Do you believe that God is working through you?

[tdidymas]

1 John 4:7 says "Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God." This is not talking about the human feeling kind of love that the world always talks about, but it's talking about agape, the God-kind of love.

So, the question is, do you practice the faith that God is working His love through you? Do you find yourself in times of tribulation asking God to love people through you? Are you practicing that prayer daily in your routine life?

Just trying to find out what people think about this.
TD

 

[Who Me]

We are told not to let our left hand know what our right hand is doing regarding good works.
So why do you want people here to talk about how they do good works?

Here is a very relevent challenge for you.
How well attended are your churches prayer meetings?
Do you attend them?
Every revival I know of was preceded by intense prayer, so challenge your church to pray.

 

[tdidymas]

We are told not to let our left hand know what our right hand is doing regarding good works.
So why do you want people here to talk about how they do good works?

Here is a very relevent challenge for you.
How well attended are your churches prayer meetings?
Do you attend them?
Every revival I know of was preceded by intense prayer, so challenge your church to pray.

You missed the point, as your post doesn't address the question. Do you believe God is working through you? It's a yes/no question, unless you don't understand the question or the ramifications of it. Ref. Phil 2:12-13. When you read "work out your salvation with fear and trembling," do you think this is putting your nose to the grindstone? or do you think this is believing that God is at work in you?
TD

 

[Susannah]

Yes. I believe I am doing God's work with the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit came to me in 1982 but she did not identify herself so I believed I was talking directly to God. She said go forth and help other addicts to heal. 35 years later the Holy Spirit came back and told me that she wanted me to become a Christian and accept that truth that Jesus was more than a prophet. I did and now I am here.

Over the years people have asked me how I know when the Holy Spirit is talking to me and not satan or a demon. Here is the criteria I created.

1. The instructions must be loving. It is not from God if the feeling tells me to do something mean or cruel.

2. It must not be selfish. If it benefits me it must also benefit others. Writing benefits me because it is fun but my writings are always to help people.

3. The feeling is uplifting. It will make me feel good. If I am judging myself or others I am not listening to the right feeling.

4. It should bear fruit. Whatever is said will lead to something wonderful. A change for the best or some kind of blessing.

My journey of service began when I memorized this prayer at an AA meeting.

 

[humble soul]

Yes. But only when I am not consciously aware of it. By stealth.

 

[Who Me]

You missed the point, as your post doesn't address the question. Do you believe God is working through you? It's a yes/no question, unless you don't understand the question or the ramifications of it. Ref. Phil 2:12-13. When you read "work out your salvation with fear and trembling," do you think this is putting your nose to the grindstone? or do you think this is believing that God is at work in you?
TD

No I got it spot on.
We are not to boast about what we do, about our good deeds etc.

Is God working through each of us. Define what you mean by that.
Our role is to glorify God and to enjoy him for ever. According to the Westminster confession of faith.

 

[Susannah]

“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. Matthew 5

 

[tdidymas]

Yes. I believe I am doing God's work with the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit came to me in 1982 but she did not identify herself so I believed I was talking directly to God. She said go forth and help other addicts to heal. 35 years later the Holy Spirit came back and told me that she wanted me to become a Christian and accept that truth that Jesus was more than a prophet. I did and now I am here.

Over the years people have asked me how I know when the Holy Spirit is talking to me and not satan or a demon. Here is the criteria I created.

1. The instructions must be loving. It is not from God if the feeling tells me to do something mean or cruel.

2. It must not be selfish. If it benefits me it must also benefit others. Writing benefits me because it is fun but my writings are always to help people.

3. The feeling is uplifting. It will make me feel good. If I am judging myself or others I am not listening to the right feeling.

4. It should bear fruit. Whatever is said will lead to something wonderful. A change for the best or some kind of blessing.

My journey of service began when I memorized this prayer at an AA meeting.

Not sure what you mean by "doing God's work." Are you working it by yourself, or does God do the work through your actions?

 

[tdidymas]

No I got it spot on.
We are not to boast about what we do, about our good deeds etc.

Is God working through each of us. Define what you mean by that.
Our role is to glorify God and to enjoy him for ever. According to the Westminster confession of faith.

Ok, I get it. If you said God was working through you, you would be boasting about your good deeds, since you've said that about 3 times already. So, if you don't want to do that, then why are you even answering the question? What's the reason for the exercise?

The way I read scripture, it says "God is at work in you, to will and do His good pleasure." So if I say God is working through me, I am glorifying God, because I am giving Him the credit for the energy, love, and service I do. I'm not going to be silent about that. I'm also not going to falsely accuse myself by the claim that I'm boasting about my deeds.
TD

 

[LovethroughDove]

Yes, he is. But I don't want to boast.

When I am being myself, he's not working. If I actually apply his word to my actions, then he definitely does. Example: I get mad fairly easy. If I approach situation like that, then everything blows up. If I am easy going and apply his grace on a situation, everything is fine.

 

[stovebolts]

Yes he is. But I don't want to boast.

If your child does something amazing, do you not boast about it?

Why then would we not boast over what God has done, and is doing through us? We are not boasting over ourselves, but rather, we are boasting about God.

 

[stovebolts]

Our role is to glorify God

And how do we glorify Him? Is God proud of us when we memorize scripture and have all the "right" answers. Or do we glorify Him when people are able to see God through us by who God has transformed us into and the fruit it bears?

I would contend that we are His workmanship, created in His son to do good works. As a result, we boast of Gods love, mercy and grace as living stones that testify to His greatness.

 

[JLB]

1 John 4:7 says "Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God." This is not talking about the human feeling kind of love that the world always talks about, but it's talking about agape, the God-kind of love.

So, the question is, do you practice the faith that God is working His love through you? Do you find yourself in times of tribulation asking God to love people through you? Are you practicing that prayer daily in your routine life?

Just trying to find out what people think about this.
TD

Yes God is working through me.

Thank you Jesus.


JLB

 

[Susannah]

Luke 8:16 "No one lights a lamp and hides it in a clay jar or puts it under a bed. Instead, they put it on a stand, so that those who come in can see the light."

When I say God works through me I am glorifying God because people have heard my story of redemption and they want that for themselves. It is a waste of time for me to defend what I know to be true. I surrendered to God and he sent the Holy Spirit who told me to go serve him as a writer. My vanity took over and I put my name on the book. But by doing so God was able to send hundreds of people to me for help with their addictions.

But that is just my experience. It is up to the individual to say whether "God is working through me." There are advantages and disadvantages because there are people out there who will criticize them either way.

The bottom line is that this argument is just a distraction from our work here on earth. I just wasted my time typing this because it really doesn't matter. What matters is that we follow scripture and love each other in our heart an in our actions. In so doing we are doing God's work.

Have a great day everyone . . .

 

[Christ_empowered]

I'd say...yes, when I stop and reflect over my past 7 years, in Christ. The way I see it...His work, in making me normal and healthy and (somehow...) smart and at peace with my family is...well, its not just for me, its not just for my family, its like when He saves anybody, gets to work in anybody's life...

there's a message, there, I suppose for "those who have ears" to listen, eyes to see, etc. A way of planting seeds. His work follows certain themes: reconciliation, restoration, forgiveness, repaying "...for the years the locusts have eaten...," etc. I am not the only one (thankfully...) He works thru, nor would I now (now, that He's worked on me) want to be. Each person is somewhat different, in terms of specific life circumstances, people involved, other factors, but....

'For -all- have sinned and fallen short of the Glory of God...'

and yet, He sees fit to work thru His children's lives. I'm also reminded that "...it is no longer I who lives, but Christ who lives in me...," and so...

like any and every other Born Again Christian, I'm trying to think of it more as...Jesus working thru me, overall, to plant seeds, shine a light unto a "dark and dying world," making me less -me- , more -Him- , whoever and whatever He looks like in and thru me...who I really am is found in Christ.

Scripture tells us that we are salt unto the earth, with a bit of a warning, in the form of a question: what good is salt, if it has lost its savor? -that's- been on my mind, lately.

 

[humble soul]

Yes God IS working thru me. So look out! Hes watching you right now, thru my eyes and he's not amused!

 

[Susannah]

Amen . . . INS?❤

"making me less me . . ." I interpret this to me less "ego." When the Holy Spirit resides in me my works are not ego-driven but the will of God. Still without some ego we can do nothing. In 1982 I surrendered my ego and did nothing.

Then I took some of my ego back and did my part to help thousands. I can really say that because there are 6,500 members on my message board for love addicts. Am I boasting. No, I am advertising. I am getting the word our that through me you can resources because I have taken the time to post information. Much of it is anonymous. Often I use my name so that people can find me for help.


This is a very interesting thread as I have debated this with myself since 1982 when the Holy Spirit first appeared to me. I have been both attacked and blessed. I have worked hard to find a nice balance. That shows up in my bank account as nobody sends me money. LOL

Anyway my light is on a hill and if you come to me you come to God because he has seen fit to make me a CHANNEL and an INSTRUMENT. He has given me the name Susannah when he works through me.

God bless you.

 

[Who Me]

Ok, I get it. If you said God was working through you, you would be boasting about your good deeds, since you've said that about 3 times already. So, if you don't want to do that, then why are you even answering the question? What's the reason for the exercise?

The way I read scripture, it says "God is at work in you, to will and do His good pleasure." So if I say God is working through me, I am glorifying God, because I am giving Him the credit for the energy, love, and service I do. I'm not going to be silent about that. I'm also not going to falsely accuse myself by the claim that I'm boasting about my deeds.
TD

More to the point why ask the question.

As James says we show our faith by our deeds.
Often our greatest deeds will only be known by the recipient and by God, for those around us they will see how we behave at church, our regular attendance at the weekly prayer meeting ( are you one who attends? ), at work and in those parts of family life they see.

 

[Who Me]

k
And how do we glorify Him? Is God proud of us when we memorize scripture and have all the "right" answers. Or do we glorify Him when people are able to see God through us by who God has transformed us into and the fruit it bears?

I would contend that we are His workmanship, created in His son to do good works. As a result, we boast of Gods love, mercy and grace as living stones that testify to His greatness.

We each have to work that out for ourselves.
I would argue that the faithful keeping the Christian faith is in its self a glorification of God.
Read of Jesus's dedication at the temple. Two people met Joseph and Mary. We only read of them here. There purpose was to recognise, greet and to tell of the arrival of the long awaited Mesiah. They honoured and Glorified God in the long years of waiting by their faithful attendance at the temple.

 

[Susannah]

I have always thought the scriptures say to do things in secret and yet also put them as a light so others can see. So I get confused sometimes.

I come from a tradition where you testify or bear witness to your sins and your redemption so that others can be inspired. Is this ok?