How does the economy of God work for a Christian?

[iLOVE]

How do we operate in this grace?

 

[Eugene]

How do we operate in this grace?

I'm not sure if you're asking how we operate in our present economy as applying to grace, but I went without certain things such as a car for years, I remember being raised in a home without electricity and water for years, my mother praying for something to make for dinner and a rabbit wandering in the kitchen door and her cooking it, picking wild greens, berries and other sources of food. Cashing in returnable pop bottles were always on the list of income, and my dad walking sixteen miles a day round trip to go to work.

Now we read in Psa 37:25 I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.
My past pastor said though he could not say this. Basically what he said was that with our want of more, and our willingness to do less he saw many begging bread.

 

[Jethro Bodine]

How do we operate in this grace?

Depend on it.

 

[Wrg1405]

Believe in it, that it is for us. I hear so many Christians who in the concept of grace but think that God cannot or does not want to bless them but does want to with every other believer.

 

[Not_Now.Soon]

How do we operate in this grace?

What's the confusion about it? The signature you currently have is part of the answer. In John 11:25-26, believing in Jesus is possibly the first step, followed by everyother step that follows. The first step being accepting Jesus. And part of that step is the help of God bringing us to Jesus, bringing us to Himself through the sacrifice Jesus submitted Himself to. Then there's faith. Which is a wonderful thing. To accept Jesus, and then to trust in God. That's a hard step sometimes, and I think many times in our lives as Christians our faith wavers, it questions, it doubts, or unfortunately or faith is tested beyond what we know to hope for. It is during these times that we must remember God!'s faithfulness to us and to those around us to strengthen and encourage us in our weak state. A third step is to follow Jesus. Study the bible as a whole, study the New Testiment. Act on what we know, learn from those more mature in either faith or in life, or even both. Try and live out what Jesus told us, taught us, and lived for us by example.

Through each of these steps as sometimes we need to do them over again in one part or another are all three still summed up and apart of believing in Jesus. Hope that helps. If it doesn't or other answer here don't. Please elaborate on where the confusion is.

 

[Wrg1405]

Then there's faith. Which is a wonderful thing. To accept Jesus, and then to trust in God. That's a hard step sometimes, and I think many times in our lives as Christians our faith wavers, it questions, it doubts, or unfortunately or faith is tested beyond what we know to hope for.

Wonderfully said. It is the truth that doubts will arise, we will question what we believe. I have a t-shirt with it on. Sad fact is a lot see this as a negative that dispels them from the grace of God.
Believers should face such doubts head on.

Timothy Keller in his book Reaons for God raises this very issue.

"A faith without some doubts is like a human body without any antibodies in it. People who blithely go through life too busy or indifferent to ask hard questions about why they believe as they do will find themselves defenseless against either the experience of tragedy or the probing questions of a smart skeptic. A person's faith can collapse almost overnight if she has failed over the years to listen to her own doubts, which should only be discarded after long reflection. Believers should acknowledge and wrestle with doubts—not only their own, but their friends' and neighbors'.

 

[iLOVE]

Timothy Keller in his book Reaons for God raises this very issue.

"A faith without some doubts is like a human body without any antibodies in it. People who blithely go through life too busy or indifferent to ask hard questions about why they believe as they do will find themselves defenseless against either the experience of tragedy or the probing questions of a smart skeptic. A person's faith can collapse almost overnight if she has failed over the years to listen to her own doubts, which should only be discarded after long reflection. Believers should acknowledge and wrestle with doubts—not only their own, but their friends' and neighbors'.

That's is human psychology. Whenever a Believer brings in the world's point of view over God's word, you immediately void the Cross of Christ in your life. Burn that book immediately.

 

[Wrg1405]

That's is human psychology. Whenever a Believer brings in the world's point of view over God's word, you immediately void the Cross of Christ in your life. Burn that book immediately.

Read it before you diss it. You talk about a world view and you are so off the mark. His words above are not a world view point but about genuine believers with genuine doubts. Come on friend all beleivers doubt. Let me know what books you read so I can say "Burn it immediately"
Truth is though I would read before passing judgement.

My friend I can't get a handle on you and I wish I could. I have asked you questions that you refuse to answer, you just quote bible verses. If I am honest I feel you have called me and others false prophets and please don't quote Jude again to me. I know Jude very well, my guess is though you may tell me I don't. To be honest you don't seem to want to engage but just impose. That saddens me and I will say if I'm wrong let me know and to anyone else who thinks I'm wrong let me know.

 

[Brother Mike]

Grace: Supernatural Favor with God and men. Things work out, things go well, prayers always answered according to the power that works in us.

Grace: Can be increased, requires action on our part. It is not unmerited favor, it is merited favor. Jesus did not even start out with all of God's grace and power, He had to show himself approved, and if the Master did not skip this step, we can't either.

Luk 2:52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.

Joh 8:29 And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him.

Job_36:11 If they obey and serve him, they shall spend their days in prosperity, and their years in pleasures.

People that are always sick, broke and live poor, write books on how it's not always God's will to heal, are people that are ignorant of the Word, Lack faith and trust and won't lay aside everything they know in their heart that is not right with God.

 

[ezrider]

That's is human psychology. Whenever a Believer brings in the world's point of view over God's word, you immediately void the Cross of Christ in your life. Burn that book immediately.

I'm curious as to why you would say "Burn that book immediately"? Not that I have read to book, so I can not speak at all as to its contents. But what I am interested in is how you see that statement fitting in with the Grace of God?

You titled your OP as how does the economy of God work, but then you supplemented that with the question of grace in your OP. First and foremost, why do you use the word economy? It brings to mind the idea of buying and selling, as the economy of the mark of the beast: Are you suggesting that the Grace of God is a commodity to be bought and sold?

Now, aside from the idea of buying and selling the grace of the Lord as some economic comodity, I would begin saying that we are at liberty under the Law of Christ. What does that mean? Well, it means that when I find myself in the garden of God, I hear a command that says of all the trees in the garden, you may eat; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, you shall not eat. God says that I may eat of all the trees of the garden, but you say not so, but rather burn it. Who has told you that you should burn it? Have you been eating from the tree of knowledge?

 

[iLOVE]

I'm curious as to why you would say "Burn that book immediately"? Not that I have read to book, so I can not speak at all as to its contents. But what I am interested in is how you see that statement fitting in with the Grace of God?

You titled your OP as how does the economy of God work, but then you supplemented that with the question of grace in your OP. First and foremost, why do you use the word economy? It brings to mind the idea of buying and selling, as the economy of the mark of the beast: Are you suggesting that the Grace of God is a commodity to be bought and sold?

Money is what's needed to buy things on earth. "FAITH" is the currency that is needed for the unseen (Hebrews 11:1 NKJV). Without "FAITH" you can not please GOD. "FAITH" is the currency of heaven. GOD works by "FAITH".

Now, aside from the idea of buying and selling the grace of the Lord as some economic comodity, I would begin saying that we are at liberty under the Law of Christ. What does that mean? Well, it means that when I find myself in the garden of God, I hear a command that says of all the trees in the garden, you may eat; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, you shall not eat. God says that I may eat of all the trees of the garden, but you say not so, but rather burn it. Who has told you that you should burn it? Have you been eating from the tree of knowledge?

Just a little leaven, leavens the whole lump! Satan rules and blind people to the Gospel.

Satan does this by tricking Christians to become Benedict Arnolds to their Kingdom, the Kingdom of God. The scripture says flesh and blood cannot inherit the Kingdom of God. Our thoughts must align with God words...not the world. When this happens the kingdoms become in conflict by mixing grace and law.

For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. Ephesians 6:12 NLT

 

[iLOVE]

Read it before you diss it. You talk about a world view and you are so off the mark. His words above are not a world view point but about genuine believers with genuine doubts. Come on friend all beleivers doubt. Let me know what books you read so I can say "Burn it immediately"
Truth is though I would read before passing judgement.

My friend I can't get a handle on you and I wish I could. I have asked you questions that you refuse to answer, you just quote bible verses. If I am honest I feel you have called me and others false prophets and please don't quote Jude again to me. I know Jude very well, my guess is though you may tell me I don't. To be honest you don't seem to want to engage but just impose. That saddens me and I will say if I'm wrong let me know and to anyone else who thinks I'm wrong let me know.

The scripture says, "Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will." Romans 12:2 NIV

God doesn’t want us to be overwhelmed with doubt! Instead, He wants us to be filled with faith. Doubts flee when we focus on Christ. But when we become distracted and focus on other things, doubts will begin to grow. The Bible says, “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee” (Isaiah 26:3, KJV).

 

[Not_Now.Soon]

Wonderfully said. It is the truth that doubts will arise, we will question what we believe. I have a t-shirt with it on. Sad fact is a lot see this as a negative that dispels them from the grace of God.
Believers should face such doubts head on.

Timothy Keller in his book Reaons for God raises this very issue.

"A faith without some doubts is like a human body without any antibodies in it. People who blithely go through life too busy or indifferent to ask hard questions about why they believe as they do will find themselves defenseless against either the experience of tragedy or the probing questions of a smart skeptic. A person's faith can collapse almost overnight if she has failed over the years to listen to her own doubts, which should only be discarded after long reflection. Believers should acknowledge and wrestle with doubts—not only their own, but their friends' and neighbors'.

I don't know. At least in many situtions I know from experience, facing the doubts head on are a means for finding an answer to those doubts, and be strengthened by those answers. Sometimes though I've also found that the doubt wasn't something that could be either easily approached, or the answer to the doubt wasn't forth coming. When faced with troubling kind of dispair; doubt, anger and sadness are all common elements intermixed with each other. Facing one might bring on the others as well. And sometimes it's just really hard to face. I don't know if there is a cut and dry approach to handle situtions that deal with doubt. Either way though, facing doubt to try and rise above it I think is a very strong approach. Having a foundation to be strong in though so that our doubts don't overwhelm our hopes and faith, I think is also very important too.

Thanks for the encouragement, and for the book recommendation.

 

[GodsGrace]

The scripture says, "Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will." Romans 12:2 NIV

God doesn’t want us to be overwhelmed with doubt! Instead, He wants us to be filled with faith. Doubts flee when we focus on Christ. But when we become distracted and focus on other things, doubts will begin to grow. The Bible says, “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee” (Isaiah 26:3, KJV).

Hi iLOVE
You know I agree with you on practically everything, but this time Wrg1405 is right in his post no. 6.

I've often referred to this here as preparing for the worst when things are good.
When all is going well, we are to learn to know Jesus, we're to learn what we believe, how we think of our spirituality, how we think of this world system and how God operates in it.

It's nice when we get a prayer answered, when He speaks to us and His voice is heard.
What if the prayer isn't answered? What if we don't hear from Him for a while? How would we react?
It's good to ponder this because sooner or later it's going to happen and we should not be caught unaware.
The evil one uses these times to take faith away if one is not prepared. I've seen this happen many times because people do what Wrg said. They take their faith lightly without confronting the difficult questions and then when something happens their faith disappears.

The sower comes to mind. Maybe the soil wasn't fertile. Maybe it was but the faith received was taken for granted. If a doubt is confronted, there will always be an answer because God is true. But it does have to be confronted and not pushed aside.

W

 

[Not_Now.Soon]

Money is what's needed to buy things on earth. "FAITH" is the currency that is needed for the unseen (Hebrews 11:1 NKJV). Without "FAITH" you can not please GOD. "FAITH" is the currency of heaven. GOD works by "FAITH".

I don't think currency is the right way to look at it in this context. Faith is rewarded by God, but it isn't something that we have to trade in for God's miracles, or for God's treasures in heaven. More faith is even harder to quantity. I would say faith is a wonderful treasure in itself, and it strengthens us and brings us closer to God. However if anything would count as a currency (still don't like that word), then it would be love.

 

[GodsGrace]

I'm curious as to why you would say "Burn that book immediately"? Not that I have read to book, so I can not speak at all as to its contents. But what I am interested in is how you see that statement fitting in with the Grace of God?

You titled your OP as how does the economy of God work, but then you supplemented that with the question of grace in your OP. First and foremost, why do you use the word economy? It brings to mind the idea of buying and selling, as the economy of the mark of the beast: Are you suggesting that the Grace of God is a commodity to be bought and sold?

Now, aside from the idea of buying and selling the grace of the Lord as some economic comodity, I would begin saying that we are at liberty under the Law of Christ. What does that mean? Well, it means that when I find myself in the garden of God, I hear a command that says of all the trees in the garden, you may eat; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, you shall not eat. God says that I may eat of all the trees of the garden, but you say not so, but rather burn it. Who has told you that you should burn it? Have you been eating from the tree of knowledge?

Hi EZ,
The word "economy" was used by the early church fathers. It has nothing to do with finances.
Here's a good explanation:

We ourselves are also familiar—perhaps too familiar—with some of the very same things: debt, credit cards, bills and payments. All of these things, obviously, have to do with the economy. They make up the economic system. All civilizations and cultures have some kind of economy, however primitive it may be. In order for a society to function it must have some sort of an economy.

That word itself, Economy, is taken from the Greek word oikonomia, and it means literally the “management of a household.” It describes how someone conducts their affairs; how they manage their life.

The Fathers of the Church, however, tell us that there is an economy in God Himself! They call it the “economy of salvation.” It does not mean that God has a credit card, or that He is investing at the New York Stock Exchange. The “economy of God” or the “economy of salvation,” refers to the way God “manages” His household, the world.

It just refers to God's plan for saving mankind after the fall.

W

 

[GodsGrace]

I don't think currency is the right way to look at it in this context. Faith is rewarded by God, but it isn't something that we have to trade in for God's miracles, or for God's treasures in heaven. More faith is even harder to quantity. I would say faith is a wonderful treasure in itself, and it strengthens us and brings us closer to God. However if anything would count as a currency (still don't like that word), then it would be love.

You're right NNS
Please see my post no. 16.
Faith is not a currency...

 

[iLOVE]

Hi iLOVE
You know I agree with you on practically everything, but this time Wrg1405 is right in his post no. 6.

I've often referred to this here as preparing for the worst when things are good.
When all is going well, we are to learn to know Jesus, we're to learn what we believe, how we think of our spirituality, how we think of this world system and how God operates in it.

It's nice when we get a prayer answered, when He speaks to us and His voice is heard.
What if the prayer isn't answered? What if we don't hear from Him for a while? How would we react?
It's good to ponder this because sooner or later it's going to happen and we should not be caught unaware.
The evil one uses these times to take faith away if one is not prepared. I've seen this happen many times because people do what Wrg said. They take their faith lightly without confronting the difficult questions and then when something happens their faith disappears.

The sower comes to mind. Maybe the soil wasn't fertile. Maybe it was but the faith received was taken for granted. If a doubt is confronted, there will always be an answer because God is true. But it does have to be confronted and not pushed aside.

W

There is a great difference in us falling and one's faith falling. True faith gets up off the ground and continues on the journey the Lord has prepared. The Bible plainly declares that in the last days of the Church Age, many who accepted Christ will fall away from the truth. We must keep free from apostasy which means to fall away from the basic tenets of the Christian Faith. (Study notes - Pastor Swaggart)

 

[iLOVE]

I don't think currency is the right way to look at it in this context. Faith is rewarded by God, but it isn't something that we have to trade in for God's miracles, or for God's treasures in heaven. More faith is even harder to quantity. I would say faith is a wonderful treasure in itself, and it strengthens us and brings us closer to God. However if anything would count as a currency (still don't like that word), then it would be love.

Isaiah 55:1 Amplified Bible (AMP)

The Free Offer of Mercy

55 “Everyone who thirsts, come to the waters;
And you who have no money come, buy grain and eat.
Come, buy wine and milk
Without money and without cost [simply accept it as a gift from God].

 

[GodsGrace]

There is a great difference in us falling and one's faith falling. True faith gets up off the ground and continues on the journey the Lord has prepared. The Bible plainly declares that in the last days of the Church Age, many who accepted Christ will fall away from the truth. We must keep free from apostasy which means to fall away from the basic tenets of the Christian Faith. (Study notes - Pastor Swaggart)

What you speak of here has always happened - all throughout history. However, I do agree that there is a particularly strong movement today away from God.

I want to give you an example of what I'm speaking of in my post above.

You mention true faith. What is true faith? There is only faith. You have it or you don't. Of course faith is always true.

Suppose you've been a Christian for some time and one day you begin to doubt the resurrection because it seems unbelievable. Do you try to just hang on without examining it? The better action to take would be to face your doubt, look into it, do some studying and decide for yourself why you believe that it's true. That would remove this doubt.

Doubts need to be confronted and taken care of. They might come up as the years go by.

W