Bible Study What Does It Mean To Walk In The Spirit.

[Malachi]

I followed up that statement by posting the scripture from John 5:25-29, where is the resurrection to life, and the resurrection to damnation.

Since the resurrection of damnation has nothing to do with the content of this thread, why bring it up at all?

 

[eddif]

I John 1:7 KJV
But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

John 5:29
And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.

If we walk in the Spirit eternal life in heaven. If we walk separated from Christ eternal death in hell.

IJohn 1:9 KJV
we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

John 16:7 KJV
Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.
8 And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:
9 Of sin, because they believe not on me;
10 Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more;
11 Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.
12 I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now.
13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.

Without the Holy Spirit we get part of the truth, and, without the Holy Spirt the complete picture is not seen. Are we saved without the Baptism in the Holy Spirit? I would say yes. But the Holy Spirit helps us present the Gospel to others. The power is not to promote ourselves, but to lift up Jesus Christ as the way to eternal life.

The bible does not teach that Christian spiritual gifts are a source of problems. Pagan imitation spirituals are a source of problems ( I think I be done said that before).

Rednecks are strange.

eddif

 

[Chopper]

Chopper, I was looking for something else, when I happened upon Isaiah 40. I would recommend reading the whole chapter. Something else I will have to follow, but the "arm of the Lord" appeared to me a number of times while I was scanning for this other thing.

Isaiah 40:3-8
The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord,
make straight in the desert a highway for our God.
Every valley shall be exalted,
and every mountain and hill shall be made low:
and the crooked shall be made straight,
and the rough places plain:
And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed,
and all flesh shall see it together:
for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it.
The voice said, Cry.
And he said, What shall I cry?
All flesh is grass,
and all the goodliness thereof is as the flower of the field:
The grass withereth, the flower fadeth:
because the spirit of the Lord bloweth upon it:
surely the people is grass.
The grass withereth, the flower fadeth:
but the word of our God shall stand for ever.

Isaiah 40:28-31
Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard,
that the everlasting God, the Lord,
the Creator of the ends of the earth,
fainteth not, neither is weary?
there is no searching of his understanding.
He giveth power to the faint;
and to them that have no might he increaseth strength.
Even the youths shall faint and be weary,
and the young men shall utterly fall:
But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength;
they shall mount up with wings as eagles;
they shall run, and not be weary;
and they shall walk, and not faint.

The Arm of the Lord is a fascinating study. I'm also interested in God's "right hand". God's power is displayed in His spoken word and the working of the "Arm of the Lord" as His "Right Hand" is extended. Chapter 40 strikes me as an appeal to Israel to see if there is anything that mankind can make (idols) that can accomplish anything, especially greater than God has already done.

Compared to mans own energy which at best is ready to faint at any moment, whereas, those who put their faith and trust in the ever powerful God, will experience His strength and never faint away.

I see YHWH pointing out to Israel a very wide road of travel that the Nations, with their idols, the works of man's hands, journey on with empty results. BUT, those who "wait on the Lord" by abandoning their inventions, and seeking a very narrow, straight road of trust in the Lord's inventions, they will live beyond their expectations.

I don't like referring to God as being frustrated but in Chapter 40 It's like I see the frustrating statements on the fact that God's accomplishments for the well being of Israel, from the calling of Abraham, escape from Egypt, gaining the promised land etc. etc. is not enough to keep Israel's trust solely in their Holy God. Why, O why would they continually go a whoring after some idol of the Nations around them, thinking they can receive something better from an idol that what God has already demonstrated to them that He can supply.

I sense the pure vanity of going outside of the Almighty YHWH for anything of value. It just is not there.

 

[eddif]

Chopper.
Let us start here.
Acts 19:13
Then certain of the vagabond Jews, exorcists, took upon them to call over them which had evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, We adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preacheth.
14 And there were seven sons of one Sceva, a Jew, and chief of the priests, which did so.
15 And the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye?
16 And the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, and overcame them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.

If we walk in the Holy Spirit we can see spiritual works. But just claiming words will not make it so. The Holy Spirit must be in us.

Speaking of the word.
John 1:14
And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

The word is often spoken in prophetic promise (especially in regards to the coming savior); the Jesus who came in the flesh and will come again at the last trump. 15 different thoughts sometimes define how that will happen. I am for the return and do not feel obligated to do too much toward defining a whole lot of just how it will happen.

Enough for now.
eddif

 

[ezrider]

Galatians 3:21-27
Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law. But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe. But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed. Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.
For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

 

[ezrider]

1 Corinthians 2:9-16
But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.
Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man. For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.


1 Corinthians 3:1-4
And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able. For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men? For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal.

Hebrews 13:9
Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines. For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace; not with meats, which have not profited them that have been occupied therein.

Hebrews 5:12-14
For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

Hebrews 6:1-6
Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. And this will we do, if God permit.
For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.


Let your heart be established with Grace!

 

[eddif]

1 Corinthians 2:9-16
But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.
Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man. For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.


1 Corinthians 3:1-4
And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able. For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men? For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal.

Hebrews 13:9
Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines. For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace; not with meats, which have not profited them that have been occupied therein.

Hebrews 5:12-14
For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

Hebrews 6:1-6
Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. And this will we do, if God permit.
For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.


Let your heart be established with Grace!

Now talking about straining a Mississippi mind.

The Corinthians passage is basically to Gentiles and their need for the Holy Spirit. And if a Circumcism Party member shows up trying to teach the Law, the law must be used lawfully.

The Hebrews passage is mainly to the Jews and is reminding them that on the day of Jewish Pentecost they received the Holy Spirit, and they do not need to revert to old ways.

The one new man has Jew and Gentile on the same level / agreement concerning the Holy Spirit.

Today there is, at times, a fear of all this Holy Spirit stuff. Some of this arises from Gentile bad spirits being seen as the Holy Spirit, and law judiahism behing taught as gospel.

Of course I just lost all friends and neighbors with those statements. There is a true condition involving the Holy Spirit. We need Jew and Gentile terms gone and everyone in one mind on the matter. I reckon that is the miracle of the one new man that started in Acts. We have somewhat undone the progress made at that time.

Mississippi rednecks just meddle where it is dangerous to go.

eddif

 

[ezrider]

My intent in this thread is being answered in so many of your posts my friends. I really am blessed by so many of you coming with your wonderful thoughts, Scripture, and personal theology. I firmly believe that we are in the period of time that the Prophets and Apostles wrote about. The gathering of Christ's Elect Bride is about to happen SOON. I can sense it in my spirit as some of you can as well. Lets look again at the parable of the 10 Virgins....

Chopper, you have asked in your OP what does it mean to walk in the Spirit? And here you have brought in the parable of the ten virgins. But there is something within this parable that stands out to me that I would ask you to consider. Carrying out a further thought concerning a distinction between the Law of Life in Christ and the Law of Sin and Death as found in Rom 8:2. From the parable of the ten virgins, I would like to call you attention to one verse in particular.

Matthew 25:6
And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.

What I take note of here is there was a cry made; a call, the bridegroom cometh. It was a call to come forth to Mt Sion, but many wouldn’t come. But this call does not come at the sound of a trumpet. We are not called to the sound of a trumpet.

Consider the children of Israel as they came up out of the land of Egypt. In the wilderness they were brought before Mt Sinai, the mountain of God and there they were given charged for three days to sanctify themselves and make themselves ready, and on the third day when the trumpet blew long then they were to come up the mountain. But if you are familiar with the story in Exodus 19, then you know that when the trumpet blew long and the Lord descended upon the mountain in a cloud of fire, most would not go up the mountain for fear, and chose instead to follow Moses and the Law rather than the fire that would have cleansed their hearts so the Spirit of the Lord might dwell therein.

It seems that many today also await the Lord to descend at the sound of the trumpet. But the call unto Mt Sion does not come with the sound of a trumpet, but with a cry.


Hebrews 12:18-24
For ye are not come unto the mount that might be touched, and that burned with fire, nor unto blackness, and darkness, and tempest, And the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words; which voice they that heard intreated that the word should not be spoken to them any more: (For they could not endure that which was commanded, And if so much as a beast touch the mountain, it shall be stoned, or thrust through with a dart: And so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, I exceedingly fear and quake
But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.


For the ten virgins, the cry was made at midnight to arise and go forth to meet the bridegroom. The foolish virgins did not heed the call, as they were busy sanctifying themselves to make themselves ready against the third day and prepare themselves to meet the Lord when the trumpet blows long. But the wise virgins listened to the call and they entered in. But those who waited for the sound of the trump?


Matthew 25:10-12
And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut. Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.

Matthew 7:21-23
Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

Ye that work iniquity: those that are workers of iniquity are not yet free from the law of sin and death. The law of iniquity still holds them, whether it be their own sins, or the sins of another.

 

[eddif]

Revelation 3:20
Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.

John 14:17
Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.

Touching a mountain is external symbolism (which absolutely existed), but being with us is not quite being in us.

The disciples were with Jesus, but the apostles had The Spirit of Christ in them (which all this is just on the edge of my comprehension).

The ability to hear his voice is much more personal than a trumpet. Having an inner meal is much more personal than touching a mountain.

Our decisions are one thing. His working in us is beyond the natural us.

eddif

 

[eddif]

Exodus 40:34 KJV
Then a cloud covered the tent of the congregation, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle.

The skin sack we live in is like the Tabernacle.

The living stone we are, is like a stone in the Temple / Church.
II Chronicles 5:13 KJV
It came even to pass, as the trumpeters and singers were as one, to make one sound to be heard in praising and thanking the LORD; and when they lifted up their voice with the trumpets and cymbals and instruments of musick, and praised the LORD, saying, For he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever: that then the house was filled with a cloud, even the house of the LORD;
14 So that the priests could not stand to minister by reason of the cloud: for the glory of the LORD had filled the house of God.

In the NC / NT the kingdom of priests functions when His Spirit is present.
I Corinthians 14:25 KJV area

So many types and shadows to be looked into. There is agreement in the Spirit entering both places, but a difference in the ability to function with the presence of the Holy Spirit. The born again aspect must be seen.

Walk in the Spirit really allows actions to be completed when the Holy Spirit is present. Looking at two covenants is interesting. Looking at the individual and the corporate body is interesting too.

Redneck Mississippi folks are strained to talk about all this.

eddif

 

[Chopper]

Chopper, you have asked in your OP what does it mean to walk in the Spirit? And here you have brought in the parable of the ten virgins. But there is something within this parable that stands out to me that I would ask you to consider. Carrying out a further thought concerning a distinction between the Law of Life in Christ and the Law of Sin and Death as found in Rom 8:2. From the parable of the ten virgins, I would like to call you attention to one verse in particular.

Matthew 25:6
And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.

What I take note of here is there was a cry made; a call, the bridegroom cometh. It was a call to come forth to Mt Sion, but many wouldn’t come. But this call does not come at the sound of a trumpet. We are not called to the sound of a trumpet.

Consider the children of Israel as they came up out of the land of Egypt. In the wilderness they were brought before Mt Sinai, the mountain of God and there they were given charged for three days to sanctify themselves and make themselves ready, and on the third day when the trumpet blew long then they were to come up the mountain. But if you are familiar with the story in Exodus 19, then you know that when the trumpet blew long and the Lord descended upon the mountain in a cloud of fire, most would not go up the mountain for fear, and chose instead to follow Moses and the Law rather than the fire that would have cleansed their hearts so the Spirit of the Lord might dwell therein.

It seems that many today also await the Lord to descend at the sound of the trumpet. But the call unto Mt Sion does not come with the sound of a trumpet, but with a cry.


Hebrews 12:18-24
For ye are not come unto the mount that might be touched, and that burned with fire, nor unto blackness, and darkness, and tempest, And the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words; which voice they that heard intreated that the word should not be spoken to them any more: (For they could not endure that which was commanded, And if so much as a beast touch the mountain, it shall be stoned, or thrust through with a dart: And so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, I exceedingly fear and quake
But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.


For the ten virgins, the cry was made at midnight to arise and go forth to meet the bridegroom. The foolish virgins did not heed the call, as they were busy sanctifying themselves to make themselves ready against the third day and prepare themselves to meet the Lord when the trumpet blows long. But the wise virgins listened to the call and they entered in. But those who waited for the sound of the trump?


Matthew 25:10-12
And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut. Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.

Matthew 7:21-23
Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

Ye that work iniquity: those that are workers of iniquity are not yet free from the law of sin and death. The law of iniquity still holds them, whether it be their own sins, or the sins of another.

A very interesting observation my friend. This is not something that I can respond to hastily. Out of respect for you, I must seek the Holy Spirit, and really study this out. Thank you for this challenge, I love it, as well as you.

 

[eddif]

It is going to be interesting.

Rumbling of mountain
Rushing of waters
Wind
Trumpet
Cry
Voice
Other (?)

Isaiah 17:13 KJV
The nations shall rush like the rushing of many waters: but God shall rebuke them, and they shall flee far off, and shall be chased as the chaff of the mountains before the wind, and like a rolling thing before the whirlwind.

Exodus 20:18
And all the people saw the thunderings, and the lightnings, and the noise of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking: and when the people saw it, they removed, and stood afar off.

John the Baptist cried for repentance
The voice at the door

eddif

 

[Deborah13]

I am really enjoying this you guys. I am learning and being edified. Thank you, all.

 

[Chopper]

Chopper, you have asked in your OP what does it mean to walk in the Spirit? And here you have brought in the parable of the ten virgins. But there is something within this parable that stands out to me that I would ask you to consider. Carrying out a further thought concerning a distinction between the Law of Life in Christ and the Law of Sin and Death as found in Rom 8:2. From the parable of the ten virgins, I would like to call you attention to one verse in particular.

Matthew 25:6
And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.

What I take note of here is there was a cry made; a call, the bridegroom cometh. It was a call to come forth to Mt Sion, but many wouldn’t come. But this call does not come at the sound of a trumpet. We are not called to the sound of a trumpet.

Consider the children of Israel as they came up out of the land of Egypt. In the wilderness they were brought before Mt Sinai, the mountain of God and there they were given charged for three days to sanctify themselves and make themselves ready, and on the third day when the trumpet blew long then they were to come up the mountain. But if you are familiar with the story in Exodus 19, then you know that when the trumpet blew long and the Lord descended upon the mountain in a cloud of fire, most would not go up the mountain for fear, and chose instead to follow Moses and the Law rather than the fire that would have cleansed their hearts so the Spirit of the Lord might dwell therein.

It seems that many today also await the Lord to descend at the sound of the trumpet. But the call unto Mt Sion does not come with the sound of a trumpet, but with a cry.


Hebrews 12:18-24
For ye are not come unto the mount that might be touched, and that burned with fire, nor unto blackness, and darkness, and tempest, And the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words; which voice they that heard intreated that the word should not be spoken to them any more: (For they could not endure that which was commanded, And if so much as a beast touch the mountain, it shall be stoned, or thrust through with a dart: And so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, I exceedingly fear and quake
But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.


For the ten virgins, the cry was made at midnight to arise and go forth to meet the bridegroom. The foolish virgins did not heed the call, as they were busy sanctifying themselves to make themselves ready against the third day and prepare themselves to meet the Lord when the trumpet blows long. But the wise virgins listened to the call and they entered in. But those who waited for the sound of the trump?


Matthew 25:10-12
And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut. Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.

Matthew 7:21-23
Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

Ye that work iniquity: those that are workers of iniquity are not yet free from the law of sin and death. The law of iniquity still holds them, whether it be their own sins, or the sins of another.

I sure have been searching out the Holy Spirit for an answer to the difference between the cry and the trumpet. Since the trumpet call has to do with the day of the Lord, a trumpet blast is not associated with the Rapture, or gathering to Jesus. The pretribulation gathering of the faithful just prior to the tribulation's seven year testing and judgment of the whole world, will not be announced by a trumpet blast.

The rapture, or gathering (I prefer gathering) will be announced simply by a cry or shout. It may even be that only the redeemed faithful folk from each local church of Christ Jesus will hear the shout/cry and no one else. Since it's the Bridegroom, obviously it's Jesus coming for His special Bride to go to the wedding celebration while the judgment from God's wrath is poured out on those who have rejected the Gospel.

The Church at Philadelphia spelled out the Rapture/Gathering quite clearly. The seven churches are examples of a cross section of churches in any age. The one that stands out though is Philadelphia because compared with the others, they a good standing with YHWH. This church was what I see as the "remnant" of believers, and just before the terrible tribulation period begins, God is not willing that His Remnant to pass thru this time of testing because they had already passed the tests in this lifetime and God is rewarding them with an escape from the tribulation....

"thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name" ....10 "Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth."

I have not forgotten that Smyrna did not have a condemnation against them.

 

[Tony Hyman]

I believe the concept of "fearing God" has been diluted down to merely "respect" for the God Head i.e . God, Christ and the Holy Spirit .In other words we as "Christians" can still get away 1. being boss in the home, in the case of males over females.2.Leaving theology in the "expert hands" of the clergy and other theological teachers when it comes to disciplining our children and grandchildren.3. Treating people over whom we have authority in a domineering animal fashion in the workplace.Paul clearly separates the Christian from the pagan relationships in the home and elsewhere in his letter to the Ephesians regarding double standards"18. Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery, be filled with the Spirit ...22 Wives , submit to your husbands as to the Lord.23.For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church his body of which he is the Saviour."(Eph .5, 18,22, 23.N.I.V.) Same with children "obey your parents".

The above exhortations still stand according to what I read and understand here, regardless of any" psycho" opinions to the contrary.If the husband is "filled with the Spirit " and the same with the "missus" then their should be no problem as far as understanding the concept of "submission" in terms of "as to the Lord" (V 23).If this is not the case then clearly the Christian is not doing the will of God but rather his or her own thing as the world would have it.In other words the Christian Home needs to be "filled with the Spirit" not only in Bible Studies or when we go to church on Sundays.Granted this is part of our obligation but the Spirit needs to guide the whole life of the Household in terms of discipline and the family well being as God would have it.This entails behaving like "Priests" 1 Pet. 2, 9 and doing Bible homework in order to "share our hope" which we have in Salvation of all those under our care whether in the household, church or workplace 1 Peter 3, 15.But then one must allow ourselves to be guided and filled by the Spirit and not be too distracted with "Worldly Demands" geared around too many party's that make the World a swinging place to be.

 

[Douglas Summers]

Galatians 5:16 "This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.
5:17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.

Christ said this about His Spirit (John 16:7-15). The Spirit is the new birth of a born again believer (a new man). As man has the spirit of Adam, or man. And as the spirit of man knows the thing of man, the new man, indwelled with the Spirit of Christ know the things of God (1 Cor. 2:9-16). The Spirit is sovereign over the gifts given to man.(1 Cor. 12:1-31) Those Gifts are not given us to use, but it is the Spirit that uses us to manifest itself in the new man, but we have to be willing to allow it instead of grieving or hindering it's sovereignty to work through us. There is the conflict, God gave us a new man, He never changed the old man. The old man walks after the flesh, the new man walks after the Spirit (Gal. 5:14-17). Paul describes the battle between the two in Romans 7:14-23) and (1 Cor. 9:24-27). But the victory is in (Romans 7:24 thru 8:13). In 1 Cor. 9:27 the word castaway is not about our salvation, but of service. So, that is walking in the Spirit, but it is not without conflict, but victory is guaranteed. (Rom. 8:28-39)

 

[eddif]

I Kings 19:12
And after the earthquake a fire; but the LORD was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice.

I Samuel 3:10
And the LORD came, and stood, and called as at other times, Samuel, Samuel. Then Samuel answered, Speak; for thy servant heareth.

Hebrews 1:1
God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,
2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;

Revelation 3:20
Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.

The Holy Spirit seems to be one of the quiet voices. A personal voice. We hear the cry to repent, but then comes the more quiet voice / voices.


eddif

 

[eddif]

Acts 19:2 KJV
He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost.

First repentance.
Then
Believe in the work Christ Jesus did (Salvation)
Then
The Holy Spirit stuff.

The Holy Spirit was new at the time. The Jewish day of Pentecost had just happened (maybe gentile Pentecost too) so that was a valid question (some had not heard).

The natural man is dominated by flesh
The new man has overcome the dominion of sin (through Christ Jesus) but awaits the last trump ( resurrection ) to be fully changed.

In the meantime:
The Holy Spirit is invited in
We rebuke sin
We encourage one another
We use church discipline if sin is overtaking:
We set how far Satan can go (church discipline is about restoration).
We uplift Jesus and not ourselves.
The resurrection is not already past
Pentecost has happened for Jew and Gentile
The word is in our heart (new man)
The word is in our mind (new man)
Spiritual gifts exist
With our mind we serve the law of Christ
With our flesh the battle rages

The Holy Spirit is leading us into all truth.

eddif

 

[Chopper]

Acts 19:2 KJV
He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost.

First repentance.
Then
Believe in the work Christ Jesus did (Salvation)
Then
The Holy Spirit stuff.

The Holy Spirit was new at the time. The Jewish day of Pentecost had just happened (maybe gentile Pentecost too) so that was a valid question (some had not heard).

The natural man is dominated by flesh
The new man has overcome the dominion of sin (through Christ Jesus) but awaits the last trump ( resurrection ) to be fully changed.

In the meantime:
The Holy Spirit is invited in
We rebuke sin
We encourage one another
We use church discipline if sin is overtaking:
We set how far Satan can go (church discipline is about restoration).
We uplift Jesus and not ourselves.
The resurrection is not already past
Pentecost has happened for Jew and Gentile
The word is in our heart (new man)
The word is in our mind (new man)
Spiritual gifts exist
With our mind we serve the law of Christ
With our flesh the battle rages

The Holy Spirit is leading us into all truth.

eddif

Thank you my friend for your addition. Those facts are certainly worthy of remembering. Hey, I just want to let you know how much I look forward to your instructions. You appear to have a great grasp on the Scriptures and that always impresses me. I have a lot of respect for a man of the Word of God, and a man of the Word is a man in whom the Holy Spirit is delighted to reside and call His Temple.

 

[eddif]

Galatians 5:17 KJV
For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.

Let us give Holy Spirit the credit for the work.

Philippians 2:13 KJV
For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

God gets it done by His Spirit.
LOL. My wife chops the weeds at my feet (on the outside), and Holy Spirit works on the inside.

redneck
eddif