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Author
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Topic: Faith check!
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Michael Harrison
Advanced Member
Member # 6801
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posted
Are you looking for something to 'do', rather than someone to trust? ![[type]](graemlins/type.gif) A campaign was started recently by someone wherein they ordained a slogan, "What would Jesus do?" Closer to the musical truth would be the most appropiate, and blessed expression, "What will Jesus do?" Face to Him. Look to Him in the moment, in prayer, and ask, "What will YOU do, Lord Jesus (I whisper)?"
God is the God of now. It is, and has always been since the beginning of time. We relegate Him to something that He did in the past, and to something that He will do in the future. Neither are relevant in light of who He is right now. ![[Prayer]](graemlins/prayer.gif) What will you do Lord Jesus? ![[Smile]](smile.gif) Blessed is your Holy Name. Who you are Lord... Amen!
Posts: 3273 | From: Charlotte N.C. | Registered: Sep 2007
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oneinchrist
Advanced Member
Member # 6532
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posted
Hi Michael,
Long time no talk, my friend. I've been on another site trying to work through some issues of the faith and learn more about others reasons for believing what they believe.
Well, anyways, I noticed in your post that you make a strong constrast between us living by our own concept and us "living by Him". Faith in Jesus, while it certainly does involve faith in who He is and what He means to us, it also must involve faith in what Jesus taught us. So "living by Him" includes living by His Word. What did the voice from the cloud say?
"Hear Him!"
Michael, as a friend in the Lord, I just want to encourage you that as much Jesus is alive to you in your life.....also allow His teachings to breath life into you....believe the whole gospel message of Jesus Christ.
With love in Christ, Daniel
Posts: 1389 | From: Wind Lake, WI | Registered: May 2007
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Michael Harrison
Advanced Member
Member # 6801
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posted
The way 'out of the world' is to abide 'in' Jesus. To understand what meaneth 'to abide in', is priceless, unfathomable, without discernable depth, and deserves to be discovered.
Posts: 3273 | From: Charlotte N.C. | Registered: Sep 2007
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becauseHElives
Advanced Member
Member # 87
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posted
A.W. Tozer: "I do not recall another period when "faith" was as popular as it is today. If only we believe hard enough we'll make it somehow. So goes the popular chant. What you believe is not important. Only believe... What is overlooked in all this is that faith is good only when it engages truth; when it is made to rest upon falsehood it can and often does lead to eternal tragedy. For it is not enough that we believe; we must believe the right thing about the right One.
2 Thes 2:10b-11 (NIV) They perish because they refuse to love the truth and so be saved. For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie.
"It is no sin to doubt some things... it may be fatal to believe everything. Faith never means gullibility. Credulity never honors God. The healthy soul, like the healthy blood system, has it's proper proportion of white and red blood cells. The red corpuscles are like faith: they carry the life giving oxygen to every part of the body. The white cells are like discernment: they pounce upon dead and toxic matter and carry it out to the drain. In the healthy heart there must be provision for keeping dead and poisonous matter out of the life stream. This the credulous person never suspects. He is all for "faith".
Websters: CREDULITY \ kri-du-let-ee, CREDULOUS \ krej-u-les 1) Naive, not critical, believing on slight or uncertain evidence. 2) A tendency to believe too readily, especially with little or no proof.
Proverbs 14:12 “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death."
This is repeated later, in Prov. 16:25 “THERE IS A WAY THAT SEEMS RIGHT TO A MAN, BUT ITS END IS THE WAY OF DEATH."
Compare to ….
“For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning." (2Pe 2:20)
"For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them." 2Pe 2:21
"But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire." (2Pe 2:22)
But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy. Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul; having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation. I Peter 2:9-12.
Throughout the history of man there has always been a people of God. There have always been a select company of men and women whom God has called out of this wicked world to represent Him as His ambassadors of peace. These men and women were distinguished by the fact that they were called by God to come out from the world's system and they accepted His call. From the words of the apostle Peter shown above we can see that they are distiguished in the following manner:
1. They have become pilgrims and strangers in this present world. They are not involved in the politics, fashions, fads, customs, or entertainments of this world, knowing that the god of this world is Satan.
2. They live pure and honest lives before this present world, knowing that thereby the grace of God through Jesus Christ is glorified.
3. They are constantly and continuously engaged in good works in Jesus name.
4. They spread the Gospel of salvation to everyone because this is the world's day of visitation. They sound a warning to one and all to flee from the wrath of God that is soon to come upon this sin-cursed world.
5. They know that they will always suffer persecution and that, thus, their numbers will always be few.
There is a people of God in this day, as in every age. This is a people that is in the world but not a part of it. They are not partakers of the world's fads, fashions, entertainments, politics, or wars. They are a people that have been redeemed out of the vain spirit and conversation of this present world to live holy and righteous lives before an unbelieving generation. The great labor of this people is to warn everyone to flee from the wrath that is soon to come upon this sin-cursed world. For the world is rushing headlong into destruction.
Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. Matt 7:13, 14.
After plainly declaring that the road to Heaven is very narrow and that very few will choose to walk in it, He warns of false preachers that will tell you that you don't have to be so fanatical, as follows:
Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. Matt 7:15-20.
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Strive to enter in at the strait gate:for many, I say unto you will seek to enter in, and shall not be able. ( Luke 13:24 )
Posts: 4578 | From: Southeast Texas | Registered: Jun 2002
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WildB
Moderator
Member # 2917
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posted
Heb.11
[1] Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
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That is all.....
Posts: 8775 | From: USA, MICHIGAN | Registered: Mar 2004
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Michael Harrison
Advanced Member
Member # 6801
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posted
Thank you! I am humbled and blessed. I am glad to be in yall's company! The Lord our Lord be praised.
Posts: 3273 | From: Charlotte N.C. | Registered: Sep 2007
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becauseHElives
Advanced Member
Member # 87
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posted
I like your thought's scythewieldor ![[thumbsup2]](graemlins/thumbsup2.gif) they are totally in line with scripture and the heart of Yahweh!
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Strive to enter in at the strait gate:for many, I say unto you will seek to enter in, and shall not be able. ( Luke 13:24 )
Posts: 4578 | From: Southeast Texas | Registered: Jun 2002
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scythewieldor
unregistered
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posted
Dear friends,
This plays into the meditation of a passage that had my thoughts much of the day.
quote:
Ro 8:29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.
30 Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.
Some people who want to talk a lot about predestination want to make it like God planned every sin that every one commits. However, if that were so, there could be no rebellion. So, I'm thinking I must be missing something.
Then the passage above comes to mind and I realize we stop thinking before we stop reading.
God has predestined some to be conformed to the image of His Son. The image of God's Son is the servant who lays down his life for the unworthy on the way to glory.
This image is very contrary to the world. They want to change their destiny. Rebellion is the attitude that God's prescribed path to glory is not just enough.
Would you have glory without a cross? Without suffering? Without great tribulation?
Pain-free paths to glory will disappoint.
quote:
Joh 16:33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
Ac 14:22 Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.
When we confess Jesus before men, and, when we keep His commandments in a world that rewards those who forsake the words of Jesus, we will go through tribulation. Nevertheless, Jesus confesses us before His Father in heaven. In that way, at least, we are seated with Him in heavenly places.
The Son of God will not confess before the Father men who do not confess Him before men.
So, Jesus, whom the Father foreknew, was predestined to present to us the image of the Son of God as God's first born. Jesus was the express image of the Father.
That image should show up on all of God's sons. But no one can tell until we go through tribulation.
When we do, if the love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, meekness, temperance, and faith remain- bingo!- that looks like a son of God.
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becauseHElives
Advanced Member
Member # 87
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posted
Watchman Nee said it best in his book entitled "Sit, Walk and Stand"
we have a position seated with Christ in heavenly places, but that does not take away from our practical living out personal faith in Yeshua!
Acts 17...
So that they should seek God, in the hope that they might feel after Him and find Him, although He is not far from each one of us.
For in Him we live and move and have our being; as even some of your [own] poets have said, For we are also His offspring.
Since then we are God's offspring, we ought not to suppose that Deity (the Godhead) is like gold or silver or stone, [of the nature of] a representation by human art and imagination, or anything constructed or invented.
Such [former] ages of ignorance God, it is true, ignored and allowed to pass unnoticed; but now He charges all people everywhere to repent to change their minds for the better and heartily to amend their ways, with abhorrence of their past sins),
Because He has fixed a day when He will judge the world righteously (justly) by a Man Whom He has destined and appointed for that task, and He has made this credible and given conviction and assurance and evidence to everyone by raising Him from the dead.
Now when they had heard [that there had been] a resurrection from the dead, some scoffed; but others said, We will hear you again about this matter.
So Paul went out from among them.
But some men were on his side and joined him and believed (became Christians); among them were Dionysius, a judge of the Areopagus, and a woman named Damaris, and some others with them.
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Strive to enter in at the strait gate:for many, I say unto you will seek to enter in, and shall not be able. ( Luke 13:24 )
Posts: 4578 | From: Southeast Texas | Registered: Jun 2002
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Kindgo
Advanced Member
Member # 2
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posted
And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus. Ephesians 2:6 KJV
What does it mean to be seated in heavenly places?
It means that we are now able to enter into God’s rest.
To be seated means to rest. When we sit in a chair, we rest our physical body. To be seated in heavenly places with Christ is to enter an “inner rest.” Our spirit and soul can be at rest because of what Christ has done for us, and because of the good plan God has for us.
![[clap2]](graemlins/clap2.gif)
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God bless,
Kindgo
Inside the will of God there is no failure. Outside the will of God there is no success.
Posts: 4320 | From: Sunny Florida | Registered: Jun 2002
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Michael Harrison
Advanced Member
Member # 6801
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posted
Can you say that you are seated with Him in heavenly places? Is it real, or a concept? All followers have a concept of Jesus. In reality, most serve their concept, not Jesus. There is an overwhelmingly profound difference in the light of the two. Moreover, faith, or rather the lack of it, shapes the revelation of what ‘is’ for some - that is, how it is in Kingdom living. It affects what one relates to as fact, or as recognizable, i.e. to the end, acceptable among those whom they consider as their brethren (you know, insiders by their estimation). This leads to finger pointing, gossip and accusation, divisions from concept to concept, for concept varies. It is revealed in the discussing thereof.
There are going to be divisions, but there is one division who is real, and is up to the mark. Those who live by their concept come short of the mark. Jesus is not a concept. He is a reality. Do you have the reality? Do you have the manifestation of light that is the guidance, and the fulfillment that He is to you? If you live by your concept, you try to please Him. If you live by Him, He is pleased.
Posts: 3273 | From: Charlotte N.C. | Registered: Sep 2007
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