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John 13:17 Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.
Titus 2:15 These things speak, and exhort
2 Peter 4:10, for if you do these things
But you're kidding, right? You know that it's always easier to get something done if others are willing to cooperate with you, right? You know following Christ isn't just buying the ticket then sitting in the boarding lounge, right? YOU will do these things Christ said, not 'you will watch these things magically happen'. Go back to Adam, yeah God had all the power but told Adam what you say goes. It's always been about partnership with God. That is what pleases Him.
Titus 2:15 These things speak, and exhort
2 Peter 4:10, for if you do these things
But you're kidding, right? You know that it's always easier to get something done if others are willing to cooperate with you, right? You know following Christ isn't just buying the ticket then sitting in the boarding lounge, right? YOU will do these things Christ said, not 'you will watch these things magically happen'. Go back to Adam, yeah God had all the power but told Adam what you say goes. It's always been about partnership with God. That is what pleases Him.
God does the work that pleases him as the Son did and confessed in John 8:29 & 9:3,4. Lucifer was found with iniquity in him because he stopped doing the work he was created by God to do. We are also to do the works of God in John 6:28,29 & Ephesians 2:10 and without doing those works by faith it is impossible to please him in Hebrews 11:16. If we are not willing and available by faith to be used of God, God just might pass us by and use someone else. Saul was not available to be used by God when he stopped obeying the voice of God, so God rent the kingdom from him (not his salvation) and gave it to another, David. Israel, the Jews, were not willing to be used by God and be obedient to his voice, so for a time, God has passed them by and put them aside and used the Gentiles to do his work. This is the time of the Gentiles, not just to receive the gospel, but to also make known the mystery of his will to them in Ephesians 1:9. If we want God to use us we first and foremost need to make ourselves available to him as Isaiah did in Isaiah 6:8. So yes, we must be willing and obedient as in Isaiah 1:19 and then we shall eat that which is good and have plenty. As one preacher has said, 'God is hard up and will even use you, if you let him'. Then there are the Jonah's who hear the voice of God and go in the opposite direction but God seems to make things happen to get them back on course.
Should we ever forget what 2 Timothy 2:19-26 says?
[SUP]19 [/SUP]But the firm foundation of (laid by) God stands, sure and unshaken, bearing this seal (inscription): The Lord knows those who are His, and, Let everyone who names [himself by] the name of the Lord give up all iniquity and stand aloof from it.
[SUP]20 [/SUP]But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also [utensils] of wood and earthenware, and some for honorable and noble [use] and some for menial and ignoble [use].
[SUP]21 [/SUP]So whoever cleanses himself [from what is ignoble and unclean, who separates himself from contact with contaminating and corrupting influences] will [then himself] be a vessel set apart and useful for honorable and noble purposes, consecrated and profitable to the Master, fit and ready for any good work.
[SUP]22 [/SUP]Shun youthful lusts and flee from them, and aim at and pursue righteousness (all that is virtuous and good, right living, conformity to the will of God in thought, word, and deed); [and aim at and pursue] faith, love, [and] peace (harmony and concord with others) in fellowship with all [Christians], who call upon the Lord out of a pure heart.
[SUP]23 [/SUP]But refuse (shut your mind against, have nothing to do with) trifling (ill-informed, unedifying, stupid) controversies over ignorant questionings, for you know that they foster strife and breed quarrels.
[SUP]24 [/SUP]And the servant of the Lord must not be quarrelsome (fighting and contending). Instead, he must be kindly to everyone and mild-tempered [preserving the bond of peace]; he must be a skilled and suitable teacher, patient and forbearing andwilling to suffer wrong.
[SUP]25 [/SUP]He must correct his opponents with courtesy and gentleness, in the hope that God may grant that they will repent and come to know the Truth [that they will perceive and recognize and become accurately acquainted with and acknowledge it],
[SUP]26 [/SUP]And that they may come to their senses [and] escape out of the snare of the devil, having been held captive by him, [henceforth] to do His [God’s] will.
Should we ever forget what 2 Timothy 2:19-26 says?
[SUP]19 [/SUP]But the firm foundation of (laid by) God stands, sure and unshaken, bearing this seal (inscription): The Lord knows those who are His, and, Let everyone who names [himself by] the name of the Lord give up all iniquity and stand aloof from it.
[SUP]20 [/SUP]But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also [utensils] of wood and earthenware, and some for honorable and noble [use] and some for menial and ignoble [use].
[SUP]21 [/SUP]So whoever cleanses himself [from what is ignoble and unclean, who separates himself from contact with contaminating and corrupting influences] will [then himself] be a vessel set apart and useful for honorable and noble purposes, consecrated and profitable to the Master, fit and ready for any good work.
[SUP]22 [/SUP]Shun youthful lusts and flee from them, and aim at and pursue righteousness (all that is virtuous and good, right living, conformity to the will of God in thought, word, and deed); [and aim at and pursue] faith, love, [and] peace (harmony and concord with others) in fellowship with all [Christians], who call upon the Lord out of a pure heart.
[SUP]23 [/SUP]But refuse (shut your mind against, have nothing to do with) trifling (ill-informed, unedifying, stupid) controversies over ignorant questionings, for you know that they foster strife and breed quarrels.
[SUP]24 [/SUP]And the servant of the Lord must not be quarrelsome (fighting and contending). Instead, he must be kindly to everyone and mild-tempered [preserving the bond of peace]; he must be a skilled and suitable teacher, patient and forbearing andwilling to suffer wrong.
[SUP]25 [/SUP]He must correct his opponents with courtesy and gentleness, in the hope that God may grant that they will repent and come to know the Truth [that they will perceive and recognize and become accurately acquainted with and acknowledge it],
[SUP]26 [/SUP]And that they may come to their senses [and] escape out of the snare of the devil, having been held captive by him, [henceforth] to do His [God’s] will.
Those "ecstatic utterings" must have been some form of unbelief concerning the truth on their part don't you think? If it was not unbelief of the truth or a denial thereof (in your mind), then you would have no basis not to adhere to it and support it, right? You can denigrate the Pentecostals and Charismatics all you want, but if God uses them to shame and stir up the dead orthodoxy that characterizes many of the denominations of Christianity, then glory to God for his creativity and faithfulness to do his work of reconciliation of believers. However, humility has to be involved somewhere along the line for grace to take place.
One that's been proven many times over because of the reactionary and judgmental spirit that comes from the camp of 'dead orthodoxy'. They esteem the letter of the law over and above the Spirit that gives life. To get out of the camp of 'dead orthodoxy' you have to die in your experience and get resurrected by the Spirit of life who will give grace to those who mean it through humility and who forsake all their holier than thou misnomer of who they are in Christ.
It all goes hand in hand (James 1:22 be doers of the Word not just hearers). That includes ALL of Gods Word.
And you give me a chance here to go back to something you said way earlier. You do not have to be Pentecostal/Charismatic to be a doer of the word. In fact, I've seen many Pentecostal/Charismatics who are so wrapped up in their zeal that they're of little actual use in doing. And I've seen many doers who wouldn't touch Pentecostal/Charismatics with a 10 foot pole. All that is required to be a doer is to actually believe God's Word is doable.
Luke 12:42 - And the Lord said, Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his
lord shall make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of
meat in due season? 43Blessed is that
servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing. 44Of a
truth I say unto you, that he will make him ruler over all that he hath. 45But
and if that servant say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; and shall
begin to beat the menservants and maidens, and to eat and drink, and to be
drunken; 46The lord of that
servant will come in a day when he looketh not for him, and at an hour
when he is not aware, and will cut him in sunder, and will appoint him his
portion with the unbelievers. 47And that servant,
which knew his lord's will, and prepared not himself, neither did
according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes. 48But
he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with
few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much
required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.
The parable of the Talents in Matthew 25 also says we are to be good stewards and users of what God has given us, and that those who hide their talents and return no more than what was given them will be punished.
Which all comes back to the original idea - if you don't think God's Words are true and functional you're not going to be good stewards of them.
And you give me a chance here to go back to something you said way earlier. You do not have to be Pentecostal/Charismatic to be a doer of the word. In fact, I've seen many Pentecostal/Charismatics who are so wrapped up in their zeal that they're of little actual use in doing. And I've seen many doers who wouldn't touch Pentecostal/Charismatics with a 10 foot pole. All that is required to be a doer is to actually believe God's Word is doable.
Luke 12:42 - And the Lord said, Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his
lord shall make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of
meat in due season? 43Blessed is that
servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing. 44Of a
truth I say unto you, that he will make him ruler over all that he hath. 45But
and if that servant say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; and shall
begin to beat the menservants and maidens, and to eat and drink, and to be
drunken; 46The lord of that
servant will come in a day when he looketh not for him, and at an hour
when he is not aware, and will cut him in sunder, and will appoint him his
portion with the unbelievers. 47And that servant,
which knew his lord's will, and prepared not himself, neither did
according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes. 48But
he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with
few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much
required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.
The parable of the Talents in Matthew 25 also says we are to be good stewards and users of what God has given us, and that those who hide their talents and return no more than what was given them will be punished.
Which all comes back to the original idea - if you don't think God's Words are true and functional you're not going to be good stewards of them.