Willa

Usually the instruction for each area are posted in the beginning of each forum. The first few post often have a lock beside them showing they are there permanently. These contain valuable and much needed information that is often overlooked or neglected

If we aren't serving God, then we are serving sin. Rom 6:16 Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness? Rom 6:17 But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed, Rom 6:18 and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness. Rom 6:21 But what fruit were you getting at that time from the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death. Rom 6:22 But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life. Rom 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

It means the discussion will never end concerning who is last on Worthy.

We only need to agree with God concerning our sin once we first repented. He has promised to forgive us and cleanse us from all unrighteousness when we we confess our sin. 1Jn 1:7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. 1Jn 1:8 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 1Jn 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

We believe that the 66 books of the Canon, from Genesis to Revelation are the exhaustive, inerrant and inspired word of God. From Worthy's statement of faith.

We need to recognize the enemy. Ask for grace to forgive. Then stand. Having done all, to stand and see the salvation of the Lord. Shout the victory! Our God reigns!

Since KJV in not written in my native tongue, I would like to offer the passage in NKJV for clarity's sake. 1Jn 5:1 Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves Him who begot also loves him who is begotten of Him. 1Jn 5:2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep His commandments. 1Jn 5:3 For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome. 1Jn 5:4 For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. 1Jn 5:5 Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? 1Jn 5:6 This is He who came by water and blood—Jesus Christ; not only by water, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who bears witness, because the Spirit is truth. 1Jn 5:7 For there are three that bear witness in heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one. 1Jn 5:8 And there are three that bear witness on earth: the Spirit, the water, and the blood; and these three agree as one. 1Jn 5:9 If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater; for this is the witness of God which He has testified of His Son. 1Jn 5:10 He who believes in the Son of God has the witness in himself; he who does not believe God has made Him a liar, because he has not believed the testimony that God has given of His Son. 1Jn 5:11 And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. 1Jn 5:12 He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. 1Jn 5:13 These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.

I have had floaters for many years and don't notice them most of the time.

Verse 8 in most versions reads Joshua, not Jesus. Heb 4:8 ESV. For if Joshua had given them rest, God would not have spoken of another day later on. Mat 11:28. Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Heb 4:10 For he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His. This refers to our own efforts to keep the law or our good works. We rest in the completed works of Christ on the cross. We cease from our own works and trust that Christ's work is sufficient to save us. He said "It is finished". That is our Sabbath rest. Praise God!

Personally I prefer the NKJV and the ESV. I particularly like the better translation of Greek verbs in places like 1 John 3:4-9 in ESV.

A staff was a walking stick, a crutch, as well as a symbol of authority. It refers to the Lord's authority and support. He rescues us (often from our own stupidity) with the hook in His staff. ‛eneṯ: I. A feminine noun indicating a support, a supply. It is used of what firms up, keeps stable, furnishes needed supplies. II. A feminine noun indicating a pole, a staff, a support. It refers to a physical support, such as a cane or crutch (Exo 21:19), especially for the elderly (Zec 8:4). It serves as a symbol of authority along with a scepter (Num 21:18). It indicates a rod used by a divine being (Jdg 6:21); and the staff of a prophet or a man of God that represents his authority (2Ki 4:29). The staff of the Lord, His presence and protection, comforts His people (Psa 23:4). šēḇeṭ: A masculine noun meaning a rod, a scepter, and a tribe. . As a rod, it represents a common tool used as a shepherd's staff (Lev 27:32; Eze 20:37); a crude weapon (2Sa 23:21);.. The rod was also used in meting out discipline, both literally for a slave (Exo 21:20); a fool (Pro 10:13; Pro 26:3); and a son (Pro 13:24; Pro 22:15; Pro 29:15); [from Word Study Dictionary, Zodiahates.] So God supports us, provides for and comforts us with His presence; He also disciplines us and protects us since the rod could be used as a weapon perhaps against wolves. To me, all of these speak of His love and commitment to our well being and care. The Lord Himself guides us. Sheep are followers and cannot be herded from behind. So God leads us in the directions we should go.

It is true that we are filled with the Holy Spirit to receive power to witness. I believe that all genuine Christians do witness, but often without our knowing it. Our life styles and whatever comes out of our mouths is a witness, and often God uses it mightily to convict others. We don't cuss or run out on our spouse, for instance. This causes those who do to strike out against us. As far as leading people to Christ, that is sort of the same thing. We may not read a tract to them or lead them through a prayer, but something we say may still motivate them to cry out to God. Meanwhile, we can always testify to others of an answered prayer or how God led us to believe. We can ask them if they would like us to pray for their need. (I prefer to do that on the spot). I guess we never do these things enough, but we are not under legal obligation to do so. It just comes out of the joy and overflowing Spirit in us. Perhaps you were called to pray for peoples ears and eyes to be opened to the truth. Perhaps you were called to pray for the one who is witnessing. We just need to be faithful to do whatever God is calling us to do.

The Greek word for faith is the same as the word believe, but one is a noun and the other is a verb. They are virtually the same word. The word believe implies action, as verbs are action words. The point I am making is that genuine Holy Spirit inspired faith motivates action. That action may be to read the Bible and pray, or it may be to help those in need. Faith is a fruit of the Holy Spirit and where He is at work, something happens. It is not faith or works, it is faith that works. We are not speaking of intellectual belief in which He remains out there somewhere and a pet philosophy to be bandied about. Head knowledge doesn't produce a familiar relationship with God.

I agree with you concerning Is. 53:5. ..Isa 53:5 NKJV But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed. However, Jesus quoted a different portion in Matthew which does speak of physical and healing. Mat 8:16 When evening had come, they brought to Him many who were demon-possessed. And He cast out the spirits with a word, and healed all who were sick, Mat 8:17 that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying: "HE HIMSELF TOOK OUR INFIRMITIES AND BORE OUR SICKNESSES." This is the Holy Spirit's translation of IS 53:4 according to Mathew. The literal translation seems closest. Isa 53:4 LIT. Surely He has borne our sicknesses, and He carried our pain; yet we esteemed Him plagued, smitten by God, and afflicted. G769 (Strong). ἀσθένεια. astheneia. as-then'-i-ah From G772; feebleness (of body or mind); by implication malady; moral frailty: - disease, infirmity, sickness, weakness.

God has very broad shoulders to cry on. He sent Jesus to us who said: Luk 4:18 "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, Luk 4:19 to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor."

I have ancestors in the early 1800s who were Plymouth Brethren. My Great-great grandfather was a song leader and became a physician at a P.Brethern college. They don't have formal church government but are led by elders whose leadership is recognized by other elders. Some prominent members are: FF Bruce---good commentaries John Nelson Darby--Theologian pastor/teacher Jim Elliot, Missionary martyred in Equador Harry Ironside--pastor of Moody Church, Chicago, also good commentaries. theologian George Muller--orphanages in England Watchman Nee--Chinese pastor, author and martyr Hudson Taylor--Missionary to China Willian E. Vine--author of Vine's Expository Dictionary of Old & New Testament Words, among others.

I find a lot of truth in the words of Stanford and Ryle. I have a lot of respect for the early Plymouth Brethren.

Jesus never said it would "work". When God said His word would not come back void it means some would reject it and some would receive Christ. The same goes for loving our enemies and praying for those who persecute us. We were only promised that we would be treated the same way that they treated Christ. They hung Him on a cross. Do you love God enough to be persecuted for Christ's sake?

Jas 1:22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. Jas 1:23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. Jas 1:24 For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. Jas 1:25 But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing. Psa 111:10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; A good understanding have all those who do His commandments. His praise endures forever. I didn't learn the word by reading or listening to it. I learned by applying it to my daily problems. First I would pray about the problem. Then the answer would come from God's word, from the sermon that week and, just in case I wasn't paying attention, in a hymn on the radio. After I had done what the word instructed, thinking that maybe God was trying to tell me something, God's word became a part of my life. It doesn't change me till I apply it.

They sell airplanes. Other countries pay Boeing for them as does ours. They pay corporate taxes and many other kinds like property taxes.

It is much worse when you find that kind of hostility in a believer's forum or in a church. Sometimes the more kindness we show them in return the worse it gets. I always figure that the have the "Holy Ghost miserables" at that point. God is dealing with them.

You shouldn't become close to a person to lead them to the Lord, especially of the opposite sex. You can be a stranger to do that. My son would invite his friend on boat rides or group activities, and finally to church. It was after church that he led her to the Lord. Then they became closer friends till he married her. My grandson did the same. They worked together for some time before he led her to the Lord. Now they are engaged. I made the mistake of marrying someone who wasn't saved and I was too new in the faith to know he wasn't. I just knew that I was relaxed and comfortable with him and could be myself. We could always find things to talk about and we enjoyed each others company. It was 11 painful miserable years before he was saved. Don't do that. God does disciple those He loves. I learned to walk with God though it all and by God's grace we were married 54 years.

The first time he was able to see, but not clearly. It was like being near sighted when things are blurry at a distance. The second time enabled him to see clearly.

A Christian is a person in whom Christ dwells. Love does not accuse his brother because satan is the accuser of the brethren. Love does not speak evil of his brother. Eph 4:29 Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. Eph 4:30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Eph 4:31 Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Eph 4:32 Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

Companies definitely do pay taxes, just not income tax. Boeing was so heavily taxed in WA state that they moved a large part of their company to another state. The drug companies do need some regulation, such as limiting the cost of the medication in relation to the cost of production. Unscrupulous companies are charging way too much for much needed medication, some life saving. Until regulation happens, the full amount of medications should be allowed to be deducted from tax. That might motivate the govt. to do something about it. No-one with an income of even $100,000 a year should have to pay 20% of it for a single medication.