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Jesus restates in Matthew 15:4 the importance of this commandment as well as Paul in Ephesians.
I did some searching here in the early hours Good time, withe the Lord.
Outside minus 15 degrees and up to several cm of snow is expected. There will be extreme conditions for a while again. In the Northern Hemisphere. The Nordic countries.
And I read a wonderful text from the 1611 edition, here in the web. In some ways, the wording could be a little easier for me to understand. Don't ask me how that can be possible! And this wonderful prayer I must share with you, those of you who have read it before and those of you who have not yet come this far (smiley sign). Or should I say, gone that far back in time?
Prayer of Azariah 1 chapter. God bless us all in understanding and revelation. Love u all in Christ.
I brought up previously about an answered prayer for a brother finding a wife. There could be times when someone is asking for something and considering plans that you can clearly see is NOT God's will; or feel led to pray the opposite. This probably wouldn't go so well if you spell it out under those circumstances. Certain imprecatory prayers as David had aren't necessarily wrong; but obviously it should be kept under wraps. I would also say that prayer in the closet could involve those in the underground church where a small group keeps in private as well. The example of Jesus praying for Peter when He knew that Satan was about to mess with him also was case specific and not shared until the appropriate time. I am sure He knew this all along; so that this prayer could have been made for a while or any number of times. There are no other prayers listed discussed with the Apostles; but Christ spent an entire night in prayer before He chose them ( Luke 6:12). This was revealed to Luke; we don't know who else (not sure about other Gospel writers). His prayer also along with fasting was private before casting the dumb spirit out of the boy ( Matt. 17:21). So there is much to be learned in the Gospels about "proactive prayer" and preparation before ministering. This is effective before and after evangelism as well; from the experiences I have had and others.
We certainly don't need to be praying in front of everyone for more money. I have seen evidences of that providence by missionaries who recieved funds within a day; for instance for a new building; and the Lord has been faithful in my life as well.
It isn't wrong of course even to accept someone's help after a request is made; but don't expect my contributions to any preachers that say they will die or something if we don't send them money like a certain famous now deceased preacher whose name I will leave to the imagination.
Let us be wise.
There are cases where corporate prayer is needed; verses that exhort us to confess sin to one another; and instances in the Book of Acts where such activities occurred starting with the room where the Apostles met and basically hid after the Resurrection before the Holy Spirit came upon them and they started speaking in tongues. Certainly there are examples of answered prayers; such as I had for a brother in the Lord a few years ago who met the lady who is now his wife 2 days after praying for that very thing at his request.
Matthew 6:5-6 seems to be a context involving those who made much about their fasting and self-sacrifice (Pharisees) which could be a principle for us as well. It is not to show how pious we are in prayer through some dramatic gesture. Certainly there are a few other circumstances as well. There are times in confidence when someone gives you a request. This can occur when an unnamed person is referred from someone else; or perhaps on this forum where perhaps we can share it with others but they will not know who the person is asking for it; and the person themselves won't either and won't know who we are either. There are also those we may run into on the street or we may meet in our travels who are unsafe to invite to our homes or who we never will see again. Finally there are some personal issues which God has given us answers for; or perhaps things which the Spirit moves us to pray about even if we can't understand the reason.
In conclusion; we don't need to PROVE God answers something because ultimately those who don't believe won't unless the Lord gives them ears to hear. Just as much knowledge in scripture doesn't save anyone either. Those who would say it is good luck; coincidence or a random act of kindness could also tell us it is our own imagination or "self fulfilling prophecy." We must be wise not to "cast our pearls before swine." ( Matt. 7:6; see also Matt. 5:44)
I know things are not in my time, but he said the latter shall be first! The enemy keep laying traps and I keep trusting in his word, but I feel wounded.
Even in faith there comes a time we get weary, and we can't mount upon eagle wings!
The battle for self identity isn't too profitable when we understand that as sinners; we are in a helpless; hopeless state with the wrath of God abiding on us. ( John 3:36). Once our lives are under the authority of Christ rather than the prince of the power of the air ( Eph. 6:12); but now we have the King of Glory as Lord; Savior and yes; Master. Or; alternatively; as the popular Sting song lyric states our servant has become our master if we remain in our sinful state. God promises that although unworthy servants we are called "friends" and His yoke is easy; and burden is light ( Matt. 11:28). Satan is a brutal taskmaster; coming to "steal; kill and destroy." ( John 10:10). Such basically is the state of youth in America today; and sadly many of those who give testimony of their children dying of drug (usually Fentinal) overdoses see nothing getting better in the near term.
So the question comes up; what is a more profitable state; our old self or our identity in Christ? We are still; in some sense uniquely "us" but with our spirit testifying with His Spirit ( Romans 8:16) that we indeed are "God's children." Somehow; we naturally tend to hold onto our old nature as long as we live; we are still subject; of course to the effects of the fall with the flesh eventually passing away but the new man growing (see 1 Cor. 4:16). We literally are crucified to the flesh in Christ and already in the new life in the spirit ( Colossians 3:3). In reality then; our old selves are redeemed to be all they would have been if they had never been corrupted by th effect of sin; and in fact are in much better glory. (See 1 Cor. 15). What we DON'T realize before salvation is that we are never autonomous and able to go beyond the set limits God has; and we are held accountable for our actions. With faith we can begin to comprehend that we are "seated in heavenly places" ( Eph. 2:4-6).
And; "to live is Christ; to die gain" ( Phil. 1:21).
Romans 7:19
"For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do."
It is worth mentioning that I have strong same-sex attraction, which I am not really ashamed of, just extremely worried that I will not go to Heaven, assuming there is one, because of it. If I could turn any alleged sin into a non-sin, it would absolutely be gayness. Was this chapter a sign, do you think? What exactly could this exact passage mean in my scenerio? Do you have any advice?
Verses 3 through 8 precede verse 9 which was quoted in the New Testament ( John 2:17) when Jesus overturned the moneychangers tables (done at least one more time at the end of His ministry). They all could be prophetic about Christ as well; except for verse 5 talking of David's foolishness and sin; as well as the end of verse 4 where he was sid to "restore that which was not taken away" which would seem to indicate he had to give compensation to those accusing him of stealing stuff that he never took from them.
Verses 10 through 12 involving sackcloth and fasting also would apply to David alone (Christ's fasting wasn't for any sins of his own but as an example of how to be more fully empowered with the Spirit to cast out particular demons ( Matt. 17:21). When we go further from verses 13 through 19 once again the themes of mire and deep waters are mentioned; and these passages once again are rather interchangeable between David and Christ's trials.
Verses 20-22 once again are clearly prophetic; Christ's heart literally was boken (v. 20); verse 21 is quoted in Matt. 27:33-34; and verse 22 through 28 are likely describing Judas Iscariot as seen more clearly in Psalm 109 and several other passages. I would say that verse 28 is describing the book of ALL living souls; not the Book of Life. Finally; verse 29 also ties in with Psalm 109 in describing Christ at the crucifixion.
The rest of this Psalm gives hopefulness with again a Millennial type Kingdom to come. Sacrifice isn't needed of animals (v. 31) but I suspect it is a ceremonial and memorial thing.
Prisoners will be released (v. 33); and the land will have it's covenant borders and the world blessed (v. 34-end). The Lord will be praised throughout the earth. Amen.
In considering what kind of wife a man should look for; of course we have Proverbs 31 as a guideline. There is nothing fancy there; although it appears such a woman would appear nicely; but modestly dressed. Her character would be one that is industrious (working to secure income as well as to make clothes to keep the family warm in winter. A noble character would be praised at the gate; as it were according to the end of the chapter. There is nothing there of the overromanticized emotional sort of behavior; oversexualized mannerisms or other such trifling nonsense. There is also nothing to appear as what is so often mocked as a "mousy" woman; who is constantly fearful or with trepidation. The concept; of course of Abraham's wife calling him "lord" (Not captitalized in 1 Peter 3:7) certainly wouldn't win any popularity contests today.
This type of woman commended in scripture would certainly interact with the rest of the extended family and as indicated with the community. It would be a sort of extension; or addition to all the blessings of the husband in exalting him as well as; of course building up her house with raising children (see Psalm 127:4). He who finds a wife finds a good thing and a blessing from the Lord ( Prov. 18:22). This is how it should be anyway.
Switching to the man; of course we have the admonition for men to sacrifice themselves for them as Christ does for the church ( Eph. 5:25 and following verses). The confidence in security of a man of character and strength of course has also been cheapened with this "free love" culture mentality. Manlihood has gone out the window; not to mention chastity being considered as a virtue. So we are largely left with wimpy wet noodles or men who are full of themselves living playboy type lifestyles.
Friendships which should be the obvious start or building blocks of relationships are rarely taken seriously for those worthy of marriage potential; it wold seem.