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Give a witness?
Pini56:
Hello Porter,
Thank you for showing us what Ray has taught on this to us.
It is a good reminder of how we should respond to the Lord's Command to be 'Salt And Light'.
Love to You and Yours. May the Peace of God Guide your Heart. Regards, Geoff.
Flanagan:
Thanks Brothers and Sisters. I appreciate all your input and will consider it closely as I move ahead. God's Grace to you all.
L Ray Smith " It is ALL OF GOD. It is not wrong to tell others of your knowledge of God and His Word. It is not, however, your responsibility to "get people saved." Only God can do that."
lareli:
Hi Flanagan
Everyone keeps saying that it's not our job to save and only God saves.... I think you, Flanagan, are already aware of that and that isn't your intention anyways, is that correct?
If I perceive your question accurately you are trying to plant seeds and or water seeds that have already been planted. The actual 'growing', of course, is Gods to perform.
1 Cor 3
6 I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. 7 So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. 8 The one who plants and the one who waters have one purpose, and they will each be rewarded according to their own labor. 9 For we are co-workers in God’s service; you are God’s field, God’s building.
Good for you Flanagan. Don't be discouraged by those who tell you it's a waste of time. As I believe I read or heard Ray point out that there is no wasted movement in Gods plan. Not one atom will move or exist apart from His perfect plan. Be encouraged to do what the Lord has put in your heart/mind to do. At the end of the day you have to answer to your creator, not man.
We are different parts of one body. Perhaps a 'hand' tried to be a 'mouth' a few times and found it to be a failure. Should that 'hand' then preach to the rest that it's a waste of time for anyone else to speak?
From my experience in "church" people believe in Christian doctrine because there has been no one to challenge it. People (again, in my experience) are hungry and dying for truth. They believe what they've been taught to believe because that's the only doctrine they've been presented with.
I think there's a carnal inclination we have as humans to not want to share the treasure we have. Our flesh feels 'special' being part of a small inside group who knows the 'secret' treasure. We must test ourselves and our motives. Do we hide this treasure because we want to be the only ones with this special blessing? Should we freely give it away as we have freely received? Or should we not cast our pearls to swine? Perhaps we've taken it upon ourselves to label anyone outside of this little group as swine?
Flanagan:
Hi Largeli,
That was one of the big reliefs I learned after studying Ray's writings. Along with other things like Universal Salvation.
Know the truth and it will set you free.
Especially after having fallen from my first love (JWs) 10 years ago.
I should have explained myself a little better when I open this topic. But all's well that ends well huh Brother ;)
Wanda:
Hi Flanagan-
I'm an ex door knocker myself :-\
The only time I felt compelled to share spiritual matters, was in those early days, when I was on fire (pun intended) about there being no burning hell. I lost my zeal rather quickly because I couldn't feel the holy spirit of God...I was doomed.
Going to all those meetings and knocking on all those doors became hell on earth for me, because I believed, as I was taught, most of human kind was going to die at the hands of this god and I was being held personally accountable, to save my fair share.
Coming to an accurate knowledge of who God is and what he is doing for all mankind, lifted all of that burden from me and blessed me beyond measure.
Now, unless I am moved by his holy spirit to do so, I don't share anything I know.
Wanda
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