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The Meaning and Importance of "Emmanuel" - God with Us Jennifer SlatteryJenniferSlatteryLivesOutLoud.com.................................... ibelieve.com Just over 2,000 years ago, Emmanuel, also called the Christ, changed the world. In that moment when God became flesh, humanity watched prophecies unfold as hope was born. Jesus, our Emmanuel, provided hope that sin and death wouldn’t always win and mankind wouldn’t always feel so painfully alone. What Does Emmanuel Mean? It’s a word written on countless Christmas cards throughout the centuries and sung in some of our most-loved carols. In Scripture, it first appears in Isaiah 7:14, which says, “Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign; The virgin will conceive, and give birth to a Son, and will call Him Emmanuel” (NIV). The Lord Himself will do this, Scripture says. In other words, this act, which occurred in the birth of Christ, was God-ordained and God-accomplished. This points to grace, which comes not through human effort but rather through relying on God to do what we humans cannot. This was the reason Christ came. God gave us this child, named Emmanuel, which literally means, “with us is God,” or “God with us.” What Emmanuel Means For Us In truth, God is and always has been with us. He is omnipresent, which means He is everywhere all the time. Speaking of God, the ancient psalmist David wrote, “Where can I go from Your Spirit? Where can I flee from Your presence? If I go up to the heavens, You are there; if I make my bed in the depths, You are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there Your hand will guide me, Your right hand will hold me fast” (Psalm 139:7-10 NIV). And in Jeremiah 23:23-24, God said, “‘Am I only a God nearby,’ declares the Lord, ‘and not a God far away? Who can hide in secret places so that I cannot see them?’ declares the Lord. ‘Do not I fill heaven and earth?’ declares the Lord” (NIV). God has always been present, throughout the universe. But He’s been present with His people as well. This was what made Him so different from all the false gods the pagan nations worshiped. Through a select group of people, the Jews, He revealed Himself as I Am—a present, personable and knowable God—to all people, triggering within them a hunger for intimacy with their Creator. He created mankind for relationship and throughout humanity has revealed, generation by generation, how we are to relate to Him. But we rebelled against Him again and again, and though He remained with us, in the sense that His presence fills all of reality, this wasn’t true in a relational sense. Our sin separated us from Him, and this drove God to action. Through a baby, Emmanuel, He drew us close despite our sin, in a way the ancient world never could’ve imagined. How Is Emmanuel Used in Scripture? God first spoke the promise of Emmanuel to ancient Judah’s king Ahaz. It was a tumultuous, rebellious, and fearful time for the king and his people when Assyrian forces occupied the land. God offered King Ahaz a choice. He could trust in God or suffer defeat from his enemies. In Isaiah 7:9b, God said, “If you do not stand firm in faith, you will not stand at all” (NIV). Then, God offered him a sign, but Ahaz refused, so God gave His own sign, one that would be fulfilled long after Ahaz’s demise. “The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a Son, and you will call Him Emmanuel. He will eat curds and honey when He knows enough to reject the wrong and choose the right” (Isaiah 7:14, NIV). Design Credit: Sarah Martin In other words, this child God promised would be entirely different than all the others born before or after Him, for whereas others ultimately, though they knew what was right, chose wrong, Christ would not. He would be and was sinless, without fault. Continuing on, God told King Ahaz, though destruction was coming to Emmanuel’s land, God was still with His people and His plan would stand (Isaiah 8:8). Matthew 1:20-23 tells us this ancient, hope-filled prophesy came true in Jesus. You may be familiar with what’s often called the Christmas story. Mary, a young woman from Nazareth, was betrothed to a man named Joseph. But before they consummated their relationship, she became pregnant, while a virgin, by the power of the Holy Spirit. When Joseph learned about this, he determined to divorce her quietly. But an angel of the Lord appeared to him and told him not to be afraid to take Mary as his wife, “because what [was] conceived in her [was] from the Holy Spirit.” Matthew tells us, “All this took place to fulfill what the Lord said through the prophet: ‘The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a Son, and they will call Him Emmanuel—which means, ‘God with us’” (NIV). Why Was Jesus Named Emmanuel? The New Testament makes it clear, Jesus, God’s Son, was the fulfillment of Old Testament prophesy. He was the long-promised Emmanuel, sent by God to save His people and usher in a new kingdom. He came as the mediator between God and man, as our Redeemer, Savior, and Friend. Two thousand years ago, God looked upon our sin-ravished world, saw our hopelessness and all our futile attempts to make ourselves right with Him, and He did what we could never do—He came to us. When Christ came to earth, He quite literally became “God with us.” But He did so much more than enter our humanity. He lived among us, showed us the way to the Father, then paved that way Himself through His death on the cross. In today’s culture, it’s easy to downplay or excuse sin, but to God, all sin is an affront to His love and faithfulness. It’s rebellion against our Creator, our very good Father. Scripture tells us, without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness of sin. This is why, from the beginning of time, God’s people offered sacrifices. They received atonement through the blood of an animal, most specifically, a lamb without blemish. Jesus became that lamb. The Sinless Son of God took our sins upon Himself. He paid the penalty we deserved and died in our place, and three days later, He rose from the grave victorious. Because of His death and resurrection, all who believe in Him have been declared not guilty and have been granted new life. But Christ gives us so much more. How Does "God with Us" Change Everything? Because of Christ’s death and resurrection, we truly can receive the gift of “God with us.” Not just with us, as a friend who walks beside us, though He indeed does that. But God with us, as in He comes to live inside us, giving us strength in place of weakness, courage in place of fear, and vibrant life in all those dark places that once felt dead. On the night before He died, Jesus promised He would send us an Advocate, a Spirit of Truth, who would come to “live with” us and “be in” us. This was something altogether new! No longer would men need a priest to mediate between them and God, because He Himself would be their teacher. He would be closer than their next breath. Because of Jesus, Emmanuel, we never have to be alone. We never have to wonder how to please God or worry if our efforts aren’t enough. We can simply rest knowing He is with us, in us, loves us, and will never leave us. This Christmas, may we all enjoy the gift of Emmanuel.

I can't argue that but... I believe we are seeing the beginning of 'birth pangs' with disease and war. I'll just stick to disease and vermin for the present time for brevity. We're seeing many isolated outbreaks of deadly viruses in third world countries, such as Ebola to name one. In our modern times it only takes "one" individual to escape quarantine or not have the symptoms and board an airliner. We are seeing diseases once thought eradicated rear their ugly heads again, such as smallpox and polio to name two. Then we have the Avian flu's we're being warned about that will eventually make their way. Many to most of these diseases are becoming resistant to our antibiotics and treatments. Mutations are happening faster than ever in the micro organisms; and more is being transmitted from animal to human. The preceding doesn't even take into account all the biological military weapons that have been developed and stored awaiting sudden use. I propose a hostile nation, a certain religious group and terrorists acquiring them, wouldn't have second thoughts about using them against the Big or Little Satan. I'm not a doctor, nor play one on TV, so take this post with a grain of salt.

Anyway back to the topic. Twisted, evil people become mothers. Motherhood dose not take that away. They just become a twisted, evil person who gave birth.

You asked a question, I gave an answer. No problem for me. I suggest that individuals seeking out evils to watch especially as entertainment to pass time may become desensitized to the evil portrayed. People that tend to serve their Lord actively have less time for the watching of what may desensitize them to evil. Ex:If one watches profane programming for example they will tend to tolerate profanity, even becoming profane in their speech themselves. While if one reads the word of God they will likely not be as profane in their own speech, for their heart will not tolerate it and their tongue not exhibit it. Best not to make time for it at all, and instead seek out something better to be doing is my thought. Being very active in service to one's Lord leaves little time for that which may harm one's sensitivity to evil.

“God blesses those who are kind to the poor. He helps them out of their troubles. He nurses them when they are sick and soothes their pains and worries.” Psalms 41:1,3 The Maker of the universe is the helper of God’s people! Our Daily Bread

I notice that most of us trust in and depend on God's word in the Bible, where as you are depending on and trusting in your feelings. True faith is based on God's word. Feelings change with our mood, our health, our hormones, the weather etc. God never changes and He can't lie so His word is dependable.

The Charles River is pretty clean today, when I was at Boston we had to scrape stuff off the boat hull just to begin to clean it after having launched it in that river. The locks into the harbor were like a humongous unflushed toilet and the harbor itself had thick green swill and so much waste it was all I could do to motor through it to get out onto the open greater bay waters. Today it is pretty clean. It was the subject of a rock tune by The Standells back in 1966 titled "Dirty Water'" ; that cynical song about loving Boston and the river Charles- Love that dirty water, and the muggers and .... I to believe I live in the time of the signs, but I have no reason to conclude that will not last three thousand years more. It could be it will conclude yet this evening. Many a Christian stopped their work way back in 70 AD believing the end was at hand. So while I look upward, I also continue to do the work my Lord leads me into on the pathway He has me to follow each day.

So true. A couple of years ago, I saw a headline "missing link found" So I read the article. It had a lot of details about how it was the missing link and how exciting the find was. But if you kept reading the article ... Waaaay down at the bottom, the lead scientist said "we dont really think it is the missing link but we had to say so in order to get grant money for our research."

I don't take much stock in what the liberal major media has to say. There is no longer any objective news reporting, it's all opinion shaping for a specific ideological agenda. Secular scientists and liberal major media fit it into their false theory of evolution and man-made climate change. Yes, like never before nature is revolting. Never before has such die offs occurred in fish, whales, ocean life, birds and animals; along with red tides and deadly algae blooms. It's just one of the many signs we are living in the last days.

Who the Gospel is is Jesus. Saying that, the Gospel is the good news of salvation through Jesus Christ.

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God." (John 3:16-18)

In my trade, I cut/rip a lot of plywood, most of which is now Asian imports. All this plywood is gassed with formaldehyde. (kills bugs) One winter with the heaters on and windows and doors closed, I cut this import all day. My wife came into the shop later and then shouted 'whats that funky smell'. Said it burned her eyes, and I realized mine were burning also. That night, hours later, I woke up about two o'clock AM and couldn't breathe. Ran outside in the cold crisp air and hyperventilated for an hour. My lungs were clogged, rattling and wheezing, and it was scary. Asian imported plywood has no regulations regarding formaldehyde. (then) I think all those years as kids, eating lead paint, gave us a built in immunity........

Now now, are you telling me creation scientists don't receive any federal or NGO research and grant money in proportion? To continue to get grant money you have to lie? Come on...

Shalom, iamlamad. Nope. "Departing" is NOT a good definition for "apostasia." And, I've GOT the Strong's on "apo" right there above! It means "away from!" Did you read ANYTHING I wrote?! You are being so "closed-minded" about the truth, that you can't see it any way but your own! It's WRONG! It's not "MOVING away from something"; it's "STANDING away from something!" NEVER FORCE your view upon the definition! ALWAYS use the definition and the text of Scriptures to guide your view! (That's the difference between exegesis [good] and eisegesis [bad]!) Have you ever studied hermeneutics? I would suggest doing so ... to ANYBODY and EVERYBODY!

Thx Brother for your comments. I think we all, in degree, initially become offended when another says, "Do it this way," when we already believe we are doing what is right. It tends to sound belittling. But I know that in my heart I do not get my identity in the way I feel, but in the Truth. In Israel, where many students of the Bible gather around their Rabbi, great debates and heartfelt discussions take place. They are passionate about what they believe---as we all should be---and they raise their voices and argue their points. But in the end, they will protect one another to the death. We too are in a beautiful family. We get hurt, we argue, we think we are right, we fight for what we believe. But we want to protect those we love. What did Christ do. He became a servant. All of those emotions he felt too, but he only wanted to do what his Father desired of him. And when we hung him on the cross, he still loved us. Another way to draw a brother or sister to oneself is to ask him for help. That is really humbling---but you know what? Who will refuse? Yes, I have brothers and sisters that I push to the side, but if my conscience is working right, I don't do it for long. And if it isn't, I go to my Father and ask Him what to do. He does not tie our hands up and force us. He says, "Remember me." And when we do, we melt. It is why when we ask for forgiveness, we do not simply say, "I apologize." If we only said that, there is no participation with the one we are apologizing to. No. We ask, "Will you forgive me"? Now, both are included: one asks, the other answers. Together the problem is resolved.

BETRAYING A CONFIDENCE Pr 16:28 A perverse man stirs up dissension, and a gossip separates close friends. Pr 17:9 He who covers over an offense promotes love, but whoever repeats the matter separates close friends. Pr 20:19 A gossip betrays a confidence; so avoid a man who talks too much. A person who gossips - even betraying personal matters or things spoken in confidence - will not have close friends. For people will avoid telling them anything of a personal matter. And concerning those who sin against you, that should be treated first as a private matter as it is written, "If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over."Mt 18:15 What is implied here is that if he repents, then the matter should go no further, else you will be the one sinning against him. More generally the Bible does legitimize "privacy". So it is inappropriate to try and expose everything about a person. The Berean Christian Bible Study Resources

BETRAYING A CONFIDENCE Pr 16:28 A perverse man stirs up dissension, and a gossip separates close friends. Pr 17:9 He who covers over an offense promotes love, but whoever repeats the matter separates close friends. Pr 20:19 A gossip betrays a confidence; so avoid a man who talks too much. God's word is true. A gossip will definitely be avoided. However one is not a gossip if you are doing things according to the word.

Yet it is so sad that the 'professionals' are often the ones they need shielding from with their pills and potions and dark sciences and labels...

Why not read it again ?

I started back at the beginning and went through less than half of the pages in this thread and have a list of ten at this point. 1. Actually speciation does not change the species. (Speciation is the process of making new species, so yes, speciation does change the species.) 2. The inability to mate doesn't make a new species. (When populations diverge to the point that they can no longer make fertile offspring, that is one way to make new species.) 3. Evolution has never been observed to have happened (Evolution is easily provable and constant - some of the implications of evolution, like common ancestry, are not directly observable, but are based on real, observed evidence.) 4. I am saying it is impossible genetically to have a new species. (No, it is absolutely possible. There are several examples of genome duplications that have led to speciation within a single generation.) 5. To produce a new species the parents must give its offspring a trait for which it has no gene. (No, the origination of new genes is not required for speciation to occur. The speciation events due to genome duplications make good examples.) 6. There is no fossils linking man to apes. (There are quite a few fossils of hominids that show transition to modern humans.) 7. There is no genetic evidence linking man to apes. (There is considerable evidence suggesting common ancestry between humans and other primates.) 8. There is a single gene for whale fins, a different one for shark fins and a single, different gene for each SPECIES of fish. (No, this is absolutely not true. Complex physical structures are build through the combined efforts of multiple genes, including genes that determine time and place of important genes for determining structure.) 9. Genes do not interact with each other. The have a God given a function to perform and they do that one the they were created for and nothing else. (Genes products are intricately intertwined and the proteins they produce often have multiple functions.) 10. Genes do not modify. They are static. (Genomes are slightly altered each generation through a variety of mechanisms. Some of these changes occur within gene sequences. Genes are not static, but constantly modifying.) The list could grow much, much longer, but I think this illustrates that you have some serious content knowledge gaps. I'd be happy to provide more evidence rather than my own knowledge base, so if you would like more evidence, pick anything from the list so far. There is no shame in admitting you haven't kept up with genetic studies over the last few decades, it is just beneficial to conversation to be realistic about it. If you want to learn more, I'd be willing to help you. I'm not as interested in just arguing for the sake of argument.

Hey why not stake out pre-wrath for yourself.

Just to fulfill Beau-ja's expectations of me, I'll add that there is also no reason that our Lord will not be kept at making the honeymoon cottage by His Father for yet another three thousand years hence. Times have been tough in the past, tougher than today by far. I think the world is in a relatively peaceful period of time by comparison to the greater history of violent conflict records that are available for us to know. Plus, we are having fewer plagues, less vermin, as well.

Once you try crack, you are addicted for life. Same thing with sex. My recommendation: Pray, and know that this is not about salvation. It's about obeying your dad, and he made the rule for your own good. So if you disobey, actions have consequences in this life. But he's still your dad, and you are still in the will. It just makes dad sad when you (we) knowingly disobey. Keep trying, but NEVER forget that it is your BELIEF on Jesus sacrifice and resurrection for your sins that matters in the end.

It feels like we are close. Nothing yet has to be fulfilled for the rapture of the Church to occur.

I see the word 'toxic' used to associate to differing people. I see the word 'autistic' used. I have been called all kinds of things including toxic by those that would never want to know me or understand the way my mind works. My little boy is autistic (on the spectrum). There is a saying: 'when you know one autistic person - YOU KNOW ONE..'. We are all different and if we do not want to understand, then we definitely should move away WITHOUT dropping 'hints' that may be taken in a derogatory manny. I am probably a high functioning member of the Aspergers group. As such, I have been labeled everything from sociopath to toxic and other much worse titles by the shrink-groups that love labels. I am fond of saying, 'label are for soup cans and not people'. It has caused me untold pain to be thus treated. If one attempts to understand and communicate with what you might call 'strange' people, try to forget labels and treat them like the individual humans they are. It will help a great deal.

Whoa there, what of the rest of the story? At least the rest of the passage! Seems to me the personal conclusion reached that "More generally the Bible does legitimize "privacy"." is errant at best and even falsehood at worst for the rest of the immediate passage clearly dictates otherwise. “If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector."

Life's effort requires pain tolerance, much pain tolerance. It never stops for some, if not most all of us. The secret to "success" successfully overcoming and running along with it seems to me is to learn to laugh at it and go forward in the adventure God has laid out for us. My own human role models suffer great pain yet live fully, and love our lord and savior. One lives in a cocoon of arthritis since early infancy another has just been moved into an end of life living facility and considers it a new mission field for him. So cool ( for me to be humbled by their awesome faith and endurance)! To be able to see such servants of our Lord and be humbled by their very presence. And there are so very many. God is good so good. Can't help but sing that chorus as I go along. So mercury, salt, oil, enemies, demons, little antiChrists, none of them much matter as we have victory in Jesus. He lives! He is our certainty. And so I can get up in the morning and praise God for the day at hand, a day closer to the day I get to say Hello to my Lord and savior. Should this not be the day then it is a day at my post a soldier in our Lord's army, of millions and perhaps many yet to come. It is all so grand an adventure.

Sea salt has lots of living critters in it, many poduce toxic waste. Gives it that wondrous salt air smell. As the heated up summer's surface water evaporates the top couple inches get quite briny. Then when one flies along on a catamaran the salt stings like getting hit with buckshot or many bees at once. Great fun but wow hard on exposed skin. The local economy and some personal friends were financially devastated by the prohibitions placed by federal government agencies on their businesses during the Gulf oil crisis spill. Most were put out of business altogether, with some limited financial compensation coming years after. But there never was anything affecting our waters nor shores at any time. Well except for government.

BTW I do have family still living the Cali life that love it, running the beaches with the dogs, skiing the mountains, and make those runs to Colorado, Nevada and Utah as though they were trips to the local grocery store. Why even I was a Huntington Beach ( State side of the pier) surfing pretender, having fun in the "old days". trying to look good cruising for a road racing opportunity, and batching my tickets for a court appearance.

Hi, Like the plumbers say stuff runs downhill. The mercury in the ocean evidently starts as mercury on higher ground runs to the sea and cycles back upward through lifting moisture at sea level. So if I were at Cali I wouldn't eat the fish, I wouldn't eat the clams, I wouldn't eat the crab, I wouldn't eat the strawberries, nor the lettuce, nor smell the flowers nor breath in the morning. I'd hold my breath and run to the hills of the smokey's where the bear are healthy despite the PCB from years of disposal by Alcoa back in the days of WWII when it was absolutely necessary to produce aluminum for war planes. The dirt roads were sprayed with it to keep down the dust. Course if I did flee from Cali and got eaten by bear the bear might suffer from mercury poisoning. Why do you know that nowadays State licensed embalmers have to wear exposure badges and report exposure to formaldehydes to the State of Cali. ? Why poor me we never had that, and now I am 76 going strong for now and looking well preserved. Speaking of Cali-loons. I do remember the time we were sailing of Catalina listening in on radio transmissions from UCLA students and profs. They mostly wanted more bottles of champaign as they were recording evidence of Lesbian seagulls at the island. Seems they were finding some seagulls tried mating behavior without discriminating. The UCLA "researchers" were building their case that same gender conduct is natural and is genetic. They wanted to do a longer term study on yet more grant money, well long as the champaign would hold out. It is hard to take university studies seriously, hard to take Cali seriously. Best to leave it and don't ever turn back, don't even dare turn a head back to look. Just flee! But please Cali-loons don't screw up Texas if ya stop and settle there. It is great country because it had so few few Cali-loons infestations till recent times. Adapt their ways don't project Cali's, and all will be well. And know God is kind, He made other places to be, lots and lots of them are absolutely wondrous lands.

Amen. Yes, I can. It seems since the Fall of Man the world has been pretty much programmed in this manner. Romans 8:22 KJV 22For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. Since the late 1960's, theologians have felt we are in the End Times. How much closer are we now? I think very close. Of course, back then there were prophesies yet to be fulfilled. It would appear all is simply waiting for it to occur. Personally, I am getting very homesick for Heaven. I'm longing for the day to be called home.

Thanks Kev......you know me well enough to know that I absolutely have NO interest in being praised.I couldn’t care less about my popularity either.I knew that I would be hated by many way back when I first started posting here. Paul was hated for preaching the Gospel Of Pure Grace That proud people reject.Like FDR said about his foes—- “ I WELCOME their hatred!” The ONLY reason I post is because I know that the VAST majority of people do not believe in the song that they sing..... “Nothing But The Blood”. Go beyond Faith in the Blood for your Salvation and you are “ fallen from Grace” and “Severed from the Cross Of Christ”. If THIS is not something to be concerned about— what is? Too many people have added “ Lucky Repentance” to the Gospel.They substitute repentance for Grace.The VERY THING that has saved anyone that has been rescued from Hell— GRACE — is completely over-ran by something good that has been turned into a work ( making sure ALL sins have been recalled by some kind of Super Memory before you die ). It’s difficult to convince somebody that they are “ severed from the Cross”. These debates don’t change anybody’s minds. As you know, I am mainly interested in showing Newbies and Lurkers the dangers of Legalism in order that at LEAST they won’t have their Christian Walk hobbled and at MOST saving them from Damnation .Everything hinges on what “ falling from Grace”means .Some say it entails a lousy life....others say it means Damnation.......I don’t know for sure . At the very least,people need to see the jeopardy that they are creating for their lives.....Temporal and Eternal.Reject God’s elixir for handling Sin and Salvation— GRACE— and you are in a place you do NOT want to be.Most people do not hear this in Church . They are going to hear it here as long as I can post.And I am going to attack Leaven whenever and wherever I see it .Thanks again, Kev for your kind words..the only Praise I desire is the Praise directed towards Jesus ...

Shalom, iamlamad and others. Guys, "apo" is a Greek preposition that means "away from!" "Stasia" is a Greek gerund that means "a standing." Together, "apostasia" means "a standing away from." Why make it harder than that? Strong's says all this through links: 646 apostasia (ap-os-tas-ee'-ah). Feminine of the same as apostasion; defection from truth (properly, the state) ("apostasy") -- falling away, forsake. 647 apostasion (ap-os-tas'-ee-on). Neuter of a (presumed) adjective from a derivative of afisteemi; properly, something separative, i.e. (specially) divorce -- (writing of) divorcement. 868 afisteemi (af-is-tay'-mee). From apo and histeemi; to remove, i.e. (actively) instigate to revolt; usually (reflexively) to desist, [to] desert, etc. -- depart, draw (fall) away, refrain, withdraw self. 575 apo (apo'). A primary particle; "off," i.e. Away (from something near), in various senses (of place, time, or relation; literal or figurative) -- (X here-)after, ago, at, because of, before, by (the space of), for(-th), from, in, (out) of, off, (up-)on(-ce), since, with. In composition (as a prefix) it usually denotes separation, departure, cessation, completion, reversal, etc. 2476 histeemi (his'-tay-mee). A prolonged form of a primary staoo stah'-o (of the same meaning, and used for it in certain tenses); to stand (transitively or intransitively), used in various applications (literally or figuratively) -- abide, appoint, bring, continue, covenant, establish, hold up, lay, present, set (up), stanch, stand (by, forth, still, up). Compare titheemi. 5087 titheemi (tith'-ay-mee). A prolonged form of a primary theoo (theh'-o) (which is used only as alternate in certain tenses) to place (in the widest application, literally and figuratively; properly, in a passive or horizontal posture, and thus different from histeemi, which properly denotes an upright and active position, while keimaiis properly reflexive and utterly prostrate) -- + advise, appoint, bow, commit, conceive, give, X kneel down, lay (aside, down, up), make, ordain, purpose, put, set (forth), settle, sink down. Thus, apostasia NEVER means "to GO away!" And, THAT'S how someone should use these study helps, like Strong's Greek Dictionary! NEVER FORCE your view upon the definition! ALWAYS use the definition and the text of Scriptures to guide your view! (That's the difference between exegesis and eisegesis!)

Ivan, This link deals with some of the Problems you are expressing here. It is focused on extreme anxiety, But I think the same techniques will help you. The Key for the OCD You have, in My opinion, is to focus on God's love For you. If You think of a creator God willing to come down and die for His creation to save them, Or as the Isaac watts, the Hymn writer wrote Alas, and did my Savior bleed? And did my Sovereign die? Would He devote that sacred head For such a worm as I? This will put into focus His Love for you, even though we are just worms in relation to Him. Here is the Link as well. https://www.whatchristianswanttoknow.com/how-to-overcome-anxiety-7-tips-for-christians/

Margo.......here I am ......alive and well to the dismay of many......The Thread where we were having our friendly debate was shut down so I created another for all to enjoy......please go there..... I named it “ small Ohio vs Vast Canada” I did not want to retype the vast Wisdom that you were enlightened with by yours truly.....lol.....I pasted it in the new place ......please check it all out and put in whatever you like to make it all fair....I got all my relevant stuff in there— please do the same for yourself and perhaps we can start anew , eh? ( I met many Canadian truck drivers where I used to work and it is true ....they all say “ eh” at the end of every sentence....) haha....

Duh.....I got so much stuff going on I don’t know up from down.....answering all of my fan mail is so time consuming....lol....I will try to get to the right place ......be patient....I am a very old man.....I got the mind of a steel trap! Full of dust and cobwebs....haha..

Buddy loved nothing more than playing the role of Peace Maker.Thanks to the Evil Act Of one individual , Buddy can not bring peace here Himself.Lets Do it in His memory.....this is what he would have wanted .....

I'm going back to my "Mouse In The Kitchen" topic. This one is far to intense for me.

Maybe JTC can explain if he wants ......if he chooses not to respond, that is fine also ......either way , I would be surprised if I lost any sleep over it......

It’s obvious you do not care for me.......and that makes “ MY” day.......I welcome the hatred of Leavenists.....it reinforces the fact that I am on to something good......shame on you for the smarmy reaction to a gesture of friendship...

I can see that you feel strongly about this issue.....it’s an “ issue” that means nothing to me, and seeing how it has nothing to do with Legalism or Salvation - the issues that matter to me—- I think I will just quietly take my leave.....play nice, kids .....lol....

Pagans will be Pagans everyday of the year .....why let them ruin a day that 99.99% of the population views correctly as a day where kids are just trying to fill a bag with free candy..... much ado about nothing, unless you enjoy really digging for scandal.....

Ah yeah. I know that feeling. Funny how the flesh manages to cover up that feeling when it next whispers to you for another hit, huh. One day, we will be given new bodies. Bodies that won't have this constant inclination to serve itself in pleasure and comfort but will rather be in harmony with your spirit. We've inherited this disobedient "earth suit" from Adam and the many who followed. And the Messiah was tempted by it as well as it craved what satan offered -satisfaction, adoration and a pain free shortcut to power and glory (avoiding the humiliation and pain the cross). But He refused. He showed us how to walk by the spirit instead and when He did, the temptation soon left. "Therefore, since Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same understanding—because the one who suffers in the flesh is finished with sin—in order to live the remaining time in the flesh no longer for human desires, but for God’s will." - 1 Peter 4:1-2 I believe that this is showing that we will have to endure a lot - not just persecution from the outside, but also from within our sinful flesh as it seeks ways contrary to God. But the one who suffers (or endures) through these things, shows that they are "finished with sin" - choosing to master and rule over the flesh rather than to serve under it. Yahweh loves you my friend. Have faith in that more than your own name. Remember: "overruled!"

It is a problem we all wrestle with in degree: how much is enough to be accepted? What must I do to get God to love me? How can I please Him? Well, we can't do a single thing to get ourselves into heaven. We simply do not have what it takes. We lean on our Father entirely. We cannot please Him, but we can trust Him. We fail, but are not failures. We are weak, but Jesus said that in his strength he will carry us. In fact Jesus said, "Apart from me you can do nothing." Nothing! Every molecule of air we breathe He dispenses by his grace: "remain steadfast in your faith," "God will bring to completion the good thing he has started in you," "I will not snuff out a smoldering wick." We sin because we have a sinful nature. Paul knew it. He called himself the "chief sinner." Paul said it was not him, but sin in him that caused all the problem. He knew where to turn---not turn away from---but to run toward. I sinned last night---something I chose to do. I hated it, but God tells us that, "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." Do you believe Him? Paul did. He cut the regard that he had for his own sinful behavior and kept running the race God called him to run---his eyes fixed on the prize awaiting him. So, friend, don't be a scold; it leads only to more sin. Instead, be like Jesus, knowing his way is a better way. God bless you.

Shalom @F_Ivan Thanks for responding my friend. I was so happy to see that you didn't get upset at my post. I was worried I might have been too harsh, as text can often be read in many different ways. Yes, it absolutely is something different. Water baptism is a physical commitment to the Messiah, a sign showing death and resurrection. It's like a submission of the "earth suit" to that of the Kingdom. Baptism of the Holy Spirit comes after this (sometimes before) and is separate. This is the rebirth of the inner man - the seal of eternal life. With this baptism, you will have peace and joy and wisdom deep inside you, like an anchor. You can feel it within, like a fountain within you - constantly bubbling up - but not unpleasant or uncomfortable but fulfilling, reassuring, loving and peaceful. It's not an idea or concept. It's real. Now, not every professing Christian out there has this baptism, so don't feel bad. I myself was probably a Christian for about 15 years (!) without this baptism - but water baptism only. I loved God but had many hard times. I found walking His way difficult, demanding and even confusing at times. The net result was my contradictory behaviour and eventually heavy depression and even fear of the end times. I'm sure that fear came from the Father to shake me out of my stupor and path of failure. I read in the Gospel, Acts and in letters of Paul about the Holy Spirit, and I wanted to feel it like they did. So many teach "oh the baptism of the Holy Spirit happens when you believe automatically". That's not true. I was also taught that the baptism HAD to be accompanied with speaking tongues. That's also not true. So, I sought the baptism of the Holy Spirit until I would KNOW it happened. Not so "I think it happened" or "Yeah, I feel a bit fuzzy inside". No, I wanted to KNOW. But it didn't come easy for me. I sought and sought, with tears, fasting, asking for prayer and more tears. Eventually, it did happen though and it was after I truly believed that it WOULD happen. Maybe not immediately, maybe not for years, but that it would happen, because of believing His words - "So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. “Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” ~ Luke 11:9-13 ......Though I kept asking and praying, in faith, every day whilst waiting. After it happened, I was filled with a peace and joy inside that is surely a taste of the life to come. Yes, I could still have bad days and get sad, but that anchor of peace and joy was immovable - reassuring and guiding me. Following Him became easier and Paul's words describing the Holy Spirit and the fruit of it was no longer conceptual or "target attitudes" but flowing naturally through me, by His restoration of my heart. It's a completely different ball game after the baptism of the Holy Spirit. You'll still be you, but you will be far away from the negativity you feel now and your Walk will feel much more distinct than it does now. So seek this baptism above ALL things. It's good to read John and Acts on more about the Holy Spirit. But really the Spirit is throughout the whole Bible. You just have to track the Spirit in Word, like a hunter, watching for every sign and footprint. It's with that same enthusiasm that you should seek the baptism in prayer too. The Spirit wants to be found by a desiring and passionate heart, rather than impose on a half-bothered half-reluctant one. Does that make any sense? :S I agree. I think you've hit the nail on the head. Sin gets more powerful the more we feed it (the flesh) to the point it can become overwhelming. However, your inner man (although a flame burning lowly at the moment) seeks to serve God (and burn bright). Therefore, this is your war. Your final boss. Only the final boss is you - in a mirror match up. Will you believe the real you is the weak one who hates himself and distrusts everyone? Or the strong one that seeks peace and love with His Creator? With this in mind, read the following passage of Scripture - in which Paul said he faced the same battle as you. Romans 7:14-8:11 Seek the baptism of the Holy Spirit, above ALL things. Be prepared for it to be a long mission, with the hope it will be a short one, but the trust it will be an achievable one. Love & Shalom

Friend, you are putting the cart before the horse....you don't need to be good enough to receive Christ.. If you call out to the Lord sincerely for forgiveness, believing in Christ's sacrifice and resurrection, the Holy Spirit will come to indwell you. Then you will have the power to transform your life, with the help of the Holy Spirit.

Shalom @F_Ivan Hopefully my answer is acceptable to you, although you may not like it. Please know I only write this out of love and concern, as there is not other reason for me to take the time to do so. There is nothing to be concerned about. None of us deserve salvation. But if you don’t want to be tested and proved, and have this attitude towards it persistently, then God may leave you well alone. But is that really what you want? Imagine a Dad, wanting to help his son become an excellent footballer. He wakes him early every day for a run and on the weekend he gets him practising drills and skills ahead of big match. One day, the dad overhears his son speaking with a friend “I feel like s**t” the son says. “it feels like I always have to prove myself to him and have to give up everything for football. Maybe my dad just wants to see me suffer to know I’m worthy”. So, the dad sadly slips away and no longer wakes his son up early. Nor does he train him on the weekend anymore, for his son was reluctant and against the idea. He leaves him to his own way. Then eventually the big match day came, and the son was in no wise ready for it... Be trained, refined, convicted and reproved by anyone isn’t a great feeling. But when it’s from the Word of God, we know it’s true and for our benefit. So we have a choice. We can either listen and respond or turn away and ignore. If we do have resistance to it, even though we WANT to follow it, we know that it is sin within us resisting. Take heart, take courage and face your weaknesses bravely and don't seek to comfort them. To balance that, understand that Yahweh is real love. He cares for us in ways that would scare you if you truly knew (and I'm guessing you haven't had that revelation yet from your post). He doesn’t want you to feel pain for no reason or any pain more than necessary other than to grow and improve. IF you don’t want that and hate the idea – I’m sure He will respect your wishes. But do you really want that? If you would rather have comfort, undisturbed happiness and self-appreciation in this life, over that of the way of a disciple, that road is always open for you. Go for it. Although, how do you imagine the big match will go? And understand this mystery: The more you are willing to give up for the Lord, the more likely He’ll be willing to let you keep it. The more you want to hold on to stuff and behaviour, the more He’ll demand you give it up. He needs to know that nothing comes before Him – in either stuff, people, behaviour or principles. That’s what it means for Him to be your God. But again, you will probably find that when you are truly ready to give things up for Him, He may let you keep those things and even more – as long as you are truly willing to lay it all down (He cannot be tricked ). Yahweh does want you to see that you’re ugly. He might do to someone who thought they were utterly beautiful (narcissism)– but I don’t get that impression from you. It sounds to me as though you are pushing your own insecurities into making negative traits of God, which are unfounded. Consider that last sentence again as it will be key in you remaining objective. Also, forget Job. Job was righteous man, above all at the time, and his situation is unique. Be careful not to compare yourself to such a righteous man and claiming you are facing the same trials lest you heap up unwise words against your charge. You’re not like Job and I very much doubt you are going through the same trials. So then, my advice is read the Bible. Really read it, and understand it’s message and Yahweh’s heart (I can help you with this if you wish). Above all things, seek the baptism of the Holy Spirit – for everything in life is an uphill struggle and without peace and joy when you do not have the Spirit within. I can tell from your words that the Spirit is not with you, but fear not! If you seek the baptism with all your heart and desire, it will happen for you and all these dark days will fade away. Then, following the Word will be a joy and easier. But if you go away with only one thing, let it be this my friend: It is a privilege to corrected and reprimanded by Yahweh. "For Yahweh corrects those he loves, just as a father corrects a child in whom he delights." ~ Proverbs 3:12 I hope my strong words don't come across to harsh my friend. I hope you can see between the lines that I'm here for you if you have any questions or complaints about what I've said. Love & Shalom

Hi @F_Ivan, I'm sorry you're having such issues about accepting Jesus Christ as Saviour and Lord. But could you tone down the use of edited expletives? You seem to have some anger about surrendering your life to God and having to give up the sins you enjoy. I get it. But we do have some younger readers and guests of undetermined age who might find the usage of your wordings to be a little bit offensive. A post can be effective enough without them. Thanks! Shalom, David/BeauJangles

OneLight has it. None of us deserve salvation, and that's part of the beauty of it. God loves us enough that He gives us the offer anyway. Something I'll point out is that bad and even horrible things still happen to people who aren't Christians. Avoiding Christianity doesn't guarantee an easy life, and neither does accepting Christ guarantee that your life will mirror Job's. The world is full of sin and sinful people, so hardships are going to arise as a consequence of that regardless of what we do with Jesus. In my own walk I've found that God quite often delivers us from these hardships.

Nobody is "good enough" for salvation (Romans 3:23). Salvation is a gift from God to us (Ephesians 2:8-10). Nothing we can ever do will merit what He did for us. I suggest you stop trying and accept the completed work of Jesus on the cross (Romans 10:9). When we accepted Jesus as our Savior, the Holy Spirit came to live in us, changing us to be like Christ. We need to let go of the desires of the flesh and allow Him to create a new person in us. I suggest you read the following and notice the difference between living in the flesh and living in the Spirit. Galatians 5:16-26 I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.