Willa

While I don't get a vote--mods do that-- Shiloh and Openly Curious have best cleared my cobwebs. Many thanks to your time and effort. The Holy Spirit has spoken to my heart. I felt so when I asked if they represented gifts to the Lord, and it was confirmed in detail by your answers, as well as for the purpose of consecration. Very enlightening. Thank you so much. After thought: some of us old goats continue to present ourselves a living sacrifices as well. Blessings, Willa

Yes brother you are right, spiritual death is separation from the risen Lord. It means that after we put to rest the first ADAM we have a home, that is a permanent dwelling place prepared for us in the heavenly realm with our Lord. Either people will migrate from this earthly life to put on immortality or they will go off naked into the abyss, that is outer darkness of hell. In that respect true believers walk as the dead amongst the living because they have already considered themselves dead to the carnal ways of this world. I have always considered Christians to be walking among the zombies. Those who are not born again are not spiritually alive to God, and do not have the life of Christ in them. These people are truly dead and without hope. John 3:18 HE WHO DOES NOT BELIEVE IS CONDEMNED ALREADY, because he has not believed in the Name of the Only Begotton Son of God.. Only God has life. Jesus is the way and the life. We have life when we have the Holy Spirit living in us. The rest of the world is dead. The early church covered the innocent baby problem by baptizing them as infants and believing that these unbelieving children were born again magicly by their baptism. But John 3:8 says that the wind blows where it wishes, and you can hear the sound of it but cannot tell where it comes from or where it goes. So is everyone that is born of the Spirit." The Holy Spirit has a mind of His own. He is God. We cannot put Him in a formula and expect Him to obey us. There is a promise that those who repent, believe in their hearts that God raised Jesus from the dead, and who confess Jesus as Lord shall be saved. There is no promise that unbelievers shall be saved, including their infants. There is a verse in 1 Cor. 7:14 that says the family of a believer will be sanctified by them. Romans 5:18a, Therefore as through one man's offense judgement came to all men, resulting in condemnation, ----19 For BY ONE MAN'S DISOBEDIENCE MANY WERE MADE SINNERS, so also by one Man's obedeince many will be made righteous. [Therefore all are condemned due to Adam's sin. Even the baby is selfish, demanding needs be met. It is a survival instinct born in all men. Very early it gets angry when those needs are not met. Very early the word NO has meaning and rebellion or self assertion arise. These things are inherant in mankind.] Romans 8:9b-Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His. And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the spirit is life because of righteousness. But if the spirit of Him Who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit that dwells in you. Back to Nicodemus in John 3, " unless one is born again he cannot see the Kingdom of God." There would be no need for spiritual birth if he were already spiritually alive. All people are spiritually dead due to Adam's transgression. Yes, his flesh died. But his sin against the voice of God caused his spirit to also die. So mankind is already condemned or there would be no need to be saved and no need for a Savior. Rev. 21:8 But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolitors, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death. 20:14 Then death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire. NKJV Rejoice, rather, that your name is written in the Book of Life. Blessings, Willa

`All the treasures of wisdom & knowledge are in Him.` (Col. 2: 3) Ephesians 1 also speaks of the heavenly treasures to be found IN CHRIST. Reminds me of our 5 year old son. I asked him if he would like to ask Jesus to come into his heart. He looked down at his little chest and replied, Mother! He's not in me, I'm in Him! But after that confession of faith he canvassed the neighborhood asking people young and old if they went to Sunday school, and if not, why not? If only I were still that excited about our being found in Christ that I would eagerly share my Treasure with others.

I enjoy it but evenings are not good for me anymore. Noon PDT might be better for me. Your linc leads to an error message.

I understand that animal sacrifices will resume during Christ's 1000 year reign on earth. Why? I have been told it is to remember His sacrifice for all, like we do in the Lord's supper (which was to be celebrated until He comes). But I thought that there is no need for animal sacrifices since they cannot make anyone perfect, and it is not possible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. Hebrews 10, 1-18. V.16. This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the Lord: I will put My laws into their hearts, and in their minds I will write them. Then He adds, Their sins and their lawless deeds i will remember no more. Now where there is a remission of these there is no longer an offering for sin.. NKJV Does that mean that there will no longer be remission of sins during the mellinium? Will there be another covenant with the people during the millinium that will again require the killing of bulls and goats? Or will they just represent gifts to the Lord?. Please clarify for me the need for animal sacrifices during the mellinium.

I thought John 3 and beyond is what being spiritually dead is about. All are born spiritually dead, condemned to hell. That is why we must be born again of the Spirit. God came to save the world, not condemn it, because we are already condemned to hell. Unless we turn to Jesus, recognizing that He died so that we can be forgiven, we cannot be born again. John 3:18 He who believes in Him is not condemned, but he who does not believe is condemned already because he has not believed on the only begotten Son of God. NKJV

Most people are afraid of death. Many are so afraid that even the sight of a cemetery is a terrifying reminder. They may also hate the sight of a church for much the same reason. When I worked in the hospitals I saw people in horrendous pain and near death who were most concerned about those they were leaving behind, They comforted and encouraged all who came into their room. The pain of having their bowels protruding from cancerous open wounds was unthinkable but they refused pain meds because they still wanted to make a difference in other peoples lives and to share the Gospel. There was the 4 year old boy who had an out of body experience. He saw himself leave, drawn into the bright light, and safe with Jesus. It was such a wonderful place that he did not want to go back to his family but he did. Thereafter he begged his family to let him go be with Jesus and not have him resuscitated again. I knew him and I know the family today. Meanwhile he asked every nurse who came to his bedside "Do you know Jesus? But do you REALLY know Him." Davey was talking about having a vital relationship with the Risen Lord--a two way relationship. No belief in Santa Claus would give a 4 year old child that kind of faith. No child has ever to my knowledge gone in the spirit to be with Santa Clause. Whether anyone else is convinced, he was convinced. Wishful thinking does not cause a 4 year old to have such confidence about where he will go that he wanted to leave the only security, love and life he had ever known. Faith is the confidence of things unseen. It is born out of an intimate relationship with God and an intimate understanding of His Character. My husband was in complete denial that he would be a father soon. He could see my swollen belly, feel the pressure of a kick when his hand was on it, see it move, see the ultrasound image, but that was not reality to him tell he had the baby in his arms. Then, as ugly as that 5 pound baby was, he knew he was a dad. Many people see the affect of God on other people, see their demeanors change and their personalties change, they even see changes in their values and actions. Quite often that is enough to convince them and they ask for what that person has. But until the Spirit of the Risen Christ dwells in them, and grows in them, they don't really understand and form a vital relationship with God. That relationship is what makes them a Christian.

Teditis, I have many friends in the Roman Catholic church that are born again Christians; they love Jesus and walk in the Spirit. Many have the Holy Spirit in their hearts crying Abba. But most also have not given up things that I consider to be unbibicle and heathen. I could not recommend anyone attend a church that does not teach the Scriptures or base doctrine on them alone. The paramaters on this forum are often based on problems that have occurred in the past. Sometimes it is meant to protect our Catholic brothers and sisters as much as to protect new Christians from unbibical doctrine. I personally apologize for this. I have been discriminated against by groups as well. Many years ago it was hurful.

Coheir. The scriptures I presented were the ones given in the Christian Bill of Rights. Nothing was personal but was given in explanation of the "Right to". any others were to further explain what I thought it meant. Don't kick yourself when you fail. Just agree with God, confess it trusting that Christ already provided your forgiveness at the cross, and move on. God told me I had no right to kick myself or get down on myself. That is agreeing with satan's accusations, for one thing. We should not even bring up something God has already forgiven unless we still have to make peace with someone we have offended. Bury it with the old man. Wash our feet and move on. Otherwise we will hinder the Holy Spirit from doing through us the good works God created for this day. God told me I am no use to my husband and my kids while I am ticked with myself and beating myself up for a failure. Trying harder doesn't help me either if it puts my eyes on self and not on the Lord. I need to be listìning to God, thinking of Him and praising Him for Him to direct my thoughts to the next thing He wants me to do. All is needed is that we ABIDE in Him. That is dwelling in Him and living in Him. John 15:3-5. We are cleansed already by the word. Now we simply abide in His Presence. That is a joy, not an effort. It is a rest of rejoicing in His Presence. Me thinks you may try too hard. We cease from our own effort when we allow Christ to do it in us and through us. Now we just abide in His love.v.9 Blessings. Willa

John 3:19 NKJV And this is the condemnation: that light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. While God has saved us by grace through faith, I believe that He also gave us free will to resist grace by resisting the light given us. Those that don't want to be held accountable will turn away from the light and suppress the truth. Those who seek the Truth, to them more truth will be given. Those who suppress the truth, even that which they have will be taken away. So God has given them ears that do not hear and eyes that do not see. Matt 13:10-15 Romans 1: 18-22 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, for what may be known of God is manifest in them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead so that they are without excuse, because although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were they thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Professing to be wise they became fools,. (and created false religions). Matt. 13: 24-30 NKJV Speaking of the wheat and the tares, v. 30: Let both of them grow together until the harvest , and at the time of the harvest I will say to the reapers, "First bind together the tares and bind them into bundles to burn them, but gather the wheat into my barn." Why does God allow this? v, 29 But He said :"No, lest while you gather up the tares you also uproot the wheat with them." (He does not desire that any be lost. ) Hope this helps. You tend to be a little cryptic so I am not sure I completely understood the question. Blessings, Willa

I asked about intercession and even included a question mark - yes I'm asking. Sevenseas, on 27 Aug 2014 - 2:06 PM, said: The 2nd sentence seems to indicate a low opinion of the intelligence of believers...ie...let someone else do the thinking for them I'm a believer...not sure what you are talking about... Intercession is a heretical concept. God knows all and sees all. If He wants to change our circumstance He will, He does not need us to direct Him. Intercession is a nutty concept adopted by the Catholic church to gain power for the Church. For me, I will read my Bible in my closet and trust God to interceed when He sees fit not when one of my friends prays for me on Facebook. I asked about intercession and even included a question mark - yes I'm asking. Sevenseas, on 27 Aug 2014 - 2:06 PM, said: The 2nd sentence seems to indicate a low opinion of the intelligence of believers...ie...let someone else do the thinking for them I'm a believer...not sure what you are talking about... Intercession is a heretical concept. God knows all and sees all. If He wants to change our circumstance He will, He does not need us to direct Him. Intercession is a nutty concept adopted by the Catholic church to gain power for the Church. For me, I will read my Bible in my closet and trust God to interceed when He sees fit not when one of my friends prays for me on Facebook. Well Jerry, your status indicates non-believer...did you notice that? Your POV on prayer indicates you do not believe what scripture teaches because it most certainly does teach intercession If you think intercession is a nutty concept, then you think that Jesus must be nutty because the Bible tells us He intercedes for us So, do you read the Bible at all? You state you are a believer, so, what is it you believe? I am asking because you have just a very non-scriptural bias against a scriptural truth Moses also made intercessions for the people while they were in the wilderness. Num. 21:7 God wants us to be totally dependant on Him and to have fellowship with Him. Sometimes intercession is as much for our benefit as it is for those we pray for. God wants us to humble ourselves and ask for His help. We also ask Him to help others. Sometimes That is accomplished by His showing them their own need. Most of us are unaware of our need for a Savior, for instance, but foolishly believe we can do everything on our own.

Coheir, we don't give up our minds in the sense that we always have the right to question whether something is of God. But when we know in our hearts that it is of God and we don't do it we are in rebellion. God had told Saul to destroy Amalek and everything in the city, but Saul did what was right in his own eyes and did not obey the voice of God, even lied to Samuel about it and had set up a monument to himself. His excuse was that he feared and obeyed the people rather than God. People pleasing. Read 1 Sam 15 again. Phil 2:1-5 explains #1 in more detail. Let nothing be done out of selfishness--ambition or conceit. Be lowly in mind and be considerate of others. The illustration that comes to mind is a church board meeting in which the person representing the youth wanted funds from the Missions board to be transferred to her department. Missions should have gladly shared, giving up their own rights, but for one thing. The money was being held in trust because it came directly from people giving to specific missionaries and did not belong to the missions board or to the local church. Matt 16: 24-26 explain # 2. If a person desires to save the life of the old man, clinging to his fleshly priorities over those of the Spirit, he will die. We have to let go of the old man, dieing to him daily and considering him to have died with Christ on the cross, to be transformed into the image of Christ and allow the life of Christ to be seen in us. Now my objection and question: Number 26 has to do with being submissive to and obeying local pastors. Having come out of the shepherding movement where this scripture was abused, I have to qualify this. As long as the pastor is speaking in accordance with God's Word and being a godly example , we should obey him, support him and give him the respect due his office. But if he is abusing this verse we need to step back and find another church where the pastor can be trusted. Scripture also says 1Peter 5:2-3: Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not from compulsion but willingly, NOT FROM DISHONEST GAIN, but eagerly; NOT AS BEING LORDS OVER THOSE ENTRUSED TO YOU, but BEING EXAMPLES TO THE FLOCK. 5:5b yes, all of you be submissive to one another and be clothed with humility. NKJV This is the pastor that can be trusted. We need to take a step back and look elsewhere if a pastor is abusing his office or presenting false teaching and continues to do so after being admonished.

Just wanted to offer a response, a couple things came to mind when I read your post.On one hand you seem to imply that proof may be subjective if we're talking about proof that goes against your faith. What about the "proof" that people claim is in support of their faith, seems to me that would be subjective as well. So when you say "there is no pie in the sky wishing going on", I don't know how we would quantify that. As I see it, that may be exactly what's going on.I also think the idea that you can tell someone is a faithful servant of God [my words based on what you were saying] by how their outward life appears over time. There have been sick and twisted serial killers who were nice on the outside [even described as charming and warm]. So once again I really question anyone's ability to measure or proclaim supernatural causation for naturally observed events or behaviors. The seriel killers demonstrated by those acts that the Living God was not operative in their lives. I am not talking about appearances of being nice or pleasant.. Jesus said you will know them by their fruit--what their lives produce. Killing is bad fruit. This kind of proof is objective. Some kinds are subjective such as inward peace. This caused a man to stop beating his wife and changed him into a gentle man. That is objective. Feeling love and kindness for another is subjective. The demonstration of love and kindness is objective. That is why it is not pie in the sky. Some changes in behavior don't happen overnight but some do. Many people become christians because of the changes in behavior they have seen in a close friend. I have 2 close childhood friends who claim that this is the case because of me, although I was unaware of it until recent years. I have 2 sons who are christians today because of the changes they saw in their father. A spiritualist who hated Christians suddenly wants to live with them, attend church every sunday, while sitting in a pew asks one of them how to receive Christ, does so and suddenly loves Christians and stops committing adultry. She prays alloud at the dinner table and has a total transformation of subjective attitudes and objective habits. But people who don't want to believe in Christ will not accept these as demonstration of their faith, nor will the believe a physical miracle when one occurs before their eyes. They make excuses not to believe because they don't want to be held accountable for their sins. That, my friend, is pie in the sky wishful thinking---to deny the Living God.

The problem is that satan is the father of lies and the deceiver of the brethern. That is what his name means and it is what Jesus called him. Spiritism and spiritualism seem good but lead you away from the Living God into a world of deception. Several on this board will tell you of going down that road, and how it overtook them and blinded them instead of enlightening them. They ended up in a nightmare. It is impossible to be both a Christian and a spiritualist. It is changing religions. Sometimes they seem very "deep", being mystical, and claim to have hidden truth. Some say that only those who also are deep can understand its mysteries and secrets. They lure people away through morbid curiosity. Some forms require that they take oaths of secrecy that ask for curses on themselves should they reveal things. Witchcraft such as wicca consider the masonic lodge the place to go to explore the highest form of their craft, according to an article in our newspaper by the highest ranked person in wicca in our area. Jesus came to show us what God is like, to demonstrate His personality and values. When the woman was caught in adultry, He didn't condemn her. But he told her to GO AND SIN NO MORE. I am sure that is what He might also tell your friend. He came not into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. But that means he should not perform any more homosexual acts should he desire to go to heaven. It is the disagreeing with God that it is a sin, and not confessing it as sin that is so wrong if he claims to be a Christian. Should he ask God to come into his life to heal and deliver him from this sin, God is gracious and just to forgive him his sin and cleanse him from all unrighteousness. But gay pride is all wrong. Pride was the sin of satin that prompted him to lead 1/3 of the angels in rebellion against God. He wants to be your god. He even tried to get Jesus to bow down to him and worship him. Satan will try to get you to 1. doubt God's word. 2 worship and follow him. Some of the evidence of being a Christian is that we hunger to read God's Word. We also understand God's word as though it were His love letter to us. It has a lot of "Thou shalt not jump off the cliff" signs meant to help us avoid a lot of pain in our lives. It also has road signs like I am the way, the truth and the life; no man comes to the Father but by Me. I don't see you as having much spiritual understanding of the Bible. This indicates to me that you may not as yet be born again or you are such a babe in Christ that you are not yet spiritual. You need to act upon the things that you do understand in the Bible to receive more enlightenment. As for maturbation, All sex acts outside of marriage is sin. It is called fornication. Forgive my lengthy replies. You posed many questions to try to answer. But spiritualism will definitely stop your communication with God.. You definitely need to forsake all forms of it and surrender your life to the Living God of the Bible. My grandfather was a practicing spiritualist. He never became a Christian. I lived in his home.

Yes, I did. I was even baptized 6 years ago. My father used to be a pastor from our local church, and I used to play guitar and sing in the youth band. I have aways been in the church, and grew up with the commandments of God. But I never really got those questions answered. Actually, I never asked them to our local pastors either. Skyes, you introduced yourself as being a spiritualist. Generally the practice of spiritualism is not of God. The use of illegal drugs can also come between you and God, especially hallucinogenics. I am just trying to think of things that could be seperating you from God and hindering you from having a healthy relationhip with Him.

Well, to be honest, I don't really see why it would be a sin. How come it is a sin to be homosexual? It is not their fault. It is not the fault of alcoholics to be the way they are as well. Even some thieves just steal to have enough to eat or to feed their children. I am not justifying all that, but I am trying to see how the problems are much deeper than most people think it is. I understand that we have fallen from grace in the past, and now we are living a life surrounded by sin. We are sinners, all of us, and we sin all the time. Today I understand that drinking is not a sin. (I don't know what you guys think) Being intoxicated is a sin. It is God who determins what is sin and what is not. It is our job to agree with Him, which is agreeing with what is said by the Holy Spirit in the Bible. People can be delivered from sin. Alcoholics can be delivered from the desire to drink and gays can be delivered from their desire for sex with a person of the same sex. It happens often in our church. It takes compassion and Godly love for the sinner. But they have to stop making excuses and agree with God that it is sin before anything good can happen. That takes humility. The person who steals food could have gone to the food bank or a mission for food. The reason that you can't make up your mind about what is sin could be because you don't want to admit something yet. Jesus, when speaking to the woman at the well didn't even answer her questions about where to worship. He told her she was living in sin. God gets to the heart of the issue. Read the New Testament to learn what God thinks is sin and don't listen to people. And don't rationalize your sins. They are what they are. I was raised to look for the deeper reasons and to make excuses for other people. It does help us undertand them and have compassion. But each person still is accountable to God. God isn't through with you yet. He is still calling you to walk with Him. Blessings, dear one, Willa

Thanks for your reply. The case you are talking about in Cor. is a clear case of an unbeliever leaving, so divorce is permitted here but does it automatically imply that remarriage is allowed in this circumstance? It doesn't really say. It just speaks about not being bound to the unbeliever anymore (unequally yoked) in a covenant. If combined with the scripture in Matt 5 it doesn't seem that it indicates a freedom to remarry unless there was also adultery involved with that unbelieving spouse? It seems to me if a person is no longer bound by a covenant, she is them free to remarry. If a person marrys some who is in covenant with another there would be adultry. But where there is no longer a covenant there can't be adultry. That is how my mind is reading it.

Sometimes my opinion is asked in a thread. Then I sometimes give it, but I ask the Lord before I push the post button. Most often I have felt He has told me to cancel. My goal is that God may be glorified in my post. I don't try to win. I do try to give an account for my faith. Sometimes that includes presenting verses and explaining how they impact me. If there is any teaching being done, my hope is that the Holy Spirit is doing it and not me or it is of little value. God has sometimes given me wisdom as to how to answer a person or wisdom in how they might solve a problem. My biggest failing perhaps is my inablility to be concise. Hubby always says GET TO THE POINT! Many years ago I would get angry because my pride was involved. In fact, I would get down right hateful toward those I believed were in error. God said "come now, let us reason together". While that is out of context, it is still a good motto. Titus 2:9 But avoid foolish disputes, genealogies, contentions, and striving about the law. 2 Tim 4:2 Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all LONGSUFFERING and teaching.. 2 Tim 3:23-24 But avoid foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they generate strife. And a servent of the Lord must not quarrel but be GENTLE to all, able to teach, PATIENT, in all HUMILITY correcting those in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth. So here I am preaching to myself again, certainly having falling on my face as well.

Prov. 10:19 in the multitude of words sin is not lacking, but he who refrains his lips is wise, 17:27 He who has knowledge spared his word, and a man of understanding is of a callm spirit. Even a fool is counted as wise when he holds his peace; when he shuts his lips he is considered perceptive. Hummmm. Perhaps there is something for me to learn here.

Which Bible programes can you use on a pad and can highlight or add notes to? I am searching for one.. I have samsung pads and an Apple desk top, and can't use my E-Sword on them. (Pout)

I use a crayon like Bible marker and pens, fine tipped. I also was taught not to write in books, especially Bibles ie sacred books. But I broke out of that bondage while still in high school when I started using a colored pencil to underline doctrinal verses as well as favorites. This was on genuine India paper. I often circled the number of a verse as well. Now I have an inexpensive NKJV by Holman that is leather bound. Purchased in 2005 it is holding up pretty well since it is the one I carry to church. It has a dozen church bullitins in it as well as a note pad. But except for long notes of an expository nature that I write in the note pad, all others are now done in my Bible with a fine pen that does not smear or leak. I circle verses, circle numbers, write cross references not in center column, and write short notes in the margins. I circle or underline words as well.. A yellow crayon highliter is also used to highlight a passage. It is pretty easy to tell where in a book our pastor left off teaching the week before. My Bibles at home are also marked well. My Thompson Chain is heavy but I use it a lot, together with a smaller, lighter weight one that is easier to grab and search. But Nelson made such a lousy concordance that I keep going back to the Thompson Chain. Lots of other versions are also kept handy that are marked, especially the Amplified.. Oddly, my inductive study Bible which is made to be marked in is the less marked of all. It also is heavy and is the updated NASB.

The books of 1 John was written to know if you are a genuine believer. It works to recognize if others are genuine believers as well. "You will know that they are christians if they have love one for another. I believe this refers to sacrificial love like that of Jesus, which lays down it life for others. So is the person is selfish and using Christians to advance themselves or their own well being, I doubt their sincerity. Blessings, Willa

I have normally found that the criticisms I have for other people are the things God is trying to show me about myself. If you see others not reaching out to the poor, that is probably what God is asking you to do. God does love gay people and wants them to come to repentance just like everyone else. He asks for alcoholics to come to repentance as well. They also have a genetic weakness that is difficult to overcome, but they must first agree that it is sin to receive His help. And He does want us to be totally dependant upon Him. Our pastor says He doesn't need Jesus for a crutch, he needs Jesus to be his gurney, or his stretcher. He puts his full weight on Jesus. Prayer does not work. If you put your faith in prayer, you will be disappointed. It is God who works on our behalf. Put your faith in the Living God. It is God Who stands behind His word, and Who pours out life through the Bible. I never trust in feelings and don't seek them. I trust in God and I seek His Kingdom and His righteousness. Put your trust in the Living God.

Do you doubt the existance of the wind? I check Greek definitions and do word studies to understand better.. Vine: Faith: PISTIS: FRIM PERSUASION, A CONVICTION BASED ON HEARING. TRUST, TRUSTWORTHINESS, FIDELITY. The verb, PISTEUO: a] A FIRM CONVICTION PRODUCING A FULL ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF GOD'S REVELATION OR TRUTH. b] A PERSONAL SURRENDER TO HIM. c] A CONDUCT INSPIRED BY SUCH SURRENDER.. TO BE PERSUADED OF, hence TO TRUST; RELIANCE UPON, not mere credence. Zodhiates: 4102 Pistis: FIRM PERSUASION, CONVICTION, BELIEF IN THE TRUTH, VERACITY, objectively: THAT WHICH IS BELIEVED. Common usage: the ability to believe., c] the persuasion is not the outcome of imagination but is based on fact. d;] faith is which stands on proof arrived at inductively. II. GOOD FAITH, FAITHFULNESS SINCERITY III FAITH GIVEN AS A PLEDGE, PROMISE IV A TECHNICAL TERM=APPROPRIATING WHAT GOD IN CHRIST HAS FOR MAN, RESULTING IN THE TRANSFORMATION OF MAN'S CHARACTER AND WAY OF LIFE. a] the faith emanating from God. b] faith in Christ (such as to work miracles),, Verb, PISTEUO: TO BELIEVE, HAVE FAITH IN, TRUST, EMBRACE, REST UPON, ENTRUST. C] BELIEF CREATES COMPLETE DEPENDENCE UPON THE LORD AND NOT INDEPENDENCE. vi] once one believes he continues to believe because he has eternal life in him. Based on these definitions, I have to disagree with the quotation..Faith is not destroyed by proof. However the proof may be subjective. We see the results of faith, and we see the results of God in creation as well as His Presence in the changed lives of people.. John 3:8 The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit. You can feel the wind but you can't see it. You can see the results of the wind blowing. You can see the changes it has caused on the earth.. You can hear the wind. It is better explained subjectively. However,, wind velocity can be measured. The effect of God in an individual can only be observed as to the change over time.. Both faith and believe have the active quality inherant in them as well as a concrete quality. There is no pie in the sky wishing going on. I think of an old hymn: I KNOW (intmately) Whom I have believed, and am persuaded the He is able to keep that which I have committed to Him against that day.

It is important for us to be under God's authority--acting in obedience to Him and within His parameters. To do so is to walk by faith. It is like when Abraham left His home, trusting God but not knowing where he was going. We have a lot of confidence when we step out in our own strength--we have little or none when we step out in faith. It never feels like faith because it is dealing with the unknown. When we reach out and witness to strangers, it is scary. God fills us with boldness and love sometimes. Sometimes it is purely an act of obedience, hoping that God will come through. But God has given us the authority as well as the power to do this. When I first offered to pray for God to heal people it was the same thing. I had compassion but was afraid of looking like a fool. But it is God Who heals or saves, not me, so it is entirely up to Him. I just need to be obedient to make the effort. Usually people appreciate prayer for healing. That is not always true of witnessing. One of my neighbors' replies was: I will have to ask my husband when he gets home", as though I were trying to sell her a vacuum cleaner! lol I learned in time to witness first with a changed life when they are people who we know well, and usually they will ask the questions--especially if we are praying for them. Blessings,, Willa