Donibm

BAM!! I just happened to find the SOF as I was reading this. I just read through it. With so many 'Christians' in the world, this was my greatest concern - that I was among CHRISTIANS and not Nicolaitans. So far, it seems I am ... for the greater part. Flash presentations are basically videos/presentations/pictures on an actual webpage, not a player. Acrobat Adobe allows stuff to display right on the webpages. "The antichrist slideshow" (Google it) and is a type of Flash presentation. It's not a "video" ... but it is a ... video. I guess I'll just put them in videos to be safe.

Oh. Well, I agree. There are DISTRACTIONS that have absolutely nothing to do with our Salvation. I entered this thread cause I read something about questions and then the best answer would be selected. I thought it was a GAME. lol Didn't know I was walking into a minefield.

This is the Q&A and best answer ... right? OK ... so ... I wanna play. But, you're not going to like my answer. :-) I'm sorry. My answers will not always be agreeable. But, even the answers are God are not "agreeable" to the carnal way of thinking. In fact, it is always in emnity with the world. So ... here is my answer. You think it is right, and so does someone else. But I say that is wrong, and IT is wrong. Why? Because it is pseudepigrapha. In "English", it is a FALSE WRITING. It has DOCTRINAL ERRORS. While it may be of interest to academics to study from interst and antiquity, it is not of canon or considered to be the inspired word of God. So, be careful what you call "true". Having elements of truth doesn't not make something truth. They have a FORM of Godliness. After all, didn't God rebuke the "lying pens" in the Hebrew Scriptures? Didn't Jesus say "woe to your SCRIBES and Pharisees"? Indeed. For in Gods eyes, there is no difference in falsehood in the WRITTEN tense and the SPOKEN tense. Just out of curiosity, who gets to decide what is and what isn't "pseudepigrapha". Men of collective bodies who are far wiser and learned then you and I friend. But, it's not hard to understand. For example, if a text says "wine was kept in barrels" ... and we know full well that such a system didn't exist until 1500 years later ... we know that it is false by sheer merit of its historical and cultural error. Right? Or, if it talks about a coinage system that didn't exist in the lifetime of the auther ... same thing, right? So, these things are easy to understand and agree with. If my great great grandfather wrote a book, and that book is discovered some 700 years from now, but it talks about the events of 911, it too will be disregarded ... because you and I both know 911 didn't occur in his lifetime. The common result is: 1) it is either a complete lie 2) the author had a similar name to the {apostle, for example} but wasn't THEE apostle 3) it was written in truth, but it was intercepted and re-written or edited by someone living in a different timeline, which negates it validity of being the "Word of God" Then there are the other, more challenging things, like, what was in the "oldest' vs what is in the "newest". Problem is, "oldest" has never meant "original", so who is to say that the oldest isn't what is wrong? Not many think that way, even scholars, but I do, because it IS possible... Then there is doctrine. And the Book of Enoch has multiple doctrinal errors and inconsistences, especialy concerning the angels. 1) it has words that didn't exist in his lifetime, but did by the time Moses was born. So, if it is an older Book, why is the language NEWER? 2) the BOE says that it always rained. But Genesis clearly says that there had not been any rain. 3) It "alludes" to other Bible verses that simply did not exist in Enochs lifetime. How is that? How can it when ... well .. Moses wasnt' even born, so the Scriptures were not written? 4) The BOE says that women gave birth to giants, right? But 7:12 says these giants grew to be THREE HUNDRED CUBITS. I mean ... seriously? Is anyone so gullible to think that there was a 400+ foot giant? I mean, how big would their feet have to be? The size of a bus? No woman could have given birth to that! The baby would have to be as big as my SUV. There are many things that scream falsehood in the BOE. Anyway, I don't really want to debate it, I just thought this thread was a game. A question and then the best answer. LOL I was trying to give the best answer. :-) But, in doing this, I hope someone understands a little bit about WHY some books are left out, and DESERVE to be left out.

We're doing a lot of good things at CLC. We had Paster Moses ???? (African Pastor) in our Revival last year. Powerful, powerful, powerful preacher! We're doing Missions right now. We do it annually. So, we focus on other countries and their needs this time of the year. I don't like using all the other "translations" of the Bible, and that was an innitial turn off for me, but, each person should learn for themselves, and what I know about those books is what I share with my immideate family, not the Church family (why should my brother be destroyed for my knowledge)? But, that is the only thing I don't like about CLC ... but I can look past that. He is bold enough to talk about sin, even sexual sins. He is bold enough to talk about Hell at times. He focuses on themes so, one sunday to the next is not "broken". I like it. No worries about red. I can actually take a lot, lot, lot worst. It's just that I literally left another thread that was full of contention, psuedoChristians, deliberate liars, contenders, accusers, weak brethren ... and I was just fed up. Soul was greived. I thought Worthy was a "breathe of fresh air" ... thinking that I've FINALLY found a Christain site that is predominately ... Christains. So, it's not that I was hurt (I didn't report it to any moderator), just disappointed. ... but I'm very capable of defending myself agaisnt false accusations, as well as the Word of God. I'm already over it. :-) I think what upsets me the most with "opposition" is that people suggest they "hear it from God". That is the part that aggitates me the most. Like, I accuse you of what you KNOW is false, and say that I "discerned" it and "speak Gods Truth" ... right after i said that God is mocked by the behavior of men and that He hates His name being used in vain. See, even a misunderstanding does not yeild that. I think we throw around "God" too loosely. And I know that is something He HATES. I learned something late last year. We've all read it over and over and over again. We KNOW the Scripture, but it never actually hit me. "Woe to you scribes and Pharisees" We always think of only the Pharisee ... and we completely miss the SCRIBE. Jesus is saying that the WRITERS are just as gulity as the SPEAKERS! ... its a powerful word for those of us who TYPE (write) in online threads. I see tons of Biblical errors in online threads. Judgments. Falsehood. ... and powerful truths. We need to be careful.

Here is the thing. They refuse to accept "intelligent design" ... right? But since they can't prove anything, Richard Dawkins now says that ALIENS created all we know. Well, hang on. You don't believe in "intelligent design" ... but now you DO ... but only if "God" is not part of it? So, we didn't come from monkeys, we came from ... aliens now? Evolution isn't even a science. it cannot be observed or recorded. REAL SCIENCE tends to show the Bible true. But, in the last 2-5 years, the distraction of "evolution THEORY" is what has fooled many people into thinking that Science disagrees with the Bible, but that's not true. Science and the Bible do agree.

I love it!!

I'll never understand why people struggle with this. Just becasue God knows the end from the beginning, doesn't mean that we don't have free will. I know that my daughter will get pregnant if she messes with men, but that doesn't negate her ability to CHOOSE ... does it (I don't have a daughter, I'm just making a point ... hopefully)? So, how does God knowing how you will ultimately end rob you of the ability to CHOOSE or REFUSE? My father taught me, as a boy, that I always have a choice. Even if a man is locking my arm behind me, threatening to break it off, I STILL have a choice. I agree. Even under pain of torture, we still have a CHOICE.

That is false. The Bible already existed, it just wasn't compiled, and certainly not translated into English yet. Here is a trip down memory lane, and I think I know the root of the problem. 1) Christians were persecuted, heavily. 2) Along comes Constantine a few centuries later. He basically approved the "acceptance" of Christianity ... but he had personal motives. History (folklaw) suggest that Constantine saw a sign in the sky and heard a voice say "By this sign, conquor" ... and Rome went out and won that war. Upon that, he called himself a "Christain". Not only him, but all his blood thirsty soildiers. OBSERVE: there is no mention about repentance, belief, conversion, a focus on Jesus, ... nothing. Just a declaration. 3) Along comes the Church of Rome, or "Roman Church" ... which evolved into the Vatican. 4) The Vatican says that Peter was the first Pope, because they have their own definition of the Greek word (stone vs Rock) ... "Upon this rock I will build My Church." Jesus was talking about Himself, not Peter. And Peter was married anyway, and Pope cannot be married. 5) So, no. The first and true Christians were not Catholic. Peter was not the first Pope. Constantine, however, IS considered the first Pope by people like me. Through him, the "Catholic Institution" took its root form. Concerning your faith in "Christianity" ... I think you are looking at the wrong thing. That is not eyes on the Lord. Concerning the "evolution of the Bible", I don't know how that can be addressed in a handful of responses ... especially for the English speaking community. There are debates on what is oldest, what is in a transcript but not in another, etc. Never really bothered me much. It's canon.

Read the entire article here. Good thread. There is ONE Gospel ... for all men. What is interesting is, adulterers and fornicators condemn homosexuals ... as if they will not share the same pit. I know of 1 or 2 (that actually come to mind) homosexuals who repented and have turned to God. Those are probably the best "witnesses" with the greater testimonies ... and they would probably be more effective as a witness. But the Power of God is strong enough to save ... even to the utmost.

1) How do I reach a moderator if I need one? 2) How do I close a thread that I create? 3) Can I post links, like Biblically based YouTube movies (or do they go into the video section)? What about FLASH presentations? What about Christain training material? Lexicons? Christian resource sites? Books? News sources (typically something concerning weather or Israel, etc)?

tulip didn't start with Calvanist actually. ... and I dont have many 'positive' things to say about John Calvin. But, that would be a topic for "controversial issues" if I go into detail (which I don't plan on doing). I do not yoke with "Hyper Calvanists" ... and its hard to discipere some others. I do think Dr. White helped me to understand more about the other side of Calvanism in his debate with the beloved Dr. Brown. Dr. White is a Calvanist, but a Baptist primarily. he does not believe in "once saved always saved so go sin as much as you like" ... and he does not like Calvanist who refuse to preach the Gospel just becasue they think that its all up to God ... because of Predestination. What Dr. White believes is predestination, not a license to sin as some do. For me, I think that just because God KNOWS the end from the beginning doesn't mean that He selected men to go to Hell. If anyone wants a greater understanding of Calvanism, go to youtube and type in: Dr. Michael Brown vs. Dr. James White on Predestination, Election, and the Will of God Its long. But very good. I dont' know if I can post actual links in these threads, so, pardon me that I didn't post the exact link.

Thanks 1X1 I like your username. 1X1X1 = 1 (a unified 1) Everyone has been very inviting ... except one. I like this site, and deliberately joined it because of what I observed prior to membership. I wasn't expecting a response like reds at all. But, I may be a rookie to THIS site, but I'm no "rookie" in formal debates or the Word of God, or my walk with Jesus. Know when to walk away. Know when to stand firm. I dont' think you can't start a topic. If the site lets you create one, create it. lol If it blocks you from creating one, you probably dont' have enough posts yet (I think that is a cool feature actually. I think it's nice that people have to "prove" their walk before trying to "teach"). I dot need to be here, but I want to be. I'm anxious to get into the meatier topics but, I've got to do more posting. lol .. that's so cool. I'd imagine that you simply create the thread and than "monitor at will". As its creator, you should monitor it so that it stays on track, or at least so you can defend/explain your own posts. But I doubt you'd have to do it like how you are thinking. Try it. Create one and see.

Welcome to worthy. I sense a bit of hostility because you are not in control. You want recognized; this is evident. God knows you. In your post, I hear someone who is upset because he is not getting the recognition he believes he deserves. The street sidewalk still exist in Florida doesn't it? What are you waiting for? Why are you not speaking up in the places you believe are wrong? Oh yeah, because of perscution. Those faces have eyes and they are all looking at you. The internet soapbox does not have glaring eyes, but the fiery darts are still there. They will still come against you hard, even here. Perscution you will still suffer. I am amazed at your interest on your caption. You say the older you get the list keeps getting shorter. Hmmm, maybe someday "the Power of God" will be first. Huh. I speak the truth in Him, brother. You can do nothing against the Truth; but for the Truth. With God there is no respector of persons. GOD is first, and it is best that I please Him and disregard the stature (position, title) of man. So I give to you, what He gave to me, to give to you. We look through a glass darkly, then face to face. Out of the abudance of the heart the mouth speaketh. So, if you are despising me, because of what I have delivered; It is not me that you despise, but God. God bless you and welcome to worthy wow. 1) You "sense"? And of whom did you "sense" this? I only just joined. Why in the world would I be jumping up and down saying "Pick me! Pick me!" in less than 24 hours? You have "sensed" wrong, and you have judged in great error. 2) You've accused me of "hostility" ... because I asked a question? Because I said that I'd like to be INVOLVED? To even WORK my way up to that point of being able to SHARE with the Brethren? What sort of Christian does NOT want that? Who does not love the fold? Who refuses to "feed My sheep" ... if you love Me? You accuse me of hostility for wanting to commune WITH the Brethren? Ypu accuse of a good thing. You think I'm hostile ... because I see self professing "Christians" misrepresenting Christains all the time? You accuse me of being hostile because God Himself says that His name is mocked for the actions of His people? 3) You accuse me of "wanting to be recognized"? Suggesting that I don't think I'm getting what I DESERVE? How would you know what is in another mans heart? 1Cr2:11 For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? Who are you to judge what is in a man mind? When have we ever spoken for you to know me? And even if we have ever spoken, how do you know my heart? Even now you show rebellion in your false accusation. What I WANT is to share, talk, and get enough posts in so that this whole site will open up to me so I can enjoy its FULL benefit. Truly, "there are lizards even in the kings palace" - Solomon And what do I "deserve" on day one of my membership? What have I earned? What have I longed for? You do judge terribly, and in great error. 4) Yes, God knows me. Truth is truth ... even when meant in carnal ways. 5) You accuse me of being "upset"? Why would I be "upset" when I'm actually EXCITED that I've finally found an online site that APPEARED (prior to your response) to be strongly moderated by Christains and contains Christian participants. Do you know what the Scritures say about those who go aroud seeking contention and strife and fussing? No one else feels what you said. No one else even got that. I don't even know how you got these "senses" (though I have an inclination). The only thing I'm upset about right now, is you. I and a brother in Christ have left another online forum and {I} encouraged him to join this one becasue it seemed free from stupidity, strife, confrontation and other silly things that we were sick and tired of in that thread ... and along comes your "greeting". But, God knows me ... as you said. 6) You assume that I don't speak on places I "believe" are wrong. FACT: you don't know me at all. bad and false judgment again. So, WHO are you getting this from? Cause I'm telling you right now, it is NOT the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob [His Christ OR the Spirit of God]. I'll tell you that right now. Ignoring that fact, what does that have to do with my membership HERE? I'm not looking for a debate. Nor am I seeking a cup of milk or a bucket of vipers. I'm not interested in responding in threads here for contention. Sure, I will give a different outlook and whomever can receive it will receive it. Whomever cannot, well, I've no desire to force them to. Not everything that is given to me can be received by others, and vice versa. 7) You suggest that I'm afriad of persecution. LOL!!! You don't know a thing about me. I can handle persecution just fine. But I expected THIS webpage to have a good number of Bible believing Christians in it. So far, the only person doing any "persecution" ... is you, and your false judgements. It's very weak, but it's also disappointing becasue I figured this site might have been different ... since it is moderated. 8) What does my interests have to do with you? And who told you that I listed them IN ORDER? Again, your judgments are in great error. Does God make such mistakes? Heaven knows - He does not. So again, who are you getting these things from? Acts 8:21 Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God. Of course it gets shorter. As a youth, I was into a lot more things. A lot mroe physical activities. So obviously the list gets shorter. Again, what is any of that to YOU? 9) You blaspheme Him is what you do ... cause you have spoken no Truth here. 10) You do judge in err. Speak falsehood and the retaliation IS against you. Who lied to you telling you that you can babble, lie, judge wrongly, falsely judge ... and that if you are refuted for your err, that its not rebuking YOU ... but God instead? I know the Scripture well, and it does not apply. And you have done exactly what God hates - thou shalt NOT use the Lords name in vain. Any who do so will not escape Judgment. How can you judge in error and falsely accuse ... and say you are speaking for and of God? ... you mention "persecution." But I mention "discernment" ... and I have learned to discern the SPIRIT of contention ... and I know it is not of God. I don't care what someone calls themself to be. By their FRUITS, words and actions, they are known. ... and I know THAT spirit ... better than you know me. I want no part of whatever it is that is festering over there.

That's debatable ... to be honest. My father is deeply knowledgable concerning the spiritual things of God, even some matters of cultural history (like, what does the "white stone" mean in Revelation?). But, I find myself catching in on matters concerning the language, and he lifts me up on spiritual things. And as my elder, that is how it should be (notice also, I typed that i CATCH him while he LIFTS me ... placing myself below him deliberately). I used to feel like you do. And I only partially agree, and that is a case by case bases. If you are debating a spiritual thing, then its the Spirit who guides. But, if you are looking at a historical context, or a cultural influence, or a character evaluation, or the language, or textual criticism, then the one without the education will be at a great disadvantage ... cause the Bible doesn't give you all the answers, and the Spirit really doesn't care about being involved in certain debates. He will leave you to your own devices. Take Peter and James for example. They were dumb and unlearned men, but mighty in the Spirit. Take Paul on the other hand. He was highly educated AND spirit filled ... and he went one to be perhaps the greatest of apostles (arguable). Scriptures also say to STUDY (not 'read') to show thyself approved, knowing how to divide the Word of God. Knowing the deep things of God. Rightfully dividing (doctrine). So yes, education does have it's place. So, to me, what you call "degrees" are the results of RECOGNIZED STUDY. Does and associate degree in ministry mean something? Does a Doctorate in Divinity mean something? Of course they do. God bless them for taking the time and spending the $$$ to know His ways/Word and ministry more. In fact, this has been the course of our history. Elijah DISCIPLED Elisha Elisha DISCIPLED Jonah Jesus -> John -> Ignatius It may not be a school with a black board, but it is teaching nonetheless. And I thank God for the scholars and learned men. So should you. Be thankful because if it weren't for them, you wouldn't have a clue about Hebrew or Greek words, nor would you even have a Bible to read in your language, nor would you have Lexicons or Commentaries. In fact, you'd probably still be listenting to someone "teach" you in LATIN and telling you to crawl around on your knees until they are bloody and bruised as a way to find Salvation ... and spending your $$$ as a way to buy your soul or souls of loved ones out of Hellfire. See things as they are friend. These things are important, and I honor the men who brought us these things THROUGH education, and I thank God for it. Oh! And yes, titles are also important. Knowing someones title has always been important because you know their STATUS. PROPHET? You will respond and interact with such a person a certain way PRIEST? same here ELDER? Same DOCTOR? Yup. Same here DISCIPLE? APOSTLE? SCRIBE? PASTOR? MINISTER? CHOIR DIRECTOR? ... CHRISTIAN? Yes, titles are very important to us on earth.

I think you may be right. Yes ma'am!! Well, Tamarac. I attend Christian Life Center on Commercial.

I think it's nice that I have to post my fingers off to ensure that I'm (all of us) aren't posting offense things, such as denying the Deity of our Lord ... as there are many psuedoChristians in the world ... proudly professing to be of the fold. But good golly miss molly! I'll be out of ideas before I get to the maximum required amount of posts. :-))) So, basically, things open up automatically as my posts #'s grow? ... I'm anxious for the meatier things. But, the basics are also good to reinforce also.

This is the Q&A and best answer ... right? OK ... so ... I wanna play. But, you're not going to like my answer. :-) I'm sorry. My answers will not always be agreeable. But, even the answers are God are not "agreeable" to the carnal way of thinking. In fact, it is always in emnity with the world. So ... here is my answer. You think it is right, and so does someone else. But I say that is wrong, and IT is wrong. Why? Because it is pseudepigrapha. In "English", it is a FALSE WRITING. It has DOCTRINAL ERRORS. While it may be of interest to academics to study from interst and antiquity, it is not of canon or considered to be the inspired word of God. So, be careful what you call "true". Having elements of truth doesn't not make something truth. They have a FORM of Godliness. After all, didn't God rebuke the "lying pens" in the Hebrew Scriptures? Didn't Jesus say "woe to your SCRIBES and Pharisees"? Indeed. For in Gods eyes, there is no difference in falsehood in the WRITTEN tense and the SPOKEN tense.

I was recently discussing this in another thread I was a member of, in another website. I called my thread "Saintly Sons of a Foolish Father" We see that God opened the earth and swallowed those wicked men for their sins. But, generations later, we see in the Psalms that the descentants learned the lesson of their forefathers and said: Psalm 46:2 Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; They were talking about what happened to their forefathers. But they themselve redeemed their name - Sons of Korah. For they said that NOT EVEN THE EARTH BEING REMOVED could sway them from their service to God. But their forefathers fell into the earth removed due to sin. Powerful. Amazing. Ancestors who were rebels and fools against God. Descendants who were godly men and convinced of God.

Christ the solid rock I stand. All other ground is sinking sand. Whose report will we believe? ... I will believe the report of the Lord. Good post.

1) Matt 10:37 He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of Me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of Me. And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after Me, is not worthy of Me. If you want to be worthy, do the exact opposite. Love God first and foremost, even when your family disagrees and doesn't want you to, and carry the Cross of obedience. 2) Matthew 22:8 Then saith he to his servants, The wedding is ready, but they which were bidden were not worthy. If you want to be worthy, do the opposite. Answer the call. 3) Luke 3:8 Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance, I used to wonder, what could man offer that could evern be pleasing to God. What could I do or say that pleases Him? Nothing takes Him by surprize. But I know the offering that He desires. I know the thing He will accept. A BROKEN SPIRIT AND A CONTRITE HEART. TRUE REPENTANCE and a TURN TO HOLINESS is what He will accept as an acceptable sacrifice/offering. 4) Luke 21:36 Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man. Be counted worthy to escape by watching and praying. Obedience and seeking His face. 5) Acts 5:41 And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name This is an intersting one. Many do not praise God when they are persecuted or His sake when they obey and serve Him. Be happy to be considered by God to suffer for Him. 6) Col. 1:10 That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; Represent Him in word and in deed. Keep you mind stayed on Him. Hard to do with so many distractions everywhere. Then ask Him to quiet you and center your heart in Him. Sow much and you will reap much. Study and spend time with God, and you will increase in the knowledge of God. 7) ... and praise God, for we serve Him who ALONE is WORTHY!

I can't access it yet. But, I'd like to know what it means by "those in the ministry" (the ones who can create topics there). What ministry ... and what is the statement of faith for it ... and, how can I become a member of their number? What are the requirements to get to that point? I am brand new to this site, but I'm not 'brand new'. I was an aspirant for a Doctorate in Biblical Studies (I selected Biblical Studies deliberately ... and it is preferred over "theology" or "divinity" or "religion" or "ministry"). It took my father 4 years to become a minister and another 4 years to become ordained. I agree with the old way of doing things - live the life long enough, obey, minister, serve, study, visit the sick and shut in, teach, tithe ... THEN be awarded the title. Then do the same things for another 4 years THEN become ordained. I'm so tired of Churches making people "Pastors" almost overnight. Long been tired of seeing a rich person or celebrity convert to Christianity, and the next thing I know, they are on TBN leading ... only to embarrass the title of "Christian" through their carnality, and even backsliding, and ultimately misrepresent God Himself. Took Paul 13 years from his road to Damascus experience. Daniel was a teen when he entered Babylon, but was about 85 when thrown into the lions den. So, I believe in serving the Lord, even WITHOUT earthly titles. But I also believe that if one is awarded with a title, they should be a laymen to prove their sincerity, dedication and faithfulness (as well as experience growth and even the fire of purification). "My Name is mocked among the heathen, BECAUSE OF YOU!" - God ... let's not be counting among such people Brethren. We are not to be among their numbers.

True. Fasting while in sin, or comfort (especially sin), takes away from the effectiveness. Like, if I fast, but I'm arguing with my wife, murmuring against my boss, watching violent TV full of bloodshed or curse words ... then my fasting is not fruitful. Might as well be a mere "diet".

If I may.... ... and I like this topic. Here is my perspective, so, consider these things. #1 You show God that you are willing to sacrifice self in order to get a breakthrough. Now THAT is commitment. I believe He honors that. #2 And this is more important than #1 - but it is a COMMANDMENT. Fast and pray. Too often modern Christians think that the Bible is full of "observations to be considered" instead of "commandments to be obeyed". So, you are on the right track in your thinking, now you just gotta at the "obey" part. After all, Jesus said blessed are they who keep MY Commandments (not traditions, or Law of Moses, or the 613 Mitvot (the true Law), or ... but MY Commandments) #3 This is important. In some ways, I feel that the level of importance is in ascending order. So, this may be the most important one of all. So, try and get this and understand it ... if you can. If you cannot, think on it as you get in bed to sleep. Meditate on it. When you fast, you are telling your flesh "NO". Of everything that your body craves - drugs, alcohol, sex, pornography, retaliation, loose lips, murmuring, violence, envy, etc. Of everything, FOOD is the one thing the body NEEDS. And it is CONSTANT. Those other temptations are seasonal. They come and go ... until you overcome them through the blood of the Lamb. But food? LOL Good luck ever overcoming the bodies cravings for it. But, this is what I know. When you FAST, you are mastering (exercising) the ability to tell yourself ... "NO!" You are actually EXERCISING YOUR FAITH. And in doing that, when you are faced with that idiot who gets you hot under the collar, you know to say "NO!" to your flesh that wants to hit him or curse him. When lust creeps up on you to sin with that woman (or man, for you women) or go to that easily accessible porn site, you have exercised that muscle to say "NO!" When frustration and disappointment and pain cause you to do all measures against God, even blame God (dangerous game that), because you have fasted frequently, you have MASTERED YOUR FLESH and you have BROUGHT YOUR FLESH UNDER SUBJECTION, so you are better able to say "NO!" to your base instincts. You have learned to "deny yourself" Are you following? Are you able to receive that? Does it make any sense to you? I believe this is all PART of fasting. But, on the flip side of the coin, what is its opposite? GLUTTONY So, since gluttony is clearly a LACK of self control over the flesh, fasting, being the polar opposite, IS control of the flesh. Likewise, since God HATES gluttony, then, He must LOVE the faster (one who fasts). I hope that makes sense. I'm not sure if everyone can receive that, but that is what fasting is to me.