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K
Well I was not dissing her, but if you go back and read through the post you will see she was belittling me and making false allegations on me in which I nicely asked her to please stop more then once.
I would love to have friendly respectful debates with her or anybody else on here, but I will not accept false allegations being said against me !!!
I would love to have friendly respectful debates with her or anybody else on here, but I will not accept false allegations being said against me !!!
K
I understood what you said and I admitted that the way I word things maybe taken the wrong way.
That however should not draw the constant bearing of false witness that was done on me even after I clearly explained myself more than once to another who continued on to make those false allegations.
Your are my brother and I respect you as well as others !!!
Praise God for His strength that He has given me to handle these situations !!!
That however should not draw the constant bearing of false witness that was done on me even after I clearly explained myself more than once to another who continued on to make those false allegations.
Your are my brother and I respect you as well as others !!!
Praise God for His strength that He has given me to handle these situations !!!
I have not read every word of every post, but I have read many of her posts and yours as well.
Earlier this Summer a thread was started in the BDF and someone wrote that many people believe they are wheat ready to be harvested, but in reality they are tares. This caused me to pause and reflect on my own heart and actions.
I've come to understand that although I am indeed a child of the Living God, saved by grace in Jesus Christ, I present myself as a tare far too often, hence my propensity for being sarcastic.
I've been spending time reading Scripture and praying on bended knee asking God to purify my heart and help me grow in His manners and ways. Since then I've experienced a softening of my heart and have been much more respectful to folks here, but I have a long way to go. A work in progress if you will.
With respect, it would do you and a few others here a bit of good to follow suit.
We live by grace; its time we start sharing more of it ourselves.
In Christ,
Utah
Earlier this Summer a thread was started in the BDF and someone wrote that many people believe they are wheat ready to be harvested, but in reality they are tares. This caused me to pause and reflect on my own heart and actions.
I've come to understand that although I am indeed a child of the Living God, saved by grace in Jesus Christ, I present myself as a tare far too often, hence my propensity for being sarcastic.
I've been spending time reading Scripture and praying on bended knee asking God to purify my heart and help me grow in His manners and ways. Since then I've experienced a softening of my heart and have been much more respectful to folks here, but I have a long way to go. A work in progress if you will.
With respect, it would do you and a few others here a bit of good to follow suit.
We live by grace; its time we start sharing more of it ourselves.
In Christ,
Utah
M
This is true, listen to your Father, and not the words of man, for man's words are empty and devoid of truth and wisdom. Now, some have the truth and teach it accordingly, others do not. Always go to the word of God to rightfully divide the truth, to decide for ones'self whether one is teaching according to the word or not.
E
OK so can we get back to the OP?
Recap;
first; God has ordained some to be "teachers" and we should use them for our growth in Christ. Second; we are not to immediately say someone is following a particular person because all they did was quote them. Third; we are to test what we read and hear by God's Word.
Quite a few years ago I really got into reading theology. When I first started this it was with God's Word and the book I was reading. Slowly I started reading more of the theology books than I was reading God's Word. I then started reading a book, I don't remember who wrote it, and one thing they said really struck me too the core. They said something like "reading theological and daily study books is great until we start reading them more than we are reading God's Word". I took this to heart and the Holy Spirit used this person to teach me something. I got back into God's Word and found that a couple of the books I had read and believed were way off the mark according to Scripture. I then asked a couple pastor friends, my mom and dad and a few other Christian friends about these authors. I found out even more about how wrong they were according to God's Word. I would say that my mom was one of my biggest "sources" when I had a question about a particular author. She was one of the most Godly women I have ever met. I wish you all could have met her as she spoke in a way that would just draw you in and the next thing you knew she was "preaching" God's Word to you.
I have since learned to "test" an author by God's Word and through other Christians who "knew more" than I did. The most important test I know now is to test a book by God's Word. I will also take note of what others say about someone. Let's say I told someone of an author I found and they responded with something like "elf3 you need to have a deeper look at what this person says as they dont quite line up with God's Word". Before I got all "upset" I would listen too them and do a bit of research on that particular author. I could learn that they were completely correct thus saving me from a wrong teaching.
I can't remember where, as I have a memorization problem, but in the Bible it says we will be tested with fire and we should do the same with other writings testing them against the "fire" of God's Word. If we find these writings don't stand up to God's Word then we should not be using them as truth. We should only use others writing for understanding and ONLY God's Word as truth. God's Word is the final authority when it comes to living and growing in Jesus Christ.
Prayer is so important when it comes to understanding. We should all be praying for understanding before we read no matter what it is but we should always rely upon God's Word for truth.
Recap;
first; God has ordained some to be "teachers" and we should use them for our growth in Christ. Second; we are not to immediately say someone is following a particular person because all they did was quote them. Third; we are to test what we read and hear by God's Word.
Quite a few years ago I really got into reading theology. When I first started this it was with God's Word and the book I was reading. Slowly I started reading more of the theology books than I was reading God's Word. I then started reading a book, I don't remember who wrote it, and one thing they said really struck me too the core. They said something like "reading theological and daily study books is great until we start reading them more than we are reading God's Word". I took this to heart and the Holy Spirit used this person to teach me something. I got back into God's Word and found that a couple of the books I had read and believed were way off the mark according to Scripture. I then asked a couple pastor friends, my mom and dad and a few other Christian friends about these authors. I found out even more about how wrong they were according to God's Word. I would say that my mom was one of my biggest "sources" when I had a question about a particular author. She was one of the most Godly women I have ever met. I wish you all could have met her as she spoke in a way that would just draw you in and the next thing you knew she was "preaching" God's Word to you.
I have since learned to "test" an author by God's Word and through other Christians who "knew more" than I did. The most important test I know now is to test a book by God's Word. I will also take note of what others say about someone. Let's say I told someone of an author I found and they responded with something like "elf3 you need to have a deeper look at what this person says as they dont quite line up with God's Word". Before I got all "upset" I would listen too them and do a bit of research on that particular author. I could learn that they were completely correct thus saving me from a wrong teaching.
I can't remember where, as I have a memorization problem, but in the Bible it says we will be tested with fire and we should do the same with other writings testing them against the "fire" of God's Word. If we find these writings don't stand up to God's Word then we should not be using them as truth. We should only use others writing for understanding and ONLY God's Word as truth. God's Word is the final authority when it comes to living and growing in Jesus Christ.
Prayer is so important when it comes to understanding. We should all be praying for understanding before we read no matter what it is but we should always rely upon God's Word for truth.
J
Great quote.
As for me, I made a huge mistake when I returned to this forum. For me, looking for even a morsel of Christ on this forum is like looking for a morsel of meat in a cesspool. I'm tired of wading through all of the crap on this forum when I can eat elsewhere without it. I doubt that the majority of people on this forum know Christ or that they even want to. As soon as I can remember how to, I'll be deleting my account. Good bye.
As for me, I made a huge mistake when I returned to this forum. For me, looking for even a morsel of Christ on this forum is like looking for a morsel of meat in a cesspool. I'm tired of wading through all of the crap on this forum when I can eat elsewhere without it. I doubt that the majority of people on this forum know Christ or that they even want to. As soon as I can remember how to, I'll be deleting my account. Good bye.
E
Where did this forum "kind of derail"? Because someone in a way took offence to my quote by C. H. Spurgeon. They basically didn't like the words "certain men". Was it taken as an accusation? Did they see it as a "pointing of the finger"? If it was taken that way then they should look deep withing themselves. Spurgeon never mentioned a name or even pointed a finger at a particular person yet it was taken that way. Was that a convicting quote? If it did convict you then maybe you should take it to heart and pray to God for direction.
As for quoting someone and not giving them credit or not backing up your statements with the Bible I just have one interesting fact. There is a world wide publication that has "Biblical" messages and "testimonies" in it once a month. Besides the "testimonies" there are not given any names as to who wrote the article. They only refer you back to an earlier publication when "showing proof" as to what has been written. Now they will point you to Scripture, sometimes from their translation, but an author is never mentioned. Why? So that person cannot be held accountable for their their writing. When you read their "quoting" of Scripture it may seem a bit odd to you as it is from their translation, which you can (for the most part) only get from them.
If we as true followers of Christ quote someone or say something that has been "taught" us by the Holy Spirit then we best be able to give a reference whether it be from the Bible or someone else. And if it is from someone else we should also be able to back it up Biblically. If we cannot back up what someone else said Biblically then we should take a better look at what they said.
As for quoting someone and not giving them credit or not backing up your statements with the Bible I just have one interesting fact. There is a world wide publication that has "Biblical" messages and "testimonies" in it once a month. Besides the "testimonies" there are not given any names as to who wrote the article. They only refer you back to an earlier publication when "showing proof" as to what has been written. Now they will point you to Scripture, sometimes from their translation, but an author is never mentioned. Why? So that person cannot be held accountable for their their writing. When you read their "quoting" of Scripture it may seem a bit odd to you as it is from their translation, which you can (for the most part) only get from them.
If we as true followers of Christ quote someone or say something that has been "taught" us by the Holy Spirit then we best be able to give a reference whether it be from the Bible or someone else. And if it is from someone else we should also be able to back it up Biblically. If we cannot back up what someone else said Biblically then we should take a better look at what they said.
E
Thank you but, me? Shoot I wrote the OP on paper a week before I posted it. I reread it many times and rewrote it three times before God would "allow" me to post it. No this wasn't me for sure and I can take no credit for it.
In fact I would have continued the arguments if God would not have stopped my hands. No this was not me by any means.
I am not saying I am some great "teacher" or anything but I do believe God is the one who gave me the OP.
In fact I would have continued the arguments if God would not have stopped my hands. No this was not me by any means.
I am not saying I am some great "teacher" or anything but I do believe God is the one who gave me the OP.
I think it has been a fruitful discussion thread. Even if it did get derailed, by people like me. For which I apologize.
I don't even post the authors I read, because there would probably be objections to each one of them, but from differing camps. I like to read everything about a topic, compare it to the Bible, and form my own opinions once I have become educated as to the issues which come up from each topic.
Of course, I do pray and ask the Holy Spirit to reveal the truth, recognizing that I am an imperfect vessel and I do sometimes get things wrong. And then depend upon God to correct me in various ways. A journey and a process, I always say!
I don't even post the authors I read, because there would probably be objections to each one of them, but from differing camps. I like to read everything about a topic, compare it to the Bible, and form my own opinions once I have become educated as to the issues which come up from each topic.
Of course, I do pray and ask the Holy Spirit to reveal the truth, recognizing that I am an imperfect vessel and I do sometimes get things wrong. And then depend upon God to correct me in various ways. A journey and a process, I always say!
Why the Prophets Need Each Other
1 Cor 14:29
Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the other judge.
1 Kings 19: 14
And he said, I have been very jealous for the LORD God of hosts: because the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.
The spiritual environment the prophet enters today, as in Elijah’s time, is not one of peace and harmony among the people of God: but of rebellion, witchcraft, and violence. The clear word of God and His covenant through the Lord Jesus Christ is forsaken, the prophets are attacked and slain, and our mourning for the lost demonstration of the righteousness of God through Christ to be seen among His people takes firm hold upon us.
We are driven by fear, and that not alone for our own selves should we fail to deliver the warning message: but for the multitudes we know who will turn aside to religious fables, believing the lie, rejecting the truth, to their own destruction. And we may not stop.
The prophet Elijah knew the loneliness of prophetic ministry, and it is no less true for ourselves. He knew it entailed threat upon us of our very lives, for we know we are nothing without the life of God working in us. He also experienced attack from major evil in the darkest quarters of the enemy’s arsenal: false accusation, deliberate misinterpretation, manipulation, hatred, threat of death, and trouble on every side.
We are brought through difficulties of all kinds so that we may minister to those who have need, according to our testimony of the true and wonderful power of God, which is given us according to His certain promises. And this power is maligned, despised, dismembered and finally rejected, by those who believe they are doing God a service.
What can be done for the doubtful and unbelieving in this day, whose rejection of the truth of God causes them to teeter upon the cliff edge of delusion? Shall we propel them forwards into their early destiny? Or shall we reason with them who we know will be unable to help themselves from falling forwards into that swirling lie of the enemy’s making from which there is no return, if they do not repent?
Know that for us, there is comfort in our gathering, the sure counsel of God in our unity, correction for our excesses and deviations from the simplicity which is in Christ, as we reason and admonish each other together in the Holy Ghost.
Let them who reject His counsel do as they please, for God will not violate their free will. They will have recompense who trouble us, as the Lord has promised, and this is their just reward.
This is no time to be hiding in the cave of depression, despondency and despair. We who will work, while it is still “today”, let us work: acceptably in the Lord, remembering we are brethren who have not bowed the knee to all that baal signifies in these last days.
2 Thess 1
6 Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you;
7 And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels,
8 In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:
9 Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;
10 When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day.
1 Cor 14:29
Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the other judge.
1 Kings 19: 14
And he said, I have been very jealous for the LORD God of hosts: because the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.
The spiritual environment the prophet enters today, as in Elijah’s time, is not one of peace and harmony among the people of God: but of rebellion, witchcraft, and violence. The clear word of God and His covenant through the Lord Jesus Christ is forsaken, the prophets are attacked and slain, and our mourning for the lost demonstration of the righteousness of God through Christ to be seen among His people takes firm hold upon us.
We are driven by fear, and that not alone for our own selves should we fail to deliver the warning message: but for the multitudes we know who will turn aside to religious fables, believing the lie, rejecting the truth, to their own destruction. And we may not stop.
The prophet Elijah knew the loneliness of prophetic ministry, and it is no less true for ourselves. He knew it entailed threat upon us of our very lives, for we know we are nothing without the life of God working in us. He also experienced attack from major evil in the darkest quarters of the enemy’s arsenal: false accusation, deliberate misinterpretation, manipulation, hatred, threat of death, and trouble on every side.
We are brought through difficulties of all kinds so that we may minister to those who have need, according to our testimony of the true and wonderful power of God, which is given us according to His certain promises. And this power is maligned, despised, dismembered and finally rejected, by those who believe they are doing God a service.
What can be done for the doubtful and unbelieving in this day, whose rejection of the truth of God causes them to teeter upon the cliff edge of delusion? Shall we propel them forwards into their early destiny? Or shall we reason with them who we know will be unable to help themselves from falling forwards into that swirling lie of the enemy’s making from which there is no return, if they do not repent?
Know that for us, there is comfort in our gathering, the sure counsel of God in our unity, correction for our excesses and deviations from the simplicity which is in Christ, as we reason and admonish each other together in the Holy Ghost.
Let them who reject His counsel do as they please, for God will not violate their free will. They will have recompense who trouble us, as the Lord has promised, and this is their just reward.
This is no time to be hiding in the cave of depression, despondency and despair. We who will work, while it is still “today”, let us work: acceptably in the Lord, remembering we are brethren who have not bowed the knee to all that baal signifies in these last days.
2 Thess 1
6 Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you;
7 And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels,
8 In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:
9 Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;
10 When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day.
T
Jesus told us what we need to do already.
Here is what he said:
25 On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
26 “What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?”
27 He answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’[a]; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’[b]”
28 “You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.”
29 But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”
30 In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. 31 A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. 32 So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33 But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. 34 He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. 35 The next day he took out two denarii[c] and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’
36 “Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?”
37 The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.”
Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.” Luke 10:25-37
Also, this was Reiterated by Paul:
"13 If I speak in the tongues[a] of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecyand can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 3 If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast,[b] but do not have love, I gain nothing.
4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
8Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10 but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. 11 When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. 12 For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.
13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love." 1 Corinthians chapter 13
We need to Love God with all our heart, and love our neighbor as ourselves. These simple words of Jesus hold such meaning. I believe this is what we need to follow.
Here is what he said:
25 On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
26 “What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?”
27 He answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’[a]; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’[b]”
28 “You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.”
29 But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”
30 In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. 31 A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. 32 So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33 But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. 34 He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. 35 The next day he took out two denarii[c] and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’
36 “Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?”
37 The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.”
Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.” Luke 10:25-37
Also, this was Reiterated by Paul:
"13 If I speak in the tongues[a] of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecyand can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 3 If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast,[b] but do not have love, I gain nothing.
4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
8Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10 but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. 11 When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. 12 For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.
13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love." 1 Corinthians chapter 13
We need to Love God with all our heart, and love our neighbor as ourselves. These simple words of Jesus hold such meaning. I believe this is what we need to follow.