Willa

When I don't know how to humble myself, God usually does it for me by means of trials. They are like those that Jesus experienced when He went to the cross. Betrayal by friends, false accusations, punishment for things I didn't do. Thankfulness seems tot be good antedote. It helps me to realize that I am unble to do anything good or of merit without God's grace.. Any talent I have is from Him, any success I have obtained is by His grace. . Even jobs are a gift from Him. So being thankful for all He has done in my life keeps it all in perspective. Any spiritual advantage is definitely His doing. How can I be proud of something that can only be enabled by God? If God can used anything I have done or said, it is usually in spite of me rather than because of me. What is worse is that as soon as are start thinking "look how humble I am," I am again snared by priide. So w hen you get it figured out, let me know. I hate the trials that are sent to humble me or keep me humble. But God doesn't like complaining either and I don't want to keep wandering in the wilderness with the ch ildren of Israel only to die there. So I guess I have to agree with Him that He is God, He does all things well, and it is for my good. And I need to be thankful.

Tommy, all of us have had loved ones who have died not knowing Christ. Most of them have had a chance to know Him but turned away from the little bit they did know about God. Had they opened their hearts to what was evident to them, God would have revealed more. We grieve for the loss of these people. Some of them were really kind and good. My best friend's dad was this way. But he was a highly educated and brilliant man who was too proud to ask God to forgive him and to admit that he had been wrong about God. He just died a few years ago, but he had become bitter toward Christians and toward God. Still, we both miss him a lot. My friend asked the same type of questions you have been asking.

You asked what it i like to be led by the Holy Spirit of God. It is more like the intuitive side of your nature rather than the intellectual side. Right brain, not left brain, if that makes more sense. The fruit of the Spirit are love, joy, peace patience, kindness, gentleness, goodness, faithfulness and self control. They are listed in Galatians 5:22. These are the traits that you will find in the guidance of the Holy Spirit.. The Holy Spirit is "another Comfortor" whom Jesus promised to send after he ascended into heaven. He is also the advocate of the Believers, the defense lawyer. He indwells all true believers and sheds light on the Bible so as we can better understand it. But He usually causes us to understand the passages that we need to grow to be more Christ like, rather than the ones that fill us with intellectual knowledge; the latter just causes us to be prideful and seperates us from God. The Holy Spirit also fills us with the power and boldness to do God's will. You cannot understand what it is to be led by the Holy Spirit without understanding Who He is. He is God Himself, part of the Godhead: Father Son Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit's guidance is always in agreement with the Bible, and it can always be confirmed by 2 or 3 witnesses. It can occur as a still small voice within you that you recognize as not being your own, but it always conveys the attributes of God. It can be an audible voice, but usually that occurrs in extreme stress or unusual circumstànces. It can be a portion of Scripture that shouts at you or stands out to you. It can be conveyed through a Christian who is mature in Christ. There are many ways in which God speaks, but when we are first learning to recognize His voice, it will reoccur several times say, during a week till it gets your attention. People who have not given their lives to God and received Christ into their lives do not experience this. God may get their attention to understand that He exists and that He hears them, but He will then convict the person of sin, and lead the person to repentance and salvation by faith in Christ. This is always the first step. In John 16:7-11 Jesus speaks of the Holy Spirit, "and He, when He comes, will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgement." The person who denies these three things is not being led by the Holy Spirit. Jesus said "But you do not believe because you are not My sheep. My sheep hear my voice and I know them, and they follow Me; and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of the Father's hand. I and the Father are ONE." John 10:26-30 NASV Repentance is just a prayer away: ask God to forgive you, to reveal Himself to you, and to make you His own.

I also believe that eternal pleasures are being in the presence of God. In 1 Cor. 13 we find that only love will not pass away. God is love, light, truth, life, and every possible good and righteous blessing. When we read the first chapter of Ephesians, we find a load of the blessings we have in Christ. But the key phrase is IN HIM. All those blessing as found inside Christ Himself, and when we ourselves are found in Him, we simply have them because we have Him.

Thank you, GE, this is a great tool. Now I have to figure out how to save it and print it out.

Chapter 12 seems to be a paranthetical piece of history. There has never been any doubt in my mind that the woman of Rev. 12 is the nation of Isreal. She produced a male child, our Christ. She was persecuted by satan over the centuries. She has a garland of 12 stars, the 12 tribes of Israel. In v.4, Satan tried to kill off Jesus by murdering all the babies under 2, and finally by the cross. Christ will return and rule the nations with a rod of iron during the mellinium.. During the tribulation Israel will be sheltered in the wilderness for 3.5 years. Rev. 12:17 says that satan was enraged with the woman, and he went off to make war with the rest of her offspring, who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ. This is a direct reference to born again believers, the true church. We see that persecution over the centuries also but it is becoming even worse in this day and age. Persecution started with Jesus Himself saying that we will be treated the way He was treated. Muslim persecution is growing, but so is discrimination and public opinion being turned against Christians in the last 40 years. Rev 19:6 we find the church in heaven preparing for the marriage supper of the Lamb. Vs 11 has his return followed by armies in heaven clothed in fine white clean linen, garments no doubt worn at the marriage supper, and Christ returns to rule with the rod of iron. Revelations cannot be read in direct chronological order. That is the thinking of the western mind. The Jews and the eastern mind think more as an outline. First a general subject is given. Then details of that subject. And then the details are examined revealing differenct aspects and more information. So it is more like a box within a box, open that and you find yet another box to open. It is written more like the first few chapters of Genesis. The first chapter gives the subject and then is quite general in nature. The 2nd chapter goes into more detail about the creation of man. It is most probable that the 24 elders in Rev. 4-5 represent the church. They are both kings and priests, they cast their crowns before the Lamb, and the new song that they sing says they are redeemed by the blood of the Lamb. 5:9. Angels can't say that, nor will angels reign on earth as in vs. 10. That is the last I see of the church till the marriage feast of the Lamb in 19:6. with the exception of chapter 12, which seems to be another outline that is inserted into the middle of it all--parenthetical. I am no expert on revelations, but this sort of sums up what little light I have on the subject. I get really mixed up on all the bowls, vials, seals, trumpets and all.

Your original question seems to be what do you believe hell is like. I believe it is complete seperation from God.....God is revealed as all that is good, loving, knowing, creative, just, righteous, light, truth, and life, among other things. So hell would be without anything that is good or loving, anything just or righteous, and to consist of the emptyness, hatred, evil, darkness, indifference, and the stench of death. In addition, it is a place of eternal torture that was intended to house only pure evil. Those who end up there do so by their own choice. Everyone instinctively knows good from evil; most people are too proud to admit they are not perfect, that they could be wrong, and that they can't be a good person without help. Most people are too proud to ask for help from the Trio Spirit Creator, and even refuse to admit He exists because it means they might have to be accountable to Him. Then they claim that there will never be justice: a place of torment to send satan and his followers. So they choose their own evil pride over humbling themselves. That is how most people choose to go to hell .

Alcohol and/or drug use contributes a lot to gun violence. Just a thought

Perhaps the fact that less than 10% of "Zag" enrollees attend ANY church on a regualar basis has a bearing on all of this. (Fact obtained from their own web site.)

This type of post makes you sound as cryptic as the gnostics

OneLight, Nebula and all, I agree that humility is the key and love is expressed in humble serventhood. It is our humility that makes us obedient and not resist God's leading or His grace. My husband is a prime example of being a servent. He was perfectly willing to sweep floors and clean up after people constructing our church without being asked. He has very little talent in carpentry, plumbing etc, but he could sweep floors and he was faithful to be their daily. I wish I were more like him. I don't recognize that type of need, and I don't even think in those terms. I might think to get a bottle of cold water for those who are working, or to do first aide, be a "go fer" something of that order, but I would just try to walk around the junk on the floor. Isn't that awful? It is true that God gives rewards for things we have done, but in the end, in heaven, we recognize that anything we do is enabled and motivated by God and we really haven't done much at all. So we cast our crowns at the feet of Jesus, Who is our all in all. God looks at the heart. That is why David was chosen over his brothers. He was considered least in the family, a lowly stinkin' shepherd boy. Not the best looking. Not the affluent or influencial, but the one at the bottom of the barrell.

I actually thought about it since I and it so happened I read it before anyone even responded some time to consider the words before I responded. Why would you assume that those who disagree with the op are confused? I don't think that adds any credibility to your statement or the op...not meaning to sound disagreeable here, but if we are posting opinions, then either give supporting scripture for them or just say you agree...or disagree. Here's a quote from another site...found this after I posted...but it happens to agree with my POV...I have researched the question of the op some and I do not find any support for the idea being presented...however, I do find support for what seems to be the general concensus. Here's the site for the quote below I am in agreement with some of what you say, such as: The covering that God provided them was just a temporary covering, as was the blood sacrefice system which the Jews would eventually used. They all pointed to the permanent solution to cover our sin, the Sacrefice of Jesus on the Cross. His sacrefice went farther than to cover our sins. His ratified a New Covenant of grace which would completely remove our sin as far as the east is from the west, making our sins though they be as scarlet, to be white as snow At any rate, I just wondered why you would think that those who disagree are in confusion. The author of this thread is disagreeing with those who disagree with the op, so I do not believe we are saying the same things different ways. Sorry. Didn't mean to offend anyone. I am dyslexic and misread post #1 by the OP. This is why I was confused and assumed that others may also have been confused, whether they disagreed or not. I do apologize. I do find that this rending is a bit strange. I do believe that Adam and Eve died spiritually when they sinned, which is why we must be born again. If that is what is meant by "spiritual covering was removed" then I agree. She did say that naked means physically naked in the post I quoted, I believe. Thank you for bring this all to my attention. I will definitely let you know when I am in disagreement and I take very strong stands.. I did quote Scripture and give references. I am in complete agreement with the quote and reference you used about the change in the way they thought. I am in complete agreement that God's Word is to be interpretated litterally and that we should not read into it something that is not there. I did find your questioning my credibility to be a personal attack. But I will assume the best of you and hope you did not mean it to be offensive or insulting; and that you would not have taken it that way had it been directed to you. We are supposed to not address people but address issues. I am very sorry if I also have done that. In no way do I assume that everyone who disagrees is just confused. I was assuming that because I found the OP's statement to be confusing, that others MAY have also. I did not take into account my handicap which was the primary cause of my misreading it and confusing me. (But I did think that new Christians perhaps might focus on the word naked and not see the rest in the verses.) In no way did I mean to discredit anyone for their belief or opinion or even to belittle them. I am very sorry if I have done this. I do not feel at all superior nor do I have any reason to do so. I have never gone to Bible school or taken formal training. I am not aware of any schools of thought except that some take everything litterally, some take everything allegoricaly or something of the sort. I do read the Bible litterally and I do think that much that God does in the Old Testament are prophecies that point to Jesus. ( Another example of a litteral occurance that acted as a prophecy is Gen. 22:6-14) So If you don't agree with this style of interpretation, I completely understand and respect your opinion. You most certainly have every right to disagree. Or if you don't agree with some points I made, you have every right to do so. While I do try to base all my opinions on Scripture, I am human and prone to err. My interpretation may be all wet as may be my opinion. In Christ's LOVE Willa P.S. OP, forgive me if I put words in your mouth. That was not my intent. Again it was partially due to my misreading the post thus and ignoring your original question. There are days when my dyslexia is worse and my eyes skip around making continuity difficult.

What is confusing people is that this interpretation is really NOT DIFFERENT than the traditional interpretation. Perhaps some people had not thought much about it, though. NAKED MEANS COMPLETELY PHYSICALLY NAKED AS BLOOMIN' JAYBIRD (whatever that means). 1. ADAM AND EVE WERE NAKED AND NOT ASHAMED. Gen 2:25 2. (Ate fruit) 3. THEN THE EYES OF BOTH WERE OPENED, AND THEY KNEW THAT THEY WERE NAKED; Perhaps we who are reading realize our own, our sin, our nakedness and our shame at this point and fail to see the simplicity of it all. re. Gen 2:25 We still equate innocence with being unaware of one's nakedness when we watch a toddler run around naked without shame. Re Gen 3:7 We see that they are no longer innocent and need a spiritual covering: a sacrifice which would require the shedding of blood which prophecies the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross and the shedding of His blood to cover our nakedness. God could not look upon our sin. So Adam and Eve used self SELF EFFORT to try to cover themselves and their newly discovered lack of innocence. THEY MADE FOR THEMSELVES LOIN COVERINGS of fig leaves. 4. Gen 3:21 The LORD God made garments of SKIN for Adam and his wife, and clothed them. The covering that God provided required the sacrefice of an animal and the shedding of blood. It was just a temporary covering, as was the blood sacrifice system which the Jews would eventually use. They all pointed to the permanent solution to cover our sin, the Sacrefice of Jesus on the Cross. His sacrifice went farther than to cover our sins. His ratified a New Covenant of grace which would completely remove our sin as far as the east is from the west, making our sins though they be as scarlet, to be white as snow. And I still enjoy wearing my leather jacket, even though 1John 1:7 says that if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin. NASV So I agree with everything you said. How can I disagree with Scripture? Our permanent spiritual clothing can only be made by God, and through the killing and shedding of the Blood of His Son. And the whole story points to the coming spiritual clothing: the Blood of Jesus and the New Covenant that it would ratify: the Covenant in His Blood. Luke 22:20. We can't even imagine what our future spiritual clothing will be like, only that we shall be like Jesus. They were physically naked but it all had a lot of spiritual implications. Cool subject. Thank you.

GE, in direct answer, A. for better or for worse, what yòu see is what you get no matter who you are. B. Could do a lot better here, especially in regards to my hubby, who still insists on doing things for me that are much easier for me to do. His arthritis is worse than mine. I need to be much more considerate. Forgive, me, Lord. Please help me . C. It is soley by God's grace that I succede at anything. Since Hubby and I are mòst always a team, Much of what we do is in tandum. He takes photos, I edit and post. Couldn't happen without him. Couln't happen without God's grace giving ùs the opportunities and the beautiful things He creates. My part is pretty small and insignificant. That is the way life pretty much goes. I do little more than open my mouth or move my fingers. In fact, can't think of a thing that I have done, off hand, besides pray. And that is only asking Someone else to do someting and I have no real control over the outcome. So the only thing I am able to do is give others due credit. D. Don't work too hard at changing myself anymore. Used to do that and ended in a lot of frustrating self effort. It was much easier to just give up, cling to Jesus, try to hear and obey His voice, read His word to know that what I heard was really from God (and check with hubby). The only thing I really have to work at is being quiet. Saying nothing is harder than doing nothing. Butting out is a lot harder than butting in when God is telling me to keep quiet and hubby is telling me to butt out. I guess character is the outcome of all of that. I hope that integrity is also the outcome of it. Most people would find my image to be nothing that I have worked at. It sort of got hung on me. Most people know me to be a Christian. . E. What credibility. Christ is my victory. Only His word is credible. If I have it I sure don't know it.

Permit me to butt in. It speculate that while Jesus was with the disciples He protected them provided for them, comforted them, taught them, and guided them. He sent them out without a sword but as lambs among wolves. He did want them aware of the dangers and rejection that they would face. But in the quoted pasages from Luke He was trying to warn them that the time was coming when He would die and not be with them to do all those things. They would be totally on their on for a time. In fact, when He ascended He told them to await in Jeruselem until power came from on high. So they hid in fear and in obedience in the upper room till the Holy Spirit was poured out. He was and is the promised "another comforter" that Jesus said He would send. His Spirit would do for all of us what Jesus had done for the disciples who had walked with Him. We do have to listen to Him, obey, and depend on Him as the disciples had done while following Jesus in the Gospels. So we today have the full armor of God and the Sword of the Spirit, God's Word. The disciples had Jesus to fight their spiritual battles for them. Between the time that He died and the time that the Holy Spirit was poured out they had no guidance or power to defend themselves at all. They were in grave danger. After the Spirit was poured out they received power, guidance, inspiration, protection, and all that Jesus was on earth to them. They had weapons of the Word, The Spirit, their testamonies and the Blood of Jesus as well as the rest of the armor of God. By stating all of this I in no way am saying that the swords spoken about were not litteral. They were swords made of metal. Nor am I saying that Jesus has ever said that litteral weapons are never needed. He in fact told the Roman soldiers that were saved to stay in that trade. (He told all to serve God where we are. Bloom where we are planted). We fight spiritual battles with spiritual weapons formed against us. But sometimes we also must defend ourselves with physical weapons against physical attacks as I am sure the soldiers did. We need Christian soldiers in the armed forces, today as well. I never advocate violence. But I am not in any way a pacifist, either. Nor am I trying to find a compromise among the opinions given by my friends in the above posts. Instead I am postulating another way to approach the subject. P.S. I still don't understand authorized KJV and had to look up the verses in my NKJV. Not a new Christian, either. I was saved in the 50s. Blame it on my dyslexia if you must.

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I am so impressed with how Godly most of you are. I had no idea. What a blessing to know you on Worthy. One thing barely touched on was the effect divorse has on children.. You mentioned this several times, wingnut. And others have also. My dad was a social worker who tried to protect kids who were the product of divorse and also of abuse of all kinds. Parental sexual abuse is a given. But "shaken child syndrome", fetal alcohol syndrome, and illegal drugs given to children on purpose to addict them,,,not to mention prostituting their own children,,using them for pornography, the list goes on. We have to assume that no parent that does these things is a Christian. You shall know them by their fruit. No one who continues in habitual sin of this nature is a ginuine Christian.. 1 John makes this evident. But I have to believe that the Christian spouse has the responsibility to protect the children and not remain married to the abuser.. Most people who commit most of these crimes in the Old Testamant were to be put to death along with the victim, which is a little hard for me to understand. Today there are many good reason for a woman to leave her husband that are not entirely scriptural. Of course if an unbeliever choses to not live with a spouse, they are free to go. 1 Cor. 7:15 indicates that the believer is not under bondage (of marriage vows) in such a case and is free to remarry. At least that is my interpretation. But nothing is said about a spouse with an unbeliever who wants to remain with the believer, except to say that we are to remain marriied to the unbeliever if they don't want to leave. Yet I personally know of such people committing atrocities toward the children. Often it is the male who is abusive in such a case and the wife refuses to leave her spouse to protect her children. Once it was a wife who abused the kids badly and the husband refused to leave and protect them until he was ordered to do so by a judge.. She was committed to a mental institution and a restraining order was applied. Last I heard she was out and sleeping on the streets of Seattle. Extreme abuse of a spouse that poses a threat to life should be another one.. If there is a history of extreme abuse recorded in hospital emergency rooms and extensive scriptural christian marriage counseling fails, it would seem to me that Christ would not fault the battered for leaving. Of course that is just me. But He also faulted the pharases for not allowing a donkey to be pulled out of the ditch on the sabboath. Jesus did not focus on the letter of the law but the intent of it and upon doing the thing that is merciful. He reminded them of David eating of the sacrefices when in extreme need. Divorse does destroy families and all involved are damaged goods. All go through grief and loss. All have nightmare memories of the events leading up to it and have had to deal with the lonliness afterwards.. All have had to forgive and love to move on with their lives. But not all remain damaged goods. Many live to watch God use it for good. He who is forgiven much, loves much. He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord requires of you but to do justice, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God? Micah 6:8 NASV

Velly intellesting. I am not sure that I agree with his conclusions entirely. Most of us achieve the same effect by conversational prayer with our Creator. No exercise. Not really a ritual or even meditation. No one else is around. It is not satisfying to just talk to ourselves. I talk to myself just to remember what I was thinking about. It gives me no satisfaction except to avoid the frustration of trying to remember what I was about to do. But talking to God is quite satisfying. And hearing God's voice in our hearts is down right exhillerating. The author should put that in his pipe and smoke it!. humm. I think that old saying has taken on a new meaning in the last 70 years. Perhaps what he's been smoking has instead come between him and God and he instead needs to repent of whatever he's been smoking. Just a thought.

SOS probably should mean save our souls. I always heard it meant save our ship.

A lot of people really condemn jonah and thomas, But these 2 were a great witness in my life when I was first saved.. I was a doubting Thomas and his witness helped me to believe. He doubted, put his hand in Jesus side and fell on his face confessing Jesus as his Lord and his God. I wanted God to use me and He sent me to the hardest people for me to love. I tried to run when God asked me to witness to them, but God brought me back to it. So I did it with a bad attitude but at least I did it. No reward. I just sat under the shade of that weed and felt sorry for myself, pouting until even the weed died. Next time I decided I didn't want to die in the wilderness with bad attitudes and complaining. It is easier to do it Gods way than to be miserable. It was a pretty selfish reason for obeying, but a slight improvement. God chastens those he loves, and the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.

Revolutionist 90, Personally, I would keep quiet as much as possible. You will be ganged up on the way the scribes and pharasees were looking to trip up Jesus. When The woman caught in adultry was brought to him, he didn't say a thing except " he who is without sin among you, let him cast the first stone." I frequently pray and ask God to give me wisdom as to how to answer the mormons, for instance, who come to the door. Sometimes my prayer is a quick "Lord, give me the words--". He does. It is cool to watch Him work. Just ask Him to help you to stay strong and read His word daily. Ask Him to fill you anew with His Holy Spirit each day. Jesus said he has sent us out as sheep among wolves. But He is our Shepherd. He will be with us and will never leave us or forsake us. Love those who persecute you and pray for those who spitefully use you. Be ready to step in and be a friend when they need one the most. God loves and died for gays, too. What many of them don't understand is that he desires all men to come to repentance. Gays must acknowledge their sin and repent--turn away from sin and look to Jesus as their Savior and Lord. Sin is not OK and none of us is without sin. Gays tend to want us to think that God condones their lifestyle because He loves them. Sad. Overcome evil with good. Greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world. To me that means that since Christ lives in me, His love in me is greater than all the hatred in the world. The only way I can advise you to survive where you are is to do what the Bible tells us to do. I do and have practiced what I preach, and I have also fallen on my face many times because I have failed. You are not in an easy place. Just don't beat yourself up if you fail. God doesn't. He forgives and forgets when you confess your sin, and promises to cleanse you from all unrighteousness.

Jesus' sense of humor often does not translate well. Our customs differ from Jewish life in His day and our sense of humor differ's slightly do to culture. And then there is the greek/aramaic thing vs english. Our pastor frequently points out humor in the Gospels that escapes me until it is explained.

Bopeep, I think that this verse refers only to elderly women and abandoned children. It sounds like everyone had to pull their own weight, also.. Men who have deserted their wives and children should seek employment of some nature to proved for themselves as well as their families. Men who are over 60 and are physically or mentally unable to work and provide for themselves should be supported by those in his close family who can. My dad's father died in a diptheria epidemic that killed a son and his wife's sister as well. His uncles and an aunt providid housing on the ranch. It was shelter: a sod house. They worked hard for their keep. All Jesus promises to provide are the basic of food and clothing. Sisters made the kids clothes by hand, often out of flour sacks. They ate from their gardens, the milk cow and the yearling that they raised and butchered. He also tells of eating rattlesnake and living in a cave with his grandpa while trying to file on a homestead. His mother's father was still able boded and worked for his dads brothers and sisters also. That is how the church expected society to operate. That is how our church provides for those who are able to work, also. They are invited to glean from their fields or fruit trees. Vegetables and fruit are also placed in the church kitchen for people in need to help themselves who are disabled. Canned goods are also provided by those who are able to give. No money is given unles they pay a utility directly when bill is presented that is threatening to turn off water and electricity. V 16 refers to real elderly widows having no extended family that will support them, And lays out the boundaries that their families should support each other. Having no families to help them,, abandoned Elderly widows and orphans should have bare necessities such as food provided by the local church. No one was to be a burden to the church but people were to help out as they were able. Janitor work, child care, prayer, caring for the sick and imprisoned. Before public assistance this is how families operated. Now we have a society that expects to be given everything. A woman with children who is abandoned is not an elderly great grandmother with out any living family. In fact, younger women with children are told to remarry in 1 tim 5:11-15 (widows are unlikely to include those who are abandoned by an unbelieving husband in this portion because both are likely to have believers in their familie who are able to help them out. Even if it is to babysit while mom works or to turn the garage into temporary shelter for them. Also: Thank you Dennis for your reply. I should have checked some expository commentaries, but you have answerred my question to my satisfaction. I much appreciate your insight.

These verses speak of older widows in the churches who are: True widows, left alone; Trust in God; Women of prayer, is a "prayer warrior" cuntinuing in prayers and supplications day and night; Over 60 years old; The wife of one man; Reported for good works: raised children, lodged strangers, washed the saints feet, Relieved the afflicted, Diligently followed every good work. Verse 9 also starts by saying "don't let a widow under 60 years old be taken into THE NUMBER.. The pastor teaching the series thought that this meant that these widows were being supported by the churches. I would like your comments and ideas. I also thought of Paul recommending that Phoebe be received by the church and commented on what a help she had been to him personally as well as to others. The word diakonos (deacon) is used of her here. Rom. 16:1-2 I wonder if she is one of the widows over 60 who are in the "number" mentioned in 1 Tim. 5:9. Perhaps there is no connection at all since deacons were said to be unpaid in Vine's Expository Dictionary and Acts 6:1 tells of the widows being supported by the church through daily distribution (of food?). I would appreciate andy ideas and imput. Deciner--I am not a widow and would not qualify for such support. I have never lodged a stranger, either.

Mathew 5:44-48 may be some of the verses you seek. We were being told to love our enemies and so be perfect (mature) like our Father. John 14:12-14 may also be verses you seek. I believe the key is to put on the mind of Christ and seeing which things Jesus would do. If it is to go out and share the Gospel, making disciples, we know this is His will. If we act in obedience to Him he blesses us. But if we are thinking with a worldly outlook, seeking things for outselves such as riches, James 4:3 says you ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures. Too often our prayers are selfish. We seek our own glory rather than God's. We secretly want power or the admiration of others. It sounds like Kenneth Hagen was used by God in your life. Be careful to only grasp hold of the things the Holy Spirit speaks into your life. The rest is probably of the flesh. It does not matter who the speaker is, this is a good rule to follow. Mr Hagen's concepts are occasionally distorted by satan, taken out of context or construed to to cause us to seek worldly gain. The love of money is the root of all evil, and Godliness with contenment is great gain. We should be content with food and clothing. i Timothy 6:6-10 All scripture needs to be believed but in context and not isolated from the whole counsel of God. God uses imperfect people to do His work. But by walking in the Spirit we may occasionally step out of our comfort zone and obey Him . Then He may even use us in spite of ourselves. I hope this answers your question