Heleadethme

Here's something wonderful to ponder: Jhn 3:8 “The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.” Act 8:39-40 Now when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught Philip away, so that the eunuch saw him no more; and he went on his way rejoicing. But Philip was found at Azotus. And passing through, he preached in all the cities till he came to Caesarea. Rev 22:8-9 Now I, John, saw and heard these things. And when I heard and saw, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel who showed me these things. Then he said to me, “See that you do not do that. For I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren the prophets, and of those who keep the words of this book. Worship God.” Mat 18:10 “Take heed that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that in heaven their angels always see the face of My Father who is in heaven.

Well, as a mother who gave birth out of wedlock when I was truly a lost soul, I can say that pregnancy, birth and either raising the child without a father, or giving it up for adoption, is much much more than a mere inconvenience, and often it is even a long running tragedy and sorrow that one never recovers from. I hope we can find it in our heart to extend some understanding and charity to young women who wind up facing that situation, especially in a society that is actively giving them the message that their chief value lies in being a sex object. Actually I don't believe that we as the church really are in the business of making and enforcing laws. That's not the mandate Jesus gave to us. If the church was as busy spreading the gospel the way it used to, I can't help but think we'd be seeing less fornication and rape, hence fewer unwanted pregnancies and abortions. Ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

I dont' find it in my heart to judge a child and her parents for terminating an early stage pregnancy in a case like this. Somewhere in between the facts and emotion I believe there is this thing called mercy.

Actually this whole health and wellness obsession of many in society now is not of God. The devil has people focused on themselves instead of on God. The whole basis of eastern religions from what I understand, is the false notion that we are god so no wonder it is all about self focus which is another way of saying self worship. The devil comes but to steal, kill and destroy. If people are so healthy thanks to this obsession why are health care systems in the west on the brink of collapsing now. Instead of being healthier the opposite happens. The devil is a deceiver. Doesn't mean we should be irresponsible with regard to our health, but our foundation and focus and trust should be in God.

I don't know anything about Archbishop Fenelon but resting in the Lord is very biblical, and so is the peace that passes understanding. It doesn't exclude the body being subdued and being a living sacrifice but goes hand in hand I would think. "Humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God...." "In everything gives thanks, for this is God's will for you...." That said there are many counterfeits which espouse something similar.....the difference is whether it is from and to and through the Lord, the one true Living God in Christ. Self righteousness masquerades as the real thing. Rom 11:35-36 Or who hath first given to Him, and it should be recompensed again? For OF Him and THROUGH Him and TO Him are all things.

The body of Messiah doesn't impose or enforce laws....that's what government does. It's like we have laws against stealing and murder too.....there are laws that are good to have in the land. Are you familiar for example with where the Lord sent the prophet Jonah to Ninevah, a Gentile city, to preach repentance to them and warn of His judgment to come if they didn't? And Elijah going to the widow of Zarephath to bless and keep her family alive in famine.....as well as Namaan the Syrian going to Elisha to be healed of leprosy? Encourage you to read the scriptures for yourself and don't rely so much on others to tell you what to believe. Believe God and seek Him for yourself. Scripture says let God be true and every man a liar....it even mentions the lying pen of the scribes in one place. You can have a personal heart to heart communication with the Lord and be taught by Him, apart from Rabbis, priests and pastors. Like Job who had only heard of Him by the hearing of the ear, but later saw and knew the Lord with His own eyes....the eyes of his heart really, by revelation. This is why where Jeremiah speaks of the new covenant, saying no one in Israel will need to teach their neighbour.....all will know the Lord for themselves, not just by the hearing of the ear of what others tell them.

I forgot you don't know the scriptures very well. No it's not about imposing anything or controlling anyone, it's about lifting up the light (of God's word) so that whosoever will may come to it, receive it, and live by it. Those who are willing. Because as the scripture says only a remnant will be saved.

Wasn't Israel at one time called to be a light to the nations?...not to control but to teach and be an example of God's ways and righteousness. The Lord is God of the whole world, not just of the Jews. He judges nations that descend into sin and debauchery and idolatry...this is why Israel was judged in 70 AD and this is also why we're seeing the western formerly Christian nations coming increasingly under His chastisement and judgment.

What I can see, as I stated, is that Putin hasn't stopped his campaign in the Ukraine and shows no signs that he will. I didn't make any mention of effects beyond that.

Bless you sister. Just to be clear, I wasn't implying that anyone is in the wrong here, hadn't even got to reading and catching up with the thread. Yes, there are two sides to a coin and I was just having my say and trying to share this side of it....it is troubling the way things are going in general. Just that there's a difference between discerning right from wrong and judging the lost though. Jesus came not to condemn but to save. And the Lord has really been showing me how it's the ministration of mercy that unbinds the sinner from their sins. Whereas law does the opposite. People can only change when they know Christ, not before. Jesus only had rebukes and harsh words for His own when they were in the wrong, not for lost souls that I know of.

God is still on His throne and can turn anything around for good. Back in the day I became an unwed mother and was so grateful not to be stigmatized and shunned, but was extended compassion and allowed to keep my dignity by being called a "single mother". I don't know how I could have lived it down otherwise, and all these things having to do with my circumstances helped to prepare my heart for the gospel and a few years later the Lord came calling and I was saved. Think I've really only just begun to understand how mercy triumphs over judgment, the Lord has begun opening my eyes to this. Jesus came not to condemn but to save...it's not for us to condemn and reject lost souls but to proffer His mercy and compassion...His kindness leads to repentance...it is God who knows all things about each soul and will righteously and justly judge everyone in the end. This world is terminally ill with sin and dysfunction, and it is sad to see, and instead of judging/condemning, rejecting and worrying, we need to be interceding for these folks. With homosexuals I think behind all the bravado we see people who mostly have been hurt and wounded in their growing up years. We all were sinners who had lost our way at one time as well, and Jesus had compassion and mercy on us while we were yet sinners. Sin is sin and the gospel message is the same to all regardless of what kind of sin they became ensnared in. If you ask me there is that God is using the changing circumstances of our society to test and try US....so truth be told we really need to be examining our own hearts in these days, not our neighbours'. Sometimes I think it's like the devil is flaunting his feathers in our faces to try and make us believe he has the upper hand...but he doesn't, God is very much on His throne as always and we must not lose confidence in Him. Not going to lie, it can be difficult and dismaying at times to see how things are going, but the truth remains and I have to remind myself as well, that we need to rise above whatever circumstances are presenting around us and be in the spirit, not in the flesh.

...yes, and the sanctions haven't deterred Putin one bit. So have to wonder what is the point of keeping these sanctions going if they are not serving any useful purpose. Seems as though either western political leaders are under a spirit of stupor (aka God's judgment), or they are doing this on purpose...or both.

I don't think "tired" is the right word to convey the effects on people upon losing their livelihoods d/t not wanting to inject themselves with a substance they had misgivings about. Anyway, we're off topic here....any thoughts on the OP subject?

Perspective is a funny thing. Everybody has one and you are of course entitled to yours. But I hope you aren't getting yours from our propagandistic government-funded and dumbed-down media machine here in Canada. Yes I believe God was behind it though not in ways that we might necessarily think, not like a revival or spiritual move for example. Never seen Canadians rise up and speak their mind like that before, it was quite miraculous, how it all took off with a life of is own.

Amen....yes He does. When I was praying concerning the trucker's protest and political situation here in Canada recently the Lord gave me this word: 2Ti 3:8-9 Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith. But they shall proceed no further: for their folly shall be manifest unto all men, as theirs also was. The deluded WEF cult has members in high places in our government here. From Prime Minister on down...even the current Deputy Prime Minister was a biographer for George Soros. They have utter disdain for common working people and are completely callous as to how their policies and actions affect people's lives. Am really looking forward to God fulfilling this word. When or how, I don't know. The Lord was behind the trucker protest which was came up so suddenly and was so unusual for Canada, and it exposed a huge lot and woke a lot of people up....I consider that was just a beginning of what He intends.

There is a feeling that they are starting to groom the west to accept joining the war against Russia. It feels as though certain big-wigs WANT war with Russia. Much the same feeling that certain players WANTED Russia to invade the Ukraine in the first place. Should we follow the money...? Who would stand to gain if we went to war? George Soros? Charles Schwab?

What comes to mind is that God is the Potter, we are the clay. I think because we are foreknown by Him and elect according to His foreknowledge, He began working on us lumps of clay before we even knew it, and before we knew Him. I was unmarried and pregnant at the age of 20 and later I realized that becoming an unwed mother helped prepare and humble me for the gospel...it wasn't how I thought my life would end up. And I heard at least two witnesses of two different people in my life during that time before the Lord called me. Then I got saved...I received a heart of flesh, yet, still not perfect by any means and had a lot to learn, and still do. There seems to be a kind of dichotomy with these things....we've received a heart of flesh yet, still it needs more softening....we are the righteousness of Christ, yet still we are seeking more of His righteousness....His laws were engraved on our heart, yet still His word is in process of being written on our hearts....we have all entered His rest through faith, yet still are in process of enterING that land of promise little by little and overcoming little by little. So after being saved....He still was and is working on this lump of clay...through what chastisements and the suffering that He has allowed in this life. What does a potter do with a lump of clay to soften it....he adds water (of the word) to it, and whacks it, throws it down hard on the table, thumps it and kneads the heck out of it, lol, ouch, in order to work the water into every molecule of that clay. I know that what changes have occurred in my heart and what understanding of the word has been engraved on my heart thus far is due in large part to all that thumping and kneading to make me more soft and yielding....the painful part of being engraved upon, ouf. For our spiritual good...He chastises who He loves as sons...and we are all different, different parts of the Body to start with, like many different kinds of flowers in His garden, as well as that we all have different areas that need perfecting.

Not everyone has the gift of evangelism. But we can all witness and testify of what Jesus has done in our lives....and witnessing has power, even though it may take time for it's fruit to be seen. "On the strength of two or three witnesses let every truth be established." God prepares the soil of the heart....He sends in plowmen to prepare the soil before the reaper comes and reaps what others have worked hard for. Hearing someone witness can be part of that plowing process, as can praying for souls, helping people out in a jam, etc. As we've heard the parable of the sower, it's best for the seed to fall on good soil.

If a person is truly ready to be rid of the bondage, they should focus on Jesus, His grace and mercy, not the sin. Give the problem to Him and keep walking forward, not looking back and dwelling on the problem. Make a conscious decision not to think about it....the more one focuses and thinks about the sin and struggles with it, the worse the chains can get.....because of constantly thinking about it....sin begins in the thoughts so dismiss the thoughts. And because condemnation brings bondage (curse of the Law) but forgiveness looses from bondage (sin no longer having dominion). The child of God does not have sin imputed to them....we are not under condemnation but forgiveness and grace......His mercy is not earned, it is a free gift. The battle is the Lord's so give it to Him. Be still and know that He is God, keeping eyes and thoughts on Him. Yield to His righteous will. Rest in Him. The opposite of struggling. HIS strength is made perfect in our weakness.

The church as a whole is not a political body.....our mandate as the church is to preach the gospel and make disciples....building God's kingdom that is not of this world, not a worldly kingdom. It can be tempting to forget the wisdom behind the separation of church and state these days. But I don't believe it's a sin for individual believers to cast a vote or have a job in government when you're legally allowed to. Whatsoever you do, do as unto the Lord, and be led by Him. If voting can help keep oppressors and criminals from taking over then maybe we even SHOULD vote. But we definitely shouldn't allow ourselves to get too caught up in it all.....we have to remember that our citizenship is not earthly and however things go here, our mandate from the Lord doesn't change one iota. We can be encouraged that the early church came into being and laboured in the gospel under oppressive and pagan rulers. The only real answer for a fallen world is the gospel and changed hearts.

I'm suddenly feeling very small, lol. It is an interesting question though....are you wondering if the physical temporal universe is displacing the heavenly realm, so to speak? If that's even close to what you're asking, I think my answer would be no....because God is everywhere. Even though we live in physical bodies on a physical earth in a physical universe, He is still here with us. There is nowhere we can go from His presence and His miracles happen. The spiritual (heavenly) realm doesn't really seem to be limited or hindered by the physical realm......or doesn't have to be.....it seems to depend on our faith and also God's will when He wants to manifest Himself or send angels etc. Okay, now I need a nap after that. (not going to try a smiley emoticom after that earlier mess)

Curious to know where this is going...

Amen. They were expecting a strong earthly king and military leader to rule an earthly kingdom.

Yes, it truly is a mystery. Jesus said no-one after tasting the old wine straight-way desires the new wine......this is why the new covenant had to be poured into new wineskins (Gentiles) who would afterwards bring the gospel to Jews. Rom 11:25 For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in. Rom 11:31-33 Even so have these also now not believed, that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy. For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all. O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!

Oh help....it would be a stretch for my brain! Do we have to go there? https://worthychristianforums-h45go6maxh5rpepgu.netdna-ssl.com/uploads/emoticons/default_help.gif lol! (picture of little guy unfurling his "help" banner....have to spell it out because it isn't coming up for some reason) https://worthychristianforums-h45go6maxh5rpepgu.netdna-ssl.com/uploads/emoticons/default_smile.png (okay, not even a regular smile emoticom is coming up, just fugget aboud it!)