fearnot
Living With Pain
Posts: 8,383 
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Post by fearnot on Apr 16, 2024 16:23:35 GMT -5
'Behold, you yourself have heard
what the kings of Assyria have done to all the lands,
destroying them completely.
So will you be saved?
Isaiah 37:11
Again, trying to shake the faith of Hezekiah.
However, just because other nations with false idols, etc.
fell, has nothing to do with a nation trusting in the true God!
And this next verse, proves that point!
'Did the gods of the nations
which my fathers destroyed save them:
Gozan, Haran, Rezeph,
and the sons of Eden who were in Telassar?
Isaiah 37:12
These cities mentioned were between
the Tigris and Euphrates.
This letter/message from Sennacherib is a slightly
extended repeating of what Rabshakeh had said.
One interesting side note:
The city of Haran, was probably the city to which
Abraham went, after he left Ur of the Chaldees.
But it is not surprising,
that their idols of stone, wood, or gold,
did not save them.
'Where is the king of Hamath,
the king of Arpad,
the king of the city of Sepharvaim,
and of Hena and Ivvah?'"
Isaiah 37:13
And this list is of Syrian cities
that fell to the Assyrians.
More cities, with supposed 'gods',
that was the work of the hands of men,
who carved them.
Really, this is not a very strong argument,
( it is actually, a zero argument)
in the light of the truth about idols.
In the next verse, we see that Hezekiah
does the one thing needed!
Then Hezekiah took the letter
from the hand of the messengers and read it,
and
he went up to the house of the LORD
and spread it out before the LORD.
Isaiah 37:14
Being a godly man, Hezekiah,
goes to God for aid and direction.
Would that our leaders of today would do the same!
Nevertheless, it is an example for us.
Cast your burden upon the Lord
and He will sustain you;
He will never allow the righteous to be shaken.
psalm 55:22
Done for Today
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Post by Cindy on Apr 17, 2024 12:48:33 GMT -5
Wow!!! Good point Cindy!!!
And isn't that exactly what Satan did in the garden....
Same tactic, and NOT a good one!
In fact, like you said, we should flinch!!!
““Say to Hezekiah king of Judah: Do not let the god you depend on deceive you when he says, ‘Jerusalem will not be handed over to the king of Assyria.’” (Isaiah 37:10)
“Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?”” (Genesis 3:1)
“Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil. After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.” Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written: “ ‘He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’” Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’” Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.” Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’” Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.” (Matthew 4:1–11)
This is what God actually said - Satan twisted God's Word about trusting Him into a way to test Him, like he loves to do: “For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.” (Psalm 91:11–12) He left out an important phrase, “to guard you in all Your ways.” According to the psalm, a person's protected only when he's following the Lord’s will. For Jesus to throw Himself down from the pinnacle of the temple wouldn't have been God’s will. Jesus responded, that it would not be proper to test God and expect Him to do something when you're is out of His will.
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fearnot
Living With Pain
Posts: 8,383
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Post by fearnot on Apr 17, 2024 20:14:33 GMT -5
WOW!!! That was super Cindy...I didn't notice the subtle difference that Satan said to Jesus!!!
Thank you as always!!!!!! :)
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Post by Cindy on Apr 18, 2024 11:35:48 GMT -5
It took years and years and years of reading that before I did either lol
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anna
Trials
Posts: 1,995
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Post by anna on Apr 18, 2024 12:43:06 GMT -5
The the voice of the venomous serpent, Satan himself, that voice that entered into Eve's ear, the serpent created a desire where there was no desire, the serpent gave Eve additional knowledge, causing Eve to see things differently, challenging what God said, he got her attention. It is a known fact that a woman's attention can be drawn by saying, " Somethings wrong", a woman will always catch an error, like when Satan questioned, " Did God say...You won't really die..." Satan challenged the word that God had given her and it got her attention by reason of her own thoughts, she challenged what God gave her, in so doing instant rebellion began to creap in. She had knowledge of the truth, why did she so easily accept the logic of the serpent? Because of details. People want details when they are unwilling to accept something by faith, the serpent sowed distrust of the living God.
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Post by Cindy on Apr 19, 2024 10:27:27 GMT -5
The the voice of the venomous serpent, Satan himself, that voice that entered into Eve's ear, the serpent created a desire where there was no desire, the serpent gave Eve additional knowledge, causing Eve to see things differently, challenging what God said, he got her attention. It is a known fact that a woman's attention can be drawn by saying, " Somethings wrong", a woman will always catch an error, like when Satan questioned, " Did God say...You won't really die..." Satan challenged the word that God had given her and it got her attention by reason of her own thoughts, she challenged what God gave her, in so doing instant rebellion began to creap in. She had knowledge of the truth, why did she so easily accept the logic of the serpent? Because of details. People want details when they are unwilling to accept something by faith, the serpent sowed distrust of the living God.
That reminded me of another thing that I totally missed about what Satan did in the Garden. (even after I figured out how he twisted God's Words to Jesus!) Satan began his trap by asking Eve a question, but that question was full of his poison! Let's look at what Satan asked and then at what God had actually said in the garden: “Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from ANY tree in the garden’?”” (Genesis 3:1)
“And the LORD God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; but you must not eat from THE tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die.”” (Genesis 2:16–17) God didn't say that Adam and Eve couldn’t eat from any tree in the garden. He said they could not eat from one. Just one. Satan started by luring her into disputing the wrong question. Plus, Satan came in disquise. He didn't come as himself, he came as a snake. We don't know if the animals and reptiles, birds etc all talked, but since this snake did, and Eve doesn't seem at all surprised by it, it wouldn't surprise me at all to know that all the animals could be understood. Regardless of that, we know the snake was a normal inhabitant of the garden, and Satan wasn't. So he doesn't tempt us by coming up and introducing himself, he comes in disguise... maybe as a friend, a pastor, our spouse, our boss, etc. Of course we're told that in the NT: “And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. It is not surprising, then, if his servants masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will be what their actions deserve.” (2 Corinthians 11:14–15)
It's no wonder that Satan caused the world to make up cartoons about him, showing him as a funny looking character with a pitchfork and two horns. No one would take that seriously. Then he had the world misdirect people further, making him out to be the one who had created Hell and saying He lived there and ruled over everyone he sent there. That is so far from the Truth it's amazing anyone believed it! They probably didn't at first, but little by little they started to. Now days, most people believe that's true. Sadly even some who say they're Christians. The actual truth is that God created Hell for the angels that rebelled against Him. After Adam and Eve sinned, it has also been used for people who didn't repent and get reconciled with God. Every being in Hell, whether it's a demon, Satan himself, the false prophet, the antichrist, or other humans, are all there to be punished. None of them are in charge of anything or anyone, not even themselves.
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Post by oliverwithatwist on Apr 19, 2024 15:18:54 GMT -5
It took years and years and years of reading that before I did either lol
Dr. McGee passed away in Dec. 1988 but his broadcasts are still going around the world daily to many more listeners than he had back then. |
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fearnot
Living With Pain
Posts: 8,383
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Post by fearnot on Apr 20, 2024 14:48:27 GMT -5
I like Dr. McGee also. Interestingly, I also like Dr. John MacArthur..
both are Mc or Mac...that's what little or no sleep does for you. LOL
Sigh....maybe I should try to sleep now, but nooo it's been awhile since I posted here. So prayerfully, I will do better than that!
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fearnot
Living With Pain
Posts: 8,383
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Post by fearnot on Apr 20, 2024 15:24:31 GMT -5
Hezekiah prayed to the LORD, saying,
Isaiah 37:15
~~~~
When Satan,
or one or more of his demons,
or one of his human agents;
tries to shake your faith,and courage,
prayer to God,
is THE best thing we can do!
So Hezekiah is an example to us.
Here are just a few verses on prayer:
Do not be anxious about anything,
but in everything
by prayer and supplication
with thanksgiving
let your requests be made known to God
Philippians 4:6
and
Pray without ceasing
1 Thessalonians 5:17
Plus:
And he (Jesus) told them a parable
to the effect that they ought always to pray
and not lose heart.
Luke 18:1
Also:
Let us then with confidence
draw near to the throne of grace,
that we may receive mercy
and find grace
to help in time of need.
Hebrews 4:16
And many many more such verses!
Hezekiah prayed:
"LORD of armies, God of Israel,
who is enthroned above the cherubim,
You are the God, You alone,
of all the kingdoms of the earth.
You made heaven and earth.
Isaiah 37:16
Hezekiah's plea was based on
God, as the Sovereign Supreme ruler
and Creator of the universe...
NOT on their worthiness.
"Incline Your ear, LORD,
and hear; open Your eyes, LORD, and see;
and listen to all the words of Sennacherib,
who sent them to taunt the living God.
Isaiah 37:17
Unlike idols or stone, wood etc.
God can and does see and hear!
Incline Your ear, LORD,
and answer me;
For I am afflicted and needy
psalm 86:1
Hezekiah presents Sennacherib
as an enemy of God,
who is dishonoring God!
Sadly, this is a warning
to foolish people today,
who do the same,
and dishonor God, on a daily basis!
Done for today.
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Post by oliverwithatwist on Apr 20, 2024 16:51:29 GMT -5
I like Dr. McGee also. Interestingly, I also like Dr. John MacArthur..
both are Mc or Mac...that's what little or no sleep does for you. LOL
Sigh....maybe I should try to sleep now, but nooo it's been awhile since I posted here. So prayerfully, I will do better than that! |
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fearnot
Living With Pain
Posts: 8,383
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Post by fearnot on Apr 20, 2024 18:58:29 GMT -5
Amen! to that Oliver!!! :)
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Post by Cindy on Apr 23, 2024 9:58:54 GMT -5
![]()  I really enjoyed your post! Thanks so much for taking the time to post it Barbara. I enjoy both McGee and MacArthur too. I also believe it will be taught in heaven, because Jesus said: “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.” (Matthew 24:35) At least I hope so cause I want to study it with Jesus!
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anna
Trials
Posts: 1,995
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Post by anna on Apr 23, 2024 21:19:57 GMT -5
That is a lovely comforting thought, "To study the Word with Jesus." 
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fearnot
Living With Pain
Posts: 8,383
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Post by fearnot on Apr 24, 2024 10:02:40 GMT -5
Amen ( to both Cindy and Anna):
"to the lovely comforting thought":
"To study the Word with Jesus"
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Post by Cindy on Apr 24, 2024 10:22:37 GMT -5
Can you imagine sitting with any or all of the apostles to discuss the Word together? Of course learning from Jesus would be best but I'd love to learn from all of them. Actually we already do learn from the ones that wrote scripture but I'm talking about being able to discuss it with them. That would be so cool! Talk about Heaven! 
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fearnot
Living With Pain
Posts: 8,383
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Post by fearnot on Apr 24, 2024 10:33:16 GMT -5
"Truly, LORD,
the kings of Assyria
have laid waste
all the countries and their lands,
Isaiah 37:18
So yes, the kings of Assyria had indeed done so....
BUT...
There is a BIG difference!
and have thrown their gods into the fire,
for they were not gods
but only the work of human hands,
wood and stone.
So they have destroyed them.
Isaiah 37:19
Herein lies the difference!
All the other countries, relied on false 'gods'
idols of wood and stone.
Pretend gods that could not help,
because they were carved by human hands,
and had no power, at all.
Lest we people of today feel safe,
because we do not worship carved idols,
we need to rethink our position with God.
We may not have idols of wood, and stone,
but we have equally false 'idols'!
Some are our many many sins, some are human idols,
and even relying on self! etc.
If we are putting our trust, in anything other than
our Creator, redeemer, Savior....
we are in the same boat,
and it is only a matter of time,
for our eternal demise.
But really, in either case,
it is the foolishness of mankind,
thinking, they can make a 'god'.
Which makes me think of the latest...
the so-called AI 'god'.
That is surely walking into eternal disaster!
And so, this is the ONLY way to go:
"But now LORD,
our God,
save us from his hand,
so that all the kingdoms of the earth
may know that You alone,
LORD,
are God."
Isaiah 37:20
But note:
Not only should we pray and rely on God
to help us ( and no other),
But look at the over-riding reason...
It is NOT JUST to save us,
though, there is that...
But for God's glory and honor, to be known,
throughout the world!
And so that, it may even benefit them.
So this prayer can be an example to us today!
Done for Today
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anna
Trials
Posts: 1,995
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Post by anna on Apr 24, 2024 13:57:07 GMT -5
From Psalm 139, this could be a prayer to pray, God, investigate my life: get all the facts firsthand. i am an open book to you: even from a distance you know what I am thinking. See for yourself if I have done anything wrong, then guide me on the road to eternal life.
Praise to God. You formed me in my mother's womb. I thank you High God, your breathtaking! Body and soul, I am marvelously made!
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Post by Cindy on Apr 25, 2024 8:47:57 GMT -5
I agree that the AI has now become "God" to many people, including many who call themselves Christians. For some it's happened without them actually intending it to, yet it still happened. It's scary how AI has taken over everything.
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fearnot
Living With Pain
Posts: 8,383
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Post by fearnot on Apr 25, 2024 9:07:45 GMT -5
It is amazing how fast, so many things are happening now!!
Setting up for the coming tribulation.
Thinking, for example, of the mass hatred of the Jews!
I can see how when the anti-Christ turns up,
and says he can make it all go away,
and give them peace,
many of them will be on his team...
at least for a while.
But, the unveiling of the hatred was so fast!
6 months time only...
and it seems everywhere in the world,
is hatred for Jews and Israel!
So, so sad!
But God did tell us this would be!
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Post by Cindy on Apr 26, 2024 8:04:43 GMT -5
It is amazing how fast, so many things are happening now!!
Setting up for the coming tribulation.
Thinking, for example, of the mass hatred of the Jews!
I can see how when the anti-Christ turns up,
and says he can make it all go away,
and give them peace,
many of them will be on his team...
at least for a while.
But, the unveiling of the hatred was so fast!
6 months time only...
and it seems everywhere in the world,
is hatred for Jews and Israel!
So, so sad!
But God did tell us this would be!
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fearnot
Living With Pain
Posts: 8,383
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Post by fearnot on Apr 30, 2024 9:40:11 GMT -5
Then Isaiah the son of Amoz
sent word to Hezekiah, saying,
"This is what the LORD, the God of Israel says:
'Because you have prayed to Me
about Sennacherib king of Assyria,
Isaiah 37:21
Sometimes, God does not answer prayers right away,
and sometimes people thus lose heart,
thinking that, God didn't hear them,
or does not care.
However neither is the truth,
God may delay His answer,
but still loves you.
Nevertheless, in this case,
and soon as Hezekiah finished
praying,God responds to Isaiah.
God sends Isaiah to help the King.
Dilervancy may not be as immediate
as the prayer,
but the rescue, is set in motion.
And so we are shown an example,
that we can also follow,
whenever under stress,
sorrow, pain,
suffering,anxieties
and/or distresses...
Prayer is a powerful blessing for the believers.
this is the word
that the LORD has spoken against him:
"She has shown contempt for you
and derided you,
The virgin daughter of Zion;
The daughter of Jerusalem
has shaken her head behind you!
Isaiah 37:22
Jerusalem though seemingly,
helpless, against Sennacherib,
will have the last laugh,
because of God.
So, if anyone still wonders about why
Jerusalem will win....
herein lies the answer
to Sennacherib:
"Whom have you taunted and blasphemed?
And against whom have you raised your voice
And haughtily raised your eyes?
Against the Holy One of Israel!
Isaiah 37:23
Oh-oh....It does not behoove anyone,
to mock,
disrespect,
demean,
insult,
and/or reproach God!
Oh yes, God noticed Sennacherib's
arrogance, haughtiness, pride, insolence,
and sinful insulting blasphemies,
against the true Creator God!
So now a look at some of the arrogant boasts,
of even Sennacherib's,
and even his servants:
"Through your servants you have taunted the Lord,
And you have said,
'With my many chariots I came up to the heights of the mountains,
To the remotest parts of Lebanon;
And I cut down its tall cedars
and its choice junipers.
And I will come to its highest peak,
its thickest forest.
Isaiah 37:24
Sennacherib is bragging,his victories,
and all about what 'he' has done,
and what 'he' will do.
He was extremely cruel in his conquest of people,
but he also, needlessly destroys,
the beauty of the land as well.
Such is the ego and foolishness of tyrants.
However, all men die ( for one thing),
and will have to pay for their sins,
in their life, or in death.
Done for today.
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fearnot
Living With Pain
Posts: 8,383
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Post by fearnot on May 4, 2024 10:28:38 GMT -5
"Have you not heard?
Long ago I did it,
From ancient times
I planned it.
Now I have brought it about
That you would turn fortified cities into ruined heaps.
Isaiah 37:26
Sennacherib was under the mistaken and vain thought,
that he had brought all his conquests about,
by himself, by his own magnificent power.
But now God corrects this foolish belief,
and tells Sennacherib he was just a pawn in God's hand,
as a mere instrument for God's plans.
So yes, God can use even an evil person,
for His plans.
"Therefore their inhabitants were powerless,
They were shattered and put to shame;
They were like the vegetation of the field and the green grass,
Like grass on the housetops that is scorched before it has grown.
Isaiah 37:27
As pastors like to often say:
what is the 'therefore'....
there for?
God explains to Sennacherib,
that it was not because of
Sennacherib's great and mighty power,
that these nations and people were conquered...
but that God had rendered them unable to resist Sennacherib....
therefore,
they offered no resistance, and were incapable of doing so,
like vegetation, which withers, by the scorching heat of the sun.
How often do we in this day and age,
make the same 'mistake'?
We are 'proud' of ourselves,
and/or our nation etc.
We also, mistakenly think,
it is by our own strength,
and/or great our intelligence
that is so superior!!!
We forget that even IF,
we have any such blessings,
they are from God,
and for His Glory.
"But I know your sitting down,
Your going out,
your coming in,
And your raging against Me.
Isaiah 37:28
Sennacherib was ignorant of the truth,
and that never bodes well for anyone!
However, Sennacherib had even a more grievous sin,
which was far worse than his lack of truth,
and that was of his demeaning God!
Right up to this very minute, in time,
people today, in our times,
likewise deceive themselves,
and they think,
God does not see them.
They believe if there were a 'god',
he is unaware of their moment by moment,
actions, thoughts, schemes and sins.
But of course, they are wrong!
"Because of your raging against Me
And because your complacency
has come up to My ears,
I will put My hook in your nose
And My bridle in your lips,
And I will turn you back by the way that you came.
Isaiah 37:29
God intends to treat this vain insolent tyrant,
like a stubborn animal or wild beast.
This denotes that God has complete control over Sennacherib.
Done for today
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Post by Cindy on May 6, 2024 9:59:26 GMT -5
 I loved both of your posts Barbara! I'd like to give an example of God supposedly not answering a prayer. My boss asked me to pray for a meeting that was likely to be ugly and I did. I prayed hard about it, totally sure the Lord heard me. But when she got back, she said it didn't go well and I was devastated thinking the Lord hadn't answered me after all. On the way home that afternoon I prayed asking the Lord why He hadn't answered me. I immediately heard a verse in my mind: "We live by faith and not by sight". At the same time, my heart was broken and I began to sob. I had to pull over as I couldn't see. I begged his forgiveness for my presumption and felt His peace fill me as my crying stopped. So I continued home. It was about a 20 minute drive when you didn't have to pull over. When I got there, the phone was ringing. It was my boss. She was ecstatic! She explained that although she thought the meeting went badly, the people who they were trying to reconcile simply took a bit longer to do so, and part of the reason was because one of the main reasons for their anger with each other was something she hadn't been aware of until it came out at the meeting earlier. She thought that was the last straw that would end any possible reconciliation, but instead, by being brought up, it enabled the two women to talk to each other about it finally and they were in fact reconciled shortly afterward! Of course I told her my experience in the car too and we both began thanking and praising the Lord for His amazing ways. It reminds me of this verse too: “You answer us with awesome deeds of righteousness, O God our Savior, the hope of all the ends of the earth and of the farthest seas,” (Psalm 65:5) That particular time, the wait to see the answer was quite short, but there have been other times since then that the wait was much longer. Often it seemed like the Lord was testing me to see just how long I would live by faith that He had answered my prayer. In fact, there's one prayer that I've been praying for 27 years that most people think He hasn't answered, except for a few who think His answer is "no". I'm continuing to live by faith however that His answer is "Yes and Amen in Jesus!" and that one day I will see the results. Since that prayer is for several people I figure He has to work through their stubbornness, so that's what's probably taking so long. After all, it took Him a long time to get through mine! But seriously, the reason I continue to pray and live by faith that He is working on it is because I know for sure that my prayer is within His Will according to His Word. Therefore I know that He will say yes. I just have to be patient. (and that's never been easy for me lol)
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fearnot
Living With Pain
Posts: 8,383
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Post by fearnot on May 7, 2024 10:56:46 GMT -5
Exactly!!!
I too have been praying for several people for 40 plus years,
with seemingly....nary a budge!!!
That could mean it's a NO...
on the other hand,
it could yet mean,
it's a yes....but not yet.
So I will not stop praying.
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Post by Cindy on May 9, 2024 9:55:55 GMT -5
Yep, just like the widow in Luke 18, we'll keep on praying till we see the answer!
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fearnot
Living With Pain
Posts: 8,383
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Post by fearnot on May 9, 2024 10:18:45 GMT -5
"Then this shall be the sign for you:
you will eat this year what grows of itself,
in the second year what grows from the same,
and in the third year
sow, harvest, plant vineyards, and eat their fruit.
Isaiah 37:30
The one being spoken to now changes from Sennacherib to Hezekiah.
Because of the war/invasion, crops were destroyed,o the Israelites
will have to rely on,
what food sources 'volunteers ( without being sown)
And likewise the following year ( as they did not have time to farm)
but by the 3rd year, they will.
God is promising He will supply, and bless them.
They will not lack food.
This is an example to us as well.
If we never had any hardships,
then we would never see God's care and blessing for us.
We tend to fret and always expect the worse, rather than being in prayer,
and seeing what God might do.
Furthermore, God says this to Hezekiah and the people:
"The survivors that are left
of the house of Judah
will again take root downward
and bear fruit upward.
Isaiah 37:31
The survivors left of the Jews,
that were greatly diminished and reduced...
shall flourish again,to being a vast multitude.
This is portrayed symbolically,
as being like a 'tree' with strong roots,
and massive fruits...
which is, in fact, more of God blessing them.
Again we also see God's power, provision and His glory.
Done for Today
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fearnot
Living With Pain
Posts: 8,383
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Post by fearnot on May 10, 2024 8:53:07 GMT -5
"For out of Jerusalem a remnant will go,
and out of Mount Zion survivors.
The zeal of the LORD of armies will perform this."'
Isaiah 37:32
Those that were left from Jerusalem,
will repopulate and again become a multitude.
And again the credit for this, goes to God.
"Therefore, this is what the LORD says
about the king of Assyria:
'He will not come to this city
nor shoot an arrow there;
and he will not come before it with a shield,
nor heap up an assault ramp against it.
Isaiah 37:33
In fact, God made a promise,
that the Assyrians would not
even make a siege of Jerusalem...
but instead the king would flee
back to his home.
He came close, but never posted a serious
physical threat.
And the next verse, shows the kind of Assyrian's defeat,
as he scurries away.
"By the way that he came,
by the same he will return,
and he will not come to this city,"
declares the LORD.
Isaiah 37:34
We need to remember,
it is not over, until it is over.
Things can look pretty dismal,
but God is still on His throne.
The enemy may be encamped around us,
He may have won many many wars....
but we know, He is already defeated,
forever.
Done for today
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Post by Cindy on May 10, 2024 10:33:36 GMT -5
Oh dear, I took too long replying on the chat thread and others and now I have to get ready to go clean the house! I'll have to reply again later. sorry!
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fearnot
Living With Pain
Posts: 8,383
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Post by fearnot on May 10, 2024 12:31:44 GMT -5
Ah! well, I shall go back to chat then and read what you had to say :)
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Post by Cindy on May 12, 2024 10:17:05 GMT -5
Now that I've had time to read your posts, I love what you had to say! All I can say is, Amen!
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I loved both of your posts Barbara! I'd like to give an example of God supposedly not answering a prayer. My boss asked me to pray for a meeting that was likely to be ugly and I did. I prayed hard about it, totally sure the Lord heard me. But when she got back, she said it didn't go well and I was devastated thinking the Lord hadn't answered me after all. On the way home that afternoon I prayed asking the Lord why He hadn't answered me. I immediately heard a verse in my mind: "We live by faith and not by sight". At the same time, my heart was broken and I began to sob. I had to pull over as I couldn't see. I begged his forgiveness for my presumption and felt His peace fill me as my crying stopped. So I continued home. It was about a 20 minute drive when you didn't have to pull over. When I got there, the phone was ringing. It was my boss. She was ecstatic! She explained that although she thought the meeting went badly, the people who they were trying to reconcile simply took a bit longer to do so, and part of the reason was because one of the main reasons for their anger with each other was something she hadn't been aware of until it came out at the meeting earlier. She thought that was the last straw that would end any possible reconciliation, but instead, by being brought up, it enabled the two women to talk to each other about it finally and they were in fact reconciled shortly afterward! Of course I told her my experience in the car too and we both began thanking and praising the Lord for His amazing ways. It reminds me of this verse too: “You answer us with awesome deeds of righteousness, O God our Savior, the hope of all the ends of the earth and of the farthest seas,” (Psalm 65:5) That particular time, the wait to see the answer was quite short, but there have been other times since then that the wait was much longer. Often it seemed like the Lord was testing me to see just how long I would live by faith that He had answered my prayer. In fact, there's one prayer that I've been praying for 27 years that most people think He hasn't answered, except for a few who think His answer is "no". I'm continuing to live by faith however that His answer is "Yes and Amen in Jesus!" and that one day I will see the results. Since that prayer is for several people I figure He has to work through their stubbornness, so that's what's probably taking so long. After all, it took Him a long time to get through mine! But seriously, the reason I continue to pray and live by faith that He is working on it is because I know for sure that my prayer is within His Will according to His Word. Therefore I know that He will say yes. I just have to be patient. (and that's never been easy for me lol)
