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God's Voice

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Dave in Tenn:
Jeff...I posted those to clarify what the words were and gave it in various translations.  I THOUGHT I was adding to what you said.  I wasn't trying to 'preach' to anybody. 

cheekie3:
Jeff -

It is much more difficult to express clearly our thoughts and intentions in writing than it is when we speak face to face.

I do not believe your original post was addressed completely.

I believe Dave in Tenn provided clarity to these verses.

I believe John from Kentucky stressed the need not to worry.

To go back to your original post regarding our thoughts -

The Scriptures state that our thoughts (and steps) are directed by The Lord Himself.

I believe that this applies for all human beings in every age, and not His Elect Called Out Ones in this current age.

Even when our thoughts go from here to there, and we say to ourselves, where did that thought come from, our thoughts are still directed by Our Heavenly Father.

I constantly ask The Lord to judge my heart (motives) and confirm to me if they are pure and pleasing to Him; and if not, I ask Him to purge them from my being.

I understand that our motives dictate our thoughts, which dictate our conversations and actions.

So if our motives in our hearts are pure, it logically follows that our thoughts should be pure.

But, we are still a work in progress and sin from time to time; even though we desire not to - and we need to repent of our impure desires and thoughts and forgive all others, and ask Our Heavenly Father to forgive us and cleanse us.

I understand that we are all from time to time in a situation we do not want to be in - and we cry out to Our Lord and Saviour to release us from it - and it does not happen.

It is His Will be done - and we do not always understand why - but I believe we will ultimately understand why we were placed in these hurtful and painful situations.

I hope I have addressed some of your concerns about our thoughts. 
 
In Holy Spirit.

Kind Regards.

George.

Colin:
Hi Jeff, John, Dave, George and all other members

George is quite correct, in that “It is much more difficult to express clearly our thoughts and intentions in writing, than it is when we speak face to face”.     Being aware of that, I always ask God to put the “right words” into my thoughts as I type, because I do not wish to give offence.

 We all have varying backgrounds and experiences and these do contribute to the manner in which we react and respond to one another.     Jesus Christ had a “motley bunch” of disciples, who differed from each other and to whom He gave instruction.   We would be well advised to consider what He told them.


Mat 18:1  At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?
Mat 18:2  And Jesus called a little child [Greek paidion  = half grown boy or girl] unto him, and set him in the midst of them,
Mat 18:3  And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.
Mat 18:4  Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
Mat 18:5  And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me.

In our dealings with each other, that does not mean we should use “baby talk”….it is the attitude of a “paidion” that we are to display, one of humility.       Any semblance of giving offence is to be avoided.

Mat 18:6  But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea. 

Who are these “little ones” who believe in Christ?   The ones we are to avoid offending?    They represent our brothers and sisters who come to this forum for instruction, clarification, discussion and sharing. 
   
Mat 18:7  Woe unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh!

When Jesus said “woe”, I am sure He meant He would be displeased with those giving offence.    For that reason, I feel that we ought to “take a breath” before putting fingers to keyboard, to consider the impact our words might have.   
Mat 18:8  Wherefore if thy hand or thy foot offend thee, cut them off, and cast them from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life halt or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet to be cast into everlasting fire. 

Ray often explained what Jesus meant about “cutting off your hand or foot” (or fingers) if they cause offence.

Mat 18:10  Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven.

The message I get from those verses is that we should treat our fellow contributors,(who can be likened to “these little ones”) with love, one towards another.    In other words, the opposite of despising.     Where is there any place for harshness?   The more experienced members should be better able to set a righteous and humble example.   
Sadly, as Jesus said, “offences must come”….and they do.   We need therefore to be on guard against being numbered amongst those who offend…

Paul also was mindful of this weakness, which we all have….
Act 24:14  But this I confess unto thee, that after the way which they call heresy, so worship I the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the law and in the prophets:
Act 24:15  And have hope toward God, which they themselves also allow, that there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust.
Act 24:16  And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offence toward God, and toward men.
He said he had to “work at it” (exercise myself)   - a lesson for us too.
And it covers all cases - whether dealing with Jews, Gentiles as well as the ones who are of the church of God……which we are claiming to be.
1Cor 10:31  Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.
1Cor 10:32  Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God:

Our curriculum now includes learning to encourage, not to disparage.   We are in training for the opportunity to be assistants in the millennial age, where the job will include managing all kinds of people, with all kinds of impairments, backgrounds, degrees of ignorance, personality variance.   Right now all of us have weaknesses and some strengths; the forum can be a vehicle whereby we can sharpen up skills that we will be called upon to put into practice, later on.   Let us treat each other as “fellow teachers in training” with dignity and love.     Otherwise we might be vainly displaying our supposed knowledge, in much the same way as did the Pharisees.   

Let us think before we type!   Better still….ask God to “clean up our thinking” and attitude before we lift a finger to type.   Remember what Jesus said about “cutting off our hand”.        I have just read this back to myself and, with God’s help, will do my best to do what I am encouraging everybody else to do.    Colin

John from Kentucky:
"THE KISS OF DEATH"

[Is your love pure or fake?]

I hear a lot of "huggie huggie kissie kissie" pious platitudes from the mouths of today’s religious hobbyists. Personally, it makes me a little ill in my midsection. Most of it is as phony as a three-dollar bill. Could you be guilty of using this emotional charade to deceive those you wish to impress?

There is nothing wrong with hugs, as I am quite fond of them myself. And there is nothing wrong with proper kissing. Paul instructs the assemblies to greet each with "an holy kiss" four times, and Peter instructs its use once, as a "kiss of charity."

The Greek word used is "philema." A "holy" kiss is merely a pure, sacred, ceremonial kiss—a simple kiss. Men no longer kiss men as a form of greeting non-family members in most western cultures—I’m personally kinda glad of that!

People also engage in "hugs and kisses" in their speech and writing. And this too can be fine and acceptable depending upon how it is done. At sixty-five, I still put a few xxxx’s and oooo’s at the bottom of a birthday card to my wife.

However, there is another way that hugs and kisses are used and overdone in which it is a camouflaged front to mask the real person that is no more holy than was Judas.

Had the twelve other Apostles already received the Holy Spirit of God, they would not have had to ask Jesus "who" is was that was about to betray Him—they would have known. Thank God that it is not possible to "deceive the very elect" (Matt. 24:24).

Like Satan’s ministers of righteousness (II Cor. 11:15), these deceivers are wolves, but they don’t come as wolves. These false teachers and deceivers:

    "…come to you in SHEEP’S clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves" (Matt. 7:15).

But you could spot one of these "wolves" a mile off, couldn’t you? Just look for the GIANT TEETH that Little Red Riding Hood encountered, right?

    "O foolish Galatians, who has bewitched [Gk: ‘to fascinate by false representations] you…" (Gal. 3:1).

The "wolves" COME IN SHEEP’S CLOTHING! You don’t see their teeth. They don’t show their teeth. They only show you a huggie huggie kissie kissie pious religious smile. THAT my friends, that pious front, IS the "sheep’s clothing." Wolves BITE, and their bite can be deadly:

    "But if you bite and devour one another, take heed that you be not consumed one of another" (Gal. 5:15).

Now then, where are we to find these "wolves and sheep’s clothing" coming with hugs and kisses to deceive and devour? Well, wherever the SHEEP are found.

    "For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous [savage] wolves enter in among YOU, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men [and women] arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them" (Acts 20:29-30).

Didn’t we all witness this ourselves in recent months? Are all the wolves gone now? Of course not—there will always be wolves wherever there are sheep.

I’m warning you: Wolves come in "sheep’s clothing," full of smiles, and hugs, and kisses. You will not see their teeth until it is too late.

Judas was a wolf in sheep’s clothing. The apostles saw a sheep—Jesus saw a wolf. What was Judas’ ultimate sheep’s camouflage? Why, wasn’t it a simple, sincere, pure, godly "kiss?" Think again.

    "Now he that betrayed Him give them a sign, saying, Whomsoever I shall kiss, the same is He: hold Him fast. And forthwith he came to Jesus, and said, Hail, master; and kissed Him" (Matt. 26:48-49).

You have all seen this drama acted out many times in films—a simple little peck on Jesus’ cheek. Oh really?

The five Scriptures using the word "kiss" from Paul and Peter, always used the Greek word "philema" which means "kiss" and nothing else. In Luke 22:48 we read this:

    "But Jesus said unto him, Judas, betray you the Son of man with a kiss [Gk: a simple ‘philema’ kiss]?"

But in Matt. 26:48, we find something totally different. Judas told the elders and chief priest:

    "…whomsoever I shall [PHILEO—passionate fondness] kiss, that same is He…"

Judas did not have a "philema" kiss in mind at all. The "kiss" in Matt. 26:48 is a "phileo" kiss, and it means a fond, affectionate, passionate kiss, not a simple "philemo kiss." And the elders and high priest knew the different in these two words. One was a peck on the cheek, but Judas determined to use a more a passionate, huggie huggie kissie kissie display in his attempt to betray Jesus to the devouring and ravaging wolves.

This is really intriguing stuff. Now after Judas tells the priest and elders what kind of a kiss he will give Jesus [a phileo kiss] to betray Jesus, He actually delivers this kiss. And how does he do that? He does it with yet another Greek word for kiss, which is, "kataphileo" mean "to kiss EARNESTLY."

This "kataphileo kiss" is used three other times in Scriptures:

    Luke 7:45—"You gave me no kiss [no affectionate ‘phileo’ kiss, Jesus admonishes His disciples] but this woman since the time I came in has not ceased to kiss [‘kataphileo kisses’—earnestly] My feet."

    Luke 15:20—"And he [the prodigal son] arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him [earnestly and passionately with a ‘kataphileo kisses’]."

    Acts 20:37—"And they all wept sore, and fell on Paul’s neck, and kissed him [with ‘kataphileo kisses’ of great passion and earnest]."

Is it not abundantly clear that this super emotional use of hugs and kisses was used only on the most RARE occasions of deep and profound emotional circumstances? But this is not proper conduct for everyday behavior. See these over-pious charlatans for what they are. Be suspect of those who use super-pious and sanctimonious hugs and kisses every day of the week.

Now to the Judas Kiss of Death:

    "And forthwith he came to Jesus, and said, Hail, Master; and KISSED HIM."

The Greek is "kisses"—multiple kisses, with ‘kataphilio kisses, just as we find in every single use of this word in Scriptures I showed above.

No, Judas did not betray Jesus with a peck on the cheek; he deceitfully delivered a "huggie huggie kissie kissie, fraudulent hugs and KISSES OF DEATH!

What must we learn from all this? Whenever we pretend to be Christ-like but it’s all a charade, we too are guilty of giving Christ a Judas kiss of death. What a disgusting display of the carnal mind and flesh, Judas has left us. Some have vengeance in their heart, others vanity, others bitterness and hatred, and yet others uncontrollable sins of the flesh, but they try to camouflage their evils with a plethora of hugs and kisses to all.

Don’t be afraid to hug; don’t be afraid to kiss, but beware of such phony displays of pious emotions, as they could be your "KISS OF DEATH."

A spiritual hug to you all, from my heart,

Ray

Dave in Tenn:
I'll end with this:

These 'verses' I don't see as "commandments" to be followed for fear of punishment.  I see them as promises.  The Father is essentially telling me, "I've got it all under control.  Live."  I didn't want to (nor do I now) turn these into meat for a theological discussion.

A new vision of the future lifted my depression and cynicism in one night.  I still 'have it' (depression) and they still are a comfort to me.  That's what I see, and I don't have any desire to un-see it.

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