Willa

It is true that the Holy Spirit enlightens us and helps us to understand Scripture. It is also true that we must take a stand based on Scripture and our convictions of what the Bible says is right and wrong. One lie of the enemy that makes me angry is "You can't legislate morality!" You can make laws that align with the Bible and Biblical principles, thus supporting those who try to live godly lives instead of penalizing them. Much current legislation is often interpreted against Christians and for immorality.

Sometimes when I get critical the problem is with me. I need to get a right attitude before making any changes or I carry the bad attitude with me to the next place. It is time to leave when God opens brings you to another church due to other circumstances-- such as you are invited-- and closes the door to you staying where you are --such as blatant false doctrine being preached. I do agree that you should counsel with your pastor before leaving. He would usually want to know why you are leaving.

But when I get proud I usually don't know it. God has to remind me or give me a whupping.

He has known everything from the beginning. He knows us better than we know ourselves, yet He loves us and extended mercy to us. I believe God sees everything in the present tense since He is not bound by time.

We are kings and priests by virtue of the fact the we are in Christ and He in us.

When Corrie TenBoom was asked to speak to the German people she found them very knowledgable and could quote doctrine verbatim. However, they did not know God--they knew about Him. So Corrie compared it to a piece of chocolate. The could tell you all the ingredients and how to make it, even the chemicals and food components. Yet they had not experienced tasting chocolate! "Taste and see that the Lord is good".

I see it as an exhortation more than a teaching.

Where is the word doctrine in Phil. 4?

2Ti 3:12 ESV Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, 2Ti 3:13 while evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.

What does the Bible say about the doctrine? If it has add to or taken away from what the Bible says about salvation, it would be best to find a church that agrees with the Bible. The church won't change. But liberal churches are also leaving the Bible as its standard for doctrine. That would also be reason for leaving the church.

Jas 1:14 ESV But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Jas 1:15 Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death. No such thing as "the devil made me do it".

Col 2:8 See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ. You might reach people in the unbelievers pavilion with comparisons to philosophy, but in the believers area we will respond better to Scripture. My dad considered himself a philosopher till he read "He Is There and He Is Not Silent" by Francis Schaeffer. He gave his life to Christ a year before he passed away. "He Is There and He Is Not Silent is divided into four chapters, followed by two appendices. The first of these chapters deals with metaphysics; the second, morals; and the third and fourth, epistemology. The first appendix concerns revelation and the second the concept of faith." Wikipedia..

Some people hit rock bottom and call out to God because they are without all hope. They know that they are going to hell. So they give God all of their lives because only God can straighten out the mess and bring any good out of it. Other people do so piece by piece. They give God the biggest problem area of their lives and ask Him to take over. Then they apply all pertaining Scriptures without question or argument. They have stopped wrestling with God but have quieted themselves praying "Nevertheless, not my will be done, but thine." When they see how wonderful it is to have God in control of that part of their life they surrender the rest to God as well. They want to do things God's way.

The story of Boez being Ruth's near kinsman redeemer is what is most meaningful to me. It is a type of Christ being our near kinsman Redeemer. Question: "What is a kinsman redeemer?" (Got Questions) Answer: The kinsman-redeemer is a male relative who, according to various laws of the Pentateuch, had the privilege or responsibility to act on behalf of a relative who was in trouble, danger, or need. The Hebrew term (go el) for kinsman-redeemer designates one who delivers or rescues (Genesis 48:16; Exodus 6:6) or redeems property or person (Leviticus 27:9–25, 25:47–55). The kinsman who redeems or vindicates a relative is illustrated most clearly in the book of Ruth, where the kinsman-redeemer is Boaz. The story of Ruth and Boaz begins when Ruth and her mother-in-law, Naomi, return to Bethlehem from Moab where they had been living. Naomi’s husband and both sons, one the husband of Ruth, had died, leaving the women penniless and without a male protector. Upon arriving in Bethlehem, Naomi sends Ruth to glean in the fields of Boaz, a wealthy relative of Naomi to whom they, through a series of divinely appointed circumstances, appeal as their go el. Boaz acquiesces, willingly takes Ruth as his wife, and together they bear a son named Obed who became the grandfather of David, the forefather of Jesus. Yahweh is Israel’s Redeemer, the one who promises to defend and vindicate them. He is both Father and Deliverer (Exodus 20:2). There are numerous Old Testament appeals to God as rescuer of the weak and needy (Psalm 82:4; Daniel 6:27; Jeremiah 20:13) and preserver of the sheep of Israel (Ezekiel 34:10–12, 22). In the New Testament, Christ is often regarded as an example of a kinsman-redeemer because, as our brother (Hebrews 2:11), He also redeems us because of our great need, one that only He can satisfy. In Ruth 3:9, we see a beautiful and poignant picture of the needy supplicant, unable to rescue herself, requesting of the kinsman-redeemer that he cover her with his protection, redeem her, and make her his wife. In the same way, the Lord Jesus Christ bought us for Himself, out of the curse, out of our destitution; made us His own beloved bride; and blessed us for all generations. He is the true kinsman-redeemer of all who call on Him in faith.

I also have the e-sword one but it doesn't have helps like a concordance or references.

We are told to keep on being filled with the Holy Spirit. He gives the power and boldness that Jesus promised us to enable us to do His will. So surrender to Jesus and give up your will and rights in exchange for the power and love of the Holy Spirit guiding your life and you will never regret it. He also explains Scriptures to us.

Most of the apostle's letters introduced them selves as bond-servants of the Lord Jesus Christ. They had been freed from slavery to sin and satan and willingly gave themselves to serve Christ. Christ was the model servant. He washed feet, taught at cared for His followers, leading by example. He is the model for husbands and fathers as well. We wives also give ourselves to serve Christ, and He in turn tells us to serve and care for our husbands and children. I agree that God is a God of order. This is the order established for homes. Women should not disrupt the preaching of the word by asking questions, gossiping, or reading facebook in church. We should all be attentive and prayerful during the service. The exception that I see in our church is when a new person asks questions and asks how to become a Christian during a service. It is a holy moment when the person beside him shows him or her Who Jesus is and what He has done on our behalf so that we need only to receive Him with thanksgiving and bow to Him as Creator and Lord. A life, a home and a nation will all function well when lives revolve around God. Divorce does great harm; it is occasionally necessary to protect members. Anarchy in a country is great evil, since pride and rebellion were the sins of satan. Today I see parties trying to overthrow our government through anarchy and refusing to work together through compromise and good will.

Christian music helps a lot of people. Some people say that it is a bad witness if they have a bad attitude and words while wearing a cross.. I like to wear one because I am not ashamed to confess Christ and I am not ashamed of the Gospel.

Heb 12:1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, Heb 12:2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. The joy of heaven is what we have to look forward to and is what keeps us going. We know it will all be worth it someday. This is what kept Jesus going and helped Him to even endure the cross. So we are admonished to endure the evil of this world for yet a little while, till the full number of believers have come to salvation. God is waiting because He doesn't want any to be lost. So we need to do our part in bringing God's kingdom to earth. We need to be living close to God here, walking in the Spirit in compassionate obedience, and telling as many as we can about God's grace and redemption; those who refuse God's grace also need to hear about his wrath.

Jesus says in several places that we can't see the Holy Spirit born in people but we can see/hear His effects on people. Joh 3:8 The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit." He also speaks of bearing fruit, which can't be done unless we are connected to Him. Joh 15:5 AMP I am the Vine; you are the branches. Whoever lives in Me and I in him bears much (abundant) fruit. However, apart from Me [cut off from vital union with Me] you can do nothing. One of the immediate effects that we see is the ability to understand and apply God's word to our lives. The Scriptures come alive to us and speak to us. Many people receive Jesus as Savior and are baptized but still don't understand the Scriptures and cannot even say the words "Jesus is Lord". These people are not born again genuine Christians. People tend to want to figure God out and place Him into the box of our theology. But He is a Person with a mind of His own. He treats us as individuals. That is why our experiences with God vary so much, and it is also likely why our theology differs so much. According to the Catholic church, Calvin and Luther, we are saved and born again through the sacraments, even infant baptism. That is why Calvin insisted that you must be born again before God calls us and convicts us of sin. Many evangelicals disagree with that as does Scripture. Certainly the Holy Spirit is drawing us when He reveals to us that He is; then He convicts us of the sin of being totally lost and unable to be good enough to go to heaven. And when during this process we are born again is something that may differ in us. At what point I totally believed is something I still wonder about, but I have no doubt as to when I totally surrendered to God as Lord and King. Rom 10:9 AMP Because if you acknowledge and confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and in your heart believe (adhere to, trust in, and rely on the truth) that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. Rom 10:10 For with the heart a person believes (adheres to, trusts in, and relies on Christ) and so is justified (declared righteous, acceptable to God), and with the mouth he confesses (declares openly and speaks out freely his faith) and confirms [his] salvation. Confessing Christ is confirming what He has already done and does not merit salvation. Trusting in and relying on Jesus in our hearts that God raised Jesus from the dead is what saves us and justifies us. Saving faith is still a gift from God but it manifests itself in our telling others of our faith in Christ.

Fasting is to humble ourselves before God to do His will and receive His will for us. We can't twist God's arm to do our will. It is not a hunger strike. There have been times that prayer was so intense for others that I could not eat or sleep. One that I distinctly remember was when interceding for Kwikfilly's safety when she was diving in the path of a hurricane and had no place to sleep. When she found a motel she was still directly in its path.

God says they are without excuse. Rom 1:18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. Rom 1:19 For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. Rom 1:20 For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. Rom 1:21 For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Rom 1:22 Claiming to be wise, they became fools, Rom 1:23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things.

Sin is sin, and a bad unforgiving attitude may be just as bad as your dad's adultery in God's eyes. God said that all our righteous is as filthy stinking rags in His eyes. We are all in need of God's grace and mercy. All people are just human and will let others down, as will we. Only God is perfect and will never let us down. Your dad doesn't want his kids to make the same mistakes he made. He knows how much it has damaged his home, his life and his relationship with God. He hopes others don't suffer the same pain he did. You would do well to pay even closer attention to his guidance, warnings and rules. They are for your good and safety. King David really messed up and then had to suffer the consequences. The worst was that he strayed away from God for a while, had an affair with Bathsheba and then set her husband up to be killed, and then he didn't punish a son for raping his sister which caused another son to hunt him down. Talk about dysfunctional families! But he really repented and begged for God to forgive him. Read the psalms where he spoke his heart. God knows that people are rotten; that is why Jesus died for our sins and took our punishment. We all need His help or we will never be able to come into God's presence.

Rom 8:5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit.

And so we sang at my husband's funeral. I so look forward to worshipping God with him again, and with many here on Worthy. Was a victory our Savior won at that cross! Hallelujah! AMEN and AMEN!