your own conscience. As a point of reference, Mark wrote, it is believed, Peter's words. Also, we aren't actually told whether or not Mark was an apostle. Not just the 12 were apostles, you know. No, I am not a Jew. Well, I am one inwardly. :-) I think it would be cool to have blue tassels, and I wouldn't wonder if we all wore blue tassels in the Kingdom Age. But seriously... I don't think there is more I can add to this discussion, so I will close with this (from Paul): Rom 3:31 Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law. Love in Christ, Mark |
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1098 | wolves among the sheep | 2 Tim 4:3 | mark d seyler | 158191 | ||
2 Tim 4:3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, This verse, while speaking directly of those who wish to be misled, also describes the mindset of those who wish to argue. There is a tendency among some participants on this foram. I think everyone who reads this board with recognize these people as they appear. This is a person who seeks to debate issues, or to endlessly question issues, and will seek to dispute any answer given. This is a person who, when presented with sound Biblical doctrine, will run from the truth, and will try to re-start their argument with whomever will join in. Most participants, with an honest heart, are here to learn, and share, and grow. But there are those few who will not honestly discuss matters. To repeat myself, when confronted with scripture that speaks directly to them, they run. They are wolves. |
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1099 | What do we have for fighting? | 2 Tim 4:7 | mark d seyler | 188132 | ||
Shalom! But do you have to be so convicting so early in the morning? Seriously, great post! Love in Christ, Mark |
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1100 | What do we have for fighting? | 2 Tim 4:7 | mark d seyler | 188140 | ||
Aaahhhh! Now that you mention it, yes, I did know that. Just being egocentric again! Good morning!!! Mark |
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