wingnut-

Matthew 5:10 Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Hello Annette, Not sure what part you would like to hear my thoughts on, so I'll try and address the three possibilities that come to mind based on your reply. If I don't cover what you were hoping for just let me know more specifically and I will do my best. First I'll address the part regarding missionary couples. I believe this is a position one should not choose for themselves, missionary work is a calling. I also would say in the case of a missionary couple, both should be called of God for this, not one spouse following the other. I feel this is important, and relates to what scripture teaches in regards to division, or double mindedness. If both are not called of God the one who is called will find their attention can be divided, between their calling and the spouse whose heart is not really in this. Missionary work requires dedication and selflessness, it is not something most of us are cut out for. I have witnessed this very thing happen, man cannot serve two masters. In regards to a man leaving his wife or a wife leaving her husband, I would point to Paul's teachings in regards to marriage. Paul tells us straight out that it is better for a person to remain single if it is possible for them to control their sexual impulses. Not an easy thing to do for anyone by my observations, so again, I don't think this is an avenue one should simply choose for themselves. I think those who fall under that umbrella know who they are and it is a calling in its own regard. Marriage is very complex, as there are so many factors scripture speaks to on the topic. Being equally yoked is critical, the same division that I mentioned earlier will become an issue if this is not the case. Man cannot serve two masters. I'm not going to get to into detail here, but if you are interested you can read my testimony on said section of the forum titled "testimony of a nut". Just reference for some of my personal experience with marriage, not sure how much detail I go into as I posted that long ago, but do know that I speak about it there. I will share a bit about my personal experience here just to give you an example. I was married, and at the time I did believe we were equally yoked, but the simple truth is neither of us were dedicated to God. There came a point in the marriage that I made a conscious decision that if this did not change, it would not work out. So I turned to Jesus and asked Him to help me find my way, began living for Jesus instead of myself, which according to my ex was what she wanted me to do. However this was not the case either, the more God cleaned me up, the more she despised me. If she was watching tv and I sat in the room with her and started reading my bible she would throw things at me and complain that the light was a bother to her. I cleared the house of drugs, booze, cigarettes, and she would bring them back in and berate me for doing so. When I got up and got myself and our daughter ready for church she would throw a fit upon our return. Then suddenly she started getting up and going to church too, and I thought, hey, this is starting to work...... but no. She would complain the entire way there about going, she would complain through the service, she would complain going home. Living for God became the primary source of disruption and argument. The truth is, she didn't want me to change from who I had been before, she enjoyed feeling that she was more righteous and being able to constantly use it against me. I was divided. I knew long before she filed for divorce that the marriage was over, but I never would have left her. Lastly I will discuss the scriptures themselves that I posted and why I felt led to post them in the first place. To me, what they all speak to in the simplest terms, using the most extreme examples is this...... put God first in everything you do. Above your spouse, parents, children, and any other relatives. Above material things, above desires of the heart and the flesh. If God is not first, then we are not right. Sorry for being so long winded and hope I didn't derail the thread. God bless

I agree. While the Holy Spirit is in every believer wherever they are, God the Father is still sitting on the throne. This is what makes them separate, and how I understand the Trinity. So basically we believe the same thing, we are simply defining it differently. Thank you for indulging my curiosity, I've enjoyed our conversation. God bless

As well it is an impurity, or another way to look at it from the Galatians passage, it would fall under the "and things like these" part. It is like drunkenness because it affects your mind, which means you are not sober, or clear-minded, but in an altered state of thought. No one is judging you on this my friend, I struggled with this very thing myself, let the Holy Spirit guide you. But I don't think you asked this question because you feel good about it, sounds to me like you are already sensing conviction on the matter. God bless

Not entirely, I want to refer back to what you said in the previous post. The Spirit of God didn't make things though, His Spirit hovered over what He had made. Where we differ is that you have decided to set limitations on God, as far as what He can or cannot do. Scripture offers no support for this claim, rather the opposite. Example being, if I am a believer, and you are a believer, the Holy Spirit dwells in each. We are not in the same place though, so God can be in more than one place at the same time. God bless

I didn't separate them, God did as clearly defined in the first two verses of the bible. There is God in verse 1, and the Spirit of God in verse 2. Genesis 1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2 The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. Not God, but the Spirit of God, also known as the Holy Spirit. God bless

Scripture identifies who the Our is, the Word of God, Jesus Christ. God bless

Titus 2:11 For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, 12 teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, 13 looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, 14 who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works. What does the Holy Spirit say to you my brother? God bless

Genesis 1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2 The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. Genesis 1:26 Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” From the very first verse of the bible we see the Holy Spirit, and we see that God the Father has an image in verse 26. Just as the disciples could see Jesus in His spiritual body following the resurrection, God has a spiritual body as well. The Holy Spirit does not have a spiritual body. God bless

Matthew 10:34 “Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword. 35 For I have come to ‘set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law’; 36 and ‘a man’s enemies will be those of his own household.’ 37 He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. 38 And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. 39 He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it. Matthew 16:24 Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. 25 For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. Matthew 19:28 So Jesus said to them, “Assuredly I say to you, that in the regeneration, when the Son of Man sits on the throne of His glory, you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. 29 And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My name’s sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and inherit eternal life. 30 But many who are first will be last, and the last first.

Hello daniel, I'm healing nicely thank you, hopefully I'll be back to work soon. Good to see you as well. God bless

Amen

I never had anyone tip me with a tract during my service years, I do get them quite often in my sales job though.

A simpler understanding would be that they happen on the same day.

What scriptural references lead you to connect the "sea" to "captivity"? By captivity, are you referring to what is called sheol or Abraham's bosom?

I believe I know exactly what Hillary is referring to as "the resistance". I'm sure quite a few people are already aware of this, but for those who are not I would urge you to examine what I have to say for yourselves. No one can really change another's mind on a matter, so investigating it for yourself is the surest way you can be convinced of the truth. Hillary's path really began when she was introduced to a man named Saul Alinsky. For those unfamiliar with Alinsky, he was known as a community organizer and writer. In political terms he would be defined as a Democratic Socialist. Alinsky decided that he wanted to make America a socialist country, and his means of doing so was by organizing a revolution. In 1971 he wrote an instruction manual for his plans titled, Rules for Radicals. His target audience became the teens of the 60's who he saw opportunity in because of their rebellious nature to depart from the ways of their parents. I'm not going to bore you with a bunch of information on Alinsky, but there are two major things about him that every Christian needs to know. In his writings he pointed out two beings that he considered to be his mentors. The first mentor that Alinsky credits for his organizational skills was Frank Nitty. For those who do not know, Frank Nitty was Al Capone's right hand man who basically ran all of Capone's dirty dealings. Alinsky writes and spoke often of his high regard for how the mafia organized and maintained its grip on America. Interesting choice for a mentor, but not nearly disturbing as his other choice. The following is a quote from Alinsky, which anyone can read or even hear him saying on various recordings that are still in circulation. "... the first radical known to man who rebelled against the establishment and did it so effectively that he at least won his own kingdom- LUCIFER" Alinsky was a self proclaimed atheist, but he credits satan for teaching him three things, polarization, demonization, and deception. Hillary was so impressed with Saul Alinsky that she even wrote her senior thesis on the man. This is also available for people to verify on their own. Hillary decided to take Alinsky's model to a new level by infiltrating the government system itself, which was something Alinsky was opposed to. This is precisely what she has done with her career in politics, basically turning the Democratic party into a party focused on transforming the nation to a socialist nation. This is the democratic party of today, her fingerprints are all over it and all of our lives.

Hello friend, First, I want to apologize for misunderstanding what you were saying in your original post. After re-reading the discussion I see that in your original post you clearly state that ocean does not appear in scripture. I got confused in your explanation when you brought ocean into it and developed tunnel vision lol. If I understand you correctly, it appears you hold to the theory I had mentioned earlier who see the mention of sea in Revelation as a symbolic reference to the "sea of humanity". Second, to answer your question as to whether or not I believe the sea has passed away. No, I do not. When God called the waters to one place in Genesis, He named His creation the seas, and I do not believe He changed His mind. The reason for this is simple, because nowhere in scripture does He call it anything else. Over time people have given the seas different names, I suspect this was done to assist in navigation. Today we have oceans, seas, lakes, gulfs, and bays to name the ones that come to mind immediately. It makes it simpler for us when we look at a map, but I don't think that changes what God calls it. I do find it interesting that when God gathered all the water into one place He named it seas. We automatically think of seas as being plural, but clearly if all the waters were gathered into one place the word "seas" was singular. How that plays into the word sea in other parts of scripture I do not know, perhaps it is a matter of different languages, or perhaps it is symbolic. God bless

So good to talk with you again Sister, always a pleasure.

Hey fidei, I'm not sure if you caught that passage I posted earlier from Genesis, but I think now I can see where that theory I mentioned earlier derives from. I'll post it again. Note the section underlined and in bold. Genesis 1:9 Then God said, “Let the waters under the heavens be gathered together into one place, and let the dry land appear”; and it was so. 10 And God called the dry land Earth, and the gathering together of the waters He called Seas. And God saw that it was good. Could be where the idea came from for one land mass and one large body of water. Could be more accurate than I had given it credit for.

Still seas as far as I know, the Red Sea and Dead Sea to name two. Geography isn't something I really keep up with, but as I said, nowhere in the bible does the word ocean appear.

Technically, the word ocean doesn't appear anywhere in the bible, it is always referred to as sea, from Genesis to Revelation. Genesis 1:9 Then God said, “Let the waters under the heavens be gathered together into one place, and let the dry land appear”; and it was so. 10 And God called the dry land Earth, and the gathering together of the waters He called Seas. And God saw that it was good.

Amen

No need to apologize my friend, after all, I was the one who brought it into the conversation. Personally I hold to the literal reading in that there is no sea, but I am always open to the possibility of being wrong about a great number of things. God bless

Just to clarify what I meant in that earlier theory I had mentioned. Those that hold to that theory don't believe the flood created the ocean, rather that the flood changed the ocean from before the flood. In that instance as I recall they point to the shifting of the continents, and the belief that pre-flood was one land mass which separated on account of the water which sprang from below. I think the major change would be according to their theory that the land was larger, and it was a single ocean. As I said, not my theory so I really don't recall all the details, but it was an interesting read nonetheless. God bless

Amen