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In my personal life, when I am in a crisis and need the Fathers help, His answer seems to always arrive at the very last minute. When all hope is gone and I have started making preparations for the worse to come. Later, when it passes and I look back, I realize Gods loving hands were always there. Like He paused and observed my reactions to their conclusion before He cupped His hands to pick me back up again. God tells us in 1 Peter: “You may have to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire- may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.”

the issues in my life keep piling up. some prayers went unanswered. Today i was thinking "what would you do if it is your child?" as in put one on another shoes and realize everyone is someone's child. and then i realized " i am His child" but i can't move Him at the same time. i am in so much pain and isolation right now, i just could not do it anymore! Where are you Lord, why have you ABANDONED ME! i CAN'T DO THIS ANYMORE!

Hi maryjayne, I hear your cry. Yes for us it is soooo hard, but praise the Lord He will do it in us. Keep yielding at the various steps along the way and lo and behold you will find it does get easier as He is in us doing it through us. Each of these steps are over much time. First we learn to not let the `flesh` and its incessant call control us. Second we learn that our `self` life, our personality with its gifts and abilities like to run the show. After many a trial we learn not to go at our pace but to wait on the Lord as to what He would have us do or not do, speak or not speak. Finally we come to the inner life where the Lord in our spirit holds sway. People will know the difference and be drawn to the Lord, (not to us). An old classic `The Normal Christian Life,` by Watchman Nee, goes through these stages and explains the process very well. regards, Marilyn.

Our great peril if we won’t let God answer and remove our doubts! Each of us is choosing to believe God or doubt God, moment by moment, depending on what or who we are looking at, and the thoughts we are allowing to occupy our minds: Matt 14:29 So He (Jesus) said, "Come." And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus. Peter heard with his heart Jesus speak the word of God. God’s words impart faith, the ability to believe. Peter was thus enabled to walk on the water of God’s word, and to do what Jesus called him to do, which otherwise couldn’t have been done - So too with us: v. 30 But when he (Peter) saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, "Lord, save me!" When Peter took his eyes off Jesus and looked full on at his circumstances, and thought about them with his reasoning faculties, faith died and doubt and fear gained control. He started to drown, but, in a last gasp of faith he cried out to Jesus for help, and he was saved: v. 31 And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, "O you of little faith, why did you doubt?" Everything God does requires our believing His word to us, doubt prevents Him from helping us: James 1:6-7 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; Heb 10:39 But we are not of those who draw back to perdition (destruction, through doubt), but of those who (continue to) believe to the saving of the soul. Jn 20:27 Jesus, “…Do not doubt, but believe.” We can doubt God, as to whether He exists, or is willing, fair or right. We can also doubt ourselves as to our ability or need to trust and obey God. What or who we look at controls whether our thoughts are of trust or of doubt. All sin causes doubt and doubt leads to fear: Heb 12:2 Looking (with heart faith) unto Jesus (who is the word of God) the author (source) and finisher (increaser) of our faith… KJV Heb 3:12 Take heed (listen with the intent to obey), brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil (sinful) heart of unbelief (doubt), in departing from the living God. Rev 21:8 …the fearful, and unbelieving… But what about Grace? Grace is God’s word; it can’t work if there isn’t faith to receive it: Rom 4:16 Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace... KJV Acts 20:32 So now, brethren, I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified. Heb 13:9 Do not be carried about with various and strange doctrines (words or thoughts that contradict God’s words). For it is good that the heart be established by grace (God’s words), not with foods (thoughts and words that feed the heart with doubt and falsehoods) which have not profited those who have been occupied with them. As our hearts think on God’s words, or on Satan’s lies, either faith or doubt is produced: Heb 11:6 But without faith (to receive more grace) it is impossible to please Him... Rom 5:17 ...Those who receive (by faith) abundance of grace (God’s words) and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ. Jn 10:10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy (our faith). Peter began to doubt, but called on Jesus and was saved, so must we or we’ll go down: Jer 33:3 Call unto Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.' When doubting thoughts come, and they will come because that’s what Satan does. He challenges our faith in God by imparting to us doubting thoughts, questioning thoughts, reasoning thoughts, to get us to waiver in our faith. He did this with Eve saying to her “Did God really say...” (Gen 3:1). Our faith is more precious than gold (1 Pe 1:7), we must not allow doubts to fester and so get a hold on us; we must go immediately to God for help: Phil 4:6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests (questions) be made known to God; Heb 4:16 Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace (by hearing more of His words) to help in time of need. Ps 27:14 Wait on the LORD; Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart (with His words that impart faith); Wait, I say, on the LORD! Rom 10:17 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing of the word of God. God says those who have let Him make and keep them righteous, live by faith (Heb 10:38) and involve Him and trust Him in all their ways. Doubting thoughts will inevitably come, but most will be quickly overcome by those Christians who receive their daily bread of God’s words and hence keep on growing in faith. Disobedience to God will always give rise to doubt. If doubts can’t be overcome it is imperative for any Christian to quickly eliminate sin, if any, and seek God. For God alone is the source and increaser of our faith (Heb 12:2). God will always be found by every Christian who seeks Him with a pure heart (Jer 29:13, Matt 5:8) and He will give them the exact words that always restore their faith. But if Christians allow doubts to continue unabated, they will now be given even more doubting thoughts by their merciless adversary, Satan. Doubt will spread like a cancer with its goal of ruining a Christian’s faith in God and the consequential loss of their soul. Faith is the victory! This overcoming faith comes when we hear God speak with our hearts, not with our heads: Rom 8:7 Because the carnal mind (the human intellect, including that of Christians) is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law (or rule) of God... Rom 8:6 Now the mind of the flesh. which is sense and reason without the Holy AMP Spirit, is death, death that comprises all the miseries arising from sin... Rom 10:10 For with the heart (which is the spirit) a person believes... AMP The words God speaks to us are spirit (John 6:63), they are intended to be received by us first in our spirits not the mind of our flesh; to which our spirits will then communicate them: Prov 3:5-6 Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding (your natural ability to reason and doubt, based on what you see); In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths. Our faith comes from the words God speaks to our hearts, and works by our love for God: Gal 5:6 For if we are in Christ Jesus, neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith...working through love. AMP Luke 7:47 (Jesus) ...Her sins which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much. But to whom little is (thought to have been) forgiven, the same loves little. Our love for God is increased the same way our faith is, as our hearts receive His words: 1 John 2:5 But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him... 2 Thes 3:5 Now may the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God...(into His word) Jn 1:1 …the word was (is) God… We Christians are not saved by our works, but we are saved for works! We can easily say we have faith but if our actions don’t correspond to it, we are deluded: Jam 2:14 What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works (that reflect that faith)? Can faith save him? Jam 2:17 Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works (to evidence it), is dead. True faith, “God’s faith”, which is the nature of Christ always desires to obey His Father: Heb 10:7 (Jesus) …I have come to do your will, O God…, So can you and I if, …I live by the faith of the Son of God… Gal 2:20 KJV Rm 1:5 Through him we received grace and apostleship to call all the Gentiles to the obedience that comes from faith for his name's sake. Abraham believed God. Jesus says to us “Have faith in God” it’s the #1 thing in Christianity: Rom 4:18-21 When everything was hopeless, Abraham believed anyway, deciding to live not on the basis of what he saw he couldn't do but on what God said he would do...He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief (doubt) but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform. MSGE/NKJV Mark 11:22 Jesus answered and said to them, “Have faith in God”. John 6:29 Jesus replied, This is the work (the service) that God asks of you: that you believe in the One Whom He has sent, that you cleave to, trust, rely on, and have faith in His Messenger, (and the words He speaks to you) AMP To be free from ruining doubts we must live in Christ and Christ must increasingly live in us: To grow in confidence, or faith, toward God requires constant daily fellowship with Him, in the Spirit. And, an ever deepening knowledge of Him through His word as revealed to our spirits by the Holy Spirit. This alone will overcome any doubts about God’s existence or His character that arise, either due to the widespread false doctrines in the Church or due to the often initially perplexing turn of events, or behavior of some people, in everyday life. John 6:56 (Jesus) He who eats My flesh (continues to receive My words - Jer 15:16) and NKJV drinks My blood (obeys My Spirit 1 Cor 12:13) abides (lives) in Me, and I in him. Eph 3:12 In whom (that is, when we live in Christ) we have boldness and access with confidence (and without doubts) by the faith of Him. KJV God has made provision in every way to build us up in our most holy faith, so let’s cry out to our Father, “I believe; help my unbelief!” Let’s feed and keep on feeding on His Faithfulness! Amen

Forgive the sins of others. In fact, the Lord's prayer says, "forgive us our sins, BECAUSE we forgive the sins of others". However, like pretty much every other concept taught in the bible, it's ridiculously simple, or it can involve a lifetime of study. And just to throw some confusion in, the only place the bible tells us to ask God for forgiveness is in the Lord's prayer. Everywhere else it talks of repentence, but not directly asking for forgiveness. And to take it to the next step, he never tells us to wait until someone asks for forgiveness before we forgive them. We are admonished to forgive, EVEN IF the person has not repented, said they were sorry or asked for forgiveness. And when you consider that we are supposed to be like him and consider the implications of that, our own salvation (and everyone elses) becomes, well, sort of complicated - and simpler. FWIW, I believe that forgiving others is something you do for yourself, not them.

I'm not sure what you're asking but we have to forgive everyone who hurts us or wrongs us. It's not easy, believe me. But this is what we must do.

Thought these might help someone to grow in Christ; “As Christians are goal should be to have Christ rule in us. The only thing stopping this from happening is "us". We are told in Scripture that when "Christ died, we died", this is the only way to come from under the power of "self". For our separation from God is our fall into the life of this world. It is the life of this world that keeps us separated from God. So it is the giving up or "denying self" which is the one thing necessary. For a "will" other than this, is saying the same thing the Jews did, when they said "we will not have this Man rule over us," except, it says "we will not have this man rule in us". Self or the life of this world is all the evil that we possess, for "we" are our worst enemy. It is "us" that cause us all our problems, so a complete death to "us" is what's necessary. But "Praise be To God" we have such a total and complete salvation in Christ. For Christ came to die, so that when He died we died, that we might be "born again" (or a new creation) to a living hope, where it would be as natural to behave, as the fallen nature is to misbehave, for that which is "born of God, sins not". Why, you might ask, is the life of this world so bad? It is because the life of this world elevates itself above that which is right. This is what’s required to be set free from the power of our fallen nature’s. We need to come to the place where we would rather “die than sin”. When this realization has been reached, the truth of our being “dead in Christ” is the one truth that will bring victory over sin. Until this realization is reached a person will be fighting their fallen nature’s in the power of their own efforts. It is when a person sees, that it would be better to die than live in sin, that freedom from the old nature is at hand. For this is why Christ died, to free us from our old nature’s. The realization that “we died when He died”, makes the scripture “reckon yourself dead into sin, but alive unto God” become your life. For you see that our “being crucified with Christ” is the foundation of our salvation in Christ. May we all come to know by experience what Christ has brought to mankind by His death and resurrection. Death to the old, that a new life might be made real in the life of the believer. For Christ came not to “fix” you but to “replace” you with a new creation. It was humanity that killed Christ on the cross. It is self that kills Christ in the human heart today. Self is that which dethrones Christ from His temple, which temple we are. Every action is either self or Christ. For there are only two movers, self or Christ. We are told in scripture; Romans 6:16 (KJV) Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? Scripture says we are given a choice as to which master we will obey. This choice is given to us in everything we do. Regardless of the circumstances, it’s always a choice of either responeding out from us or Christ. This choice is made by the will. For scripture say; “the will is present” So the will to do righteousness is in every believer, it’s just a matter of yielding to this new “life” that has been brought to birth in the heart of the believing soul. What is “self”? Self is all that we were born in Adam with. It is “us”. Jesus came to save us from us. Our own wills, our own desires, our own selves. “Putting on Christ” what does this mean? How is a believer suppose to understand this? In real world applications how is that suppose to be manifested? As believers we become born again. That is a new birth that needs to grow. The proof that it is growing is we are walking in newness of life. We are overcoming the old man and his deeds. If this is not happening and we find ourselves still full of bitterness, jealousy, own will, self righteous, covetousness, envy, pride, wrath, and any and all sin. Something is wrong somewhere. Christ came to deliver us from the old man and his deeds. Anything less than this is not appropriating the salvation we have in Christ. As long as we don’t hate sin enough to be willing to die rather than sin, we will never know victory over the old man. That is what it takes, to be willing to give up all of yourself to death rather than sin. When this place is reached in the believers life, he will have no choice but to cry out like Paul did “oh wretched man that I am who will deliver me from the body of this death”. It is than that he is in the proper place where Christ can do all in him. For until he sees that all his works and effort is futile. He will continuly lean upon his own learning, his own strength of will, his own self. It is to the degree one apprehends his “death in Christ” it is to that degree he will be set free from his fallen nature. For Christ says “we die daily” it is a constant reckoning yourself dead onto sin in any and all situations. When this is learn by experience it puts such a smile on the face that nothing, no trial, no tribulation can remove. The proof that one is still a carnal believer is he will have no abiding joy, no abiding peace, no victory over sin. He might have it for a day or two, even a week or two, but it will never abide. For sin will get in the way, and fall he does. He will serve the Lord to the best of his ability, but that’s were his relationship will stay. It will be constant sinning, repenting, sinning repenting. He may have great learning he may know scripture but they will only be understood like one who study’s a science text book, he will know facts, but the learning will go no deeper. Self can only understand through the intellect and in the intellect the learning will stay. Till self is put to death self will rule. Deny self is the one command given that will put on all virtues and free one from all their vices. For we all know believers that sound so religious but you see them get jostled and they bite and devour, make great excuses why they are justified in the evil. They blame everyone else, but they never yield to gentleness, meekness, kindness, love. Never coming to just “love one another from a pure heart”. For God only blesses righteousness, will always only bless righteousness. Righteousness from a pure heart. Anything else is something “other”, and has no standing before God. God has made a way for every believer to walk in a victorious Christian life. It is through “reckoning yourself dead onto sin but alive onto God”. This teaching is the one and only way given to man to overcome the world, the flesh and the devil. The proof that this teaching is learned is that it will produce righteousness in a believers life in all they do, say, think, dream, hope, desire. Righteousness will be the only thing they will search for in any and all situations. The fruit of the Spirit will rule in all they do. That Christ would manifest Himself in His body to make this a living reality in all our life’s. We all know forsaking all our wicked and evil deeds is necessary in turning to God. Seeing how it was Adams fall into the life of this world that was his separation from God. It is the life of this world that is the “sin factory.” It is necessary to turn or repent or give up, whichever word you would choose to use, the life of this world or that which “births sin”. Whether you choose to call it, the “sin factory” “I” “me” “mine” “self” it is all the same thing. It is that which was “born in Adam.” That is what needs to be given up for a believer to grow or have Christ formed in them. A believer can choose to remain a “babe” in Christ or choose to grow, that is totally the desire of their own heart. For it is with the heart, man believes and desires. A giving up all that was “born in Adam.” It is a turning from “own will” or our own opinion of right and wrong, to Gods right and wrong. Which is that which is “right” and ”wrong” in all reality and all truth. Seeing how it was the fall into the life of this world that birthed our own opinions of right and wrong. It is a total giving up of the life of this world, that is what true repentance is from it’s deepest understanding. That is that which is meant by the call to repentance. A total giving up that which birthed itself in Adam when he sinned. The question may be asked why is the life of this world so evil and wicked. The answer is because the life of this world is that life that has come up with its own opinions of that which is right and wrong. Or in other words elevated itself above that which is right. Or in still other words elevated itself above or against all righteousness.” Much love in Christ, Not me

Scripture says; John 5,39-40 39 "You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; it is these that testify about Me; 40 and you are unwilling to come to Me so that you may have life.” We are told here that just “searching the scriptures” is not enough. We are told that what also is necessary is “a coming to me (Christ) that you might receive life”. This is being a “doer of the Word”. It says it is necessary to actually go to Jesus so that He Himself would give those things that are promised and spoken about in scripture. For the purpose of scripture (the written Word of God) is to instruct one where to go to receive those things spoken in Scripture. It is to point away from itself to the Living Word of God which is Him that can give those things spoken about in scripture. It is a going to Jesus to have and to grow this fellowship with Him that we are called to. This “one and one” relationship with Him, is that that causes growth. Scriptures are like a map to a certain city. They can tell you where and how to go, but they are just instructions of where and what you are to do. They have no life in themselves, only as one is obedient to doing of what is in them will they find life. For scripture says “be doers of the Word not hearers only deceiving your own selves”. For we all have encountered and know people who know scripture upon scripture, can quote chapter and verse on most any subject, yet when you conversate or have dealing with them or you watch them as they deal with others they lack any evidence of Christ in their lives. They have no joy. The Fruits of the Spirit are lacking, and all you receive is humanity covered over with the words of scripture. But no “life”. Not to say these, are, or aren’t believers. This is what the Pharisees claim to fame was, they knew the scriptures, yet not the One the scriptures spoke of. This is what the above scripture is speaking to. Knowing what the words of scripture say does not make one a follower of Christ. It is going to Him that we might receive the life that only He can give. Scripture speaks of the stubbornness of those that have great knowledge of scripture yet are “unwilling to come to me (Christ)”. Emphasizing the fact that there are those that regardless of how much scripture(s) they know they utterly refuse to go to Christ to have that personal relationship with Him that is absolutely necessary for a believer to grow. Blessings to all that are willing to see and search out this truth for themselves. Much love in Christ, Not me

Bless you! May we continue to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. That today we might know Him a little more than yesterday and tomorrow a little more than today. Much love in Christ, Not me

That's wonderful Godly truth, brother.....praise the Lord.

One example is when Our Father Love states that He hated Essua befire he was even born of flesh. Also Our Father states that some are pre-destined. Also; " In the Beginning" the first statement in the textbook, is not about Temporal earth; it about the earth that was created to be inhabited forever; Before the overthrow of Satan/Death. Our Father does not start Temporal earth until the second day of creation; as obviously the 1st day of creation is Our Fathers perfect plan of Salvation in & through HIS Annointed One; The Light : ) But that plan didn't start until Our Father Love's Spirit stopped brooding over the waters; and dont forget what Peter said; Brethern, i would that ye be not ignorant of this one thing; a day of Almighty God "IS" as a thousand years of man and a thousand years of man "IS" as a day to Almighty God. Time is only a measuring tool : )

That is right sister . Its n the spiritiual sense as our Lord walked . Teaching truth and not mix . And any leadership role in any church should be well , well matured before even being considered for the part . They must be very very well instructed in the bible and have had all their senses well excercised to fully be able to determine even the smallest of leaven and correct it . Their love must be a love that honors JESUS first , a love that truly desires the good of every one in that church . He should put himself , his needs , below that of all in his church . His concern should be for their welfare first above even his own . I truly truly believe that . He should do all for the sake of others , placing Christ first , doctrine as a absolute necessity . He should live as DID our Lord and the apostles who gave wise instruction . And our Lord and those apostels , DID not LIVE better than their flocks . Jesus never ate better than they did . He never wore better clothes , Had we seen HIM while he was on earth , You would never have heard any message that would have encouraged folks to desire money . Nor the apostels either . In fact the only few times paul would make mention of money , it was not to buy him a chariot so he could preach the gospel , he did not say Church buy me a big ship so I can sail and not have to be on ships of men . Paul asked for money , ONLY and I repeat ONLY for the sake of those poor persecuted ones who were lacking basic food and necessities . The man Lorded nothing over the flock . Peter neither , james neither . we hear dire warnings about not heaping up from those men. They did not say well if he is heaping it up for himself and making a fortune HE is blessed of GOD . Never did they focus on money . THEY focused ONLY on the poor and their needs , AND mainly ON THE GOSPLE and the furtherance of that gospel . They did not cast the gospel or things that might offend aside for the sake of unity and world peace . JESUS did not live with one stitch or one meal better than his own desciples . IMAGINE that . THE ONLY ONE WHO WAS TRULY WORTHY for all to serve HIM , INSTEAD HE SERVED THEM . Now let the leaders and even the flocks GO and LEARN THAT and do likewise .

'And Jacob dwelt in the land wherein his father was a stranger, in the land of Canaan.' (Gen 37:1) Praise God!

'And these are the names of the dukes that came of Esau, .. according to their families, .... after their places, ...... by their names; Duke Timnah, duke Alvah, duke Jetheth, .. Duke Aholibamah, duke Elah, duke Pinon, .... Duke Kenaz, duke Teman, duke Mibzar, ...... Duke Magdiel, duke Iram: these be the dukes of Edom, .. according to their habitations .... in the land of their possession: ...... he is Esau the father of the Edomites.' (Genesis 36:40-43) Praise God!

'These are the dukes that came of the Horites; .. duke Lotan, duke Shobal, duke Zibeon, duke Anah, .... Duke Dishon, duke Ezer, duke Dishan: ...... these are the dukes that came of Hori, ........ among their dukes in the land of Seir. And these are the kings that reigned in the land of Edom, .. before there reigned any king over the children of Israel. And Bela the son of Beor reigned in Edom: .. and the name of his city was Dinhabah. And Bela died, .. and Jobab the son of Zerah of Bozrah reigned in his stead. And Jobab died, .. and Husham of the land of Temani reigned in his stead. And Husham died, .. and Hadad the son of Bedad, .... who smote Midian in the field of Moab, reigned in his stead: ...... and the name of his city was Avith. And Hadad died, .. and Samlah of Masrekah reigned in his stead. And Samlah died, .. and Saul of Rehoboth by the river reigned in his stead. And Saul died, .. and Baalhanan the son of Achbor reigned in his stead. And Baalhanan the son of Achbor died, .. and Hadar reigned in his stead: .... and the name of his city was Pau; ...... and his wife's name was Mehetabel, ........ the daughter of Matred, the daughter of Mezahab.' (Genesis 36:29-39) Praise God!

'These are the sons of Seir the Horite, .. who inhabited the land; .... Lotan, and Shobal, and Zibeon, and Anah, ...... And Dishon, and Ezer, and Dishan: ........ these are the dukes of the Horites, .......... the children of Seir in the land of Edom. And the children of Lotan were Hori and Hemam; .. and Lotan's sister was Timna. And the children of Shobal were these; .. Alvan, and Manahath, and Ebal, Shepho, and Onam. And these are the children of Zibeon; both Ajah, and Anah: .. this was that Anah that found the mules in the wilderness, .... as he fed the asses of Zibeon his father. And the children of Anah were these; .. Dishon, and Aholibamah the daughter of Anah. And these are the children of Dishon; .... Hemdan, and Eshban, and Ithran, and Cheran. The children of Ezer are these; .. Bilhan, and Zaavan, and Akan. The children of Dishan are these; Uz, and Aran.' (Genesis 36:20-28) Praise God!

'These were dukes of the sons of Esau: .. the sons of Eliphaz the firstborn son of Esau; .... duke Teman, duke Omar, duke Zepho, duke Kenaz, ...... Duke Korah, duke Gatam, and duke Amalek: ........ these are the dukes that came of Eliphaz in the land of Edom; .......... these were the sons of Adah. And these are the sons of Reuel Esau's son; .. duke Nahath, duke Zerah, duke Shammah, duke Mizzah: .... these are the dukes that came of Reuel in the land of Edom; ...... these are the sons of Bashemath Esau's wife. And these are the sons of Aholibamah Esau's wife; .. duke Jeush, duke Jaalam, duke Korah: .... these were the dukes that came of Aholibamah ...... the daughter of Anah, Esau's wife. These are the sons of Esau, who is Edom, .. and these are their dukes.' (Genesis 36:15-19) Praise God!

My observation is that this is where many Christians miss the boat in thinking that trust and confidence in God is something that we can quickly produce on our own by trying hard to eliminate doubts by trying hard to believe more. Trust and confidence in God is something that naturally grows over time as we walk with Him over weeks, months, years, and decades, as we see His work in our lives and others' lives, and as we grow spiritually. It's interesting that the Greek word for faith (πιστις) is found in Galatians 5:22 and is considered fruit which should naturally grow in our lives.

I can assure you that the spiritual world with darkness and wickedness exist and hence the reason we are told to put on the full armor of God as shown in the OP scripture verses. If you don't understand that the christian life is one of war, [not of flesh and blood], then you cannot relate to the OP scripture announcement. What does it mean to "wrestle", not to fight or war ?, but this war is not with worldly mechanisms, but spiritual in nature. Until the christian really comes to understand this as outlined in scripture then he is left vulnerable to deceptions and the tactics of the schemer and accuser of the brethren s. A christian MUST come to terms who is enemy is as he thread along in hostile environments. Many a believer only think his life is in the tangible world that he lives in, when scripture shows that it is both spiritual and flesh. Don't know about others, but the verse below I have encountered many times and can testify to the truth of it here today. The christian also must understand that the spiritual world has no boundaries in the sense of physical attributes and attacks and harassment and whatever else can come at any time and place, hence the term "spiritual warfare". Ephesians 6 King James Version (KJV) 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.

How true! The Bible says....” blessed men GO THROUGH valleys of weeping”——- key words being” go through” “God is close to those whose hearts are breaking” I know it’s easy to say when we are not the ones being tested.....but God will enable you....He gives us tough shoes for tough journeys.God bless.

Greetings to all in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, MM, Jesus makes it rather clear what “great tribulation” is in Matt 24, if one will simply observe the time-related words and the connecting adverbs, like “therefore”. Mat 24:3 And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world? [Note that the context of Christ's answer is the end of the age, the time period of His parousia] Mat 24:4 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. Mat 24:5 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. Mat 24:6 And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. Mat 24:7 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. Mat 24:8 All these are the beginning of sorrows. Mat 24:9 Then [following the beginning of sorrows] shall they deliver you up to be afflicted [thlipsis], and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake. Mat 24:10 And then [during this persecution] shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another. Mat 24:11 And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. Mat 24:12 And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. Mat 24:13 But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. Mat 24:14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then [when the gospel has been preached in all the world] shall the end come. Mat 24:15 When [the timing of the defiling of the temple spoken of by Daniel] ye therefore [refers back to the persecution that follows the beginning of sorrows in verse 9] shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:) Mat 24:16 Then [at the defiling of the temple, the abomination of desolation, which begins unprecedented persecution] let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains: Mat 24:17 Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house: Mat 24:18 Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes. Mat 24:19 And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days! Mat 24:20 But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day: Mat 24:21 For then [at the defiling of the temple] shall be great tribulation [thlipsis], such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. Mat 24:22 And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened. Mat 24:23 Then [during this unprecedented persecution] if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not. Mat 24:24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. Mat 24:25 Behold, I have told you before. Mat 24:26 Wherefore [because of false Christs] if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not. Mat 24:27 For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. Mat 24:28 For wheresoever the carcase is, there will the eagles be gathered together. Mat 24:29 Immediately after [at once, following the unprecedented persecution] the tribulation [thlipsis] of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken: Mat 24:30 And then [subsequent to the cosmic sign] shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then [at the appearing of Christ] shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. Mat 24:31 And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. I hope this helps you to see that great tribulation is the unprecedented persecution of the elect and Israel and not the wrath of God poured out upon the day of the Lord after the great tribulation is over. Glory be unto Jesus Christ

We can go swimming now. ?‍♂️

Speaking of spiritual authority....leadership and teaching with authority. It's not in a sense of lording it over others as the world practices authority.

Much wisdom displayed here...... A man is to love his wife as Christ loves His Church... He is to treat her like GOLD......no woman should have trouble submitting to a man like that.....personally my wife and I “ fight” constantly.....I will tell her to “ shut up” or pretend to slap her when she is on the phone..... all to make the other laugh.....she always gives it back, usually outdoing with her “ hatred” she likes to feel my pulse to see if I am dead so she can get her money .We have a blast and love each other immensely.Yes, I know it is weird but it works for us.

There is really no question ladies, that we are to be under a covering of authority, and not usurp it over men. As others have pointed out the reasons go very far back to the fall in the Garden and nothing to do with culture. This is for our protection and the good of the church. Doesn't mean we are spiritually inferior.....proverbs 31 says a virtuous woman is worth more than rubies.......but we are weaker through the flesh and more vulnerable in certain ways. And that means the men need to honour us as such too, and not abuse their authority or downtrod or patronize us like children. Nobody is getting the short end of the stick in these things. We might discuss or disagree over how much we can participate in meetings etc, but it's the male leadership who will ultimately decide and hopefully discern when a woman is being led by the Holy Spirit to share what is given her to share. Esther is a wonderful example of a Godly woman, giving respect and honour to her husband the king as she approached him reverently with a very serious problem and request. She didn't approach him with an attitude of, 'you dimwit, how could you not see what Haman was up to'....why, because that knowledge had been given to her by the Lord, so to speak, not to her husband directly, and then she was to share it with him. That's how God works, everyone having a part at different times according to His will. Her husband's part was to then discern the truth of what she was saying and act. And Abigail is another example, her Godliness and intercession coming forth in a different way, acting for the honour and the good of her husband and household. My dear sisters in the Lord, we DO have a part in the kingdom of God on earth, but it must be done under authority and with the right attitude of Godly submission to that authority. And over the years I discovered too that when I submit myself to my husband as unto the Lord (same sense as, 'whatsoever you do, do as unto the Lord'), trusting in God, then the Lord is able to use my husband in my life according to His will, and work it all together for my good. These things are not given for anybody's harm, but for good.

And if anyone is in churches that do this , GET OUT . FLEE THEM . Their is nothing good you can learn from men who allow this , one is only being unequally yoked . YOU LOVED DEAR SISTER .

Nice to see that we are both are on the exact same wavelength.I think this is what “ work out your Salvation with fear and trembling” is talking about.It does not say to live your life this way.One just can’t be saved until it hits them that they are LOST—- headed for Hell and they have it coming.Sometimes one can just sense that something is missing in some that believe they are Christians.I believe this is it.Changing your mind is what repentance truly means—- not “ getting your act together, gritting your teeth and making up your mind to walk the straight and narrow.That is “ works” in the extreme.It is changing your mind about who you are—- not somebody who is “ good enough” but somebody who is a pure wretch in the eyes of God, a sick man who needs medicine.....the elixir that is The Blood Of Christ and that ONLY.My night of terror turned out to be the most valuable night of my life.I often wonder how many here have experienced what we have lived through .My guess? Not many.

No I did not say my church was liberal. And no we do not have a gay pastor nor do we do gay weddings. Someone asked me what I consider a liberal church to be. I gave the best answer I could think of.

Consider the book of Job. He was well-off, but then lost everything. He was hungry, diseased, and deeply troubled. He posed a very similar question. If you haven't read it lately, I would certainly take a gander. It is in conflict that we grow, especially conflict of the spirit. Imagine it like we're always moving forward. We may set down our tents every now and again to rest, but if we grow too complacent and comfortable in our camp, try to settle in our little nooks, then we will cease to continue forward. It might suck to be in a bad situation or circumstance, but that conflict is the exact opposite of being forsaken. Maintain your patience, Equippers, and have faith. Look at this as an opportunity to grow and learn, rather than as an impossible obstacle.

(John 20:22) Jesus was leaving the earth physically but promised God would be with them in the person of the Holy Spirit living in them. As they proclaimed the gospel, they could honestly tell people who believed in that message that their sins were forgiven, and they could honestly tell people that did not believe in the message that their sins were not forgiven and that they stand condemned in God’s eyes. Jesus said, “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on him.” (Mat 6:14) Jesus preached a crucial message about forgiving our brothers, as God forgave us. We stand in grace, and He expects us to keep our hearts pure toward others, not holding grudges or harboring a spirit of unforgiveness, especially after He gave us such undeserved love and forgiveness at such a high personal cost to Himself! Jesus said those who have been forgiven much, love much (Luke 7:47). He expects us to forgive others 70 times 7 times (Matthew 18:22). We are also told that if we are praying but hold something against anyone, we are to forgive that person so our relationship with God is right and righteous! Colossians 3:13 says, “Forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.” We know we are His if we love our brothers and don’t hate them or have unforgiveness in our hearts (1 John 2:3-6; 3:14-19; 4:16-21). Forgiveness is a key to showing we indeed have eternal life inside us, according to these passages. If we say we love God but hate our brother, we are liars and no truth is in us. So, our forgiveness of others is a major indicator of true fellowship with God. God looks at the heart and actions, not mere words. Jesus stated while on earth, “These people come near to me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.” So, it’s important we have a living, genuine faith: “We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love our brothers” (1 John 3:14).

Yes. Strangers find me in the store and start talking to me telling me all their problems. This happens a lot to me.

Exactly! We even agree on the reason! I forgave my ex wife for divorcing me without cause after 20 years and with three teenaged/preteen daughters. It was a huge step, not for me, but for her. I can imagine being in heaven, seeing her, and even talking about all that stuff over a cup of heavenly coffee. This touches on my perception of our world as very much like "The Matrix" or a video game. My character in the game is controlled by me - my spiritual self. When the game ends, I don't. In fact, C. S. Lewis uses a similar perspective in his book on miracles. He said a miracle is something supernatural injected into the natural world, and we all experience a miracle every single day, but we have become so accustomed to it that we just take it for granted and even science mysteriously ignores its existence - at least from a scientific perspective - because they have no way to measure its existence or explain it. That miracle is our own consciousness. I've said for decades that "we are all just disobedient children on the playground". How do you get mad at your own child when you see them, as a third grader, take another kid's sandwich or apple? You see it as a teaching opportunity and a thing they will learn from as they reach adulthood. But because you know the child is just starting to learn social skills, you don't hold it against them personally. It's the way I look at every single person on the planet, including me. God created us for a purpose, and part of his plan was to send he son to die for us, to save us from death. And I think it is just possible that all humans are saved from death, but there really are "levels" of salvation in the next age, the age after that, the age after that, etc. The bible doesn't cover every age. It only covers the ages God wants our generation/age to be made aware of. We know more than the second temple age. We know more than the first temple age. They knew more than Noah or Adam. And who knows what ages existed between Genesis 1:2 and 1:3. And who knows how many ages there are to come. One mesmerizing passage regarding this is Revelation 21: 23-27: The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp. 24 The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their splendor into it. On no day will its gates ever be shut, for there will be no night there. The glory and honor of the nations will be brought into it. Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life. Looks like there will be people there who may enter the new Jerusalem and those that may not. Could this be the difference between those "saved" and in Christ and those saved, but not "in Christ". I mean, the kingdom of heaven descriptions by Jesus regarding things like the talents suggest different "levels" in eternity. And maybe those are for the next age, but the age after that includes everyone. In all seriousness, who knows? The bible is like a book that talks about how to repair a ford, but never gets into the existence of GM vehicles, or Boeing airplanes. It's not about those things. The bible is about God's plan for man on earth. And it clearly passes through ages. I'm not saying I believe or adhere to a single thing I posted after the quote. I'm saying that I don't know, and I'm not sure anyone does. What we DO know is that Sin entered the world through one man and through one man "ALL" are saved. Make of it what you will. BTW, I am not a universalist, but I'm no longer strongly anti universalist. The softening of my position came when I discovered that what most english bibles translate as "eternity" or "forever" is really derived from words that more precisely mean, "an age" "for the age" or "for the ages". Still studying...

So true. Also people are often much more open to prayer when suffering from illness or other adversities. We should not hesitate to ask people if they would like us to pray with them. The Lord can often use this to reach their hearts.

Ah the proverbial question, now, ...did God forgive us before we asked Him to (Universalism), ...and would God require us to do something He Himself doesn't do? Having said that, do we not find this principle in the parable of the unforgiving servant, was he not condemned until he asked for forgiveness? Yes Still alive, I agree with you, I believe we forgive others, but it's between us and God so that a root of bitterness does not spring up, ...does not Jesus teach that when we have come to Worship (and cleanse our hearts before entering into the presence of a thrice Holy God) and during that time of cleansing the Holy Spirit convicts us of a person we have offended, are we not to leave our offering and go make it right with that person, ...hence the one that has sinned against us, or we against them, will come/go and ask for forgiveness and the book is wiped clean.

Context is important. These two passages aren't talking about quite the same thing... John 20:21-23 is Jesus' commission to the apostles to preach the Gospel - the good news of forgiveness of sins. As evangelists and church leaders, they had a special authority and responsibility, affecting the eternal destiny of those they would preach to. Matthew 6:14,15 is about our everyday relationships with other people.

God Himself wanted to rule His chosen people .The Israelites wanted to be like everybody else and be ruled by a King.God gave them what they yearned for and the results were predictable.....not good.

Saul was the peoples choice .

That is talking about in Gods thoughts, and in His mind. NOT in reality.

Ever hear about "closet" sins . It is the time when one is most vulnerable to the darts of the enemy and his suggestions. It is the time when you think no one can see his actions and misdemeanors. You can't outwit the devil, hence you have to have the full armor on all the time. Take time and consider each piece of the armor and see why you need the FULL array at all time. The christian is at war 24/7 as we have a foe that does not sleep.