> General Discussions
The Life Of A Believer
YellowStone:
--- Quote from: Chris R on August 13, 2007, 05:56:22 AM ---But the words of Truth cannot be two sided. If we are God's chosen, or if in fact I am as chaff that will be burned, and my life has been ordained in advance to be as such, then I can overcome nothing. There is not a single person here that can "overcome" the will of or purpose of God, unless it is God's will that it be so, of which of course means one is doing no such thing
If man's steps are directed from plans made well in advance, then surely God knows who will overcome and who will not. Just as He knows who He has made himself known too and from whom he has kept himself hidden. Who am I to change anything God has put in place?
Hi Darren
We must realize a few things...The first is..WE DONT KNOW WHAT GOD KNOWS...the second..WE ARE ACCOUNTABLE FOR EVERY IDLE WORD.
What then shall we do? Roll up our tents, and move across the river and wait? Just because all of our choices are caused by something does not negate the fact we make those choices.
Paul knew this would cause some doubt. Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he yet find fault? For who hath resisted his will? Rom 9:19 We are to therefore "Run The Race", Knowing full well that God knows the outcome, Why run this race if God knows the outcome?...BECAUSE WE DONT!
Craig, let's go ahead and shut the forum down, Ray, Delete all your teachings, Dennis..go ahead and pull the plug on it all ...because God knows the end from the beginning. Well maybe not just yet!..Paul had another quote.. Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed [it], Why hast thou made me thus? Rom 9:20
We are not to question God, perhaps a little discernment is in order.
Chris R
--- End quote ---
Hi Chris and Joe :)
I wish to thank you both for your discerning answers. If you cannot tell, I was playing devils advocate and you both gave the answer I was looking for. :)
Joe, you said it exacltly right by saying: "Is it not obvious that the life of a believer consists of a whole lot more than just "believing" that Jesus is the Christ? God has bigger plans for the human race than just "saving" them. God can "save" chickens, but God doesn’t want chickens for sons! God wants sons that are PERFECT as He is perfect! Wouldn’t you all agree that becoming perfect might just require a whole lot more than singing gospel music once a week? Perfection "
Living as a believer MUST mean the Spirit and ALL of it's FRUITS permeate our entire life, that is all that we think, say or do. There can be no such thing as a part time believer. Of course there is no one alive who is yet perfect, and we will invariably stumble at times, yet we must never stop trying. As Chris said so well, we must NEVER stop running to win. :)
Chris,
Your response was priceless :) And I agree with everything you wrote. Does it not fall in well with my following words.
Trust in God with everything you have, fear not what tomorrow will bring. Be ambassadors of the Spirit and share its fruits with all you meet. Do not worry about food or clothes, they will be provided and walk in constant wonder and amazement, in awe of creation that touches everything we are. And never forget that God is Love and that His Son died so that we may not. It is my contention that we should ALWAYS live in Love, Peace, Confident in the Promise and show good will to all.
I do not believe that you will find anything to disagree in the above text. For this IS what living as believer means to me. NOT that "I" can't stop and sit at the edge of the road, BUT BECAUSE THE SPIRIT HAS REMOVED ANY SUCH DESIRE!!! :)
This is of course no small thing, yet how could it be any other way. God is a believers Rod and Staff and we are to ALWAYS wear the entire armor that God provides his true believers.
Eph 6:13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
Eph 6:14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
Eph 6:15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
Eph 6:16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
Eph 6:17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
Eph 6:18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
Yet I believe the last verse in this Scripture, is the Key. We as yet carnal man, living in a hostile world must always pray, for discernment, wisdom, strength and perhaps above all, any chastisement when needed in order to overcome anything. We are helpless on our own.
I wish you both a blessed day with Him,
Darren
DuluthGA:
Just a brief edifying note on the "wheat and the chaff" that I learned recently from Ray... sorry I can't site where, but I'm fairly sure of this:
They aren't two different types of people, instead, as in the physical, the wheat and the chaff are combined on the same plant, and the chaff (debris in us) must get separated/burned away from us, the wheat. The implication would be everyone in their own order, first the elect then ALL of the great harvest eventually.
Thank you for this topic!
We are heaven bound! :)
Janice
hillsbororiver:
Hi Janice,
You are right, the wheat (spiritual sons and daughters) are what remains from burning off the chaff (the carnal, natural man).
Now the wheat and the tares are an entirely different story;
From Lazarus and the Rich Man
http://bible-truths.com/lazarus.html
WHY PARABLES?
When one looks at all the parables, as they are "literally" written they really are of little spiritual value, and often are physiological impossibilities, or don’t tell us things we didn’t already know.
Look at the parable of the tares: A man sews good seed. An enemy sews tares. A servant suggests they pull out the tares. The owner suggests that would pull out the good wheat as well.. So he says to wait till harvest and then separate the wheat from the tares, (Mat. 13:24-30). None of the parables are to be understood in their literal language. Some, like Lazarus and the Rich man, are physiological impossibilities if taken literally.
Interestingly, this parable of the tares can be taken literally. That is it makes sense even in its literal language, and does not contradict other Scriptures.
However, it was not meant to be taken literally, and if we take this parable "literally," what do we learn? Quite frankly, not much. Are you suggesting that Christ wasted His time giving little household hints and horticultural tips? Like, how to weed your garden? Come on.
When Christ explains this parable to His disciples, it takes on enormous meaning never even suggested in the "literal" story. Parables are in some ways like fine poetry. Marvelous word pictures having giant spiritual applications and ramifications can be presented with very few words, AND, it is God’s purpose to conceal many of the truths of His Kingdom except to those to whom it is given to understand.
See the spiritual application of Matt. 14:37-43:
The "sower" is none less than the Son of man.
The "field" is the world.
The "good seed" are the children of the Kingdom of God.
The "tares" are the children of the wicked one (Satan).
The "harvest" is the end of the age.
Now that’s some pretty heavy stuff! This is no horticultural tip for would be farmers. I have already shown how utterly ludicrous it is to try and take Lararus and the Rich man literally, not to mention totally unscriptural..
Christ is not telling us about some "one" individual rich man and some "one" insignificant beggar in the street. Look at that parable of the "tares" again. Literally it is nothing. But what it represents in figurative and symbolic language is awesome. It has to do with the operations of God, Satan, millions of people and the very end of this age.
His Peace and Wisdom to you,
Joe
YellowStone:
--- Quote from: hillsbororiver on August 13, 2007, 05:42:51 AM ---
--- Quote from: YellowStone on August 12, 2007, 06:01:21 PM ---
So Joe, this might not be what you were expecting, but I believe living as I mention can only be accomplished by the Spirit.
--- End quote ---
Oh contrare Darren, ;D
It is actually exactly what I have come to expect..... ;)
His Peace to you,
Joe
--- End quote ---
Thanks Joe, I only just seen your post. :)
Love to you Christ,
Darren
skydreamers:
Hi Joe, thank you for posting that segment on "The Spirit promises spiritual rewards to overcomers"...I clearly remember reading this before but this time I "saw" so much more...wow, this never ceases to amaze me. This kind of thing only confirms for me how God reveals things in increments as we are able to bear it. In order to accept and embrace Jesus fully we must come to know him fully, and this just can't be done all at once. The life of a believer is a process of growth. Awesome.
Peace,
Diana
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