Acknowledging His Will..
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Most who suffer from a lack of self-control pray that God would change them. Isn't this asking that God would strip them of their sense of free will? Of course, it is . . . yet only very few believe in being "controlled by the Spirit."
For example: When being completely over-taken by alcholism, I would ask, beg, and even demand that God change me. What I didn't understand is that I was being controlled by the mind of the Devil, thus I couldn't change my own life. Yes, controlled by the Devil . . . and still, where was my sense of free will at that point?
And then, after being Powerfully Indwelt by the Spirit, I began to be controlled by the Spirit and my life events were ordained, forcing me to change. So, whether it was before or after my Indwelling, I was controlled by either the Devil or by the Spirit . . . and there are no other options. The Bible is clear: We are either controlled by the Curse of the Lord (the Sinful Nature) or we are set free of that Curse, thus controlled by the Spirit of the Lord. One way or another, we are controlled.
Romans 8:5, 9 NLT - "Those who are dominated by the sinful nature think about sinful things, but those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit think about things that please the Spirit." ... 9 "But you are not controlled by your sinful nature. You are controlled by the Spirit if you have the Spirit of God living in you. (And remember that those who do not have the Spirit of Christ living in them do not belong to him at all.)"
And to those who refuse to believe the above passages, good luck to you.
For example: When being completely over-taken by alcholism, I would ask, beg, and even demand that God change me. What I didn't understand is that I was being controlled by the mind of the Devil, thus I couldn't change my own life. Yes, controlled by the Devil . . . and still, where was my sense of free will at that point?
And then, after being Powerfully Indwelt by the Spirit, I began to be controlled by the Spirit and my life events were ordained, forcing me to change. So, whether it was before or after my Indwelling, I was controlled by either the Devil or by the Spirit . . . and there are no other options. The Bible is clear: We are either controlled by the Curse of the Lord (the Sinful Nature) or we are set free of that Curse, thus controlled by the Spirit of the Lord. One way or another, we are controlled.
Romans 8:5, 9 NLT - "Those who are dominated by the sinful nature think about sinful things, but those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit think about things that please the Spirit." ... 9 "But you are not controlled by your sinful nature. You are controlled by the Spirit if you have the Spirit of God living in you. (And remember that those who do not have the Spirit of Christ living in them do not belong to him at all.)"
And to those who refuse to believe the above passages, good luck to you.
Yes? I'm still not seeing "no free will" in the OP.
When one submits their will to another, does that mean they never had their own will?
I know people use the term free will, though I prefer the term self will.
One's will can either be aligned with God's will, or be opposed to God's will.
Some believe they have no choice but to believe, obey and submit,
and others believe they made, and continue to make, that choice.
When one submits their will to another, does that mean they never had their own will?
I know people use the term free will, though I prefer the term self will.
One's will can either be aligned with God's will, or be opposed to God's will.
Some believe they have no choice but to believe, obey and submit,
and others believe they made, and continue to make, that choice.
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A person submitting to another person is at human level (and is never a "True" submission or sense of ownership." Spiritually, our father is either the Devil or the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. There is no other Biblical option. We are either controlled by the Devil or the Spirit. Again, there is no other Biblical option.
John 8:44 NKJV - 44 "You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it."
The Purpose and Work of Christ are to release us of that "fatherhood" only to be brought to the Fatherhood of our Creator.
John 8:44 NKJV - 44 "You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it."
The Purpose and Work of Christ are to release us of that "fatherhood" only to be brought to the Fatherhood of our Creator.
J
One day, long ago, I was at a church for the first time. After the service I went up for prayer. As I stood there, it was like another reality, I think a spiritual reality, was sorta like superimposed over the floor. About 10 or so feet in front of me I saw what looked like a little, round shrub. There appeared to be fire swirling around in it.
All of a sudden, I was engulfed in my Father's presence. I knew that He knew everything I'd ever done, everything I'd ever do, and that He knew all of my secrets, and yet He accepted me and loved me unconditionally. This was the best day of my life...the day I met my Father.
Is this what you mean, Timothy?
All of a sudden, I was engulfed in my Father's presence. I knew that He knew everything I'd ever done, everything I'd ever do, and that He knew all of my secrets, and yet He accepted me and loved me unconditionally. This was the best day of my life...the day I met my Father.
Is this what you mean, Timothy?
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I LOVE the word "engulfed" that you used. For me, I was engulfed in the Raw, Almighty Power of God to the point that if I had felt more, I would have at minimum been physically altered, somehow. I was so engulfed in Power that I had to gasp to breathe, and had I died from a lack of oxygen, I would have died with the most incredible expression of joy and happiness on my face. It was this day that I realized how much I was NOT under the control of the Spirit, but under the control of the Devil, or, the Sinful Nature. Yes, that day I realized many, many things. In fact, I did not realize all that I had learned until specific moments in time had come along so as to reveal what I had been granted to know and understand. I had been given certain understandings, but until certain events came along, I did not realize what I had been given.
More than likely, that "day" for you . . . you had received the Circumcision of Christ. Circumcision is equated to Understanding. Knowledge is equated to the Spirit. Wisdom is equated to a direct relationship with God. It sounds as though you have been placed onto a legitimate plane of viewing life in accordance to the Spiritual Realm. Congratulations! You are likely one of the few that has actually crossed over from death to Life.
More than likely, that "day" for you . . . you had received the Circumcision of Christ. Circumcision is equated to Understanding. Knowledge is equated to the Spirit. Wisdom is equated to a direct relationship with God. It sounds as though you have been placed onto a legitimate plane of viewing life in accordance to the Spiritual Realm. Congratulations! You are likely one of the few that has actually crossed over from death to Life.
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A person submits to God also. Yes? Or no? 
I have designed a panel today you may like
2 Corinthians 3:13-15~ We are not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face to keep the Israelites from gazing at the end of what was fading away. But their minds were closed. For to this day the same veil remains at the reading of the old covenant. It has not been lifted, because only in Christ can it be removed. And even to this day when Moses is read, a veil covers their hearts. But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away.
I have designed a panel today you may like
2 Corinthians 3:13-15~ We are not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face to keep the Israelites from gazing at the end of what was fading away. But their minds were closed. For to this day the same veil remains at the reading of the old covenant. It has not been lifted, because only in Christ can it be removed. And even to this day when Moses is read, a veil covers their hearts. But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away.
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A person submits to God also. Yes? Or no?
I have designed a panel today you may like
I have designed a panel today you may like
John 9:39 NKJV - "And Jesus said, "For judgment I have come into this world, that those who do not see may see, and that those who see may be made blind."
Once Spiritual blindness (being controlled by the Devil) has been lifted, a person will automatically gravitate towards Life. Hence, there really is no choice.
If a person wants to live, they will follow the route that has a bridge that crosses a canyon. But Spiritual blindness causes a person to follow the path that has no bridge (to cross the canyon). Once a person has experienced Life, as the person has referenced above), what appears or seems to be like choice or decision is actually the Drawing of the Spirit.
And, I'm sorry if I sound like a "know it all" but these are things that I have simply been granted to know and experience. Again, I am very sorry for sounding as though I possess no humility. Like Paul, I hardly know how to express these things without making others angry . . . just as Paul experienced made evident by his eventually being murdered.
Well, like the rest of us, I'm still on the road to our final destination. Then I'll sigh with relief and celebrate. It's gonna be a blast, and we'll all be there. And there will be no more goodbyes!
Here is the answer:
Colossians 2:11 NLT - 11 "When you came to Christ, you were "circumcised," but not by a physical procedure. Christ performed a spiritual circumcision--the cutting away of your sinful nature."
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J
A person submits to God also. Yes? Or no?
I have designed a panel today you may like
2 Corinthians 3:13-15~ We are not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face to keep the Israelites from gazing at the end of what was fading away. But their minds were closed. For to this day the same veil remains at the reading of the old covenant. It has not been lifted, because only in Christ can it be removed. And even to this day when Moses is read, a veil covers their hearts. But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away.
I have designed a panel today you may like
2 Corinthians 3:13-15~ We are not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face to keep the Israelites from gazing at the end of what was fading away. But their minds were closed. For to this day the same veil remains at the reading of the old covenant. It has not been lifted, because only in Christ can it be removed. And even to this day when Moses is read, a veil covers their hearts. But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away.
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