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Giving thanks for all things?
lilitalienboi16:
--- Quote from: John from Kentucky on August 24, 2016, 03:09:29 PM ---
--- Quote from: lauriellen on August 24, 2016, 12:08:12 AM ---Does not this scripture encourage us to pray for the world?
1Ti 2:1 First of all, then, I urge that petitions, prayers, requests, and thanksgivings be offered to God for all people;
1Ti 2:2 for kings and all others who are in authority, that we may live a quiet and peaceful life with all reverence toward God and with proper conduct.
1Ti 2:3 This is good and it pleases God our Savior,
I think these scriptures make a pretty good case that Jesus did pray for people in the 'world':
Joh 17:20 Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;
Luk_6:28 Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you
Mat_5:44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
Luk 23:34 Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.
--- End quote ---
Re: your first section, the reason we are asked to pray for all people and rulers is found in 1Tim 2:2, "that we may live a quiet and peaceful life..." The prayers are for the Elect, the few, not for the salvation of the Many, at this time.
The Many are not going to be saved at this time. They will go their own way for now and will die in their sins. Their only hope is for a physical resurrection to judgment when they will be saved, in the future.
Your second section changes nothing about the timing of salvation. God has already made His plans and they will not change.
First the Passover, when the Great Anointed One gave Himself for all.
Second, Pentecost or Feast of First Fruits, which has gone on for about two thousand years, when Jesus works with and saves the Elect few.
Finally, the Feast of Tabernacles or Great Fall Harvest, at the end of the ages, when salvation is given to the Many. Only after the return of the Great King will the rest of humanity and the angels be healed and saved. A time of wonderful blessings on all.
--- End quote ---
I had the same thoughts regarding what paul said in timothy. The prayer is so WE can live in peace and not for the world.
lauriellen:
I didn't imply that we are instructed to pray for the salvation of the world at this time nor do the scriptures I referenced. To me, it is telling me that I should be concerned for people, that when I see a need or suffering that I should petition God to send relief or healing or to meet whatever need may be at any given time. It tells me that I should be praying for those in authority i am assuming for their strength and wisdom to do whatever God has purposed them to do, not pray for their salvation. I personally see no need to pray for anyone's salvation as I see that as a done deal, each in his appointed order. Just because God isn't choosing all to be elect in this age doesn't give me an excuse to shut my eyes and heart to the misery I see around me and do nothing to get involved in doing something to bring a little relief, even if it's just lifting up a small prayer for mercy. Jesus prayed for mercy on his murderers, he said to pray for our enemies as I am sure he did, and the disciples said we should, so that's my example to follow. That is just my understanding.
Colin:
Hello Everybody
When I go back and see how this thread began, I feel that there has been a departure from the original topic and points are currently being addressed which centre more on “praying for others”.
I have read the posts in which it has been correctly stated that the vast majority of the world’s population will be dealt with and finally be converted at a future time, according to God’s timetable; this is something which we have been blessed to comprehend and for which we can give thanks.
However I have gained an impression that a degree of self-satisfaction along with a lack of empathy has “crept in” and been inadvertently displayed regarding those who have not been called by God.
On this “secondary” topic, I am reminded of Ray’s paper on Does a Sovereign God Ever Change. In this paper, Ray concludes with discussing Ninevah and how God relented. Earlier in this paper, Ray had written about the decision which God had made in bringing about the flood (Genesis 6) and Ray explained how God felt towards humanity. In Ray’s final paper entitled Why Does God Love you, we are given marvellous insight into how God views His creation of mankind, most of whom He will not call until after they are resurrected.
The topic of the “Royal Law” found in James 2:8 has been raised and James quoted directly from Leviticus 19:18. All of Leviticus 19 contains directives which promote “wellness” and harmony in any community and were given by God, through Moses, to the ancient Israelites. Without a “heart in them” (Deut 5:29) we know why they were unable to fully obey; these commands form the basis of success for humanity and depict and reveal the mind of our creator.
Our approach towards others should reflect our understanding of the mind of God who gave Moses those commands, which we see in Leviticus 19. We will do so, as the Spirit of God in us motivates us to treat others. Not only to treat them, but to think about their needs and be responsive.
Would that include praying for anybody, say, who has to undergo a serious surgical operation and that it be successful, if it be God’s will? I don’t think we need ask the question.
There are several places where we can obtain an answer to how we can empathise with others who suffer. 2 Corinthians 1 is a good place to start.
We know that all of mankind needs healing….the word salvation, as Ray taught us, stems from a Greek word meaning “healing”. Physical healing is a forerunner of the spiritual healing, which all of mankind needs, because we were all created in a spiritually weakened state (Romans 8:20 and Romans 7 shows that).
We often remember how Jesus said He always spoke in parables so that the meaning would remain hidden. The “extended” reason is something we might overlook…..
Matt. 13:15 For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.
But we read where He went about HEALING people…….physically. Matt.4:23; Matt. 9:35; Luke 9:6.
These people were unconverted, they were “of the world”. Why did He heal them….He must have wanted to…..we know that He will attend to their “real healing” in the future.
If we have the mind of Christ, then we too will desire people to be physically healed….whether they are “called” or not. It will be up to God to decide, but we can desire and ask on their behalf.
We read of one account where a woman approached Jesus asking for healing of her daughter. Matthew 15:22. We see the end result in verse 28. How did Jesus know that woman had faith? He recognised that her faith came as a gift from God.
People, in any generation, who are not called, such as this woman from Caanan can possess faith to varying degrees. A short while later we read where, by contrast, Jesus perceived His own disciples had “little faith”. Matthew 16:8
That is another area where we can give thanks - for the faith which God gives to us. Colin
John from Kentucky:
Jesus healed tens of thousands of people. Why? Because He could. He had the Power of the Spirit. Also, Jesus was the Messiah, the Anointed One, He healed because the Scriptures said He would. He had to fulfill God's will.
Jesus said He was not of this world.
Jesus said He did not pray for the world.
Jesus said there would be wars and rumors of war until the end.
Jesus said the poor would always be with us.
And yet, there are those who disregard Jesus' words and tout the propaganda of the Great, False, Church which teaches the false gospel of salvation by works and how we must love, love, love. Deceptive words which deceive the Many. The Elect will not be deceived by false religion.
Jesus told us we must pray and do good deeds in private. But the false church always prays and tell us about their good works in public.
As always, those who follow Jesus must decide do they follow what Jesus says or the subtle, deceptive teachings of the Church ruled by Satan, the one who appears as an angel of light.
octoberose:
Thank you for your post Colin.
John, in what scripture am I told that there is something I am Forbidden to Pray For least I be deceived? How does that relate to "in everything, with prayers and supplications make your requests be known to God..." Yes, for our peace as the scripture says. I'm not asking God to 'save' those He has no intention of 'saving' until the resurrection and judgement. I am usually asking for mercy. To comfort those in terrible grief and death. If that offends you it just is going to have to offend you.
I know at times I am guilty of not really paying attention to a post and then commenting later on and missed out on what was said, but you all really must not agree when I wrote that the prayer right before the crucifixion and leaving his disciples where Jesus says He was not praying for the world is Not indicative of Him Never praying for the world. It is not. We cannot extrapolate that . So I'm a little upset because now I and those like me are part of the propaganda of the Great False Church. Are you kidding me?
John, you're actually implying that a mother is not to pray for her child. Or her husband. At all . Because they are of the world.
I direct you to Isaiah 49-" Can a woman forget her nursing child, that she should have no compassion on the son of her womb? Even these may forget, yet I will not forget you." Or how about Romans 10:1- Brothers and sisters, my heart's desire and prayer to God for the Israelites is that they may be saved." And as of Paul's writing they were not saved and he was Praying for them.
And now I have nothing else useful to say.
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