grace
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Posts posted by grace
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What is the basis of Abraham's argument that God should spare Sodom?
How does it relate to God's character?
1.The basis of Abraham's argument is , "will God destroy the wicked with the
righteous".?
2. Abraham REMINDS God of His righteous character in not condemning the righteous- Abraham asks the question, "will not the judge of all the earth
do right!
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How can prayer change God's mind without conflicting with the immutability
of God.?
Can God answer prayer for something outside of the scope of God's will?
1. Prayer can change God's mind (or rather God's action) without conflicting with the immutability of God, in a change in the circumstances or a change
in the person who is praying for something.
2. God can answer prayer for something outside of His Will, in the sense that He can grant the request of someone who stubbornly refuses God's
warnings and is determined to go his own way. EG. the prophet who wanted to curse God's people. This , however, does not change God's
character, desire and purpose.
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How can a wrong understanding of determination and predestination prevent us from praying the gutsy prayer that Moses prayed?
What do you call a belief that our prayers make no difference to God's response?
1. A wrong understanding of Determination and predestination can prevent
us from praying as Moses did, in that, we will not take prayer seriously, and
therefore , we will not exercise our faith to believe that "whatsoever we ask
we will receive".
2. To suggest that our prayer makes no difference to God, is to deny scripture which PLEADS with us to go into our prayer closet , and call upon the Father with the expectation that God will do and show us great and mighty things which we know not. Jesus sweat great drops of blood in prayer. James says our prayers are effectual. The bible says that -"Thy prayers and thine alms are come up for a memorial before God".Acts 10:4.
And Revelation tells us that our prayers are a SWEET INCENSE going up
to the Father.
N.B. How else can we communicate with the Father, if not by prayer??????
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What aspects in moses' prayer of intercession should we emulate in our own prayersS?Upon what logical grounds does Moses offer this bold appeal to God"What do you think it means to pray the promises of God.How does knowing the bible help you get your prayers answered?How does this help our prayers be within God's will?
We should emulate the COMPASSION and concern he had for the people
in interceding for them. We should remind God of His Word to take care of
His people. We should always let God know that He is a righteous, holy,
loving heavenly Father who wants the best for His children.
The grounds Moses uses is reminding God of His Word that He would bring
them into the promise land, and that He would provide for their every need.
He also reminds God that the heathen would say that their God was not
adequate enough to take care of His own, thus giving Him a bad reputation
among the heathen.
To pray the promises of God is to remind God of all the ways in which He says He will look after us, which is a covenant He has made with us, which
He is unable to break, because what God promised , He is able to perform.
Knowing the bible helps us get our prayers answered, because the more you
know God's Word, the more assurance you have that what God has promised , He will perform. He said He would supply our need: He said he will
heal our bodies, and He said He has prepared a place for us, etc..
Once we know the Word, then we know whether we are praying in or out
of God's will, and what to expect.
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What had the people done that was so bad?How can a loving God be angry?
Is God's sentence to destroy Israel and raise up a new nation through Moses justified?
The people had set their affection on idol gods , after witnessing the miracles
that God had performed. IN effect, they demonstrated what was really in their hearts, and were not fully committed to the God of Israel.
Angry is one of God's attributes- E.G. It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of THE living God. Our God is a consuming fire. In Chronicles, God says,
"If you forsake me, I will forsake you". Again, God is angry with the wicked
every day. HOW SAD IT IS FOR THOSE WHO THINK THAT GOD IS ONLY A
LOVING GOD?
God is justified, in whatever action or purpose He sets forth . Shall the clay
say to the potter, why have you made me so. Who, being God's counsellor
had directed Him.
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Why should we continually ask for forgiveness?How can unforgiveness on our part block God's blessing?How can unforgiveness block God's forgiveness?
1. We need to continually ask for God's forgiveness because we are constantly in a warfare between the flesh and the Spirit, as Paul indicated
in Romans 7/8. If we say that we have no sin, we decieve ourselves and the
truth is not in us. He that covereth his sins shall not prosper.
2. Unforgivness can block God's blessing, because, first, it is a SIN and God
said if we can not forgive others then He cannot forgive us. I thank God that
He has given us His Word, that "if we confess our sin, He is faithful to forgive us our sin and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
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Why do we seek to be independant of asking anyone for help? Whydo we seek to be independant of God?Why do we ask God to give us our daily bread if we can earn a living for ourselves?
1. We seek to be independant of asking others for help ,maybe, because
we don't want them to see us as lesser than they are, and also pride gets
in the way, in that , we don't want them to see our weaknesses.
2. We seek to be independant of God because we operate in the flesh and
want to take the credit for anything we do. It is also difficult to place everything we have into God's hands and trust Him to take care of us.
3. We ask God to give us our daily bread, because we have come to realize
that God is the One who provides for us and gives us the strenght to earn
our living. For in Him, we live, and move , and have our being.
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In what sense are we asking that the Father's kingdom should com
Why are we asking for the father's will to be done here on earth?
How should this prayer affect our living?
1. We are asking that God would manifest His power and glory through
us that we might affect the world for His purposes.
2. We are asking that the father's will be done here on earth so that
the kingdoms of the world will now be His (returned to its rightfull owner
after the fall).
3. It should affect our living, in that, we should follow the example that
Jesus has given us, in how our life should be guided by the Holy Spirit.
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What about our lives and words "hallows" the name of the Father?
What descrated it? How should we hallow the father when we begin to pray?
If we have received Christ, then we are to put on Christ . Only this morning in church, we were told to LIVE AS CHRIST LIVED, SPEAK AS CHRIST SPEAKS,
LOVE AS CHRIST LOVED. If we put on Christ every day and ask Him to
reveal himself to us (as we walk in obedience) then, I believe we hallow His name.
His name is descrated when we do and say those things that are unprofitable for a christian. When we walk in the world as though we belong
to this world, then we bring a shame on the name of Jesus.
IN prayer we can hallow His name by expressing God's greatness and reminding ourselves of all that God has created. In humility we come into
His gates with thanksgiving and into His courts with praise.
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In this context, what is the condition that must be met for the promise to be
valid?What is the limit for the fullfillment of the promise?What does the promise mean to you?
For God to supply our need, I believe I must be walking in obedience to His
will. I believe that I must be content in the situation I find myself, with an
ongoing desire to trust Him to meet all my needs. As the scripture says,
"Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and ALL THESE
THINGS shall be added unto you". IF GOD SO CLOTHE THE LILLIES OF THE
FIELD, WILL HE NOT CLOTHE YOU, BEING OF MORE VALUE?
There is NO LIMIT FOR THE FULLFILLMENT OF THE POMISE. However, I
believe it to be conditional upon our obedience and willingness to serve
Him with all of our heart.
The promise to me means that He will meet my every Need, as I look to
Him daily, and trust Him to supply that need, FOR WHAT HE HAS PROMISED,
HE IS ALSO ABLE TO PERFORM.
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How was the Phillipians' financial gifts credited to their heavenly account?
How were their gifts connected to their temporal blessings
When God placed His call on Paul to evangelize his part of the world, he
also called the Phillipians's to partner with Him for the great commission.
It is credited to their account, because we are all members of one body
and one member is not above another, but we all share in the ministries
God has gifted us with for the furtherance of His kingdom. Paul had
been a great teacher to the Phillipians in showing and demonstrated the
love of Christ in his life. Therefore, the Phillipian church were committed
to backing him financially, for the cause of Christ.
Paul said that God would SUPPLY ALL THEIR NEEDS, according to His riches
in glory by Christ Jesus. In giving to Paul, they were giving to God.
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what is the basis of Paul's contentment?Does this contentment undermine
ambition?What is necessary for us to achieve this kind of contentment?
I believe the basis of Paul's contentment is that He can SEE THE PRIZE
that is awaiting him, and that all the things he formally held to , he now
counts as dung, for the knowledge he can receive about Jesus. He is also
very aware that without Christ , all is vanity and vexation of Spirit.
This contentment does not undermine ambition, because he now has a
new and more sure GOAL to set his heart and mind upon- the high calling
of God in Christ Jesus.
For us to achieve this kind of contentment, we have to pursue God with all
of our heart, and lean not unto our own understanding, but in all our ways
to acknowledge Him, and He will direct our paths.
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How can a prosperity doctrine threaten christian ministry? In what prime
motivation in us does a teaching often appeal.In balance, what does the bible teach us about poverty and riches?
Prosperity doctrine, first and foremost, is an unhealthy doctrine. It appeals
to the flesh, which desires a materialistic lifestyle, leading to the downfall
of one who is truly seeking the will of God in his life. Prosperity is the world's
definition of success, but it will never fullfill the VOID in a person's life.
Money is not the root of all evil, but THE LOVE OF MONEY is the root of all
evil. "Love not the world , nor the things that are in the world; if any man
love the world , the love of the Father is not in him".
The prime motivation is the motivation to please the **** of the flesh.
God tells us the balance about poverty and riches is summed up in the
passage, "Seek ye first the kingdom of God and all these things shall be
added unto you".
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Why is mind control necessary for successs?For mental and spiritual peace?
What have you decided to focus on instead of your anxieties?How is this
working for you?
The bible says, " The mind is hostile to God, it is not subject to God, neither
indeed can be". Most of us have been influenced in our mind by the mindset
of the ways of the world early in life. We now must train and discipline our
mind to receive the things of God and to set our affections upon Him.
We are cautioned by the Word to be transformed in our mind by focusing and
meditating upon the Word of God DAILY. God's words are pure words , as
silver refined in a furnace of fire, seven times. I like what David said-"Thy
Word O Lord have I hid in mine heart that I might not sin against thee".
The Word has AUTHORITY; therefore , come under this authority and be
subject to it.
It gives mental and spiritual peace in that we know that God is not a man
that He should lie; therefore we can put our trust in it. God's Word is a lamp
unto our feet and a light unto our path.
I believe that we should focus on the promises and claim them to overcome
anxieties. I understand that worry is a SIN . Let us therefore put off the
deeds of the flesh and put on the righteousness of Jesus Christ , who for the
joy set before Him, endured the cross , despising the shame.
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How does making our request known to God build a relationship and trust?What is God's part in the promise of peace?
The bible says, " Be careful for nothing , but in everything by prayer and supplication , Let your requests be known unto God and the peace of God
which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds in Christ
Jesus." Also, "CAll upon me and I will shew you great and mighty things,
which you do not know". Making our request, WITH THANKSGIVING, will
build an intimate relationship with the Father. The answer to our request,
whether it be no, yes, or wait will develop trust, maturity, and dependance
upon the Lord in our christian walk.
God's Word says, " Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on thee". I believe God's part in the promise of peace is to settle
our hearts in the issues that confront us.
WHEN PEACE LIKE A RIVER ATTENTETH MY SOUL
AND SORROWS LIKE SEA BILLOWS ROLL
WHATEVER MY LOT, THOU HAST TAUGHT ME TO SAY,
IT IS WELL, IT IS WELL WITH MY SOUL
p.s When someone in the forum shares a personal need , I immediately
stop and pray for that individual. This would be good for all of us , to stenghten and encourage each other in the faith.
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How is a request in prayer altered by giving thanksgiving in prayer?How does thanksgiving affect our faith when we pray?
IN everything give thanks , FOR THIS IS THE WILL OF GOD concerning you.
When we offer up thanks , we have a better grasp of prayer than those
who pray , but have no intimacy with God. Whoso offereth praise glorifieth
me: and to him that ordereth his conversation aright will I shew the salvation of God. When Jesus healed the ten lepers , only one returned to
give thanks. Jesus asked , "where are the other nine".
GIVE THANKS WITH A GRATEFUL HEART
GIVE THANKS TO THE HOLY ONE
GIVE THANKS, BECAUSE HE'S GIVEN JESUS CHRIST HIS SON
....FOR WHAT THE LORD HAS DONE FOR ME-GIVE THANKS.
Thanksgiving affects our faith, because we are spiritually alert to the
things God is doing in our lives
P.S. Give thanks , Forum, for the privilege to be able to communicate in the
Word and fellowship with other saints in Joyful Heart Ministries.
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Is rejoicing in the Lord a feeling or an action?How should you seek to fullfill
this command if you don't feel like it?What is the effect of rejoicing?
Rejoicing in the Lord is , I believe, First, an action, which then becomes a
feeling. I believe as you begin to sing and praise the Lord from your heart
then the Holy Spirit is activated in your praise life. IN the Old Testament,
it states, "And when they begin sing and praise, the Lord set ambushments against the children of Ammon."It's obvious from this scripture, that the
Lord responded to their praise by giving them victory.
YOu can seek to fulfill this command by reading the WORD, especially the
Psalms, where David demonstrates how to exalt God, even in times when
I am sure he did not feel like it. " IN everything give thanks, for this is the
will of God concerning you". WE ARE COMMANDED IN THE LAST PSALM, "
Let everything that hath breath, praise the Lord".
The effect of rejoicing is that it restores your communication and fellowship
with God, and it puts you back on track in the will of God.
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Why is recognizing and affirming our citizenship and allegion vital to discipleship?How does it keep us from temptations?What are the dangers
of a church combining and confusing the concepts of temporal patriotism
with the christian's true citizenship?
We must always be on guard to recognize and affirm our heavenly citizenship, to see that the WORLD and its enticements do not creep into
our lives to break our relationship with God. The enemy offered Jesus all
the kingdoms of the world and the glories of them (an enticement of flesh),
to which we are all drawn to at times. Jesus was quick to respond with the
Word of God, and to rebuke the enemy. We ought to do likewise.
Affirming our heavenly calling keeps us on track or the path that God has set
out for us to the prize that is ahead of us. Eyes have not seen nor ears heard what God has prepared for those who love Him. WHY EXCHANGE OUR
BIRTHRIGHT FOR A POT OF SOUP AS ESAU DID????
Render unto Caesar what is Caesar's ; render unto God what is God's.
Don't get caught up in the world's politics in seeking man's approval , instead
of the approval of God, and that longing to hear from Him,"WELL DONE THY
GOOD AND FAITHFUL SERVANT.".
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How can Paul be so bold as to ask others to imitate Him?Why are we so hesitant to do this?How does God use imitation to build disciples?Who is
likely to imitate you?
I believe Paul was highly qualified to ask others to imitate him; afterall, he
had this marvelous encounter with Jesus on the damascus road. He met
truth , face to face. In reality, once we have an encounter with Jesus, we
should never be the same; but take up our cross daily and follow Him.
We are hesitant because we fail to let go of the flesh, the world and the
pride of life. I notice that a lot of the forum wanted to disqualify themselves
as good imitators. I believe this is wrong; God sees the value in you as well
as the areas of your lives that God is working on. YOU ARE A WORK IN PROGRESS; accept who you are and let the spirit of God bring about the
maturity in you.
God uses imitation to build disciples, because we truly need to see those who press on in their christian walk, even when the going is rough. They
see the prize and are unrelenting in thier desire to please God.
I do hope that at least my children will imitate me in my daily desire to know
Christ and the plan he has for my life
P.S. Please pray that I will find my ministry in my local church.
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What is it like to be called upwards by God?Have you ever experienced this?What causes God's call to become dim in our hearing?How can we renew our
hearing of His call?What is the content of this message?
To be called upwards by God is very special, inasmuch as God chose us before the foundation of the world. God said , " ye are a chosen people,
a royal priesthood , a peculiar people that we should show forth His praises."
I experienced this on Nov. 9,1975 in a morning church service-an inner voice
that required me to make the choice of salvation.
God' call becomes dim to our hearing when the world becomes attractive to
me, when one slacks off on their daily bible reading, when prayer becomes
a chore more than a desire and when God isn't given priority in a time schedule.
I believe the content of this message is , " That I may know Him", and the
power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings.
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How can our past get in the way of our quest to know Christ?What do you need to forget, so that you can focus on Christ today and tomorrow?Is there
forgiving that you need to do so you can grow in Christ?
Our past can get in the way because it was the thing that kept us in bondage and ignorant to the things of God. Being in Christ, we are dead
to the things of the world having no further affection for those things that
oppose the work of God in our lives. "No man , having put his hand to the
plow and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God."
I need to forget the failures and disappointment of living a selfish life. I need
to put the past behind me and like Paul, press toward those things that bring pleasure to God.
I believe I have forgiven all those who have caused me hurt; I know that
it is my desire to do so.
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What does it mean to know Christ?Does this mean to have faith? or to have
a personal relationship?Is it possible to have a personal relationship with Christ without faith?Is it possible to have faith without a personal relationship?Where are you on your quest to know Christ?
To know Christ is to have an intimate relationship with Him, a daily seeking
to know His will for your life. To know Him, and be ready to obey Him in whatever He calls you to do. Also, to come to the realization that you are
dead to sin and alive unto God, with a constant desire to press on , even in
times that we don't understand what God is doing. Recently, I have heard
from John Hagee the statement, " When you're down to nothing, God is up
to something".
P.s. I hope this is true, for it seems at this time in my life, God has closed
all doors of opportunity to me. I NEED YOUR PRAYERS.
To truly know Christ, faith and a personal relationship go hand in hand.
you CANNOT know Christ or have a personal relationship with Him without
faith, for "without faith , it is impossible to please Him".
F A I T H (acrostic) Forsaking all I trust Him.
In my quest to know Christ , I am on a journey every day of my life. What
we know about Christ, you can put on the head of a needle. To know Christ
is to know God-our omnipresent,omnisicient, omnipotent Lord.
Don't you think it strange, that Paul, one of God greatest servants, goes on
to make the statement late in life , "That I May know Him". If Paul doesn"t
know Christ , then who does?????.
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How does righteousness obtained through faith differ from righteousness
obtained through the law?Society's view of christianity?Why is this concept
of righteousness by faith so difficult to grasp?
AS indicated by most of the forum, righteousness by the law depends on
self-effort or the golden rule. Righteousness by faith is accepting and
receiving the righteousness of Jesus as provided by the cross.
" For He had made Him to be sin for us, who knew no sin, that we might
be made the righteousness of God through Him".
Society sees Christianity as a religion, as a crutch, and sometimes as fanaticism because their works are in the dark and they will not have
the light of God exposing their lives.
The concept of righteousness by faith is difficult to grasp by society because
from birth they have been taught that you must work for everything you get
in life. They believe in the self-made man and that they will be rewarded for
their efforts and accomplishments when this life is over.
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Why isn't Paul merely Neutral about his religious pedigress?Why does he consider it
loss, dung?IN what way could your religious background be an impediment to your faith?
Paul can no longer give credence to his religious pedigree because of his
encounter with the living God on the damascus road. He is a new creature
with a new vision and committment.
He considers it dung, because his former beliefs have no substance when
compared to the Word of the living God. Once he had a religion ; now he
has a relationship.
My religious background could be an impediment to my faith, because it was
all based on manmade religion with no hope for the future. Christ has now
given me hope which brings no shame.
Q2. Humility and Boldness
in 3. Abraham's Prayer for Sodom (Genesis 18:16-33)
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How did Abraham demonstrate his humility before God?Why must boldness
be tempered with humility?
1.Although Abraham knew that God had CALLED him for His purposes, Abraham knew His POSITION, as he called upon the JUDGE OF ALL THE EARTH, and I believe he was reverant in his approach to God. In other
words, Abraham humbled his heart before God, and God knows the
temperment of our hearts.
2. Similar to answer in Question l, we must realize that although we have
been called for service in God's kingdom, we too must realize our lowly estate and approach God in reverant holiness, as the priest entered into
the holy of holies with proper preparation to do so. However, once prepared,
we are invited to come boldly before the throne of God. (Hebrews 4:16).