Results 121 - 140 of 156
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Results from: Answers On or After: Thu 12/31/70 Author: keliy Ordered by Verse |
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Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
121 | People on bad terms | Rom 12:3 | keliy | 220982 | ||
How about Romans 12:3 ? |
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122 | contraception | Rom 14:1 | keliy | 221040 | ||
Hello Rajeeb, First let me congratulate you on your upcoming marriage, I wish you the very best. It is good that you are seeking God's heart as you attempt to find answers for life's perplexing questions. The Bible teaches that man was commissioned by God “to be fruitful and multiply” (Genesis 1:28) Also, the Bible presents children as a gift from God (Genesis 4:1; Genesis 33:5). Children also are: a heritage from the Lord (Psalm 127:3-5). a blessing from God (Luke 1:42). a crown to the aged (Proverbs 17:6). And, God forms children in the womb (Psalm 139:13-16). God blesses barren women with children (Psalm 113:9; Genesis 21:1-3; 25:21-22; 30:1-2; 1 Samuel 1:6-8; Luke 1:7, 24-25). God knows children even before their birth (Jeremiah 1:5; Galatians 1:15). Maybe, your spouse could have a change of heart, so I would not make any rules right now for the future. It is entirely possible for the Lord to change her heart after she has a first child. I would say to let God be your guide at that point, and read the fourth chapter of Philippians, paying special attention to verse six prior to writing anything in stone. Sadly, children today are often considered to be a burden. They are a hindrance to people’s career paths and financial goals, and “cramp our style” socially. This type of selfishness is commonly what prompts the use of contraceptives. Scripture does not specifically condemn birth control, but comes close to it in Genesis 38, the account of Judah's sons Er and Onan. Er married a woman named Tamar, but he was wicked and the Lord put him to death, leaving Tamar with no husband or children. Tamar was given in marriage to Er's brother, Onan, in accordance with the law in Deuteronomy 25:5-6. However,Onan did not want to split his inheritance with any offspring on his brother's behalf, so he used his available birth control, withdrawal. Genesis 38:10 says, “What he did was wicked in the LORD's sight; so He put him to death also.” Onan was selfishly motivated in his action: he used Tamar for his own pleasure, but refused to perform his duty for his deceased brother. This passage has been cited as evidence that God does not approve of birth control. But the context suggests that it was not the act of contraception that caused Onan's death; it was the selfish motives behind his act. It is important for us to view children as God sees them, not as any worldly motives suggest. Having said all this, the Bible does not specifically forbid contraception. It is not the act of contraception that determines whether a couple's decision is wrong or right. As we see in the story of Onan, it was the motivation behind the action that determines if contraception is right or wrong. If a married couple is practicing contraception in order to have more for themselves, then they are wrong. If a couple is practicing contraception in order to temporarily delay children until they are more mature and more financially and spiritually prepared, then it is perhaps acceptable to use contraception for a time. I will not say that the Spirit is Not influencing your decision, God's picture of marriage was meant to be as a trinity. Husband, wife, and Jesus, living together as one. But that is a little too deep for this thread. Remember to give it time and pray together before you decide. The Bible always portrays children as a good thing. The inability to have children is always presented in Scripture as a bad thing. And there is no one in the Bible who expressed a desire not to have any children. (Onan wasn't against children, he was against having them for someone else.) At the same time, it cannot be argued from the Bible that it is ever wrong to use birth control for a limited time. All married couples should seek the Lord’s will in regards to when they should try to have children and how many children they seek to have. I would like to recommended a book, called: "Birth Control for Christians: Making Wise Choices" By: Jenell Williams Paris It just so happens to be on sale at Christian Book Distributors, online for 99 cents. Thats over 90 percent off, since it sells regularly for 14.99. May our LORD bless you and yours as you seek Him |
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123 | 1 Cor 3:12-18 is this to the whole churc | 1 Cor 3:16 | keliy | 212974 | ||
Fcampos777, I believe Paul was writing to the Church as a whole, yet I believe this passage may be understood either way; as a collection of people that were Paul's audience -which were the church of Corinth, and by extension, today's Church of Christ; Or of every single believer among them on individual terms. To say it only pertains to one or the other could be considered an unreliable interpretation. Know you not that you are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? (vs 16)Today's Christian churches are temples of God, as was the Church in Corinth that Paul was addressing. Christ dwells among them by his Holy Spirit, as: "They are built together for a habitation of God through the Spirit" (Eph. 2:22) On the other hand, every believing Christian is also called a temple of God. God took possession of the Jewish temple and dwelt in it. Now, Christ by His Spirit dwells in all true believers. The temple was consecrated to God, and set apart for His holy use, for the service of God. In the Same manner all Christians are separated, and sanctified unto God and the service of Him. In Him, keliy |
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124 | Rule and Reign over What? | 1 Cor 6:3 | keliy | 210998 | ||
Hello Cheri, I am not claiming to have the definitive answer, just opening up for more discussion. The verse above, and the preceding, 1 Cor 6:2 support your query. Also Matt 19:28 speaks of Jesus' followers judging the twelve tribes of Israel. Besides the White Throne Judgement, there is also another judgement spoken of, the Bema Seat judgement. The Bema Seat judgment does not determine salvation. This is when we must give an account of our lives to Christ. This is also known as the Judement Seat of Christ, which is explained in 1 Corinthians 3:12-15 We should not look upon the Bema Seat as Christ judging us for our sins, because we have been made righteous through His work on the cross. This judgement is where God rewards us according to our lives. Shalom, keliy |
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125 | is a christian allowed to drink | 1 Cor 6:10 | keliy | 213535 | ||
Dear jeh777 We should look at the effects of wine on the individual and not take a Bible verse and apply it to everyone alive. Alcohol is a spirit. A distilled spirit, yes, but it has the power to overtake our own spirit and release certain inhibitions whenever we consume it. Physiologically, the first drink we take will raise our heart rate. Continuing to drink has the opposite effect. There are some people who are able to drink a glass of wine and that is enough for them. For some people it is too much and some it is never enough. God created wine and it is a good thing when used in the right setting. It is an enhancement during wedding celebrations that create memories that last a lifetime for the lucky couple. It is the work of demonic influences that turn all that God created for good into an evil scenario. Some drinkers are more prone to these influences than others. Some are this way thru heredity and some thru environmental influences. Yes, Christians are allowed to drink. But not if they are to hold a position of authority in the church, because it might have the possibility of causing a brother to stumble. It is not wrong to drink wine. I think that Jesus drank wine, but the Bible does not clearly say so. Matt 26:27 says, "And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave [it] to them, saying, Drink ye all of it" and then in verse 29, Jesus says, "I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom." What I understand is that wine was served with meals, but not as we drink it today. It was added to drinking water because it killed water-borne protozoa that cause disease and illness. My opinion therefore is that if Jesus went to someone's house for dinner and wine was served with the meal, Jesus would likely drink the beverage as it was served by the host. Jesus was strong enough to resist the temptation to drink more wine to feel good or as a means to increase joviality. This I suggest may lead to sin, if not a sin in itself. There are some who are able to drink without adverse effect and some who are unable to drink without falling under it's deathly influence. These people contribute to a staggering number of deaths each year, and many thousands each day. I would say that the Bible will never say it is o.k. to drink for these very reasons. However it is not a sin to drink it in small quantities, if it does not cause you or others to stumble into something that causes harm. In moderation, keliy |
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126 | for man towear earring | 1 Cor 6:19 | keliy | 210749 | ||
Hi lgillems, welcome to the Forum and thank you for your question. Let's start with the above verse, you can sense the idea that the inspired author was attempting to convey. There are very many different ways that very many people interpret the Word of God. When plain sense makes the most sense... -well, we are not here to make judgements, so let the scripture verses speak to you for themselves. Since you came to this particular forum for an answer to your curiosity, it is likely that you are interested more than what just men and women in this world have to say, but what is the feelings of our Lord and Creator, as revealed through His Word. Remember, -It is always best to pray first to quiet your soul before you read the Word of God, and then you are better able to receive your answer. The common argument against the type of sin that involve body piercing as well as tattoos is that the bodies of Christians are the temples of the Lord. This happens when Christ is accepted as Savior. The Lord dwells in them, and they understand that they have received their body from God. This is the picture of a temple: —a place where God dwells, and sacred to his use, by his own claim and his creature’s surrender. Here is a companion passage for reflection, from the Book of Romans. Rom 6:16 Do you not know that when you present yourselves to someone as slaves for obedience, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin resulting in death, or of obedience resulting in righteousness? Rom 6:17 But thanks be to God that though you were slaves of sin, you became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching to which you were committed, Rom 6:18 and having been freed from sin, you became slaves of righteousness. Rom 6:19 I am speaking in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh. For just as you presented your members as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness, resulting in further lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness, resulting in sanctification. Rom 6:20 For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. Rom 6:21 Therefore what benefit were you then deriving from the things of which you are now ashamed? For the outcome of those things is death. Rom 6:22 But now having been freed from sin and enslaved to God, you derive your benefit, resulting in sanctification, and the outcome, eternal life. Rom 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. May our Lord bless you and guide you in your decisions as you seek Him. Keliy |
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127 | The Emerging Church, is it Biblical? | 1 Cor 9:19 | keliy | 210362 | ||
Hi Brad, There seems to be a lot of destruction being aimed at the Christian Church, and the entity who is wielding the weapons is our old enemy, satan the destroyer. A good site to check references in the EC is CARM.org., where Matt Slick authors many unbiased reports and offers a search function for your convenience. The following is what I gleaned from his web site: "The Emerging Church is a movement that claims to be Christian. The term 'Emerging Church' is used to describe a broad, controversial movement that seeks to use culturally sensitive approaches to reach the post modern, un-churched culture with the Christian message. Some Emerging Churches might use props such as candles, statues, and incense along with poems, open mics, and videos, etc. --------------------------------- What is the Emergent Church emerging from? In short, it is emerging from the established, modernistic (rational), traditional church that appears to be stuck in bland traditionalism and is out of touch with the postmodern society. At least, that is what I gather from reading their material. When reading emerging authors I found them talking about how a new church is emerging, one in which the old sterile approaches to religion are reassessed and new more adaptive, and relative approaches are utilized to meet the needs of the unchurched. This fits perfectly into contemporary culture where truth is relative and conveniences in life, home, and food are pervasive. ----------------------------------------- A list of quotes to make you cringe: Jones, Alan, A "The other thread of just criticism addresses the suggestion implicit in the cross that Jesus' sacrifice was to appease an angry God. Penal substitution was the name of this vile doctrine." Jones, Alan., Reimagining Christianity, (Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley and Sons), 2005, Page 168. B "I see the world through the images of Christianity, which teaches me that I encounter God in everyone I meet regardless of what they believe." Reimagining Christianity, Page 64 McLaren, Brian A "Is Christianity true? a little: "Sit down here next to me in this little restaurant and ask me if Christianity (my version of it, yours, the Pope's, whoever's) is orthodox, meaning true, and here's my honest answer: a little, but not yet. Assuming by Christianity you mean the Christian understanding of the world and God, Christian opinions on soul, text, and culture... I'd have to say that we probably have a couple of things right, but a lot of things wrong, and even more sprints before is unseen and unimagined." (italics in the original) A Generous Orthodoxy, (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan), 2004, p. 296." B Buddhist, Hindu, and Jewish disciples don't have to adhere to Christianity: "The I must add, though, that I don't believe making disciples must equal making adherence to the Christian religion. It may be advisable in many(not all!)circumstances to help people become followers of Jesus and remain within their Buddhist, Hindu, or Jewish contexts. This will be hard, you say, and I agree. But frankly, it's not at all easy to be a follower of Jesus in many "Christian" religious context, either." Brian McLaren, A Generous Orthodoxy, (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan), 2004, page 260. I also listened to a CD by John McCarthur on the emerging church movement and found it to be quite informative. Blessings, keliy |
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128 | What does judgement look like | 2 Cor 5:10 | keliy | 213969 | ||
Hi Shelby1 This would be rather hard to describe, since no one alive has seen it. Nevertheless, there could be some very valid views held, but we need to know which 'day' you are referring to. There is the "Great White Throne" judgment, And There is the lesser known "Bema Seat" judgment which will only be attended by reborn Christians, and shall follow the "Great White Throne" judgment. In the verse above, the Words 'Judgment seat' have been translated from the Greek, 'Bema', which means the official seat of a judge which is normally upon a raised platform. And where it says, "we must all" it is important to consider the audience that Paul was talking to. This would be the Church in Corinth, and as Paul clarifies his selection of audience in verse 7, the ones who "...walk by faith, not by sight" See you then (o; keliy |
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129 | Is tithing a command for chriatians? | 2 Cor 9:7 | keliy | 214788 | ||
Greetings Barjonas, And welcome to the Forum. Your question is a popular one, I will try my best to answer it as short and as accurate as I can. You are right in qualifying your question as "for us as Christians today" because the words 'tithe' or 'tithing' do not appear in the New Testament. They do appear in the Gospels, as Jesus was upbraiding the Pharisees for tithing their mint and cumin while neglecting the weightier matters of the law. (Matt 23:23) (Luk 11:42) But I hold the belief that Jesus was still living in Old Testament times, which is a different topic. The closest I know of as a reference to offerings in the NT is the following verse: So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver. (2Cor 9:7) There is an instance, in the New Testament, actually four verses in Hebrews Chapter 7 that discuss Abraham giving a tenth of the spoils to Melchizedec. But again, that is in reference to the Old Testament. We must remember always that it is our Lord's money, and we are oly stewards of it for a time. So as Jesus said in Matt 22:21, we must "....render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's; and to God the things that are God's." I have heard that to hold back is to actually steal from God, because He owns it. But I would be careful in handling such wisdom as it appears to be from man's teaching, and not of God. May you be richly blessed, keliy |
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130 | Is tithing a command for chriatians? | 2 Cor 9:7 | keliy | 214789 | ||
Barjonas, For your further edification, Kalos has an excellent answer posted under the ID# 172733 Just type the number in the search box to the right and you will see it. keliy |
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131 | does God still send prophets? | 2 Cor 11:13 | keliy | 214537 | ||
Sorry cowboy, forgive my intrusion upon this topic but it has been a long time since I heard from anyone who believed in this heretic. Our Lord has plans for the likes of Branham, and He shares this with us in His Word: 'But the prophet who speaks a word presumptuously in My name which I have not commanded him to speak, or which he speaks in the name of other gods, that prophet shall die.' (Deu 18:20 ) Branham actually died in a pool of his own blood after a head-on collision with a drunk driver. One of Branham's teachings was that Cain and Able were twins. Another is that Eve had sexual relations with satan which produced Cain. Yes, I saw the video where Branham says that when the Bible says that Eve was beguiled by the serpent, that 'beguiled' means 'defiled'... If this were not such a serious matter. it could actually be humorous (o; Sorry, cowboy -but Branham was actually not the vindicated prophet that he claimed to be. He was found out setting up a false healing before a show, in the back seat of a car. God's blessings, keliy |
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132 | How to follow, walk in the Spirit? | Gal 5:16 | keliy | 211286 | ||
Greetings Nevvvvine, Very interesting topic, I'm sure you will get many varied responses, so I will begin by thanking you for letting me put in my two denari worth. Please allow me to be glib about the "nuts and bolts" reference, This is a materialistic reference to a spiritual scenario, but I will do my best. (o: To walk "in the Spirit" is to place the desires of the flesh on the back shelf, this is related in Gal 5:17, "For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would." So 'to walk' can be construed as to regulate our conduct, so that we "walk by faith, not by sight" (2Cor 5:7) Faith is a gift, given to us from God. It is God’s grace that brings this gift to our life. "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God (Eph 2:8). “God has given a measure of faith” to each Christian, (Rom 12:3). Jesus is the author and perfecter of our faith, (Heb 12:2). God brings faith to us through His words. So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God, (Rom 10:17). -Besides the common translation of 'word', which is 'logos' what has been translated as 'the word' in this verse is the Greek, "rhema" (Strong's G4487) which can be described as "that which has been uttered by the living voice, in contrast to the written word, logos. And, as the Word (logos) was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (John 1:14) I accept Jesus as God's Living Word, -His Revealed Word. Never in contradiction with His inspired Word, nor His written Word. We are able to accept this gift of faith, that enables us to walk in the Spirit because of the covenant that God has ordained. Because Jesus Christ's blood that He shed on the cross, a new covenant was made available between God and man. Everything about the new covenant has to do with the Spirit, not the law. He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant--not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. Now if the ministry that brought death, which was engraved in letters on stone, came with glory, so that the Israelites could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of its glory, fading though it was, will not the ministry of the Spirit be even more glorious? If the ministry that condemns men is glorious, how much more glorious is the ministry that brings righteousness! (2 Cor 3:6-9) Grace, Peace and Blessings to you, in faith. keliy |
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133 | Keliy, can faith be predetermined? | Eph 2:8 | keliy | 213094 | ||
Hi Norton, Your Question can be divided into three parts, I will do my best off the cuff and then we can discuss finer details as others join in. First you said, "If grace is a free gift..." Well, let us first define grace: Grace is enabling power sufficient for progression. Grace divine is an indispensable gift from God for development, improvement, and character expansion. Without God's grace, there are certain limitations, weaknesses, flaws, impurities, and faults (i.e. carnality) humankind cannot overcome. Therefore, it is necessary to increase in God's grace for added perfection, completeness, and flawlessness. (from: wikipedia.org) Then going to God's Word, "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: [it is] the gift of God" (Eph 2:8) This tells us that God empowers us to do what we are unable to do ourselves, and His motivation would be Love. I have also heard 'grace' described as getting what we do not deserve, and 'mercy' as not getting what we do deserve. (at least until we are judged by Him) As far as doing anything to earn this gift, Isaiah 64:6 tells us that all our works of righteousness are nothing but filthy rags. -So what can we sinners actually offer to a holy God, who is all powerful, and has already given to us anything that we might choose to offer Him? Second you said, "knowing that God put us here for a purpose in his plan..." I agree, so not really a question, but what is the purpose of His plan? Why did He place us here, and create the air, and food, and water here solely for our benefit? If I may suggest to you sir, it is not for our benefit but His. In the end we will be giving God the Glory. That is our final destination So, The third part, and the gajillion dollar question has to do with "his decision on who of us he gives to His Son" Well for Him to decide whom to give, means that there is ones that must be withheld. I have often pondered the answer in a parrallel question: Why DID God put that tree in the center of the garden if He knew what would happen? Or, taken a step further, why did He create satan? Why was Judas put in that place at that particular time? The answer has to be that God is sovereign. It is His plan, formulated with His wisdom. There is nothing anywhere to compare on earth, that we can squeeze into our limited consciousness. It is His design and to question His reasons is to put our wisdom against His. I tend to go on a bit, so I will stop, I have to leave for an hour. But, as an off the cuff answer, I will ask others on the Forum to chime in and invest 2 shillings for your edification. God Bless you. keliy |
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134 | whot is worship jesus Mean, is that pray | Phil 3:3 | keliy | 221633 | ||
Hi reno, that is a very good question. Let's take an example from Jesus Himself, who was a consistent worshiper through His life of prayer in the presence of the Father, public and private worship was present in Jesus' example, and he had some specific things to say to his followers about it. "The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!" This is the first preaching of Jesus recorded in the gospels (Mark 1:15), and it establishes the theme for his entire ministry. From this point on, everything Jesus did and said focused on the reality of God's rule and power, and His fatherly concern for His people. After Jesus' resurrection, His body of believers began to assemble regularly, and His examples gave shape to the worship of the new community. In answer to your question, we need to look at Jesus' example in prayer, and His focus on genuine worship. When Jesus' disciples asked him how they should pray, He told them, "This is how you should pray," and taught them what we know as the "Lord's Prayer" (Matt. 6:9-13). While it is good to pray this prayer as is, Jesus gave it as a model for us to follow as He told us not to be repititous in our words. Following Jesus' pattern, our prayers should include: Praise and adoration toward God, Submission to His will, Expression of our dependence on Him for all our needs, Confession of our sin, and recognition of the conditions necessary to receive God's forgiveness, as we petition Him to protect us from evil forces and from severe testing. Then our prayer should end in the ascribing of glory to God. When Jesus spoke to the woman at the well (John 4:21-24), He characterized both Jewish worship and the worship of the Samaritans. The Samaritans, He told her, worship in ignorance, for they do not know what they worship. As for the Jews, Jesus says, "we worship what we know." Neither type of worship is adequate, and Jesus implies that worship will soon cease both in the Jewish sanctuary, and on Mount Gerizim, which was sacred to the Samaritan sect. Taking their place will be a deeper worship "in spirit and truth," for the Father seeks genuine worshipers. What does it mean to worship "in spirit and truth?" In Scripture, what is 'spiritual' is not always invisible, but "spirit" can sometimes refer to the motivation behind one's actions. Of course it also refers to the Holy Spirit, or the power of God at work in human situations. So, to worship "in spirit" is to worship while being motivated by the life of God in the believer, and the empowerment of the Holy Spirit will manifest itself through visible actions that may take place. And "truth," is not referring to an abstract idea, but has a concrete meaning. It is a function of reality and appears through God's dealings with us, and to the way of life he has set out for his people. Truth means reliability, loyalty, integrity, effectiveness -all qualities that apply not so much to ideas as to personal relationships. Above all, according to Jesus himself, "truth" is the Word God spoken to his people (John 17:17). To live in truth is to live by God's promises and commandments. Worship "in spirit and in truth," then, means worship motivated by the life of God and not by our own flesh seeking for recognition and satisfaction. |
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135 | What about the violence in the home? | Phil 3:21 | keliy | 213067 | ||
Hello humility. Have you tried calling the authorities? I would say you should get a temporary separation, living outside the home, or if that doesn't work, a restraining order would be in order for your own protection. Please consider, that I have no way of knowing your circumstance, just speaking from the Word of God. Lord Bless, keliy |
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136 | Duties of an Employer | Col 4:1 | keliy | 221171 | ||
Good Morning, beenydu Basically the gist of verses is the same. I have two verses in my 'list' at the bottom, but what they say is that as a slave should be obedient to the master, so shall the master be obedient to the Lord, who is the Master of masters. Treat them fairly, and without partiality, and do not mistreat them. To help with the answering, can I ask if you are an employer? Blessings to you as you seek Him, keliy Col 4:1 MASTERS, give your bondservants what is just and fair, knowing that you also have a Master in heaven. Eph 6:9 And you, masters, do the same things to them, giving up threatening, knowing that your own Master also is in heaven, and there is no partiality with Him. |
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137 | HOW DO WE HELP THOSE IN NEED? | 1 Tim 2:3 | keliy | 214441 | ||
Hello Justme, you have a very thoughtful idea, bless your heart. My only suggestion would be is if you had a facility where you could sponsor a potluck style dinner. You could advertise for it in the places where people go for food, such as the food pantries, or the state office where food stamps are applied for. This way a person's pride could remain intact, as they may feel led to bring some baked beans, or their favorite dessert, but if the meat entree is supplied, they could feed the whole family for pennies on the dollar. And in addition, they could gain quality fellowship with others who are in similar straits. hope this benefits you in some way, keliy |
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138 | Women being saved after childbirth | 1 Tim 2:15 | keliy | 221028 | ||
Yes, puppytoes, there is a verse. But context is extremely important in this passage, for our God is a God of order, not confusion. One might consider she is saved because of the children she bore, I have heard some thing to that effect from the LDS Church, But Jesus says in John 10:1, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber." and, in 10:7, Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep. see also 10:9. also, can you see the qualifier in the verse above? It is the word "IF", which is a huge IF. Without learning what these things mean, a person can walk away very confused, and possibly misled. The apostle Paul wrote this letter to instruct Timothy, not distract him. Blessings to you |
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139 | freedom of speech on the pulpit | 2 Tim 2:15 | keliy | 213025 | ||
Hello Azure, I am with you on the Berean thought. The word pastor is from the Latin word for shepherd. And I will give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding. (Jer 3:15) So, it is one of the many duties of a pastor to 'feed' the flock. I n my case, he feeds me the 'bread of life.' The pastor also 'feeds the worship team leader in advance of the message, which key words or phrases he would like to match up in the music. Also, the pastor, as a minister to the people is often held accountable by the deacons and elders so that he does not stray from the doctrines which are espoused. The church leaders often get feedback from the members, and I have gone more than once to give praise or concerns about the selection of music, once, when the lyrics contained too much of what "I" will do for God, and not enough actual worship and praise. The words in Jam 3:1 were not meant to forbid us from doing what we can to help our leaders, or instruct others in their duty or even check them in a Christian way if they are in a conspicuous fault. Remember, we are all called to be priests, of the highest order, and to shirk this duty when it arises would be worse -at least in my eyes- than doing something about it,(kindly) that is, after prayerful consideration. Do you agree? Charis, keliy |
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140 | Did Jesus ever have a knife fight ? | 2 Tim 2:15 | keliy | 213904 | ||
Hi Thomas, My feelings are that to have an actual 'fight would be contrary to Jesus' character. Even in self-defense, he would not commit an offense, see Isa 53:7a He was oppressed and He was afflicted, Yet He did not open His mouth For if he would have opened His mouth to speak, He would be wielding the most powerful weapon: The Word of God, which is sharper than any two-edged sword, (Heb 4:12) This is not to say that He was opposed to ANY offensive behavior, but He did reserve His righteous indignation for times that were appropriate to do so. And He made a scourge of cords, and drove [them] all out of the temple(Jhn 2:15) The example Jesus gave to us while on earth was to forgive and not to injure others. A knife fight, again would be inappropriate. Lord Bless, keliy |
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