> General Discussions
The Reason/ The Answer
skydreamers:
Hi Arcturus,
Yes, a very good question indeed! :)
I've become aware recently that God is shifting my focus from a "head" knowledge to a "heart" knowledge. I have spent much time trying to know as much as I can. Filling my head with scripture and deciphering the meaning. Partly this is how I am wired. I love to dissect everything and search for treasures.
But God has been slowing me down so that I might be still and just know that He is God. And more than that, to be still and know that He is LOVE.
Every soul out there has a deep emptiness inside and they are searching for a Love that the "head" tells them is "too good to be true". But it exists. There is a Love that never tires of pursuing and working to win the hearts of man.
Nothing matters, no amount of knowledge is remotely valuable, without the essence of Love.
I've recently learned that the condition of our heart towards God is not as important as understanding God's heart towards man. This heart comes always from a premise of Love.
1 John 4:8
The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love.
1 Corinthians 13:1-8
1 If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.
2 And if I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.
3 And if I give all my possessions to feed the poor, and if I deliver my body to be burned, but do not have love, it profits me nothing.
4 Love is patient, love is kind, and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant,
5 does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered,
6 does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth;
7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
8 LOVE NEVER FAILS
This is the heart of our Father towards His children, for He IS this Love that Paul speaks of here.
It is the Love we initially thought we were receiving when we first came to Christ. But in time, we are taught that Love sometimes actually does fail, and so we go back to being jaded. How many times have you heard this scripture quoted? Sermons, weddings, funerals etc etc etc. But sadly many of the people quoting these very verses, have long ago stopped BELIEVING them.
Oh what joy to realize that the truth doesn't change and that we can believe the scripture when it says LOVE NEVER FAILS.
This is the greatest joy, and lets us rest safely in the arms of Jesus, and be still.
Peace,
Diana
gmik:
Yikes. I am still having trouble saying anything to anybody. I like Darrens short sweet approach.
The first 6 months at BT I was reading and absorbing like crazy. Naturally I HAD to share w/ my best friend. It was not good and now we avoid the subject if we wish to remain friends (I do). The other day at lunch she mentioned something about hell and I just kept eating, not looking at her, so she stopped.
Then I shared w/ family. Not good either.
So I just shut up and let everyone assume I am still as before.
Now, your challenge, be instant in season...about my hope and happiness. What would I say??
Maybe something like: Oh, I just found out that I Tim 2--4 is really true! God is the Saviour of All Mankind! That is why I am so happy!
Then it would depend on their response, and how much time was available. I wouldn't want to try and pour 2 years of Ray's teaching on 'em.
Anyhow, I am hoping for more advice and your discovery on this thread!
Deborah-Leigh:
Hello Randy
Thank you for elaborating....Yes...I can see now why you stopped mid way.... :D
To get into that discussion as we have come to understand here at BT might begin a whole debate and argument with beginners! ;D :D You would have to tread VERY CAREFULLY...watching body language and looking out for that tell tale signs when the eyes glaze over.... :D ;D I have seen that look once or twice so I know :D ;D..
Beloved...
Thank you for your sharing that! I believe you handled the situation with gentleness and sensitivity! You said : I stuck mostly with two belief points he that he said he was absolutely sure of…God’s Sovereignty and His Love And used these two things to refute his free will or hell comments
You are the closest so far to explaining why we have hope and joy....we refute free will and hell! So did Jesus and He often said as we know from Rays teachings that even HE...JESUS CHIRST could do nothing without the Father and that HE only did what HE saw HIS FATHER DO. So when we are able to REFUTE hell and Free will....then we are DOING as Jesus did and HE said to US...Lk 10 : 20 Nevertheless do not rejoice at this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are enrolled in heaven.
That means that we are being and acting and behaving in the way of Christ Himself who is the Book of Life into which we hope to enroll.
Pera
Thank you for sharing! I hope you are blessed to see what you have got! You have got FREEDOM from HELL!.....You have got judgement to RIGHTEOUSNESS and the HOPE of CHRIST and you do not have to doubt GOD EVER AGAIN! Remember ECCLESIASTICS!....You were in the toilet...remember... and GOD dragged you out!.... ;D :D
No one can alter or debate or change YOUR TESTIMONY! It is YOURS. They can doubt or disbelieve it but no one can take it from you.
Rev 12 : 11 And they have overcome him (Satan vs 9) by means of the blood of the Lamb and by the utterance of their testimony for they did not love and cling to life even when faced with death.
Darren
Yes... again here is the Myth of Free Will being testified AGAINST! God is in charge! Right! Thank you.
jER
Thanks for that! That is precisely my question to you. WHAT do you give to the person who knows the stone is worthless and wants insight about what is precious!.... :D What do you say when a person asks you that? Think about it! Get ready! This question can appear in many words but they all seek the same One! They seek Christ and want to have HIM and the Church teachings have barred the way to many who are on their way into the Kingdom of God.
Matt 23 :13 Woe to you scribes and Pharisees, pretenders hypocrites! For you SHUT THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN IN MEN'S FACES; FOR YOU NEITHER ENTER YOURSELVES, NOR DO YOU ALLOW THOSE WHO ARE ABOUT TO GO IN TO DO SO!
Heresy and Blasphemy are the two doors that "shut the Kingdom of Heaven in men's" faces through false teachers and blind guides!
Chris R
Yes! Of course our answers are part of the plan...I just don't want my answers to be counted among those that are with the blind guides! :D
I am not aiming for a formula here either. I am not suggesting that there is a formula and I do hear you that each circumstance will provide unique responces...but do WE KNOW the answer! Have we got the answer as to why WE have the hope we have? What do WE THINK? We have to know that part before we can begin to communicate to others anything clear or concise.
That is what made me open this thread. I was asked. I realised I did not have the answer then and there. I thought about it. I had part of the reply. The woman asked me to explain free will!!! THAT helped! :D
Diana
As I have come to expect from you....a thoughtful and deep response. Thank you. Yes God is Love. His Love never fails. Yet as you point out....humanity does not believe it after the wedding collapses or the child dies or the fiance leaves or the....or....or....So why have YOU got what YOU have got and WHAT IS IT!....What do you KNOW?....that has set you free? or freer than I feel or they feel or they ARE!
Three cars stopped outside our home yesterday. They were top of the range Ferrari's and one dazzling Lamborghini....In this country these cars cost MEGA BUCKS. The occupants got out and my husband and I observed them. They were MISERABLE! They did not have any joy, peace, kindness....patience...he was swearing into his cell phone about his car being messed up in not so nice language!... ::) :o and the girl friend jumped out to go an buy the cheepest chewing gum available in the shop next door! WELL! What was that. What if that person came in and asked....WHAT HAVE YOU GOT that I can't buy and I can see you have got it? WHAT IS IT?
Gena
Thank you! Yes a most VALID point! Persecution can follow our disclosures and we can not expect everyone to jump up and down in elation because we are free! That is most important what you observe G. Thank you!
What you say here is great : Maybe something like: Oh, I just found out that I Tim 2--4 is really true! God is the Saviour of All Mankind! That is why I am so happy!
Like I found out there is no Pagan Hell!....Not that I now want to be a Devil. NO! Not that there is now a licence to be mean ugly and evil and there will be no consequences! NO....but that no one is going to burn eternally for taking the cookie out the jar or not being saved in their life time! ;D :D Now that is something to get happy about!
;D :D...I will wait for a few more to jump in and contribute to this thread. My simple find in simple words that came to me.... ;D...is already being answered in the thread!!! THERE IS NO HELL. That is part of it ;D :D...and like with Randy that too can start a HUGE DEBATE and glazed eyes!!! :D ;D...not seeing not knowing or wanting to know or like with you Gena...just jammed tight shut eyes and flying fists of protest about us being heretics!!!! ;D
Peace to you
Arcturus :)
carol70:
Hi Arcturus,
I am brand new at all of this so my mind has been spinning for the past month or so.
I was asked by a very dear friend recently where my hope in the midst of some trials I've been having comes from, but her question referred to my hope in man. I told her, "My hope no longer rests in man, but in God and my faith that He is in control." She started crying (which shocked me) and said she envied my faith and while I felt my answer was woefully inadequate, I'm thankful to God that something I said touched her.
Of course had she asked me this today I could have talked to her about the free will myth, universal salvation, and the heresy of an everlasting tortuous Hell, but I'll save that for another day. ;)
Love and peace,
Carol
Deborah-Leigh:
Hello Carol
I believe you answered her just as the Lord desired! We can have much knowledge and do equally as much damage too! Paul himself said that he had received visions which he would not share least he appear Superior or above or puffed up....2 Cor 12 : 6 Should I desire to boast, I shall not be a witless braggart, for I shall be speaking the truth. BUT I ABSTAIN FROM IT so that no one may form a higher estimate of me than is justified by what he SEES IN ME or HEARS FROM ME. 7. And to keep me from being puffed up and too much elated by the EXCEEDING GREATNESS, PREEMINENCE OF THESE REVELATIONS...
We too have to take care not to make ourselves the elite club of untouchables! We have to be still, prompted by the Spirit of Christ as to when and what to say, and know that God is God. There is a balance for all occasions!
Look at our teacher as an example in Ray Smith. Even he says he doesn't go out of his way to preach teach and conform the world into the image of Christ. He does not have debating sessions in the street or go out to LOOK FOR arguments or making his point! Ray gets the questions by the thousands! QUESTIONS COME TO RAY..they come to him and he answers!
I think you did just fine. Keep up the studying of the truth here in BT!
Peace be to you
Arcturus :)
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