Bible Discussion Replies PAGE 1193

My brother asked me why Jesus always refers to himself in the third person. Needless to say, I had no answer. Does anyone have insight on this?

Thank you for that lovely post , it reminds me again of the ninth plague on the Egyptians , the thick darkness , and how all the Israelites had light in their dwellings .

Count me in please .

Sister Sherry, may CHRIST IN US grace us with HIS wisdom and HIS understanding.

Study Isaiah 58, you will find the way God wants you to fast very different from the way man says you are to fast.

Hi Bud Our enemy will do everything in his power to get people not to believe Gods word, he does have the ability to manipulate physical material and matter to trick the unbeliever, he also gets believers to believe things that aren't true scripturally or disbelieve things that are true scripturally. Remember he is the father of lies, that is why our only armour is It Is Written used at the right time in the right context with the correct condition always in love walking by the spirit which is the word. People forget Gods Word is spiritual Knowledge I.E. the knowledge of God or Gods wisdom.

Are churches worshipping on Sunday breaking the sabbath command?

At what point are we born again

?

Thank you brother David. That being the case (that the message was the adversary's manipulation), then how did the adversary know the prophetical word before it was given by God? This was my question to Rick & I remained intrigued how this can happen. Have we seen such a thing happen anywhere in the Scriptures? Can God actually choose to use a devil to bring a prophetical word to another, like Saul?

Hi Lojay Only a person born again of Gods spirit and walking in renewed mind love via the word can do this. Even a christian cannot walk in the love of God if he doesn't choose to put on the mind of Christ and walk in renewed mind love. Since that is the only way to produce Love joy piece longsuffering meekness temperance against such their is no law, and than all of 1 Corinthians 13. You can speak Gods word all you want but if it is not done with the love of God no profit, the saying is don't tell me you love me show me. Agapeo which is the love of God is a product of a person putting on Gods word and believing which requires living on what he has put on this is a lifetime of work.

Hi mishael It is interesting that you mention Nimrod when the scripture says he was a mighty hunter before the lord it means In His face or absolutely defiant to the true God. His kingdom was the beginning of all other anti God belief systems of the world, the unbelievers learned from his reign and spread it out after the tower of babel. When you look this guy up in secular history its bad. Very educational Historical reading This guy was a kingpin for the adversary.

I question your statement. " It doesn't say that this salvation is immediate. But the promise is still there. Some get saved immediately, and for others it could take a while".

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

Why Judas sold Jesus ?

what is the gospel message

WOW!!!

Great post.

I'm hoping for a cabin with a small dock, row boat, tackle, lots of deck chairs and a barn full of animals.

You're all invited over for horseshoes.

My situation in accepting Christ as my savior the first time, (yes, I accepted Him more properly later in life), at the age of 12 is similar to yours. It was basically a revival preacher and his prop that did it along with the pressure of the congregation "to do what is right".

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

I lived in Roswell NM (capital of little green headed aliens) for 15 years. I had a good telescope too.

Never saw any aliens or space ships!!!! I saw neighbors drive home after the bars closed :/

Sadly, this discussion will end with no comfort for you as to the place where the spirit resides following the death of our earthly bodies.

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

Ask God to help you make a comprehensive list of your sins.

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.

Mercy is the act of withholding deserved punishment, while grace is the act of endowing unmerited favor.

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

Thank you, brother S Spencer,

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

Brother Bill. I too have enjoyed sharing with you these very precious Scriptures & being exercised in mind & spirit to view them from another perspective.

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.

Hi Marcie A great definition of grace is divine unmerited favour, nothing earned it is just given, I.E. For by grace are ye saved through faith it is the gift of God.

Just to add to conversation God did not give the message to samuel to tell Saul that was a manipulation of the adversary.

Revelation 1-22

Zechariah 14:1-40

Hi EH. Not sure who you're replying to, but my only suggestion is that the word "perfect" in the references you've given doesn't speak of one without sin or a standing before God & man without fault, but it has other applications. Without examining each verse, my cursory search for the Hebrew word for those OT references is the root word, 'tamam' - & this implies a completeness or soundness. In that sense, one can be perfect as having no one who can find fault, but it's another matter of our standing before God in regards to our sinful state. Job might have been "perfect & upright" as a righteous man, but none can claim that he was without sin.

Likewise, in the NT, the Greek word, has its root in 'telos', meaning 'having reached full growth, complete in all parts, especially of Christian character, maturity'. And again, this word doesn't imply one can reach a state of of sinless perfection in this life, but one can grow towards completion or maturity as the Spirit gains greater control of the believer.

So maybe the one who made that statement you quoted, was writing specifically of not being able to reach the place of no sin within our members (as we're all sinners until we are changed, shedding this sinful flesh to receive our glorified bodies). But we can all attain perfection by allowing the Spirit to work in us to make us more like our Saviour.

To add to conversation, It appears that you want the whole picture of what happens to those that treat others terribly. Forgiveness is easier when we understand the punishment, praying for someone is easier when we know GOD is faithful on HIS promises.

Psalm 37:1-40

READ this Title Article= "What Does It Mean That Women Should "Remain Quiet" in Church

1 Timothy 1:2

Crossway DOT Org

All the scriptures pertinent to the question are in the article.

Thanks brother. I agree with everything you've written & the appropriate Scriptures you've cited. Yet, my question remains up in the air, from the latter part of my previous comment.

You stated earlier that "The enemy will always use part truth or use it out of context to complete his manipulation". So, my question was, how can the enemy know that 'part truth' when that Truth hasn't been declared yet by God? And that Truth was that Saul & his sons would die on the morrow in battle & the host of Israel would fall into Philistine hands. This is not a question of true & false prophets/prophecy, but of the power of devils to know the future without it being declared.

Anyway brother, I'm fine if there is no clear answer from you, because I'm not sure how else I could reword the question. And all this is in line with who that Samuel was who appeared to the witch; if it was an impersonating devil, then he knew the Mind of God - if Samuel's spirit, then God gave this prophecy through him to deliver to Saul.

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