Enoc

Amen. Satan knows what God says better than the average Christian. That's the best and oldest trick he has. Why stop when it keeps working. Hosea 4:6 NKJV My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.

What's a carnal Christian?

Satan does not have God like attributes. He does not know everything, he is not present everywhere, nor does he have all power. He does have many helpers. He can not read your mind, he or his helpers only knows things about you from what they observe, and what you speak. He can only do to you as much as you allow excluding GOD's will.

Three factors: New commandment - No capacity for GOD like love Lack of spiritual fruit - Not spiritually mature Carnality - Most Christian are babes in Christ or carnal and have not progressed in their conversion New King James Version (NKJV) John 13:34 34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. 35 By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” Galatians 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness. 1 Corinthians 3 And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual people but as to carnal, as to babes in Christ. I fed you with milk and not with solid food; for until now you were not able to receive it, and even now you are still not able; for you are still carnal. For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men? For when one says, “I am of Paul,” and another, “I am of Apollos,” are you not carnal?

(1) I feel the need to defend the Gospel because: 1Pe 3:15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear. I don't plan on changing anyone's mind or heart; I can't! I believe that the Spirit can work through me though, and He will do the changing. (2) True. I admit that I have not read all of the Old Testament. I started this thread because I do not know all of the Old Testament prophecies about Jesus or where they are, and was honestly taken aback when this person (my brother) wrote this to me, since usually when we talk about God and Jesus he spends most of the conversation blaspheming. I am well aware that I need to read my bible more (who doesn't?), and I just wanted some help from other Christians who might have dealt with a similar situation, or who could help point me in the right direction in the bible on where to continue my study. My family has never read the New Testament, and they don't care to. To them, Jesus is just a "good teacher." They do not consider the New Testament to be divinely inspired by God, to my knowledge. They have very literally closed their eyes and ears to the truth. It is very concerning for me. I do have faith that God can and will change their hearts... as well as my own. I think you make a good point about understanding and discerning the Word. That is something that I will pray for more fervently. Mat 19:26 But Jesus looked at them and said to them, "With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible." I gather from you post that your relative was not on offense, but on defense.I could be wrong on that point. However, my take is that your relative has worked themselves in to a place of comfort, a place that requires no commitment or submission. They are their own god. I was in the same position with my brother. I made my self available to answer any questions he would ask, and most times I did't have an answer, but I would bring it to the lord, and every case GOD gave me an answer. That does not mean I understood every answer. After seven years of searching for answers I picked up a scripture or two. The scripture that comes to mind for you is as follows: 2 Timothy 2:23 New King James Version (NKJV) 23 But avoid foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they generate strife.24 And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, 25 in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth,26 and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will. ​After seven years my brother decided to accept the Lord as his savior. When I asked him why now, his response was that over time he saw that I was telling and living the truth. Plus I never made him feel any less for not accepting Jesus. I think in retrospect that the Lord was working on me while at the same time working on my brother. Blessed is GOD the father and his son our lord Jesus.

Qnts I'm not sure I understand the point you are making. I thought the witness of 2 or 3 was related to the following scripture: 1 John 5:8 New King James Version (NKJV) 8 And there are three that bear witness on earth:[a] the Spirit, the water, and the blood; and these three agree as one.

Interesting....It should be mentioned that everyone is built a bit different. And the holy spirit knows this. He is intimately knowledgeable about your person and what areas of your person is in need of pruning. Your challenges are orchestrated by him and is tailored just for you to being you to where the lord desires. For example, if pride is not an issue with you, Then perhaps the holy spirit may spare you of the lesson of being brought low to teach you humility.

Two points: (1) Why do you feel the need to defend the Gospel? What is your motivation, perhaps to change his/her mind? Fortunately it's not a mind issue but a heart issue. (2) Maybe GOD has allowed this to come into your sphere to test you on your own beliefs, and understanding. The answers you seek are in the word/bible, and time spent in the word will bring you to the point of being able to discern when you are casting pearls among the swine. That does not preclude you from obtaining from other Christians their point of view, but until you receive the understanding, you will only be speaking from your mind/flesh and not from your spirit. There is a profound difference.

Be assured GOD knows exactly where you are at spiritually,emotionally, and physically. The more painful it gets the more you have to trust. He has a purpose.

If a certain proclivity leads one to stumble then avoidance is wise.

One can only operate in the revelation given.

It's readily apparent that for most here, Islam = fear, Matthew 10:28 New King James Version (NKJV) 28 And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

Regarding the AC and where he's from, I really don't think he will be from the middle east or Muslim. The scripture that comes to mind. Revelation 13:16-17 New King James Version (NKJV) He causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads, and that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. I don't think a Muslim or Muslim dominated country gets the opportunity to run/dominate the worlds economy. Not today, and not in the foreseeable future. The only reason the middle east or some Muslim countries have any perceived influence or power is from the value of the oil that resides there. They tend to fight among themselves, those with oil vs those without oil, before reaching out to those who are helping those with the oil keep their oil. The oil will not last forever. It's just recently that the middle east has gained a voice in world affairs.

You are tested on the things he commands you to do. No tempting.

Interesting......Maybe someone can chime in, The temple/Tabernacle, I thought was a representation of heaven. The outer court, inner court, and holy of hollies. Each one is on a different level. Also, every Christian has the ability to go into the holy of hollies, but not all will.

I try to keep it simple,,,,,I've resigned myself to trusting GOD first.

Interesting......maybe are perception of physical is limited.

Jesus gave Paul the authority to be his vessel, who am I to disagree with GOD's delegate. Similar to the Jews who disagreed with Moses, You can read what happened to them.

Only once.

Jesus saw that Nicodemus, at that time did not believe.

I suggest that the fact you are praying so earnestly is proof that GOD is at work. What you may not realize is that he is working on you. Making sure you have enough opportunities to grow spiritually is his specialty.

Not sure if God is weeping about what is going on in the world...... The scriptures that come to mind: Ecclesiastes 1:9 New King James Version (NKJV) 9 That which has been is what will be, That which is done is what will be done, And there is nothing new under the sun. 2 Timothy 3 New King James Version (NKJV) 3 But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: 2 For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, 4 traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away! 1 John 2:15 New King James Version (NKJV) 15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

Oh my! Please.....tell us how you really feel...

That is one of my favorites as well. The key from my point of view is “If you see when I'm taken”. There is something about what God will let you see,

interesting interpretation but then you would also have to deal with the problem of why the faithful were unable to share the Holy Spirit and how to receive the free gift which is a deposit to those sealed for salvation, If someone came to you asking how they could be saved and filled with the Holy Spirit, would you send them away?... who sells the Holy Spirit for a price? There is a difference between releasing the Spirit and receiving/being filled with the Spirit. It is not up to me who will receive the Holy spirit. Only God knows those who will be saved and delivered. The scripture that comes to mind: Acts 16:14 Now a certain woman named Lydia heard us. She was a seller of purple from the city of Thyatira, who worshiped God. The Lord opened her heart to heed the things spoken by Paul. you are right! Oil is almost always in reference to the Holy Spirit, Just as wine is representitive of Christ blood, do we now interpret every case in the bible where wine is mentioned to be Christ blood? you have to make a distinction sometimes if the interpretation is leading in that direction, In the case of the 10 virgins you will see at the very beginning they ALL HAD LIT LAMPS, they ALL HAD OIL! as they complained "OUR LAMPS ARE GOING OUT" so your only interpretation of oil and the Holy Spirit is you can have the Holy Spirit but it is a measurable substance and it can run out, It can also be bought and sold for a price, and one can not get it from other Christians but from merchants who sell it, you can also contain the Holy Spirit in large quantities and use it at your leisure, you can see the Holy Spirit and are able to know when you are running out of the Holy Spirit Not sure of the point you are making here. However I’ll take it a step further, the scripture from the KJV is as follows: Matt 25 1 “Then the kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. 2 Now five of them were wise, and five were foolish. 3 Those who were foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them, 4 but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. 5 But while the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept. 6 “And at midnight a cry was heard: ‘Behold, the bridegroom is coming; go out to meet him! 7 Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps. 8 And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out. 9 But the wise answered, saying, ‘No, lest there should not be enough for us and you; but go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.’ I suggest, the passage is about the kingdom of heaven and the second coming of Christ /Day of the lord. The distinction between the wise and foolish is that the foolish took/had no oil. Although the 10 Virgins had lamps, 5 were wise and 5 were foolish, I mean 5 church attending, and tithe paying religious patrons, they lacked the seal of the Holy Spirit, I mean personal relationship with Jesus Christ which is needed to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Without the power of the Holy Spirit, I mean Oil, I mean being filled/Sealed with the Holy Spirit a born again believer, Christian will not be able to make the journey, I mean eventually fall asleep, and fail to reach the bridegroom, I mean Jesus, I mean day of the Lord. I suggest that the wise Virgins knew this and brought Oil along while the foolish Virgins did not have Oil to bring along and being foolish thought the lamp was enough to meet the bridegroom. When the bride groom arrive they knew that had the lamp, but realized they were missing something essential in order to meet the bridegroom, the Oil which completed the purpose of the lamp, I mean the personal relationship with Christ, I mean the holy Spirit. Therefore when the 5 foolish Virgins asked for Oil from the 5 wise Virgins they refused an told them to get there own oil, I mean your own personal relationship with Christ. In this scripture, the Holy Spirit which provides the power to stay awake, endure the journey until the bridegroom comes, and not fall away. In addition to representing the personal relationship with Jesus Christ. The other symbolic meaning that may apply here is Oil=Love. However even with this interpretation, in order to love as God intents, you would need to posses a mature spirit and a mature spirit bears the fruits of the spirit affording you the capacity to love as God intends (Another topic indeed).