sharonvinchrist

I suppose one must consider what are "good things". In a way, the husks and swine food that the Prodigal Son was forced to eat were "good things" inasmuch as they caused him to remember the plenty in his father's house so that he returned to his father. Would it be good for a man if he were to be immensely rich in worldly goods yet die and lose his soul to Satan? God's ways are higher than our ways; His thoughts are higher than our thoughts. What we may consider "good" (say, material wealth) God may consider evil. And what we may consider evil (say, poverty and want") God may consider good. And then again, these things have times and seasons so none is absolute. There is no inherent good or evil in wealth and no inherent good or evil in poverty. There is only what God uses them for to accomplish His purposes. In the eternal scheme of things, God know the ultimate good for each individual, and we are better advised to submit to our heavenly father's love and knowledge and discipline, even if that means material poverty, than Satan's beguiling gift of material wealth in this life and condemnation and judgement in the next. Perhaps you need to consider the rich young ruler to whom Jesus spoke. He was unable to give up his wordly wealth for spiritual riches and walked sadly away. In short, you are NOT promised a road paved with gold when you become a Christian. Rather, Jesus said: take up your cross and follow me. The road is steep and narrow and few there are that find it. There is a a joy in the Lord that all Christians can know, but it has nothing to do with worldly success and comfort, and everythinng to do with knowing one's Creator and Saviour. God does not consider povety and want good not to be rude but some of you people by the wat you talk you would think that God and satan changed roles T he Bible says that the enemy comes to steal kill and to destroy but God has come that they might have life and to have it more abundantly and God wants us to prosper even as our soul proppers if our soul isnt prospering then we wont prosper the most important thing is for our souls to prosper I agree with you on life isnt a bowl of cheeries but we already have the victory and God said He delights in the prosperity of His children

well said

I do. really if you dont care then you should keep that comment to yourself

There is a scripture that says There will be some having a form of golliness but denying its power and from such people turn away the people on here speak before they really know the truth and they put down a lot of preachers they will have aform of godliness but they deny its powerthese people put down other people about laying hands on the sick and every thing else they have a form of godliness but they will deny its power seems to me they are in err if you cant tell the real from the fake and you really dont know whats what you will fall for the fakes sounds lioke to me they need to find out the truth before they start doing this and asking God to help them with this be blessed

I agree with you God spoke to me one night as i was reading about revivail , so I turned on the tv and Rodney Brown was on there preaching about the same thing that God had just spoke to me about and I felt like I was in the same room with this man +I know that all of this is not a fake are anything because I recieved all of this in my prayer closet I know the truth and no one can take that away.

Stacey, what about the thousands who commit suicide every year? Would you not say they have been handed more than they can bare? We have a fellow here in Ontario named Paul Bernardo who is now behind bars, but when he was loose he was responsible for untold numbers of sexual attacks and murders including that of teenage girls lured by his wife for use as sex slaves. Over a period of weeks they were abused, tortured and murdered (cut into pieces I believe), all filmed on video for his later viewing pleasure. You don't think those girls were tortured beyond endurance? You don't think that the millions of Jews who died at the hands of their Nazi captors were handed more than they could bare? On one of the bunks in the Auschwitz concentration camp are carved the words, 'If there is a God he needs to beg me to forgive him.' Where does the love of God go? Your statements make no sense to me. God is doing us a favour by allowing monsters to abuse and torture innocent victims? The more a person is tortured, the more pain they experience, somehow teaches them more about God's mercy? I don't follow. It is because of acts like these that the problem of evil is for many people an obstacle to belief in God. You really are in the dark here, Cycel. God doesn't create evil. Man has free will and most choose to follow satan. The Lord offers every one of us salvation and eternity with Him; this is His mercy to unworthy mankind. Most reject that offer. That's the whole mystery solved right there. The world belongs to man and the devil for an allotted period of time....after that, the Lord will judge His creations and destroy this world. We all choose how we live our lives, what we believe, and where we end up. The horrible things you described are man's doing; not God's. well said NOT well said! MorningGlory put words into my mouth. I never said God created evil. I replied to her post and corrected her false asumptions regarding what I wrote, but she has not responded. I do agree that people have free will. I would like to make some further comments but must run. I agree with her that you are in the darkif you were half as interested in finding God as you were trying to prove He doesnt exist then you would find Him you just are trying to debate you are not open to anything so if you are not open to it you wont recieve it you just want to cause confusion but guess what there is no confusion on my part I know who I am and I overcome by the boold of of the Lamb and by the word of my testimony and you cant t ake that away so I am not going to talk about anything else with you on this because I know who sent you here .the devil will use you if you let himand thats what you are doing when I decern someone like you I cut them loose wasting time when could be talking with someone who really wants to know God .

you have some very good teaching I agree with you

well said

well said

You don't sound sure. Angelique started this thread by asking why God permitted suffering, in particular I want to know why He permits innocent suffering. If I loved my children, and I do, I would never let them suffer the way God has permitted extreme human suffering. I don't see anything in your selection of scriptures to explain why God continues to permit suffering. Perhaps I am just not grasping what the passages mean. Instead of quoting the Bible to me it might be helpful if you stopped to explain what some of the most important passages mean and explain why it is that you think they explain why God allows humans to suffer so. Perhaps you might explain why He permitted the Holocaust where 6 million Jews suffered terribly before they died. Or explain why Stalin was allowed to cause the deaths of an estimated 20 million kulaks during the 1930s and 1940s? Or we could go back to Roman times and you could explain why God allowed more than 6000 followers of Sparticus to suffer crucifiction at the hands of the Romans? Why does God permit evil to exist? This is one of the biggest reasons people stop believing. Can you explain in your own words why God has not acted as any loving parent would act? The failure is not for me a criticism of God, it is a proof that He does not exist. I can give you a scripture yes the enemy does send bad things our way and we do learn from them but we always have the victory in Luke 10:19 it says that I give you the authority to trample on serpants and scropions and over all the enemy, and nothing shall byu any means hurt you WE have the authority we just have to learn to walkinit God shows me all the time what the enemy is trying to do Greater is He that is in me than he that is in the world. submit yourselves to God resist the dev il and he will flee if you are not doing any resisting he will not flee God will teach us how to do that In Matthew it says whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven we have been given authority to bind the devil in the name of Jesus and loose or allow the Holy Spirit to do what He wnts to do in this situation. we need to incline our ears toi Gods word and let that be the final authority in our lives `God will show you what kind osf spirit is working behind someone and He will show us what to doyou speak what God tells you to speak He always brings you back to His word The devil does not have ant thing on us in Colossians 2:15 It says Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public show of them, triumping over them in it.the battle has already been won yes things come but we have the authority to speak Jesus name and i the devil is already defeated by what Jesus did on the cross everything has to bow to the name of Jesus. we have to learn to walk inall that Jesus has done for us you said that you would do any thing to save your children well guess what? God did eveything to save us by Jesus going to the cross For God so loved the world that He gave His only begottenson that whosoever believes in Himshould not perish but have everlasting life.. would you give up one of your children to save 1 lost soul? I dont think so but God did.. You dont know the love of Christ but I pray you will .Satan is the god of this world and and he rules this world but God will rule it one day People are swayed by the wicked one and they make there on choicesin this life its not Gods fault that people choose to do bad things

Stacey, what about the thousands who commit suicide every year? Would you not say they have been handed more than they can bare? We have a fellow here in Ontario named Paul Bernardo who is now behind bars, but when he was loose he was responsible for untold numbers of sexual attacks and murders including that of teenage girls lured by his wife for use as sex slaves. Over a period of weeks they were abused, tortured and murdered (cut into pieces I believe), all filmed on video for his later viewing pleasure. You don't think those girls were tortured beyond endurance? You don't think that the millions of Jews who died at the hands of their Nazi captors were handed more than they could bare? On one of the bunks in the Auschwitz concentration camp are carved the words, 'If there is a God he needs to beg me to forgive him.' Where does the love of God go? Your statements make no sense to me. God is doing us a favour by allowing monsters to abuse and torture innocent victims? The more a person is tortured, the more pain they experience, somehow teaches them more about God's mercy? I don't follow. It is because of acts like these that the problem of evil is for many people an obstacle to belief in God. You really are in the dark here, Cycel. God doesn't create evil. Man has free will and most choose to follow satan. The Lord offers every one of us salvation and eternity with Him; this is His mercy to unworthy mankind. Most reject that offer. That's the whole mystery solved right there. The world belongs to man and the devil for an allotted period of time....after that, the Lord will judge His creations and destroy this world. We all choose how we live our lives, what we believe, and where we end up. The horrible things you described are man's doing; not God's. well said

You don't sound sure. Angelique started this thread by asking why God permitted suffering, in particular I want to know why He permits innocent suffering. If I loved my children, and I do, I would never let them suffer the way God has permitted extreme human suffering. I don't see anything in your selection of scriptures to explain why God continues to permit suffering. Perhaps I am just not grasping what the passages mean. Instead of quoting the Bible to me it might be helpful if you stopped to explain what some of the most important passages mean and explain why it is that you think they explain why God allows humans to suffer so. Perhaps you might explain why He permitted the Holocaust where 6 million Jews suffered terribly before they died. Or explain why Stalin was allowed to cause the deaths of an estimated 20 million kulaks during the 1930s and 1940s? Or we could go back to Roman times and you could explain why God allowed more than 6000 followers of Sparticus to suffer crucifiction at the hands of the Romans? Why does God permit evil to exist? This is one of the biggest reasons people stop believing. Can you explain in your own words why God has not acted as any loving parent would act? The failure is not for me a criticism of God, it is a proof that He does not exist. I can give you a scripture yes the enemy does send bad things our way and we do learn from them but we always have the victory in Luke 10:19 it says that I give you the authority to trample on serpants and scropions and over all the enemy, and nothing shall byu any means hurt you WE have the authority we just have to learn to walkinit God shows me all the time what the enemy is trying to do Greater is He that is in me than he that is in the world. submit yourselves to God resist the dev il and he will flee if you are not doing any resisting he will not flee God will teach us how to do that In Matthew it says whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven we have been given authority to bind the devil in the name of Jesus and loose or allow the Holy Spirit to do what He wnts to do in this situation. we need to incline our ears toi Gods word and let that be the final authority in our lives `God will show you what kind osf spirit is working behind someone and He will show us what to doyou speak what God tells you to speak He always brings you back to His word The devil does not have ant thing on us in Colossians 2:15 It says Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public show of them, triumping over them in it.the battle has already been won yes things come but we have the authority to speak Jesus name and i the devil is already defeated by what Jesus did on the cross everything has to bow to the name of Jesus. we have to learn to walk inall that Jesus has done for us

Aren't you judging me...uh oh 3 fingers pointing back at you. It is called common sense by the information given us. no I am not judging you spreaking the truth in love when you are wrong is not judging like I ask do you are the one who sent this post know what is really in there hearts ? Not by what someone is saying do you really know there hearts because you said they try to look holy how do you know that did the person tell you that I dont think they said anything about that these boys try to look holy in there thread.so you are judging them where in the thread did it say that they are trying to look holy I didnt see it I am not tryin to judge you all I am saying is when we accuse, question or critize a brother in Christ, we are actuall siding with the enemy. Only God knows the intents of the heart and therefore He is theonlyOne who can truly judge what is going on in the hearts of others .Oh believe me I know I have pointed fingers before and God has corrected me on this I just try not to let any corrupt word come out of my mouth except for which is good for the edifing so it mat impart grace to the hearer if they are having proplems with the gas yes I would sat tell them but I wouldnt sat what you said that thy are tryinto look holy you as well as I will give accoun t for every idle word that comes out of our mouth. sorry if you got offended and we are here to help one another not to argue . Lover in Christ

Aren't you judging me...uh oh 3 fingers pointing back at you. It is called common sense by the information given us. no I am not judging you spreaking the truth in love when you are wrong is not judging like I ask do you are the one who sent this post know what is really in there hearts ? Not by what someone is saying do you really know there hearts because you said they try to look holy how do you know that did the person tell you that I dont think they said anything about that these boys try to look holy in there thread.so you are judging them where in the thread did it say that they are trying to look holy I didnt see it

Boy, there is no short answer to be honest. Are you wanting to know how we know it is Divine inspired, or inerrant? Or are you asking how we can know that when it is examined against other religious texts, that the Bible is the truth? God will manifest Himself to you He will always take you to His word and I will agree with the other answer ask God He will show you .

The bible says if you don't work you don't eat. Who is feeding these people and who is playing the electric bill to watch TV? Sounds like they are living with a bunch of enablers. Sounds like somebody should quit giving them hand outs and start giving them hand ups. (Study the word, God will tell you what he expects.) (If you want to lose disfavor with God quickly...quit supporting your family...the bible says you are worse than a non-believer if you don't take care of your family. And we know non-believers are going to hell...these folks are worse than a non-believer. I hope they see the errors of their ways.) I are you obligated....nope...but open honest communication is nice. Tell them your concerns. That you feel like your being taken advantage of. Sometimes you have commitments after church......maybe you can help them find work. Then they can share with gas expense. This day and age we should all be commuting if we can. Here is another suggestion...tell them you will give them a ride and after church you need some work done around the yard, or some laundry done, ...you will see their true colors.... They are trying to look holy going to church...but they have no desire to support themselves or their family. It sounds like the church might be failing them. Has anybody told them if you don't work you don't eat. How can you say that they are trying to look holy? Do you really know whats in there heart as to why they are in church the Bible says judge not that ye be not judged when to point a finger you have three pointing back at you . Yes the Bible ssays if you dont work you shouldnt eat but i am talking about what you said about they are trying to look holy is wrong for you to say..

right on

we are blessed to be a blessing whats wrong with blessind other people? Is it a sin ? God says He loves a cheerful giver whats wrong with giving people what we have? How do you know what is in theser peoples heart? Do you know ??

God loves a cheerful giver whats wrong with giving people what we have? We are blessed to be a blessing.you seem to put down every thing that that is right and you seem so arguementive Its just i get this thing about you on here wanting to dabate everything and I speak this to you in love

we are blessed to be a blessing whats wrong with blessind other people? Is it a sin ? God says He loves a cheerful giver whats wrong with giving people what we have?

Yes but we are blessed to be a blessig whats wromg with giving people what we have is that a sin?