Ray12614

Yea . . . yea . . . yeah . . . Ok . . . stop beating around the bush and give me some of that patience stuff . . . but hurry up please . . . I don't have all day . . . . And yes . . . I am not serious . . . I am only kidding . . . LOL. I think that patience is one of those things that westerners have a problem with as we want everything quick and as painless as possible, but, The verses in James before and after are telling to say the least. [Jas 1:3, 5 KJV] [3] Knowing [this], that the trying of your faith worketh patience. ... [5] If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all [men] liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. Patience is given to those who endure the trying of their faith and If we lack wisdom concerning our temptations and trials, verse 5 says that all we need to do is ask for wisdom (concerning the trying of our faith) and God will give it to us so we can 'smartly' overcome. But . . . we have to patiently endure and not give up, give in, or shrink back into those temptations . . . . Good post . . . . Ray . . .

While I appreciate those who responded to this OP, some of the opinions expressed are theologies based upon doctrines of various Christian groups and associations I am not part of. I will consider them, but, scripture must make the final decision for me. You and Michael I think have the closest perspectives on what an NT prophet is, and how they are meant to edify and Exhort and I would also say 'warn' the body of Christ as needed in our local churches. Prophets are a part of the Eph 4 gifts given to our churches and (in my opinion) should be 'part' of the ministry team locally. I am wary of any prophet who is not connected to a local assembly and the ministry team at that local assembly because there must be safety for both the people (and the prophet) When prophets are in relationship with the other Eph 4 gifts (apostle, evangelist, Pastor/Teacher) what they say is judged, confirmed, or rejected in the assembly for the purpose of balance and safety. Unknown prophets who 'blow in', blow up, and then blow out' without being connected to local assemblies and church leadership have separated themselves from any governance and accountability. Every 'lone-ranger' prophet that I have seen over the years always seek to draw a following and take from the local assemblies instead of being blessings to those assemblies. In this day of 'internet ministry' I personally reject any prophet that cannot have his/her character verified by church leadership, and I have zero interest in listening to them. As far as the cannon is concerned, I agree that it is closed and that no prophet should ever attempt to add to it or take away from it. IF any prophet tries to do that then they must be identified by churches as 'false prophets' and the door should be closed so to speak to keep them from hurting the Body of Christ in our local churches. Very interesting topic!

Well . . . okay . . . I don't disagree with what you have posted, in fact I agree with you whole heartedly. But . . . in context vs 28 is connected with the previous verses about prayer, and how the Holy Spirit helps us pray. [Rom 8:26-28 KJV] [26] Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. [27] And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what [is] the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to [the will of] God. [28] And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to [his] purpose.

Very good post, and good to read and be reminded of these things. I see the replies morphfed into end times but the precept of your op is very good. IF we love Him, keep (do) His commandments. Thank you . . . .

I pray that your whole mind, will, and emotions, and body is healed by the stripes of Jesus . . .

Thank you for sharing this! The Corporate Assembly . . . so important.

Awesome man doing an unique work among the Muslim world. Thank you for sharing about him.

I think I should try some of that procrastination stuff . . . but . . . maybe tomorrow or next week . . .

Praying for your healing and recovery. Regarding selling your stuff . . . take some time to recover, and then make your decision regarding those things. I have made many a bad decision in the 'moment' of circumstances, and regretted those decisions later . . . Ray . . .

Not sure what your point is, or the point of the quoted verse, but . . . . . it is in my bible . . . [Rom 1:25 KJV] [25] Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.

Wow, that is an experience for sure . . . not sure how to reply except to ask How are you doing today? On a side note: We can feel anger about being treated unjustly by people, but, we must forgive them and allow God to sort all of that out at the Bema seat of Christ, OR, the Great White Throne Judgement. You can be sure God knows how to deal with all people and not just saved people. I would be praying asking for their salvation and them turning their lives over to Jesus. That will have another side effect of helping you have compassion on them and forgiveness will soon be part of how God changes you too.

Yes . . . elections have consequences . . . . IF we are not registered to vote . . . register . . . and when November comes . . . pray and vote for the best policies closest to Judio/Christian values, and NOT personalities. If we don't register . . . and not pray and vote . . . we are part of the problem and not part of the solution.

50 years ago I lost my wallet out of my pocket when I was plowing my mom's garden with farm equipment. Its buried out there in that garden somewhere . . . I keep driving by the old farm house and checking the garden plot to see it any money bushes are growing up in that garden . . . if there ever is any I will ask if I can pick the money off the bushes since it was my seed . . . .

Our sister is correct regarding urgency. I don't know what her theology is regarding end times, but, putting that aside; It is urgent for the unsaved at whatever stage of life they are in, and/or whatever times we live. It is urgent for the father/mother who might die soon. It is urgent for the drug user who may overdose and die without Christ. It is urgent for the teen who might commit suicide . . . and the list goes on and on . . . you show me a person who is without Christ and I will say it is urgent for them to receive Christ into their lives. We know not when each of us will leave this world and we cannot assume that people have forever to decide for Christ of not. Its like the story about a little boy who saw thousands of starfish washed up on a beach and then began to start picking them up and throwing them back into the sea water. A man passing by said "why are you wasting your time throwing them back into the water, don't you know that there are tens of thousands here, so what difference can you make among so many of them?" The little boy simply replied as he picked up one of the star fish and threw it back into the water " It makes a difference to that one". The point is that complacency fueled by an intellectual concept of theology misses the heart of Jesus who loves the lost we refuse to pray for, witness to, or minister to. My 2 cents on this . . . . Grace and Peace . . . Ray . . .

Again, you are loved and highly valued in God's eyes . . . NEVER forget that!

I love the jokes . . . but . . . the OP must have a point somewhere in it . . . right? Wondering . . . . . okay one more joke . . . what did the chef mathematician declare when he worked on his formula Pi 2? Pizza Pie R Round . . . Corn Bread R square . . . .

Well, the questions you asked about those with dementia are good ones for sure. I have known people who are sweet and loving who after dementia progresses are mean as snakes, so I have also asked these questions. What I believe about that is that when we are saved we are told by scriptures to renew our minds to the truths of God's Word. That renewing means to embrace God's thoughts, and live according to His Word. It does not however erase memories, and the old ways of thought, but we choose to act accordingly to God's Word that we have renewed our minds with. Dementia (as I understand it from my wife who is an therapist) causes the break down of the human mind and removes social filters of how people act and what they say. Since those filters are removed, some people who have memories of bad behaviors, sins, etc. don't have those social filters that override those old man emotions, actions and behavior. Thus many Christians in advanced stages of dementia have the old man actions and thoughts rise back up shocking their family and friends and anybody else around them. Saints cussing like sailors, being mean and vile as their brains break down over time. Looking at myself, I have a terrible past life of sin and every now and then those old ways of acting and talking tries to rise up in me, but I put them down by remembering God's Word concerning those things, and if I have to I speak those verses out loud and simply by faith ask God for His power to overcome them. Does this mean that I am not saved??? OF COURSE NOT, it means that I must take control of my thoughts and take them captive to the authority of God's Word. So what happens if I would ever get dementia, and am unable to mentally control my old thoughts buried in my memory as my brain deteriates and breaks down.??? I hope I never have to go though that.

So true. In USA most believers think that persecution means 'people are being mean-spirited saying hurtful things that make me sad' bohoo bohoo . . . etc. I am impressed by the faithfulness of believers (most in islamic countries, but some actually are in western countries) who stay with Jesus no matter what . . . even unto disowning by their families, friends, being fired from their jobs, and even unto death. May we all be 'wise as serpents and harmless as doves' in the generations we live in today.

Ahhh . . . now I understand 'why' you are saying what you are saying. Listen brother . . . I don't stay on Worthy all day, neither do I log in every day. It has nothing to do with liking posters, or, either choosing how many posts I look at. It has a lot to do with how much time I have each day to view posts, and sometimes . . . day to day responsibilities take precedent over Worthy (there I said it). It does not mean that I discount what OPs are about, it generally means how much time do I have to stay on Worthy as a whole. For me here is what I do on days when I can log in: 1. IF an Subject catches my eye, I don't open it, I hover over the posting and it brings up a window that lets me see it without ever opening it up. Not sure what the analytics report about that. 2. Not every OP do I feel confident about to reply or offer an opinion. End Times is one such subject. Some subjects just don't trip my trigger so to speak. Thats ok (I hope) but that is the absolute truth concerning Ray. 3. I learned long ago that no online format can substitute for heart-to-heart fellowship at my local assembly (church), which frees me to not expect that I am appreciated here at Worthy. 4. I don't have to be 'right' all the time. Proverbs states that as iron sharpens iron so does hearty counsel sharpen me (bad quote but you get the drift I hope). I have been sharpened somewhat by broadening my perspectives by reading some posts on Worthy, and after considering them against scripture, the posts have at times corrected me. That alone makes Worthy valuable to me 'broadening' my view of Christianity to others in parts of the world I will never visit, and I cannot get that at my local church. I am just saying what I do, and how I view Worthy . . . and yes, my responsibilities in life once again are causing me to log off. I will come back tomorrow morning EST. Grace and Peace . . . Ray . . .

Personally . . . I'd prefer you stay around. I can't tell you how many times I remarked after reading your posts/ops: "Ahh Magoo . . . you've done it again!" meaning I like what you have said! Please read many of the previous posts and reconsider. Either way . . . Grace and Peace to you and yours . . .

Thank you for your thoughtfully worded reply. Very appreciated by me. Agreed about the Circumcision being a 'group' that always tried to bring the early church away from the truth of the Gospel. I never thought of relating that to this particular verse. Thanks for mentioning that point. Agreed about various groups 'opposing Timothy's gospel truths' and how their opposition can be an opening to minister the truth of Gods Word to them. I think that we were saying the same thing, but, possibly I worded it incorrectly. I didn't mean to exclude mentioning translation issues, but it probably would leave the intent of the latest posting replies. However, possibly we might DM each other regarding translation and some of the tools you use to study with, and other like topics. I am interested in that, but, again this OP is probably not the place for us to discuss those things. Again thank you for your reply and insights . . . Grace and Peace . . . .

This verse talks about them aknowledging the truth, so I believe that is an correct interpretation (not translation). Ok, so go ahead and tell me what that verse means . I am listening . . .

I bolded simply to call attention to words of the verse that many times are ignored. Of course it is not bolded in various translations . . . I am pointing out that should we need to correct those who oppose the Truth of Gods Word we should do it by instructing them in an meek (gentle) manor. And yes, I bolded those words again . . . LOL Not sure that answers your comment but thanks for the input . . .

The teaching is not bad IF you take a long and hard look at HOW it applies to you and those around you.

Sin is sin period. We need to shun it, and avoid even the appearance of evil in our lives. I believe that we can do that without assigning spirits to various sins in peoples' lives including our own. We must focus on the behavior and confront it when needed. Sure, we can know that there are indeed evil spirits that influence believers enticing them to sin, and at times demand them to leave (cast them out), however, focusing on them more than the Holy Spirit is wrong in my opinion. My old church pastor picked up on this 'wind of doctrine', and then applied it to those who disagreed with him on minor issues that were non-doctrinal in nature. He would preach from the pulpit that those who disagreed with his leadership had various spirits of Jezebel, Korah, and others, and did so in an way that was screaming at our congregation almost in a fit of rage. Sure, I agree that leadership is needed, and not everybody has a say in what is done at an assembly, BUT . . . this teaching fragmented our congregation, and many fell away from church believing that they were somehow under the influence of named spirits. It actually got to the point of playing 'demon demon, who has a demon' type of preaching, which was SO off balance and unfair to our congregation. So, my point is; If you do adhere to this type of teaching (and it does have a very small truth) you should also ask How should this be applied to my local church? Is it something that we maybe should be aware of, or, do we start looking for demons in our brothers and sisters who may differ on small leadership issues? I have seen the results of this type of teaching, and I can tell you first hand; Assigning evil spirits to believers is not a road you want to travel down because it is destructive to the Body. Instead focus on living holy and righteous lives by the power of the Holy Spirit, and apply those scriptures instead of looking for demons every time people miss the mark and sin. Respectfully . . . Ray . . .