CaptWalker

I once heard that our dreams come from those subconscious thoughts that we have forgotten about, and then they come out again while we sleep, but that's not always completely true except in the natural sense as opposed to the Spiritual. It's really just a matter of discerning whether it's only your own mind doing whatever it does or if God is actually trying to show you something?

Was just very curious WHY it is given as an option to Log in with Discord, whenever you come to this site? Because most of us know what that means and/or implies, so why pray tell would something like that be associated with any Christian forum??

To me it is very simple, in that God will ALLOW but will never CAUSE you to go astray, period. Take that however you want, but you don't really need multiple scripture references to prove this to be true, only basic logic and what your heart/soul is telling you. And of course the Holy Spirit within doesn't hurt either, but that seems to be an unpopular means of reasoning or making life decisions in these times we are living, just saying.

My own take on scriptures like this is that you can misinterpret it but nothing wrong with reading a bit too much into it, as long as you get the main gist of what is being said. And sometimes there are hidden meanings in passages such as this but that is for the individual to discover for themselves. Such as some interpretations I have heard that this "marrying" is referring to the return of the fallen angels who are once again seeking women to mate with, just as in those days which is why God sent the flood to destroy the offspring that was created. But i do believe that these "days of Noah" also include the time period he was on the ark, but again that is something someone needs to learn about on their own to be fully convinced, especially one who believes in the pre-trib rapture which is a subject i refuse to debate about or even discuss, since it is always in vain.

Well i never thought having fun/hobbies was a pre-requisite for being a Christian? Seriously though now i'm pretty sure he probably just meant something like whether i am into hunting or fishing, and things like that. It's really just the way he said it, and within the first 10 minutes or so like i was already just one of the boys...but i guess what do you expect at a Baptist church? But at least they would never have any all women's classes taught by men or vice-versa.

Well men's groups like that are at least a little less awkward than the one i attended where this guy just out of the blue asked me what i liked to do for fun...still can't say for sure if it was just an innocent question but i never went back to find out.

Well God must be looking out for me because last 3 times i've been pulled over for an expired tag i wasn't even asked for proof of insurance, so maybe i should be counting my blessings, and that i don't run out of them!!!

Well for what it's worth just thought i would point out the minimum age for marriage in many states is 16 or 17. And there are a few that are as low as 14 and even 12(which i won't mention). And i believe 4 states have no official minimum age, whatever that means? But despite what any laws state, what has always been true as a believer still is, and oddly enough even with so much apostate teachings going on in many churches most of those corrupt preachers would still agree on the idea of waiting to marry. And the decision to marry still usually doesn't happen until one is at least 21 years old, and even that is considered way too you among many Christians. And i would also point out that if you are planning on attending a Christian college/university that a lot of them don't even allow fraternizing/dating while you are there, but that may only apply if it is with someone else also attending, but not sure? And that also could have changed over the past few years with all these new LGBT rights, and them also being allowed to attend.

Unfortunately for many of us it means just what it says, that you have to receive God's kingdom and salvation as a child would, which is often very hard to do. Even when there are people in your life that you might even at times be tempted to do some physical harm to and they may even deserve it?? But it basically all comes down to that in order to become one of God's own children we must be as innocent as doves but wise as a serpent(Matthew-10:16)...and it is not our duty or right to take vengeance on those who would harm or come against us, but to wait on the Lord and His justice, even though it sometimes seems like that is very far away and even at times non-existant. But that is what it is and to be one of His own it's something we just have to accept. But from the way many of these "Conservative" talking head types are always acting, you would think it is just the opposite and that we not only have the right to criticize and insult our enemies verbally but even confront and threaten them physically. Well if you are a member of the armed forces then you have that authorization, but otherwise we are bound by the word's of God/Christ and must not resist evil but turn the other cheek, if you want to be innocent as a child and harmless as a dove. But i have to admit myself that i at times fall way short of this and am still working on trying to be pleasing to God and being the person he wants me to become.

Well if people will be engaging in hand to hand combat in the streets then that might be something very interesting to see, but unfortunately it would likely be happening on a day that i am once again running late for work and wouldn't have time to stop and watch. Seriously though, i think you might be reading a bit too much into the 2nd and 3rd Seals that you seem to be fixated on? But i realize this is very serious and i probably shouldn't be taking it so lightly, but i just see things like this happening much later in the last seals and trumps, even though it doesn't specifically mention this happening at all, other than referring to nations and people groups killing each other, which has already happened obviously and is still even now. But i guess deep down there are many of us actually hoping that all hell will break loose ASAP so we can go ahead and get this thing over with, but to me that is nothing but wishful thinking...but that's just me.

I have heard before that the events in Revelation are not all in order from chapter to chapter. Such as chapter 9 when those with the mark are already being tormented for 5 months. I also believe that is a reference to what Christ said about the "days of Noah", when it rained on the earth for 150 days(5 months), even though he was still in the ark for about another 7 months. And this could be the same as what will occur during the last year of the tribulation? Or also could be a reference to Ezekial 39:12 where they are burying the bodies for 7 months, but just throwing that out there and still not yet sure about it? [Correction-it was not raining for 150 days but the waters only "prevailed" on the earth during that time.]

Well there are the 1260 days,42 months, time times and 1/2 a time, which to me is obviously referring to the SECOND half of the tribulation, and nothing terrible will happen in the first half, except for the normal calamities and chaos that is already going on around the world. And in Revelation-9:5 it mentions the 5 months that i feel is when the MAJOR wrath will begin to be poured out near the very end. And i also believe those days of wrath will be shortened as Christ said, but by how much i am not sure?

Yes i agree that many do believe God should be at our beckon call, and often become offended and angry when He doesn't seem to answer in the way they expected Him to. But to insinuate that He will remain absent and/or silent even when someone is actually trying to reach out to Him is not exactly going to help anyone know Him better and certainly not going to make them feel any better in that situation. I have heard of Atheists becoming Christians and vice-versa, but still not sure which is more likely to occur, and maybe someone who ends up falling away was never really saved to begin with, idk? Me personally, i am much more offended by Christians who are stand-offish or stuck up, than a God who is or only seems to be. For example, I recently was thinking about starting to attend a small rural church close to where i live, and even sent a couple of emails and prayer requests, since unlike so MANY of these "country churches" this one actually had a website(LOL). But unfortunately i never heard back from them, and i guess maybe i could have just walked right in one Sunday but i was afraid they would see me as an outsider and not be very welcome there, but who knows? Either way if you are a church or group that is offering prayer and/or feedback on an active website but still ignore any comments/questions then i would only ask WHY??? And if someone became an Atheist over being ignored or dissed by any other so-called "believers" then i almost would not even blame them. But in this case it seems to be more of issues with God Himself which is a whole different situation, but at the same time it could much easier to hate God when there are no Christians around who are even offering any help even when you ask, which is a very BAD situation to be in, period!

No but i'm trying my best to let the Spirit speak through me since that is where it originates, not from our own intellect.

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Ok...??

Maybe someone else can explain this better than me, but i have always thought that praying in the Spirit was simply being inspired by the Spirit as you are praying. Such as when something is revealed to you about things in your life or certain people you need to intercede for, things that you maybe have never even thought of before. And Romans-8:26 says that when we dont know what to pray for "the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered"(not even in tongues). And tongues seems to me more like a means to help us become more focused in order to get in the proper mindset to connect with the Holy Spirit. And maybe it does help a lot of times, but that doesn't mean you can't still pray in the Spirit without doing it. Or else it would have been translated as "tongues" in 1st Corinthians-14:14-15, and that would have been the end of it and there wouldn't be any controversy over exactly what it means. And another problem with tongues comes whenever you are doing it through your own intellect instead of through the Spirit, so in that sense it seems more like something that God will not give you simply because you ask for it, but something that you have to be ready to receive. Either way it is not as essential for salvation or to receive the Holy Spirit, but only a gift that you would receive afterwards, which many would call the baptism of the Spirit. But that is something that i have never received and don't really ask God for it anymore, but do try to keep an open mind about it.

We should pray without ceasing(1st Thess.-5:17) obviously...but nowhere does it say that it is better for it to be done in tongues. And no where can i find in scripture where it describes praying in tongues as something that will empower and edify you any more than praying normally would. But if someone feels like it helps them a lot more to do it that way then i have no problem with it and do not look down on anyone who promotes praying or speaking in tongues as an essential to being filled with the Spirit. It's just not been my personal experience along with a majority of Christians as well, and maybe that will change at some point, who knows? But i do believe it is really a gift that not all Christians have, rather than an evidence of being Spirit filled that all Christians can and should have.

Maybe i should rephrase what i said...i personally don't care whether or not Satan is interested enough in our prayers to try and interfere in what we are praying for. One reason is that he in not omnipresent as God is, so then he would need demons to do his bidding and maybe assigned to certain Christians. But we often treat him as if he is constantly aware of what we are praying at ALL times, a very big misconception of him. But yes i would agree that praying in tongues, especially on national or worldwide TV might probably get his attention more than anything else, so those preachers choosing to do that maybe should be prepared for any resistance that could be coming against them, but i've not experienced it myself so am really only going by what i hear others saying about it. But again, i wouldn't personally be worried about that since i take Satan very lightly and not very seriously whatosever, but that's just me.

It does make more sense that the gift of tongues would be primarily for the purpose of evangelism to those of another language. Maybe it is an evidence of baptism of the Holy Spirit but that to me seems more like a one time event. After that what would really be the purpose even if someone is interpreting it? Unless prophesying and tongues are actually one in the same, but if God gives you a word of knowledge to speak then why not just do so in your own language? Also praying in tongues would even be more pointless, other than just not wanting Satan to hear what you are praying about which is kind of silly to be honest. I mean if it is God's will for you then it is going to come to pass and nothing Satan can do about it, and i really don't think he takes that much notice of what we are up to in the first place. And i personally have never really gotten anything from praying in tongues, anymore than i would just praying normally.

I personally believe miracles still happen but that is really pointless if you never see or experience it for yourself. And miracles could be happening all the time and the average person may never see one in their lifetime. But what i have a problem with is those so-called preachers/teachers claiming to have experienced them numerous times and then making you feel guilty for not having seen even one, at least not in how they would define a miracle. Sometimes makes me wonder just how much of those miracles are real and not just exaggerated or fabricated?

I believe that is mostly true, but doesn't Proverbs 13:22 say that "the wealth of the sinner is stored up for the righteous."? So then if i really wanted to justify being a part of this then all i would need to believe was that those people underneath me were meant to be there and i was meant to be where i am making the money. And yeah i know that sounds pretty harsh but how do i know what kind of people are the ones who end up losing out? Maybe they already have a lot more $$$ than i do or ever will, but even if not is it my fault that they bought it when they really couldn't afford it? I guess i am just trying to get in the minds of some of these online "gurus" who have all the answers and can do no wrong, since that is probably how most of them think. And as much debt as i am in i'm almost willing to believe some of them and try it out to see what happens, since God apparently isn't going to somehow magically make that debt just disappear, right?

Well this is what they call it which is basically an online business where you sign up for some "gurus" own money making scheme, which many will claim to be 100% legit and assure you that it's NOT a scam. But once you get your own site then you are attempting to sign other people up for the same thing so it's basically kind of like a pyramid scheme or MLM, only that you are making commissions and supposedly just as much $$$ as the guy who signed you up. But the problem is that eventually there has to be those at the very bottom who run out of leads or "traffic" while the guys at the top are still filthy rich, or at least very well off. So i was just wondering if anyone else here has ever done this and if so then how successful were you? Or is this something that is just too unethical to ever get involved with? Because i keep getting these emails from a few sites that i'm pretty sure are associated or part of the same company and all promising i will be making $500 a day or some other ridiculous amount. So if this is true then how come everyone isn't doing it also??

I have personally never gotten any real benefit from praying in tongues but i still try to do it every now and then. Maybe i just don't have that gift but from what i understand is that everyone who has received the baptism of the Spirit should have this gift and use it on a regular basis. So i guess all i can do is keep praying to receive this baptism, if in fact it is still available to us as it was to those early believers, and not just something that people are pretending is a real experience rather than just a figment of the imagination, but i have yet to decide myself until i experience it myself.