All Discussion PAGE 836

Stuck in the middle or standing out from the crowd (further insights)

Master. I have stated before and it doesn't hurt to repeat it that Christ is our MASTER as well as being Lord and Savior. Of course this isn't a "politically correct" concept which would be one benefit those living in a society seeing servitude (indentured servants at least) would have in comprehending that concept as a proper "lifestyle choice" for those who would proclaim Christ (although it is more of a command). The most direct reference Christ makes to us in this status is when he talks about the "unworthy servant" ( Luke 17:7-10). This gives as a good outline of how; for instance we should always prioritize our time for worship; prayer and studying the Word. There is only one who we are accountable to as individuals when this life is done. All good gifts are given from above; and hence are to be used for service in the Kingdom and edification of the brethren.

Fellowship of the saints. The command (not request) to love one another is emphasized in John 13:34-35 as well as 1 John. Surely the disciple that Christ "loved" ( John 21:7) was used to deliver this message and surely he understood that concept.

Sadly; this concept of adoption into the family of God ( Romans 8:14-19 but by no means limited to that verse) is more of an abstract idea today in most churches. Something as practical as inviting a single person to a holiday meal (such as was done for me a few years back) can really make a difference. We are instructed to rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn ( Romans 12:15). The opposite of this is either indifference; or worse gossip which basically is mocking a person's situation or at best having some morbid curiosity. Just to break out and instigate a conversation may take some effort when others on a Sunday morning are more interested id discussing sports; entertainment or personal matters to those in their social circles.

Stuck in the middle

When we observe professing Christians; there are many clues as to whether they are "fruit producers" or not. This could be more adequately explained by comparing all "professors" of the faith to those "possessors" of the Holy Spirit. Here are some helpful verses to examine ourselves as well as get some clues as to where others are spiritually.

"He chastises everyone He loves." ( Heb. 12:6). Those of us who have been truly walking the straight and narrow know better than to glibly pray for something like patience. To freely embrace a verse like James 1:2 where we are told to "consider it all joy" when various trials/temptations come pass need to trust the Lord that He knows how to work all circumstances for the good OF THOSE WHO LOVE GOD (and called according to His purpose: Romans 8:28). This is the best way we can distinguish who is in the faith; those who truly understand not only that their sins have been forgiven; but they have a new Lord; Savior AND master. His sheep hear His voice; they may go astray for a time but the Chief Shephard brings in the lost 1 from the 99. ( Luke 15:4).

"if you love me you will obey my commandments." ( John 14:15). This verse may seem to contradict the ones where people were doing all sorts of "good works" in His name but were not His sheep ( Matt. 7:21-23). This is a caution to anyone who would have a ministry based on their own name; or type of gifting and certainly for the prosperity gospel leadership. We saw the same self-righteous religion with the Pharisees. Judas Iscariot is a pathetic example who was somehow convinced to betray Christ for 30 pieces of silver; apparently 4 days wages at that time although it would show silver vastly more valuable then compared to today's valuation. It was the seduction of power; then which Satan used to draw him in; thus the verse The admonitions of Luke 6:26 and Luke 16:15 serve aw warnings for those loving praise of men over praise of God.

please pray for me today

Ruth 1:16, significance?

1st would you do that for anyone?

Persistence in helping & staying with a widow, who had lost both sons, trusting in her GOD after famine. Ruth 1:1,5,

being hope & help in a 'hopeless situation' ? Ruth 1:17,18,

Ruth 4:14,15,

Ruth 4:17-22, Luke 3:22-38,

Faith, love, sacrifice, providing for others, GOD uses difficult decisions in circumstances to do amazing things.

Moabites were rejected 1Corinthians 1:26-31

Hopefully these are helpful

This site has multiple study tools. If you type Bethel or any other word, partial word or phrase into search bar, it should show you where & how many times it occurs. It's not always 100% accurate but it's really a great feature. If you're doing a search & it doesn't pull up a scripture you know exists, try using another word, Then you can modify search in multiple ways.

Hopefully helpful

Numbers 13 & Numbers 14,

No, please read Jesus' Words Matthew 24, Mark 13,

Joshua 1, I believe the story you're looking for is in; Joshua 6 & Joshua 7,

Joshua 6:17-19, Joshua 7:1, Joshua 7:10-26, note Joshua 7:4-6,

Please read whole chapters

Hopefully these are helpful

A great wedge between me and my elderly mother, it is irreparable. Only Father God can undo the mess that has happened. I'm so sorry, I have repented for my part and asked for forgiveness.

Psalms 139,

1Samuel 3:10, Proverbs 3:6,

Judy Law,

I pray for you as you mourn you're beloved Queen. Many in the World are saddened. I am deeply saddened for your Country, all those that grieve & are unsure of the future. Your Queen did not deny Jesus Christ Matthew 10:32-33,

Romans 14:4,

1John 2:26,27,28,29

Moses controlled the sea by order of GOD. Exodus 14:15-31,

Other times, Joshua 3, 2Kings 2:8, 2Kings 2:14, Mark 4,

Exodus 17:6, note Numbers 20:7-12, GOD even gave them the power & authority to just speak to the water to come forth, matter of fact; it was an Order, & because it wasn't followed it was counted against them.

Mark 9:23, Luke 18:27, Mark 10:27, Matthew 19:26,

James 4:1-3,

Hopefully these scriptures are helpful

Thanks GiGi for your invitation to offer further comment. Firstly, on the matter of what bro S. Spencer has shared with you, I offered no comments on your exchanges with him earlier as I perceived that both he & I read & understood your comments differently. I sensed that he believed that you were relying heavily on what Church history had shown about Christ's second coming rather than weighing your beliefs solely on Scripture. And as much as I too could understand his view, knowing a little about you from your other comments & reliance on the Word, I believed that your appeal to history was solely to show that the early Church fathers also spoke/wrote about this subject but not in the manner that 'dispensationalists' have done, nor was it promoted extensively. Thus the apparent general view of the 'pre-tribulation Rapture of the Church' being a modern interpretation of the Scriptures & wasn't believed/accepted by the early Church.

Having got that out of the way & recognizing your efforts in gathering together the beliefs of the ECF & DP, unfortunately I have little else to offer. Only because to examine more fully their beliefs would need us to acquire much more information on how they exegeted the various applicable Scriptures, what percentages of them held to their various views, how strongly/widely were those beliefs promulgated, etc. With that difficulty, it would be too time consuming, even unproductive for lack of data, to pursue that line of research. Rather, knowing the range of beliefs that were held throughout the centuries, we would be better served to acknowledge that fact & then conduct our own exegesis from the Scriptures to prove what we believe. And yes, there were differences in views between the ECF & DP, just as there are now, but hopefully they, as us, have formed our views according to what we read in the Word & the Holy Spirit graciously assisting us to more deeply understand the Truth. Thank you again for your efforts sister.

Is it possible for us to make restitution for sin? How can we avoid the punishment that will come? The sins that are before us, the sins we have committed in the past?

Perhaps we think we can control God or perhaps we can convince God, of our justification. Even so ,how can we know what His penalty Is? How can we know what the the punishment is! How can we be found righteous!?

We cannot know His perfect will, we cannot know His justice, Fulfilling it would be futile! You may wish this, however, it is nothing more than your own works. Our works will never do! It can never ever satisfy His perfect will!

Somehow we think we can clean up our mess, and still be justified! This is not the way it works. There must be contrition of sin, there must be repentance, there must be prayer, there must be a baptism, a death of the flesh and a renewing of the Spirit, the resurrection given for the forgiveness of sin! We cannot find these things that are freely given, until you believe that the Christ died for the sins of the world! He is Lord, He is the forgiver, He is our propitiation, He is our deliverer!

The church should have written the things that belong to the world from before time , so they would have not repeated the past! The things that they do not want to hear have become the truths that are before them. Once again. The stone they rejected has become the head of the corner.

Repent and be Baptized

Please remember me in praise for Gods intervention in my family marital status and prosperity

Hello

Would someone pray and fast with me today?

A great storm/battle. Matthew 17:21 KJV

"Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting."

Peace from Christ Jesus to be greater in me, than the stress inside/evil and pressure around.

Grace for the calling of Christ Jesus/finish the race.

Thank you, and God bless you, from your sister in Christ Jesus.

Thank you so much!

Have a good day as well!

Insomnia is caused by one of two things.1. you have not had enough to drink ,or 2, your brain is replaying your life from beginning to end. This time you spend gazing with the good and bad spots that come up. Sort of like a record with scratches in it, or the 8 track that quits, when you pull it out, the tape comes with it!

As remarkable as this is, it is as yesterday has become a lifetime. It is impossible to understand how anyone who does not have the hope of the gospel, of eternal life, can get through this one!

More and more we see the tragedy of the lives of the helpless. A country who is blind to know the truths that belong to those who love God, while many blaming others for there own circumstances. A gov't more concerned about filthy money, then the welfare of the poor. A system that is always looking out for the rich, using people robbing them of life . A so called democracy, that sustains the rich, while the drugs and needles, along with the sickness that belong to it! A gov/t held by the same for the last 70 yrs!

These who know nothing, yet they are the ones who bind burdens on those, that they themselves would never carry!

These are the ones Jesus spoke of. These are the ones that cant stand the truth. These are the ones who will silence the truth, just the way they did the disciples, the prophets, and our Savior Jesus Christ!

I have seen in the cities, traveled the underpasses, I have seen the lines, and have wondered how can these things be! As a child, I and grandmother would leave the sandwiches on the park bench, but now, there is not enough benches, let alone sandwiches! Perhaps the coffee trucks will have enough left over , after taking care of the national guard!

How unfortunate we have become! Your redemption draws nigh!

Repent and be Baptized

Could it be possible that I can control the seas like Moses

Hello Will,

After traveling for 1 year the Israelites were at the border of the Promised Land. They sent out 12 spies to check out the land. All but two spies (Joshua and Caleb) brought back a bad report about the land being filled with giants. So the people were too afraid to go in and take the land as God had told them to do. So, as a punishment for their lack of faith in Him (as He said He would drive these people out of the land before them - Ex. 34:11, God had them wander in the desert wilderness (as He led them with the pillar of cloud by day and fire by night) for 40 more years until every Israelite who was 20 years old or older at the time of sending out the spies had died. Only the Israelites who were 20 and under, and Joshua and Caleb, entered the Promised Land after the 40 years was up and they proceeded to cross the Jordan river.

Most commonly, it is believed he was about 33-35 years old. Having died in 33 A.D.. The date of His birth is somewhat more vague, but it is commonly believed that He was born in 2 B.C since it coincided somewhat with Herod's death date.

Oh Steven,

I just remembered I forgot to mention.

15) ECF believed that Jesus death and resurrection was planned since before the foundation of the world, having always been the goal of creation and the salvation of the elect being the perfect plan of God. DP believe that the sacrifice of Jesus was enacted because the Jews rejected Him as the Messiah and if they had accepted Him He would not have sacrificed Himself, but would have begun His earthly Kingdom then. DP admit that they believe that the Church was God's plan B.

16) BP believe that the church age is a "pause" or parenthesis in the middle of the 70th week of Daniel's prophecy, and unexpected pause to God, at that and that the rest of the 70th week will resume when the rapture occurs prior to the tribulation. The ECF show no adherence to this belief of the DP.

Been canning salsa this evening and as I was prepping tomatoes and such I remembered these after I had sent my previous posts.

I do hope this is of some help to you or others. That is my aim. It is easy to check on a few sites online to see if you find what I have found, if you wish. I suggest that as these sites do cite Scripture passages, which I think is important. And since these sites do this citing, I refer people to check and see if what I found in my research and the Scriptures cited on such sites align with Scripture.

As you said, Steven, eschatology varies from group to group. There are four major groups: (in order that they appeared in history chroniologically)

Historic Premillennialism (Chiliasm)

Amillennianism

Post millennialism

Dispensational Pre-millennialism

And within these for major groups there are subgroups, too, such as:

Preterist

Futurist

Literalist

Symbolic

Allegorical

Whether someone has already set their minds on one view or not, I think it is a good thing for anyone regardless of view or no view, to study these viewpoints, especially when entering into discussions concerning the end times.

Blessings

Hi James.

When you say "Old testament law and it's requirements are not applicable more in newtestament the righteousness.

I wouldn't put it that way by no means.

Here's Law.

The fact that "RIGHTEOUSNESS" does not come by the law that doesn't mean the law was abolished.

And Christ death on the cross did not do away with the law.

The law condemned man because no one was able to keep the law so all mankind was under the penalty of death.

Christ took on the penalty and "PAYED THE PRICE". by death on the cross.

( Colossians 2:14. Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;)

The law was the ministration of Death. "And still is"

2 Corinthians 3:7-16.

It was to show us our sin and bring us to Christ. Galatians 3:22-28.

Listen to Paul in Romans 7:7-14.

Also.

Galatians 3:13-14 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:

That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

So since you are justified by faith and made righteous by Christ What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? No! not if you have been freed from bondage.

For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure. Philippians 2:13

Romans 6:1-23.

James 2:18.

Jesus came to give you a new Heart. A heart of flesh.

If a person is truly saved he/she would have MORE written on their heart than what's written in the law.

There's things we don't do is sin also. James 4:17. Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.

God bless.

Psalm 102 is a prophetic description of the prayer and overview of the Jewish Saints in the time of Jacobs trouble, the seventieth week of Daniel. It is the the last week of the tribulation where the chosen of God are being prosecuted and feel abandoned by God. Israel is regathered in the land and the whole world is coming against it but Christ returns and executes vengeance on the nations, because it is time. The end time of the gentiles and the satanic oppression of the jews.

Not sure if my commentary on that chapter helps. It is simply those who are martyred at that time; they don't yet have physical bodies to stand on the sea of glass; but they remain until all the martyrs designated to die in that way join them. God has a set order for the Resurrection; and the firstfruits raptured into heaven. Generally; it appears that the church comes next followed by the 144,000 being translated around the midpoint of the Tribulation and the rest of the saints risen sometime right before or around the second coming of Christ. This can be a trickly subject as to precise timing.

I would certainly think that the Hebrews 11 cloud of witnesses include those who are already present spiritually with the Lord (to be absent from the body is present with the Lord). ( 2 Cor. 5:6). Spirits of just men ( Heb. 12:23) made perfect is another example.

I try to give as much scriptural base as possible to comments; rather than wild speculation. Still; there is something to be said to waiting on the Lord to reveal what He will about the Book of Revelation. These days will see a closer parallel between those who are on the side of the enemy with those who are of the Lord so that even the elect would be deceived IF IT WERE POSSIBLE ( Matt. 24:24). Again; as my commentary mentioned by the sixth seal there will be no more atheists. The wrath of God and of His Son will be known but it won't do men who are unregenerate any good. I only say this out of necessity; if the Lord wants to show you these things; it will be for the edification of the sleeping church; to wake them up. The truth won't win any popularity contests unlike today's endless "prophets" who want people to believe the party will keep going on. May you be as Jeremiah with "fire in his bones" ( Jeremiah 20:9). There are a few fearlessly proclaiming the Gospel in LOVE; but also in TRUTH. I believe some roles for women are different from men; He will reveal this to you in His time.

Concluding thoughts continued in Rev. 22

Therefore; many may be genuinely shocked when the Lord says that He never knew them and they ask for entrance into heaven. ( Matt. 7:21). Sadly; many never will know the depths of their own depravity until they enter hell; surely then they will know how helpless they are; although there will be no love and appreciation for a Holy God. The biggest message I can see here is that we must in this life be saved; as well as love God. Mankind in his natural state can fear God but cannot love Him; nor Christ who the Father sent to die in our place. All believers are called to share in the sufferings of Christ; and to bear their own cross daily. ( Romans 8:17; Matt. 16:24). Only believers can understand being part of the Body of Christ and fellowship of the saints. ( 1 John 1:3 and many other passages). We must die to ourselves daily ( Galatians 2:20). This involves selfless acts; but also has to have a heart change ( Ezekiel 36:26). To be drawn to the light is the state of those who He has called to be His children and chosen ( John 3:21).

As my last commentary stated; we are not to worry about whether we are elected by God; at least as some curiousity or intellectual concept. Our responsibility is ultimately ours to test ourselves to see if we are in the faith ( 2 Cor. 13:5). His Spirit communes with our spirit to show us if we are of God ( Romans 8:16).

Verses 18 through 19 reminds us of the seriousness of God's Word. No other religions or other writings that change the Word of God or create another method of salvation; another Christ etc. are to be tolerated (See Galatians 1:8). Such a reverent fear of God's Word today is sorely lacking. Many probably don't believe these things are really going to be this bad; sadly a former Pastor of mine used to have these thoughts when reading the Book of Isaiah. If the rich man in hell is any example; no one there will be grateful for our lackluster witness here now.

Revelation 22 concluding thoughts

Once more in verses 11 and 15 we see how the state of a person remains for all eternity; either in Christ and entirely dead to the old self and in heaven; or else remaining in a sinful state no doubt punished for the specific severity depending on what types of sins are being judged.

There is no room for lingering on any aspects of this life; as heaven will be paved with gold. There is truly joy to service which those not in Christ cannot comprehend. It will no doubt be fellowship of the saints that moves beyond male/female and all barriers that the cares of this life tend to separate us from now.

The focus of verse 18 and 19 are what I would like to focus this study on. The first verse warns of anyone adding to the prophecy that God will add the plagues in this book. Since that involves anything in the seal; trumpet or vial judgments it may allow for some hope of repentance. The next verse; however indicates a name being removed from the book of life for those who take something out of it. This is the only verse in the Bible warning of direct response of taking someone out of the book of life. ( Exodus 32:33). The earlier verse in Revelation 3:5 shows someone NOT taken out of the book.

Personally; I would tend to think this would refer to the book of all the living on earth who; when lost are not able to retain it and thus enter the book of life in the first place. Therefore they die the second death. This would mean; of course that potentially everyone can come to Christ and it sort of decimates the idea of the doctrine of election. Frankly I had never paid much attention to this verse before. Furthermore the specific actions of meddling with God's Word is a specific way such an individual reveals their turning from whatever their conscience dictates to a delusion (see Romans 1; Psalm 19). However you slice it no one who messes with God's Word should be surprised by His judgments.

How old was Jesus when he died?