Fear Rules Christianity - True or False?

[MA2444]

Before we go any further, Mark 16 ends in verse 8…..the rest is a spurious addition implying that snake handlers will incur no harm because of the operation of God’s spirit or the ingestion of poison will do no harm either. Christians have died because of believing this. It is completely outside of anything that Jesus taught.

Yes, I have heard about the dissention of the last few verses of Mark. But I have always had some spiritual common sense. I pray Psalm 91 over myself and my property every day, and because I have confidence in the Lord....I dont go play on the freeway thinking that the Lord would save me, lol! And I dont like snakes so I dont handle them or keep them as pets (LOL) or anything like that. I cant speak for thse who do, but I friend and Brother in Christ that I know did a short stint in prison and whie he was there another inmate tried to kill him and added bleach to his coffee. Then after he drank it laughed in his face and told him he was going to die. But he walked with the Lord so he never had any reaction to the beach whatsoever. That's not the same thing as drinking bleach in church to show off, or snake handling in chrch to show off. Those people are nuts.

I suppose he is lying about it? I dont think so, he was sounding very sincere and credible to me, so I'll praise the Lord along with him.

And what about Paul who got shipwrecked and got bit by a snake as he added wood to the fire? He didnt die. They knew he would die, but it didnt affect him at all. Is that spurious also? I dont think so.

 

[MA2444]

What are you missing here…? The power of the holy spirit was imparted by Jesus to his apostles, just as God had imparted his spirit to Jesus at his baptism. All they had to do was use his name, showing that no power came from them.

The ability to impart the holy spirit to others came at Pentecost, when God’s spirit was poured out on the disciples gathered in an upper room. The spirit empowered them to perform miracles without Jesus’ presence. And the laying on of hands to impart the spirit was done only by the apostles. So when the apostles died, the gifts died with them, no longer necessary to draw people to Christianity. It was well established now, and the preaching work was the most important work that they were told to do after Jesus death and resurrection. (Matt 28:19-20; Matt 24:14)

Umm, yeah, I dont subscribe to that that line of thinking. I dont believe that miracles ever ceased. They may have become few and far between for awhile for God's own purposes? I just dont know. What I do know is that miracles are real and from the real Almighty God. So we can agree to disagree on that.

If miracles ceased with the disciples, then why is the statement made in scripture, I will never leave you or forsake you? That would seem to be an odd statement to make if there were no miracles.

I know what you “believe“, but I see those things very differently.
Who is discharged from hospital with a hip dislocation untreated? Is that what your medical system does? And this remained for how long? Yet you could still “hobble”? I doubt you can even walk at all with such an injury.

Sadly, that is our medical system.
And when I said I would hobble back and forth to the bathroom, I didnt say it was easy for me, lol! My bathroom was directly acoss the hall from my bedroom, and it wasnt a 'quick trip to the loo'! I could (Barely) hobble. It was only by fortitude of spirit that I went to the bathroom instead of messing my bed!

Can the devil give you a false miracle? If it was a dislocation, sometimes they can go back into place on their own…..or satan could definitely do that trick and pretend it was God, to lead you into false beliefs. He masquerades as “an angel of light”, remember? Have you ever considered that?

I did consider that. I do believe that the devil can perform false miracles because scripture say he can. It did not go back back into place on its own. I can see that happening, but if you read my post very carefully, you will see that I said, I never felt any bone movement at all. So it didnt go into place on it's own.

What is the mission of the enemy? Steal/kill/destroy? What part of healing a Brother in Christ is steal/kill/destroy? It didnt steal my faith in (Jesus). Quite the opposite. My faith grew and was encouraged from the healing. I gave glory to (Jesus) for it.
If it was the enemy healing me (Lol), then we would be back to...I asked (Jesus) for healing and what sort of Father gives his son a serpent when he asks for a fish? Would (Jesus) do that? No mamn He would not. Where is your faith in the Lord?
Maybe it was one of those things that, you had to be there to believe.

Even sincerely held beliefs can be errors not yet understood in the light of Bible truth. We cannot trust our own understanding. (Prov 3:5)

Exactly. And what does our understanding tell us? Oh this is the age of deception it is probably a lie! And a childlike faith says...Thank you Lord....
I know very well tht it does not make a lot of sense what the Lord did for me. But that is how the Lord operates!
I asked, and so received.
I didnt ask for Him to send me a serpent and a lie!
He never left me or forsook me! It is true.

 

[MA2444]

There are philanthropists in the world you know…..these are sometimes Christians seeking to do good to their fellow man as Jesus instructed and that is commendable….but some are merely good humanitarians who have the means to help out the needy among them. It makes them feel good to just help out. The internet is filled with such people….have you never seen their videos?

Oh, you mean the $2400. I didnt believe it as it was happening! I thought the man was joking, lol. I didnt have a clue at the time. It was only after the Angel left that I was allowed to realize that, that was an Angel of the Lord.

I have seen many of those testimony videos of this sort! One lady was 4300 hundred dollare and change behind in her mortagage and was about to lose her home to forclosure. She didnt have near that much money, soshe prayed and asked God for His help. Amen, then went on her day. At lunchtime she was in a restaurant eating lunch with a (co-worker?) and a stranger walked up to their table and looked at them and handed the woman who was behind in her mortagage an envelop and said, the Lord asked me to give you this, and he did then turned and walked away quickly. She opened up the envelope and it contained cash money in it down to the exact penny that she needed to save her home! Down to the penny! And no more. She cried.

Maybe that was a demon too hey? Lol! People are not like that mamn. Maybe 10 people in the world, with 4 grand to spare! Lol! Not in my neighbrohood! Ye have not because ye ask not, and it was her home on her heart whe she prayed to the Lord God and asked for help with it. So that's what she got, down to the penny! I believe that testimony. I have other money testimony's that I have never spoken of here or recounted. The Lord has given me money before too. Besides the 2400.

You see, it is the Lord that helps, that never leaves us or forsakes us.
It is the enemy who promises much and never delivers.
Satan didnt give that lady 4300 dollars! Lol! That was real. That was the Lord. Praise God!

It is not the people that help each other n a philanthropic manner. It is the Lord working through those people to do His work through them. That's how God works Sister! AM I right or am I right?! So it can truthfully be said, that was the Lord. That WAS the Lord! It is the LORD!

 

[Wrangler]

A fruit of God’s spirit is ”self control” so we cannot resort to violence even when provoked.

Nonsense! Gun control is self control and means hitting your target.

Resorting to violence when provoked is the way. See Christ upturning tables and whipping people.

 

[Wrangler]

No. I hit him once. and the next time we spoke to eaxh other was when I got home and He began apologizing to me.

He was convicted - as he should have been.

In today's devotional reading, I came across Ex 21:15 Whoever strikes father or mother shall be put to death. There is no such equality when the striking is the other way around. This implies parents, including you, have discretion of using violence against your children. And you used your discretion. Case closed.

 

[MA2444]

You can read things into these experiences and interpret them as miracles, but I see them very differently. Why would God seek only you out of millions to receive his “minor miracles” whilst ignoring so many others who are apparently much worse off than yourself? Why you? Why not them? Why do bad things happen to good people? Why does God not prevent their tragedies and suffering? Where are their miracles? Is God somehow up there in heaven deciding whether to perform his ‘miracles’ on some but not others….what could be his criteria, do you think?

All very good questions. And I think I have answers to them.

WHy would God seek out little old nobody me to recieve blessings from Him?
Easy. He didnt. I was seeking Him with all of my heart. Iwas reading the word like a Berean, and praying like a Jesus Freak! ...and all these things shall be added unto you. The fact that I was seeking Him, and putting my trust into Him (Literally), and having d=faith and obeying Him to the best I could, and then I also asked Him for the help, with my whole heart! Iwas scared! I've never been homeless before! So the Lord responded to my faith and supplications. He didnt seek me out for this, I sought Him.

Matthew 6:25-34
33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you..../KJV

Have you ever read about the time that the Lord delivered to my house 2 pounds of gourmet coffee from Hawaii? I've posted it a few times because it is my favorit miracle that the Lord did for me. Not the biggest miracle, my favorite. I thought about praying for help because I had company on the way over and had no coffee to serve the man! I was about to pray for help, but I remembered that passage in Matthew, the Lord knows our needs before we ask, dont worry about what you will eat or drink...so I decided, huh, I dont have to pray about this and ask for help, so I did not pray and ask for it. I unwittingly held faith in His scripture that says, dont worry about it! And it was that faith that I held to in His word that made the Lord respd and I had more coffee knocking on my door in less than 30 minutes!

And who am I? That the Almighty Lord should have delivered coffee to me when I was out? I am nobody! I am not Paul, I am not Billy Graham! I'm just a nobody heating & A/C Technician, lol! And He did it anyway because I held faith in His word.

That illustrates a very good point. All these so called minor miracles that He does for me, is "Normal Christianity" and if it is available to Edward the nobody, then it is available for you too, and everyone. Just keep pressing in to Him. Seek Him, obey Him. Obey His word. Be a does ad not just a hearer...and these things shall be added unto you.

Glory to God's Name forever and ever for who He is!

He answerd the prayer that I did not pray! That is about Twilight Zone as it gets!
Besides, after the Lord has done for you a "minor" (LOL) miracle, He will always give a confirmation that it was really Him. But you do have to pay attention because the confirmation will come from who knows where this time? So ay attention and ask for confirmation, a lot!

Was that you Lord? Is that you? Please show me.
I know, it makes me sound like a weirdo, not even a Jesus Freak, but a Super Jesus Freak! That's ok, the Lord said that would happen also.

But consider this: Believe in your heart and act out in faith...so the ball is the Lord's court now! What will He do? WIll He do? Do you doubt? Ill tell you a secret. Doubt always leads to disobedience.
Disobediance is not rewarded, so there is the answer to why many (most?) people do not see even minor miracles, and they go through life suffering. In His mercy to them, He still wants to help them.

Am I reading too much into the Twilight Zone occurences that happen to me? I dont think so (I do know). But what did the Lord say in His word? Lean not to your logical understanding, become as a little child and simply Believe, and trust.

The Lord has proven His trustworthiness to me. So I like to push the edge of the envelope of faith and walk in more and more faith. I am learining. (Lord help my unbelief!) . He is helping me to grow my faith. Oh yes He is! And it is not easy at times. He puts me into seemingly unconquerable situations that seem hopeless and I dont know what to do...so I turn to Him and say, Lord I dont know what your doing here, but I trust you so will watch how it turns out...(Amen). And that is walking in faith. And so He responds and something weird at the last minute changes the whole situation ad turns it to good, to a blessing instead of crisis! Truth. Last minute never late.

 

[MA2444]

Why do bad things happen to good people? Why does God not prevent their tragedies and suffering? Where are their miracles? Is God somehow up there in heaven deciding whether to perform his ‘miracles’ on some but not others….what could be his criteria, do you think?

Dont want to forget these questions.

One word. "disobedince". No one is perfect. And actually at times the Lord allows bad things to happen (just as He did with Job) to test their faith in Him. See How they react. For most people when life is being good to them, they dont need God so drift away from Him to their pleasures. People even develop pride and want to take credit for their accomplishments themselves, myself included! I had everything (except the Lord). I had a beautiful family, my own successful Business, a home with my family and many friends....I was so proud of myself for accomplishing thse things...and the Lord got tired of waiting on me. So He had to (allow) my life to be chopped down, just like Jobs, but none of my kids died (PTL)

My life was turned around and chopped down in an instant. It was fast. In less than 1 year I lost everything...and still that wasnt enough for me, idiot that I am, lol. Instead of turning to the Lord, hey I just got divorced, I'm legal again to go chase women and I did. I can just see the Lord shaking his head at me. So because I still would not see, the Lord brought me before death and let me see it coming...and Then I did turn to Him! Help me Lord! I was doing 70 mph on the highway and felt an epileptic seizure coming on (first time I ever felt it coming!) The only thing I had time to do (I knew I would go unconscious within seconds) I spoke, Lord be with me! And He saved me from Death that day. I rolled my truck 3 times after hitting a tree head on and I would have died but I did not. I broke my back in 2 places...and still walk on my own, just as far any mor, lol. I dont know how that's possible. I always heard that if you break your back, your in a wheel chair! I am not. I cant explain it but it is true.

I had 4 months on my back in recovery to consider what happened that fateful day. And I felt blessed by the Lord to be alive! I owe Him my life! I would have died in my sins and been condemned, but I reached out to Him, and He saved me, so I better treat this very seriously! And boom, I'm a Berean with the word now. I pray constantly, thanking Him! and after a period of time...He decided to help me grow again, spiritually and Blessing me with minor miracles and Blessings, Praise the Lord it is real! He is real. And so picking up my cross and seeking Him and pressing in daily...He began Blessing me daily. This is normal Christianity I learned. When we do not obey His word, it is the same as if we turned our back to Him and walked away. I did not, so I see these things happen and am rewrde for my obediance both now and in the life to come. Part of that obedience reward is coming under His protection. Those who do not see miracles in their own life, are holding back in disobedience of something in His word. So they will not have His protection. God wont infringe on their free will to do as they choose, and they bring trouble upon themselves in their disobedience, and suffer the consequences of it.

That is why. Some things the Lord will do for a disobediant people out of mercy and compassion for them. His hands are tied because of their free will, they made the choices that brought themselves suffering. So He does it in other ways...
Do you believe that the Lord has given cures and medicines to the medical community?
Of course He has. WHy if He can heal them in an instant?
Their free will drifted them away from obedience. But still, they suffer and have pains from it. So in the Lord's compassion for them, since they wont turn to Him yet, here is some medicines to ease your pain at least.

 

[MatthewG]

Bad dog!

To the basement with you.

[

Why do you believe it is that way?

That doesn't make sense to me... I thought a parent looks out for the good of their children, by allowing them to know the wrong which they are dabbling in... Its not much about sin, as it is the heart of the individual.

I mean, it wouldn't make much sense to say... I love God, but then I go and have sex with my neighbor's wife, would it? Or I love God, but I don't love that one person who messed me over that one time, and I hope for their car to die or their house to be set on fire?

Would it?

Hope to hear back.

 

[MatthewG]

He was convicted - as he should have been.

In today's devotional reading, I came across Ex 21:15 Whoever strikes father or mother shall be put to death. There is no such equality when the striking is the other way around. This implies parents, including you, have discretion of using violence against your children. And you used your discretion. Case closed.

View attachment 50568

That is literally what they did. And by the time Jesus Christ arrived on the scene, all the Jewish people worshipped the Law, basically becoming Ha'Satan.

Against the holy spirit.

 

[Wrangler]

basically becoming Ha'Satan.

Huh?

 

[MatthewG]

Huh?

You never heard of Israel being Ha'Satan before? Im not talking about Israel today... it doesn't mean anything to me, nor should it really to any one whom is a believer in the Lord Yeshua. That material place doesn't mean anything at all... so many people continue to be fooled by religion and religious traditions.

 

[Aunty Jane]

@MA2444 As I said from the beginning....I could not ever doubt your sincerity.....and you have certainly had more than your fair share of troubles, but so have many others who are praying as you did....sincerely and from their heart.
Why does God not answer their prayers? If they are asking as fervently as you did?

Parents praying for a child or someone praying for their mate, suffering with cancer....one who has had to endure not only the disease, but the horrendous treatments that go with it. Why does God not give them the same miracle as he apparently gave you?

Umm, yeah, I dont subscribe to that that line of thinking. I dont believe that miracles ever ceased. They may have become few and far between for awhile for God's own purposes? I just dont know. What I do know is that miracles are real and from the real Almighty God. So we can agree to disagree on that.

We certainly can, as we have very different perspectives.....and very different views on why miracles happened at all, and what their purpose was. Were miracles part of God’s original plan for the human race?

If miracles ceased with the disciples, then why is the statement made in scripture, I will never leave you or forsake you? That would seem to be an odd statement to make if there were no miracles.

No, they ceased with the apostles, not just the disciples. Paul was the one who told us why the miracles had to cease....because they attracted the wrong kind of people.....those interested in what God could do for them, rather than what they could do for God. Spiritual babies.

This is why there was a great falling away that began to corrupt Christianity from the first century onward.
Only those who had faith like the apostles would survive with their faith intact....it was under those circumstances that God promised never to forsake his worshippers.....Jesus told them that they must “endure to the end” in order to be “saved”. (Matt 24:13) “Saved” from what?
What endurance is required if we are depending on miracles to sustain our faith. It is faith without miracles that is the real one.

It was also prophesied that the devil would sow a counterfeit “Christianity” that would mimic aspects of the Christian Faith, but which would draw people away from God rather than to him. They would create doctrines that God’s word never mentioned, and graft them into Scripture as if they originated from there....just like the Jews did, influenced by the same devil. (Matt 15:7-9; John 8:44) History repeats because the devil can count on our short memory, and our sinful state....loving the comfortable lie rather than living the uncomfortable truth.

Most of what Christendom believes is not Bible teaching at all. But the devil sowed his “weeds” so long ago that no one really knows the truth anymore....no one except those to whom God reveals it. (John 6:44; 65) And yes, that is his choice, whilst we are living our own choices. We are telling God every day who we are, and how obedient we can be to him in the face of adversity and persecution.

I do believe that the devil can perform false miracles because scripture say he can.

And he has used them for millennia. Because he is a convincing mimic, people fall for the “feel good” kind of Christianity that we see divided up in the world into all manner of denominations, yet all claiming to be one brotherhood. Does the Christ exist divided? He does in Christendom (and I use that term to describe all who follow the same foundational beliefs, but who teach them very differently to their followers.)

Denominationalism is not Christianity because there is no agreement except in principle on the basic foundation of their faith....a foundation of beliefs, not found in God’s word, even though people are taught that they are. All must be in agreement and have “one Lord, one faith, one baptism”......is that the reality? (1 Cor 1:10) What is God seeing?
Unity is what results from the leading of God’s spirit.....disunity is evidence of its absence.

What is the mission of the enemy? Steal/kill/destroy? What part of healing a Brother in Christ is steal/kill/destroy? It didnt steal my faith in (Jesus). Quite the opposite. My faith grew and was encouraged from the healing. I gave glory to (Jesus) for it.

The devil’s mission is to deceive.....it is the deception that will lead to the foretold ‘destruction’ of those fooled by him....they gladly embrace the delusion they themselves have created. (2 Thess 2:9-12)....and Jesus tells us plainly that these will be in the majority (Matt 7:13-14)....why is that so? What are the majority missing in their faith that will result in Jesus’ rejection? (Matt 7:21-23) The truth.

If it was the enemy healing me (Lol), then we would be back to...I asked (Jesus) for healing and what sort of Father gives his son a serpent when he asks for a fish? Would (Jesus) do that? No mamn He would not. Where is your faith in the Lord?

My “faith in the Lord” is “knowing” who he is, and “knowing” the one who “sent” him. (John 17:3)
If we get that wrong, nothing else matters.

I believe that satan has created a false god who masquerades as the real one, leading people down the wrong road.....deception is his prime tactic and it has meant great success for him, because it will result in showing him where we are willing to put our trust....we will not be sidetracked by things that are an altered reality for some.

And what does our understanding tell us? Oh this is the age of deception it is probably a lie! And a childlike faith says...Thank you Lord....

A “child-like faith” is certainly what is required....but what does “child-like” mean in real terms? What is there about children that makes them humble, teachable and meek? All these are qualities that God is looking for in his worshippers. Children are a blank canvas...they have no preconceived ideas to fight with what their parents want to teach them. They accept what is taught to them without argument. But as children grow into adults, their own reasoning ability can cancel out everything they were taught as children.....the devil counts on that, especially when he can hook into each individual’s weak points. He knows us better than we know ourselves....the easiest person on the planet to fool is ourselves.

I know very well tht it does not make a lot of sense what the Lord did for me. But that is how the Lord operates!
I asked, and so received.
I didnt ask for Him to send me a serpent and a lie!
He never left me or forsook me! It is true.

I can see why you believe this way, and no one will be able to convince you otherwise, but at least you have heard an alternate view, and the readers here will have something to chew over....in a world ruled by a master deceiver, nothing will be as it seems. Black will appear to be white and vice versa......the lies will look like truth...and the truth like lies. He’s good at it.

It is not the people that help each other n a philanthropic manner. It is the Lord working through those people to do His work through them.

Some of this world’s most generous humanitarians are atheists....and I guess God could use them to do good to others and at times that could be the way God works. But Christians are to help one another and he does provide help at the right time when we face adversity, but he will not prevent the adversity because we need to stand on our own feet, having trained ourselves to put on the spiritual armour that God provides. (Eph 6:11) We all have to have the same faith as Job.....his “miracles” came after he successfully passed his test. But they were not “miracles” in the sense that Jesus performed them. They were blessings in that Job regained all that he had lost...with bonuses. (Job 42:12-17) This too will be the case with Christ’s faithful followers. (Rev 21:2-3)

I can do nothing but wish you well.....thank you for sharing your experiences....I believe I know you much better now.

AJ

 

[Berean]

Did you know that Buddhism claimed miracles?
That was news to me.

As 2 Corinthians 11:14 tells us "And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light."

 

[MA2444]

@MA2444 As I said from the beginning....I could not ever doubt your sincerity.....and you have certainly had more than your fair share of troubles, but so have many others who are praying as you did....sincerely and from their heart.
Why does God not answer their prayers? If they are asking as fervently as you did?

Parents praying for a child or someone praying for their mate, suffering with cancer....one who has had to endure not only the disease, but the horrendous treatments that go with it. Why does God not give them the same miracle as he apparently gave you?

I am almost positive that the reason is Disobedience. They have sin in their lives, perhaps a lot of sin? Doubt brings Disobediance, that is fact. I was freshly saved and filled with Gratitude toards God for saving my life. I owed Him and it brought everything to the surface. I began reading His word as I am instructed to do. I began praying very much more than I used to. And not just when I needed Him to save me. I stopped sinning. Or at least, I cut a lot of things out of my life in an effort to be serious and obey the Lord like I had never done before...?? So my pressing in efforts brought me Blessings from the Lord.

Because of unrepentant sin in their life. It is a condition of the heart. Maybe they wouldnt have got cancer in the first place if they had the Lord in their life? I am 62 and I dont have any health problems. Oh I have back problems (but I'm alive!) but basically, I am fairly healthy. Sometimes God heals these people out of His compassion for them and to try to turn them to Him. But He looks at the heart and decides for Himself if healing that unrepentant person would turn them towards Him so that they ask for forgiveness and receive Jesus as their Lord.

We certainly can, as we have very different perspectives.....and very different views on why miracles happened at all, and what their purpose was. Were miracles part of God’s original plan for the human race?

Good question...and I dont think so...? He had a plan for all mankind, I know that, but when His enemy snuck into His field and sowed tares into the Lord's creation...there was a change in plan, I;'ll say that. The Lord is such that, there is no way He had it planned for so much suffering and disease to be upon His people. That was the enemies work.

No, they ceased with the apostles, not just the disciples. Paul was the one who told us why the miracles had to cease....because they attracted the wrong kind of people.....those interested in what God could do for them, rather than what they could do for God. Spiritual babies.

This is why there was a great falling away that began to corrupt Christianity from the first century onward.
Only those who had faith like the apostles would survive with their faith intact....it was under those circumstances that God promised never to forsake his worshippers.....Jesus told them that they must “endure to the end” in order to be “saved”. (Matt 24:13) “Saved” from what?
What endurance is required if we are depending on miracles to sustain our faith. It is faith without miracles that is the real one.

You do ask good questions!
I meant the Apostles. I said the Disciples, but I thought many people call the Apostles, Jesus's Disciples? Aplogies for the confusion there.

I don't depend on miracles to sustain my faith. Oh perhaps at first a little. SHow me Lord! But not now. It isnt about the miracles, it is about Jesus Himself. I dont want to be saved for what the Lord has, what He can give me...!! I want to be saved because I know that being able to dwell with Him, our Lord, in His very presence...is our real reward! Miracles are signs for the unbeliever and babes in Christ. He told me (we talked about this!) that He doesnt want to have to perform signs and miracles for every contact with His people, that He desires that we learn to become sensitive to His still small voice within us, and immediately obey. That there is a real war going on and sometimes time is of the essence when He speaks to us and gives us instructions. (It was time sensitive with me when He spoke audibly to me! That man needed help NOW. And I started asking questions like an idiot. WHy? What happened? Is he ok? (wastng time). So he gave me the that parental tone of doom and I realized when the Lord gives instructions, that there is only one good answer...Yes, Lord.

It was also prophesied that the devil would sow a counterfeit “Christianity” that would mimic aspects of the Christian Faith, but which would draw people away from God rather than to him. They would create doctrines that God’s word never mentioned, and graft them into Scripture as if they originated from there....just like the Jews did, influenced by the same devil. (Matt 15:7-9; John 8:44) History repeats because the devil can count on our short memory, and our sinful state....loving the comfortable lie rather than living the uncomfortable truth.

Most of what Christendom believes is not Bible teaching at all. But the devil sowed his “weeds” so long ago that no one really knows the truth anymore....no one except those to whom God reveals it. (John 6:44; 65) And yes, that is his choice, whilst we are living our own choices. We are telling God every day who we are, and how obedient we can be to him in the face of adversity and persecution.

He did, and is right now and people are eating it up. And it is not the Lord's gospel. (most of the reason I dont attend corporate churches any more.) But I am in Christ. The Christ is inside of me. The Holy Spirit is inside of me. Jesus says He does nothing or says nothing that He the Father doesnt say or He sees Him do, So the Father is present with me also! (That make sense?) (John 14:8-24).

We are the temple of the Holy Spirit now. We need not that any man should teach us. It is a definite exercise of faith to walk in the belief that, God the Father, God the son, and God the Holy Spirit, the Almighty God and creator of the Universe lives inside of me! This is real and not some fairy tale! So what I lack in not ging to a corporate church, I make up for with listening to Him directly inside of me, and He speaks. He surely does.

Why does no one believe this is true? It is written in His word very plainly. Lord help our Unbelief!

And he has used them for millennia. Because he is a convincing mimic, people fall for the “feel good” kind of Christianity that we see divided up in the world into all manner of denominations, yet all claiming to be one brotherhood. Does the Christ exist divided? He does in Christendom (and I use that term to describe all who follow the same foundational beliefs, but who teach them very differently to their followers.)

Denominationalism is not Christianity because there is no agreement except in principle on the basic foundation of their faith....a foundation of beliefs, not found in God’s word, even though people are taught that they are. All must be in agreement and have “one Lord, one faith, one baptism”......is that the reality? (1 Cor 1:10) What is God seeing?
Unity is what results from the leading of God’s spirit.....disunity is evidence of its absence.

Yes, satan is a good mimic and he has many counterfeits so we do have to be careful to (Continue) to pray for Widom & Understanding, and Discernment between good & evil, truth & error. And Lord, let me not decieve myself! I do this a lot. We have to spiritualize and get out from under the law finally. The answer is found on our knees.

I know! I cant tell you what Denomination I am, lol. I've sat in Baptist churches, SDA, Grace & faith churches, pentecostal, evangelical...what am I? I dont know! I listen for the good and keep it, I discard everything else that was said. (Is that you Lord?!)

The devil’s mission is to deceive.....it is the deception that will lead to the foretold ‘destruction’ of those fooled by him....they gladly embrace the delusion they themselves have created. (2 Thess 2:9-12)....and Jesus tells us plainly that these will be in the majority (Matt 7:13-14)....why is that so? What are the majority missing in their faith that will result in Jesus’ rejection? (Matt 7:21-23) The truth.

The enemies Mission, is to Steal/Kill/Destroy. His Primary Weapon is deception. And yes it is a very dangerous thig, deception. But Sister, if you cling to the Lord, and pray (unceasingly) to the Lord, he who asks for a fish, He will not give a serpent. The Lord is on our side. To not deceive myself in my walk with the Lord Jesus, deception of myself (believing the wrong thing!) is perhaps my greatest concern. So I have learned to choose my prayer words very carefully and always ask for the graces to not deceive myself...and I cant believe that is a deception. I did not ask for a serpent, I asked for Fish! Did God lie? Of course not! So even though I am a dummy slow learner like the rest of mankind, I take the Lord at His word with that which is written in scripture, and walk in it. Push the edge of the envelope in trust to my Lord. Does He let me down? Absolutely not. Unless I find out at the end that I was in deception because God lied and allowed me to eat serpent when I asked for Fish!

 

[MA2444]

A “child-like faith” is certainly what is required....but what does “child-like” mean in real terms? What is there about children that makes them humble, teachable and meek? All these are qualities that God is looking for in his worshippers. Children are a blank canvas...they have no preconceived ideas to fight with what their parents want to teach them. They accept what is taught to them without argument. But as children grow into adults, their own reasoning ability can cancel out everything they were taught as children.....the devil counts on that, especially when he can hook into each individual’s weak points. He knows us better than we know ourselves....the easiest person on the planet to fool is ourselves.

A child like faith is one where they dont need to understand everything to believe their father. The child says, are we there yet? And the dad says no it will be at least 3 more hours. The kid says oh ok. The kid doesnt say but why 3 hours? What takes that long blah blah blah. Kids dont do that. When kids play, The Floor Is Lava...that's it. That's the rules and the floor is lava, cant touch it or your out. Remember Miracle on 34th St? Believe! Seeing isnt believing, Believing is seeing...Let that one sink in!. Oh, you answered your own question, lol. They accept what is taught to them without argument. Without question. Once they grow into adults they learn a lot of preconceived ideas which draw them away from belief. God is no respecter of persons so if He heals one person He should heal them all...which doesnt agree with the entirety of scripture. He is no respecter of persons, but obedience is rewarded and disobedience is not rewarded.

So when I pray Psalm 91 over my life, I dont ask how can God make it so 1000 will die on my side and 10000 on my right hand, but it wont come near me...Like a huge bomb explodes very near me, all others will die and I will live? How does that happen? Can God really do that? I dont have to question the Lord with the "wisdom" of the world, lol. Either He can or He cant. And He says He can and since He is my Abba, I believe Him without explanation! There is my child like faith. And so, believing that, I wont stay home in fear, I will go ahead and walk in the world without fear and not worry about it. He said He will do it, so I'm good, period. If it is in His plan that I should die in that bomb, then it's still ok, absent from the body, present with the Lord, and that's ok too!

I can see why you believe this way, and no one will be able to convince you otherwise, but at least you have heard an alternate view, and the readers here will have something to chew over....in a world ruled by a master deceiver, nothing will be as it seems. Black will appear to be white and vice versa......the lies will look like truth...and the truth like lies. He’s good at it.

I fully realize that the things the Lord does for me is very much, Twilight Zone and unbelievable on it's face, lol. But what can I say? That's the Lord and what He has done for me and how. The wisdom of the world is not even as smart as the foolishness of God, so...I'll choose to believe God and His (foolishness) rather than the wisdom (LOL) of man. He warns us about that, Dont lean on your own understanding (because you will be wrong!). Belief is slightly different than faith. The term Belief has a connotation of action within it. We must make a choice to walk in the Twilight Zone of the Lord and not understand it. Now I know how Abraham felt! God told Him, you will have a son which will raise up a multitude of nations for you. But my Wife is 90 soe years old Lord, that's Twilight Zone. But He trusted the Lord and in return He did get that son! Ok Abraham, now take the son I have given you and slay him as a sacrice to me...
Pardon me, Lord? What?! If I kill him, where will my offspring come from?
Twilight Zone again...
But Abraham Chose to trust the Lord, so perhaps the Lord will raise him from the dead? I dont know but I will obey Lord, and He did obey. And so was Blessed for it.
That's a child like faith. A child like Belief. Abraham walked in it because he made the Choice to trust God without understanding. That is walking in faith, that is...Belief.
Can you imagine what Sarah thought and said when Abraham got home one day and said to her, the Lord told me to kill Issac as a sacrifice to Him...?? !!
I bet Sarah hit the roof! Are you nuts? No way! We cant do that! That would be stupid! (human wisdom!) Have you lost your mind.

It is a small step to chose to trust the Lord and to walk in His words without a human logical understanding and did it anyway. And the Lord stopped him of course. (whew!). It's a small step, but a hard step! He will ask you to walk in things that do not make any sense whatsoever. So what seemed like a black request, turned out to be the White request (right request!).

So if some of of what I have recounted sounds incredible, then good, I'm recounting it correctly!

Some of this world’s most generous humanitarians are atheists....and I guess God could use them to do good to others and at times that could be the way God works. But Christians are to help one another and he does provide help at the right time when we face adversity, but he will not prevent the adversity because we need to stand on our own feet, having trained ourselves to put on the spiritual armour that God provides. (Eph 6:11) We all have to have the same faith as Job.....his “miracles” came after he successfully passed his test. But they were not “miracles” in the sense that Jesus performed them. They were blessings in that Job regained all that he had lost...with bonuses. (Job 42:12-17) This too will be the case with Christ’s faithful followers. (Rev 21:2-3)

I can do nothing but wish you well.....thank you for sharing your experiences....I believe I know you much better now.

Well sure, I think that the Lord does that a lot. He can take other people's evil and turn it into good for you. God is a spirit and so being created in His image and likeness, I am a spirit also. Big problem though! No one has taught me how to live as a spirit being. Hey boy believe in what you can see or it aint real is what they taught. Now I have to start all over again learning how to live as as a spiritual being. And living as a spiritual being means I must discard all of the things of the world. The laws of Physics mean nothing to God!
That aint logical boy! It sounds like a huge lie!
And the Scientist said, oh but we know so much now about how the world works! Not possible!
So when I have made the choice to walk in faith (with action), it is not with understanding! It is with Trust. He is God and I am not. He is the Lord and I am not! The world taught me that, He is a sham and doesnt exist, and humans can not fly!
But we are promised to fly up to him and meet Him in the air! We were all taught all the wrong things. We were taught that black is white and white is black, but it isnt ike that at all, those were lies.

The Lord tested me one day. He brought a financial crises upon me. No way did I have the money to do what was required by the crisis. I got situationally Depressed at once! I have been reading Berean! I have been trying to obey, and now this! What's a guy to do wthout money?! Oh! The Lord....So I laughed and I prayed, Lord I dont know what you are doing or trying to show me, but I trust you so I'm just going to sit back and watch what you do with this situation Lord...
And I didnt need any money at all! That is the Lord. That Is The Lord. That Is The LORD! The Lord smoothed out the crisis so smoothly that it made head spin! And I passed that test! (maybe the only one I passed, lol!) I Believed Him that, all things work together for good for those who love God. Whixh was a choice, which made it Belief. on Top the Faith. And it was a child like Faith because I didnt understand what was going on, but I trusted the Lord Jesus.

Oh, He is so good to me! What a great God we have! This is all part of learning to live as a spirit being. Maybe I'm a Toddler by now instead of a babe in Christ?!
I know. Almost like black is white and white is black, right?

I heard a lady's Testimony once, she was being forcloased on on her property, she was $4300 & change delinquent in her account and didnt have that much money. She prayed for the Lord to help her. Then her and her firend was haing Lunch oe day in a restaurant. A starnger walked up to them and handed the delinquent lady an envelope and he said, the Lord told me to give this to you, and walked away. She opened the envelope and it had cash in it. $4300 & change, the exact amount she needed to save her from forclosure!

Was that the humanitarian man? No. That was the Lord. It dont make sense and I cant make it make sense. But it is true.

 

[MA2444]

Some of this world’s most generous humanitarians are atheists....and I guess God could use them to do good to others and at times that could be the way God works. But Christians are to help one another and he does provide help at the right time when we face adversity, but he will not prevent the adversity because we need to stand on our own feet, having trained ourselves to put on the spiritual armour that God provides. (Eph 6:11) We all have to have the same faith as Job.....his “miracles” came after he successfully passed his test. But they were not “miracles” in the sense that Jesus performed them. They were blessings in that Job regained all that he had lost...with bonuses. (Job 42:12-17) This too will be the case with Christ’s faithful followers. (Rev 21:2-3)

I can do nothing but wish you well.....thank you for sharing your experiences....I believe I know you much better now.

Exactly. We need to stand on our own spiritual feet, and grow. The Lord doesnt want to come back to a bunch of Babes in Christ, He wants mature Christians. Those who trust Him without a sign.

Job's Blessings after he passed the test were miracles. That is, more did not come to him by buying it again, it was by some other, unnatural way. in a Supernatural way. It doesnt say that, I know, but it had to be! He was very rich even before it started, many big herds of animals and so forth. Gone. Then God doubled what He had before? Oh, and how was that done? An Angel gave Job a lot of money? Lol! I dont think so. So it was in a supernatural way, which classifies as a miracle in my book.

I have minor miracles every day. I wont recount them, they sound very insignificant to others and sort of far fetched. I mean come on, The Creator of the Universe doesnt go around playing coffee delivery, get real! And yet, I know they are real and they are God. Even if it dont make any sense. But dont believe me! Ask the Lord to show you if these things be true.
And expect an answer!

Bless you Sister. It's been good talking with you about these things.

 

[St. SteVen]

As 2 Corinthians 11:14 tells us "And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light."

How then do we evaluate the source of a miracle?
Does God only do miracles within the confines of Christianity, or perhaps none at all?

[

 

[MA2444]

I heard this somewhere. Forget where.

There was a guy who lived in a house, and one morning he woke up and found water coming into his house the neighbrohood ws flooded and the water was rising! He started praying. Lord, dont let my house be swept away, Save me Lord. Soon, the man had to go up on his roof to escape the water. He sat there praying for God to rescue him and hours ticked by. Then a boat was coming! They saw him and came to his house, hey buddy, climb on down, we gotcha...
Oh no I cant, the Lord will rescue me. So they left. He prayed I know you will deliver me from this mess Lord...
Then a helicopter came and hovered above him. Put on the sling and we'll pull you up! they said. No thanks, I'm waiting on the Lord to rescue me! So the helicopter left.

The waters kept rising and eventually the man did drown and die. (Yikes). He went to heaven and He asked the Lord, Lord why didnt you rescue me?
The Lord said, What?! I sent a boat and a helicopter!

And the man said, Doh! So God works in mysterious ways. He works through people a lot of the time. But it is not the people who do it, it is the Lord through them. Have you ever been driving and had a stronge urge to make a right turn here (even though you are going straight!). Why did you make the turn? Was it the Lord saving you from an accident? Maybe.

One mans testimony was he was driving home after work and felt it inside of him, turn left. He thought what was that? No I'm going home. So he went straight instead.. Then he got an overwhelming sense of, turn around and go make that right turn. He thought wow maybe I better do it! So he did and he made the correct turn and was in a (TILT) condition because it was wacky. Then he got another intuition, stop at that conveinance store and buy a gallon of milk. WHat, we dont need milk. BUY THE MILK...So he stopped and bought a gallon of milk and he began driving again, not headed towards his home where he was trying to go. Turn right here...so he did. ow turn left right there...so He did and he's driving down a side street and feels like he is being conned or something. He gets frustrated and pulls his car over and stops. So there he is on a side street in the middle of the night with a gallon of milk that he didnt need and not headed towards home. And he is feeling pretty defiant by this time and says out loud what do you want? What am I supposed to do with this milk?! Why cant I go home?
And he said he heard it very clearly inside of himself...go up to the house that you are sitting in front of and give them the milk...
Now this guy was no Christian so he had no clue and felt very foolish. Who goes door to door at might giving away milk? Ludicrous!
Just go give them the milk!
So he said got out grudgingly and walked up o the porch and knocked on the door. The door opened very quickly for that time of night! And a man was standing there and said, What? (he said he could hear a girl upset and talking loud from somewhere i the house)
So the man handed him the milk and said, I was told to give this to you...
And the man freaked out and began crying and took the milk, and said, I was just praying to God for some milk, but I have no money because I lost my job and my wife says the baby needs it right now and she will leave me if I dont get the baby some milk! I said Lord I dont have any money, the baby needs milk, can you have someone give me some milk for the baby...?
And then the guy who gave him the milk understood what happened and freaked out. This was real! God is real, and he is a Christian today because he listened to the voice.

I believe every word of that testimony. God dont just deliver coffee, lol. He delivers milk too! Praise the Lord!

 

[MA2444]

How then do we evaluate the source of a miracle?
Does God only do miracles within the confines of Christianity, or perhaps none at all?

[

Hey, I just realized that Kim Walker Smith blew your fear thread out of the water! What did she say? Fear cant conquer me because Jesus already has...

I like that! You blew up your own thread with your other thread! Lol!! Classic!

 

[MA2444]

When the bible repeats something, we know it is important so What phrase is repeated the most times in scripture compared to other things which were repeated?

Fear not is the most repeated phrase in scripture. How Many “Fear Nots” are There in the Bible? “Fear not!” is the most repeated command in the Bible. In fact, it's been said that there are 365 “Fear nots” in the Bible — one “Fear not” for every day of the year!