> General Discussions
Today you will be with me in Paradise?
Stacey:
--- Quote from: Craig on March 08, 2011, 12:50:17 PM ---Duane I'm not saying this applies to you but your post did prompt this reply to everyone.
I have been a part of the forum from the beginning, and I have seen much growth and knowledge gained by the members. I wish I had half the knowledge and strength as some of you. But I often wonder (about myself as well as the rest of the members) what has our knowledge profited? Have we become religious elephants? able to carry large loads of knowledge? If so what is the fruits of this vast knowledge? Are we dying to self? Are we becoming more humble? less carnal? Are we becoming a light in a world of darkness?
Or are we becoming religious hobbyist with ADD? Running to a fro looking for the next revelation and then switching gears when the next revelation happens along? Do we only want to live on the peaks? Or do we relish the journey? Do we feel special because we got a revelation or do we know we are special because we are children of God?
Now I'm not claiming anyone here fits this mold but I do want us all to do a little soul searching. Knowledge does not make us the elect nor makes us any more spiritual than an atheist. Ray and his teaching has opened up the scripture to the real Good News that God has given us and for that I am eternally grateful. Are we making the best use of this knowledge and are we applying it where the rubber meets the road? Or are we filling the bed of the truck up but when we get ready to start down the road we find we have no wheels or motor?
Food for thought.
Craig
--- End quote ---
That is excellent food food for thought Craig, thanks. It goes right along with some of my thinking on a thread I intend to make shortly and hope to get some responses and feed back on. Thanks.
GaryK:
--- Quote from: Craig on March 08, 2011, 10:06:40 AM ---I'm just trying to understand why we insist on applying human terms to a word and or words that we cannot possibly fathom in God's realm. Why can't we just accept that it is going to be a wonderful place, a place better than where we are now, and leave it at that?
Craig
--- End quote ---
Or, as Ray put it to Kennedy:
"Certainly it does not deserve to be compared with the end result that God has in store for all His Creatures. Our Apostle said that the glories that are to be revealed to us are so great he calls them "a burden!" Imagine having so much happiness it almost becomes a burden."
http://bible-truths.com/kennedy2.htm
Sounds good.
gk
Dave in Tenn:
How is it done, John? I reckon when you're ready, you'll know. :D
Marky Mark:
--- Quote ---I'm just trying to understand why we insist on applying human terms to a word and or words that we cannot possibly fathom in God's realm. Why can't we just accept that it is going to be a wonderful place, a place better than where we are now, and leave it at that?
Craig
--- End quote ---
Hi Craig.
The heavens within are hearts and minds are the realm of God,to those in Christ.
I do not believe we can understand what the Word of God is communicating to us in human terms,on a human level,but I do believe God can, on a Spiritual level, open up the Scriptures so that we as human beings can be blessed with what The Lord requires of all that He wills in the lives of those whom He is calling out of the world. Without Him,we certainly can do nothing.
Some sound advice from Ray...
http://forums.bible-truths.com/index.php/topic,6142.0.html
What Is The Gospel Of The Kingdom? . . Mobile Conference 2005
Rev 1:3 Blessed is he that reads, and they that hear the words of the prophecy, and keep the things that are written therein:
How are you going to keep the sayings of the prophecy in Revelation, if you don’t even know what it means.
Well God chooses people out in every generation to learn these things and hopefully we will learn some of these things today.
This book was written so that nobody could understand it, until God picks somebody out and says I want you to understand this book and I’ll show you how to understand it. That’s the only way. He’s got to pick you out and open up your mind or you will never understand this book. This book is written in all kinds of symbolism, figurative language, types, figures, images, examples, analogies, parables, metaphors and people think all those things are literal. That is confusion. That’s why the church is confused. That’s why there are supposedly 3000 Christian denominations in the world, because they don’t understand any of this stuff.
Jesus Christ said to His Apostles, to you it is given to understand, but to them it is not given to understand.
Mark 4:11 And he said unto them, Unto you is given the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all things are done in parables:
Mar 4:12 that seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand;
To you it is given, to them it’s not given. There’s you and there’s them and that’s just the way it is and the way it will be until the close of the age.
Hope this helps some. :)
Peace... Mark
mharrell08:
Excerpt from 12 Truths (http://bible-truths.com/twelve.htm):
TRUTH NUMBER 12
"If any man will DO His will, he shall KNOW of [concerning] the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of Myself" (John 7:17).
"But he that does truth [Gk: ‘is DOING the truth’] comes to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they [his ‘doings’] are wrought in God" (John 3:21).
"For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that you might be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding: That you might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God" (Col. 1:9-10).
"My son, if you will receive my words, and hide [‘treasure’] My commandments with you… Then shall you understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God. For the Lord gives wisdom: out of His mouth comes knowledge and understanding" (Prov. 2:1, 5-6).
"And we know that the Son of God is come, and has given us an understanding, that we may know Him that is True, even in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the True God, and eternal [eonian] life. Little children, keep yourselves from idols" (I John 5:20-21).
"And he that received seed into the good ground is he that hears the word, and understands it, which also bears fruit…" (Matt. 13:23).
"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endures for ever [the eon]" (Psalm 111:10).
I have thus far presented you with hundreds of Scriptures. Do you agree with them? Do you believe them? Are you willing to DO THEM? Whenever God and our Saviour speak to us, we are to BELIEVE AND OBEY. All who have ever attempted to circumvent these spiritual truths learned were not taught of God,
"…but vain were they made in their reasonings and darkened is their unintelligent heart. Alleging themselves to be wise, they are made stupid…" (Rom. 1:21-22, Concordant Literal New Testament).
Every single person I know that has stopped growing, spiritually, begins to go backwards, loosing what light they may have possessed because they are no longer faithful to the Word and commandments of Almighty God.
I think the above excerpt goes along with Craig's point about putting this knowledge we have obtained to use. The apostle James said we are to be 'doers of the Word' and not simply hearers, otherwise we deceive ourselves [Jam 1:22].
--- Quote from: John from Kentucky on March 08, 2011, 05:41:31 PM ---So if I am able to do those things you described above, then please tell me how it is done. However, I don't think it is within us to be able to do good, in anything. It is all from God, and I will be what he wants me to be when he wants.
--- End quote ---
And John, I know you have referenced this verse many times in the past:
John 15:5 I [Jesus] am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing
And these words from Christ are absolutely true, we can do nothing WITHOUT Him. But what about WITH Him?
Phil 4:13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me
This is how we 'do' these things that we are admonished to do. And if we know that it is Christ who has opened our understanding to the Truth, we KNOW that it is He who dwells in us. And with that knowledge, we can fulfill the words of the apostle James:
James 2:18-26 But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith BY my works. You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble! But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead?
Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect? And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.”And he was called the friend of God. You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only.
Likewise, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way? For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.
Thanks,
Marques
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