Results 121 - 140 of 189
|
||||||
Results from: Notes Author: keliy Ordered by Date |
||||||
Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
121 | TRUE HEART OF WORSHIP | Bible general Archive 4 | keliy | 212738 | ||
Hi Brittany, sometimes it is hard to place a question in specific terms, so I will do my best as to what I think, and you can give feedback as well as other forum members. So, here I go, and Welcome! I would say that True Worship is God worship. Or, worship that is God-centered. People sometimes get distracted in side issues like where they should worship, The worship team, the music they should sing, or even how they look to other people while they are worshiping. Focusing on these things and whether we enjoy them is focusing on self and does not please God. Besides, it completely misses the point of worship. Jesus tells us that true worshipers will worship God in spirit and in truth (John 4:24). True Worship can include praying, reading or studying God's Word, singing, participating in communion, or even serving others. It's not limited to any one act, but the important part is that it's done properly with the heart and attitude in the right place. May our Lord Bless you as you seek Him, keliy |
||||||
122 | is jesus god? | John 1:1 | keliy | 212709 | ||
Good morning to you, John. I guess I forgot to switch back to Hancock before I posted. Sorry, it is not my first :-( Yes, the Book of Esther does lack any obvious references to God. But hey, can you deny the parallels to the salvation of the Jews? While Esther means "Star", or "A Star" in the Greek, to look in Hebrew it means "That which is hidden" and the tetragrammaton is found many times using equi-distant letter spacing. I Hope that Hancock monitored this thread to catch his response. (Maybe I should have posted my response to you, to his name) Anyway, thanks for the correction. Joyful blessings keliy |
||||||
123 | is jesus god? | John 1:1 | keliy | 212706 | ||
Hi Hancock, I haven't heard from you since last year, (o: The Bible speaks of Jesus in every Book. But here are just a few examples that prove Jesus is God. Matthew introduces Jesus with a quotation from Isaiah 7:14: “Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and his name shall be called Emmanuel” (which means, God with us) (Matt. 1:23). Mark continues, “Who can forgive sins but God alone?” Jesus not only by forgave the paraplegic, but implanted life to his dead limbs! (Mark 2:1-12). and John picks up the pace: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God; all things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made (John 1:1-3). Jesus is God. He is not next to the Father, but is with the Father. He is the co-Creator of the universe. The Jews then said to him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and have you seen Abraham?” Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM.” So they took up stones to throw at him (John 8:57-59). When the woman of Samaria wonders whether Jesus might be the Messiah, He replies, “The one speaking to you, I AM” (John 4:26) John not only begins his gospel by proving that Jesus is God, he ends on the same note. When Thomas saw the risen Christ he exclaimed, “My Lord and my God!” (20:28). Philippians 2:5-11 is also significant. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form he humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even death on a cross. . Let's not forget Isaiah, Thus says the LORD, the King of Israel and his Redeemer, the LORD of hosts; “I am the first and I am the last; besides me there is no god.” (Isaiah 44:6) But in Revelation 22 Jesus uses these titles for Himself: “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end” (v. 13). So, let us not be strangers (o: keliy |
||||||
124 | Can a woman divorce man: Ongoing porn? | Matthew | keliy | 212686 | ||
Bandaid, Yes, I believe you have tried nearly everything. And I believe that you love your husband beyond his shortcomings. You asked, "Can prayer and fasting set him free?" Well, I have proof that it can. Yesterday, you blamed me for misunderstanding, and threatened to report me for harrassment. I forgave you instantaneously and I offered to pray and fast for your situation. You disagreed with my post and said you would not read any more from me. I completely understand, because there are some on the forum that I do not respond to even when they are being nice. Anyway, I did fast, today and the Spirit has turned our relationship into one that is mutually accepting. This is not because I fasted. I believe that the Holy Spirit saw that I cared enough to actually suffer (mildly) for your cause, and He brought to my heart and my mind what I was then able to put into my post. Then there was a 180 bat-turn for our situation. God is capable, and He truly wants to do it again. But what I said about Him waiting, and doing things on His time still stands. It is not the fasting that effects the change, -but you know that. I had an idea tonight, with help from the Lord. Can you send an anonymous card in the mail? You can maybe write in it that you are trying to help, but if he does not know who its from, he can not answer to the person whether he ever even received it. (type, or write with your left hand) It might drive him to embarrasment wondering who sent it. You might include this verse: "Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eyes are good, your whole body also is full of light. But when they are bad, your body also is full of darkness. See to it, then, that the light within you is not darkness." -Jesus (Luke 11:34-35 NIV) Then you can send a card with a link to a site for porn addiction I have found a site for you, at www.porn-free.org/ (I found the above verse at the site) MAKE sure that you put the dash between the words or you will be directed to a site that actually offers free porn. This is from the site: "This site also is intended to help people discover how to live the "new life" that comes through knowing Jesus Christ and living by the power of the Holy Spirit. Many people may put their faith in Jesus, but how many people go on to live as the "new creation" that the scriptures say they can be? Jesus said, "I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly" (John 10:10). Living as a new creation is the secret to experiencing God's joy and peace in life!" They also claim to Connect spouses of sex addicts for "e-fellowship" So, I hope that you will try my suggestion, about remaining anonymous. Send the link to the site with the paragraph above to him in a card that tells him you care. Anonymously. Then send another card in a day or two with a similar message, always anonymously. Continue to fast and pray but be aware of the spiritual warfare that is sure to ramp up. The enemy does not want to lose this one! I will pray for your victory. keliy |
||||||
125 | Can a woman divorce man: Ongoing porn? | Matthew | keliy | 212679 | ||
Sister, First, let me post my regrets that it took so long to get to the crux of the problem. Yet I am thankful we are here. I do not entirely agree with the censorship guidelines of this forum, whatever they are. Because now there are many that will miss the fruit that our posts have born. Sobeit. it is all God's will, amen? The end of your last post said, which will overcome? That is easy to answer. It is the one that we choose to feed. Will we choose to feed (by spending time and energy on) the side that exhibits the aroma of Christ, or the one that demands our immediate attention -which is our own ambitions? One side is light and one is darkness. One leads to life and the other leads to death. I do not want to preach to the choir but you understand that you are not responsible for your husbands actions. Only how you react to those actions. Being a man of 52 years, I know the struggles that he faces. It is the same as the fruit in the garden of Eden that spelled the downfall of our entire human race. This is the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes, (obvious) and (less obvious) is the pride of life, which allows the male to "conquer" the harlot in his own mind. This is why he is in denial. The Bible says the darkness hides from the light for fear of being exposed. Just as Adam and Eve hid when they heard God approach. May I suggest that you steer him to a website that deals with porn addiction on an anonymous basis? Just a suggestion, I do not have one for you but I have seen them in the past. just Google some key words. Your husband needs to be willing to let the light shine in. And stop hiding in darkness. But it is like a cancer that needs to be cut out with a knife. The initial pain is scary. By steering him to the resources that are needed, he can secretly work out his problem and maybe even be held accountable by an online pal. This is where our prayers will be most beneficial. And in return, with the Spirit's help, you may rescue him from the clutches of the enemy and he will love you all the more for it without having to know anything.. I will monitor this thread for a few days, or as long as you need some help from a christian brother. In His service and yours, keliy |
||||||
126 | Porn in spouse overcome thru fasting? | Galatians | keliy | 212633 | ||
Bandaid, dear sister, I can not express how sorry I am that my posts have been interpreted in such a way. It is hard for me to get my true feelings across on such an electronic format. Please believe, that my only intention is to serve, and not offend. In serving others through serving the Lord, I have realized that a true servant's reward comes only when the other person is blessed. That has always been my intention, and to read it any other way is to block any benefit that may otherwise be received I have been down some paths that are parallel to some struggles you are facing, and am familiar with mental illness. I have been arrested and jailed for situations that were due to a believer who refused to stop tampering with the prescribed dosage of her seratonin-reuptake-inhibitors ( psyche-meds) Thankfully the charges were dropped due to the Holy Spirit speaking through me during the trial. To God be the glory! I have also suffered from addictive behaviors during my decades of apostasy and rebellion. If I were to mention some habitual behaviors, there are people that would say these were more destructive than any they have ever known. I am not trying to blow my horn here, I actually am only breathing today by the grace of God and the hedge of protection that He placed over me, as well as the expertise of the EMT's who attended to me on a flight for life helicopter dispatched to a rural location before sunrise one Sunday morning as I laid alone. Yet I remained in denial and actually got worse in my behaviors. All of that to get to this: It was 15 long years after that incident while ignoring the pleadings of Christian family members that I realized I needed to look towards the resources of God to introduce any type of lasting change in my life and they have consistently proven to be sufficient. After my conversion to Jesus, and accepting Him as the Lord and Savior of my life, He has made possible my transformation by making God's divine power available to me. Here are some notes I kept, that I turn to in times of need: God's Spirit is within me (Rom 8:9; Jhn 14:16-17), Always available to teach me God's truths (1Cor 2:10-13; John 14:26, 16:13). God's Spirit will strengthen me (Rom 8:11) and intercede for me (8:26-27) God will help me discern between good and evil (1Jhn 2:18-27) and develop character (Gal 5:16-17, 5:22-23) His Word is sufficient to change me completely (1Thes 2:13; Heb 4:12; 2Pet 1:2-4). His Word is able to counsel me in any situation (2Tim 3:16-17), and gives me hope (Rom 15:4). Instead of relying on the wisdom of this world -which is foolish (1Cor 3:19) and inadequate (Isa 55:8-9), I can have God's wisdom (Jas 1:5), strength (Eph 6:10; 2Thes 3:3; 1Jhn 4:4), and sufficiency (Phil 4:19; 2Cor 9:8-10) in every circumstance (1Cor 10:13; Phlp 4:11-13). The Lord Jesus Christ will remain with me (Mat 28:20; Heb 13:5) to sustain me (Jhn 15:1-11) and care for me (Jhn 10:27-29; Eph 5:29) Jesus is and will always be my defender (1Jhn 2:1), and He will always intercede to God our Father on my behalf (Rom 8:34; Heb 7:25) May he turn all your sorrows to joy, keliy |
||||||
127 | Can a woman divorce man: Ongoing porn? | Matthew | keliy | 212616 | ||
Dear bandaid, Please forgive me, I meant no harm, I do realize that I do have a problem with being blunt at times. Even in personal situations, I have a problem with being too honest about what I feel -sometimes to the point of being brutal. My honest answer to you, since I do see that you have long been making an honest effort, is just keep doing exactly what you are doing. The reason is because God oftentimes waits to move until all other resources are expended. I know it is hard, But. -God does this so we know that it is nothing that we possibly could have done to bring about the change that we are working so hard for. Or else He can do the work and we will take the credit. When the Lord finally steps in, we always know that it is Him and we might say, "Lord, what took you so long" through eyes that are wet with tears of joy. Then we can give Him glory as we come to understand. I have seen this and lived this over and over. Having bore children, you know at least as well as I that the outcome is worth the pain. I am not saying it is easy, just that it is do-able with strength from above. So at the risk of sounding 'preachy', I would like to bring you to the end of Heb 10: 35.)Therefore, do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. 36.)For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised. 37.)FOR YET IN A VERY LITTLE WHILE, HE WHO IS COMING WILL COME, AND WILL NOT DELAY. 38.)BUT MY RIGHTEOUS ONE SHALL LIVE BY FAITH; AND IF HE SHRINKS BACK, MY SOUL HAS NO PLEASURE IN HIM. 39.)But we are not of those who shrink back to destruction, but of those who have faith to the preserving of the soul. (the caps are not mine, but in the NASB) So I sincerely hope that you are receiving some amount of succorance from the many posts you have received. Even if you do not get the answer you were looking for. All the hearts here do pray for you and wish you the very best in this, possibly the worst situation you might ever go through. It also doesn't help to carry on a convo with a dozen people at a time, but hey, we all do our best (o: When I go through a problematic situation involving others, I go to where our Lord once told me to go, as He said "The answer is in Colossians" and I have found Chapter 3 to be particularly beneficial. Below is an excerpt for your benefit: Again, you are in my prayers, and I promise to fast as well, keliy 12 Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, 13 bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. 14 And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. 15 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. 17 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. |
||||||
128 | Porn in spouse overcome thru fasting? | Galatians | keliy | 212580 | ||
Bandaid, Sorry, but since you are questioning the effectiveness of fasting and prayer, is your faith sufficient to do so? And the Lord said, If ye had faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye might say unto this sycamine tree, Be thou plucked up by the root, and be thou planted in the sea; and it should obey you.(Luk 17:6) Jesus said, in John 16:24f, ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.but He also said, Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume [it] upon your lusts. (Jam 4:3) Well, I do wish I could be of more help, but it is verses that you asked for, and verses you shall get, (o; keliy |
||||||
129 | Can a woman divorce man: Ongoing porn? | Matthew | keliy | 212577 | ||
Dear Bandaid, It is clear that you are asking for scriptural references, but I am afraid you will not find any in the Bible. To file for a divorce, would you not be exercizing authority over your spouse in opposition to God's Word? And I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man... (1Tim 2:12a) I do have chidren that were little at one point, and I did have some anxious moments concerning their sin in this arena also. Now,since your husband likely proposed to you, and you likely answered 'Yes', did you not agree to love honor and cherish thru thick and thin till death doth ye part? Which husband did you have in mind, one who lived up to your wishes and was without faults? 5 years is not that long of a time. Did he show any signs of repentance? Did you give this man an opportunity to repent? Again, you are on the wrong side of Scripture, for God's Word clearly states, "For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body." (Eph 5:23) To file for divorce, you would be forcing the husband to do your bidding, using the civil authorities as a tool. You ask for "scriptural references, not advice" but since there are no Scriptures to advise you on your path, you will be getting biblical advice that points in the right direction My prayers are with you, may His will become manifest in this uncomfortable situation. keliy |
||||||
130 | what is ecotology | Bible general Archive 4 | keliy | 212530 | ||
Thank you Val, Preceptaustin is a very interesting site. I will look into it. keliy |
||||||
131 | what is ecotology | Bible general Archive 4 | keliy | 212524 | ||
HI Val, Wow, I have seen some loaded questions before, but...just kidding, sister -I am more than happy to do my best to answer. Actually, I do see the Book of Revelation as the most controversial book contained in the Bible, but the interpretation is not as complicated as most people think. There are so many interpretations of the symbolic meanings within, that it is possible to go to ten sources and get over twelve interpretations. I try to see past all the symbolic imagery to look towards the hope that is offered to all who suffer persecution and tribulations in this fallen world. When I speak to a Jewish adherent about the New Testament, I get the answer that it is not accepted. So my counterpoint is, Well, had they read the Book of Revelation? Because it was written by a Jew, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. The writer of the letters to the seven churches of Asia was in his own eyes a Jew, while believing in Jesus as the risen Messiah. I have learned that the key to understanding the Book of Revelation is in the understanding of the rest of the Bible. No, I do not claim to actually understand it all, just that I am more than happy to spend the time trying to gain understanding. Concerning Israel, I turn to the second chapter of Isaiah, which begins, "The word that Isaiah the son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem. And it shall come to pass in the last days, [that] the mountain of the LORD'S house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it." (vss 1,2) Another reference to Israel is symbolic, and found in Rev 12:1, "And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars" There are many different interpretations as to the identity of the woman symbolized, The Catholic Church says that it is Mary, the mother of God. I believe that verse 12:6 proves their interpretation wrong. And Mary Baker Eddy says that it is herself, which I believe is ridiculous. The interpretation of this symbol (the woman being Israel) that I accept is found in the Genesis, in Joseph's second dream. So to answer your first question, my approach to Revelation is to approach the rest of the Bible. This is explained in the Bible as the need for two or more witnesses for a matter to be called true. In answer to your second question, where I see Israel in the end time, I do not accept replacement theology, because of the everlasting covenant made in Gen 17:7, "I will establish My covenant between Me and you and your descendants after you throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and to your descendants after you. My belief is that there will be Jews who are saved, and Jews who are unsaved. There will also be non-Jews who are saved, and non-Jews who are unsaved. Thank you for your question, Val. May our Lord bring you many joyful blessings in this new year. keliy |
||||||
132 | Author's role in acts | Acts 28:28 | keliy | 212521 | ||
Hello Lionheart, (I love that screen name!) I am responding to your curiosity as to where the fellowship I attend stands in regards to tithing and giving. Well, it is quite simple, in lieu of a basket being passed, there is an "Agape Box" near the entrance to the Sanctuary. It has a slot to place tithes and offerings into it, as well as a pad of paper designated for prayer requests. The box is never spoken of from the pulpit, but when I first began attending,the Pastor had answered my query to do as I am led by the Lord. Joyful blessings to you, keliy |
||||||
133 | Author's role in acts | Acts 28:28 | keliy | 212510 | ||
Thank you sister Val, I attend a non-denom Bible-teaching church of approx 100 attendees. We have no membership, and no collections are passed. Only Bibles are passed out at the beginning of each service for those who do not have one in their lap (o; Our small church is very blessed to have an associate pastor who loves to teach and has a great gift to do so. He has started a Bible institute, which is now in its third year and we have been blessed with opportunities to take courses in Discipleship, Hermeneutics, New Testament Greek, and Hebrew is on the slate, as the Lord leads. This is all in addition to an hour-plus of verse by verse exposition twice per week by a pastor who is also a wonderfully gifted exegete. I feel quite blessed to have come this far in the years that I have studied, after so many of my younger years that were simply wasted. Thank you for your kindness, may our Lord bless you in the coming new year as you walk in His light. keliy |
||||||
134 | Why not Elisabeths home? | Luke 2:7 | keliy | 212486 | ||
Thanks to both of you, your responses blessed me. I have been racking my brain trying to remember who was the source or how I heard it. It wasn't until I logged back in, when it came to me, and I think it was Chuck Swindoll that I got this view from. Blessings, keliy |
||||||
135 | Why not Elisabeths home? | Luke 2:7 | keliy | 212457 | ||
Hello KcabmI4, To give you a likely reason for why Jesus was born in a manger, and not anyone's home that could have very well been available at that time and place, I would like to relate a commentary that I read, but I do not know when or where. The idea is as follows: The Christ Child came not as king, but as a helpless infant. This was to allow even the most humble shepherd to come to visit. If the newborn child was in someone's home, it would be possible that it would've kept the shepherds at a distance, feeling as if they were not invited, and would not want to intrude. The stable was chosen, in God's unfailing wisdom, to invite even the most humble of humanity to feel as if he were welcome to pay a visit. Do you see this point? If the birth would take place at a palace, which the very Son of God would be most deserving, there would be many that would not feel 'worthy' enough to come and pay a visit. The lowest place on earth was chosen for the birth-site so that none would be too humble to enter. In Joy, keliy |
||||||
136 | pleasestate your undestandingof verse | Prov 16:33 | keliy | 211623 | ||
Yes, thank you, Azure, I see your point. I was in a hurry and rambled off an answer off the top of my head, trying to get the same point across that I tried in prior posts. It is difficult for me in an electronic format to get across my main thought or idea. Experts say over 85 percent of all conversations is said to be non-verbal. That is, body language, and such. The point I was making is what has been made over the past week or so. This is: that we are all expected to be displaying a Christian attitude for those that visit for the first time are truly seeking how it is that those who call themselves disciples of Christ really think and live. Yes, humbledbyhisgrace, "The argument is sort of self defeating isn't it?" Of course, that is why I humbly left it out, thanks to His grace. But I am not one who is proud of my humility. I was not trying to say any denom or non-denom was right, only to point out that we are not supposed to be each one claiming to have the right answer. We are supposed to discuss our thoughts and feelings rationally without attacking anybody's views or opinions. My objective was to say that we can not claim to have the right answer. I have posted: "God's thoughts are higher than our thoughts" and now I will enlighten that a little further: For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known. (1 Cor 13:12) For we know in part and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away. (1 Cor 13:9-10) Since we are seeing through our own obscured viewpoints, the impersonal textual format of these posts does not help to get our thoughts made precisely known. So, we really need to exercise higher caution in making sure we understand what an author is trying to say. This is why so many people hate the hypocrisy in the church. I hear it most often from non-church go-ers as their reason for staying away. There are lots of typos on this site and we all look past them to try to get the bigger picture. That is, we all Should. Why should any body claim to be above petty squabbles and then ridicule others over spellings and definitions? This is pointless and does not imitate Christ. Yes, jlhetrick, I hear you, "Perhaps referring to you as "assuming" was a bit of an understatement" are you saying that you restrained yourself for effect? (Webster's definition) I will not argue that point, Can you argue the point that perhaps it was a bit of an overstatement? See my point? without a full knowledge, we should not be making spurious judgements. So, may I say that I find your entire post more than a bit assuming and, well, outrageous, because You said, "It's always interesting to me when someone points the finger of accusation in everyone else's direction and then proclaims to be right and have the answers." Actually I never said that but you did. So, someone who has likely been a Christian for longer than I have been alive, and what do you teach us about being an ambassador of Christ? This is why I come to this forum: to learn and share. What I get is an obstacle to what I seek. What I said, was: What we are called to do is to emanate the aroma of Christ. This is done by helping one another understand their obstacles in God's Word, and not by trying to to induce someone to truckle to our own belief system. Thank you for your heart |
||||||
137 | pleasestate your undestandingof verse | Prov 16:33 | keliy | 211606 | ||
Hello Nevvvvine, thank you for your input. I myself pray often for God's will to be done, and ask Him to intervene in the direction of my own life I just read your profile, and I totally agree with your statement that most adherents to a specific denomination believe: "We have the truth, and all others are deceived" This applies to JW, Mormons, Protestants, the pope, and muslims equally. I feel this is the danger with denominations, and it is not to be taken lightly. Not everyone can be right, although I have an aunt that thinks so. This thread started out in a verse in Psalms and ended in a dialogue that resembles the Calvinism Armenianism debate. Actually, both sides of that debate are wrong, God's will is somewhere in between and His Holy Spirit knows that there will be arguments about this. Many adherents do not realize the gravity of the sin they are committing by stirring up these debates. It only professes their own pride and ignorance. What we are called to do is to emanate the aroma of Christ. This is done by helping one another understand their obstacles in God's Word, and not by trying to to induce someone to truckle to our own belief system. Thank you for your heart, keliy |
||||||
138 | pleasestate your undestandingof verse | Prov 16:33 | keliy | 211591 | ||
Thank you Doc for your effort, may the Lord bless you for your time was well spent. As I stated in my post to you above, "....and as I am sure this has been debated many times before on this forum and throughout the ages, May I ask you now, to return to the original question at hand?" this makes me really wonder whether you actually read the posts that you reply to. So, when you say, "The affection that people have for their own self determinism, entrenches this presupposition so deeply that neither logic nor authority can hope to dislodge it" Do understand that this applies to yourself as closely as it does to anyone else? Sorry, but the 27th Chapter does not exist in my copy of Knowledge of the Holy by Tozer, c.1961 -It goes no further than chapter 23. In His Love, keliy we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth. (1 Cor 8:1) |
||||||
139 | pleasestate your undestandingof verse | Prov 16:33 | keliy | 211583 | ||
Hello again, Doc You wrote, "Either God is in control of all things or something else has power over God." Either God is in control of all things OR something else has power over God? I think the answer is a bit more complicated. His ways are higher than our ways. Can anyone rightly put God's attributes into such a tiny box? Your either-or logic does not explain that I can have control over my own willpower in certain scenarios, such as if I go to church, or rather to sin. You say, "something else has power over God" ? To have power over God would be to have the ability to change or direct His will. God always retains the power to change and/or direct my will through the use of outside influences: And a voice said, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? I do not possess such power, nor does any, other than God. ... thou, art LORD alone; thou hast made heaven, ....and thou preservest them all; ... (Neh 9:6) Otherwise, when I do sin, it is God that has ordained that decision for me. That is in contradiction to the info you provided: "thereby is God neither the author of sin nor hath fellowship with any therein -1689 London Baptist Confession of Faith" Without a will that is totally free to choose its own course of action, how do you explain your statement, "the brothers of Joseph, chose -- of their own free will -- to violently treat their brother and sell him into slavery" -Can you tell me that this was God's plan, which started as plot to murder Joseph, but he was not, due to a reprieve that came through brother Reuben? There are many influences that are put in place by God, and the dreams of the famine was one of them, and coupled with the drought suffered by Joseph's homeland. So God is able to take what was meant for bad and turn it to good. But He could not have been the author of the plan to kill. This was initiated by man's nature, which is contrary to God's. -But, what was meant for bad was not authored by God, by your own admission. God turns bad to good, hence in my prior post to hopalong, "those circumstances that are arranged by God are the most fortunate occurrences of life." This is in contrast to what the flesh desires. This is backed up in Scripture often, but I will use Rom 8:5, "For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit." You wrote, "Either God is in control of all things or something else has power over God." Are you intimating here that God chooses who walks in the Spirit and who walks in the flesh? Do I, or do I not have that power to choose a course of action to take?? If the flesh is contrary to the desires of the Spirit, does God control every movement of the flesh? By your line of thinking, as I understand it, those that exercise their own minds to make independant decisions are exercising power over God. I hope you can clarify your statement. I know that God has power over the nature of my socks and directs the way my eyes discern the color of them. Yet, If I am unable to choose to wear argyle socks with blue-jeans, then I do not have power of my own free will. I submit that I can wear anything I want, any day I want. Even though God is the provider of all materials, time, and energy to do so. And God has unlimited power to sway my decision, if and whenever He chooses. For if there is one maverick molecule, it would mean that God is not sovereign. -Sproul -This, my godly friend, has nothing to do with choice. It is exemplary of the vastness of God's presence and power. God made rocks but he did not give rocks the power to choose. God orders every molecule and atom in every rock to be a rock. (Scientists call this "molecular cohesion"). Otherwise, any 'maverick' molecules of any material would go their own way, choosing their own path, as God, in His ultimate wisdom, has given mankind the ability to do. God also empowers us to walk in the Sprit, for we are insufficient to do this on our own. Those that choose to follow His commands are given more power to do so. God's blessings to you this day, keliy |
||||||
140 | pleasestate your undestandingof verse | Prov 16:33 | keliy | 211576 | ||
Thanks for the information Doc, I am in agreement with you on God's attributes. "The Knowledge of the Holy" by A.W. Tozer is an excellent book. I feel that the AMP version is a faulty choice and disagree with its use for doing proper exegesis. I believe in the sovereignty of God. I agree with Tozer in above named book, Chapter 1, page 1, when he says, "What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us." However, when you stated in your post, "This verse is a proper and comforting reminder that not even the slightest thing is not being perfectly and precisely controlled by the almighty, all knowing and wise, and perfectly loving Lord God." I feel I must disagree. What this is saying, is that the slightest thing, such as what color socks I choose to wear is governed by God. Even if I flipped a coin to decide, it is a choice made by God and not random chance. This means that if I chose black socks, there is no way that I actually ever had the capability to choose brown socks. This is known as determinism. This said, I will say that I am not a 5 point Calvinist, and do not accept Unconditional election, because it is man's teaching, not found anywhere in the Bible. I do believe in God's sovereign will I do believe there is nothing that happens that is outside of God’s sovereign will. But even when God allows things to happen, such as the devil waylaying Job, He must decide to allow it because He always has the power and right to change any outcome. He knows of course when to intervene and when it is best not to. I DO believe in God's perfect will. This is the aspect of God’s will that describes what He requires of us and what is pleasing to Him. I also believe there is another side, God's permissive will. This is God’s declared will or revealed will that tells us what we should do. This is important because we are able to know that it is God’s will that we do not lie, that we love our neighbor, and we need to repent of our sins. Sometimes we do not do exactly as we should. . This is backed up by Romans 12:1-2 That being said, and as I am sure this has been debated many times before on this forum and throughout the ages, May I ask you now, to return to the original question at hand? The Primary question, the one I asked you what is your take (?) in the above post? It is always a blessing conversing with all of you. keliy |
||||||
Result pages: << First < Prev [ 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 ] Next > Last [10] >> |