> General Discussions
God's Voice
rick:
--- Quote from: Arion on October 03, 2015, 06:16:38 AM ---
--- Quote from: Jeff on October 02, 2015, 01:09:52 PM ---
--- End quote ---
It's simple. God is either in control of everything that happens to you, every thought that you can think and everything that you do or he is not in control of all these things in your life.
--- End quote ---
That’s really where its at. Do you believe the scriptures.
Jeff:
--- Quote from: Arion on October 03, 2015, 06:16:38 AM ---
--- Quote from: Jeff on October 02, 2015, 01:09:52 PM ---
I just can't figure out if the thought is from God, the Adversary, or something that's just mine alone. It's tormenting me, but it also may be there for a purpose.
--- End quote ---
It really doesn't matter in the long run. Don't stress out about it because that is something that the adversary can do.
It's simple. God is either in control of everything that happens to you, every thought that you can think and everything that you do or he is not in control of all these things in your life. Which one of these opposites is true? That, I believe is what it means to have child like faith. Since God IS in control of everything that happens to you, every thought that you think ect, then all the hand wringing is unproductive and harmful.
If you think about it, since God is our Father just what do we have to worry about? Not only is God our Father but our elder brother is always making intercession for us before the throne of grace and mercy. Does a little child holding to his Father's hand worry about all these things? We are little children and our Father is holding our hand. Whatever we do or think God is in control even if we drift off into disobedience from time to time. In the end it will all be good.
Easier said than done I know because even your stressing about these things right now is part of God's plan [right now] for you and even admonitions to the contrary won't bear fruit for you until it's your time to understand it and walk in it. The areas you struggle with are probably areas that I don't and the things I struggle with are things that you don't have a problem with. It's all of God and will all be good in the end. It is enough.....
--- End quote ---
I believe the Scriptures.
Is God in control of my stress or am I? :)
Colin:
Hi All
We have all read Paul’s account in Romans 7, where in verses 14 through to 24, we can “hear” him expressing his frustration at how he battles with the things he has a natural tendency to do, versus what he knows are the godly pursuits. He echoes exactly what we encounter and how we feel. Not one of us is any different, since we all possess carnal nature and a spiritually feeble heart.
I checked the Concordant version but found it was no better than the KJV….many stilted expressions, so maybe we can express it better in our own modern day speech…..exactly as Jeff and others have done, in sharing our exasperation and dissatisfaction with what we keep doing and/or thinking.
If Paul spoke our language he would be saying much the same as we do….such as “I know what I ought to be doing, and thinking; I should be feeling confident that God will “see me through it all”- but somehow negative ideas keep overwhelming me”.
We’re in the “same club” as Paul. He was reacting the same way as we do…you can hear him, in utter frustration, saying, “what a miserable wretch I am…how am I ever going to rise above behaving this way”?
Some might wrongly conclude he felt he had a “split personality” and dismiss him as schizophrenic. There is indeed a battle for our minds and our innate carnality is hostile towards God. Realising this led Paul to ask in anguish, where’s the way out of this for him… and for us?
Rom 7:24 O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?
His answer? It’s in the next verse.
The idea of “split personality” might be a legitimate description. We all have our carnality, however those of us being “worked with” by God are in now possession of another spirit dwelling within us. And one is “at war” with the other. The good news is, we know which one is ultimately going to be the victor.
Php_1:6 Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform [Greek epiteleo = fulfil completely] it until the day of Jesus Christ:
Rom_8:7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.
What makes it “uncomfortable” is that we are the battleground. And won’t it be a relief when “peace” is declared? And peace is going to be established….by the Peacemaker.
I was looking at what Paul wrote to the Ephesians, who were basically Gentiles. We can view them as a parable, in a way….let me explain why I think that way…
They, in their unconverted state, like everybody, were aliens toward God and His ways. Paul reminds the saints in Ephesus that they, too, used to be opposed to God…..in other words, carnal.
Eph 2:2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:
Eph 2:3 Among whom also we all had our conversation conduct 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.
“Children of wrath”…..that involves enmity, as I am beginning to see it. Paul goes on to say (verse 13) that Jesus Christ is the One who abolishes such enmity……in stages. Then I kept reading…..
Eph_2:15 Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;
What is the “twain”? Commentaries answer “the Jew and Gentile”. But, what can those two (twain) represent?
I see it as the two natures….of the “true Jew” – the one who is one inwardly (Romans 2:29) as compared to the nature of an unconverted carnal mind (represented by the hostile Gentile).
Eph_2:16 And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:
Christ is going to reconcile both - the “twain”…..not just physical races, but I think,(as a parable) the natures represented by them; by subduing and conquering the hostile carnal nature in all and bringing all into unity with God’s spirit.
The enmity (the carnal spirit) is to be slain……put to death…. Another aspect of “spiritual death”.
We are to become transformed from our “allegiance to” the world and its carnal values.
Rom 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
Jas_4:4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.
Who does the transforming/renewing? The Peacemaker and (through Him) access by the Holy Spirit to the Father (Ephes. 2: 15, 18).
Hope that “stitches together” a few thoughts, and provides an opportunity to “unearth some more scriptural gems”. ( Pardon the mixed metaphors.) Colin
rick:
--- Quote from: Jeff on October 03, 2015, 03:23:46 PM ---
--- Quote from: Arion on October 03, 2015, 06:16:38 AM ---
--- Quote from: Jeff on October 02, 2015, 01:09:52 PM ---
I just can't figure out if the thought is from God, the Adversary, or something that's just mine alone. It's tormenting me, but it also may be there for a purpose.
--- End quote ---
It really doesn't matter in the long run. Don't stress out about it because that is something that the adversary can do.
It's simple. God is either in control of everything that happens to you, every thought that you can think and everything that you do or he is not in control of all these things in your life. Which one of these opposites is true? That, I believe is what it means to have child like faith. Since God IS in control of everything that happens to you, every thought that you think ect, then all the hand wringing is unproductive and harmful.
If you think about it, since God is our Father just what do we have to worry about? Not only is God our Father but our elder brother is always making intercession for us before the throne of grace and mercy. Does a little child holding to his Father's hand worry about all these things? We are little children and our Father is holding our hand. Whatever we do or think God is in control even if we drift off into disobedience from time to time. In the end it will all be good.
Easier said than done I know because even your stressing about these things right now is part of God's plan [right now] for you and even admonitions to the contrary won't bear fruit for you until it's your time to understand it and walk in it. The areas you struggle with are probably areas that I don't and the things I struggle with are things that you don't have a problem with. It's all of God and will all be good in the end. It is enough.....
--- End quote ---
I believe the Scriptures.
Is God in control of my stress or am I? :)
--- End quote ---
Good question, would you believe me if I said both. we do have our role too. Although we are not responsible we are accountable. :)
Jeff:
Colin - What you wrote was very well thought out. I'm going to do some reading along the same line. I appreciate you sharing that.
Just a few thoughts about this thread:
I do understand that we aren't to just float along expecting God to do everything. We have to treat people with respect, be as obedient as possible, read Scripture, pray, etc. We have responsibilities (or accountabilities I suppose it would be) and Scripture is clear about that - we have to "try". But I wonder if being accountable necessarily involves controlling how we feel.
I'm genetically predisposed to certain traits. The more scientists and doctors learn about the human brain the more they find that we aren't always "choosing" to "think" or "be". Our bodies are controlled by chemical and electrical processes. When the chemicals aren't functioning then the electrical impulses are affected. I'm not saying that we aren't accountable - we certainly are - but God created us - uniquely. Have you ever tried to get a song out of your head? Often the harder you try the more annoying it becomes. I don't have Schizophrenia so I can't say what it's like, but from what I do know, those who do have it, don't want it. Their ability to function in this world is seriously diminished.
We have control over our attitude (most of us) but depression, and other forms of mental illness, affect the way a person thinks, and can have a great deal of influence on behavior. I've been dealing with clinical depression for 40 years, and it certainly has had an impact in my life. It's controlled for the most part but I'm still very aware of it. God could heal that but hasn't. He could heal all of our illnesses, but He doesn't. We're to live with them and accept them for what they are, and we have to accept that some people in the world, even though trying to walk with God, are disabled. Our God is patient with us, thankfully, but I often wonder if my ability to hear God's voice (not-out-loud) is impaired because of the depression.
Philippians 4:6-7 doesn't necessarily say "don't be anxious". In the KJV they use the word "careful" instead of anxious. Anxious, for some reason, sounds like a choice, but it's not always a choice. Anxiety arises from hormones like adrenaline and cortisol, that are related to stress. If those chemicals aren't functioning they way they're supposed to, it's pretty difficult to fight them. Impossible, really, because that's what those hormones are for - they control "us". They're designed to do that. If they aren't working they don't control us in a good way. I think that the word "careful" likely has a different connotation.
If I'm "care"ful of nothing as the KJV says I think that "can" be a choice. For example, I shouldn't care whether I'm financially wealthy, as God provides all. All things "...are out from Him..." John 16:28 and I would venture to guess mental illness would be included. How do our brains become this way, if we don't come out from God, in this manner?
Our time is short, we're vapor (James 4:14), but it sure doesn't feel short. And it only is when compared to eternity.
Sorry. I didn't mean for this to be so long.
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