Bible Discussion Thread Page 2

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I understand the concept about the laws being written upon our hearts, & many more directions of the Spirit to us, & to know them & do them to God's Glory, but I feel like I struggle to live up to God's expectations. I feel like I'm destined to join the goats at this point instead of the sheep. Thank you for suggesting the Spurgeon.org site. I will check it out & let you know what I think. My younger pastor has mention Spurgeon before saying he was a good preacher, but by the time I got home I'd forgotten all about it. Thank you for all your continued guidance, advice & encouragement.

God bless you & your family.

Kind Regards

Claire

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A Bible Study can be as you're experiencing, or more useful when the opportunity is given to also contribute towards it; i.e. the teacher can share the message but he needs to also generate questions that help in putting what is learnt into one's personal life. Discussion would also be a good thing & in a house Bible study, the blessing of praying for each other & support would be invaluable. We used to use the buzz words "cell groups" in my day, based on the Greek, koinonia = having close fellowship, which essentially was for the purpose I've outlined.

Repetitions in prayer are not useful to oneself or before God. Prayer is essentially one's intimate conversation with their Heavenly Father - it is the expression from a heart of love & devotion to a God of Love & Grace. There is no special time to pray or how to pray, but setting aside time, 'a quiet time' is special as one sits quietly with the Lord. We can use the Lord's Prayer as a model or even add to it, but just personal prayer with predominantly worship & thanks to your Father & enjoying His Presence rather than the 'give me this & that' which many make as the major part of their prayer time. Pray from your heart, pray as you read the Word, talk to the Lord as you go about your daily business. His Spirit is always there to minister to you, even at times when you're agitated, confused, lonely or lacking direction - in faith ask His help & go on living trusting Him for His answers.

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I agree that our Bible study would be more useful when we are given the opportunity to contribute. Me & my friend have already suggested that, & they didn't take the hint. This is why we plan to look for another church after the Covid 19 pandemic. I have never heard of the buzz words "cell groups", but it sounds like a good way to make the Bible study less boring, but I doubt the pastor would go for anything like that either.

I know that repetitions in prayer are not good because I have read it in the Bible. I do set aside time in the morning & at night to say my prayers & I do also say the Lord's Prayer in one of my prayers. In most of my prayers I would quote a scripture from the Bible. Example. 'Heavenly Father, Have mercy on me a sinner, It says in your word Matthew 5.44 But I say unto you, love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray from them which despitefully use you, and persecute you. (& then I'd say) Lord, Please help me to love my enemies, to bless them that curse me, to do good to them that hate me, and to pray from them which despitefully use me, and persecute me, that I may be a future daughter of your kingdom. Thank you Father, In Jesus name I pray. Amen'. Praying doesn't come naturally to me because I only ever heard the teachers pray in assemblies because I don't come from a Christian background, so nobody around me prayed. I only started to pray in the last year or so, though I have been going to church for almost 3 years because I felt like an idiot at first & I don't feel God's presence around me, so this can be discouraging at times. I find it difficult to pray because I don't feel a connection. I do talk to the Lord sometimes as I go about my daily activities, but I don't feel like I get any answers. I told the pastor this & he said that I'm not going hear an audible voice. I've heard an audible voice in the past, but unsure if it was from God, so I just ignored it.

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Thanks for sharing your thoughts & feelings, Claire. It is important that we encourage one another in matters from the Bible & in dealing with issues in life from a biblical perspective. Even though using a written medium like this can be very limiting, it is useful if one is unable to receive personal interaction with others; but I don't think this should replace the enjoyment of personal Bible study, prayer & corporate fellowship with others in the Body. Too many young people are relying on their phones as their primary means of communication & I feel, may be detrimental in the long run, but for believers, we should earnestly seek out a Fellowship & believers that will help us in our walk & of course you too can be a blessing to others as well, as you learn lessons from the Spirit's ministry to you.

Sometimes, pastors with large congregations, only get the opportunity to meet his congregation after the service, not often at the door as he might be ministering to someone or attending to some business. Whether he seeks to be complimented or to get feedback from his message, you can discern. I know our pastor looks forward to Monday mornings when he gets 'feedback' through email as some find that he hasn't 'crossed his T's or dotted his i's'. It is a great & grave responsibility that they have & I still feel that biblical accuracy from the pulpit, sans the preacher's weaknesses, should be our focus. I grew up with singing Hymns, so I'm the opposite, preferring them to modern day songs. These too aren't necessarily wrong, but my worship experience is made special & meaningful from well selected hymns.

Hi Chris,

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Thanks for your reply. I also think that it's important to encourage one another in the Bible & in dealing with issues in life from a biblical perspective, though it is limiting on here. I don't think this should replace the enjoyment of personal Bible study, prayer & corporate fellowship with others either & feel like it would be detrimental for me to just rely on this site. I believe that we should seek out a Fellowship & believers that will help us in our walk & for us to be a blessing to others. One of my friends from my old church that now goes to a different church has asked me to go walking with members of another church a few times in the past, but the weather wasn't that great and it got cancelled, so I'll do that when it's not raining.

We don't have a large congregations, there's only about 30 members, but more recently it's been more like 20. The impression I get from him is that he is very proud of himself, loves the own sound of his own voice & can even be overbearing at times. A few people haven even nodded of in his services, including me and the associate pastor because he can be a bit boring. He's not very good with social interaction, except when he's receiving compliments. He said to the younger pastor that he enjoys the privileges from wearing the collar even when he's not in church. Our younger pastor is more down to earth & just wears a shirt, tie & pants. I get the impression that most people don't read their bible & seem very worldly to me. I have a lot of time on my hands at the moment because I've only just come to the end of my recovery period for depression & anxiety, but with the Covid 19 pandemic, I haven't resumed to normal activities as I still need to be reassessed before doing so. I grew up singing Christian songs at my school, like 'Who put the colours in the rainbow', 'He's got the whole world in his hands', & 'All things bright & beautiful', so that's probably why I prefer more modern Christian songs.

Claire, I hear your heart and I totally understand. I believe that we as believers should be led by the Holy Spirit and not be under the control of a man or a woman.

It is okay to question any doctrine that is contrary to the Word of God. There is definitely a problem when we are just sitting and listening to someone who is teaching the Word of God, and are supposed to accept their interpretation of the Bible. In The Acts of the Apostles the Bereans searched the Scriptures for themselves to see what they were hearing was the truth. I believe this is how we are deceived by erroneous doctrine and false beliefs.

The Bible encourages us to study to show ourselves approved of God.... 2Timothy 2:15 I encourage you to seek the Holy Spirit as to what you should do and not depend on man. To be honest with you I am concerned, this is how cults are started. When the sheep cannot think for themselves and are indoctrinated to think a certain way.

Again, I say pray and trust the Good Shepherd to lead you. I do believe the correct way to handle this situation is to take whatever questions you have to the one who is teaching the Bible study, to avoid any discord. It is wise not to share your concerns with other members of the congregation that you are a part of.

I hope that this is a help and comfort to your soul.

Hi Donna,

I also believe that we should be led by the Holy Spirit, but I'm not sure if my gut instincts is the Holy Spirit or whether I'm being deceived by a religious spirit because I have only been a believer for less than three years, and also everyone around me thinks that I'm the one in error which doesn't help the situation.

Thank you for your encouragement and the scriptures that you suggested. I will study them and ask for guidance in prayer.

God bless you and your family.

Kind Regards

Claire

Thank you Claire for your kind words and prayers. I believe that the Holy Spirit is dealing with you about the things that you have mentioned concerning the congregation that you are a part of.

I encourage you to take heed and do not ignore what's in your spirit. There is definitely something wrong. The enemy always tries to make us feel that we are the ones who are in error. Please continue to pray and read the Word of God for yourself, and whatever you do not understand allow the Holy Spirit to teach you. I know without a shadow of doubt, by what you have shared that you are in the wrong place as it pertains to where you fellowship. I am praying that the Lord will bring you out and lead you to the right place, where you will be fed the Word of God. Depend on the Holy Spirit and not man.

Hi Donna,

Thanks for your reply. I believe that the Holy Spirit is dealing with me too. I think that I may even have the gift of discernment because I've suffered from anxiety all my life until people laid their hands on me & prayed for me at my old church. I've always been able to sense good or bad about people & situations, for example I can meet someone new & I either get a good, bad, or neutral feeling about them or go somewhere & get the same feelings about them too. I have no idea what triggers this feeling, but in every case I can think of it usually turns out that I'm right. My friends use to say that I was paranoid when I said that I had bad feelings about things, but the times I didn't listen to my gut instincts I ended up it trouble. I now trust my own instincts, rather than people.

I will continue to pray and read the Word of God, and ask the Holy Spirit to teach me the things that I don't understand.

Thank you for your prayers & your words of encouragement.

God bless you & your family.

Kind Regards

Claire

The church are believers not people that gather in a building.

Hi Ss,

I agree, but feel I will fall into error if I stop going to church because nobody around me are Christians, which already causes problems.

God bless you and your family.

Kind Regards

Claire

Hey Clare, U are right don't sound like the pastor's have the holy spirit? It's ok to do it on your own. take the narrow road, I've been kicked out of churches for speaking up and asking many qustion's, Because I saw the church controdicting the bible with there doctrine? they couldn't answer. I was all alone after that when I Got letter's sent to me about not accepting there doctrine. After That I wen't and brought me a bottle to drown my sorrow's away because I thought I did bad to the church I was mad of my self Because I thought I was in the wrong. I was praying with tears to our holy christ to forgive me. I was outside in the rain & asked jesus If I was still his servent? If he could show me a single star on the rainy night? He opened the clouds up wright above me and Showed me more than I asked for as I was looking up he told me that the name church means (CALLED OUT ONE'S) out of bondage. called out of man's doctrine out of trusting in man,Pastor,church. Be Still and trust Him not man!

jesus only died once so u can't hang him up twice on the cross. Just stay trusting in him try fasting for the word in the spirit of understanding. Stop trusting in man... u will learn more with christ alone. loney walk on the narrow road. I will pray for u my sister in christ and for your famlily JAH Favour U With Blessing's.

Hi Lionjudah,

Thank you so much for your testimony and your words of encouragement.

God bless you and your family

Kind Regards

Claire

Hello Claire

ok, Please just slow down a little bit. OK we are going to try and give you some answers, If you have confessed your sins to Jesus and accepted him into your heart you are saved, so when you start to doubt and i mean immediately remember 1st John 1 vs 9 if we confess our sins he is faithful and just to forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Please memorize that verse that is your best defense against the attacks on your mind by satan, in the book of James it says resist the devil and he will flee from you. i have gone through attacks from satan and I still remind him that my sins are forgiven, Baptisim is important our Lord Jesus told us it was but not being baptized does not mean you are not saved but get baptized as soon as you can because it will help with a public confession of faith. I was an addict for many years and that was after knowing Christ and i still struggle with it, we all have our struggles so yes that is normal. The gifts of the holy spirit are for everyone and not everyone gets the same gifts. God answers

prayer without a doubt and frequently the answer is no or wait but if it is good for you and his will then it will get answered when the time is right, because Gods timing is never wrong. Remember everything in the bible is true and correct God cannot lie if you ask for forgiveness you get it, repentance is also important I don't know what sins with but don't put yourself in situations where you should not be, I.e I don't go around certain people because i know for a fact that drugs could be there I don't fool myself that i can be around that and not fall, I tried that and failed so stay away from situations and people who could trip you up. You brought up tongues be wary of people who speak it but don't do it the way we are instructed to in the bible it says 2 or 3 and most and only if someone is there to interpret. Next read the bible daily and pray for discernment. My wife and I are praying for you

Hello Richard,

Thank you for your reply, and yes, I have confessed as many of my sins as I can remember to Jesus and accepted him into your heart. I also keep telling are newest church member 1st John 1 vs 9 if we confess our sins he is faithful and just to forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. I have managed to overcome some of my sins (By the grace of God !!!) like it says in James 4:7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. I am glad that you say that it is normal for me to still struggle with some of my sins, and that the gifts of the holy spirit are for everyone, because I strongly believe this too.

I pray morning & night most days, & I also read specific scriptures on here or read my Bible most days too or listen to the King James version online. I try not to put myself in situations where I am tempted, I have cut ties with all of my non Christian friends, but it's hard sometimes because I see my mum and my daughter 7 days a week and I feel like I am constantly tripping myself up by talking to them about the the lack of reassurance that I feel like I get from people at church. I know this is wrong and I feel like a hypocrite, but I'm struggling to break the habit. As for tongues, the pastor from my old church spoke in tongues now and then when he prayed for me about my depression and anxiety (which is what lead me to church in the first place), and by the grace of God, I eventually overcome it. A few people there had the gift of tongues, but I only ever witnessed my pastor doing it. I do feel like I have discernment about people at church, because they celebrate Christmas and other holidays which are NOT biblical and it says in Jeremiah chapter 10 Learn not the way of the heathen.

Thank you for you and your wife praying for me. God bless you and your family. :)

Clarie, may the Spirit grace you with his understanding. The Spirit of truth is all you need to overcome. Quit saying I try, you will always fall. Put you trust in him, believe what he says, he never fails. Ezekiel 36:25-28 Then will I sprinkle clean water (Baptism of Spirit) upon you, and you shall be clean (believe): from all your filthiness, and from all you idols (works of you hands, like saying I try) will I cleanse you. (vs) 26 A new heart (mind, the way the Spirit thinks) also will I give you, and a new spirit (of truth) will I put within you: and I will take away the stony (hardened) heart (carnal mind) out of your flesh, and will give you a heart (mind) of flesh (truth, Spirit). (vs) 27 And I will put my spirit within you, and CAUSE (Spirit at work,not you saying, I try) you to walk in my statutes, and you shall keep my judgements, and do them. Jesus told his disciples that the Son Of Man came to be a servant, isn't it great that he does eveything for us and we can cease from our works and come into his rest. May the Spirit grace you with truth.

There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

2For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.

3For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:

4That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

5For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.

6For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.

7Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.

8So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.

9But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.

10And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.

11But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.

12Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh.

13For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.

14For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.

15For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.

16The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:

17And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glo

Hi Lionjudah,

Thank you for the encouraging scriptures.

God bless you and your family.

Kind Regards

Claire

Hi Earl,

Thank you for all your words of encouragement.

God bless you and your family.

Kind Regards

Claire

Hello.

I will pray a Rosarium for you and your family and for you to find a proper spiritual guidance.

God bless you.

Hi Vlad,

Thank you for your prayer.

God bless you and your family.

Kind Regards

Claire

But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him. Claire u & that women can be the church two or three gathered in Jesus name Jesus said he will be in the midst teaching u.