> General Discussions
His People, Seeking Him Diligently
hillsbororiver:
--- Quote from: skydreamers on March 16, 2007, 01:43:17 PM ---
Well, at least I try to obey his principles. This Psalm used to intimidate me because the writer keeps repeating how he obeys and keeps all the commandments, decrees, laws etc. and refuses to do evil, and I know I am FAR from being able to claim this. But at least now I have peace knowing everything is in God's hands.
--- End quote ---
Diana,
The ironic almost funny truth of the matter is that the author of Psalms (David in this case) was not really writing of himself, but of you, this is being written about His chosen, all of the elect!
Hebrews 11
32And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets:
33Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions.
34Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.
35Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection:
36And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment:
37They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented;
38(Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.
39And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise:
40God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.
Ephesians 1
1Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus:
2Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
3Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:
4According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:
5Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,
6To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.
7In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;
8Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence;
9Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:
10That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:
11In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:
12That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.
13In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
14Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.
15Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints,
16Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers;
17That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:
18The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,
19And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,
20Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,
21Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:
22And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,
23Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.
Revelation 1
5And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,
6And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
I have said this many times recently, the articles on Bible Truths have opened up the OT in ways I never dreamed of, Ray's writings have been like a treasure map.
Before these things were unlocked all the OT scriptures I had read and reread made little to no sense, I could have been reading a Chinese newspaper for all I was able to understand.
His Peace and Wisdom to you,
Joe
hillsbororiver:
--- Quote from: LittleBear on March 16, 2007, 12:49:39 PM ---My goodness, Joe, I don't think I ever saw that scripture, 1 Peter 1:2, or if I did it didn't resonate with me at the time.
How amazing that the spirit of Christ would be in the prophets, which thinking about it now, of course it would be.
I also didn't realize that the "law" could be used interchangably with the 'word".
Thank you very much for your response.
Ursula.
--- End quote ---
Ursula,
You are very welcome, so many times I have felt the same way, a scripture I have read or passed over numerous times suddenly coming alive and shining brightly, it is an awesome thing.
His Peace and Wisdom to you,
Joe
DWIGHT:
Ursula writes, "Even in difficult times. Actually especially in difficult times, we cling to God like we would never do otherwise. And then in these times, God shows us and teaches us wonderous things that we would never otherwise see. It's in times of despair that we fully turn to God and let Him deal with us as He would, and then we learn His righteousness."
This is so true. God really wants us to turn to Him and be totally dependent on Him. So He uses the physical to bring us to the spiritual. He uses our health, or our loved ones health, financial problems, our children or grandchildren, our relatives, our jobs or lack of a job....anything that will bring us to our kness and humble us before Him. Despair is a terrible thing to us, but it is a tool in the hands of the Potter.
I wonder, that if this kind of physical despair that yields the peaceable fruit of righteosness, will one day lead us to the point where we are that desperate in the spirit that we will need Him just as much? In other words, the physical will not bother us as much as the spiritual. That we become so one with Him in spirit that all we care for are spiritual things. I believe God is doing this in us. This is God creating, or transforming us into His image; right here on this earth. I never thought that this could be possible....but I do now.
In Him,
Dwight
YellowStone:
Dwight and Ursula, I too agree that it is mans tendancy to call on God and focus on him more deeply in times of need. Dwight what you said regarding: "He uses our health, or our loved ones health, financial problems, our children or grandchildren, our relatives, our jobs or lack of a job....anything that will bring us to our kness and humble us before Him. Despair is a terrible thing to us, but it is a tool in the hands of the Potter." But this is so sad :(
Sad, because even after all that he has done for us we only come to him when we want something. I do not believe for a second that God does not Want us to like wise come to him in our times of happiness and joy. Surely God rejoices when hears prayers of thanks, when one has seen a glorious Sunrise or when one smells coffee in the morning and marvel at the aroma as well as the air that carried it.
I have struggled with this line of thought for such a long time, of not being part of this world, for Christ said:
Jhn 15:19 If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.
But I am sure that Christ did not mean that "world" as in "Creation" but rather as "carnal man." Creation as in Earth, our universe, etc (not carnal self-centered mans ideals) is for our benefit. :)
Rom 1:20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, [even] his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:
I have found God so easy to find in Creation. I can honestly say that he has spoken to me and transformed me more while out in what he has made, like riding though a vast green valley, or standing on the edge of stream, even staring up at a crystal night sky, than I have ever experienced in study. NOT that I am saying that I have not gained from study, but words only (hopefully) convey intent. It is God who grants understanding and I have found without fail that when I remove myself fromt the "world of carnal man" and walk the trails with the one who made it all, is when he most often speaks to me.
2Ti 2:7 Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things.
Ray has stated that the whole Bible is symblolic (a parable) of higher meaning. Who here would not agree that the Creation (as mind boggling as it is) is just a foreshadow of what is to come. I believe and know to the depths of my being, that I have never and will never find the ideals of "carnal man" anywhere in God's creation. It is a foreign concept. :)
As we are told that: " the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, [even] his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:" I know that I for one am removing myself increasingly away from the carnal lifestyle of man and instead surrounding myself in Creation the window to God.
So before I completely forget the point I was trying to make; I do not believe that one has to be at the pit of despair in order to find God. I know God uses times such as these to draw people near him, but perhaps because they have not been able to "find" him anywhere else. :)
Dwight, these are truths that have been revealed to me by God. Comments are very welcome.
Your brother in Christ,
Darren
hillsbororiver:
I also believe that we can should and will see God in all the beautiful and wondrous things He has crafted in this physical realm as they shadow the true wonders of His coming spiritual Kingdom, but I don't know how many actually do until they have had their carnal heart broken down into a fine powder.
From personal experience I had gotten to the point where I only looked to God when I was in some kind of mess, since He broke me down and granted me His grace with faith I really do see everything as having His signature on it. It has totally changed my perspective when observing all that surrounds me.
Does anyone come to God with a humble heart if they have not lost someone dear to them, or suffered illness, lost something critical like a house, a job, their savings?
I don't believe the Lord is speaking exclusively to the very rich in goods and money but really to those who are self satisfied and complacent.
Luk 18:25 For it is easier for a camel to go through a needle's eye, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.
Who are the ones to be comforted by and drawn to His Spirit?
Matthew 5
2And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying,
3Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.
5Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.
6Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.
7Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.
8Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.
9Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.
10Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
His Peace & Wisdom to you,
Joe
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