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Results from: Notes Author: Bows44 Ordered by Verse |
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Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
21 | help | Luke 11:2 | Bows44 | 149253 | ||
Actually,this is not a Bible study. It is a relationship building tool to grow in intimacy with our Lord and Savior. And it isn't a "in context" kind of thing. It is listening to God speak to you sometimes on just one word or phrase. Its about having a conversation with God. The pattern is read it, write it, speak it, sing it, pray it, then listen and write what you hear. Then you submit it to your leadership and/or mentors to make sure you are hearing God. For eaxample: Song of Solomon 1:1 Msg says, The Song--best of all songs--Solomon's song! I asked God, "Why is it the best song, song of songs?" He said (in part, I actually got a page and a half on just this one short verse), "It is the best song because it is a song of intimacy. I am calling my bride, individually and corporately to a greater, deeper intimacy with me." Think of it this way...Suppose you wrote your spouse a letter while out of town on a trip. What would you prefer they do after reading it... study it or discuss it with you? The Bible is a love letter from God. He much prefers that we come to him and discuss it with him on a one-to-one basis to an esoteric study of it using dictionaries and commentaries. Now if a person wants that kind of close intimate and personal relationship with God, then this is a way to develop that. Before critizing it, try it. You just might like it. :-) Then out of that close relationship, when you pray you will pray the Father's heart in unity with the Holy spirit and it becomes more exciting and rewarding. |
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22 | help | Luke 11:2 | Bows44 | 149302 | ||
First, this post was written to a person who described their prayer life as dry. It was meant as a way to encourage that person to build their relationship with our Lord and thereby relieve the dryness. Need experiences that are exciting? It isn't about need, but desire. I much prefer an exciting relationship to a dull one. And, yes, my relationship with Jesus is exciting. He is wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Prince of Peace, the lover of my soul, my Savior and Lord, and so much more. How can talking with him not be exciting?! And I obey his every command. There are many ways that God speaks: through the Bible, through experiences, through prayer, through others, through nature, through animals, through songs, etc. God can and does use any means he chooses to communicate with his creation. As for being deceived, in John 10 Jesus says his sheep hear his voice and follow him. Are you saying that God is limited to speaking to his sheep through the Bible only? Also, I am under authority. I submit what I hear to my leadership who will correct me if I have heard incorrectly. All things must line up with scripture and the Character of God as God will not contradict himself. But one way I know the difference is by the fruit. If it produces Godly fruit, it was from God. The devil isn't going to say anything to you that causes you to grow in the fruit of the spirit. The devil comes to condemn, accuse, steal, kill and destroy. Think of your relationship with your wife and kids. We are God's children and the bride of Christ. Would you want a one sided conversation with them? Have you written down everything you have to say to them and had it compiled into a book and told them that is all you have to say? Isn't talking with your wife and kids exciting or enjoyable? Even in the Bible in John 21:25 it says: And there are also many other things which Jesus did, which if they were written in detail, I suppose that even the world itself would not contain the books that would be written. So obviously there is much not in the Bible that God could talk about. Once God woke me up and told me to go outside because he had a surprise for me. I did and there was the most beautiful sunrise. Now that certainly isn't in the Bible. The Bible doesn't have a scripture that says, get up and go outside I have a surprise for you....but was that God? It certainly wasn't my imagination, because I don't like to get up early. :-) It wasn't an evil spirit, because the devil wouldn't tell me to do something that will make me want to worship God. Therefore, it was God. The Bible says to meditate on the word night and day. So one has to start somewhere. I for one am not going to limit God to how he can speak to me. I love my Jesus and he loves me and we enjoy hanging out together and talking. I would that every Christian develop a passionate relationship with Jesus. |
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23 | help | Luke 11:2 | Bows44 | 149343 | ||
Hi Ray...sorry to hear about the cancer. I'll be praying for you. As for your question, I am not quite sure what you are asking. The Song of Solomon is a love song (story) both natural and spiritual. It talks of love between a man and woman, but also between Jesus and his bride (corporately and individually.) We have not yet made it that far in our Sunday School Class. We are only on Chapter 2. But, I took a look at it and Wow! I can't wait until I get there. When I do, I'll see about sharing something of what God gives me if that is what you are asking for. | ||||||
24 | help | Luke 11:2 | Bows44 | 149348 | ||
Hi Doc..just a few responses from your post. Frankly, if a person does not love the Lord, then they do not know Him (1 Cor 16:22). Hence my concern for the person you were attempting to encourage. - It was my understanding this person was saved already and looking for a more meaningful prayer life. What I did was stear him to Jesus, encouraging him to listen as well as talk. Many times what God says is other scriptures. You wrote: God does not speak through nature. God does not speak through animals. Depends on what one means by speaking through nature. Some examples from my life: 1. Once I was facing a temptation. One morning during this tempatation period I was spending time with God while walking around my backyard, drinking my morning cup of coffee. I walked into a spider web and quickly shook it off. I immediately heard God say, "As easy as you shook off this spider web, so you shall shake off this temptation." This encouraged me and I was indeed able to resist (shake) it off. 2. I had a dog named Guard Dog. Last year she passed away at the age of 16. When she was 15, she developed a large cancerous tumor on her spleen. I asked God to spare her because she absolutely loved my other dog Pumpkin who we were planning on breeding. I wanted Guard Dog who was such a mothering type to be able to see the puppies. God graciously guided the vet's hands and Guard Dog survived. A year later the puppies were born. On July 5, 2004 she died in the place that the day before she had laid in and watched the puppies play. That day we went to my inlaws 2 hours drive away. The Lord spoke to me and told me that she was going to die that day. I couldn't change our plans, so God said to just be sure to get home in time to bury her. So we did. On the way home, as we came into our town (which is very small) we saw three rainbows. God was speaking comfort to us through those rainbows. Reminding us of his promises and goodness. 3.) Every time I see my puppies, I hear God say, "I care. I love you. You are my beloved child in whom I am well pleased." Those puppies are a blessing from God. 4.) God uses my dogs to remind me to show my son the same grace and mercy and consistancy and unconditional love that I show them. I could give many more examples of how God uses animals and nature to speak to me. But time and space to not permit. If it is scriptural proof you want, see Romans 1:20. We can know God by looking at creation a.k.a. nature. It "speaks" of who God is so man is without excuse. You said: Regarding John 10 and the sheep hearing the voice of the Shepherd: This discourse is about salvation. It has nothing to say about "listening for God," nor is it establishing a normative practice for believers. Well, God talked to Abraham, Moses, Joshua, and (if we believe the scriptures are inspired by the Holy Spirit) he also talked to everyone who wrote parts of the Bible. Everyone of these he talked to heard him. That's called listening. Why wouldn't he talk to us today? And if he is, then we are expected to listen and hear. God doesn't change. The same way he talked to them, he'll talk to us. The apostles had scriptures too, called the Torah, the Prophets, Psalms and Proverbs. I'm sure that the Pharisees didn't approve of their writings as scripture, yet we do so today. I guess we should just burn every book written by Christians since the Bible was compiled since according to what you are saying that would be adding to scripture and God doesn't speak through anything but validated scripture. But wait...let's read that scripture again.. REv 22:18 I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues which are written in this book; This was written BEFORE the Bible was compiled. Actually this is talking about only the Book of Revelation. So I guess we can keep the books after all, because God does give us more understanding (revelation) of scripture and who he is and who we are and what he wants us to do. You asked: Isn't the doctrine of the sufficiency of Scripture taught in your church? No. We are taught in the sufficiency of Jesus. We don't worship a book. We worship God as Jesus Christ, the only begotton son of God, the Heavenly Father and the Holy Spirit. Regarding scripture, we are taught that it is the inerrant Word of God and that we are to study it and meditate on it and use it to teach, reprove and train others with. It is one of our weapons of warfare. All revelation must be in agreement with scripture. I'll address your last paragraph in another post, since this one is getting a bit long. |
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25 | help | Luke 11:2 | Bows44 | 149354 | ||
Hi again Doc...now for that last paragraph. If you have a deep, abiding, satisfying, exciting, and fulfilling relationship with the Lord then I am happy for you, but my original response was not written to you, but to someone who obviously was struggling in their's. My intentions were good. I am new to the forum and had no idea my suggestion to him would evoke such a discussion. As for Christianity not being about joy, peace, excitement, experiences, etc I beg to differ. Gal. 5:22-23 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. A big part of Christianity is about developing these fruits in our lives that we might Glorify Jesus and be a light to the world. This is exciting and I can't help but experience those things that help me grow in the Lord. Everything in life is an experience. :-) As for the truth...if you took a survey, I think that most Christians do serve God for what they get...eternal life,blessings. I really don't think this bothers God either, because he made the offer in Deut. 30:19-20 and encouraged us to choose life and blessing. So if we serve him because of the benefits thats o.k. Eventually it will flow out of our love for him (hopefully), but most people are won to Jesus with the carrot of eternal life and a trip to heaven when they die. Growing in Christ, I finish with Phil 3:12 12 Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Bows44 |
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26 | help | Luke 11:2 | Bows44 | 149384 | ||
A testimony to validate my original suggestion ....my son was feeling as Figoyuen was and I showed him how to meditate on scripture. I instructed him to meditate on the Proverbs because the boy needs wisdom. After a few weeks of these exercises, he now has a greater desire to read scripture (not run from it), his worship is more proactive and meaningful vs distraction and boredom, and his behavior is improving. Now I don't know about anyone else, but in my opinion that is a good thing and shows the value of proper meditation on the word of God. You see...contrary to what Doc wants to believe my words mean, we are also pointing people to scripture and believe that God's answers to every problem and need are found in it. My Pastor daily sends several emails containing nothing but pure scripture. I am not talking about mystical experiences, but spending time with God in His word, learning how it applies to me personally, because He is a personal God. I so much appreciate WOS and his posts. I totally agree with what he has written. Also, what Emmaus wrote was beautiful. Thank you for sharing. I must once again remind the forum of what the Bible says about sqabbling over words. 2 Tim 2:14 Remind them of these things, and solemnly charge them in the presence of God not to wrangle about words, which is useless and leads to the ruin of the hearers. God Bless each of you. Bows44 |
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27 | help | Luke 11:2 | Bows44 | 149385 | ||
I don't know if it was presumption. If it was, I repent. But developing a personal, intimate relatioship with Jesus will help in public prayer as well because then one is praying out of relatioship the heart of God which (since some have a problem with the word exciting) I will just say less dull and more effective. And isn't that the goal of prayer of any kind? To bring results? or is it to be just a useless excercise? Terrib, I got a good laugh from your post and enjoyed your candor. :-D I don't think you need change your name. :-) Bows44 |
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28 | help | Luke 11:2 | Bows44 | 149401 | ||
Well said, but I am curious about something. I have been perusing the posts on this website and noticed that from as early as 2001 most questions seem to have evoked some sort of discussion. Some much nastier than this thread; which I thought was attempting to bring scriptural insight into our daily Christian lives, especially in the area of prayer...which is the point of studying scripture, is it not? So who's going to be the tattletale? |
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29 | When were disciples born again? | John 3:11 | Bows44 | 156798 | ||
Hi Kalos, I'm sorry, but this statement seems to be a bit contradictory. Please clarify. Being baptized by [in, with] the Holy Spirit most certainly does not precede salvation. It is not necessary for salvation. It is impossible for a person to baptized into the body of Christ before salvation. Nor is it a separate event that comes afterwards. Thanks, Bows44 |
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30 | When were disciples born again? | John 3:11 | Bows44 | 156938 | ||
Hi BradK, Doesn't Heb 6:1-2 talk about washings (plural)? What are these washings, if not baptisms? Is water baptism the only baptism? Isn't there also a baptism with fire and the Holy Spirit that is different? How does this statement.... Lastly, if the believer is to follow your prescription from Acts, then it is the blueprint for the Church to follow! I do not believe that Acts primary focus, i.e. purpose ,is to provide doctrine for the Church. It is a narrative that provides a bridge between the Gospels and the Epistles! We have Romans as the NT theology for the Church. ....agree with the following scripture? 2 Timothy 3:16-17 All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work. Bows44 |
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31 | When were disciples born again? | John 3:11 | Bows44 | 156939 | ||
HI CSM, Again I am confused by what appears to be a contradiction in your post. You wrote: Water baptism, is the baptism of repentance from sin, Mark 1:4, and the Holy Spirit takes that person out of sin and puts them into the body of Christ. I Cor 12:13 For by one Spirit we are all baptized into one body... Then as an outward show of an inward change, a person is then baptized with water confessing Jesus is now their Lord (i.e.supreme authority). So, do you believe water baptism is necessary for salavation or not? Also, were Enoch, Abraham, Moses, Isaac, Joseph, David, the prophets, etc. saved (born again) or not? If yes, when and how were they all born again? Just trying to understand your theology. Bows44 |
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32 | When were disciples born again? | John 3:11 | Bows44 | 156949 | ||
Hi BradK, In regards to your comment: Yes, you will find the references to a Baptism of the Holy Spirit in the Gospels and Acts! You would need to explain how Paul, who wrote the majority of NT Epistles (13) and deals extensively with DOCTRINE ( hence Romans, the theology of the NT), fail to mention or even suggest the need to be baptized again by "the Baptism of the Holy Spirit"? He teaches 1 Cor. 12:13 and Eph. 4:5 most certainly. But there is absolutely no mention in his writings of any second "Baptism of the Holy Spirit So you are saying that only the Pauline Epistles teach Doctrine? Also, I don't think it is my place to try to explain Paul's actions or lack of whatever the case may be. I don't know him personally and can't even begin to think I could read his mind or judge his motives. As to whether or not he teaches about this subject, I would have to research that to verify if it is true or not. Speaking the truth in love, Bows44 |
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33 | explain Deut 6:4 | John 3:13 | Bows44 | 154247 | ||
Exactly...one not three. God is Spirit and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth. People can be one in spirit and separate physically. But God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit are not separate physical beings. 39'See now that I, I am He, And there is no god besides Me; It is I who put to death and give Life I have wounded and it is I who heal, And there is no one who can deliver from My hand. Jehovah, is the Great I am, not the great we three. Regarding your comment about God making man in his image as male and female is true. First he made Adam complete with both the female and male attributes, then he put Adam to sleep and took out of him a rib and fashioned Eve which he gave the female attributes. Man and woman being married is symbolic of God and the church not God 1 (Father) with God 2 (Son) with God 3 (Holy Spirit.) If we can believe that God is omnipresent (everywhere present at once,)then it shouldn't be hard to believe that he was in Heaven as Father at the same time He was in Jesus as son on earth. John 1:105 1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2He was in the beginning with God. 3All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being. 4In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men. 5The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it. (Copied directly from online Bible. Tense changes not my fault.) Isaiah 9:6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, [ Or Wonderful, Counselor ] Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Note this verse says that Jesus is the everlasting Father. Previously I mentioned a verse where Jesus says he is the Holy Spirit. And, yes, Jesus really did mean what he said to the disciples that if they have seen him, they have seen the father because they are one having the same Spirit. I do understand this oneness with my husband better than a lot of other people because my husband and I have the same spirit. We think the same, frequently finishing each other's thought and saying the same thing at the same time. We feel each other's emotions, and know what each other is doing and going through. We are truly one. Sadly, many married couples do not walk in this oneness and end up in divorce. Hope this helps. Bows44 |
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34 | explain Deut 6:4 | John 3:13 | Bows44 | 154276 | ||
Hi Steve, I had never heard of this creed before, so I checked it out and found it to be confusing and contradictory and in support of a belief that one must believe in that creed to be saved. I personally believe that one has to be born again through believing in Jesus and His finished work on the cross. I did not find this creed to be thoroughly Biblical as you stated. In fact I found it to be the opposite. However, I do believe in the Apostles Creed found: http://www.ccel.org/creeds/apostles.creed.html Bows44 |
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35 | explain Deut 6:4 | John 3:13 | Bows44 | 154304 | ||
Hi Steve, I was really tired last night which may explain some of the confusion. I discussed the Athanasian Creed with my husband and understand what they are trying to say better now. However, it seems to me that they are saying that God is three different persons while at the same time saying that he is not. It may just be me or it may be semantics, but I think it would be simpler to explain in terms of man who was made in the image of God. Man is body, soul and spirit. Man is a tripart being. God is Father, Son and Holy Spirit. God is a tripart God. Then teach people to relate to God in each of His aspects. After all, God is all about relationship. He created man to have relationship with Him first and others second. That's why in Matthew 22:37-39 he says... 37And He said to him, " '(A)YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND.' 38"This is the great and foremost commandment. 39"The second is like it, '(B)YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.' (Caps not mine. I copied directly from NASB on Biblegateway.com) Hope this helps. Bows44 |
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36 | Did God mention his/her gender in bible? | John 8:54 | Bows44 | 149231 | ||
correct...God is not female. But neither is he male. God is a Spirit and has no sex organs, therefore no sex. It is the sex organs that make us distinctly male or female. Our spirits are who we really are and we shall be as the angels when our bodies are changed in the twinkling of an eye at Jesus' return. In Heaven there is no marrying and giving in marriage, no procreation. (Mark 12:25) Study the Proverbs about Wisdom which is one of the seven spirits of God (Rev. 3:1) and Wisdom is referred to as she and Lady Wisdom. I agree as to Paul exhibiting both male and female attributes. AS I said before, men have predominately male attributes and women have predominately female attributes, but both can and do have both. Mature Christians such as Paul will display both as the situation calls for the same way God does. It is not a male/female thing. It is a Spirit of God thing. :-) |
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37 | life after backsliding | John 16:33 | Bows44 | 153463 | ||
Hi Seedling... Matthew 10:8 is the one you are looking for, I think. "Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons. Freely you received, freely give. Bows44 :-) |
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38 | Is war biblical? | John 18:36 | Bows44 | 153164 | ||
Hi Churon...if you don't want to believe in the validity of war, that is your perogative. However, if you are truly interested in the Truth of God's Word then I humbly submit the following: 2 Timothy 3:16....All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; Heb. 13:8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. Proverbs 24:6 For by wise guidance you will wage war, And in abundance of counselors there is victory. I personally do not like war and hope my son never has to serve in one, but I believe scripture teaches that sometimes war is necessary. Our God is a God of Justice as well as Mercy. Ps. 89:14 Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne; Loving kindness and truth go before You. God has historically used one nation to execute justice on another. Since he doesn't change, then it is reasonable to believe that he still uses this method today. It may not be explicitly laid out in the New Testament, but we are not to build a doctrine on part of scripture only. We must use the whole of scripture as indicated in 2 Timothy 3:16. Besides, I couldn't find any scripture explicitly forbidding war either. I did find this scripture: Matthew 10:34 "Do not think that I came to bring peace on the earth; I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. No one likes war, but I think most people would prefer some wars to the alternative of our freedoms being taken away. The Bible doesn't explicitly say anything regarding a lot of things (in the old or new testaments) [for example, computer use,] but we can figure out God's will by what he has given us, if we study his word. To say that you don't believe in something because you can't find a scripture in the New Testament that explicitly allows it would necessitate you ruling many things out of life: baseball, golf, watching TV, driving a car, using electricity to name a few. To determine if something is Biblical, we must extrapolate from scripture God's character and moral demands based on what he has written for our instruction. See Romans 15:4 and 1 Corinthians 10:11. Hope this helps clarify this issue for you. Bows44 |
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39 | Conformed to scripture or Christ? | Rom 8:29 | Bows44 | 149764 | ||
Bro. Tim, Thank you for that helpful and concise answer. Bows44 |
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40 | Conformed to scripture or Christ? | Rom 8:29 | Bows44 | 153796 | ||
Good answer. I totally agree. One question about id numbers for previous posts...how does one find and use them? I haven't been on the forum long and haven't been able to figure this one out. :-/ Thanks for your help. Bows44 |
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