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NASB | Philemon 1:6 and I pray that the fellowship of your faith may become effective through the knowledge of every good thing which is in you for Christ's sake. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Philemon 1:6 I pray that the sharing of your faith may become effective and powerful because of your accurate knowledge of every good thing which is ours in Christ. |
Subject: searching for the truth |
Bible Note: Hello FytRobert and CDBJ, Yes, I did express how I feel… Let me respond using The Word of God to back me up. First – I do believe that God calls us to Himself take for instance the parable of the lost sheep in Luke 15:1-7 - 1 Now the tax collectors and "sinners" were all gathering around to hear him. 2 But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, "This man welcomes sinners and eats with them." 3 Then Jesus told them this parable: 4 "Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Does he not leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? 5 And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders 6 and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, 'Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.' 7 I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.(NIV) – Jesus is showing that God and Heaven rejoices over the finding of one lost person, so we need to be ready to give a good witness when we encounter the lost. As far as God calling us to Himself - 1 Thessalonians 2:11-12 - For you know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children, 12 encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom and glory. (NIV) and again in Ephesians 4:1 - As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. (Also see Hebrews 3:1) So if God calls us and we don’t call people to Him then we need to be able to discern the signs of being called – maybe some trouble in an unbeliever’s life, or an unexplained curiosity in the faith you profess. We should be in prayer to be able to discern these things as well as asking the Lord for words to respond. Initial rejection of what you say doesn’t mean failure. Hebrews 4:12 - For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.(NIV) So even in the face of rejection – we need to be consistent, knowing the work of God is being done. Our faith is foreign to unbelievers. We know the Lord and they don’t. Once we do speak The Truth to them, our actions will either back up our words making us credible or they will destroy our witness – making us an ineffective tool for the promotion of the Gospel. Throughout the New Testament we are told that love is the key to our relationship with God: Colossians 2:1-3 - I want you to know how much I am struggling for you and for those at Laodicea, and for all who have not met me personally. 2 My purpose is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, 3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. (NIV). We see here that love is the key to knowing Christ. The outward expression of this love in our daily lives – just being yourself and not bowing to the pressures of an unbelieving world will be a strong witness to unbelievers – even before you speak the first Word to them. I was tired last night – I should have waited to post until I could back up what I said with Scripture. Love, Barabbas |