Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[hillsbororiver]

Genesis 18

 17 And Jehovah said, Shall I hide from Abraham that which I do; (Why not, hasn't He hidden His plan and purpose from 99.999999 % of all who have ever lived?)

 18 seeing that Abraham had surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him? (How many in Christianity and the world really believe this?)

 19 For I have known him, to the end that he may command his children and his household after him, that they may keep the way of Jehovah, to do righteousness and justice; to the end that Jehovah may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him.

 20 And Jehovah said, Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grievous; (As are the sins of all the world, believers and non believers alike)

 21 I will go down now, and see whether they have done altogether according to the cry of it, which is come unto me; and if not, I will know.

 22 And the men turned from thence, and went toward Sodom (Sound familiar?): but Abraham stood yet before Jehovah. (Not a follower of men....)

 23 And Abraham drew near, and said, Wilt thou consume the righteous with the wicked? (Good question Abraham)

 24 Peradventure there are fifty righteous within the city: wilt thou consume and not spare the place for the fifty righteous that are therein?

 25 That be far from thee to do after this manner, to slay the righteous with the wicked, that so the righteous should be as the wicked; that be far from thee: shall not the Judge of all the earth do right? (How many of us and how often do we think like Abraham?)

 26 And Jehovah said, If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then I will spare all the place for their sake.

 27 And Abraham answered and said, Behold now, I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord, who am but dust and ashes: (Yes, this is true but we are valuable enough to have been ransomed by the Son of God!)

 28 peradventure there shall lack five of the fifty righteous: wilt thou destroy all the city for lack of five? And he said, I will not destroy it, if I find there forty and five.

 29 And he spake unto him yet again, and said, Peradventure there shall be forty found there. And he said, I will not do it for the forty's sake.

 30 And he said, Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak: peradventure there shall thirty be found there. And he said, I will not do it, if I find thirty there.

 31 And he said, Behold now, I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord: peradventure there shall be twenty found there. And he said, I will not destroy it for the twenty's sake.

 32 And he said, Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak yet but this once: peradventure ten shall be found there. And he said, I will not destroy it for the ten's sake. (You are on a roll there Abraham, not even God will object or condemn your faith and merciful pleading)

 33 And Jehovah went his way, as soon as he had left off communing with Abraham: and Abraham returned unto his place. (We all know it did not exactly turn out real well except for Lot but we all know the value in God's eyes of even one saved, aren't we all "saved" one at a time, in our own season, at His pleasure?) 

 Exodus 32

 7 And Jehovah spake unto Moses, Go, get thee down; for thy people, that thou broughtest up out of the land of Egypt, have corrupted themselves: (Haven't we all?)

 8 they have turned aside quickly out of the way which I commanded them: they have made them a molten calf, and have worshipped it, and have sacrificed unto it, and said, These are thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt. (It is a hard thing to discard our old idols)

 9 And Jehovah said unto Moses, I have seen this people, and, behold, it is a stiffnecked people: (Is He talking about me?)

 10 now therefore let me alone, that my wrath may wax hot against them, and that I may consume them: and I will make of thee a great nation. (Uh oh, I might be in real trouble here)

 11 And Moses besought Jehovah his God, and said, Jehovah, why doth thy wrath wax hot against thy people, that thou hast brought forth out of the land of Egypt with great power and with a mighty hand? (Go Moses!)

 12 Wherefore should the Egyptians speak, saying, For evil did he bring them forth, to slay them in the mountains, and to consume them from the face of the earth? Turn from thy fierce wrath, and repent of this evil against thy people.

 13 Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, thy servants, to whom thou swarest by thine own self, and saidst unto them, I will multiply your seed as the stars of heaven, and all this land that I have spoken of will I give unto your seed, and they shall inherit it for ever. (On a roll, just like Abraham!)

 14 And Jehovah repented of the evil which he said he would do unto his people. (Amen)
 
 Numbers 14

 11 And Jehovah said unto Moses, How long will this people despise me? and how long will they not believe in me, for all the signs which I have wrought among them? (How many times have we ourselves asked this question, how many times have we ourselves failed as well?)

 12 I will smite them with the pestilence, and disinherit them, and will make of thee a nation greater and mightier than they.

 13 And Moses said unto Jehovah, Then the Egyptians will hear it; for thou broughtest up this people in thy might from among them;

 14 and they will tell it to the inhabitants of this land. They have heard that thou Jehovah art in the midst of this people; for thou Jehovah art seen face to face, and thy cloud standeth over them, and thou goest before them, in a pillar of cloud by day, and in a pillar of fire by night.

 15 Now if thou shalt kill this people as one man, then the nations which have heard the fame of thee will speak, saying,

 16 Because Jehovah was not able to bring this people into the land which he sware unto them, therefore he hath slain them in the wilderness. (And this is still being said to this day)

 17 And now, I pray thee, let the power of the Lord be great, according as thou hast spoken, saying,

 18 Jehovah is slow to anger, and abundant in lovingkindness, forgiving iniquity and transgression; and that will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, upon the third and upon the fourth generation.

 19 Pardon, I pray thee, the iniquity of this people according unto the greatness of thy lovingkindness, and according as thou hast forgiven this people, from Egypt even until now. (Are we consistently praying this prayer?)

 20 And Jehovah said, I have pardoned according to thy word: (Amen! How awesome are the prayers for mercy heard and answered!)

Peace,

Joe

P.S. There are many, many examples of the men of old giving us an example of how we should compassionately view our brethren, and they have not even been given the same promise as we have been blessed with and perhaps chosen to receive.

[ez2u]

This  is a good post  Joe it made me think about life and the questions I have ask about to the Lord.  Even though Abraham was cunning in  his question his object was mercy.
peggy

[hillsbororiver]

Hi Peggy,

Thanks for responding, for some reason I was struck by how these prayers were for all the people rather than just for themselves and/or their immediate flesh and blood families and friends.

Here is another OT example of unselfish prayer, this time from Solomon;

 1Kings 8 

 33 When thy people Israel are smitten down before the enemy, because they have sinned against thee; if they turn again to thee, and confess thy name, and pray and make supplication unto thee in this house:

 34 then hear thou in heaven, and forgive the sin of thy people Israel, and bring them again unto the land which thou gavest unto their fathers.

 35 When heaven is shut up, and there is no rain, because they have sinned against thee; if they pray toward this place, and confess thy name, and turn from their sin, when thou dost afflict them:

 36 then hear thou in heaven, and forgive the sin of thy servants, and of thy people Israel, when thou teachest them the good way wherein they should walk; and send rain upon thy land, which thou hast given to thy people for an inheritance.

 37 If there be in the land famine, if there be pestilence, if there be blasting or mildew, locust or caterpillar; if their enemy besiege them in the land of their cities; whatsoever plague, whatsoever sickness there be;

 38 what prayer and supplication soever be made by any man, or by all thy people Israel, who shall know every man the plague of his own heart, and spread forth his hands toward this house:

 39 then hear thou in heaven thy dwelling-place, and forgive, and do, and render unto every man according to all his ways, whose heart thou knowest; (for thou, even thou only, knowest the hearts of all the children of men;)

 40 that they may fear thee all the days that they live in the land which thou gavest unto our fathers.

 41 Moreover concerning the foreigner, that is not of thy people Israel, when he shall come out of a far country for thy name's sake;

 42 (for they shall hear of thy great name, and of thy mighty hand, and of thine outstretched arm); when he shall come and pray toward this house;

 43 hear thou in heaven thy dwelling-place, and do according to all that the foreigner calleth to thee for; that all the peoples of the earth may know thy name, to fear thee, as doth thy people Israel, and that they may know that this house which I have built is called by my name.

 44 If thy people go out to battle against their enemy, by whatsoever way thou shalt send them, and they pray unto Jehovah toward the city which thou hast chosen, and toward the house which I have built for thy name;

 45 then hear thou in heaven their prayer and their supplication, and maintain their cause.

 46 If they sin against thee (for there is no man that sinneth not), and thou be angry with them, and deliver them to the enemy, so that they carry them away captive unto the land of the enemy, far off or near;

 47 yet if they shall bethink themselves in the land whither they are carried captive, and turn again, and make supplication unto thee in the land of them that carried them captive, saying, We have sinned, and have done perversely, we have dealt wickedly;

 48 if they return unto thee with all their heart and with all their soul in the land of their enemies, who carried them captive, and pray unto thee toward their land, which thou gavest unto their fathers, the city which thou hast chosen, and the house which I have built for thy name:

 49 then hear thou their prayer and their supplication in heaven thy dwelling-place, and maintain their cause;

 50 and forgive thy people who have sinned against thee, and all their transgressions wherein they have transgressed against thee; and give them compassion before those who carried them captive, that they may have compassion on them;

 51 (for they are thy people, and thine inheritance, which thou broughtest forth out of Egypt, from the midst of the furnace of iron);

 52 that thine eyes may be open unto the supplication of thy servant, and unto the supplication of thy people Israel, to hearken unto them whensoever they cry unto thee.

 53 For thou didst separate them from among all the peoples of the earth, to be thine inheritance, as thou spakest by Moses thy servant, when thou broughtest our fathers out of Egypt, O Lord Jehovah.

I know in my own heart I have really done little praying for the multitudes in the churches or the world unless they were in my circle, these examples have convicted me of my lack of compassion and how much I need the Lord to strengthen me in this (and many other things as well).

Peace,

Joe

[dogcombat]

How true Joe,

Our carnal "old man" is a beast that won't die by our doing, but by the righteousness of God.  To say lately that things have been HARD for me, would be an understatement.  This episode serves to show ME how much I DON'T trust God to provide for me.  I end up falling into those selfish praying habits, (I won't repeat them here) that put my focus on my problems rather than my Lord.  May God continue to enlighten you and other respondants on this thread.

Ches

[hillsbororiver]

Hi Ches,

Thanks for your addition here, I could not agree more with what you shared, it seems the more God reveals Himself to us the distressing consequence that comes with it is a clearer image of our own wretchedness. Self justification just doesn't work like it used to! 

I used to be incredulous about Paul writing of his own "wretched" state, to me it seemed almost like he was speaking with a false humility, I mean look at how he lived his life once he began "working his own salvation" and all the tribulation(s) he endured as well as living like a nomad. I used to wonder about how he could keep the faith through all these things yet still claim he was a wretched man, it took some time and wisdom from God to see it was not Paul doing it, it was the Spirit of Christ within him doing it, yes Paul experienced it first hand but his strength was not his own. It is the same thing with us.

Looking at how some of the OT prophets and NT saints pleased God it seems to be all about mercy for others and praise for the goodness which is God and very little to do with whether they themselves were granted special favors or relief from trials and tribulations.

Peace,

Joe     

[Akira329]

Hi Ches,

Thanks for your addition here, I could not agree more with what you shared, it seems the more God reveals Himself to us the distressing consequence that comes with it is a clearer image of our own wretchedness. Self justification just doesn't work like it used to! 

I used to be incredulous about Paul writing of his own "wretched" state, to me it seemed almost like he was speaking with a false humility, I mean look at how he lived his life once he began "working his own salvation" and all the tribulation(s) he endured as well as living like a nomad. I used to wonder about how he could keep the faith through all these things yet still claim he was a wretched man, it took some time and wisdom from God to see it was not Paul doing it, it was the Spirit of Christ within him doing it, yes Paul experienced it first hand but his strength was not his own. It is the same thing with us.

Looking at how some of the OT prophets and NT saints pleased God it seems to be all about mercy for others and praise for the goodness which is God and very little to do with whether they themselves were granted special favors or relief from trials and tribulations.

Peace,

Joe     

Hey Joe this came to mind while reading your post.
Php 2:3  Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.
Php 2:4  Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.

I had recently told a friend that they rather be served than serve.
Not sure how they took it, but haven't spoke to them since.
I knew I made a judgement I shouldn't have but this persons life called for it to be said. If not by me than by someone else.
More or less I saw the lack of kindness, mercy, and goodness they expressed to others.
I feel a kind of regret saying all these things.
I hate to be the one tearing someone down.

I pray that I have the lack of selfishness Abraham and Moses showed to wicked people.

Antaiwan

[Ninny]

Joe, I want you to know that I am crying right now...this is all so true. We are a selfish and stiff-necked people! It is hard to pray for the good of others at times or we just don't think to do it.. How often God must desire for us to let our heart be broken for someone else whether we even know them or not. To put yourself out there like Abraham and Moses did! To be bold and step right up to God and plead for someone or a nation. How often? Why are we told in scripture to pray?? Why for instance does scripture tell us to pray for the sick..maybe not only the physically sick, that the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much??  Isn't God telling us to step out of ourselves  to put ourselves aside and see the need of others?  My heart is broken..waiting for God to mend it and fill it with the kind of love to step up for others and not think only of my own needs....thank you, Joe for that, you are an awesome tool in the hand of a loving God! I don't mind telling you...
Kathy

[ez2u]

With everything that is going on in our corrupt government  i think this is the time to remember to pray for them  I was listening to rays audio and "can you lose the spirit of God".  I am not one for  a lot of flattery and it was hard to get his point at times but that was really earth shaking.  I still don't understand the whole message but Salvation is getting clearer.  Sometimes it feels like all is hopeless and then the Holy Spirit comes and encourages me.  If you just listen to the news or even u tube  about the world condition how can anyone stay alive without our Hope in Christ.  the future looks bleak.  I don't mean we won't grow poorer and poorer in the world many people did not eat well in the depression or at all,  Christian too. but our life is more than just bread  its the life of Christ that dwells in us. So eat now while you have the ability from this study. peggy

[cjwood]

joe,
after reading your opening thread post i just sat there amazed that it was Christ/Jehovah whom abraham and moses were communing with. oh the things that God our Father has revealed to us on the website via ray. i mean, i have read ray's studies about how it was Christ who was the mouthpiece for Almighty God the Father, in the OT. but when i read over the scriptures and it really, really hit me deep in my spiritual gut that these patriarchs were speaking to Christ, the same Christ who was sent by God the Father to be born a man, born a servant, and walk this earth, i just gasped to myself the magnitude of the Truth we have been shown.

and the fact that these 2 particular patriarchs thought it not peculiar to go directly to the Source and pray, even pleading, for God's mercy for others, not just praying for family and friends "within their own sphere of influence", was a lesson i needed to be shown.

and if all that was not awesome enough, your reply to ches/dogcombat regarding paul, and how paul experienced it all first hand (his faith, and perception of his own wretchedness) but his strength was not his own. it was the Spirit of Christ doing it in him. THIS VERY SAME CHRIST THAT SPOKE TO ABRAHAM AND MOSES!!! i mean, how absolutely amazing is that??!!

WOW, mind blowing (carnally mind blowing) !!!

thanks again my dear brother joe for this thread. and thank you my Dear Father for that Lovely Spirit working in joe for the uplifting of the saints. amen and amen.

claudia

[Roy Martin]

A timely and good post.
I see several excellent examples in these prayers. It has been weighing heavy on me that I read a lot of post and replies that seems to be putting the people down that can't see the truth; you know the ones still in the church buildings following the pastors. They can't help it that God has put the blinders on them. I'm sure that most of them want to know God and love Him. When I was in Babylon, I loved God as much as anyone. People don't like to be told that they are blind, and even more, they don't like to be told that God is the one blinding them. Wouldn't it be better for us, and visitors that come to this site to see compassion and prayers of mercy for them?  
 I am as guilty as others by making comments about how can they be so blind, but when I do, I get that feeling that its not right. I should be praying for them even if Gods plan is to keep them blind until His time.
 God knew that Abraham wouldn't find any righteous people. Why did God let him try anyway?
I'm not against exposing those that contradict,but on the other hand, aren't they also blinded by God?
 I'm' not putting anyone down. I speak only for myself that I want to have it in my heart to pray for people rather than finding and revealing their faults that only God is in control of.
Its Gods choice to have mercy on whom He chooses, but He still wants us to pray for them. It's good for us and them, but its God that gives us the heart to do this.
I pray that we all have a heart like Abraham, and Salomon and Paul. Their prayers were awesome, full of love and compassion. I wonder how it would  have been if the prayers had words like, God I just don't understand how these people can be so blind, what is wrong with them? They don't listen to anything, and so on and so on.
 Did the people of the OT know about Gods will? or think they could get God to change His mind?
I guess it doesn't matter if I know that. I do know that they were exceptionally close to God. They really knew how to pray, even though they weren't going to change Gods mind or plan; yet God let them think it was possible.
 Joe this thread has gave me much to think about.

Peace
Roy


 
 

[Ninny]

Roy, you are right! We need to remember exactly where we came from and remember that we are here by God's design and no other reason...God is working all things according to His will and we need to walk in that..
Kathy

[mharrell08]

Great post Joe 


Matt 5:7  Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy

Matt 9:11-13  ...the Pharisees saw it, they said unto his disciples, Why eateth your Master with publicans and sinners? But when Jesus heard that, he said unto them, They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick. But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

Hos 6:6  For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings

Matt 12:6-7  ...I [Jesus] say unto you, That in this place is one greater than the temple. But if ye had known what this meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice, ye would not have condemned the guiltless.

Matt 23:23  Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone. [One cannot have faith and judgment without mercy...we cannot leave one of these 'undone']

Rom 11:30-32  For as ye in times past have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief: Even so have these also now not believed, that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy. For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all.


Thanks,

Marques

[Ninny]

Marques... Mercy!
Thank you for that!
 Kathy

[hillsbororiver]

Hi Folks,

As usual my Brothers and Sisters here added much texture and insight to a topic or thought that was brought forward by my own struggle(s). We all have that experience from time to time where familiar verses are brought into clear focus by circumstances (causes) we are currently being presented with and challenged by.

It is my prayer that we all are granted His wisdom in all matters.

Jas 1:5   If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

But what exactly is God's wisdom?

Jas 3:17  But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.

Some of you might remember Jonah's gourd, a topic I brought up a while back, it had to do with Jonah's enthusiastic expectation of Nineveh's judgment and destruction. As it turns out this whole episode was actually a judgment against Jonah for his lack of empathy for the people of Nineveh! This was yet again an insight that did not make a profound impression on me all the previous times I had read about Jonah, but this time it really did convict me of my own lack of compassion for those who believe, think and act differently than me or those I feel most comfortable with. Just like Jonah!

I will address the incredible responses a bit later as I am currently being reminded of my weekend duty to cook breakfast. 

Peace,

Joe 


 

[mharrell08]

I agree Joe...the Lord had me come to that realization when studying a subject I had created a thread about: 'Wrath & Indignation'.

I came to a couple of thoughts:

1. The Word of God/Holy Scriptures is for the few that God is/was/will be giving understanding to...the many that remain & dwell in Babylon will only receive the milk, not the 'deep things of God' [1 Cor 2:10]

2. Reading about wrath & indignation (especially after reading 'Exposing the Secret Rapture' paper [http://bible-truths.com/rapture.htm]), I realized, that though wrath & indignation is not appointed to God's Elect, the Lord STILL felt the need to inform us of it. I couldn't understand why...

3. Looking through the OT and seeing the many times that the Lord spoke of His wrath ['our admonition' 1 Cor 10:11], I was looking for the shadow/type. I then got discouraged because I was expecting to find some consistency. I mean sometimes the Lord would consume all, sometimes consume some, others He spared.

4. But again, the Lord had me realize again, this is for OUR admonition...not theirs of Babylon. So I looked for those in the OT who are a shadow of US, not the 'stiff-necked' people the Lord has us turning/repenting from ('turning/repenting' as it is not a complete process yet). Jackpot!

5. I found that in all these cases of 'the Lord's wrath wax hot' and so on, the OT saints and prophets displayed MERCY IN ALL CASES. And as the Lord tells us in Matt 23:23, you cannot leave one undone...as in you cannot have judgment without mercy neither can you have faith without mercy, and vice versa.

6. So in this age, and the next in the Great White Throne Judgment, there will be mercy for all sinners THROUGH CHRIST AND HIS ELECT. That is not to say that 'wrath & indignation' are done away with...but even in God's wrath & indignation, He will have mercy on all.

I got so hung up in my carnal mind, that these attributes of judgment were exclusive or opposed one another...but the Lord says, that they are NOT TO BE UNDONE from one another.

Matt 23:23  Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.

Luke 11:42  But woe unto you, Pharisees! for ye tithe mint and rue and all manner of herbs, and pass over judgment and the love of God: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.

And woe be unto US, if we leave one of these UNDONE...as Joe said, let us not be without empathy for all of God's children (those in the faith now, and those who will be when converted in the next age) as Jonah was but let us take on the mind of Christ, for only God is GOOD.


Rom 3:10-12  As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.

Eph 2:3  Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. [We ALL did & still do though God is working in us to repentance...but Paul's not finished...]

v 4-10  But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.


Thanks again for a great post Joe (sorry to be so long-winded, this has been on my mind for a while),

Marques

[hillsbororiver]

Hey Joe this came to mind while reading your post.
Php 2:3  Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.
Php 2:4  Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.

I had recently told a friend that they rather be served than serve.
Not sure how they took it, but haven't spoke to them since.
I knew I made a judgement I shouldn't have but this persons life called for it to be said. If not by me than by someone else.
More or less I saw the lack of kindness, mercy, and goodness they expressed to others.
I feel a kind of regret saying all these things.
I hate to be the one tearing someone down.

I pray that I have the lack of selfishness Abraham and Moses showed to wicked people.

Antaiwan

Hi Antaiwan,

Perhaps God was using you to shake and rattle your friend's comfort zone, to wake him up out of a complacent slumber. Certainly we all need an admonishment at times. These reminders of our carnal nature and the ease in which our "old man" can slide right back into the driver's seat may be relayed to (sometimes at ) us by a loving Brother or Sister, flesh and blood family or friends and even by those who do not necessarily have our best interests at heart.

Only you and God know what your motivation was and what spirit inspired you, knowing you as a person these last few years gives me a very strong feeling that this reality check you gave your friend was inspired from above and that if he or she contemplates your observation honestly that they will ultimately benefit from it. We all will learn this lesson at some point, either in the present age or in the age(s) to come.

Joe, I want you to know that I am crying right now...this is all so true. We are a selfish and stiff-necked people! It is hard to pray for the good of others at times or we just don't think to do it.. How often God must desire for us to let our heart be broken for someone else whether we even know them or not. To put yourself out there like Abraham and Moses did! To be bold and step right up to God and plead for someone or a nation. How often? Why are we told in scripture to pray?? Why for instance does scripture tell us to pray for the sick..maybe not only the physically sick, that the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much??  Isn't God telling us to step out of ourselves  to put ourselves aside and see the need of others?  My heart is broken..waiting for God to mend it and fill it with the kind of love to step up for others and not think only of my own needs....thank you, Joe for that, you are an awesome tool in the hand of a loving God! I don't mind telling you...
Kathy

What a beautiful, inspiring post Kathy! You truly captured the very essence of who our God is and what He is creating us to be, it is an arduous step by stumbling step process but it progresses in direct proportion to the time we spend contemplating and meditating on His mercy as well as praying for godly wisdom. It is way to easy to become spiritually lazy (how well familiar I am with this) and forget these things.

I have no doubt this is why Paul wrote;

1Th 5:17  Pray without ceasing.

With everything that is going on in our corrupt government  i think this is the time to remember to pray for them  I was listening to rays audio and "can you lose the spirit of God".  I am not one for  a lot of flattery and it was hard to get his point at times but that was really earth shaking.  I still don't understand the whole message but Salvation is getting clearer.  Sometimes it feels like all is hopeless and then the Holy Spirit comes and encourages me.  If you just listen to the news or even u tube  about the world condition how can anyone stay alive without our Hope in Christ.  the future looks bleak.  I don't mean we won't grow poorer and poorer in the world many people did not eat well in the depression or at all,  Christian too. but our life is more than just bread  its the life of Christ that dwells in us. So eat now while you have the ability from this study. peggy

Hi Peggy,

I know what you mean about the state of the world, I have to be very careful as I watch what is unfolding before us. For me anxiety and anger can be the fruits of too much concern over events I really have no control over. As with many things it is much easier said than done but we really must believe and live these Words;

Mat 6:34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

As well as;

Jas 4:14 Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.

Very humbling and so very true.....

Peace,

Joe

 

  

[Roy Martin]

Joe, I really like the stuff you bring to surface. It always gets me to thinking on several things. Very inspiring and much to say to all of your post. I know that God is working through you. I can see the shine and feel it. I wish I could phrase my thoughts as good as you and others here.

Roy

[G. Driggs]

Joe, I really like the stuff you bring to surface. It always gets me to thinking on several things. Very inspiring and much to say to all of your post. I know that God is working through you. I can see the shine and feel it. I wish I could phrase my thoughts as good as you and others here.

Roy

I have to agree with Roy, Joe, you have such a loving, compassionate, and merciful way of bringing the Truth to light. Very inspiring, I can only hope and pray God will do the same for me. This is true for all the mods, I see why God has put you all where He has, we couldnt ask for better brothers and sisters, always loving, kind, patient, longsuffering, and understanding. We have a good example in you all, because no doubt, Jesus is your example and it shows. Thank you all, it really helps, be patient, please.

Dan 12:3  And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.

1Jn 1:7  But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. 

Its good to fellowship with like minds, isn't it?



Peace, G.Driggs

[Ninny]

Hey George Driggs! the moderators on this forum know how much they are loved!! by ME anyway!!
We definitely are watched over by some of the gentlest, kindest men and ladies around!! Yeah, even Dennis and Craig!!  God has blessed us all so much! Not one of them could ever be replaced!
Kathy

[hillsbororiver]

Dear Roy, George and Kathy,

Your words and sentiments are very generous and very kind, we all know that if anything I share speaks to your spiritual heart the Author is from above, it is our Lord leading and inspiring me and everyone else here and wherever he has those whom He chooses to reveal Himself.

I can safely say the other moderators feel the same way and of course there are more than a few members who are being used by the Spirit of Christ to help us through our own trials and tribulations by sharing their own experiences as well as the insights they have received through prayerful study.

I thank God for all of my Sisters and Brothers!

Peace,

Joe