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Post by Cindy on Jan 26, 2017 13:22:06 GMT -5
Thank you so much for all the info about baptism. It is weird but I seemed to be surrounded by people into false gospels ( Jehovah Witnesses the next place over, 7th day Adventist landlady and so on).
I like all the people, I mean they are not hateful, and they are all friendly, helpful, kindly etc.
Only.......I know that each and every single time I see them,they are going to weave into even a short conversation, something of their false gospel.
I actually try to avoid them as much as possible, but hubby, being a friendly caring soul, always invites them in for a chat...he does much better at ignoring their attempts to convert us or educate us to their falsehoods.
Taking just those 2....(landlady and neighbor), neither has any intention to leave their false religions,
and so I have no idea what to do when they start in.
What I mean is take the baptism issue.....
(by the way, I was soooooooo happy you gave me all those scripture, commentaries, and even your own thoughts, study and words......)
But my landlady was absolutely positively adamant when she spoke her belief on baptism being necessary for salvation).
I end up, just feel hopeless, and even if I had in my mind all that you just gave me:
A) it would take a long while to convey it to her ( longer than she would have being as she is a super active busy busy busy person)
B) she has made it clear, she will never never never leave 7th day period! ( it came up I think once when she was telling me about her husband declaration)
tho her husband will go to her Sabbath, now and then, for sake of easing the tension caused by their different beliefs
C) I do not like confrontations, and she would not take kindly to my disagreeing and at best would would be 'firm' in refuting whatever I might say.
So usually, I have now gotten to the place where I quietly endure whatever they spout, or make a very 'meek' safe rebuttal on some obscure point.
But writing this I just realized....you are not going to believe it...!!!!!
I don't believe I ever prayed about these two people in these situations!!!!
Not even that God's Holy Spirit would either give me the right words, at the right time,
and/or
would open their eyes.....maybe without me even saying anything in rebuttal.....might have an epiphany
Sometimes, ( rarely I know but still) a person can be spouting some long held belief and then hours, days or even weeks later....God will open their eyes.
Perhaps, I can, at the very least, start praying ,
the minute, I see them,
from now on......
I can at least pray, that the Lord may open their hearts and mind to Truth....
Oh I did have one question about how everything that happens is in God's will.....like Paul, I can see how his persecuting the Christians, was used for good, in that those who might say my sins are too bad for God to forgive me....
But what about sins only in our minds? How can God use a person who only 'thinks' of killing, or some sort of deviant sex, etc.?
Unless the Christian should revel it such things, and I would think most would not, if for no other reason than they don't want to glorify such sins?
1/25/17
Acts 14: 21-28
The Return to Antioch in Syria
So they won a large number of disciples and
v.27 "...God had done through them and how he had opened a door of faith..."
My application is to give God the credit and glory if and when he might work thru me and open a door of faith for others.
I should point out though that there's no such thing as "if and when" He work through you to open a door of faith for others. God is doing that constantly. Every time someone hears your voice or sees you doing anything, He is using you for that. Or perhaps it would be more correct to say that He is giving you the opportunity every time someone hears your voice or sees you do something. Once we are saved, everything we do or say is always on display to unbelievers, to show them how a Christian should act and speak, what a Christian thinks about, and how they spend their days. Our words and actions always are either preparing the heart and mind of an unbeliever to accept the Gospel, or to reject it. If our words and/or actions are loving toward another person, no matter what we're doing or talking about, it helps prepare the soil of their hearts and minds to receive the Truth about God. If we're nasty, or just uncaring even, to an unbeliever, it can cause their hearts to harden a little toward the truth whenever it's presented to them. We're also on display to other believers, showing them the same things and either helping them grow in their faith, or causing confusion. See what I mean?
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fearnot
Living With Pain
Posts: 8,397 
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Post by fearnot on Jan 26, 2017 13:32:09 GMT -5
1/26/17
Acts 15:1-21
The Council at Jerusalem
It's sort of interesting, that I had mentioned recently to you that my 7th day Adventist landlady believes you must be baptized to go to heaven....
because this passage is about another law/works etc. issue that came up right in v. 1 in a sort of similar matter.
v.1".....“Unless you are circumcised, according to the custom taught by Moses, you cannot be saved.”
So Paul and Barnabus go to Jerusalem about this question.
Thus at this council Paul speaks and calls insisting on circumcision as a requirement for salvation a "yoke"
and says rather:
v.11 "We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are."
My application is simply to keep remembering that salvation is by grace of our Lord Jesus,
and be aware of how sometimes very subtly satan will attempt to add something else to what Jesus has already done in full!!
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fearnot
Living With Pain
Posts: 8,397
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Post by fearnot on Jan 26, 2017 13:59:22 GMT -5
Again Cindy, THANK YOU SOOOOOOOOO MUCH!!!
That was so helpful ( about thoughts, and how it is different when you are saved!!!)
Also this was equally as helpful
"If our words and/or actions are loving toward another person, no matter what we're doing or talking about, it helps prepare the soil of their hearts and minds to receive the Truth about God."
I so needed to hear that today. I am going to see doctor, and it brought back the memory of our last conversation ( when he brought up the Salem witch trials and the Crusades)
and starting last night, I have been praying that the Lord would help me when I go to see him,
to deal with my anger ( and pride...wanting to win the 'debate')
I asked that I could instead be a good ambassador and give Jesus the glory.....
But I was sitting here ( I haven't gone yet, app in afternoon) still angry ( and hurt that doc more or less slapped the Lord in the face, throwing those 'horrors' up)
But then, look at what the Lord did....
just at the right time,
he had you write these words which I read,
before.....
I go....
they deserve re-posting again to be inscribed on my heart!!!!
Cindy said:
"If our words and/or actions are loving toward another person, no matter what we're doing or talking about, it helps prepare the soil of their hearts and minds to receive the Truth about God."
I soooo much still wanted to WIN and set him straight about he FACTS.....perhaps in one sense not completely wrong, but for 100 % wrong because of my underlying attitudes:
not loving
but
anger and pride
well one thing is dealing with him, as brought to my attention how competitive, determined to win, and less loving than I always thought of myself I am LOL
Sigh! I so wanted to rip him ( verbally) one side and up the other...
He IS wrong!!!!!!! LOLOL
Bah... now I have to be loving....
well.... I don't want to add to his unkind thoughts about Jesus,
and
I do want to be a good ambassador
but he doesn't realize....besides not having the correct facts about those incidents,
that even IF they were waaaaay worse than he "thinks" ( because he does not know the true historical facts)
what sinful people do.....is NOT our Lord and Savior.....
it only proves we are all sinners
But isn't God great, He answered my prayers of last night and this morning with just what I needed to hear
before I go....
cuz I was still loosing.....I still wanted ( and some part of me still does!!!) to set doc straight)
But it would NOT show him the love of Christ
( this is really hard for me.....who knew I was so determined to win?)
OH....yeah....Father knows
Sigh again LOL
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fearnot
Living With Pain
Posts: 8,397
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Post by fearnot on Jan 27, 2017 13:22:45 GMT -5
1/27/17
Acts 15: 22-35
The Council’s Letter to Gentile Believers
So Paul, Barnabas, Silas, and Judas ( not the one that betrayed Jesus of course) brought the council's letter, and
v. 31 "The people read it and were glad for its encouraging message".
The application for me is to begin to be more apt to give an encouraging message.
Oh I do sometimes, but in this day and age, it is easy for me to slip into a more doom and gloom mode ( not always without reason.......except I am not allowing that God is in charge and can and will bring good out of it in someway, at some time)>
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fearnot
Living With Pain
Posts: 8,397
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Post by fearnot on Jan 28, 2017 15:35:51 GMT -5
1/28/17
Acts 15: 36-41
Disagreement Between Paul and Barnabas
Opps
v.39 " 39 They had such a sharp disagreement that they parted company. "
But that is one of the neat things about the Bible, it is not untruthful, it shows humans in all their frailties and sins, and does not gloss over them.
For me anyway, it reminds me of the times, I got hurt feelings and decided to leave ( I am not saying that was true of Paul and Barnabus), just the parting in what seemed like maybe anger but at least they could not agree...
So I need to continue to focus on having a teachable spirit and not dote on my hurt feelings...
not that I have had any in a loooooong time,
but just when I think something is gone forever.....
it has a nasty way of popping back up.
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Post by Cindy on Jan 29, 2017 9:41:19 GMT -5
1/26/17
Acts 15:1-21
The Council at Jerusalem
It's sort of interesting, that I had mentioned recently to you that my 7th day Adventist landlady believes you must be baptized to go to heaven....
because this passage is about another law/works etc. issue that came up right in v. 1 in a sort of similar matter.
v.1".....“Unless you are circumcised, according to the custom taught by Moses, you cannot be saved.”
So Paul and Barnabus go to Jerusalem about this question.
Thus at this council Paul speaks and calls insisting on circumcision as a requirement for salvation a "yoke"
and says rather:
v.11 "We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are."
My application is simply to keep remembering that salvation is by grace of our Lord Jesus,
and be aware of how sometimes very subtly satan will attempt to add something else to what Jesus has already done in full!!
Again Cindy, THANK YOU SOOOOOOOOO MUCH!!!
That was so helpful ( about thoughts, and how it is different when you are saved!!!)
Also this was equally as helpful
"If our words and/or actions are loving toward another person, no matter what we're doing or talking about, it helps prepare the soil of their hearts and minds to receive the Truth about God."
I so needed to hear that today. I am going to see doctor, and it brought back the memory of our last conversation ( when he brought up the Salem witch trials and the Crusades)
and starting last night, I have been praying that the Lord would help me when I go to see him,
to deal with my anger ( and pride...wanting to win the 'debate')
I asked that I could instead be a good ambassador and give Jesus the glory.....
But I was sitting here ( I haven't gone yet, app in afternoon) still angry ( and hurt that doc more or less slapped the Lord in the face, throwing those 'horrors' up)
But then, look at what the Lord did....
just at the right time,
he had you write these words which I read,
before.....
I go....
they deserve re-posting again to be inscribed on my heart!!!!
Cindy said:
"If our words and/or actions are loving toward another person, no matter what we're doing or talking about, it helps prepare the soil of their hearts and minds to receive the Truth about God."
I soooo much still wanted to WIN and set him straight about he FACTS.....perhaps in one sense not completely wrong, but for 100 % wrong because of my underlying attitudes:
not loving
but
anger and pride
well one thing is dealing with him, as brought to my attention how competitive, determined to win, and less loving than I always thought of myself I am LOL
Sigh! I so wanted to rip him ( verbally) one side and up the other...
He IS wrong!!!!!!! LOLOL
Bah... now I have to be loving....
well.... I don't want to add to his unkind thoughts about Jesus,
and
I do want to be a good ambassador
but he doesn't realize....besides not having the correct facts about those incidents,
that even IF they were waaaaay worse than he "thinks" ( because he does not know the true historical facts)
what sinful people do.....is NOT our Lord and Savior.....
it only proves we are all sinners
But isn't God great, He answered my prayers of last night and this morning with just what I needed to hear
before I go....
cuz I was still loosing.....I still wanted ( and some part of me still does!!!) to set doc straight)
But it would NOT show him the love of Christ
( this is really hard for me.....who knew I was so determined to win?)
OH....yeah....Father knows
Sigh again LOL
 I know what you mean. It can be very hard to stop ourselves from telling others what we want to at times.1/27/17
Acts 15: 22-35
The Council’s Letter to Gentile Believers
So Paul, Barnabas, Silas, and Judas ( not the one that betrayed Jesus of course) brought the council's letter, and
v. 31 "The people read it and were glad for its encouraging message".
The application for me is to begin to be more apt to give an encouraging message.
Oh I do sometimes, but in this day and age, it is easy for me to slip into a more doom and gloom mode ( not always without reason.......except I am not allowing that God is in charge and can and will bring good out of it in someway, at some time)>
1/28/17
Acts 15: 36-41
Disagreement Between Paul and Barnabas
Opps
v.39 " 39 They had such a sharp disagreement that they parted company. "
But that is one of the neat things about the Bible, it is not untruthful, it shows humans in all their frailties and sins, and does not gloss over them.
For me anyway, it reminds me of the times, I got hurt feelings and decided to leave ( I am not saying that was true of Paul and Barnabus), just the parting in what seemed like maybe anger but at least they could not agree...
So I need to continue to focus on having a teachable spirit and not dote on my hurt feelings...
not that I have had any in a loooooong time,
but just when I think something is gone forever.....
it has a nasty way of popping back up.
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fearnot
Living With Pain
Posts: 8,397
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Post by fearnot on Jan 29, 2017 14:46:03 GMT -5
Thanks to your post, I did not go in and slam the poor doc LOL.
He prob wouldn't have taken too kindly to it anyway,
because he would have felt attacked, and he would have been right.....
so yeah that would not have been a good ambassador...
so I was 'good' LOL
Thank you
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fearnot
Living With Pain
Posts: 8,397
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Post by fearnot on Jan 29, 2017 15:45:42 GMT -5
1/29/17
Acts 16:1-10
Timothy Joins Paul and Silas
Timothy joins them in Lystra
Also,
v. 5 "the churches were strengthened in the faith and grew daily in numbers."
So even tho there had been a split due to an argument, God still used fallible men.
Paul’s Vision of the Man of Macedonia
The application to me is even tho it seems good to me, to engage someone, it may not be the right time...
for example
v. 6,7 " Paul and his companions traveled throughout the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching the word in the province of Asia.
7 When they came to the border of Mysia, they tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to."
We may not know why, but whatever the Lord's reason, Jesus did lead them to a Man of Macedonia.
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Post by Cindy on Jan 30, 2017 11:33:10 GMT -5
Thanks to your post, I did not go in and slam the poor doc LOL.
He prob wouldn't have taken too kindly to it anyway,
because he would have felt attacked, and he would have been right.....
so yeah that would not have been a good ambassador...
so I was 'good' LOL
Thank you
1/29/17
Acts 16:1-10
Timothy Joins Paul and Silas
Timothy joins them in Lystra
Also,
v. 5 "the churches were strengthened in the faith and grew daily in numbers."
So even tho there had been a split due to an argument, God still used fallible men.
Paul’s Vision of the Man of Macedonia
The application to me is even tho it seems good to me, to engage someone, it may not be the right time...
for example
v. 6,7 " Paul and his companions traveled throughout the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching the word in the province of Asia.
7 When they came to the border of Mysia, they tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to."
We may not know why, but whatever the Lord's reason, Jesus did lead them to a Man of Macedonia.
“When they came to the border of Mysia, they tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to.” (Acts 16:7)
The second part that I found interesting is that it's from "the Spirit of Jesus" in verse 7 that we get the statement in the Nicene Creed that says, "We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son." It's called the filoque of the Nicene Creed. I hadn't heard that term before so looked it up and found it quite interesting:
What is the filioque clause / filioque controversy?
The filioque clause was, and still is, a controversy in the church in relation to the Holy Spirit. The question is, “from whom did the Holy Spirit proceed, the Father, or the Father and the Son?” The word filioque means “and son” in Latin. It is referred to as the “filioque clause” because the phrase “and son” was added to the Nicene Creed, indicating that the Holy Spirit proceeded from the Father “and Son.” There was so much contention over this issue that it eventually led to the split between the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox churches in A. D. 1054. The two churches are still not in agreement on the filioque clause.
John 14:26 tells us, “But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name...” John 15:26 tells us, “When the Counselor comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father, He will testify about me.” See also John 14:16 and Philippians 1:19. These Scriptures seem to indicate that the Spirit is sent out by both the Father and the Son. The essential matter in the filioque clause is a desire to protect the deity of the Holy Spirit. The Bible clearly teaches that the Holy Spirit is God (Acts 5:3-4). Those who oppose the filioque clause object because they believe the Holy Spirit proceeding from the Father and the Son makes the Holy Spirit “subservient” to the Father and Son. Those who uphold the filioque clause believe that the Holy Spirit proceeding from both the Father and the Son does not impact the Spirit being equally God with the Father and the Son.
The filioque clause controversy likely involves an aspect of God's person that we will never be able to fully grasp. God, who is an infinite being, is ultimately incomprehensible to our finite human minds. The Holy Spirit is God, and He was sent by God as Jesus Christ's “replacement” here on earth. The question of whether the Holy Spirit was sent by the Father, or by the Father and the Son, likely cannot be decisively answered, nor does it absolutely need to be. The filioque clause will perhaps have to remain a controversy.
Interesting, isn't it? It never ceases to amaze me how much is in every single word and phrase that our God put in His Word for us!
Have you been reflecting on and seeing any of your other applications throughout the day lately? Oh, and have you been praying before you begin to study each day and talking to the Lord about what you're reading?
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fearnot
Living With Pain
Posts: 8,397
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Post by fearnot on Jan 30, 2017 12:54:08 GMT -5
That was so interesting about the filioque clause!
I would have to answer yes...to the questions but so glad you asked because the qualifier to be more correct, would be yes...but not nearly enough for either, and some days only minimally.
Like yesterday, Leonard was in so much pain and there was so little I could do.
I did pray of course....
but then, I heard him in the kitchen and I almost just stayed in my comfy snoozing chair.....
but I got up ( he was pouring hydrogen peroxide on his foot cuz his toe looked so infected as well as the nueropathy pain.
I suggestion the 3 in 1, cream... for his toe and got it...
and it did feel a little better ( the toe, not the neuropathy).
But what pull me out of just staying and sleeping was thinking of the fruit of the Spirit.
Still for the most part, I felt like I was not doing all I could...oh I made some ginger tea ( I don't think it really helped LOL but it was an attempt).
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fearnot
Living With Pain
Posts: 8,397
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Post by fearnot on Jan 30, 2017 14:35:32 GMT -5
1/30/17
Acts 16:11-15
Lydia’s Conversion in Philippi
I spent some time looking at all the places Paul stopped at before arriving at Philippi
It is interesting how hospitable Lydia was, and that is an application for me, because I mostly do not like to have people over. I am certain they are noticing how messy I am as a homemaker, or I don't even feel a little nice looking. Perhaps as an artist, I am more aware of the environment but since I am also an avid reader and computer addict, what energy I do have seldom goes to chasing down dust bunnies.
Still, I need to pick up the pace some, because hubby is in the habit of saying when talking to a neighbor, landlord or whomever: "come on in"
sooooo I need to have more hospitality and that means I need to spend a little time each day ( if I can physically) on tidying so I won't be such a hermit.
“If you consider me a believer in the Lord,” she said, “come and stay at my house.” And she persuaded us.
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Post by Cindy on Jan 31, 2017 11:09:57 GMT -5
That was so interesting about the filioque clause!
I would have to answer yes...to the questions but so glad you asked because the qualifier to be more correct, would be yes...but not nearly enough for either, and some days only minimally.
Like yesterday, Leonard was in so much pain and there was so little I could do.
I did pray of course....
but then, I heard him in the kitchen and I almost just stayed in my comfy snoozing chair.....
but I got up ( he was pouring hydrogen peroxide on his foot cuz his toe looked so infected as well as the nueropathy pain.
I suggestion the 3 in 1, cream... for his toe and got it...
and it did feel a little better ( the toe, not the neuropathy).
But what pull me out of just staying and sleeping was thinking of the fruit of the Spirit.
Still for the most part, I felt like I was not doing all I could...oh I made some ginger tea ( I don't think it really helped LOL but it was an attempt). 1/30/17
Acts 16:11-15
Lydia’s Conversion in Philippi
I spent some time looking at all the places Paul stopped at before arriving at Philippi
It is interesting how hospitable Lydia was, and that is an application for me, because I mostly do not like to have people over. I am certain they are noticing how messy I am as a homemaker, or I don't even feel a little nice looking. Perhaps as an artist, I am more aware of the environment but since I am also an avid reader and computer addict, what energy I do have seldom goes to chasing down dust bunnies.
Still, I need to pick up the pace some, because hubby is in the habit of saying when talking to a neighbor, landlord or whomever: "come on in"
sooooo I need to have more hospitality and that means I need to spend a little time each day ( if I can physically) on tidying so I won't be such a hermit.
“If you consider me a believer in the Lord,” she said, “come and stay at my house.” And she persuaded us.
Lydia was a successful businesswoman from Thyatira, a city renowned for its purple dye. She probably was in charge of a branch office of her guild in Philippi. God brought her all the way to Greece so that she might hear the Gospel & be converted. She was “a worshiper of God,” a Gentile who was not a full Jewish proselyte but who openly worshiped with the Jews. She was seeking truth. Paul shared the Word (“spoken” or "message") in Acts 16:14 means personal conversation, not preaching), God opened her heart to the truth, & she believed & was saved. She boldly identified herself with Christ by being baptized, & she insisted that the missionaries stay at her house. All of her household had been converted, so this was a good opportunity for Paul & his associates to teach them the Word & establish a local church. We must not conclude that because God opened Lydia’s heart, Lydia’s part in her conversion was entirely passive. She listened attentively to the Word, & it is the Word that brings the sinner to the Saviour (John 5:24). The same God who ordained the end, Lydia’s salvation, also ordained the means to the end, Paul’s witness of Jesus Christ. This is a beautiful illustration of 2 Thes 2:13–14. The Bible exposition commentary
Lydia, a Jewish proselyte, was a wealthy and respected merchant of significant social standing. She was the first European won to Christ under Paul’s preaching at Philippi. Lydia’s name appears in Scripture only twice. (Acts 16:14 & Acts 16:40) She was seemingly the first Gentile convert in Europe, the first Christian businesswoman, & the first believer to open her home as a worship center for European Christians. Not only to Paul and the early church but also to the generations to come, Lydia proved the importance & influence of a woman of determination, foresight, & generosity. The Woman’s Study Bible
“When she and the members of her household were baptized, she invited us to her home. “If you consider me a believer in the Lord,” she said, “come and stay at my house.” And she persuaded us.” (Acts 16:15) Notice that like all the others who had been saved, the first thing they did was be baptized in obedience to the Lord. This was and still is important as it shows that we intend to obey the Lord and it is also our public confession of faith in Christ, showing that we don't intend to hide our faith. I sincerely hope that you are making plans to soon be baptized to show the Lord that you mean business.
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fearnot
Living With Pain
Posts: 8,397
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Post by fearnot on Jan 31, 2017 13:07:59 GMT -5
Thank you for your encouragement about helping ( or seemingly not doing enough) to help Leonard.
I did encourage him to go to the clinic ( I think he was already pretty convicted tho) and I think it was a good thing, because a toe was infected ( besides the neuropathy)....enough that they prescribed anti-biotics.
I had to laugh ( in a good way) when I read this verse of scripture you posted:
"Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling".
Here I was struggling with just plain hospitality but now I can't even grumble LOL
But actually that is kind of serious,
as I have been rather grumpy to Leonard in the past when he has invited the landlord or anyone over unexpected
( usually the landlord WANTS to come over and Leonard say oh sure).
Then I loudly grumble, that they didn't give me time to even tidy up a bit!!!!
So that was a perfect scripture for me to reflect and act on!!!
Also when you wrote this, it was a big help also!
"Remember, you do things for Jesus and what He will think of you, not what other people will think."
Leonard and I were thinking maybe of baptizing each other....and maybe when Hossanah drives the kids this June down to see their dad for summer vacation....she has a tub ( we don't)
I am still having to quickly halt my depression upon awaking but remembering and saying scripture, praying for others ( besides self), sometimes singing a hymn in my head etc.
I would love to wake up, not with doom and gloom, but with the love of Jesus in my heart and soul, full of vim and vigor, looking forward to serving the Lord ( rather than just wanting to go back to sleep....or to be raptured, or to have already died and be in Heaven with Jesus.....I need to wait on His timing not mine....but its hard.
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fearnot
Living With Pain
Posts: 8,397
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Post by fearnot on Jan 31, 2017 16:00:36 GMT -5
1/31/17
Acts 16: 17-
Paul and Silas in Prison
Oh boy! I am such a whimp I can hardly imagine all the things Paul will suffered for the love of our Lord.
To be beaten would be bad enough....and off the the ER I would expect to go
but no
They were SEVERELY beaten,
then
thrown into a filthy prison which I am pretty sure didn't have any comforts, was prob germ infected, folks had prob thrown up, not made it to the toilet, was cold or hot etc.
but
on top of that ( I would want to curl up against the pain if possible.....
but instead they had
"fastened their feet in the stocks"
At this point I would be crying and wailing where are you God, why didn't you stop this and save me etc.
But my application is to be at least a bit more like Paul and Silas...who under this severe beating, instead:
v. 25 "About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them."
So it seems to me, not only did they not whine and cry and accuse God, or at least moan and groan about their pain, they seemed to perhaps be helping the other prisoners by their prayers and singing of hymns to God.
This is so far above my natural inclination but then, I know Jesus could in fact make it so for anyone should He choose.
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Post by Cindy on Feb 1, 2017 11:42:57 GMT -5
Thank you for your encouragement about helping ( or seemingly not doing enough) to help Leonard.
I did encourage him to go to the clinic ( I think he was already pretty convicted tho) and I think it was a good thing, because a toe was infected ( besides the neuropathy)....enough that they prescribed anti-biotics.
I had to laugh ( in a good way) when I read this verse of scripture you posted:
"Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling".
Here I was struggling with just plain hospitality but now I can't even grumble LOL
But actually that is kind of serious,
as I have been rather grumpy to Leonard in the past when he has invited the landlord or anyone over unexpected
( usually the landlord WANTS to come over and Leonard say oh sure).
Then I loudly grumble, that they didn't give me time to even tidy up a bit!!!!
So that was a perfect scripture for me to reflect and act on!!!
Also when you wrote this, it was a big help also!
"Remember, you do things for Jesus and what He will think of you, not what other people will think."
Leonard and I were thinking maybe of baptizing each other....and maybe when Hossanah drives the kids this June down to see their dad for summer vacation....she has a tub ( we don't)
I am still having to quickly halt my depression upon awaking but remembering and saying scripture, praying for others ( besides self), sometimes singing a hymn in my head etc.
I would love to wake up, not with doom and gloom, but with the love of Jesus in my heart and soul, full of vim and vigor, looking forward to serving the Lord ( rather than just wanting to go back to sleep....or to be raptured, or to have already died and be in Heaven with Jesus.....I need to wait on His timing not mine....but its hard.
The problem we face now, (which is why the kids did what they did then) is that we have no idea when the rapture will happen. it could be today!!!! So it would be best to get it done as soon as humanly possible. Even if you have to just invite some friends (they don't have to be Christians) to your back yard and have a couple of large buckets of water handy. Then each of you can dowse the other one with a bucket of water. (although you'd probably need one of your friends to help you lift the bucket up and dump the water on Leonard.) That would be good enough and would meet the requirements of our Lord. Then, if you wanted to be actually immersed at a later time, either in a lake or in a church or whatever, you could do so if the Lord tarries. That's what I'd suggest, because I honestly feel the time is very very near and getting closer every day. I'm talking about doing it this weekend or next, but certainly not later than that if at all possible!
I realize, as I told the Lord earlier this morning, that it might yet still be years, although I kind of doubt it, but that it seems very very close now. So I've been urging Him to do some things very soon that I've been praying about for some time now.
Now, as far as you waking up with the doom and gloom, I'd like to cover that in more detail with you on another thread. We can do that in this forum like we did the one on salvation if you want to, or we can use the counseling forum if you'd prefer it to be private. Again, the reason I'd like to do this, is because I feel the rapture is so very near at hand and I'd like to see you free of this before it happens. You've done and are doing a remarkably good job, so I think with a little help we might be able to put an end to it for you. What do you think?
1/31/17
Acts 16: 17-
Paul and Silas in Prison
Oh boy! I am such a whimp I can hardly imagine all the things Paul will suffered for the love of our Lord.
To be beaten would be bad enough....and off the the ER I would expect to go
but no
They were SEVERELY beaten,
then
thrown into a filthy prison which I am pretty sure didn't have any comforts, was prob germ infected, folks had prob thrown up, not made it to the toilet, was cold or hot etc.
but
on top of that ( I would want to curl up against the pain if possible.....
but instead they had
"fastened their feet in the stocks"
At this point I would be crying and wailing where are you God, why didn't you stop this and save me etc.
But my application is to be at least a bit more like Paul and Silas...who under this severe beating, instead:
v. 25 "About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them."
So it seems to me, not only did they not whine and cry and accuse God, or at least moan and groan about their pain, they seemed to perhaps be helping the other prisoners by their prayers and singing of hymns to God.
This is so far above my natural inclination but then, I know Jesus could in fact make it so for anyone should He choose.
 Bibleplaces.com image library
The next one is of a prison in Rome Paul was in which seems to be similar to the one in Philippi.
The Romans did not consider imprisonment itself a form of punishment—prisons were used to hold those awaiting trial or the death penalty and often served as places of execution. Prisons were filthy and crowded, and prisoners were treated as little better than dead. According to tradition, Peter and Paul were both imprisoned here. Faithlife Study Bible Infographics.
Ancient prisons like the one at Philippi were dark and dingy, unclean and unsanitary. In addition, Paul and Silas had their arms and legs stretched out wide and then locked in the stocks while still suffering the wounds from their beatings. Yet Paul describes himself as rejoicing in the middle of such torture. The Power of Suffering
We must note the imperfect word, ἐκέλευον, ("ordered") in Acts 16:22. The Jews scourged with forty blows less one, a fixed number; the Romans did not count. So when the lictors went to work they did not know when to stop and after beating a while looked up to the praetors for a signal. These praetors repeatedly ordered them to go on. That is what the imperfect intends to say. This thing was done right there; the praetors were influenced by the jubilant mob. It thus happened that neither Paul nor Silas could assert their right as Roman citizens whom no Roman court could flog. We may take it that they tried to warn the praetors, but all their efforts were in vain. If any of the lictors heard them they just laughed.
We calmly read these few words as we do those others: “Pilate took and scourged Jesus.” But they are filled with excruciating pain and horrible disgrace. Under the many blows the skin would be broken, the blood would ooze out, and inflamed welts would cover the whole back. The gospel and Jesus were not even mentioned during the whole affair. The punishment was intended for Paul and Silas because they were Jews. But this was the calling of the apostles, to suffer innocently for welldoing. If some share of such suffering comes to us, shall we not also take it?
inner prison … in the stocks. Acts 16:24. The most secure part of the prison. The jailer took further precautions by putting their feet the stocks, which were both a fetter and an instrument of torture, for the feet were locked wide apart and held in that painful position. Bleeding, bruised, sore, without anything to assuage their wounds, Paul and Silas lay in the black dungeon in this painful position. This was the last place in the world to do missionary work but the very place where they were given such work to do by the Lord. The present participle and the imperfect verb in Acts 16:25 express simultaneous action: their singing was praying. Paul was here learning what he afterward put into such comforting language in Romans 8. The Interpretation of the Acts of the Apostles
“in the stocks.” Acts 16:24. This particular security measure was designed to produce painful cramping so the prisoner’s legs were spread as far apart as possible. The MacArthur study Bible
They probably could not sleep because of the pain of the beating and the stocks. It is possible that the theological content of these prayers and hymns caused the prisoners to faith in Christ (i.e. “the prisoners were listening to them”) because none of the prisoners escaped when the earthquake opened the doors (cf. Acts 16:26, Acts 16:28, “we are all here”). Luke the Historian
Instead of complaining or calling on God to judge their enemies, the two men prayed and praised God. When you are in pain, the midnight hour is not the easiest time for a sacred concert, but God gives “songs in the night” (Job 35:10; also see Psalm 42:8). “Any fool can sing in the day,” said Spurgeon. “It is easy to sing when we can read the notes by daylight; but the skillful singer is he who can sing when there is not a ray of light to read by … Songs in the night come only from God; they are not in the power of men.” Prayer and praise are powerful weapons (2 Chron. 20:1–22; Acts 4:23–37). God responded by shaking the foundations of the prison, opening all the doors, and loosening the prisoners’ bonds. They could have fled to freedom, but instead they remained right where they were. For one thing, Paul immediately took command; and, no doubt, the fear of God was on these pagan men. The prisoners must have realized that there was something very special about those two Jewish preachers! The Bible exposition commentary
Whenever we find ourselves in a difficult situation, we have a choice to make. We can either dwell on our circumstances, or we can focus on the One who controls them. We may not feel like praising God during times when our first instinct is to be depressed, upset, or angry. But making a conscious choice to praise him in spite of what we’re facing changes our perspective and pleases God as it demonstrates our trust in him. Plus, someone watching our response to troubles may be prompted to respond to the gospel. Designed for devotion
Yes, Jesus enables us to rejoice rather than whine etc. but we have to first make the decision to do so and be committed to do it. Once we have determined that's how we're going to handle something, than Jesus makes us able to do so. Then, we have to remember that's the attitude we want to have and practice it on smaller things, so that when something big happens, (like what happened to Paul here) we're able to have an attitude of praise. You and I are blessed in that we can practice this every day because of the chronic pain we live with. We can ask the Lord to Glorify His Name through our pain, instead of complaining to Him or blaming Him. I have to admit though that I often start out by telling Him how bad the pain is, and even that I can't handle it. But that's not really complaining. Complaining is when we say something like, "it not fair that I have pain and others don't". At least that's how I see it. I know the Lord doesn't mind at all when I tell Him that I'm not doing well as far as handling the pain, or even that I'm really tired of it. Whenever I do tell Him that though, I also tell Him that "although I may be tired of it, that I know He will use if to make me more like Jesus and for His glory, and that is enough for me. Knowing that, I then have to praise Him and thank Him because I know that without the pain I wouldn't have the relationship with Him that I have now." Of course there are also times when the pain is extra bad or has been extra bad for a long time (days, weeks etc) that I'll ask Him to relieve the pain for me, and He has always done so when I ask. I don't mean that it happens instantly, but it does seem to happen very soon. I don't know if the pain really becomes less, or if He just makes it seem less to me or makes me more able to bear it. I just know that He helps me and it definitely seems less when I do ask.
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fearnot
Living With Pain
Posts: 8,397
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Post by fearnot on Feb 1, 2017 14:24:26 GMT -5
Yes the church does do baptism but I think there is either a month or two month course first and they do it either in the church baptismal or at a lake in the summer.
Two things:
its gotten colder here again 39 degrees right now,
but also Leonard has to do another colonoscopy very very soon....still not 100 percent over our cold ( I even started sneezing and coughing again yesterday and was soooo tired)
I would still be willing to go out and pour a bucket of water over me, but I am not sure about hubby.
Anyway, yes, I would for sure be more than willing to discuss the morning blahs ( well that the nice spin for it) in fact, thank you so much offering. I am fine with the counseling thread or another either doesn't really matter which ever you decide I am good with.
Wow those photo images were even worse than what I thought....I thought they were probably bigger at least.
I had to agree with this sentence:
"This was the last place in the world to do missionary work....
but the very place where they were given such work to do by the Lord."
I was thinking about the feet put in stocks...dancers who are not naturally limber will either sit with legs as wide as possible for a time ( depending on how tight their muscles are 20 seconds may be all they can do until slowly over time their muscles begin to relax)
or they will attempt to do a split but hold themselves with their hands as far as they can go for 20 seconds as their muscles begin to loosen.( at first...eventually it will be for 10 mins or a 1/2 an hour).
I happened to be extremely limber which for a ballerina is both a good thing, but that has the negative effect of not being as strong as a dancer needs so my work would have not been trying to do splits etc. but to build strength.....but even so...
After about 1/2 an hour is a sitting completely spread out position, your muscles on even the most limber of people will begin to feel weird, and longer than that will slowly get uncomfortable at the very least.
So yeah, that would have been painful for them never mind the severe beating part!!
I find it amazing they didn't get such an infection from lying with open wounds that that didn't kill them.
Oh by the way, I think its might be close to a month since I have watched any netflix series...nada nothing.
I have watched some youtube videos....like I was watching a man's cockatiel video's they are amusing I didn't realize how much drama those birds can muster...its like watching a 2 or 3 year old.....sweet one minute but wanting their way the next.
I have had some success in cutting back on news but that is still a work in progress.....less but I need to cut back even more.
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fearnot
Living With Pain
Posts: 8,397
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Post by fearnot on Feb 1, 2017 14:52:10 GMT -5
2/1/17
Acts 17: 1-9
In Thessalonica
It is true because of sin things never change.....because they were jealous some Jews formed a mob and started a riot (plenty of that goes on all over the world today....mobs and riots and Jealous folks).
But the application for me, seems to be a similar theme of hospitality...
"Jason has welcomed them (Paul and Silas) into his house"
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Post by Cindy on Feb 2, 2017 11:51:51 GMT -5
Just so you and Eva know, there are 3 posts on the rapture thread that no one has seen yet. I won't add anymore though, I promise. Yes the church does do baptism but I think there is either a month or two month course first and they do it either in the church baptismal or at a lake in the summer.
Two things:
its gotten colder here again 39 degrees right now,
but also Leonard has to do another colonoscopy very very soon....still not 100 percent over our cold ( I even started sneezing and coughing again yesterday and was soooo tired)
I would still be willing to go out and pour a bucket of water over me, but I am not sure about hubby.
Anyway, yes, I would for sure be more than willing to discuss the morning blahs ( well that the nice spin for it) in fact, thank you so much offering. I am fine with the counseling thread or another either doesn't really matter which ever you decide I am good with.
Wow those photo images were even worse than what I thought....I thought they were probably bigger at least.
I had to agree with this sentence:
"This was the last place in the world to do missionary work....
but the very place where they were given such work to do by the Lord."
I was thinking about the feet put in stocks...dancers who are not naturally limber will either sit with legs as wide as possible for a time ( depending on how tight their muscles are 20 seconds may be all they can do until slowly over time their muscles begin to relax)
or they will attempt to do a split but hold themselves with their hands as far as they can go for 20 seconds as their muscles begin to loosen.( at first...eventually it will be for 10 mins or a 1/2 an hour).
I happened to be extremely limber which for a ballerina is both a good thing, but that has the negative effect of not being as strong as a dancer needs so my work would have not been trying to do splits etc. but to build strength.....but even so...
After about 1/2 an hour is a sitting completely spread out position, your muscles on even the most limber of people will begin to feel weird, and longer than that will slowly get uncomfortable at the very least.
So yeah, that would have been painful for them never mind the severe beating part!!
I find it amazing they didn't get such an infection from lying with open wounds that that didn't kill them.
Oh by the way, I think its might be close to a month since I have watched any netflix series...nada nothing.
I have watched some youtube videos....like I was watching a man's cockatiel video's they are amusing I didn't realize how much drama those birds can muster...its like watching a 2 or 3 year old.....sweet one minute but wanting their way the next.
I have had some success in cutting back on news but that is still a work in progress.....less but I need to cut back even more.
I'm sorry, I forgot about the colonoscopy for Leonard, which is weird since I've been praying about it daily, including just before coming here and posting on this thread lol. Guess my brain wasn't working right on that one. Obviously you'll have to wait till he's over that to get baptized then, but that's ok, it gives you more time to plan it.
I'm glad you'd like to work on it. Would it be more convenient to do it in this forum? I was going to suggest the counseling one and then I thought it might be easier for you if we kept it all here in this forum... I don't care where it is, and I really don't think we need to worry much about others reading it. It's possible, but there's not a lot of activity here either, besides which I'm sure the Lord would only allow someone to read it that really needed to for their own sake if we asked Him. But like I said, it really doesn't matter to me, so just let me know what would be easier for you ok? 2/1/17
Acts 17: 1-9
In Thessalonica
It is true because of sin things never change.....because they were jealous some Jews formed a mob and started a riot (plenty of that goes on all over the world today....mobs and riots and Jealous folks).
But the application for me, seems to be a similar theme of hospitality...
"Jason has welcomed them (Paul and Silas) into his house"
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fearnot
Living With Pain
Posts: 8,397
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Post by fearnot on Feb 2, 2017 13:37:32 GMT -5
This forum would be fine, actually better even as I would be less likely to miss a posting....I always make it here but sometimes miss postings elsewhere so thank you for letting us know you posted more on the rapture thread.
Its funny because I've been listening to John MacArthur's sermons on end times......
Last night I was listening to one titled: The Last Generation and he had just gotten to where he was going to mention some of the crazy things people believe about Jesus saying that "this generation will not pass until all these things take place"
He had just started to discuss the notion that Jesus was talking to the disciples....and actual ( as I hid under the blanket LOL) I always wondered about that very thing Oh NOOOOOO
I KNEW it was NOT right....but I couldn't reason why.....then he mentioned ( I did get to listen to all of the crazy interpretations...I will finished it later today but I was just tooo tired last night)
but he pointed out that all the horrible end times things had not happened (he had gone over all the verses from OT to the last book in the Bible)....so it was clear that Jesus meant which every generation saw ALL those things...
Anyway, I will be reading your posts.
Leonard's foot is still infected of course....it takes awhile for the antibiotics to work. But in reading the summary of the visit the doc had written something about his stage 3 kidney disease ( which I didn't know).
so yeah here is good!
We haven't heard from Eva is a little while....I miss her.
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fearnot
Living With Pain
Posts: 8,397
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Post by fearnot on Feb 2, 2017 13:50:12 GMT -5
1/2/17
Acts 17:10-15
Berea
What a difference between the two cities Thessalonica and Berea( I wonder why?).
Anyway, the application for me was pretty easy this time,
the Bereans are a good example for me to apply to my life:
"....with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day...."
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Post by Cindy on Feb 3, 2017 11:33:13 GMT -5
This forum would be fine, actually better even as I would be less likely to miss a posting....I always make it here but sometimes miss postings elsewhere so thank you for letting us know you posted more on the rapture thread.
Its funny because I've been listening to John MacArthur's sermons on end times......
Last night I was listening to one titled: The Last Generation and he had just gotten to where he was going to mention some of the crazy things people believe about Jesus saying that "this generation will not pass until all these things take place"
He had just started to discuss the notion that Jesus was talking to the disciples....and actual ( as I hid under the blanket LOL) I always wondered about that very thing Oh NOOOOOO
I KNEW it was NOT right....but I couldn't reason why.....then he mentioned ( I did get to listen to all of the crazy interpretations...I will finished it later today but I was just tooo tired last night)
but he pointed out that all the horrible end times things had not happened (he had gone over all the verses from OT to the last book in the Bible)....so it was clear that Jesus meant which every generation saw ALL those things...
Anyway, I will be reading your posts.
Leonard's foot is still infected of course....it takes awhile for the antibiotics to work. But in reading the summary of the visit the doc had written something about his stage 3 kidney disease ( which I didn't know).
so yeah here is good!
We haven't heard from Eva is a little while....I miss her.
I love MacArthur's sermons too!
Ok, then we'll do it here. If you ever change your mind though, all you have to do is let me know and I'll move it to the counseling forum for you. It may be next week before I'm able to start it. We'll have to wait and see what the Lord has in store as to when He has me start it for you ok?
I meant to tell you the other day, and then spaced it out, that I was very proud that you'd been able to use self control on how many videos and TV you watched. Every time we use self control with the Lord's help, it causes that fruit to grow, which really helps!
1/2/17
Acts 17:10-15
Berea
What a difference between the two cities Thessalonica and Berea( I wonder why?).
Anyway, the application for me was pretty easy this time,
the Bereans are a good example for me to apply to my life:
"....with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day...."
Yes, I love the part that says "with great eagerness". We often skip over that part of the sentence and simply see the "duty" part or what we think of as duty - the examining the scriptures part. Examining the scriptures doesn't help much when we have no love for them as the great and awesome Word of our God, and when we aren't eager to see, and learn what He wants to say to us.
I posted several devotionals today, but one I read was again about what we talked about so I posted it for you:
By the grace of God I am what I am
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fearnot
Living With Pain
Posts: 8,397
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Post by fearnot on Feb 3, 2017 12:50:40 GMT -5
Yes I did watch the sermon you posted...but arrggghhh my mind has forgotten what it was about
I think that might mean I need to watch it again!
Well, there you go, that makes so much sense ( what the difference between the two cities were)!!! Thank you as soon as I read it I was like duh! why didn't I see that? sniff
I have no problem waiting a week or whenever you can get to it.
I am just happy to have the opportunity.
The strange thing is since I wrote it out and read your reply, I am already thinking of a few minor little things to slightly help.
It's great you reminded me of your devotional posts.....something else I neglected but didn't mean to, sorry.
Yes, I have been spot on about netflix, and a bit better about news. I think in part because we are living in the end times, it is amazing to see in the news, scripture so coming true.
For example, I never remember such a seemingly endless bunch of rioting over an election, and marches and physical violence towards people holding different viewpoints...it 'seems' like its getting worse, not dying down.
So tho I am spending more time here on FH, watching John MacArthur, J. D. Farag etc.
I still take in prob more news than I should...
but it took awhile to get 100 percent on series
Te days and times we live in, are so fast and increasing so much....its taking me some time in cutting waaaay back.
Oh I forgot, I am praying before doing my Bible Study. And yesterdays Berean example encouraged me to spend more time watching sermons, than news,
and of course, I am reading Christian fiction during the day/night also.
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fearnot
Living With Pain
Posts: 8,397
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Post by fearnot on Feb 3, 2017 13:58:24 GMT -5
2/3/17
Acts 17:16-21
Athens
As usual, I first went and looked at the images of Athens which I always find fascinating.
v. 21 ".....spent their time doing nothing but talking about and listening to the latest ideas"
That made me laugh, but somehow reminded me of today....
how much info we can get via the net.
Even the word 'net' reminds me of a spider's web that one can get caught in ( of course I am not saying we should not be on our computers),
only, that, like almost anything, it can be addicting, and turn a lot of us like the people of Athens...
who it seems that a lot of them, just talked and listened to the latest news and ideas.
I think this is an application reinforcement of me, to take some more care in what I watch, read, view, see etc. on the net.
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fearnot
Living With Pain
Posts: 8,397
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Post by fearnot on Feb 4, 2017 12:53:57 GMT -5
2/4/17
Acts:17: 22-28
In Athens (continued....another section I am commenting on)
I am wondering about this:
Paul said he:
"looked carefully at your objects of worship"
What I am wondering about is were they not idols?
Would this sort of be like a Christian knowing a bit about false religions so as to know how and why they are false, and how they are in no way compatible with Christianity like some folks want us to focus on those things "we agree on"....but in fact, there is NO agreement?
Anyway, he talks to them concerning their alter to the "unknown god" ( I am guessing they had so many they did not want to offend one by overlooking it?)
But he uses that as a way to tell them about the true God.
I am not sure but somehow I think there might be an application there for me but I can't quite discern it....it seems like it I can find something a non believer is concerned or curious or wondering about, to use that as a potential opportunity to begin to give the gospel?
Another just interesting thing was when Paul said that God gave people "the boundaries of their lands".
I may be wrong but somehow that sounds to me like God did not intend for us to form a one world centralized nation ( merge all the countries into one.....like they tried at Babylon even and have been trying like with the EU or merging with Canada and Mexico etc etc.).
I Will do the last half of ch. 17 tomorrow.
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fearnot
Living With Pain
Posts: 8,397
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Post by fearnot on Feb 5, 2017 12:38:21 GMT -5
1/5/17
Acts 17:29-34
v.32 caught my eye, because there have been times when tho I didn't sneer, I had trouble fully believing and so my application, is to be like the other group and hear God's word again on the subject of resurrection of the dead.
"the resurrection of the dead, some of them sneered, but others said, “We want to hear you again on this subject."
I have had to say on occasion, I believe Lord.....yet I in truth have to honestly add the rest of the verse, "help tho mine unbelief"
Of course, I know, nothingness didn't make everything, and so God is the Creator, because of sin, everything went into decay mode and is dying and dies.....but the same Father God who made everything, can make alive again ( or rather, in fact, we don't really die, but the body does) the body or even raise it again to our new bodies......I am certain of this, but yet, I have had moments of doubt.....so I need to stay in the word.
I am finding that instead of netflix series I am so enjoying MacArthur sermons, and JD Farag etc.
But I especially like John MacArthur, because he has no trouble what so ever dealing with doubts, or seemingly hard to understand verses etc.
In fact, he almost always says: "Well what does that mean?
Or What is ....(fill in the blank)?
Or... Some of you may ask or wonder...... (fill in the blank)
and so on!
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fearnot
Living With Pain
Posts: 8,397
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Post by fearnot on Feb 6, 2017 14:32:15 GMT -5
2/6/17
Acts 18:1-17
In Corinth
Paul spent 1 1/2 years preaching in Corinth.
At one point God said to Paul:
v.9 “...........Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent.
10 For I am with you, and no one is going to attack and harm you, because I have many people in this city.”
In a way this is both an encouragement and kind of an application for me, because I tend not to speak as much as I should ( my hubby might disagree LOL), but I mean about the Lord, what he has done for me, His creation, His sacrifice, His love etc. etc.
The 2 recent ( a year ago and a few mts ago) times I spoke to non-believers, tho it wasn't an angry shouting at me, both have dropped me like a hot potato! And I knew that underneath they were not happy about what I had to say.
I always feel tho like I either said the wrong things, neglected to say other things I should have, said it the wrong way, or in the wrong order etc. etc.
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fearnot
Living With Pain
Posts: 8,397
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Post by fearnot on Feb 7, 2017 14:34:06 GMT -5
2/7/17
Acts 18: 18-28
Priscilla, Aquila and Apollos
Paul certainly traveled a lot to spread the gospel of Jesus!
There is sort of a strange verse that mentions his taking some vow and cutting off his hair, but it didn't really explain the vow....it sounded a little like what the Nazarite vow?
Anyway, the application that seems to speak to me, is to go where the Lord leads me...it may only be around the block, or a mile, to the next town or further.
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Post by Cindy on Feb 7, 2017 15:04:41 GMT -5
Yes I did watch the sermon you posted...but arrggghhh my mind has forgotten what it was about
I think that might mean I need to watch it again!
Well, there you go, that makes so much sense ( what the difference between the two cities were)!!! Thank you as soon as I read it I was like duh! why didn't I see that? sniff
I have no problem waiting a week or whenever you can get to it.
I am just happy to have the opportunity.
The strange thing is since I wrote it out and read your reply, I am already thinking of a few minor little things to slightly help.
It's great you reminded me of your devotional posts.....something else I neglected but didn't mean to, sorry.
Yes, I have been spot on about netflix, and a bit better about news. I think in part because we are living in the end times, it is amazing to see in the news, scripture so coming true.
For example, I never remember such a seemingly endless bunch of rioting over an election, and marches and physical violence towards people holding different viewpoints...it 'seems' like its getting worse, not dying down.
So tho I am spending more time here on FH, watching John MacArthur, J. D. Farag etc.
I still take in prob more news than I should...
but it took awhile to get 100 percent on series
Te days and times we live in, are so fast and increasing so much....its taking me some time in cutting waaaay back.
Oh I forgot, I am praying before doing my Bible Study. And yesterdays Berean example encouraged me to spend more time watching sermons, than news,
and of course, I am reading Christian fiction during the day/night also.
That's great that you're spending more time with God and less time on things of this world. 
It shows real growth too that you began getting ideas that would help you as soon as you started thinking about it! Praise God!
I wrote something about how the people are acting in this thread I think.... fresh-hope.com/thread/3194/trump-reprieve-america2/3/17
Acts 17:16-21
Athens
As usual, I first went and looked at the images of Athens which I always find fascinating.
v. 21 ".....spent their time doing nothing but talking about and listening to the latest ideas"
That made me laugh, but somehow reminded me of today....
how much info we can get via the net.
Even the word 'net' reminds me of a spider's web that one can get caught in ( of course I am not saying we should not be on our computers),
only, that, like almost anything, it can be addicting, and turn a lot of us like the people of Athens...
who it seems that a lot of them, just talked and listened to the latest news and ideas.
I think this is an application reinforcement of me, to take some more care in what I watch, read, view, see etc. on the net. 2/4/17
Acts:17: 22-28
In Athens (continued....another section I am commenting on)
I am wondering about this:
Paul said he:
"looked carefully at your objects of worship"
What I am wondering about is were they not idols?
Would this sort of be like a Christian knowing a bit about false religions so as to know how and why they are false, and how they are in no way compatible with Christianity like some folks want us to focus on those things "we agree on"....but in fact, there is NO agreement?
Anyway, he talks to them concerning their alter to the "unknown god" ( I am guessing they had so many they did not want to offend one by overlooking it?)
But he uses that as a way to tell them about the true God.
I am not sure but somehow I think there might be an application there for me but I can't quite discern it....it seems like it I can find something a non believer is concerned or curious or wondering about, to use that as a potential opportunity to begin to give the gospel?
Another just interesting thing was when Paul said that God gave people "the boundaries of their lands".
I may be wrong but somehow that sounds to me like God did not intend for us to form a one world centralized nation ( merge all the countries into one.....like they tried at Babylon even and have been trying like with the EU or merging with Canada and Mexico etc etc.).
I Will do the last half of ch. 17 tomorrow.
Notice too that Paul did not go into any of the temples to preach. He never sent into the temple of Apollo and spoke to the people there, or any other temple for that matter. Instead, he spoke outside where people who were interested could gather around him to listen. When speaking to Jew's though, he would go into their synagogues to speak to them, as they knew the One True God and the synagogue was a place to worship Him. We often hear people defend going into bars or other places they shouldn't be by saying, "well Jesus went into sinner's homes", as though that gave them the permission they needed. But if we actually look at what the Bible says Jesus did, and really think about it, we see that yes, He did go to the homes of sinners at times, but He did so for one reason only: to save them. And just as importantly, He never, ever went back into their home unless they had become saved first! If they didn't accept Him as their Messiah, He never went back to their home, and never called on them again. He left it up to them completely. If they changed their mind and later decided to accept Him as their Messiah, that was great, and He would then accept them. But if they did not accept Him, He did not go chasing after them, or try in any way to get them to change their minds, and He certainly did not go to their places of entertainment or their homes to try and make them accept Him. To me, that says that we can most certainly go to a person's house and eat with them if they are not saved, in order to tell them about our Savior and what He can do for them. I do not believe it shows or means that we can continue to go to their homes over and over and over again though. Once we have told them the gospel and explained it, then it's their choice. If they choose not to be saved then, but have questions (or say they do), then they can come to us or to a church and ask their questions, but we are not to continue to go into the lions den over and over again like that.
Going into a bar or a strip club or something like that is out of the question. None of the apostles or Jesus ever did such a thing, and yes, there were things like that during that time as well. Going to a place like that would be literally going into the lions den, and it would be putting God to the test, which we're told to never do. When we do something like that, then we are simply inviting trouble, bad trouble. That's exactly what Paul's talking about when he tells us “So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall!” (1 Cor 10:12) He's saying that it's a false security in our own strength; a "self" confidence that causes us to do things like that because we think that we're so spiritually mature or strong that we won't fall into temptation. Generally, we soon discover that we weren't as strong as we thought we were, and realize that we had fallen prey to the sin of pride of the sin of self confidence rather than relying on God and doing things His way.
Yes, one application would be to use something normal to the person you're speaking to in order to tell them about the Lord. But we don't have to look hard for something like that. Like Paul, all we have to do is to be aware of our surroundings, and ask the Lord to show us anything we could use like that. We're already very aware of how the unsaved think and feel because it's how we thought and felt for many years ourselves, so it's not alien to us.
Again, you're right that God is the one who makes the nations, and who determines who will rule over those nations, and which people will live within them. The Lord ordained that we should have many nations and not all be under one rule, therefore anything that points us toward a "one world rule" would be going against God's Will.
1/5/17
Acts 17:29-34
v.32 caught my eye, because there have been times when tho I didn't sneer, I had trouble fully believing and so my application, is to be like the other group and hear God's word again on the subject of resurrection of the dead.
"the resurrection of the dead, some of them sneered, but others said, “We want to hear you again on this subject."
I have had to say on occasion, I believe Lord.....yet I in truth have to honestly add the rest of the verse, "help tho mine unbelief"
Of course, I know, nothingness didn't make everything, and so God is the Creator, because of sin, everything went into decay mode and is dying and dies.....but the same Father God who made everything, can make alive again ( or rather, in fact, we don't really die, but the body does) the body or even raise it again to our new bodies......I am certain of this, but yet, I have had moments of doubt.....so I need to stay in the word.
I am finding that instead of netflix series I am so enjoying MacArthur sermons, and JD Farag etc.
But I especially like John MacArthur, because he has no trouble what so ever dealing with doubts, or seemingly hard to understand verses etc.
In fact, he almost always says: "Well what does that mean?
Or What is ....(fill in the blank)?
Or... Some of you may ask or wonder...... (fill in the blank)
and so on!
Yes, MacArthur frequently asks those kinds of questions, because those are the questions everyone asks sooner or later. Then he shows how to find the answer to that question from scripture, so you can duplicate how he does that with any question you have. That's why i also try to do, so people can find out for themselves what the answers are to their questions or doubts.
If you mean that every once in a great while, a thought will enter your mind for a moment that you wonder if something like the resurrection really happened, that's not something to worry about - assuming that you are staying in God's Word daily and talking to Him about it, and reflecting on it during the day, and assuming that you have looked at the facts historical and scriptural etc. about it and know, (not just "believe") that it really is True, and it really did happen. Why are those two things important? Because if you haven't looked at all the facts so that you can know it's true, then your mind thinks there's valid reason for you to doubt it. So you need to remove that reason. Second, if you are not staying in His Word daily and reflecting on His word daily (not necessarily the same thing you studied that day, although sometimes it might be the same thing, but other times it might be something you studied last week or last year or whatever) than you are quite literally starving your new nature and stunting it's growth, and again you are giving your mind a "reason" to doubt. So it takes all of that in order to put doubts to rest once and for all.
When we've done all of that though, it doesn't mean that the doubt will never ever pop into our minds again - although it is normally much, much less frequent. But when that doubt does pop up again, then we can know it's not from us, it's not "our" doubt, it's Satan's lies trying to harm us. Knowing that, tells us how to deal with the problem: (really starting on vs 12, but I'm not going to post it all) “In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit...” (Ephesians 6:16–18) Praying “in the Spirit” simply means that we align ourselves and our wills with the will of God, submitting to Him. (Romans 8:26–27); It's not talking about speaking in tongues, but is talking about praying from our hearts, knowing that the Holy Spirit indwells us, fills us, and illuminates or guides us on the path we should take. The better we know God's Word, the better we are protected from Satan's lies, and the better we will understand that helmet of salvation, and know that it is in fact ours and not just something we "hope' or "think" or "believe" we have.
2/6/17
Acts 18:1-17
In Corinth
Paul spent 1 1/2 years preaching in Corinth.
At one point God said to Paul:
v.9 “...........Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent.
10 For I am with you, and no one is going to attack and harm you, because I have many people in this city.”
In a way this is both an encouragement and kind of an application for me, because I tend not to speak as much as I should ( my hubby might disagree LOL), but I mean about the Lord, what he has done for me, His creation, His sacrifice, His love etc. etc.
The 2 recent ( a year ago and a few mts ago) times I spoke to non-believers, tho it wasn't an angry shouting at me, both have dropped me like a hot potato! And I knew that underneath they were not happy about what I had to say.
I always feel tho like I either said the wrong things, neglected to say other things I should have, said it the wrong way, or in the wrong order etc. etc.
“One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision: “Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent. For I am with you, and no one is going to attack and harm you, because I have many people in this city.” So Paul stayed for a year and a half, teaching them the word of God.” (Acts 18:9–11) “Do not be afraid" is actually “Do not be afraid any longer.” Paul was weary and afraid! He may have been thinking of leaving the city because he thought he would be attacked yet again. If he got scared and he got weary of speaking up to people who only hated him for it, it's not surprising that we do too. It's normal. Jesus came to him in this vision and others, to encourage him and remind him that He knew who belonged to Him and that there were many who would become saved in that city. He also reminded Paul that He was always with him, and that's something that's true for us as well. We can't let fear or weariness stop us from telling others the good news. As one commentary puts it: Our emotions go up and down, but Acts 1:8 is still the guiding light (cf. 2 Timothy 4:2–5). Luke the Historian
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fearnot
Living With Pain
Posts: 8,397
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Post by fearnot on Feb 7, 2017 17:19:42 GMT -5
I have read The Case For Christ by Lee Strobel... am not sure about the Case for Easter, but I also read several time Evidence that Demands a Verdict (by Josh McDowell).
Its really just a once in awhile thing....and when it happens ( not that Jesus rose, but about other people strangely)
but even more... me.....then I quote,
" I am fearfully and wonderfully made and that my soul knows right well"
and I know I am.
You are also right because I think satan or a demon may occasionally try to plant that doubt ( and/or others) in my mind.
As always thank you so much for taking so much of your precious time and encouraging me......
It was very helpful that you pointed out Paul's experience too...
and I guess, really, even our Lord's.
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Post by Cindy on Feb 8, 2017 11:15:57 GMT -5
I have read The Case For Christ by Lee Strobel... am not sure about the Case for Easter, but I also read several time Evidence that Demands a Verdict (by Josh McDowell).
Its really just a once in awhile thing....and when it happens ( not that Jesus rose, but about other people strangely)
but even more... me.....then I quote,
" I am fearfully and wonderfully made and that my soul knows right well"
and I know I am.
You are also right because I think satan or a demon may occasionally try to plant that doubt ( and/or others) in my mind.
As always thank you so much for taking so much of your precious time and encouraging me......
It was very helpful that you pointed out Paul's experience too...
and I guess, really, even our Lord's.
I'm sorry I haven't gotten to start that other thread for you yet. I'm still trying to play catch up because of all that didn't get done the day we went to the race, and all I didn't do the next day when I was trying to get better. I know we'll get to it though in the Lord's perfect timing....
Keep on keeping on, you're doing a terrific job my friend!
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I know what you mean. It can be very hard to stop ourselves from telling others what we want to at times.
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