All Discussion PAGE 748

THE STATE OF MAN AND UNCHANGEABLENESS OF GOD

Psalm 139:8 shows that God is everywhere; including in what was the abode of the dead; Sheol. Think for a minute what this implies. When we see what can only be taken as a literal story of Lazarus and the rich man we see two individuals clearly in a different state in the afterlife. In fact; the rich man is still there and will be until the Great White Throne Judgment.

The souls of the righteous; however are now present with the Lord ( Ephesians 4:8; 2 Cor. 5:6).

No longer are those who die in the Lord held captive by the Devil from the presence of God ( Hebrews 2:14-15). Only the rightous will actually see God; Psalm 11:6-7 illustrate this along with the fate of the wicked in hell in great detail. Even this life; in fact shows how one can be dead in trespasses and sins yet physically alive ( Ephesians 2:1). This will be the eternal state for the wicked in the lake of fire.

Our human minds cannot conceive how God does not change; and how He can be a God of mercy and grace yet render eternal judgment on the unregenerate; also those whose souls God created ( Ezekiel 18:4). Nonetheless; that verse illustrates how a father and son and blood relations are not relevant for determining the salvation of an individual. We see that in the book of Joshua with Gideon that God is for those who are on his side; whatever we percieve in our reality as the right or wrong sides. God brings good to those who love Him ( Romans 8:28). It is according to HIS PURPOSE that these things occur; the same holds true for the wicked as God has no joy in the death of the wicked ( Ezekiel 18:23) but grace is only available for repentance in THIS LIFE according to His terms.

please pray for me and my family remember my granddaughter Addie

PLEASE PRAY for my family. Just like your family, there are daily and continuous needs that i stand in the gap for. Making continual requests to the Lord on behalf of. And Father PLEASE save the younger generations. Regardless of what the enemy is doing. Lord YOU ARE ABLE to reach them to bear witness that THE WORD is true! Help us to teach them. By our actions, and our words.

Sure thing, T, Levi.

Being grateful is always in order when we consider what we deserve and what God has done instead!

Thank you, Chris, I have just been thinking alot about this lately. You have given a good explanation. I also would like to read how others explain it, too.

Chris, glad to have you back. Hope your vacation was very good.

Hi Neveah. Just further to GiGi's accurate & helpful comment, I would like to clarify an oft mistaken understanding of the Person of God. As you asked, "How can God be three people at the same time?", I think many people, even some Christians, seem to think that the word 'Trinity' implies three gods. Why? Because it's difficult for the human finite mind to comprehend how one can be divided into three & still equal one, without becoming fractions. But it's not one dividing into three, but three together manifesting the one.

This is where the first error comes in: that some believe that God can be divided. The Scriptures remind us that God is One ( Deuteronomy 6:4; Deuteronomy 4:35,39) & there is no other god beside Him. Then the fact that we read in the Word, of God's Spirit and God's Son, we are then inclined to believe that the Spirit & Son are separate gods from the One God. The Bible tells us in 1 John 5:7, "For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one." So, in the person of God we find the evidence of Father, the Word, & the Holy Ghost. This is God for Who He is - the absence of any one of these 'aspects' negates the reality of God or any evidence of Him (i.e. God cannot be God unless His Word & Spirit are in existence within Him).

Now God can do what mortal man cannot do: He can send out His Spirit to fulfil His Will & Plans for the universe & for us. He has also chosen to send out His Word, clothe the Word with human flesh for the salvation & redemption of sinners ( John 1:1-14). Impossible for us to do, but not impossible with God. Is God now deficient in Himself by doing all this? Not so. Both the Spirit & the Word were sent out by God from within God, & all they have done & continue to do are in perfect harmony with God's Mind, Power, & Purpose. Simply put, the Word (Jesus) & the Spirit can never do anything outside of God's Will because they are fully within or sent from God's Being.

God's love; continued.

It is imperative to maintain a balanced perspective of the Lord by scripture reading along with meditation and prayer. We should seek to obey the Lord because we love Him ( John 14:15). We need to pay attention to those associations we have; as many today have a form of godliness but deny the power thereof. ( 2 Tim. 3:5). We are to AVOID all those who would claim to be Christians but living in a LIFESTYLE of continuing sin. This would include those teaching in ministry who are hobnobbing to benefit their popularity or financial stance with those who are promoting compromised or heretical doctrine at their conferences. There is a difference between those in the world who are lost and those who are putting Christ to shame. The house of God these days has become a place where there is often more concern for how visitors feel rather than a place instilling the fear of God and sound doctrines. The Lord will vomit out those who are lukewarm in the Laodicean style churches. We need to be careful not to be using empty praises while our lives are far from the Holiness He demands.

Also according to 1 John we must love our brothers and sisters in the Body of Christ. ( 1 John 3:15). I find no need to name names; but we must be honest when those "heroes of the faith" that have written certain doctrines that we adhere to have lived less than exemplary lives. This is why it is dangerous to obsess on any teacher of the Word; Christian author or musician. Pride leads to a fall and we all need to be humble before God.

In saying all this; it is important that in loving God with all our being (1st Commandment) certainly our emotions should be affected; but that is always secondary to the Holy Spirit's truth. The primary purpose of the Spirit is shown in John 16:8 (conviction of sin; righteousness and judgment to come). Our hearts need to produce good fruit as He lives in us. Only a true believer can love being chastised to conform us in Him

Discussion on God's love.

Much of today's talk is of "falling in love" with Christ. We need to carefully examine the character and nature of the Godhead before attaching human; emotional or seemingly romantic sentiments on the Creator and Judge; Lord; Savior and Master.

There is no root in human nature; i.e. the flesh which desires God; in fact we are at enmity with Him in our carnal state and in fact enemies of God ( Romans 5:10). The fact that there is contention between the flesh and Spirit ( Galatians 5:17); and vice versa.

It is only in dying to self where we can submit to His authority; and the source of the life within us comes from heavenly places ( Galatians 2:20). The closest we could say about a human relationship is that we submit to each other; or sacrifice our lives.

Apart from Christ; we have two sinners that are by the grace of God involved (if married) in a covenant with God where if allowed in a best case scenario the individuals will finally be broken enough to realize that the Lord is the only thing that can change their selfish interest and natures. Any human sentiment is based on self satisfaction and or gratification which at best is a skewed shadow of God's love. This is also illustrated in Christ's story of how even us "being evil" bring good gifts to our kids. ( Matthew 7:11). We are also "unworthy servants" if we do what is expected ( Luke 17:10).

There are those who would at least put on a show of outward appearance of kindness; generousity; and self sacrifice. Apart from Christ; we can only say that the Lord is using these individuals to meet earthly needs as well as those of believers in His Providence. It is only by His grace that we would want to take on the nature of Christ; a "man of sorrows' ( Isaiah 53:3); as well as dying to self daily; carrying our cross and truly being a disciple and counting the cost. And today's Christian industries of entertainment often appeal the flesh; and have weak at best doctrines to live by.

A lighthearted answer.._.I'm just grateful for it all

Please pray for Ginny for salvation, peace, and relief from pain.she will soon be leaving this earth

There is power in the Name of Jesus!

Since I was very young I had nightmares and images flash in my head sometimes feeling of being watched would overwhelm me at night and I would scream out. I remember coming to age and the understanding of the world.being so painful (my personal life and the wider picture) sometimes I'd feel so out of control and the sadness would feel like my heart was being crushed as if it was a car at a scrap yard. As I became a young adult I would look for distraction from reliving painful mistakes and events in my life I was living with so.much pain and exhaustion from being someone I didn't want to be. one day a friend of mine asked me to join her for church as she was visiting her mum's church and didn't want to go alone. as I joined the church inside I continued to feel uncomfortable and uneasy with the other people finding ways.to.judge and distance myself from them.

The music.started and people started to sing I was reading the words and singing to and I started.to get into it and enjoy the music I felt an odd demention of affiliation to the lyrics I looked over at the people and I saw something in the church although nothing had changed and could not physically see anything. It was as if the breath of the people singing was reaching up to the open.space above and as if the very same.something was reaching down to them and finding the church it was beatiful! It seemed to.move.around the room like a great wind I heard the speaker say the words of Jesus " take my yoke apon you and I shall give you rest, " and it just felt so real to me at that moment I felt a pressure on my heart and chest it's as if the cloud in the room wanted to be in me i.felt as if someone was behind me and in front of me and beside me and it got stronger I have in to this beautiful feeling and I know God with me and still do. Jesus is teaching me and his spirit fills me with love and the father tells me what to do and what will happen. God is really it's nuts

Hi GiGi. Thanks for your question; an important one, though unsure how well it can be answered. This is one that I've given much thought to in the past & even till now, I feel I haven't been able to properly grasp its full implications.

Put succinctly, I would define it as follows: Mercy is one of God's Attributes, just as Holiness, Truth, Wisdom, Power, etc. are; and Grace is what flows from His Attribute of Mercy, & we as His creation, are the recipients of it. Or, in other words, we could never know experientially God's Mercy if we did not receive it as Grace afforded us.

When we read that God is "a gracious God, and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repentest thee of the evil" ( Jonah 4:2), we understand that Jonah, in spite of his anger against the LORD for saving Nineveh, he also knew that God was a gracious & merciful God and would be so to him even when he disobediently fled to Tarshish.

I read this verse as Jonah's view & understanding of God's Character: that God was altogether gracious, merciful, patient, kind, & just; but to receive such blessings, they had to emanate from a God Who is a merciful God, and His Mercy would consistently prevail until the need for a warranted immutable justice be delivered by Him.

As Lamentations 3:22 reads, "It is of the LORD'S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not". Both the believer & unbeliever are alive today because a merciful God continues to extend His Mercy to us. This we receive as His Grace (Gk. charis) to live, function & enjoy life that He gives us. But when the day comes when His Mercy is no longer extended to humanity, Grace ceases & His Wrath & Judgement are poured out.

I'd be interested to read how others understand God's Mercy & Grace.

I pray for blessings for your sermon that God uses you and speaks through you so that His truth is delivered to those who need to hear it.

John 15:18

Matthew 10:22

The world hated Jesus first. I'm really concerned about the world currently, because people are exchanging truth for lies as the shinier more appealing object of their affection. Truth seems unpopular in current times- this is hard to see unfold as I used to have hope for a brighter future.

Hello, Miss Sheronda,

People who are not yet believers have their reasoning blinded by sin. They see the world and all of the wonders of creation and are prevented from truly being convinced that God is. It takes the work of God providing grace to unbelievers to open their minds up to understand that creation came about by a powerful Being who existed before there was anything else. God administers this grace by using the truth of Scriptures to change an unbeliever's thoughts and desires about His existence, Who He is, and what He is like. This enlightenment often comes with the realization that God is holy and that the unbeliever is very sinful in comparison. This conviction of sin is a good thing, it leads to desiring God's mercy and this leads one to seek this mercy in the Jesus, who is the Mercy of God. The Gospel brings the reality of the grace and mercy of God one can receive in the Person of Jesus.

So, Sheronda, I can see that it is overwhelmingly common for unbeliever's to not know that God is, and if they do, they refuse to accept Him as the Sovereign of their lives. This does not negate His sovereignty. It just shows that they want a god that they devise rather than the True and Living God of all.

Hello, I would like to see a discussion here around this question?

What is God's mercy and grace? How are they alike. How are they different?

I will trust in the Lords always. God you are my strength from day to day. I just want to thank the Lord for what he had done in my life I am nothing without him. Thank you, God, for your blessings in Jesus' name amen

Please Lord enrich Donna with Spiritual Wisdom in her daily walk of faith in her attitude, actions and words that she will continue to be a good steward of what You have provided for her and her health physical will good to be cheerful servant for Your Glory I pray in Jesus Christ name!!

Dear Sean Thomas,

These are hard times for many people. I am sorry that you are experiences difficulties on many fronts. I will pray for you today.

Dear Heavenly Father, Sean is petitioning You in prayer along with those of us praying with him. Please answer his prayers with help, guidance, blessing, protection, faith, and assurance of salvation today. Father, raise Sean out of this overwheling hardship and set him on solid ground in his finances, living situation, relationships, work, and especially in his walk with You. We ask this of You Father, today, in the name of Your Son, Jesus. Amen.

Dear Jennifer, I hope you are doing well today. I pray today that you will be strengthened by God to be able to accomplish all that you need to do today. Thanks for checking in. I always am glad to read your request. It reminds me to pray for you.

Hello T. Seesley.

In Bible times, when something is done in the name of someone it is meant that the action is done on the authority of the person named. So, to baptize in John's name, it is on the authority John the Baptist was given as the forerunner and prophet prophesied to appear to announce the coming of the Messiah. If one is baptized in the name of Jesus, it is done by the authority of Jesus.

When Jesus said to be baptized in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, then He was saying that the action is done by the authority of the Godhead. Also, in this baptismal instruction, Jesus was teaching that in baptism, all of God attests to the action and validates it. He also revealed that the Godhead is tri-fold.

To my understanding, one can be baptized in the name of the Father, son, and Holy Spirt, or simply in the name of Jesus, or Jesus Christ, or Lord Jesus, or the Lord, as Acts shows that the apostles spoke of all these names being used in baptism. WE do not really know the exact words the apostles used each time they baptized. Yet, when they speak of being baptized, the name mentioned is to indicate by whose authority they are baptizing the new believer.

Hi Julie,

We are not told in Scripture how angels were created. But all other beings except for man were spoken into existence. So either angels were spoken into existence or formed like man, only of spiritual essence rather than from earthly elements as man was formed.

Dear Neveah, I think that this is a deep mystery that only God really knows fully. But the word does tell us that God is One. This not only refers to the fact that He is only One Being. But "one" also refers to His Oneness, that is His unity of three distinct persons in this one Being, each being equally divine and equally possessing deity to the fullest. I don't think our minds can really wrap around this truth about God, but His word tells us so. Therefore, we believe it because He has said so.

One place in Scripture that I love is the Last Supper Discourse of Jesus in John's Gospel. It covers several chapters, but in it He speaks about the Father and the Spirit and Himself as in one another and as being unified. So beautiful, yet beyond our ability to fully comprehend, but we can apprehend it by faith only.

I recommend reading John chapter 1 and then what Jesus says and prays about at the Last Supper in John's Gospel.

Hello, It still amazes me that people still feel like Gods' existence had to be proven. God superseded the court of law. We only obey the law of the land to maintain his obedience and the prevention of chaos. Present law, like past law, changes based on who is currently in power; which seems to never serve the majority well.

Dear Joseph, I will pray for you and your friends today.

Heavenly Father, we come to You in the name of Jesus and ask that You will aid Joseph in his financial situation and help his friends. We ask that You richly bless Joseph and his friends today and every day. We ask that You will grow Joseph in his faith in You and bring his friends to deeper faith as well. Amen.

First i thank my God through Jesus Christ for my all that your faith is spoken of through out the whole world

Dear Chungie, I will pray for Joshua today.

Heavenly Father, Joshua needs your healing hand to heal what is wrong with his pituitary gland. Return him to health and proper hormonal balance. Restore his pituitary gland to normal function so that all of his hormonal levels return to normal. Keep him safe in his situation and keep him from wandering far from You. Gather to him friends who know You who can help Joshua in his walk of faith, We ask these things in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Hi Mona El, I will keep your family members in my prayers. May God grant swift answers to your requests and bring all of your family to Christ through His mercy and grace. may God keep your family safe in His loving hands and help them in all of their troubles. Amen.

Amber, How is your Mamaw doing today? Is she still in the hospital? I will pray for her today.

Lord God, we come to You in the name of Jesus and ask that You be with Amber's Mamaw and bring about her healing and restoration to health. We ask that You comfort her and calm her soul during this difficult illness. Amen.