fearnot
Living With Pain
Posts: 6,415 
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Post by fearnot on Aug 29, 2018 13:19:06 GMT -5
Soooo after last night when a rat jumped/fell from a long opening in the hall ceiling
( a previous owner had added on or rearranged the back bedroom/hall/ and bathroom.....but left about a 1/2 inch area not sealed)
I had stuffed steel wool there also, but had used so much steel wool in other holes ( around pipes etc.) that a tiny small portion of that long crack was not filled. I had put some tape there.....
But it did not stop the rat.
It feel almost on top of Leonard, and of course ran, and hid under something ( refrigerator, stove....Leonard was so startled I don't think he prob moved for 1/2 a min....enough time for the rat to hid).
We don't have food out and take garbage out daily....but still here they are.
So when Leonard recovered his shock, he sent landlord another e-mail about the situation getting intolerable!!!
So now maybe we have 2 rats....hopefully not male and female and hopefully landlord will do something soon.
Hossanah's fiance will try to get to hardware store today for yet different rat killing machines or poisons ( if it works for rodents in their place, Brian will pass it on to us)....assuming landlord continues to be slow-ish.
There is maybe a good thing about the rat.....I have been downsizing all manner of things, I will most likely never use again...like quilting material etc. etc.
Finally, next week....wed I think, the kids go back to school, so prayerfully I will have more time...I will still watch Devon in the afternoon, but at least most days not until 2 or so.
I know you are right about the damage rodents can do.
Several months ago we were having electrical problems...the electrician went under the house and could not believe the chewing etc. down to the wires ( and they must see stuff like that often....but this was even more unusual!!!)
Maybe the rats?
We were thinking at the time it was raccoons, but now I sort of doubt it.
And I agree, you would think he would welcome more cats....they do kill rodents, and the rodents if not killed might go to a less dangerous place with no cats!!!
One of the semi feral cats has now made his home in our home....and I have been able to sleep a 'little' better.
Previously we could not even lure the cats to come thru the door....never mind becoming a 'kitty pet'.
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fearnot
Living With Pain
Posts: 6,415
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Post by fearnot on Aug 29, 2018 14:36:46 GMT -5
Jude 1:3,4
It seems so sad, Jude had wished to write about the joy of our salvation but instead had to deal with apostasy.
And apostasy is still going on to this very day, so that Jude's urging us to contend for the faith is pertinent for today. ( so often people will say the Bible does not deal with things going on in today's world....it most certainly does, and this is one of the sad realities.)
To contend will not be a walk in the park, and it is disheartening but the consequences are so dire, that either we need to do it and/or support those who do. It is a matter of where people will spend they eternity so the struggle is severe.
And it is once again getting harder and harder. Today, truth is called hate speech, unloving, decisive, and worse this is often the feelings in the church, because false teachers have infiltrated!!
I was listening to a MacArthur sermon a week or so ago, about drinking...
and MacArthur was telling his flock,
that many new pastors coming up are actually encouraging their congregations to drink, and one pastor ( apparently rather famous) apologized for taking so looong in not drinking!!
Which brings us to v. 4 where false teachers have secretly slipped into the churches. And really I think the enemy has found that infiltration may work often even better than persecution.
The devils ambassadors in the church can begin to pervert the truth, and even in the name of evangelizing bring in many unsaved ( by being seeker friendly, rock concert, have fun, get rich, etc etc. etc.) but these folks do not want to hear about their sins, or the Cross of Jesus, or Hell ( scaring people with Hell, is considered very bad taste....never mind if its true).
But I am thinking the crept in seeming Bible believing born again, as angels of light ( like their father satan can do)....
but over time, little by little slipped in some false ideas....but everyone was so trusting them, that they did not catch on, because at first, it was soooo subtle.
Of course, that alone is a very good reason to know your Bible well, so you can be aware to such danger, and alert to false doctrine and nip it in the bud.
I know it is not a given that all modern praise and worship music is in this category ( much is truly worship) but I do see danger when a pastor encourages drinking, and the praise and worship is hard to distinguish from a rock concert and the folks are sensually dancing to the music ( it seems worldly....but people then say, well the old hymns were worldly for their times....I sort of doubt people were dancing in a sensual way to Amazing grace)
And sometimes it seems to churches have to bring in lots more people in order to not only pay for the building utilities etc. but fancy sound equipment, electric guitars, drums, fancy coffee, comfortable sofas etc. ( at our church they young teens group sit on sofas etc.), no more hymnals but great big screens for videos and songs, etc to be displayed, a gigantic sound and electronic thing controlling everything etc.
i am not saying this is all bad, but the gospel also got spread meeting in simple homes and I wonder about if this all can be heading down a slippery slope in some cases. It is good that sermons can be caught on tapes etc. for those shut in and like watching macArthur on you tube...but for those false teachers, even if these are good, they are also tools for spreading apostasy faster and faster. I have seen a pastor supposedly talking with a girl filled with the Holy Spirit and it seemed more like she was filled with demons, and kundalini crazed movements of head and limbs and the flock was loving it!!
In any case, the false teachers were sneaking in then and I wonder sometimes if they are so far in the church now, that maybe for the most part there is no turning them back...and the rapture will be soon.
Still, until then we need to be aware of the danger!!!
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Post by Cindy on Aug 30, 2018 10:49:35 GMT -5
Soooo after last night when a rat jumped/fell from a long opening in the hall ceiling
( a previous owner had added on or rearranged the back bedroom/hall/ and bathroom.....but left about a 1/2 inch area not sealed)
I had stuffed steel wool there also, but had used so much steel wool in other holes ( around pipes etc.) that a tiny small portion of that long crack was not filled. I had put some tape there.....
But it did not stop the rat.
It feel almost on top of Leonard, and of course ran, and hid under something ( refrigerator, stove....Leonard was so startled I don't think he prob moved for 1/2 a min....enough time for the rat to hid).
We don't have food out and take garbage out daily....but still here they are.
So when Leonard recovered his shock, he sent landlord another e-mail about the situation getting intolerable!!!
So now maybe we have 2 rats....hopefully not male and female and hopefully landlord will do something soon.
Hossanah's fiance will try to get to hardware store today for yet different rat killing machines or poisons ( if it works for rodents in their place, Brian will pass it on to us)....assuming landlord continues to be slow-ish.
There is maybe a good thing about the rat.....I have been downsizing all manner of things, I will most likely never use again...like quilting material etc. etc.
Finally, next week....wed I think, the kids go back to school, so prayerfully I will have more time...I will still watch Devon in the afternoon, but at least most days not until 2 or so.
I know you are right about the damage rodents can do.
Several months ago we were having electrical problems...the electrician went under the house and could not believe the chewing etc. down to the wires ( and they must see stuff like that often....but this was even more unusual!!!)
Maybe the rats?
We were thinking at the time it was raccoons, but now I sort of doubt it.
And I agree, you would think he would welcome more cats....they do kill rodents, and the rodents if not killed might go to a less dangerous place with no cats!!!
One of the semi feral cats has now made his home in our home....and I have been able to sleep a 'little' better.
Previously we could not even lure the cats to come thru the door....never mind becoming a 'kitty pet'.Jude 1:3,4
It seems so sad, Jude had wished to write about the joy of our salvation but instead had to deal with apostasy.
And apostasy is still going on to this very day, so that Jude's urging us to contend for the faith is pertinent for today. ( so often people will say the Bible does not deal with things going on in today's world....it most certainly does, and this is one of the sad realities.)
To contend will not be a walk in the park, and it is disheartening but the consequences are so dire, that either we need to do it and/or support those who do. It is a matter of where people will spend they eternity so the struggle is severe.
And it is once again getting harder and harder. Today, truth is called hate speech, unloving, decisive, and worse this is often the feelings in the church, because false teachers have infiltrated!!
I was listening to a MacArthur sermon a week or so ago, about drinking...
and MacArthur was telling his flock,
that many new pastors coming up are actually encouraging their congregations to drink, and one pastor ( apparently rather famous) apologized for taking so looong in not drinking!!
Which brings us to v. 4 where false teachers have secretly slipped into the churches. And really I think the enemy has found that infiltration may work often even better than persecution.
The devils ambassadors in the church can begin to pervert the truth, and even in the name of evangelizing bring in many unsaved ( by being seeker friendly, rock concert, have fun, get rich, etc etc. etc.) but these folks do not want to hear about their sins, or the Cross of Jesus, or Hell ( scaring people with Hell, is considered very bad taste....never mind if its true).
But I am thinking the crept in seeming Bible believing born again, as angels of light ( like their father satan can do)....
but over time, little by little slipped in some false ideas....but everyone was so trusting them, that they did not catch on, because at first, it was soooo subtle.
Of course, that alone is a very good reason to know your Bible well, so you can be aware to such danger, and alert to false doctrine and nip it in the bud.
I know it is not a given that all modern praise and worship music is in this category ( much is truly worship) but I do see danger when a pastor encourages drinking, and the praise and worship is hard to distinguish from a rock concert and the folks are sensually dancing to the music ( it seems worldly....but people then say, well the old hymns were worldly for their times....I sort of doubt people were dancing in a sensual way to Amazing grace)
And sometimes it seems to churches have to bring in lots more people in order to not only pay for the building utilities etc. but fancy sound equipment, electric guitars, drums, fancy coffee, comfortable sofas etc. ( at our church they young teens group sit on sofas etc.), no more hymnals but great big screens for videos and songs, etc to be displayed, a gigantic sound and electronic thing controlling everything etc.
i am not saying this is all bad, but the gospel also got spread meeting in simple homes and I wonder about if this all can be heading down a slippery slope in some cases. It is good that sermons can be caught on tapes etc. for those shut in and like watching macArthur on you tube...but for those false teachers, even if these are good, they are also tools for spreading apostasy faster and faster. I have seen a pastor supposedly talking with a girl filled with the Holy Spirit and it seemed more like she was filled with demons, and kundalini crazed movements of head and limbs and the flock was loving it!!
In any case, the false teachers were sneaking in then and I wonder sometimes if they are so far in the church now, that maybe for the most part there is no turning them back...and the rapture will be soon.
Still, until then we need to be aware of the danger!!!
Very good! Yes, what stands out to me in that verse is that they "secretly" came in among us. To me that means they know exactly what they're doing and plan to cause others to fall for their false teaching. That's really scary to me and shows just how evil people really are!
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fearnot
Living With Pain
Posts: 6,415
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Post by fearnot on Aug 30, 2018 13:12:51 GMT -5
I watch MacArthur's video's that are posted on you tube (grace to You)
and then,
I Post the link to my face book,
and
I post a share to Leonard's face book.
I think it had to be 'just' a coincidence :-)
I try to listen to one MacArthur sermon every day, tho for various reasons I miss watching every day....but close.
well the landlord has not yet replied to Leonard's e-mail.
He has just started a new job, and his wife just lost her dad to death so....he may wait until the weekend to reply or just come down for the weekend....I am speculating.
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fearnot
Living With Pain
Posts: 6,415
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Post by fearnot on Aug 30, 2018 13:48:33 GMT -5
Jude 1:5-7
The next 3 verses deals with 3 types of people ( well angels are not human, so 2 types of humans and fallen angels).
There are some who call themselves Christians but think that even IF you are truly saved you can lose your salvation. I don't know if they try to use v. 5 as an example, but tho the Lord delivered the Jews out of Egypt, this did not mean they were in love with Him and totally committed to Him. This was shown by their constant rebellion against Him.
Even if they had initially had a type of interest in the Lord, pertaining to what He could do for Him, they were quick to become apostate and rejecting Him for a golden calf for example.
they were never obedient out of love, but only on occasion as it might merit them something material.
the next group in v. 6 were the angels. I am not at all saying people have any excuse to turn their backs on God, but I cannot even imagine how the angels which saw God and were in Heaven could have done so? They seemed to have not only become apostate, turned from God, but were done with Heaven for ever.
But there is thus no chance of restoration for them.
And then there is Sodom and Gomorrah....I can't help but think, our country is almost on the level of those 2 ancient cities, as far as sexual immorality and perversion....and if not yet, the push to exceed them, is great.
the end result of Sodom and Gomorrah was to be destroyed by fire....which points to eternity in Hell.
The angels and the people of Sodom and Gomorrah lusted after forbidden things and it did not turn out well for either and are an example and a warning to people.
Evil, rebellion against the Lord, pride etc. does not win in the end.
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fearnot
Living With Pain
Posts: 6,415
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Post by fearnot on Aug 31, 2018 13:18:07 GMT -5
Jude 1: 8-10
So even tho these apostates have the examples of warning, they rely on their dreams as licence to continue in sexual sins.
To this very day, people often rely heavily on dreams as a word from God, it matters not if it aligns with scripture, they give higher authority to their dreams, and therefore disrespect the authority of God.
They use their dreams to justify sexual immorality...their own minds usurp God...and lower God standards to the grossest immoral state and certainly not the temple of the Holy Spirit.
Which is all so exactly like today world: reject all authority, do your own thing, have your own life style, all about self, make your own rules etc.
They even heaped abuse on the good angels, which is brass pride beyond belief, because even the great archangel Michael did not dare slander the worst of the fallen angels, but rather asked God to.
Archangel Michael with all his great power, would not take the law into his own hands but puny man insults, rejects, blasphemies, etc. but it shows their weakness.
(when a person must use harsh words, and swear, it points to their weakness, all hot air).
But Michael is an example to us, we are not to enter into a debate with them, but rather appeal to the highest power the Lord God.
Such people slander God, and angels with such arrogance, and yet they have no understanding...and act like animals in heat, and it will destroy them. It will begin to destroy them in this life and lead them to hell in eternity.
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fearnot
Living With Pain
Posts: 6,415
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Post by fearnot on Sept 1, 2018 13:11:12 GMT -5
Jude 1: 11-13
False teachers like Cain, have a type of interest in the spiritual, but they do not want to bow to God's authority or do anything God's way, like Cain they do things ( including what they hope to pass off as worship) their own way. Often they know what God has prescribed, so it is not that they lack any knowledge of the truth, it's a lack of obedience and love of God.
Because of this lack of love and obedience, self reigns, along with pride, Jealousy, hate, and even at times murder.
Also many are the false teachers, who are like Balaam, who are in it for the money, and it is easy to gain a following of those with itchy ears.
They make the error of Balaam thinking they are getting away with their lies and getting rich at the same time, but the end is tragic, they may have much of the world's pleasures, but will reap hell for eternity ( unless they truly repent and turn to Jesus, which I don't think many do)....and sadly they also draw many along with themselves.
Korah also was a 'religious' man who defied and rebelled against God's given authority.
All three wanted to put self first, do it their way, and rebel against the God that made them. what is so sad is in today's culture, in our country, to be a 'rebel' is a badge of honor, it makes you special, you are more brilliant than the stupid followers.....it is so sad, that it has been elevated to such soaring heights , but really, it is not new at all, just given more honor, as they travel down the road and path to everlasting hell.
But these false teachers are in the true church ( at least for a time). They cozy up to believers (knowing in their hearts they are not true believers themselves) but they do not care, they just enjoy the benefits and bide their time.
However, make no mistake tho they are hard to detect ( at first anyway) they are very dangerous!!
At first they may even seem like clouds to a farmer who desperately needs rain,or people suffering terrible heat, etc. only there is no rain ( spiritual truth) in them. Their promises are worthless. Even worse, they may be like demons who show themselves as light and bring death.
Like trees that seem perhaps beautiful and will give good ( spiritual Biblical) fruit, have none. It reminds me a little of the fig tree that our Lord went to. If we are to know people by their fruits, these have no fruits, and are not born again, but twice dead ( in this life, and in hell).
12 These people are blemishes at your love feasts, eating with you without the slightest qualm—shepherds who feed only themselves. They are clouds without rain, blown along by the wind; autumn trees, without fruit and uprooted—twice dead.
13 They are wild waves of the sea, foaming up their shame; wandering stars, for whom blackest darkness has been reserved forever.
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fearnot
Living With Pain
Posts: 6,415
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Post by fearnot on Sept 2, 2018 13:00:07 GMT -5
Jude 1:14-16
V.14 is a bit tricky (having read some commentaries) because the book of Enoch is not in the Bible.
But as I understand it, Jude was writing under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit and this particular portion of the book of Enoch was true
( which in no way, means Jude accepted the whole book to be on par with the authoritative Word of God .
In any case, the Lord will come to execute Judgement with His holy ones ( angels and believers).
in verse 15 the word ungodly is there 4 times. I read somewhere that if God repeats something, it is for special emphasis, so to repeat the fact that these false teachers were ( are) ungodly, is for us to really get how serious this evil is.
they have been arrogant, demeaned God, done their own sinful evil things, irreverent, speaking offensive things against God, etc. as a habitual life style, not an occasional sinning.
These people were also habitual sullen grumblers, who were ( or are) never satisfied, etc. which is criticizing, finding fault with and insulting God.
They did not complain about just some big and perhaps hard things, but every little thing also.
Nevertheless, or perhaps as a partial excuse, ( since in their minds God never gave them what they felt or feel they deserve),
they feel they have a right to follow their own sinful desires.
At the same time they are loud mouth boasters
These are grumblers, malcontents, following their own sinful desires; they are loud-mouthed pompous pretentious boasters, trying to impress people as to how important and intelligent etc they are. And they use Their high sounding,erudite words and vocabulary to attract unwise people and thus gain for themselves and advantage. They may also use flattery to win people to themselves.
We ( I) need to focus all the more on God's words the Bible to recognize satan and his false teachers lies and deceptions.
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fearnot
Living With Pain
Posts: 6,415
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Post by fearnot on Sept 3, 2018 12:19:49 GMT -5
Just an aside, I am not ready to do a victory dance just yet, but we have not 'heard' the rat or rats, for 3 nights....however, I am not yet convinced they are gone for good.
Nevertheless, I am so grateful to God that we have been able to sleep without being terrorized the last few nights!!!!!
There has been construction work going on next door....and maybe God used that and the cat that now comes in to sleep in our place to chase them away.
Leonard was or maybe still is planning on getting an electric rat trap ( and the landlord agreed to pay for it).
I am not sure if Leonard already ordered it or plans to.....its been busy around here.
In any case, I feel blessed....
of course, not hearing them, may not be a guarantee they are even gone from our place....they could be lying low for awhile.....
But we have been pretty diligent making sure there is no food (I have been buying plastic or glass containers to put noodles, flour, cookies, etc etc. in....instead of just leaving them in their packages.
I do not yet have enough for every thing yet,
but these also seem to be picky rats,
they seem to like certain things ( like bird seed??? and bread....which now is in the fridge etc.
and yet, they have not yet eaten thru the chip bag ( I need more containers arrrggghhh)
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fearnot
Living With Pain
Posts: 6,415
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Post by fearnot on Sept 3, 2018 13:57:31 GMT -5
Jude 1: 17-19
In v. 17 I was aware that it says we must remember....a command!!!
We have to stay in the Word every day, because we simply forget otherwise, and the danger of forgetting God's Word is horrific!!
But remembering God's Word will allow us to spot error, and evil false lies.
Today satan's evil fiery darts are coming at us more and more, seemingly like an endless barge at times.
And then I was thrilled by the word beloved.....
and it made me reflect on how wonderful it is to be the beloved of God!!!
The apostles often warned of the wolves in sheep's clothing, infiltrating the church, to kill, so it is imperative to remember ( the sword of the spirit which is the Word of God).
V.18 seems so up to date because mockers of Christians believing in Jesus coming again....love to point out that it's been 2000 years and He has not returned
(either they do not know, or choose to not know, that god says a thousand years is like a day to Him)
but it allows them to feel 'safe' in following their own ungodly passions, it will be more and more about self, the me generation, the selfie generation etc.
Of course they mock many other aspects of Christian belief, but we are warned so we won't be caught by surprise of off guard by it.
These false teachers hope to win by dividing and conquering. They have a mind set on the things of the world, whatever feels good, do it, (material and physical pleasures) they are lacking God the Holy Spirit.
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Post by Cindy on Sept 4, 2018 10:02:54 GMT -5
I watch MacArthur's video's that are posted on you tube (grace to You)
and then,
I Post the link to my face book,
and
I post a share to Leonard's face book.
I think it had to be 'just' a coincidence :-)
I try to listen to one MacArthur sermon every day, tho for various reasons I miss watching every day....but close.
well the landlord has not yet replied to Leonard's e-mail.
He has just started a new job, and his wife just lost her dad to death so....he may wait until the weekend to reply or just come down for the weekend....I am speculating.
Jude 1:5-7
The next 3 verses deals with 3 types of people ( well angels are not human, so 2 types of humans and fallen angels).
There are some who call themselves Christians but think that even IF you are truly saved you can lose your salvation. I don't know if they try to use v. 5 as an example, but tho the Lord delivered the Jews out of Egypt, this did not mean they were in love with Him and totally committed to Him. This was shown by their constant rebellion against Him.
Even if they had initially had a type of interest in the Lord, pertaining to what He could do for Him, they were quick to become apostate and rejecting Him for a golden calf for example.
they were never obedient out of love, but only on occasion as it might merit them something material.
the next group in v. 6 were the angels. I am not at all saying people have any excuse to turn their backs on God, but I cannot even imagine how the angels which saw God and were in Heaven could have done so? They seemed to have not only become apostate, turned from God, but were done with Heaven for ever.
But there is thus no chance of restoration for them.
And then there is Sodom and Gomorrah....I can't help but think, our country is almost on the level of those 2 ancient cities, as far as sexual immorality and perversion....and if not yet, the push to exceed them, is great.
the end result of Sodom and Gomorrah was to be destroyed by fire....which points to eternity in Hell.
The angels and the people of Sodom and Gomorrah lusted after forbidden things and it did not turn out well for either and are an example and a warning to people.
Evil, rebellion against the Lord, pride etc. does not win in the end.
Jude 1: 8-10
So even tho these apostates have the examples of warning, they rely on their dreams as licence to continue in sexual sins.
To this very day, people often rely heavily on dreams as a word from God, it matters not if it aligns with scripture, they give higher authority to their dreams, and therefore disrespect the authority of God.
They use their dreams to justify sexual immorality...their own minds usurp God...and lower God standards to the grossest immoral state and certainly not the temple of the Holy Spirit.
Which is all so exactly like today world: reject all authority, do your own thing, have your own life style, all about self, make your own rules etc.
They even heaped abuse on the good angels, which is brass pride beyond belief, because even the great archangel Michael did not dare slander the worst of the fallen angels, but rather asked God to.
Archangel Michael with all his great power, would not take the law into his own hands but puny man insults, rejects, blasphemies, etc. but it shows their weakness.
(when a person must use harsh words, and swear, it points to their weakness, all hot air).
But Michael is an example to us, we are not to enter into a debate with them, but rather appeal to the highest power the Lord God.
Such people slander God, and angels with such arrogance, and yet they have no understanding...and act like animals in heat, and it will destroy them. It will begin to destroy them in this life and lead them to hell in eternity.
Other than that, what you said was great!
Jude 1: 11-13
False teachers like Cain, have a type of interest in the spiritual, but they do not want to bow to God's authority or do anything God's way, like Cain they do things ( including what they hope to pass off as worship) their own way. Often they know what God has prescribed, so it is not that they lack any knowledge of the truth, it's a lack of obedience and love of God.
Because of this lack of love and obedience, self reigns, along with pride, Jealousy, hate, and even at times murder.
Also many are the false teachers, who are like Balaam, who are in it for the money, and it is easy to gain a following of those with itchy ears.
They make the error of Balaam thinking they are getting away with their lies and getting rich at the same time, but the end is tragic, they may have much of the world's pleasures, but will reap hell for eternity ( unless they truly repent and turn to Jesus, which I don't think many do)....and sadly they also draw many along with themselves.
Korah also was a 'religious' man who defied and rebelled against God's given authority.
All three wanted to put self first, do it their way, and rebel against the God that made them. what is so sad is in today's culture, in our country, to be a 'rebel' is a badge of honor, it makes you special, you are more brilliant than the stupid followers.....it is so sad, that it has been elevated to such soaring heights , but really, it is not new at all, just given more honor, as they travel down the road and path to everlasting hell.
But these false teachers are in the true church ( at least for a time). They cozy up to believers (knowing in their hearts they are not true believers themselves) but they do not care, they just enjoy the benefits and bide their time.
However, make no mistake tho they are hard to detect ( at first anyway) they are very dangerous!!
At first they may even seem like clouds to a farmer who desperately needs rain,or people suffering terrible heat, etc. only there is no rain ( spiritual truth) in them. Their promises are worthless. Even worse, they may be like demons who show themselves as light and bring death.
Like trees that seem perhaps beautiful and will give good ( spiritual Biblical) fruit, have none. It reminds me a little of the fig tree that our Lord went to. If we are to know people by their fruits, these have no fruits, and are not born again, but twice dead ( in this life, and in hell).
12 These people are blemishes at your love feasts, eating with you without the slightest qualm—shepherds who feed only themselves. They are clouds without rain, blown along by the wind; autumn trees, without fruit and uprooted—twice dead.
13 They are wild waves of the sea, foaming up their shame; wandering stars, for whom blackest darkness has been reserved forever. Jude 1:14-16
V.14 is a bit tricky (having read some commentaries) because the book of Enoch is not in the Bible.
But as I understand it, Jude was writing under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit and this particular portion of the book of Enoch was true
( which in no way, means Jude accepted the whole book to be on par with the authoritative Word of God .
In any case, the Lord will come to execute Judgement with His holy ones ( angels and believers).
in verse 15 the word ungodly is there 4 times. I read somewhere that if God repeats something, it is for special emphasis, so to repeat the fact that these false teachers were ( are) ungodly, is for us to really get how serious this evil is.
they have been arrogant, demeaned God, done their own sinful evil things, irreverent, speaking offensive things against God, etc. as a habitual life style, not an occasional sinning.
These people were also habitual sullen grumblers, who were ( or are) never satisfied, etc. which is criticizing, finding fault with and insulting God.
They did not complain about just some big and perhaps hard things, but every little thing also.
Nevertheless, or perhaps as a partial excuse, ( since in their minds God never gave them what they felt or feel they deserve),
they feel they have a right to follow their own sinful desires.
At the same time they are loud mouth boasters
These are grumblers, malcontents, following their own sinful desires; they are loud-mouthed pompous pretentious boasters, trying to impress people as to how important and intelligent etc they are. And they use Their high sounding,erudite words and vocabulary to attract unwise people and thus gain for themselves and advantage. They may also use flattery to win people to themselves.
We ( I) need to focus all the more on God's words the Bible to recognize satan and his false teachers lies and deceptions.
Just an aside, I am not ready to do a victory dance just yet, but we have not 'heard' the rat or rats, for 3 nights....however, I am not yet convinced they are gone for good.
Nevertheless, I am so grateful to God that we have been able to sleep without being terrorized the last few nights!!!!!
There has been construction work going on next door....and maybe God used that and the cat that now comes in to sleep in our place to chase them away.
Leonard was or maybe still is planning on getting an electric rat trap ( and the landlord agreed to pay for it).
I am not sure if Leonard already ordered it or plans to.....its been busy around here.
In any case, I feel blessed....
of course, not hearing them, may not be a guarantee they are even gone from our place....they could be lying low for awhile.....
But we have been pretty diligent making sure there is no food (I have been buying plastic or glass containers to put noodles, flour, cookies, etc etc. in....instead of just leaving them in their packages.
I do not yet have enough for every thing yet,
but these also seem to be picky rats,
they seem to like certain things ( like bird seed??? and bread....which now is in the fridge etc.
and yet, they have not yet eaten thru the chip bag ( I need more containers arrrggghhh)
Jude 1: 17-19
In v. 17 I was aware that it says we must remember....a command!!!
We have to stay in the Word every day, because we simply forget otherwise, and the danger of forgetting God's Word is horrific!!
But remembering God's Word will allow us to spot error, and evil false lies.
Today satan's evil fiery darts are coming at us more and more, seemingly like an endless barge at times.
And then I was thrilled by the word beloved.....
and it made me reflect on how wonderful it is to be the beloved of God!!!
The apostles often warned of the wolves in sheep's clothing, infiltrating the church, to kill, so it is imperative to remember ( the sword of the spirit which is the Word of God).
V.18 seems so up to date because mockers of Christians believing in Jesus coming again....love to point out that it's been 2000 years and He has not returned
(either they do not know, or choose to not know, that god says a thousand years is like a day to Him)
but it allows them to feel 'safe' in following their own ungodly passions, it will be more and more about self, the me generation, the selfie generation etc.
Of course they mock many other aspects of Christian belief, but we are warned so we won't be caught by surprise of off guard by it.
These false teachers hope to win by dividing and conquering. They have a mind set on the things of the world, whatever feels good, do it, (material and physical pleasures) they are lacking God the Holy Spirit.
Yes, and we need to be prepared because people will not only mock the rapture and second coming, they will especially mock people who believe in a pre trib rapture. Which makes sense, since they hate God's Word. So even among "Christians", we will be the "outsiders". But to God, we will be among the remnant and the "insiders"!
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fearnot
Living With Pain
Posts: 6,415
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Post by fearnot on Sept 4, 2018 16:52:07 GMT -5
My computer went backwards....the charger was poofed.
Leonard took it to a computer guy and bought a new charger so now I am back!
Well, I have heard the rat(s) briefly....so Leonard will be buying the electric rat killing machine soon.
Oh well....one of the cats who has been staying in at night, was going thru his rodent killing moves this morning....it was sort of funny ( but there was no rat in front of him....yet).
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fearnot
Living With Pain
Posts: 6,415
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Post by fearnot on Sept 4, 2018 18:35:17 GMT -5
Oh I just looked somehow I am in ESV instead of NIV
I was rereading and studying the beginning of Jude, this morning.... ( while computer was away)
So this afternoon, I will just work on just 1 verse ( as I get super tired and sleepy in afternoon).
Jude 1: 20
To protect ourselves from false doctrines/heresies and false teachers, who prey upon those not grounded in the Word....
we need to constantly daily build ourselves up in the true faith and pray guided by the Holy spirit.
The battle is a battle for truth and for our minds, and we need to be in the Word and pray.
( Just as an aside I was listening to J. D. Farag a pastor in Hawaii last night. He apparently had asked people on twitter,to pray for Oahu, because a category 5 hurricane was hours away from hitting.
Well he got terrible scoffers saying all manner of things that could not be repeated. However, he put out another prayer request and again, got swamped with all sort of name calling, perhaps the nicest calling him an idiot etc.
The hurricane was only an hour or so away, when, it totally feel apart. Soooooo he hoped back on twitter, thanking those who prayed....and not ONE scoffer had a word to say. That just tickled me.
Tomorrow, I will get back to at least a few verses prayerfully
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Post by Cindy on Sept 5, 2018 9:18:58 GMT -5
My computer went backwards....the charger was poofed.
Leonard took it to a computer guy and bought a new charger so now I am back!
Well, I have heard the rat(s) briefly....so Leonard will be buying the electric rat killing machine soon.
Oh well....one of the cats who has been staying in at night, was going thru his rodent killing moves this morning....it was sort of funny ( but there was no rat in front of him....yet). Oh I just looked somehow I am in ESV instead of NIV
I was rereading and studying the beginning of Jude, this morning.... ( while computer was away)
So this afternoon, I will just work on just 1 verse ( as I get super tired and sleepy in afternoon).
Jude 1: 20
To protect ourselves from false doctrines/heresies and false teachers, who prey upon those not grounded in the Word....
we need to constantly daily build ourselves up in the true faith and pray guided by the Holy spirit.
The battle is a battle for truth and for our minds, and we need to be in the Word and pray.
( Just as an aside I was listening to J. D. Farag a pastor in Hawaii last night. He apparently had asked people on twitter,to pray for Oahu, because a category 5 hurricane was hours away from hitting.
Well he got terrible scoffers saying all manner of things that could not be repeated. However, he put out another prayer request and again, got swamped with all sort of name calling, perhaps the nicest calling him an idiot etc.
The hurricane was only an hour or so away, when, it totally feel apart. Soooooo he hoped back on twitter, thanking those who prayed....and not ONE scoffer had a word to say. That just tickled me.
Tomorrow, I will get back to at least a few verses prayerfully
I did want to point out one thing: you've been writing regularly that you're reading Jude 1 and then whatever verses, but there are no chapters in Jude, only verses as it's one short letter. So the verse you're on now would be Jude 20.
I believe what you said about the pastor praying! Especially since for the last year and a half, the Lord has done exactly the same thing for me when I've prayed against tornadoes and bad thunder storms! It's really amazing to hear the same weatherman who reported that the tornado was approaching our area (and showed it on the radar) just moments earlier, to turn around and have him report that it disappeared or dissipated LOL!
Very good exposition of that verse! I'd like to share something about it that you may find interesting. The part of the verse that says we're to pray in the Holy Spirit is different in the original Greek. In the Greek it actually says we're to pray in spirit! It's said the same way that Jesus said it to the Samaritan woman when He said “Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks.” (John 4:23)
Another interesting part to me is how it's the opposite of the previous verse: “These are the men who divide you, who follow mere natural instincts and do not have the Spirit.” (Jude 19) It shows how different we who are saved are from those who aren't, and only use their natural minds which are corrupted; which of course, once again reminds me of another favorite memory verse: “To the pure, all things are pure, but to those who are corrupted and do not believe, nothing is pure. In fact, both their minds and consciences are corrupted.” (Titus 1:15)
I'm so glad you realize that this verse isn't talking about speaking in tongues which so many charismatics mistakenly think and claim. Instead, like you said, it's speaking about praying according to the leading of the Spirit. The Holy Spirit will often bring God's Word to our minds, even as we pray, so that we can use His Word in our prayers too. I don't think there's anything more powerful then praying God's Word back to Him!
I know I say this a lot, but you really are doing very well! I enjoy reading what you write and it often encourages me and speaks to my heart, bringing me closer to the Lord, so I thank you for all the effort you put into it!
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fearnot
Living With Pain
Posts: 6,415
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Post by fearnot on Sept 5, 2018 14:02:13 GMT -5
Jude 1: 21-23
It is easy to set our ( my mind) minds on other things, instead of the love of God. If we did so we could save ourselves and others a lot of grief.
Also I read what MacArthur said concerning this verse ( Jude v,21) and he pointed to John 15:10
"If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love".
So another aspect of keeping ourselves in the love of God is obedience (once we are saved...this is not about how to be saved). We can be saved, and be disobedient, and be chastised or stay in His love.
It also important to speak the truth in love, even to false teachers ( tho my first instinct might be to be angry).
And we wait eagerly for Jesus to return and to be with Him forever, sin, satan, sorrows, evil, pain. suffering, this present sinful body etc etc. all gone.
I think that maybe most believers struggle at least once or twice ( maybe even more) in their lives with doubt. Perhaps something horrible happens in their life, or their go thru a depression like walking for weeks in a desert,or false teachers have confused them, or any other such thing, we are to have mercy on them and their weakness.
It would not be showing the love for the brethren that Jesus commanded to be critical or harshly rebuke them.
And if they are unbelievers who are sincerely doubting then we ought to have pity and compassion for them.
We don't save people but God can use us to bring them the gospel, even some who are so lost they are already in a blazing fire of sin. God may allow us ( thru Jesus and the power of the Holy spirit) snatch them out of the fire ( they are so close to Hell's fire).
Still it is with fear we do this because of the evil of apostasy is so strong.
I think the idea is not to hang around, but to be swift in our fireman rescue of their soul ( not that we do the saving of course, but in what God is allowing us to share.....it is not that we will spend day, months, years, chatting and debating, listening to their false beliefs etc.
Some are so dangerous, they are indeed a danger to the believer and so the fear is great, but if God calls us to it we do it with fear (great great caution) and faith...maybe the Lord will call us to talk with them, or perhaps to pray for them.
This reminds me of my training as a lifeguard in Hawaii. we were taught to basically never get so close to a drowning victim that they could grab us around the neck and thus we both would drown....
we would still recuse them but with great caution ( even a child could essentially choke a life guard to death and both would perish.
( of course, we were also trained how to get out of such a choke hold, should the worst case happen, but it was to be avoided if at all possible because of how dangerous it would be to both people).
And we are to hate the sin, but not the sinner.
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fearnot
Living With Pain
Posts: 6,415
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Post by fearnot on Sept 5, 2018 14:10:39 GMT -5
I know about Jude but when I tried to get to it on bible gateway unless I put in ch.1
it will not bring it up!! :-(
hummmm maybe, I was reading a commentary that had a link, and I clicked on it and then copied the verse, not really paying any attention to what version....and now we have a mystery :-( LOL
I know about the speaking in tongues thing....I think that is the way Leonard sees it....but I am absolutely positively convicted it is not so.
but I trust that if it is the Lord's will He will make that clear that truth one day to Leonard.
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Post by Cindy on Sept 6, 2018 10:45:42 GMT -5
Jude 1: 21-23
It is easy to set our ( my mind) minds on other things, instead of the love of God. If we did so we could save ourselves and others a lot of grief.
Also I read what MacArthur said concerning this verse ( Jude v,21) and he pointed to John 15:10
"If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love".
So another aspect of keeping ourselves in the love of God is obedience (once we are saved...this is not about how to be saved). We can be saved, and be disobedient, and be chastised or stay in His love.
It also important to speak the truth in love, even to false teachers ( tho my first instinct might be to be angry).
And we wait eagerly for Jesus to return and to be with Him forever, sin, satan, sorrows, evil, pain. suffering, this present sinful body etc etc. all gone.
I think that maybe most believers struggle at least once or twice ( maybe even more) in their lives with doubt. Perhaps something horrible happens in their life, or their go thru a depression like walking for weeks in a desert,or false teachers have confused them, or any other such thing, we are to have mercy on them and their weakness.
It would not be showing the love for the brethren that Jesus commanded to be critical or harshly rebuke them.
And if they are unbelievers who are sincerely doubting then we ought to have pity and compassion for them.
We don't save people but God can use us to bring them the gospel, even some who are so lost they are already in a blazing fire of sin. God may allow us ( thru Jesus and the power of the Holy spirit) snatch them out of the fire ( they are so close to Hell's fire).
Still it is with fear we do this because of the evil of apostasy is so strong.
I think the idea is not to hang around, but to be swift in our fireman rescue of their soul ( not that we do the saving of course, but in what God is allowing us to share.....it is not that we will spend day, months, years, chatting and debating, listening to their false beliefs etc.
Some are so dangerous, they are indeed a danger to the believer and so the fear is great, but if God calls us to it we do it with fear (great great caution) and faith...maybe the Lord will call us to talk with them, or perhaps to pray for them.
This reminds me of my training as a lifeguard in Hawaii. we were taught to basically never get so close to a drowning victim that they could grab us around the neck and thus we both would drown....
we would still recuse them but with great caution ( even a child could essentially choke a life guard to death and both would perish.
( of course, we were also trained how to get out of such a choke hold, should the worst case happen, but it was to be avoided if at all possible because of how dangerous it would be to both people).
And we are to hate the sin, but not the sinner.
Love the Sinner, Hate the Sin
We live in a therapeutic culture that seems determined to do away with sin. Adultery and every form of immorality has been re-classified as sex addictions. Addictions to drugs and alcohol are classified as diseases, not the results of deliberate actions. And guns are now perceived as a greater evil than the murderers pulling the trigger. Whatever the sin may be, there always seems to be a way to excuse, redefine, or minimize it.
That determination to separate who a person is and what he does has also infiltrated the church. The exhortation to “love the sinner and hate the sin” is a clever Christian cliché regularly used to deflect people’s responsibility and accountability for their sin. While it’s true that we should both love sinners and hate sin, the cliché distorts those truths by unbiblically severing the two.
Gnosticism Revived
That sort of dualism was prevalent among the Gnostic heretics of the first century AD. The error of the Gnostics was so seductive that the apostle John wrote his first epistle as a direct response to their false teaching. John MacArthur made the following observations regarding the situation facing the church in 1 John:
Gnosticism (from the Greek word gnōsis [“knowledge”]) was an amalgam of various pagan, Jewish, and quasi-Christian systems of thought. Influenced by Greek philosophy (especially that of Plato), Gnosticism taught that matter was inherently evil and spirit was good. That philosophical dualism led the false teachers whom John confronted to accept some form of Christ’s deity, but to deny His humanity. He could not, according to them, have taken on a physical body, since matter was evil. [1]
But it was the Gnostics’ personal application of their dualistic views that echoes today in the efforts to separate the sinner from his sin.
The Gnostics’ philosophical dualism also caused them to be indifferent to moral values and ethical behavior. To them, the body was merely the prison in which the spirit was incarcerated. Therefore, sin committed in the body had no connection to or effect on the spirit. [2]
The cliché of loving the sinner and hating the sin follows the same dualistic reasoning as Gnostic heresies—that we ought to effectively divorce the sinner from the culpability and consequences of his sin.
Worse still, it confuses and corrupts the very concept of what it means to love a sinner. True love does not demand willful ignorance. You wouldn’t simply pretend that a cancer patient was suddenly free from his disease. Nor would you ignore his affliction in hopes that it would go away on its own.
The same holds true for sinners—the most loving thing you can do for them is not to blithely ignore their sin or excuse it away, but to confront it. In other words, you cannot possibly love a sinner if you don’t also hate his sin.
Not Dualism—Dual Responsibilities
I’ll grant that the way we confront sin can vary depending on the nature of the sin and the spiritual condition of the sinner. You might need to show more gentleness with an unbeliever blinded by his own depravity than with a fellow Christian who ought to know better. And even within the church, we need to be measured and considerate with how we confront one another, yet still bold and clear enough to preserve the purity of the Body of Christ.
In fact, church discipline is an essential part of protecting the church’s purity (Matthew 18:15–20). John MacArthur, while commenting on that passage, points out:
A Christian who is not deeply concerned about bringing a fellow Christian back from his sin needs spiritual help himself. Smug indifference, not to mention self-righteous contempt, has no part in the life of a spiritual Christian, nor do sentimentality or cowardice that hide behind false humility. The spiritual Christian neither condemns nor justifies a sinning brother. His concern is for the holiness and blessing of the offending brother, the purity and integrity of the church, and the honor and glory of God. [3]
In response to those who see the confrontation of sin as inherently unloving, John adds:
In the eyes of much of the world and even in the eyes of many immature believers, such action is considered unloving. But discipline given in the right way expresses the deepest kind of love, love that refuses to do nothing to rescue a brother from unrepentant sin and its consequences. Love that winks at sin or that is more concerned for superficial calm in the church than for its spiritual purity is not God’s kind of love. Love that tolerates sin is not love at all but worldly and selfish sentimentality.
To preach love apart from God’s holiness is to teach something other than God’s love. No awakening or revival of the church has ever occurred apart from strong preaching of God’s holiness and the corresponding call for believers to forsake sin and return to the Lord’s standards of purity and righteousness. No church that tolerates known sin in its membership will have spiritual growth or effective evangelism. In spite of that truth, however, such tolerance is standard in the church today-at all levels. [4]
Some people appeal to God’s unconditional love as if that trumps or invalidates His other attributes, most notably His wrath. But as John emphatically argues, such sentiment amounts to nothing less than a popular form of idolatry.
Belief in a God who is all love and no wrath, all grace and no justice, all forgiveness and no condemnation is idolatry (worship of a false god invented by men), and it inevitably leads to universalism-which, of course, is what many liberal churches have been preaching for generations. Salvation becomes meaningless, because sin that God overlooks does not need to be forgiven. Christ’s sacrifice on the cross becomes a travesty, because He gave His life for no redemptive purpose. Not only that, but it becomes apologetically impossible to explain the common question about why a loving God allows pain, suffering, disease, and tragedy. Removing God’s holy hatred of sin emasculates the gospel and hinders rather than helps evangelism. [5]
We should love sinners. We should hate sin. And we shouldn’t divide those two truths into separate categories. Our hatred of sin should manifest itself in a love that warns sinners—compassionately, but no less clearly—of the dire consequences their sin demands. Short of that, how could we ever claim to truly love them?
Posted with permission:
www.gty.org/library/blog/B160205/love-the-sinner-hate-the-sin
To be honest, I wanted to re-read this, to refresh my memory, not because you needed to hear it, so I hope you don't mind. I knew he had said there was something wrong with the saying, but couldn't remember for sure what it was. Now i remember lol. I added it to my bible notes so I won't forget again.
I know about Jude but when I tried to get to it on bible gateway unless I put in ch.1
it will not bring it up!! :-(
hummmm maybe, I was reading a commentary that had a link, and I clicked on it and then copied the verse, not really paying any attention to what version....and now we have a mystery :-( LOL
I know about the speaking in tongues thing....I think that is the way Leonard sees it....but I am absolutely positively convicted it is not so.
but I trust that if it is the Lord's will He will make that clear that truth one day to Leonard. |
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fearnot
Living With Pain
Posts: 6,415
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Post by fearnot on Sept 6, 2018 12:15:18 GMT -5
I wonder if saying Love the sinner ( believer, enemy,or unsaved) but hate 'their' sin....would be better?
Of course not just their sin, but mine, and any sin at any time, in any place.
But thank you as always for the MacArthur commentary on that.
I never thought of it as a way to get the sinner off the hook, but I can see how it could be interrupted that way....so I will just let that saying go away and not use it.
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fearnot
Living With Pain
Posts: 6,415
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Post by fearnot on Sept 6, 2018 13:07:25 GMT -5
Jude: 24,& 25
This is a great ending ( doxology)!!
I think it is especially good for someone like me who might begin to fret and even fear, that I might get caught up in apostasy by some false teacher. This puts that feat to rest because ultimately Jesus will not lose any of His, He is able to keep me from stumbling ( but even IF such a thing could happen...He could also provide the way back). He can do anything, He is certainly strong and all powerful, He can protect us from such evil heresies. It is all about Him!!!
I've heard MacArthur says several times, if He could lose his salvation ( by having to keep it on his own, he would...we all would...)
and this verse 24 is a wonderfully one for encouragement, it is God who keeps us, not we ourselves.
and oh by the way....there is the word joy again!!
His keeping me safe and protecting me from falling, stumbling etc. even when in the presence of dangerous false teachers is a great joy to me.
It is tempting to think, if only I was a 'super' Christian, with decades upon decades of studying God's Word, with the greatest love for Jesus, then I would not have to worry...
but that would be a lie for when I think I can stand by myself, I am sure to fall ( first off that would be the sin of pride...and that was the very sin of the devil).
No I will only be presented blameless to Heaven by Jesus and that is for all believers ( not that we should not devote our lives and study to God's Word, prayer and fellowship with the Lord....just that we don't depend on our 'work'.
God saves us thru Jesus my Lord. The list following are some of our Great God's attributes that we ought to be so thankful for and praising Him for.
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Post by Cindy on Sept 7, 2018 10:29:17 GMT -5
I wonder if saying Love the sinner ( believer, enemy,or unsaved) but hate 'their' sin....would be better?
Of course not just their sin, but mine, and any sin at any time, in any place.
But thank you as always for the MacArthur commentary on that.
I never thought of it as a way to get the sinner off the hook, but I can see how it could be interrupted that way....so I will just let that saying go away and not use it. Jude: 24,& 25
This is a great ending ( doxology)!!
I think it is especially good for someone like me who might begin to fret and even fear, that I might get caught up in apostasy by some false teacher. This puts that feat to rest because ultimately Jesus will not lose any of His, He is able to keep me from stumbling ( but even IF such a thing could happen...He could also provide the way back). He can do anything, He is certainly strong and all powerful, He can protect us from such evil heresies. It is all about Him!!!
I've heard MacArthur says several times, if He could lose his salvation ( by having to keep it on his own, he would...we all would...)
and this verse 24 is a wonderfully one for encouragement, it is God who keeps us, not we ourselves.
and oh by the way....there is the word joy again!!
His keeping me safe and protecting me from falling, stumbling etc. even when in the presence of dangerous false teachers is a great joy to me.
It is tempting to think, if only I was a 'super' Christian, with decades upon decades of studying God's Word, with the greatest love for Jesus, then I would not have to worry...
but that would be a lie for when I think I can stand by myself, I am sure to fall ( first off that would be the sin of pride...and that was the very sin of the devil).
No I will only be presented blameless to Heaven by Jesus and that is for all believers ( not that we should not devote our lives and study to God's Word, prayer and fellowship with the Lord....just that we don't depend on our 'work'.
God saves us thru Jesus my Lord. The list following are some of our Great God's attributes that we ought to be so thankful for and praising Him for.
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Post by Cindy on Sept 10, 2018 9:59:00 GMT -5
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Post by Cindy on Jun 20, 2022 7:50:22 GMT -5
I thought it might be a good idea for us to go over this thread again. Perhaps, on the days you're really tired and not up to posting, you could just read some of this thread, starting on page 1. Then, when you are up to posting, you can read the last post on the thread and reply to that.... what do you think? I've been studying 2 Corinthians and just started on chapter 6 today. What I found in my notes today is what made me think of this. I'll post it all here for you.
Grace is that of unmerited favor. We aren't to boast of our salvation because there was absolutely nothing we did to deserve it. God had mercy on us. Note also that all the good works we will ever perform are also by grace. For without the grace of God we would never have been brought into a relationship of faith & therefore, we would never have been able to please God at all (Heb. 11:6). Further evidence of this present tense of God’s grace towards us is in 2 Cor 6:1–2 where Paul tells us that God’s grace, God’s favor, is now. Rom 5:2 describes it as standing in grace. It's because of this present ministry of grace in our lives that we see grace as divine enablement. It's God’s grace which enables us to live the Christian life. It's by grace we have been saved, are being saved and will be saved. . By grace we are given a new motivation in life. To live as a non-Christian (living in sin) is continuing in captivity. Captivity is the opposite of what grace was designed to provide. The NT defines freedom not as license to participate in sin without consequence, but rather as the opportunity to choose obedience to God. If we're free we must live as free people. This means refusing to accept the self talk which continues to condemn (for there's no condemnation Rom. 8:1). In its place we gratefully accept His mercy which forgives & reminds us that we are His & He will empower us to serve Him faithfully. To understand grace is to understand God’s forgiveness. In order to live empowered by grace we must learn how to live in grace. To do this we must learn to apply His mercy, His way, as His obedient children. There are many reasons why people don’t accept the mercy He offers them now. 1. Some don’t accept God’s present mercy because of a lack of understanding. 2. Another reason some reject God’s mercy is a deep conviction they're unforgivable. 3. there are those who just don’t want to experience God’s mercy. God has always stood ready to throw aside His anger towards sin & forgive (Jer. 3:12–13). It's our resistance to confessing & turning from our sin that's the problem. Instead we create reasons why we can't change. Because the real truth is that if we saw ourselves as really forgiven, if we admitted to ourselves that we stand in grace right now, we would be without excuse. We would have to change & some of us love the security of the sin we have always known to give it up – even for God. The fear of life without all the problems was far more frightening than continuing in them. That’s the deception of sin. Besides accepting God’s mercy, we must accept His methods. It is amazing to me how so many people think God's there to do their bidding. We must live the way God intended & when change is necessary, we must be willing to give up what He wants us to give up & become what He wants us to become. Luke 9:23–24.
In applying the grace of God we must focus on who we have become in Christ & persevere to be who we are as His children. In our efforts to become more like Christ grace is at work as we work. Think of it as a muscle. The muscle tones & strengthens as it's used. Let the muscle just lie there & it'll wither & weaken. Grace is applied as we use it. An important step in the application of grace is to get out there & work at living the Christian life by obeying His commands. When we obey God in our attitudes & actions, grace grows stronger in us & we are able to reflect the image of God in increasing measure. The problem is that we pull out an umbrella & divert the flow of grace. It’s all around us, it’s available but it’s not saturating and refreshing us. It's stepping out in faith & applying His methods & working to reflect the character of Christ faithfully. You might be thinking how silly it'd be to stop the flow of grace in our lives, yet that's exactly what we do when we disobey God. When we disobey, we quench the Holy Spirit & cease to have the power that His grace gives us to grow & please God. When we're not operating in grace, we're operating in the flesh. If we divert the flow of grace in our lives through disobedience, we do so to our own peril. ‘Which comes first, the empowerment to be obedient or the act of obedience itself?’ The answer is that it always begins with the commitment to obey, but as we obey our motivation is strengthened to obey more. To live in grace is to live in the knowledge that God’s forgiveness is real & complete. By grace, forgiveness is granted & what's left for us to do is to live in the reality that God looks on us with His favor & in doing so He empowers us to live as He desires us to. Living in the grace of God does not mean we live in such a way as to no longer need His forgiveness. Living in the grace of God means being able to live in obedience to Him in increasing measure. Grace breaks the stranglehold of sin by putting us in a new relationship with God. We've been made His children, received a new heart & mind & we've been given His Spirit to live inside us & minister to us. The how to of leaving yesterday behind in grace is to be who we are in Christ. Who are you in Christ? If you belong to Christ you are a child with a privileged position and a new identity in the family of God. See Hebrews 3:7–8, and your identity in Christ.
Consider
1. Grace may be defined as, "unmerited favor". What does it mean to you to know that salvation is in no way a result of your own efforts? See Ephesians 2:8–10.
2. Why do you believe some people refuse to accept the grace of God? Cite the three reasons given in the chapter.
3. Why was it said, "We speak of it [sin] as our greatest enemy, yet we hold it close, refusing to let it go."
Analyze
1. How does grace empower a person to live the Christian life?
2. Why is it suggested that a true believer will not fall into the trap of using grace as a license to sin more? See 1 Peter 2:15–16
3. Consider Romans 5:1–2. Does God think of His people in an angry or hostile way?
Digging Deeper
What does it mean to say:
• God’s grace is sufficient in weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9)?
• God’s grace is given to those who are humble and upright (Psalm 84:11; Proverbs 3:34; James 4:6)?
• God’s work is completed in Christians by grace (2 Thessalonians 1:11–12)?
Making it Real
In the next 24 hours find at least one instance when reliance on God’s grace helps you to remain strong at a moment of weakness.
Christianity and change
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fearnot
Living With Pain
Posts: 6,415
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Post by fearnot on Jun 28, 2022 9:22:47 GMT -5
Wow! I had forgotten almost all of what I wrote in the first post....
and subsequently have slipped back to a more depressed state.
So your suggestion to go back and revisit this was perfectly timed.
I have read the first post, but will re-read it again today.
I think the parts I remembered,
was to memorize and quote scriptures,
but there were a lot of other options, I need to reconsider.
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Post by Cindy on Jun 29, 2022 8:39:19 GMT -5
I think it must have been the Lord, because I felt it was really important for us to do this! Now I know why and I'm so glad we are. The Lord obviously wants to help you!  Add one thing to your list of things to do: to use your inhaler before going to bed, when you wake up and in the afternoon. This will make your body happy and you won't get that feeling of doom any more!
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fearnot
Living With Pain
Posts: 6,415
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Post by fearnot on Jun 29, 2022 12:58:30 GMT -5
You are absolutely right again
for some unknown to me, reason, I have been
( after a long time) been struggling....once again.
So, I do think, God nudged you to suggest this, in order to help me....Thank you.
I will re-read the first post again, and go on to the second post today.
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Post by Cindy on Jun 30, 2022 10:21:01 GMT -5
Go for it Barbara! You know, I think I've told you this before, but I too had problems remembering all that He would teach me. Then I started praying and asking Him to make it so I wouldn't ever forget anything He taught me from His Word, and He has done so! I used to think I was bad and weak, etc because I couldn't remember things. Then the Lord reminded me of what He told Paul - that His strength is perfected in our weakness. We are all weak! It's just that some won't admit it. But God will work though those who realize they can't do anything unless He's doing it through them.
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fearnot
Living With Pain
Posts: 6,415
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Post by fearnot on Jun 30, 2022 11:00:46 GMT -5
Also, I think, God provided a short video
( interview) of John MacArthur,
as another encouragement.
Pastor John, said some things I had never thought of,
that gave me a different perspective on this time we live in.
I posted the link in Chat.
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Post by Cindy on Jul 1, 2022 9:21:40 GMT -5
I'll go check it out hon. Can you also post what you're remembering from the post you read each day?
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fearnot
Living With Pain
Posts: 6,415
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Post by fearnot on Jul 1, 2022 18:59:01 GMT -5
One I had totally forgot was to smile each morning upon awakening....that is not always easy to do, but even if Leonard is in the other room or something, I am attempting a smile to Jesus, and thank Him for His protection overnight etc.
I have also did a search for 'joy' on Biblegateway.....
And some things I did remember, but re-reading them always helps to apply them...like 'count my blessings'
Yes, I do that daily....but still, I need to up the ante!
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Post by Cindy on Jul 2, 2022 9:55:56 GMT -5
 Sounds like you're doing great! Do you ever look at the title of the threads in this forum, including this one? I just did and saw that there have been 18,941 views of this thread so far! Amazing!
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Add one thing to your list of things to do: to use your inhaler before going to bed, when you wake up and in the afternoon. This will make your body happy and you won't get that feeling of doom any more!
Sounds like you're doing great! Do you ever look at the title of the threads in this forum, including this one? I just did and saw that there have been 18,941 views of this thread so far! Amazing! 
