Join For His Glory for a discussion on how
https://christianforums.net/threads/a-vessel-of-honor.110278/
https://christianforums.net/threads/psalm-70-1-save-me-o-god-lord-help-me-now.108509/
Read through the following study by Tenchi for more on this topic
https://christianforums.net/threads/without-the-holy-spirit-we-can-do-nothing.109419/
Join Sola Scriptura for a discussion on the subject
https://christianforums.net/threads/anointed-preaching-teaching.109331/#post-1912042
Strengthening families through biblical principles.
Focus on the Family addresses the use of biblical principles in parenting and marriage to strengthen the family.
Read daily articles from Focus on the Family in the Marriage and Parenting Resources forum.
This, ^ I am considering having printed up and framed in my home!Ephesians 6:12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
I love the analogy of putting on the whole armour of God...We need instructions in how to battle evil. Ephesians 6 is a good place to find out what is going on.
This is a great analogy!The immune system is used to identify things that will harm the body and do away with them...
The immune system is not to attack our good flesh / blood. If our own immune system attacks our good body we consider it to be lupus. Recognition of friend and foe is very important for the immune system to function. Thus it is important to realize that we do not fight people, but seek to eliminate the bad powers that influence people. I can think of a few instances that might seem to conflict with this general principle, but generally the principle is ok.
If we do not leap ahead to name a christian brother as the problem, but fight against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places; then we tend toward health
and not fight amoung ourselves. There does come a time to not tolerate some diseases. In this case we practice isolation.
I believe so strongly that God, who is love is intending and striving for good. Love is not just feeling good or helping another feel good, at the expense of doing what is right and good in the long run. There are many ugly truths in these spiritual battles - truths like what is entailed in abortion, consequences of homosexual fetish practices, extreme poverty that almost 1 billion of our brothers and sisters suffer from - many even to death. There is a lot of suffering due to the loss of such spiritual battles. I will admit that I cannot focus too long on these - I have to take breaks - to refresh myself. But I also acknowledge that such spiritual battles are ongoing - and many are needed to stand for GOoD even in the face of opposition!Some know much more about the immune system than I do. There is also more knowledge about the immune system still coming to light. It is not about the immune system though. It is about understanding the system God made; that we might understand the maker and not ourselves. He wants to do away with sin, and he does a lot to try and destroy the evil while keeping us alive.
Church discipline does everything to try and keep body health, but there does come a time when the offending person is turned over to satan for the destruction of the flesh; that the spirit might be saved. I suppose the whole body of Christ is to be protected from some things.
Tough love is still love. The love of God is intended for good.
eddif
One of the greatest battles is accepting the differences between us.
I Corinthians 8:13
8 But meat commendeth us not to God: for neither, if we eat, are we the better; neither, if we eat not, are we the worse.
9 But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to them that are weak.
10 For if any man see thee which hast knowledge sit at meat in the idol’s temple, shall not the conscience of him which is weak be emboldened to eat those things which are offered to idols;
11 And through thy knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died?
12 But when ye sin so against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, ye sin against Christ.
13 Wherefore, if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend.
One person may be strong and right.
The other person may be weak and wrong.
Both are fighting an inner battle in their relationship with God. There is a need not to fight an outward battle to correct each other.
Hebrews 8:11
11 And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest.
Hopefully we all get closer and closer to understanding the union of believers.
Hebrews 8:13
13 In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away.
Me standing around clanging symbols (cymbals) will not get it done. I bet I have worn out a bunch of physical instruments that needed prophecy to be completed rather than my work. Do you present the information? Yes. Do you cause the growth? No. Do you need the input of others. Yes.
eddif
Mostly a good post? But how can all of these 'Tower of Babbling' ones 'see straight'?? Is there not just the 'few' of Rev. 18:4? --Elijah
For those who want to review how the immune system works:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Immune_system
If you see any brother or sister commit a sin that does not lead to death, you should pray and God will give them life.
Once you have identified the sin that is at the root of the problem, you can now invoke the problem. God must be first in all areas of our daily lives! See the message of the Cross.One man says, "People need to stand and fight if they want anything to change."
Another man stands and says, "People need to sit and talk or else people will not change."
So what do we do when we see sin that leads to death? What if what we see can be likened to a dog with a bone, where a favorite doctrine is being gnawed on and the ppl talking about it are clearly signaling that if anybody were to even so much as move toward their precious, their favorite pet doctrine --> they'll get bit(!)? That analogy isn't too much of a stretch to conceive of, is it?
What if two dogs are going at it and the noise levels go up so loud that it disturbs the peace of the neighborhood to the point that nobody can sleep? What then? Do we go to fetch our pitchforks and lanterns, do we wake the neighbors and demand a witch hunt so that we may mount up against the neighbor who owns one of the dogs? "Control your animal or we will burn you down!" and all the while justifying ourselves saying, "WE are commanded to contend for the FAITH!"
Or do we turn off the lights, roll over and go back to sleep, whispering a prayer that the Lord look to His concern for His people. Do we remind ourselves that we are also commanded to strive for the unity of the brotherhood and that all who call upon the Name shall be saved? I don't know of anything to do in that situation. Technically, and according to man's law these days, even if a neighbor's dog is trespassing on your property, you are not allowed to throw a stone. You could get sued.
Ya'll know too much about how I am learning some of this.
The jerk from Mississippi
eddif
23 Listen and hear my voice;
pay attention and hear what I say.
24 When a farmer plows for planting, does he plow continually?
Does he keep on breaking up and working the soil?
25 When he has leveled the surface,26 His God instructs him
does he not sow caraway and scatter cumin?
Does he not plant wheat in its place,
barley in its plot,
and spelt in its field?
and teaches him the right way.
27 Caraway is not threshed with a sledge,28All this also comes from the Lord Almighty,
nor is the wheel of a cart rolled over cumin;
caraway is beaten out with a rod,
and cumin with a stick.
28 Grain must be ground to make bread;
so one does not go on threshing it forever.
The wheels of a threshing cart may be rolled over it,
but one does not use horses to grind grain.
whose plan is wonderful,
whose wisdom is magnificent.
Isaiah 28:23-29
27 Caraway is not threshed with a sledge,28All this also comes from the Lord Almighty,
nor is the wheel of a cart rolled over cumin;
caraway is beaten out with a rod,
and cumin with a stick.
28 Grain must be ground to make bread;
so one does not go on threshing it forever.
The wheels of a threshing cart may be rolled over it,
but one does not use horses to grind grain.
whose plan is wonderful,
whose wisdom is magnificent.
Isaiah 28:23-29 Signed, the bird-brain from the Great Pacific Northwest
~Sparrow
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Jesus broke down the wall and we all are made into one new man. There are warnings to the Jew, Gentile and Church. There is encouragement to the Jew, Gentile and Church. We have to recognize the mind and the flesh. The sharp sword is available to seperate and understand the differences and things that we all share.
Jesus broke down the wall and we all are made into one new man. There are warnings to the Jew, Gentile and Church. There is encouragement to the Jew, Gentile and Church. We have to recognize the mind and the flesh. The sharp sword is available to seperate and understand the differences and things that we all share.
amen