fearnot
Living With Pain
Posts: 8,383 
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Post by fearnot on Jan 12, 2016 21:15:26 GMT -5
I am sort of going back and forth between two of my favorite books.
So the day before ( or night....I am not always sure if I am coming or going LOL)
Was Romans 1: 1-6
I focused this time (reading it once again) on v 1. where Paul says he is 'set apart'.
This time I realized all 'religions', cults, and even atheists, all 'set themselves apart'.
Before meeting Jesus, Paul as a Pharisee was 'set apart' from all kinds of 'unclean etc. things'. But he had become rigid, obsessed, and cruel.
Which is exactly what many Muslims are ( cruel without any compassion), Hindus without compassion of the 'untouchables', atheists who see themselves as kind mock, swear etc. at Christians with no pity.
Tho Paul was still separated after meeting the Lord, and becoming 'seperated' unto 'something....someone',
instead of just from things, he found joy, humility, compassion etc.
We learn of the gospel ( the 'good news' God at the beginning of Creation called His creation good....but we choose Evil....now God has 'good new for us'.
I will write more on the next verses tomorrow as I still have to write another day).
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fearnot
Living With Pain
Posts: 8,383
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Post by fearnot on Jan 12, 2016 21:50:12 GMT -5
Genesis 3:1
There is so much in the first 3 chapters of Genesis I am amazed at how the Lord always shows me something new from scriptures I have read over and over and over!!!
To start with...this time the first word that God impressed on me was 'crafty'. I never paid a whole lot of attention to that word, (as I said there is so many nuggets of spiritual gold to dig, ) I had of course noticed it, and yes I knew Satan was cunning, and deceitful...
I already knew God had said through John that Satan was: "he is a liar and the father of lies." John 8:44
But this time His lies and His dazzling beauty, came together, with more impact than in previous readings and studying.
I knew Satan had been a former arch angel.
Ezekiel 28:11 ( doing a duel description the king of Tyre and Satan)
Calls him: a 'signet of perfection"
'perfect' in beauty
( you are well aware of my struggle concerning beauty)
So it hit me, that perhaps in the Garden, Satan ( among many cleaver lies) dazzled Eve with his former beauty even tho he was in some sort of snake form.
Which reminded me of a line I had just read in a Christian fiction by Tracy L. Higley called Garden of Madness in which she wrote this line that I read yesterday
" A lie, no matter how beautiful, is still a lie."
Again, that seemed to be so appropriate for my present situation.
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Post by Cindy on Jan 13, 2016 12:51:53 GMT -5
Good Eva! But neither of you have done what I asked concerning the days you don't post here. Since I want to make sure Barbara also sees this, let me post both names to get everyone's attention:
Barbara and Eva:
The whole point of this is to hold each other accountable for spending time with the Lord in His Word daily. Therefore, when you've missed one or more days posting here, I need you to include what you read on the days you didn't post here as well as what you read today. Also, being sick, I forgot to remind you both again to tell me what you decided on for your schedule.
Let me quote what I said originally about this again. Part of the problem is because I posted the directions in two different posts and another problem was me being sick so I didn't remember to remind you guys of what we needed to do. Plus, I also forgot to tell you what my schedule is, mostly because I think you both already know it LOL, but still, that's no excuse. I'll do that at the end of this post. Here's the first part of the directions:
Although I was replying to Eva in my next post, it was actually for any of us when we missed a day, so here's the second part of the directions:
OK, here's my schedule: My time with the Lord is the same every day. I spend time with Him as soon as I wake up every day.
Today I studied the rest of Luke 5. I started with verse 17 where Jesus healed the man who was paralyzed after his friends let him down through the roof of the house he was at. I love that story and think that his friends show us how we're supposed to minister to others. We're supposed to care so much about them that we won't give up when things get hard, but will keep trying to help them no matter what. It also shows that they had a great deal of faith too because otherwise they wouldn't have bothered to go to all that trouble to get Jesus to see their friend. Again, that's the kind of faith we're to have too.
The next part was when Jesus called Matthew (Levi) to be His disciple. That part is always thrilling to me too. It's also has one of the scriptures some people will use to "prove" that it's ok to go to bars and clubs, because they'll say Jesus ate with these sinners. But in every single instance where Jesus did this, it was for the sole purpose of teaching and revealing Himself to them. He did not go to party, and did not join them in any kind of sinful activity. He went to tell them the good news. Nor did He continually go back to "keep giving them another chance" either, like people do today. He told them clearly what the good news was the first time and left. After that, it was up to them to come to Him wherever He was preaching. So people who use this as a way to spend time with unsaved sinners, are only fooling themselves.
Thank you Cindy, I did know some of what you posted but what was really interesting was if we had been with Joseph and had prayed for him and yet God had Joseph put in prison. I pretty much understood that God was sort of putting Joseph is another 'school/lessons'.
But what intrigued me was your saying how would we feel having prayed and seemingly 'failed'.
But my question would be what exactly did our pray accomplish?
t occurred to me that perhaps we could say God kept Joseph safe ( he wasn't killed...tho even if he had been killed, God could have used it for His glory, like the little girl that died but Jesus raised he from the dead or like Lazarus who also died. )
I missed posting yesterday so I will post two today. I had to get up at 3:30 last night to watch the grandchildren.
Hossanah's crazy work schedule makes it hard for me to have a disciplined time for Bible study....whereas grandchildren sitting started at 3:30 last night...
the next day is 1:30 in the afternoon,
then she works 10am -6pm
, then 6am to 10am
then 5am to 1 am
and so on and on.
Hon, I don't need to know your babysitting schedule, I need to know what times you'll be spending with the Lord. But since you wrote your babysitting schedule, it should be fairly easy for you to then decide when you'll be spending time with the Lord each of those days.
I am sort of going back and forth between two of my favorite books.
So the day before ( or night....I am not always sure if I am coming or going LOL)
Was Romans 1: 1-6
I focused this time (reading it once again) on v 1. where Paul says he is 'set apart'.
This time I realized all 'religions', cults, and even atheists, all 'set themselves apart'.
Before meeting Jesus, Paul as a Pharisee was 'set apart' from all kinds of 'unclean etc. things'. But he had become rigid, obsessed, and cruel.
Which is exactly what many Muslims are ( cruel without any compassion), Hindus without compassion of the 'untouchables', atheists who see themselves as kind mock, swear etc. at Christians with no pity.
Tho Paul was still separated after meeting the Lord, and becoming 'seperated' unto 'something....someone',
instead of just from things, he found joy, humility, compassion etc.
We learn of the gospel ( the 'good news' God at the beginning of Creation called His creation good....but we choose Evil....now God has 'good new for us'.
I will write more on the next verses tomorrow as I still have to write another day).
Genesis 3:1
There is so much in the first 3 chapters of Genesis I am amazed at how the Lord always shows me something new from scriptures I have read over and over and over!!!
To start with...this time the first word that God impressed on me was 'crafty'. I never paid a whole lot of attention to that word, (as I said there is so many nuggets of spiritual gold to dig, ) I had of course noticed it, and yes I knew Satan was cunning, and deceitful...
I already knew God had said through John that Satan was: "he is a liar and the father of lies." John 8:44
But this time His lies and His dazzling beauty, came together, with more impact than in previous readings and studying.
I knew Satan had been a former arch angel.
Ezekiel 28:11 ( doing a duel description the king of Tyre and Satan)
Calls him: a 'signet of perfection"
'perfect' in beauty
( you are well aware of my struggle concerning beauty)
So it hit me, that perhaps in the Garden, Satan ( among many cleaver lies) dazzled Eve with his former beauty even tho he was in some sort of snake form.
Which reminded me of a line I had just read in a Christian fiction by Tracy L. Higley called Garden of Madness in which she wrote this line that I read yesterday
" A lie, no matter how beautiful, is still a lie."
Again, that seemed to be so appropriate for my present situation.
I read Luke 6:1-11 today and enjoyed seeing how Jesus handled the pharisees and their rules. I love how He stated that He was the Lord of creation. I bet that really messed them up! It made me wonder at how often we tend to put God in a box and say that He is Lord of this or that, but then ignore His Lordship of other areas. We may live very godly lives for example, but then turn on the TV and glory in watching all kinds of sin because He's not Lord of the TV to us, or not Lord of our entertainment, however you want to put it. Same with reading or anything else for that matter. Maybe for some folks He's Lord in every area except for their jobs, or something like that. It made me stop and reflect to see if I could determine any place that I'd left Him out of my life.
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fearnot
Living With Pain
Posts: 8,383
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Post by fearnot on Jan 13, 2016 19:19:58 GMT -5
I only wrote the times I watch the grandchildren this week, (for an example) because I misunderstood and thought you were saying we had to have a set time... each and every day.
Yes I do it day by day, for now anyway.
So back to Romans 1:3-4
In the past, I sort of skimmed over these verses ( yes, I read them but I wanted to get to what seemed to be more important verses.....yet I know God has said:
"All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,
2 Timothy 3:16
So Romans 1: 3&4 reads:
3 regarding his Son, who as to his earthly life was a descendant of David,
4 and who through the Spirit of holiness was appointed the Son of God in power by his resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord."
v. 3 shows us that Jesus is both wholly human a descendant of David and wholly Divine son of God
V.4 At first one might think it says the Holy Spirit raised Jesus from the dead, but the Bible doesn't say that
In John 10: 17,18
Jesus says: ..."I lay down my life—only to take it up again. 18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again.
Jesus was shown thus ( by the resurection) to be the Son of God with power....and how powerful He is!!
What a great Lord Jesus Christ our Lord is!
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Post by Cindy on Jan 14, 2016 11:01:35 GMT -5
I only wrote the times I watch the grandchildren this week, (for an example) because I misunderstood and thought you were saying we had to have a set time... each and every day.
Yes I do it day by day, for now anyway.
So back to Romans 1:3-4
In the past, I sort of skimmed over these verses ( yes, I read them but I wanted to get to what seemed to be more important verses.....yet I know God has said:
"All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,
2 Timothy 3:16
So Romans 1: 3&4 reads:
3 regarding his Son, who as to his earthly life was a descendant of David,
4 and who through the Spirit of holiness was appointed the Son of God in power by his resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord."
v. 3 shows us that Jesus is both wholly human a descendant of David and wholly Divine son of God
V.4 At first one might think it says the Holy Spirit raised Jesus from the dead, but the Bible doesn't say that
In John 10: 17,18
Jesus says: ..."I lay down my life—only to take it up again. 18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again.
Jesus was shown thus ( by the resurection) to be the Son of God with power....and how powerful He is!!
What a great Lord Jesus Christ our Lord is!
I studied Luke 6:12-26 today. I'm not going to comment on it today though.
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fearnot
Living With Pain
Posts: 8,383
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Post by fearnot on Jan 14, 2016 15:51:42 GMT -5
I think I understand what you mean now.
I have been managing to do my Bible study (since we started) except for one day I think.
But I am considering what you said. For me first thing in the morning is not a good time, as I am still hurting a lot, and am often only half awake. What I do in the morning first thing on rising is to pray.
Night time is also not the best.
Sooo at this point, I think before or after lunch. That way even if I have to go to Hossanah's in the middle of the night or middle of the afternoon....
I almost always have some time around noon ( even if I don't post at that time).
The only times I wouldn't would be the day after we get our check and we have to do our shopping. Even then we frequently don't leave until after lunch so that is the time I am aiming for now.
We can change it right? Like in the summer when the grandchildren are gone, it might be mid morning would be better.
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fearnot
Living With Pain
Posts: 8,383
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Post by fearnot on Jan 14, 2016 21:29:07 GMT -5
I think that was really important what you said about Jesus not being important in certain parts of our life often entertainment. Perhaps in some ways this generation has more problem with that ( not that there hasn't always been entertainment that was of satan's kingdom.
But we might be the first that grew up with TV, radio, movies, internet, cell phones so that ungodly entertainment is available 24/7. I don't mean that as an excuse, but I do think many people, Christians included might not always see the line in the sand.
Our first years with TV was pretty tame and it was only the constant but very very slow incremental changes ( 0ne swear word, a little bit of leg showing on TV, a bit of Elvis wiggling his hips....but then, as time went on....and here we are today. it should be clear but some folks were lulled or almost hypnotized to sleep to sin and evil in entertainment...even now Christians will defend some pretty raunchy, new age (think of I dreamed of Jennie to vampires and witches now), evil stuff ( for example some might say, but Michael Jackson or David Bowie were sooooo talented..it was just entertainment).
Anyway, I got off track I will post my Bible study on a 2nd post or this will be toooo long.
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fearnot
Living With Pain
Posts: 8,383
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Post by fearnot on Jan 14, 2016 21:58:06 GMT -5
In a lot of the Christian fiction books I have been reading lately, have a lot of the Old Testament prophets turning up.
So today I read the beginning about Elijah, who was the prophet for the northern kingdom when Ahab and Jezebel where in power. Ahab was a wicked king ( tho he could have been a good or even great one).
His wife Jezabel was a very bad influence.
We sometimes hear people talk about certain people in the music or movie world as 'having sold their soul to the Devil' and usually think that is just sensationalism.
However, getting a bit ahead of myself in I Kings chapter 21:25 it says of Ahab, he:
" sold himself to do evil in the eyes of the Lord".
The time of Elijah reminds me very much of the USA today, full of corruption, idolatry, and depraved people.
Elijah remained obedient to God in those terrible times and is an great example for us.
V.1 Elijah tells Ahab (the wicked King) that there will be a 3 year drought ( it made me think that God would bring 'climate change').
God provided for Elijah during this difficult 3 years, telling Elijah to go to Kerith Ravine, where the Ravens brought him bread and meat 2 times a day!
I like to think of that when I feed my 'pet crows' LOL.
As an aside, several years ago, I did a painting of the ravens feeding him ( it sold so I don't have it).
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Post by Cindy on Jan 15, 2016 14:10:13 GMT -5
I think I understand what you mean now.
I have been managing to do my Bible study (since we started) except for one day I think.
But I am considering what you said. For me first thing in the morning is not a good time, as I am still hurting a lot, and am often only half awake. What I do in the morning first thing on rising is to pray.
Night time is also not the best.
Sooo at this point, I think before or after lunch. That way even if I have to go to Hossanah's in the middle of the night or middle of the afternoon....
I almost always have some time around noon ( even if I don't post at that time).
The only times I wouldn't would be the day after we get our check and we have to do our shopping. Even then we frequently don't leave until after lunch so that is the time I am aiming for now.
We can change it right? Like in the summer when the grandchildren are gone, it might be mid morning would be better.
I was thinking about this and realized something. I'd already realized that I waited MUCH too long to do this. I should have done this immediately when we started working together and not just assumed that you guys would do it on your own. I feel very badly that I didn't and like I've let you guys down too. The reason I say that is this: With everything we've worked on over the years together, and all we've learned, the scary part is that unless you guys do this and start spending time with Him in His Word daily, on a consistent basis, if something happened to me, it wouldn't' take very long before you guys would be right back where you were when we first started. I don't mean that it would happen overnight, it wouldn't. But it could very easily happen within a year. To even think such a thing is horrifying to me and I'd know it was my fault for not making sure you were in His Word every single day. I know I've often explained that the more time we spend in His Word, the faster we'll grow and the more discerning we'll get and the sooner we'll become mature in our faith. I guess what I didn't explain are the many things that happen when we don't spend time in His Word daily. The reason I know what happens is because I lived it. I hope you don't take offense at this, because I think you've done very well and know you've changed and grown a lot since we started working together. I just don't want to see anything bad happen to you guys if the Lord takes me home.
I wrote this about it this morning that may help you, I hope you'll read it:
fresh-hope.com/thread/1792/time-lordI think that was really important what you said about Jesus not being important in certain parts of our life often entertainment. Perhaps in some ways this generation has more problem with that ( not that there hasn't always been entertainment that was of satan's kingdom.
But we might be the first that grew up with TV, radio, movies, internet, cell phones so that ungodly entertainment is available 24/7. I don't mean that as an excuse, but I do think many people, Christians included might not always see the line in the sand.
Our first years with TV was pretty tame and it was only the constant but very very slow incremental changes ( 0ne swear word, a little bit of leg showing on TV, a bit of Elvis wiggling his hips....but then, as time went on....and here we are today. it should be clear but some folks were lulled or almost hypnotized to sleep to sin and evil in entertainment...even now Christians will defend some pretty raunchy, new age (think of I dreamed of Jennie to vampires and witches now), evil stuff ( for example some might say, but Michael Jackson or David Bowie were sooooo talented..it was just entertainment).
Anyway, I got off track I will post my Bible study on a 2nd post or this will be toooo long.
In a lot of the Christian fiction books I have been reading lately, have a lot of the Old Testament prophets turning up.
So today I read the beginning about Elijah, who was the prophet for the northern kingdom when Ahab and Jezebel where in power. Ahab was a wicked king ( tho he could have been a good or even great one).
His wife Jezabel was a very bad influence.
We sometimes hear people talk about certain people in the music or movie world as 'having sold their soul to the Devil' and usually think that is just sensationalism.
However, getting a bit ahead of myself in I Kings chapter 21:25 it says of Ahab, he:
" sold himself to do evil in the eyes of the Lord".
The time of Elijah reminds me very much of the USA today, full of corruption, idolatry, and depraved people.
Elijah remained obedient to God in those terrible times and is an great example for us.
V.1 Elijah tells Ahab (the wicked King) that there will be a 3 year drought ( it made me think that God would bring 'climate change').
God provided for Elijah during this difficult 3 years, telling Elijah to go to Kerith Ravine, where the Ravens brought him bread and meat 2 times a day!
I like to think of that when I feed my 'pet crows' LOL.
As an aside, several years ago, I did a painting of the ravens feeding him ( it sold so I don't have it).
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fearnot
Living With Pain
Posts: 8,383
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Post by fearnot on Jan 15, 2016 23:44:13 GMT -5
The one thing I do is pray a LOT to Jesus throughout the day about everything. Even when I am talking to someone I usually ask the Lord to give me the words He would have me say, etc. Sometimes tho I get so caught up in a conversation, and then I realize I have forgotten to include Jesus ( and then I know why things are going so badly....not that they would always go well, but if I have forgotten to talk to Jesus, ask for His help ( well I almost always do, but maybe not for a certain question, or I get caught up in some gossip).....then I feel bad, I let Him down and the person I was talking to.
Even if I am watching something on the net, I try to remember to ask if its okay, but if I didn't and I start to notice worldly or sinful things....again I realize why I should aim to converse with Him always.
I don't always, but a lot and it seems it is ever increasing.
But as to being disciplined with Bible study (etal that you mentioned)....
There were a few years when I read the Bible and studied ( but didn't really talk to Jesus about what I was reading),
then, there were about 8 years I did BSF and that was required daily study, questions to be answered about the study etc.
I was struck by things that applied to me etc. but I didn't invite Jesus to study with me or talk about it ( I do that now).
But then, I drifted away from daily study as you know.
I actually talked with the Lord daily and read lots and lots of Christian fiction ( still do), commentaries ( Puritans pastors, Spurgeon, etc.) etc.
But that was why in part I was always panicked that you were going to stop the bible study. But now I am working on being disciplined because I want to be with the Lord, and I am praying and talking with Him a lot lot throughout the day, and most days it increases, tho I have days when I don't do so well.
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fearnot
Living With Pain
Posts: 8,383
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Post by fearnot on Jan 16, 2016 0:20:03 GMT -5
So on that note (phew sorry my previous post was so long winded)!
Back to Romans.
The times when it was written were not peaceful, and we may be on the edge of the tribulation about to begin (in a year or a few....)
so when Paul says in v. 7 "grace and peace from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ....",
we can relate, because its something we really need in our days and age.
In v 8 we discover the Romans have a good reputation for their faith ( people in many parts of the world have heard about their faith!).
I can only dream that such a thing might be said of me!
As a foolish youth, I wanted a 'reputation' but for foolishness, like to a beautiful woman, ( maybe as a model, movie star, ballerina etc.), or as a famous artist...worthless worldly reputations compared to what the Romans had!
Next, we hear about Paul's prayer: to visit them... but it was not answered!
In a way, this can be a kind of comfort to us when our prayers are not answered.
I would have thought because Paul was such a pillar of faith, bold and courageous for the Lord ( willing to suffer anything for Jesus), a godly man, that if God would have answered Paul's prayers.
So when my prayers or any Christians prayers seem to be unanswered in the way we think they should be answered,
we need not feel badly, like we were not holy enough or something.
However I ( and all Christians) need to keep praying and never give up.
I read that George Mueller had 3 friends that we not Christians. He prayed for them for over 60!!! years!!!
Finally, Just before he died 2 of them converted and the 3rd one did also a year after he died!!!
Imagine 60 years of praying and it seemed like God would never say yes...
However God may be saying not yet to me ( and to any other Christian), and then at some point ( maybe after we die)
He will say Yes!!
Thank you Lord for telling us about how it seemed you did not answer Paul's prayer, so that I won't think if only I could be as great as Paul, then my prayers would be answered.
Instead I am reminded to pray always and never lose hope...you always always answer out prayers, but you may say, no, or not yet ( hopefully not always 60 years ) or you may say yes tomorrow ( but if I don't continue....)
oh yes I was reading about the ravens and Elijah....its just such a wonderful passage!
one thing all 3 of us have in common ( well besides Jesus etc.) is we all have a soft heart for animals LOL so to think of the birds feeding me :-)
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fearnot
Living With Pain
Posts: 8,383
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Post by fearnot on Jan 17, 2016 0:08:31 GMT -5
Finishing the last 2 verses in Romans I verses 16 & 17
Whenever I read v.16 I have to ask Jesus forgiveness, because ( tho nothing like when I was a teen or in college) I have had time to time moments when I was 'ashamed' of the gospel.
It's no longer because I think scientists are so brilliant, the way I thought as a young person. It has been more that time to time, I hated being thought as a bigoted, hateful, stupid ( google has a ton of sites with 'stupid bible verses'), etc.
It's a case of momentarily wanting man's approval...
but no, I want the Lord waaay more.
This verse makes me ashamed that I have ever been ashamed of such a wonderful gospel that would save vile rebellions ungratefutsl people!
Rather than being ashamed we ( I) am to be thrilled that the most glorious, beautiful, loving message ( the 'good news) is being preached around the world and people are being saved for all eternity. The gospel far from something to be ashamed of is THE most powerful power in the world because it it from God.
It would be easy to misunderstand to the Jews first then the gentiles. It has to do with the chronological order, not that either the Jews or the Gentiles are better than one an other, because God sees us all the same and the gospel is everyone who will believe.
I can just be sooooo grateful that I am included in the group of those who are saved!!
V 17 Neither I now any other person can be righteous in and of themselves, it must be God's righteousness given as a free gift...
Strange as it sounds, not everybody likes a 'free' anything.
Some people who are extremely wealthy, assume anything 'free' is not of 'exceptional quality' and beneath them! Other folks won't except anything 'free' because of their pride...they are often are self-made men and woman, taking a 'hand out' is deeming to those who see themselves are hard workers who earned every penny!
But when it comes to salvation all have to humble themselves and rest in the hard work of our savior....
and we all must accept it by faith.
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Post by Cindy on Jan 17, 2016 10:43:50 GMT -5
The one thing I do is pray a LOT to Jesus throughout the day about everything. Even when I am talking to someone I usually ask the Lord to give me the words He would have me say, etc. Sometimes tho I get so caught up in a conversation, and then I realize I have forgotten to include Jesus ( and then I know why things are going so badly....not that they would always go well, but if I have forgotten to talk to Jesus, ask for His help ( well I almost always do, but maybe not for a certain question, or I get caught up in some gossip).....then I feel bad, I let Him down and the person I was talking to.
Even if I am watching something on the net, I try to remember to ask if its okay, but if I didn't and I start to notice worldly or sinful things....again I realize why I should aim to converse with Him always.
I don't always, but a lot and it seems it is ever increasing.
But as to being disciplined with Bible study (etal that you mentioned)....
There were a few years when I read the Bible and studied ( but didn't really talk to Jesus about what I was reading),
then, there were about 8 years I did BSF and that was required daily study, questions to be answered about the study etc.
I was struck by things that applied to me etc. but I didn't invite Jesus to study with me or talk about it ( I do that now).
But then, I drifted away from daily study as you know.
I actually talked with the Lord daily and read lots and lots of Christian fiction ( still do), commentaries ( Puritans pastors, Spurgeon, etc.) etc.
But that was why in part I was always panicked that you were going to stop the bible study. But now I am working on being disciplined because I want to be with the Lord, and I am praying and talking with Him a lot lot throughout the day, and most days it increases, tho I have days when I don't do so well.
So on that note (phew sorry my previous post was so long winded)!
Back to Romans.
The times when it was written were not peaceful, and we may be on the edge of the tribulation about to begin (in a year or a few....)
so when Paul says in v. 7 "grace and peace from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ....",
we can relate, because its something we really need in our days and age.
In v 8 we discover the Romans have a good reputation for their faith ( people in many parts of the world have heard about their faith!).
I can only dream that such a thing might be said of me!
As a foolish youth, I wanted a 'reputation' but for foolishness, like to a beautiful woman, ( maybe as a model, movie star, ballerina etc.), or as a famous artist...worthless worldly reputations compared to what the Romans had!
Next, we hear about Paul's prayer: to visit them... but it was not answered!
In a way, this can be a kind of comfort to us when our prayers are not answered.
I would have thought because Paul was such a pillar of faith, bold and courageous for the Lord ( willing to suffer anything for Jesus), a godly man, that if God would have answered Paul's prayers.
So when my prayers or any Christians prayers seem to be unanswered in the way we think they should be answered,
we need not feel badly, like we were not holy enough or something.
However I ( and all Christians) need to keep praying and never give up.
I read that George Mueller had 3 friends that we not Christians. He prayed for them for over 60!!! years!!!
Finally, Just before he died 2 of them converted and the 3rd one did also a year after he died!!!
Imagine 60 years of praying and it seemed like God would never say yes...
However God may be saying not yet to me ( and to any other Christian), and then at some point ( maybe after we die)
He will say Yes!!
Thank you Lord for telling us about how it seemed you did not answer Paul's prayer, so that I won't think if only I could be as great as Paul, then my prayers would be answered.
Instead I am reminded to pray always and never lose hope...you always always answer out prayers, but you may say, no, or not yet ( hopefully not always 60 years ) or you may say yes tomorrow ( but if I don't continue....)
oh yes I was reading about the ravens and Elijah....its just such a wonderful passage!
one thing all 3 of us have in common ( well besides Jesus etc.) is we all have a soft heart for animals LOL so to think of the birds feeding me :-)Finishing the last 2 verses in Romans I verses 16 & 17
Whenever I read v.16 I have to ask Jesus forgiveness, because ( tho nothing like when I was a teen or in college) I have had time to time moments when I was 'ashamed' of the gospel.
It's no longer because I think scientists are so brilliant, the way I thought as a young person. It has been more that time to time, I hated being thought as a bigoted, hateful, stupid ( google has a ton of sites with 'stupid bible verses'), etc.
It's a case of momentarily wanting man's approval...
but no, I want the Lord waaay more.
This verse makes me ashamed that I have ever been ashamed of such a wonderful gospel that would save vile rebellions ungratefutsl people!
Rather than being ashamed we ( I) am to be thrilled that the most glorious, beautiful, loving message ( the 'good news) is being preached around the world and people are being saved for all eternity. The gospel far from something to be ashamed of is THE most powerful power in the world because it it from God.
It would be easy to misunderstand to the Jews first then the gentiles. It has to do with the chronological order, not that either the Jews or the Gentiles are better than one an other, because God sees us all the same and the gospel is everyone who will believe.
I can just be sooooo grateful that I am included in the group of those who are saved!!
V 17 Neither I now any other person can be righteous in and of themselves, it must be God's righteousness given as a free gift...
Strange as it sounds, not everybody likes a 'free' anything.
Some people who are extremely wealthy, assume anything 'free' is not of 'exceptional quality' and beneath them! Other folks won't except anything 'free' because of their pride...they are often are self-made men and woman, taking a 'hand out' is deeming to those who see themselves are hard workers who earned every penny!
But when it comes to salvation all have to humble themselves and rest in the hard work of our savior....
and we all must accept it by faith.
Love you guys!
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fearnot
Living With Pain
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Post by fearnot on Jan 17, 2016 23:25:11 GMT -5
Back to Elijah.
I often have been discouraged for my children and perhaps even more so for my grand children.
But Elijah is a good example for me. He lived in a time where he was nearly all alone...except God was with him, and that made him a majority. And with prayer he had almost unlimited power ( like when he prayed it wouldn't rain and it did not for 3 1/2 years.
But also I can learn that even so Elijah had lessons from God that were not exactly fun for him.
Tho I love ravens ( well I feed the crows but they are sort of ravens...tho maybe the ravens don't think so LOL)
and would love to be feed by them ( tho I guess it might depend on what they brought me)
to Elijah they were unclean and that had to be hard and humbling.
Yet that was not all, next God sent him to Zarephath where a widow would feed him and help him with the very last bit of her food. They both had to obey God in something hard for each of them.
I can be encouraged that even a man who can pray for no rain, still has to learn lessons...not just me ( tho I have a zillion more to learn).
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Post by Cindy on Jan 18, 2016 11:59:53 GMT -5
Back to Elijah.
I often have been discouraged for my children and perhaps even more so for my grand children.
But Elijah is a good example for me. He lived in a time where he was nearly all alone...except God was with him, and that made him a majority. And with prayer he had almost unlimited power ( like when he prayed it wouldn't rain and it did not for 3 1/2 years.
But also I can learn that even so Elijah had lessons from God that were not exactly fun for him.
Tho I love ravens ( well I feed the crows but they are sort of ravens...tho maybe the ravens don't think so LOL)
and would love to be feed by them ( tho I guess it might depend on what they brought me)
to Elijah they were unclean and that had to be hard and humbling.
Yet that was not all, next God sent him to Zarephath where a widow would feed him and help him with the very last bit of her food. They both had to obey God in something hard for each of them.
I can be encouraged that even a man who can pray for no rain, still has to learn lessons...not just me ( tho I have a zillion more to learn).
So what did you read yesterday? I assume it was more about Elijah, but you didn't give the book or chapter....
I read Luke 7:18-35 today. It's been wonderful to walk with the Lord and hear what He has to say to the people. It started with how John the Baptist sent his disciples to ask Jesus if He was the One. It made me think of how hard it must have been for John being locked up in that cell when he was used to living out doors with the stars to look at before he fell asleep. It was encouraging too to realize that there's a difference between doubt and unbelief. John believed God and His Word, his question wasn't about believing. His was doubt, doubt of whether or not Jesus was the One he thought He was. Mainly his doubt came because since he was locked up, he had so much more time to just "think". Not that thinking is wrong, but when we let it go in the wrong direction it can lead us astray. John was in danger of being trapped because of his concern about what Jesus was not doing. He, like the rest of Israel, had been looking for the Messiah to run off Rome and establish the Kingdom. Of course he knew Jesus was supposed to do those other things too, but he wanted to see the Kingdom as well. Plus, he'd been preaching that the people needed to repent or else, and yet he still hadn't seen Jesus do anything about those who refused to repent. I love how Jesus handled it too. Instead of just giving him a verbal answer, He showed them that He was fulfilling the very scriptures that showed He was the Messiah. Then, he issued a very gentle and soft rebuke, simply reminding John not to let his doubts cause him to stumble. Jesus was warning John about his presuppositions concerning the Messiah. That's important for us to remember too, and something I think about a lot. After all, the Jew's had had God's Word for thousands of years, and yet most missed his first coming. Now we the church, in our turn have had the complete scriptures for that long, and yet many will miss His second coming because of their presuppositions. So Jesus gently reminded him not to let what he didn't know or understand to be a stumbling block for him, but to instead trust that God (and Jesus as God) knew what He was doing.
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fearnot
Living With Pain
Posts: 8,383
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Post by fearnot on Jan 18, 2016 13:35:58 GMT -5
I really like what you said about the difference between a difference between doubt and unbelief.
But I wondered what presuppositions some folks of the church have that will cause them to miss the 2nd coming? Are they true believers?
I was still reading in I Kings 17:1-8
I will be back later with today's reading.
I just realized, I missed Eva's post, is she sick do you think?
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Post by Cindy on Jan 19, 2016 9:48:27 GMT -5
Eva hasn't posted since the 12th, as far as I know...
Oh, ok, I just wasn't sure as you didn't say what you'd read.
I studied Luke 7:36-50 today. I love reading about the woman who loved Jesus so much!
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fearnot
Living With Pain
Posts: 8,383
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Post by fearnot on Jan 19, 2016 20:36:32 GMT -5
Romans 1: 18-22 Yesterday
God is angry ( now, as then) because men are suppressing the truth.
I have often wondered why, of all the religions, cults etc. men seem to be especially focused on mocking and suppressing
( and hoping to totally eliminate if possible) Christianity..the true truth.
There are many religions that are violent, evil, calling good/evil and evil/good etc., but they are mostly ignored.
I think it's because those religions do not rock the boat so to speak, since people love their sins, darkness, and wickedness.
However v 19 states that since the beginning of time Creation itself makes it clear, there is a Creator God. The beauty and complexity of our world and the universe, a tiny seed turns into a giant tree, the forming of a baby, the glory in the stars etc etc etc all point to an all knowing, all powerful, infinite eternal God that no amount of mocking or willful turning away is an excuse.
So many scientists, PHD's, CEO's, etc. promote themselves as brilliant geniuses but in fact, they are foolish fools!
And too add insult to injury, they often are the very ones who have turned to mortal men like: Buddha or Muhammad; or play with karma and all the many Hindu 'gods' which are really demons.
And some men from ancient Egypt to today worship 'nature' birds, animals, reptiles ( even the American Indians) etc. Others thinking they are seeing the 'light' when in fact, their foolish hearts are darkened.
I am so grateful and thankful that God has removed me far from all of this that I too once thought was correct ( being equally foolish). c.
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Post by Cindy on Jan 20, 2016 13:20:37 GMT -5
Romans 1: 18-22 Yesterday
God is angry ( now, as then) because men are suppressing the truth.
I have often wondered why, of all the religions, cults etc. men seem to be especially focused on mocking and suppressing
( and hoping to totally eliminate if possible) Christianity..the true truth.
There are many religions that are violent, evil, calling good/evil and evil/good etc., but they are mostly ignored.
I think it's because those religions do not rock the boat so to speak, since people love their sins, darkness, and wickedness.
However v 19 states that since the beginning of time Creation itself makes it clear, there is a Creator God. The beauty and complexity of our world and the universe, a tiny seed turns into a giant tree, the forming of a baby, the glory in the stars etc etc etc all point to an all knowing, all powerful, infinite eternal God that no amount of mocking or willful turning away is an excuse.
So many scientists, PHD's, CEO's, etc. promote themselves as brilliant geniuses but in fact, they are foolish fools!
And too add insult to injury, they often are the very ones who have turned to mortal men like: Buddha or Muhammad; or play with karma and all the many Hindu 'gods' which are really demons.
And some men from ancient Egypt to today worship 'nature' birds, animals, reptiles ( even the American Indians) etc. Others thinking they are seeing the 'light' when in fact, their foolish hearts are darkened.
I am so grateful and thankful that God has removed me far from all of this that I too once thought was correct ( being equally foolish). c.
Barbara, aren't you going to tell me what kind of schedule you've come up with? Or did you do that and I've just spaced it out? Forgive me if you have. My brain doesn't seem to be cooperating much lately....
What you've said is true and I think it's also because there really IS power in both the Name of Jesus and in His Word, and since He actually dwells in those who are truly saved, His spirit conflicts with the worldly spirit in all the unsaved people who meet us. His Spirit convicts them and they hate that. (they may not know it, and most likely don't even realize that's the reason, but the bible shows us that it is). Kind of interesting to think that so much power dwells within us. The very power that created this world, that raised Jesus from the dead (and others) and the power that created us as well. All that power within us, and yet most who are truly saved don't use it hardly at all, and often don't even think of using it, even though it's there to help us. Just look at a few of the scriptures that talk about the power within us: Ephesians 1:19; Acts 1:8; Acts 4:34; 1 Corinthians 1:17; 1 Corinthians 2:5; 1 Corinthians 4:20; 2 Corinthians 10:4; Ephesians 3:16; Ephesians 6:10; Colossians 1:11; Colossians 1:29; 2 Timothy 1:7. That's not all of them of course, but it sure shows how very little people who are saved today use that power. I'm with Paul when he talks about knowing Jesus and His power in Philippians 3:10. Anyway, sorry to get off track... but that's what causes the world to want to wipe out Christianity, the Bible and the Jews as well. All because of the power of God, His Name, and His Word.
I studied Luke 8:1-15 today. Rather then write it out again, this is what I especially got from it:fresh-hope.com/thread/1815/lord-loving-all-who
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fearnot
Living With Pain
Posts: 8,383
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Post by fearnot on Jan 20, 2016 20:01:05 GMT -5
I did say.... that for now,
I would be studying, somewhere around lunch time between 11, noon or one.
I said my time might change in the summer when the grandchildren are in Calif.
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fearnot
Living With Pain
Posts: 8,383
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Post by fearnot on Jan 20, 2016 20:23:54 GMT -5
I kings 18:1-18
The very first thing the Lord pointed out to me was 2 words. In verse 1 God said:
"Go" to Elijah
and in verse 2: It says that Elijah: "went"
Of course I am not alone in making up excuse why I can't do something God says for me to do.....even Moses in the Bible had some excuses why he could not do something the Lord asked.
On the other hand, in this case, God said to do something and Elijah simply obeyed! A good example for me!
Verse 3 talks about Obadiah who was honest and faithful to Ahab as his palace administrator, who was a devout believer. However, Obadiah was very brave and courageous hiding 100 prophets (dividing them in 2 caves and caring for them even tho wicked, evil, scary Jezebel was determined to kill them all).
Nevertheless, Obadiah was fearful because Ahab was searching in every nation for Elijah. Still, he obeyed and arranged a meeting between Ahab and Elijah.
It's sort of funny in v 17 when Ahab sees Elijah he says; "Is that you, you troubler of Israel?"
But v. 18 Elijah sets him straight that its Ahab's sins that is causing the troubles.
I too have been guilty of blaming someone or something else instead of my owns sins... ( tho as time goes by I am slowly on, getting better at fessing up to the truth... most of the time....but I need to do more and again, this was a good reminder.
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Post by Cindy on Jan 21, 2016 11:23:53 GMT -5
I did say.... that for now,
I would be studying, somewhere around lunch time between 11, noon or one.
I said my time might change in the summer when the grandchildren are in Calif.  Sorry, I told you my brain was on strike! I hate when I do that!I kings 18:1-18
The very first thing the Lord pointed out to me was 2 words. In verse 1 God said:
"Go" to Elijah
and in verse 2: It says that Elijah: "went"
Of course I am not alone in making up excuse why I can't do something God says for me to do.....even Moses in the Bible had some excuses why he could not do something the Lord asked.
On the other hand, in this case, God said to do something and Elijah simply obeyed! A good example for me!
Verse 3 talks about Obadiah who was honest and faithful to Ahab as his palace administrator, who was a devout believer. However, Obadiah was very brave and courageous hiding 100 prophets (dividing them in 2 caves and caring for them even tho wicked, evil, scary Jezebel was determined to kill them all).
Nevertheless, Obadiah was fearful because Ahab was searching in every nation for Elijah. Still, he obeyed and arranged a meeting between Ahab and Elijah.
It's sort of funny in v 17 when Ahab sees Elijah he says; "Is that you, you troubler of Israel?"
But v. 18 Elijah sets him straight that its Ahab's sins that is causing the troubles.
I too have been guilty of blaming someone or something else instead of my owns sins... ( tho as time goes by I am slowly on, getting better at fessing up to the truth... most of the time....but I need to do more and again, this was a good reminder. 
I read psalm 18 today so far, mostly I've been praying.
I'm going to take some time off to pray even more over the next few days. I'll still pop in and check this thread and post, and say Hi in the chat thread, but I want to spend a lot more time in prayer for the next few days so won't have time to do much more then that. I'm not sure "why" I feel the need to do this, I just do.
I'm so discouraged that Eva hasn't been joining us daily. When I was talking to the Lord about my desire to spend a few days in concentrated prayer, at first I thought, "well, I won't have time to post on the board in that thread, and immediately realized that was Satan and my flesh talking, not the Lord. I told myself that was crazy to think that as it only took 5 whole minutes at the most to make a quick post of what I'd read that day, so there was no reason at all except for Satan's lies that I couldn't do it. That made me think of Eva of course. My heart breaks for her, so I'll be praying for her too. Of course I pray for you as well and will continue to do so.
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fearnot
Living With Pain
Posts: 8,383
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Post by fearnot on Jan 21, 2016 15:02:58 GMT -5
it would be easier if I knew what the problem was? Is she very very sick? or just feels she cannot get here each and every day to post?
But you did say, even if we couldn't post on any given day, we could let each other know the following day.
Perhaps she feels she can't write it all out, every time. Sometimes I have only written a few sentences and other times a few paragraphs.
When I only wrote a few sentences it didn't mean that was all the Lord told me, but if I was feeling so sick with a flare up again, it was the best I could write that day.
The next day if I felt better, I tired to cover more.
But its the not knowing that worries me. I even wonder if the immigrants perhaps are causing mayhem like in various parts of Europe.
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fearnot
Living With Pain
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Post by fearnot on Jan 21, 2016 15:34:07 GMT -5
Romans 1: 24-27
So God gave them over to their desires.
Even as children we chaff against God, thinking he wants to rain on our parade, keeping us from fun ( a kill joy), when all we want is to be 'free, wild, and happy'.
We turn the very word 'rebel' and 'rebellion' into heroic causes for 'freedom' from a seeming old tyrant.
But sort of like gravity when God lets us go we don't float upward to happiness, we sink down to the pits.
Almost always the first thing we slid into is sexual promiscuity. Our culture today rivals the debauchery of the ancient cultures.
But I can say from experience, instead of freedom all one finds is bondage, pain, and misery.
Then the slid down goes to the so called freedom to be 'me and you' ...the right to be a lesbian or homosexual, or both, or switch your sex ( which is a lie) by surgical mutilation, drugs, hormones etc.
and fornication and adultery no longer shock us as the are practically the norm.
The results of these 'lifestyles' cause all manner of pain, disease, sorrow, emptiness, disgust ( with one's self and hating the opposite sex), alcohol, drugs, even leading to suicide.
The worst part is being so far from the Lord, a taste of Hell before one is dead.
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Post by Cindy on Jan 22, 2016 11:46:49 GMT -5
it would be easier if I knew what the problem was? Is she very very sick? or just feels she cannot get here each and every day to post?
But you did say, even if we couldn't post on any given day, we could let each other know the following day.
Perhaps she feels she can't write it all out, every time. Sometimes I have only written a few sentences and other times a few paragraphs.
When I only wrote a few sentences it didn't mean that was all the Lord told me, but if I was feeling so sick with a flare up again, it was the best I could write that day.
The next day if I felt better, I tired to cover more.
But its the not knowing that worries me. I even wonder if the immigrants perhaps are causing mayhem like in various parts of Europe.
Romans 1: 24-27
So God gave them over to their desires.
Even as children we chaff against God, thinking he wants to rain on our parade, keeping us from fun ( a kill joy), when all we want is to be 'free, wild, and happy'.
We turn the very word 'rebel' and 'rebellion' into heroic causes for 'freedom' from a seeming old tyrant.
But sort of like gravity when God lets us go we don't float upward to happiness, we sink down to the pits.
Almost always the first thing we slid into is sexual promiscuity. Our culture today rivals the debauchery of the ancient cultures.
But I can say from experience, instead of freedom all one finds is bondage, pain, and misery.
Then the slid down goes to the so called freedom to be 'me and you' ...the right to be a lesbian or homosexual, or both, or switch your sex ( which is a lie) by surgical mutilation, drugs, hormones etc.
and fornication and adultery no longer shock us as the are practically the norm.
The results of these 'lifestyles' cause all manner of pain, disease, sorrow, emptiness, disgust ( with one's self and hating the opposite sex), alcohol, drugs, even leading to suicide.
The worst part is being so far from the Lord, a taste of Hell before one is dead.
I read Luke 8:16-18 today. I was amazed at how much the Lord showed me from those little verses, but will have to tell you about it another time as I've got to get back to Him now.
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fearnot
Living With Pain
Posts: 8,383
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Post by fearnot on Jan 22, 2016 20:51:42 GMT -5
Read Ephesians 1: 1-4
Hopefully I can write a bit on it tomorrow and add a few more verses.
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Post by Cindy on Jan 23, 2016 13:31:26 GMT -5
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fearnot
Living With Pain
Posts: 8,383
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Post by fearnot on Jan 23, 2016 20:30:29 GMT -5
I got really hung up on Ephesians 1:3
Especially "blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing"
Somewhere way back when I had read that (well mis-read) and got confused as to the meaning. I thought it meant we already had heavenly spiritual blessings ( like the way Jesus could walk thru walls, or walk on water, or when He ascended into Heaven ( and it seemed to me He could obviously go where even He wanted in the Universe.....so)
I reasoned believers can't really do that here on earth now (walk thru walls etc.) therefore we must somehow already be in Heaven maybe in spirit??? I was totally confused and thought well maybe it like how we can never truly understand the trinity so I just let it go and forgot about it until now.
I did ask the Lord to study with me and help me ( but since I have been so neglectful for years I am not sure I am on the right track now either.
I did remember that God has said in Matthew 5:45 that "He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous."
So both the believer and unbeliever get various types of material blessings here on earth, but only the believer gets the full package of blessings because he or she also receives spiritual blessing from the Lord who is in Heaven?
Then it jumps in a sense from the fire to the oven because v 4-5 deals with predestination.
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Post by Cindy on Jan 24, 2016 11:12:31 GMT -5
I got really hung up on Ephesians 1:3
Especially "blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing"
Somewhere way back when I had read that (well mis-read) and got confused as to the meaning. I thought it meant we already had heavenly spiritual blessings ( like the way Jesus could walk thru walls, or walk on water, or when He ascended into Heaven ( and it seemed to me He could obviously go where even He wanted in the Universe.....so)
I reasoned believers can't really do that here on earth now (walk thru walls etc.) therefore we must somehow already be in Heaven maybe in spirit??? I was totally confused and thought well maybe it like how we can never truly understand the trinity so I just let it go and forgot about it until now.
I did ask the Lord to study with me and help me ( but since I have been so neglectful for years I am not sure I am on the right track now either.
I did remember that God has said in Matthew 5:45 that "He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous."
So both the believer and unbeliever get various types of material blessings here on earth, but only the believer gets the full package of blessings because he or she also receives spiritual blessing from the Lord who is in Heaven?
Then it jumps in a sense from the fire to the oven because v 4-5 deals with predestination.
Remember how a long time ago I suggested that when we were given the gift of salvation, many of us accepted the gift, but never really opened the box and checked out what was inside it? And because we didn't do that, we missed out on all the blessings that came along with the gift of salvation. Remember, I suggested it was like when I gave a Christmas gift to one of my granddaughters that I don't see often. It was a pocket book that could be colored with markers, but inside of it was yet more gifts that went with it. She wasn't used to me and didn't know to open the pocket book up. She thought that was all there was, and thanked me for it. But another granddaughter that did know me well, started telling her, "no, open it up, there's probably more inside!", and so she finally did LOL, and she found the other gifts.
At the moment of our salvation, God gives each one of us all we will ever need. Our job is to discover what those gifts are and learn to apply them wisely and consistently. That's yet one more reason the Lord wants us in His Word every day. As we grow and mature in our faith, He will teach us to use these resources. Paul puts it another way here: “and you have been given fullness in Christ, who is the head over every power and authority.” (Colossians 2:10) The word that's translated "fullness" or "filled" means: to cause to abound, to furnish or supply liberally; to make complete in every particular, to render perfect. "complete". Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon. We know this is true because we're told: “because by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy.” (Hebrews 10:14) That's why Jesus cried out, “It is finished” on the cross.
Salvation does so much more for us then just save us from hell. All love, strength, wisdom, comfort, joy, peace, meaning, value, purpose, hope, and fulfillment are given to us at that instant. Look at it one more time: “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will—” and notice that all these blessings are "in Christ", in other words, we are able to use them only when we are abiding (living, walking, remaining) in Him. If we are living/walking, etc in the world, we can't use them, so it depends totally on where our focus is. The next verse, verse 4, tells us how God sees us from the instant we are saved. He views us "in Christ". Remember how we're told that we are to clothe ourselves with Christ (Romans 13:14) Our lives don't match up to how God sees us, which is why we're told to clothe ourselves with Christ. it's another way of saying that we need to abide, live, walk, in Him all the time. Again, the more we are in His Word, the more we can do this effectively.
He chose us to be holy and blameless in His sight. blameless doesn't mean sinless, but rather stainless, because we confess our sins and repent. Holiness means being separated from the world and evil. So verses 4 and 5 are simply telling us why God has given us all the spiritual blessings. Wouldn't that be the natural question someone would ask after being told they had received this amazing bounty from God? When told that they'd received ALL the spiritual blessings, their next thought would generally be, "but why in the world would God give me that?" And so Paul explains "why".
Does that help some?
Today I studied Luke 8:26-39 and was again amazed at our beloved Savior!
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fearnot
Living With Pain
Posts: 8,383
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Post by fearnot on Jan 24, 2016 21:32:05 GMT -5
Yes that most certainly helped.....thank you.
I do remember you talking about our salvation as a gift but one which many of us don't open up to see what else is included ( like the gift you gave to a granddaughter who didn't know you that well.
I also found this helpful too...I don't think I ever really understood it.
"For this reason, there is no reason for any Christian to pray for love, joy, peace, strength, etc. because the Lord has already given us these things (and so much more!). Instead, what we need to do is learn how to use and apply what we've already been given!"
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Sorry, I told you my brain was on strike! I hate when I do that!
!!
