All Discussion PAGE 1029

Hi Jason , I believe there are many different ways to fast . It doesn't just have to be about not eating for a day or so , though you could do that if you wish . You could maybe just give up something that you really like for a week or however long you choose . Maybe give up meat for a week ? Or alcohol or watching t.v. or the internet ? It depends on what you like . If you save any money by giving something up you could maybe give what you've saved to a charity ? Don't use your car for a week ? There are loads of ways to deny yourself and honour God with your substance . Many people don't have many luxuries in order to give them up so it might just be a very small thing like chocolate . Each to their own but I don't believe that any of us should actually endanger their life , certain health conditions mean people have to eat and drink regularly , how about coffee ? If you drink a lot of that and really love it to go without would definately be a sacrifice . I'm sure you can think of something . As to your question , I don't believe it's an essential part of being a Christian but it's not a bad thing to do . We have a lot of liberty in Christ , that's a nice thing as long as we don't abuse it . Much love to you in Christ .

Hi Nancy , personally , pray to God , my Heavenly Father . I thank Him and if I ask Him for anything it's always through the mediatorship of my sinless high priest in heaven , Jesus Christ . So , sometimes during my prayer I might say ' through the name of Jesus Christ I thank you Dear Heavenly Father for.....' or ' I ask you through the name of Jesus Christ .....' and at the very end I usually say something like ' Thy will be done , through Jesus Christ my sinless redeemer , or my sinless high priest or Your only begotten sinless Son ' That's just me , I'm sure you will get some different answers . You need to convince your own conscience about what you believe to be correct and the best way is...to read the Bible , all of it . May God guide you into all His Truth .

Rejoice evermore, HALLELUJAH JESUS , Pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks for this is the will of GOD in CHRIST JESUS concerning thee,

Quench not the Spirit

Ephesians 5:20

Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;

James 5:14

Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord:

Seek Ye first the kingdom of GOD FIRST! And His righteousness FIRST!

And these other things shall be added unto thee.

Glory be to GOD ALMIGHTY, even our Father,

and to our LORD JESUS CHRIST for ever and ever

peace and happy and LOVE consume you on our wonderful JESUS amen and amine

Matthew 6:5-34, Matthew 7:7-27, Matthew 10:29-33, John 14:11-28, John 15, note John 15:16, John 16:23,24,26,27,

Honestly, I've had answered prayer in very immediate dangerous situations, just crying "GOD, help me" possibly even just "GOD" it's possibly because GOD knows if we love Jesus. Romans 8:27,

Hopefully these are helpful

Dear Nancy Burns, we always pray in Jesus Holy name.

God see us thru the glory of Jesus. Only Jesus is Worthy we are His followers. Stay strong in the word of God. Good bless u in Jesus name, love u in Christ

Luke 5:1-11

Thanks, Appreciate you

Who will be the Two Witnesses in the End Times.

For I have scriptural answer to it and I need your comments.

The mark of the beast has been given all of these 2000 years. The abomination of desolation has been happening all of these 2000 years. The lie of 2Th 2 has been practiced all of these 2000 years. It's all about true and false Christianity folks. The Scriptures are filled with warnings but no one is listening. Augustin of Hippo and true Quaker George Fox were saved exactly 1260 years apart and they physically died exactly 1260 years apart. They and this time period are in about a dozen OT and NT prophecies, 8 indisputable dates prove it. Ask me via emails for very short explanations or read Quakers George Fox (watch for typos), Isaac Penington, Robert Barclay (1678 edition of his Apology...), anne robare / canabaptism yahoo com PS: They knew who the beasts are. I also understand what Dan 9:26-27 is about. The "flood" is the same "river" of Dan 12; Rev 12; it is very bad news for many people who think they are Christians but are not, Isa 24.

God's word says, to owe no man ? What does that really mean ?

Hello Vicki. Ps. Dollar would have quoted from Malachi 3:8-10. He would probably also have said that this passage pertained to Israel who neglected to perform all that was required of them. In one passage ( Deuteronomy 12:6,11), the LORD instructed Israel that when they got to the Promised Land, that all their sacrifices, offerings, tithes, & vows were to come over as well & nothing to be left behind or undone. But in Malachi, the tithes that were made (the tenth of their farm produce gain) were not being brought forward & kept back by them. These tithes were needed & used by the priests & Levites serving at the Tabernacle for their support.

This command of tithing wasn't given nor applied to the Church, as the Church (at least in New Testament times), didn't have paid clergy or even a rented building & utilities supplied. Their giving was for the needs of one another & maybe their community ( Acts 2:41-47), thereby fulfilling the Command of Christ to love the LORD thy God and to love your neighbour as yourself. But as the Church grew & spread, the Apostle Paul made the believers aware that some of their Jerusalem brethren weren't doing so well in material things. So Paul sometimes collected stuff to take to them ( 1 Corinthians 16:1-3). So apart from these instances of providing relief to those in need, we don't read that tithing was practised. Rather, that Christians should not give grudgingly but willingly & cheerfully ( 2 Corinthians 9:6-8).

So, as much as tithing is not prescribed for the Church today, I believe that it should be a proper & sacrificial response to help in the support of a Church ministry, that now has far more expenses than the early Church. And not limited to a tenth on one's earnings, but also to share more if possible for other programs & missionary endeavours of the Church. But we're not limited to giving ten percent nor are we compelled to do so.

Part 3.

Mathew 22:37.

I'm indebted to a dear Brother on this site for sharing this in the Greek perspective.

"Thou shalt love" is not in command form. That is a Future Active Indicative in the Greek text. It is not a command. It is a factual statement. You will love!

The command in the Old Testament is YOU WILL love the Lord your God, and YOU WILL love your neighbor as yourself. It is a factual statement!

If you notice the word "with." Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. Well, it is the Greek word EN, which means in.

All three prepositional phrases are "in." You will love the Lord your God (in) your whole heart, and (in) your whole soul and (in) your whole mind.

Please notice the location?

I am not going to love with it. I am going to be in it. It is going to be in me, in my inner being. That is how it is literally translated in the Greek.

You see, God gives us the ability to love Him because in the natural, we do not have that capability. So Jesus says this is the first commandment.

Is it a commandment? No,

The commandment is YOU WILL. There is no choice there! It is not an invitation like I hope you will, or could you, or should you.

You will, because God's Spirit is the one who has the love. He is the one who loves. And when you have God's Spirit in you, you are in God's love.

And we have to be sensitive to the fact that AGAPE love is not an action, something we have to go out and do. Agape love is a person. That person is Christ. And if we have Christ, we will love Him with all our heart, mind, and soul. And we will love our neighbor (fellow believer) as ourselves. It's not a command for us to go out and do. It is something we will do because His Spirit in us gives us the ability to do so!

Thank You Brother, for that Material.

You see an example of this with Peter in John 21:15-17.

Will share more on this over the weekend.

God bless.

Here by we know.

Part 2.

And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.We love him, because he first loved us.If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?And this commandment have we from him, Thathe who loveth God love his brother also. 1 John 4:16-21.

Notice the last part of verse 21, "And this commandment have we from him, "That he who loveth God love his brother also" HE WHO LOVETH GOD LOVE HIS BROTHER ALSO! This is not asking you to do anything, it is telling you what is being done by God spirit being in you!

(And hereby we do know that we know him,) if we keep his commandments.

He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.

But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.

He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.

Brethren, I write no new commandment unto you, but an old commandment which ye had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which ye have heard from the beginning.

Again, a new commandment I write unto you, which thing is true in him and in you: because the darkness is past, and the true light now shineth.

Keep in mind this verse about loving "the brethren". This is Agape! This is a fruit; you don't produce this, you are the branch, you bare it.

see part 3

Part 1.

Here by we know.

A Child of God can and should examine themselves.

I gave a recent post on the old man being crucified with Christ and given life being quickened by the Spirit. In other words, being baptized into Christ death and resurrection. Romans 6:3-4. Romans 8:8-13,

Paul gives gave these verses as a rebuttal to anyone having the old nature having dominion over them.

Here are some highly ignored verses and is whereby we "know! whether God spirit is in us or not. And is what should be a great concern!

A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.

By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another. John 13:34-35.

He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now.

He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him.

But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes. 1 John 2:9-11.

And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.

Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.

There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. We love him, because he first loved us.

If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?

And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also. 1 John 4:16-21.

Now "if" we have been baptized in Christ, we have the love of God in us to love one another.

This is virtue by being in him and him in you.

see part 2.

Page 2.

Then to 1 Peter 3:21. Again, we see Peter use the phrase 'good conscience', as he did in verse 16. As a 'good conscience' is important to the believer in his confident stand against the forces of evil against him, so also is a 'good conscience' that water baptism provides in his spiritual stand before God & the world. God already knows who belongs to Him (those expressing repentance & faith) - water baptism is immaterial. Water baptism is solely for the benefit of the new convert, for 'conscience-sake'. And obedience? That is the responsibility of the one leading the sinner to Christ ( Romans 10:13-15), to obey the command to follow through with baptizing the convert - not for the baptizee to initiate or obey.

So, I trust that you can see that my understanding on water baptism is simply an event post-saving faith & not contributing to it - an act of identification & clear conscience only. If not, then not only an outward action is needed to secure salvation, there are also many false Christians out there who are yet to be baptized, or physically unable to go into the waters, on their death bed, or neglected by the Church. And we can't make excuses for these poor souls, since 'baptism is (as you believe) necessary for salvation'.

Page 1.

Hi Giannis. I do understand & respect your position on water baptism, i.e. unless one believes & is baptized, he is not saved, though I'm in disagreement with it. Just to give a little background on the 1st Peter 3 reference you shared (just my understanding from verses 13 to 22, as I feel there is value in picking up the Apostle's thoughts from these verses).

1 Peter 3:13-17. In this portion, as also in the latter portion, the Apostle uses the word 'conscience' (the same word is used, as also shown in Greek). In vv 13-17, a "good conscience" is enjoyed by the believer when he 'sanctifies' the Lord in his heart (v15): when evil assails him, when he suffers for righteousness sake, & when false accusations find no ground to stand. In other words, a believer has every reason to remain steadfast & having confidence because the Lord is with him but God is against all perpetrators of evil. Then verse 17 is the connecting verse to Jesus' sufferings, where He too suffered when no evil was found in Him.

1 Peter 3:18-22. And through Christ's Death, both Noah & his family & ourselves can find forgiveness by God & be restored. As Noah was saved by the water, so does the act of water baptism have salvific merit. Noah was already a righteous man before the Deluge - the flood upheld him so that God's purposes for him, his family & the Earth would be fulfilled. When a sinner comes to Christ for salvation, his only basis for coming & acceptance, is Faith (given as a gracious Act of God: Ephesians 2:8.9), & nothing else. No water baptism, no Church-going, not even a little Bible knowledge, can be a part of Faith to secure salvation. Or else, salvation is no longer just of Faith but of something extra, negating the meaning & essence of Faith. Once a sinner expresses believing faith in Christ's Sacrifice to save him, salvation is given - nothing more can be added to it. But water baptism should be, & was always the case in NT times, as the immediate response to that faith.

...continued

The first fruits are to be brought into the house of the LORD; and not to cook a goat in its mother's milk. (Don't know if this is part of the sacrifice or not).

Verses 20-33 Speaks of the Promises of God's Presence for those who are obedient to Him. The Angel (capitalized) will go before them. (Is this Jesus?) and lead them in the way they are to travel. God warns the Israelites to fear the Angel and obey His voice.

They were not to provoke the Angel for He will not pardon their sins, for God's name is IN Him.

If the Israelites are obedient God will uphold them and keep them from being overthrown by enemies. God names the peoples they will encounter in the land of promise. God says, do not worship their gods! But instead, completely overthrow these people (and their gods) breaking down their sacred pillars (Asherah poles). Eliminating the images by destroying them will lesson the temptation to bow to them in worship.

God promises to bless them with fruitfulness and increase of the womb; with daily bread and a steady supply of water, (which they cried out for before coming to Sinai; taking away their sicknesses and preserving their health as a whole group.

He will confuse the people who come against the Israelites and send pests to drive them away from His people.

However, God says He will take time to drive them out gradually, to avoid the wild beasts having an opportunity to take over the vacated land and multiply to become a threat the people and to allow for the Israelites to grow in number and strength do they can inherit the land promised to them. This gradual takeover will test the Israelites' obedience and dependence on God alone.

They are not to make a covenant with these people nor their gods, for they will cause the Israelites to sin against God and ensnare them.

These people had never been to the promised land yet. They only knew Egypt. Trusting God was a tall order, but God would be with them. In difficult times He is with us, too

Exodus 23

,

This chapter has several sections. Verses 1-13 speaks about fairness in the judicial process and in personal interactions. Be truthful, do not be a false witness in court against another, do not show partiality in court, whether the accused is rich or poor, or the plaintiff is rich or poor, do not follow the crowd when the crowd is advocating and practicing evil, do not pervert justice by testifying in such a way that interferes with due justice.

It goes on to say that we are to keep away from any false matter, do not side with what you know is false or spread false info, respect life and do not kill those who are innocent and righteous , defend these people when in danger. God warns those in power to judge, legislate, or govern to not take any bribes as buying influence perverts justice.

God goes on to say that we are not to oppress anyone, even strangers or foreigners.

God sets aside the seventh day and seventh year as a time of rest. 7th day rest from work, 7th year rest from sowing fields. Doing so allows man and beasts to rest up and renew energy for the coming week. Doing so allows nature to produce food for the poor and for the wild and domesticated animals.

Verse 13 is a change-Be circumspect-think about it!-do not even mention the name of other gods, do not speak it. We are to give no acknowledgment of the existence of these false gods.

Verses 14-19 discuss the three feasts God institutes for the nation of Israel-Unleavened Bread-to remember their meal before the passing over the Israelites in the plague of the death of the firstborn and of their flight in the night from Egypt; the Harvest-where they bring in the first fruits; and the Ingathering-where they harvest all of the fruit of their labors at the end of the growing year. Also, males are to appear before the LORD three times a year (assemble before the LORD for these Feasts?) not the women.

You're Welcome.

God bless you.

Exodus 22

This chapter, like chapter 21, gives God's judgment on a variety of situations and circumstances. In reading the comments by others, it seems that most people focused on verse 18 about not allowing witches to live. I think this verse shows how offensive witchcraft and sorcery is to God.

There are many other topics spoken of here that discuss how t bring a just end to things that happen in this society that God is growing into a nation of His choosing. He wants to shape them into a mindset that honors Him, believes His decrees are right and just, that worships only Him, that respects parents, rulers, judges, that execute fairness in determining an offender's sentence, and with giving unto God the first things of our life.

The judgements and scenarios spoken of here do give us a view into the social and civil life of this time and of these people. In today's world, some countries still judge in similar ways to this chapter. In most modern countries, our justice system is not in a hurry to execute people for crimes. But sometimes it is the best thing to do if a person is so seared of conscience that he/she wantonly kills, maims, and continues unrepentantly to do this.

In need of prayer for A financial breakthrough im a single mother doing it all alone no help or support team from family and friends I have money thats due to me thats on Hold it was a arrow in my case that im asking for favor in this situation Thank u

Exodus Chapter 21.

This chapter starts out "Now these are the judgments which you shall set before them.." and goes on to list many scenarios where a judgment from a judge or magistrate may need to make decisions for the parties involved. These judgments were for the Israelites in that time period as they were being grown into a nation. It seems that God was setting down a civil judicial system concerning matters that would emerge or had emerged among the people. This chapter makes me think of when Moses tried to adjudicate matters among the people on his own and Jethro suggested that Moses set up adjudicators from the tribes to settle most matters, leaving Moses to attend to meeting with the LORD and leading the people as a whole.

God knew ahead of time that there would be a need for such judgments concerning the civil affairs of these chosen people. He must have wanted to establish His way of settling matters, disputes, and offences among the people before they encountered people from the surrounding areas and began to adopt these "foreigner's" civil laws. Very likely that these foreign tribes had judgments that were unjust and inhumane. God is interjecting a better way of civil jurisprudence for the Israelites to help preserve justice and order in these people and to markedly distinguish His chosen nation from those the Israelites will encounter and share territory with.

Although to some of us in our time would read these judgments and scratch our heads as to whether they are truly just or not. But for me, I will not question God's holy justice. I will just accept that He instructed the Israelites according to His good an perfect will. So, perhaps the lesson for me is not to necessarily understand these judgments or the scenarios that prompt the judgments or the culture of these days. Rather, the lesson to me is, do I truly believe these are God's Words and are therefore true and right and will I defend God's right to judge as He pleases despite these words.

This is literally true of Christ, in whom the type of the passover lamb had its accomplishment, and this passage also; see Ex 12:46; and seems better to agree with him than with any of his members, since the bones of many of them have been broken by one accident or another; and especially many of the martyrs of Jesus have had all their bones broken upon the rack or wheel; wherefore, to understand these words of them might tend to create uneasiness and despondency in the minds of such who by any means have their bones broken; as if they were not righteous persons, this promise not being fulfilled in them: and to interpret this of the Lord's keeping the bones of his people in the grave, and in the resurrection putting them together again; this is no other than what will be done to the wicked; it seems therefore best to understand the whole of Christ; and it looks as if this passage was had in view as fulfilled in Joh 19:36; since a Scripture is referred to; but if it is interpreted of the righteous in general, it must be with a limitation; as that their bones are all kept by the Lord, and not one is broken without his knowledge and will; and that they are not broken finally, but restored again perfect and whole in the resurrection, and so will continue to all eternity: the phrase, without entering into particulars, may in general design the care of Providence over the righteous; with this compare Mt 10:29.

Noah believed in God; walked uprightly before him, and found grace in his sight; he obeyed him in building the ark, and God made it the means of his salvation from the waters. Baptism implies a consecration and dedication of the soul and body to God, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. He who is faithful to his baptismal covenant, taking God through Christ, by the eternal Spirit, for his portion, is saved here from his sins; and through the resurrection of Christ from the dead, has the well-grounded hope of eternal glory. This is all plain; but was it the deluge, itself, or the ark, or the being saved by that ark from the deluge, that was the antitype of which St. Peter speaks? Noah and his family were saved by water; it was the instrument of their being saved through the good providence of God. So the water of baptism, typifying the regenerating influence of the Holy Spirit, is the means of salvation to all those who receive this Holy Spirit in its quickening, cleansing efficacy. Now as the waters of the flood could not have saved Noah and his family, had they not made use of the ark; so the water of baptism saves no man, but as it is the means of his getting his heart purified by the Holy Spirit, and typifying to him that purification. The ark was not immersed in the water; had it been so they must all have perished; but it was borne up on the water, and sprinkled with the rain that fell from heaven. This text, as far as I can see, says nothing in behalf of immersion in baptism; but is rather, from the circumstance mentioned above, in favor of sprinkling. In either case, it is not the sprinkling, washing, or cleansing the body, that can be of any avail to the salvation of the soul, but the answer of a good conscience towards God - the internal evidence and external proof that the soul is purified in the laver of regeneration,and the person enabled to walk in newness of life. We are therefore cautioned here, not to rest in the letter, but to look for the subtance.

Please Lord hear the prayer request of April as her and her family are dealing with serious adversities. Please Holy Spirit enrich her and her daughter with your spiritual guidance during this time of testing. Please Lord Jesus strengthen April's family with Your Grace and I pray!

Please consider reflecting on Psalms 91, Psalms 121, 2 Timothy 1:7, 2 Timothy 2:1, 1 Chronicles 4:10.

Pastor Creflo Dollar, has spoken in the last few days about Tithing. Pastor stated that Tithing isn't necessary/mandatory etc. I know some where in Malachi talks about tithing. My question is, is he correct?

Please Lord I pray Your Healing Hand be on Daniel and this affliction he is suffering with. I ask this tumor shrinks and Daniel be a blessing for others for Your Glory I pray in the name of Jesus Christ!!

Please consider reflection on 1 Peter 5:7, 2 Corinthians 12:7-10, I Chronicles 4:10, Psalms 121.

Romans 9 supplies the answer. More specifically Romans 9: 9to 12. It is God's sovereign choice as he says in verse 11 though they were not yet born and had done nothing either good or bad but in order that God's purpose of election might continue, not because of works but because of him who calls. So the answer based upon these verses is that God did the election which means the individual had no choice in the matter. Remember God chose Jacob over Esau before either one had done good or bad. Which means no choice was given to either to make the decision for Christ or the decision to reject Christ. God does the choosing. Now verse 14 on down you will see that Paul actually answers the question of whether or not God is unjust. Consider that all men born are born into sin then all men are worthy of damnation. However, the fact that God chooses to show his Mercy in granting salvation to some and not to others does not make him unfair. For all men are worthy of eternal damnation. But the fact that he chooses to save some just demonstrates his Mercy not Injustice. For to give man what he deserves is justice. To save some from that Justice is Mercy. Study Romans 9 and it should become much more clear to you. Hope this helps.

I have a question, When we pray do we go through our Father in Heaven or Jesus?

Judge the fatherless - Do justice to him - vindicate his cause. Take not advantage of his weak and helpless, condition - his ignorance and want of experience. This charge was particularly necessary on account of the facilities which the guardians of orphans have to defraud or oppress, without danger of detection or punishment. Orphans have no experience. Parents are their natural protectors; and therefore God especially charged on their guardians to befriend and do justice to them; De 24:17 : 'Thou shalt not pervert the judgment of the stranger, nor the fatherless, nor take the widow's raiment to pledge. Albert Barns..

John,

Where it says Judge the fatherless in Isaiah 1:17, Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible explains it this way; "do justice to them who have none to take care of them, and defend them:"