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Study Isaiah 58, you will find the way God wants you to fast very different from the way man says you are to fast.
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Christ told the thief on the cross there would be no delay in entering paradise. To me, this is immediate salvation.
If the acceptance of Christ is sincere and spiritually made, salvation is immediate. It is growth and understanding of what salvation means in your life that takes time. Reference the scriptures of Cornelius and his household in Acts 10:44-48. Is this not salvation immediately after hearing Peter?
Did Paul not receive his salvation on the road to Damascus? I believe he did but required a long period of learning before setting out on his Christ-given mission.
No intention of starting an argument, just asking if salvation is instantaneous or a long journey after accepting Christ as Lord and savior.
Brother in christ,
Bill
Great post.
You're all invited over for horseshoes.
The prop, a homemade wooden cross with a hole in its center where the two pieces of wood crossed. The minister was speaking of how the cross cleaned a soul of sin, he called sin "a dark red stain" on the soul. Next, he brought a glass from beneath the pulpit, as I am remembering, filled with some liquid that was red. He said this represented my soul, stained with all my sins. He set the glass on the pulpit, picked up the cross, and placed a basting bulb behind and through the hole in the cross. He then used one hand to pick up the glass and bring it in front of the cross, in front of the hole and bulb stem. As he again told of how the cross could cleanse my soul of the sin inside it, he squeezed the bulb, and some liquid squirted into the glass. The glass immediately became clear.
Impressive to a 12-year-old and his friend. We went forward at the invitation, mainly bewitched by the chemical demonstration. We were baptized.
Unfortunately, we were not taken under the wings of the church and never received guidance as how to actually become a Christian. We floundered with only the Sunday School class to guide us.
In actuality, I floundered for 50 years! Many denominations and even more churches with little instruction on living and believing the Christian life.
Finally, I found a church that encouraged me in living a Christian life. I was encouraged to study scripture and not to just accept what others say it means. My Christian life is now growing.
We are victims of well-meaning pastors. They count the baptisms and neglect the teaching required.
KEEP PRAYING AND BELIEVE CHRIST WILL HELP - HE WILL!!
Praying this will help you in your quest to ease your soul and guide you
Never saw any aliens or space ships!!!! I saw neighbors drive home after the bars closed :/
The only definitive scriptures either use "Paradise", or a similar term, as did Christ on the cross, or, "Sleep" as did Paul. It is unclear, and perhaps, no, not perhaps, but by God's divine design.
I too sensed this discussion was reaching its profitable limit as I composed my last reply. We can not go past the scriptural knowledge God and Christ have provided us, allowing for the corruption of scripture by man.
However, our discussions have been both spiritually and personally enlightening and I am a better Christian because of them. I give you sincere and heartfelt thanks for your time and insights.
One request my Christian brother, are you active in other threads on this site? If so, would you kindly give me directions to them? I value your insights and interpretation of scripture and learn from your postings.
Thank you again for sharing with me.
May your paths always fall under the protective wings of our God.
May we know one another in heaven.
Your brother in Christ,
Bill
Confess every sin that the Holy Spirit calls to your remembrance and accept God's forgiveness ( 1 John 1:9).
Seek forgiveness from all whom you have offended, and forgive all who have hurt you ( Mark 11:25; Luke 11:4; 17:3,4).
Make restitution as the Holy Spirit leads you.
Ask God to fill you with His Holy Spirit according to His command in Ephesians 5:18 and His promise in 1 John 5:14,15.
Surrender your life fully to Jesus Christ as your Lord and Master; refuse to obey your worldly nature ( Romans 12:1,2).
Meditate on the attributes of God, His love, sovereignty, power, wisdom, faithfulness, grace, compassion, and others ( Psalm 48:9,10; 103:1-8, 11-13).
Begin your time of fasting and prayer with an expectant heart ( Hebrews 11:6).
Do not underestimate spiritual opposition. Satan sometimes intensifies the natural battle between body and spirit ( Galatians 5:16,17).
If you're married with kids, you'll still need to care for them. Attend to your duties, then excuse yourself back to your "closet".
I fast from food and ALL MEDIA. The idea is fast from food, AND feast on the Word of God. Ask the Holy Spirit to shield you from interruptions, like phone calls, people who drop in unannounced or uninvited.
Have on hand, bouillon, fruit juice, lots of water. Jesus hungered after his fast. (he drank water.)
If you are diabetic or on serious meds, check your blood sugar if you feel bad. Dehydration will stop a fast.
Read the Gospels. Spend time in praise and worship. You can do this at work with headphones on. Whatever you do; no long faces. Bathe and dress normal.
Write Eph. 6 on a piece of paper and keep it before you. Don't tell anyone you're on fast. Just your husband. Satan will try to make you mad, feel unspiritual. Jesus used SCRIPTURE to counter attack satans attacks.
It's good to read aloud. We have gates: ears, eyes, mouth, a heart of joy. The Word goes in through all gates.
In His mercy, God does not give us punishment we deserve, namely hell; while in His grace, God gives us the gift we do not deserve, namely heaven. God is love.
Read John chapter 3 and, 1 John ch 1-9
Light and darkness are not two halves that co-exist and are mutually beneficial. Darkness is fully dependent on the absence of light, as in the beginning, and there is no life in darkness. Light can never be defined as the absence of darkness; light will continue to be light regardless of the amount of darkness. There is no fellowship with light with darkness. Our lack of knowledge, understanding, being blind or deaf to the Holy Spirit can lead to unrighteousness and sin which lies in darkness.
Proverbs 4:18-19 But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day. 19 The way of the wicked is as darkness: they know not at what they stumble.
Psalms 119:105 Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.
Truth can only be seen in the light, and this light is life, eternal life, may it shine brightly on our path, the only path and road to travel, and His word is our lamp and at the end of this path, we will see this light face to face. Can we even imagine what that will be like?
God bless and have a wonderful day.
RLW
I sense that our exchange will end shortly, as I do find agreement in what you have written about the apostle expressing a deep longing to "exit the trials of this life and enter the rest...". And likewise, with the Philippians verses, we are reminded again of his yearning to "be with Christ". As much as those of us who lean strongly to the departure of the spirit at death & immediately into the Lord's Presence, I'm still left wondering if that were not the case, then where do our spirits go? In the Old Testament, we get a view of a holding place (which is taken as a parable by many) & even Ecclesiastes 12:7, but what about post-Cross? Since I know your understanding of this, I don't wish to re-hash what has been discussed previously, but I feel that if I too held the position you hold, I would earnestly seek to learn what are the possible options before us of where the spirit of the dead go, if at all. There can't be too many options - is there no indication or hint in the NT of this interim state? If none, would it be strange that none of the apostles spoke of this? If I were a part of that early community, this would be a pressing enquiry, just as the apostle's words of assurance of the resurrection & the coming of the Lord to those despairing believers.
Ok, I understand that you were focussing on 2 Timothy 2:11 & not the whole. My mistake. I certainly can agree on that one, that the rapture is not referred to here.
Again, thank you for taking so much time to share your understanding & thoughts - I'm sure many of us have been benefited from them & no doubt will be able to take in those Scriptures with a fresh look & appreciation. Every blessing brother Bill.