Bible Discussion Replies PAGE 187

Grace is not unmerited favor, it is the spirit of conviction your heart to obey. (G5485) it's NOT "legalism" it's LOVE ( 1 John 5:3) We've got to be obedient to his 2 covenants of promise (10 commandments and rainbow covenat "eat clean") thats what Christ(Yeshua) magnified and made honorable, just like his very own character and life was pleasing unto God(Yahovah) he opened the door for all nations to enter that covenant verbally presented and agreed to at the rock at Horeb, and *then* written in stone at Mt Sinai. but Israel had already transgressed that agreement ( Exodus 19 & 20) when Moses came down with the 10 commandments in writing. *then* the sacrificial law was added until Christ(Yeshua) would finish the punishment with a perfect sacrifice, effectively restoring the original covenant (10 commandments.) Moses prophesies about ending the punishment of the sacrificial law here in Deuteronomy 18:15-19 but never did the eternal 10 comandments go away. now because the 10 northern tribe were scattered into all the world via mixing seed(mixed offspring) the covenant is open to ALL nations and people. I really wish people actually read this book most have it wrong, with many false gospels and dangerous doctrines of men and demons, mixing holy and profane, teaching traditions as commandments while tossing out the actual commandments, ( Matt 24)

this is why he said "narrow is the path, few will find it." - Matt 7:14

Love your neighbor according to scripture - James 2:8 what scripture? Leviticus 19:15-18.

(come learn with us at straitisthegate dot net)

(1 Timothy Part 27):

1 Timothy 6:21 - Which some professing have erred concerning the faith. Grace be with thee. Amen.

The last phrase, the postlude of Paul as he gives the benediction, only we see a benediction as a pronouncing of blessing, which is in most English bibles, but you'll notice the word be, in Grace be with the, the word be is in italics. That's because it's not in the Greek text. In the Greek text it is a factual statement. It says Grace is with you. Amen.

This is all I have to share in 1 Timothy. I will start 2 Timothy next. When Paul wrote 1 Timothy, he wrote 1 Timothy and Titus. And it was some years later, right before he was going to die, that he wrote 2 Timothy. 2 Timothy is Paul's last letter before he died. He's in the Mamertine prison in Rome, not the house arrest that he was in during his first imprisonment.

I don't know if you've ever studied anything about the Mamertine prisons, but basically in our society, it would be like taking someone downtown, taking the sewer cover off the street, and dropping you down into the sewer. That was the prison.

This is all I have to share in 1 Timothy. I will be going through and sharing 2 Timothy next. Lord willing!

Blessings in Christ!

(1 Timothy Part 26):

1 Timmothy 6:18 - That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate;

Command: That they do good, that they be rich in good works, and the word good is AGATHOS, spiritual good, not humanitarian good but spiritual good. Ready to distribute, willing to communicate; or literally willing to share. It's the word fellowship, common.

So, tell them to be rich in good works, and ready to share. You see, if the Lord dropped a large amount of money in my lap, He wouldn't be saying "Okay, you can upgrade now." He'd be saying I'm entrusting this in your hands, you're the banker, it's my money, and I will show you how I want it given and spent.

As you know there are many people and many Christians in need. There are all kinds of needs. But once a person gets high minded, they overlook and have no sensitivity to others. Basically, this high-minded attitude is "I got rich. If you worked hard like me, you could too, so you guys are the losers."

But as far as a wealthy Christian goes, it doesn't say that it's wrong to be wealthy. If God blesses you in that area where you're totally devoted to Christ, and money comes your way, and again it's not so that we can upgrade, but so that we can seek the Lord and be stewards of God's money. It's hard to do. You come into some money, and you think it's yours. And the Lord is saying "No, I worked it out. This is my money, and I gave it to you so that you can serve Christ with it."

(1 Timothy Part 25):

1 Timothy 6:12 - Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.

The word fight as a command is the word AGONIDZO, agonize, the good agony of faith. It doesn't mean that in your human effort, you're going out to conquer the world or fight for the things of Christ in the world. It's an athletic term. It's what athletes go through in their discipline, their focus, and in their purpose. They agonize through the agony of being an athlete.

1 Timothy 6:16 - Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen.

In Verses 15 and 16, we have the creed concerning Christ. Verses 12 to 14 was the commands concerning our confession. This is the creed concerning Christ. He says Timothy, here's what you confessed. Hold to it. The first one is: who shall show the blessed and only Potentate. That's Jesus Christ. Potentate means power.

Secondly, the King of kings, and Lord of lords. That's all one phrase for God. It's a phrase for Jesus. Jesus is called King of kings, and Lord of lords in Revelation 17:14 and in Revelation 19:16. He is the only blessed, and the only power. He is the King of kings, and Lord of lords.

Thirdly, the only one that has immortality.

Fourthly, He is dwelling in the light, constantly, this light which no man can approach; and whom no man has seen, nor can see:

His invisibility is the fifth thing. To whom be the honor and the glory, or literally strength, KRATOS. Whenever a writer uses the word KRATOS to describe power, and there's different words for power, DUNAMIS is where we get our word dynamite, and that's the normal word for power. But KRATOS means grip. It shows somebody who's in control. The whole universe is in the grip of Christ. So, to Him be the honor. To Him be the power, the grip, forever!

(1 Timothy Part 24):

1 Timothy 6:10 - For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

For the love of money is the root of all evil: First of all, the term love of money is one compound word in Greek, and it means to have an affection for silver. Silver was the word used for money in those days.

And it's interesting that it doesn't have the word lust, it has the word affection, or PHILEO, for friendship. It's as if money's our best friend. It's going to get us to where we want to go. We get to do what we want to do with our good friend money! It doesn't say money is the root of all evil. It says the love of money is the root of all evil.

1 Timothy 6:11 - But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.

He says but thou, O man of God. If Paul ever called you a man of God, or a woman of God, that would be a great compliment. Timothy's the only one in the New Testament. 70 times it is used in the Old Testament. Timothy is the only one in the new.

And secondly, follow after righteousness, godliness, and again, that means reverence for God, faith, love, patience, which is literally endurance, and meekness, which is the Greek word PRAOTETHIS, which means openness, be receptive or be open.

Now check this out: Some pastors will use this and tell people that they are to be open and receptive to the things they have to say. But the command is to the pastors, for them to be open and receptive to feedback.

(1 Timothy Part 23):

1 Timothy 6:5 - Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.

The word minds is the word NOUS, which in the Greek, it has to do with perception. Their perception is corrupt. When somebody comes to you and says that they want to explain some scriptures to you, should we try to perceive their ability to perceive? Do they have the Holy Spirit to help them perceive what the scripture is saying? Or are they just coming off the wall?

And they are destitute of the truth, and listen to this: supposing that gain is godliness: Does that sound familiar? Some ministries say that material gain is godliness.

But please notice this because it's only in the manuscripts of the Textus Receptus. The other Greek manuscripts for the other translations don't have it. He says to Timothy, from such withdraw yourself. Anyone that preaches a gospel that basically says in its philosophy that material gain is godliness, withdraw yourself from those people.

1 Timothy 6:6 - But godliness with contentment is great gain.

Contentment in Greek means to be self-sufficient. In the spiritual sense, it means that I have everything inside of me in Christ that I need. That's contentment! Whatever's going on outside of me, inside I'm content within my own heart. What's going on outside doesn't have anything to do with me. It gets into my brain, but it never penetrates my soul. It's interesting because this word for contentment is what the Stoics used. A Stoic is somebody who just handles things factually. The Stoics had a reputation of being unmoved by the outward circumstances.

If you've ever been around somebody like that, whatever is going on, it's like "Oh well, God will take care of it." So, godliness, reverence for God, with contentment is great gain. That person is the wealthiest person in the world. They are at peace, they are content, they are satisfied, and they need nothing.

(1 Timothy Part 22):

1 Timothy 6:2 - And they that have believing masters, let them not despise them, because they are brethren; but rather do them service, because they are faithful and beloved, partakers of the benefit. These things teach and exhort.

The word benefit (EUERGESIAS) means good work, your good work, the good work of the slave. They are believers, they are the objects of God's love, and they are the benefit of your good work. So, he says these things teach and exhort or encourage. When Paul says this about the master and slave, it covers all areas, treating all people well because we represent Christ.

1 Timothy 6:4 - He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings,

He is proud, or as the Greek text reads, he is puffed up. He has been puffed up like blowing up a balloon. Secondly, they know nothing. But they are doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof comes envy, secondly strife, thirdly railings, which is the word slander, and evil surmisings, meaning evil thoughts.

Psalm 68 'Selah'

"And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one". (1 Jn.5.8)

This psalm is especial since it is the testimony of the Son as corroborated by the Word which is the Law. So the laws of nature, the Law of Moses etc., are pendent on the Law of the Spirit. Thus how shall we interpret the v.7 where we have the first Selah? The Spiritual Rock was Christ. (1 Cor.10.4). As the captain of their salvation he is the way. "And the earth was without form' The Spirit moving upon 'the face of the waters' gives the testimony of the water. It makes the refrain "O God, when thou wentest forth before thy people, when thou didst march through the wilderness; Selah.

Without shedding of the blood there is no redemption. Melchizedek giving bread and wine to Abraham illustrates the form that the earth shall ultimately take. The Word validates the symbol of bread from heaven in so many ways. The soldiers in the Midianite camp discuss the dream of the barley loaves which was for Gideon. "And his fellow answered and said, This is nothing else save the sword of Gideon the son of Joash, a man of Israel: for into his hand hath God delivered Midian, and all the host."(Judg.7.13-14).The second marking Selah is at the point where God has become our salvation,"Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation. Selah.(v.19)

The third refrain is placed where the Word urges the kingdom of kings and priests to praise him. God separated waters from below so his mercy is ever new and refreshes 'thy people'This river becomes the pure river of waters from below so his mercy is ever new and refreshes 'thy people'This river becomes the pure river of water of life. (Rev.22.1) Thus the third refrain has this, "Sing unto God, ye kingdoms of the earth; O sing praises unto the Lord; Selah:"(v.32)

Donna,

I will pray for God to strengthen you for this care you are giving Arthur. Also, for a care giver to be assigned to your home for some extra help that he definitely needs.

Thanks for the idea, David.

If I should be led to go to such I hope I will find it profitable.

Ps.68.4 "Sing unto the Lord"- (2 of 2)

The Word was with God"All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made." In John's gospel we see Wisdom creating the world which was made to appear. Jesus who of God has become wisdom which is from heaven ( Cor.1.30; Jn 1.3) wisdom from heaven.(Jas,3.17-18)

"TheLordpossessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old./I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was./When there were no depths, I was brought forth; when there were no fountains abounding with water./Before the mountains were settled, before the hills was I brought forth:" (Prov.8.22-25)

For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one./And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one."( 1 Jn 5.8-9) Worshipping God in Spirit and truth what new song signifies where earth also joins it. This is revealed to us in the moment the Lamb is found worthy to break open the seven seals. In the night vision of Daniel the same scene from the Jewish perspective, what the seer sees is,'the judgment was set, and the books were opened."(Dan.7.10) St John is looking at the divine Will before the worlds began. The memorials the elders and the four beast signifies, "And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth." (Rev.5.9-11)"And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands." As mentioned at the outset, the book of Psalms is the Song of the soul. By literal approach false teachers have been defrauding congregants from truth. "Do ye indeed speak righteousness, O congregation?"(Ps.58.1)

Every creature joins in singing,"And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth,"(5.13)

Ps.68.4 "Sing unto the Lord" (1 of 2)

"Sing unto God, sing praises to his name: extol him that rideth upon the heavens by his name Jah, and rejoice before him."

Here we have the word of God or the Law and he is not shown in his lonely splendour. He rides upon the heavens in v.8 we have the consequences of His power and majesty. "The earth shook, the heavens also dropped at the presence of God: even Sinai itself was moved at the presence of God, the God of Israel. The Spirit introduces specific names to which Sinai is but one example. "The chariots of God are twenty thousand, even thousands of angels: the Lord is among them, as in Sinai, in the holy place." (v.17)

The Spirit is setting forth the holiness of God where the natural phenomena is with reference to God. What are the clouds but chariots as cited elsewhere, "(God)who maketh the clouds his chariot:" And he comes with the angels, 'as in Sinai, in the holy place; (104.3) As for the number we have reference in Dan.7.10 "thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened." What do these all up? We are looking at the worlds framed by the word of God where the divine Will is expressed so these in heaven shall agree with the earth, the world which is made to appear. Faith is the only language with which man can make sense of the Law. This is Word 'For ever, OLord, thy word is settled in heaven.' (119.89) In the previous post we examined wings of the dove, and we are in our vile bodies yet we shall be as one decked in a glorious body. "yet shall ye be as the wings of a dove covered with silver, and her feathers with yellow gold."

Before the hills was I brought forth" (Prov.8.25) Before mount Sinai was formed it was in the divine Will and it is a symbol for the mountain of God which He represents. The stone cut not with hands consequently refers his Son whom he sent to the world. Similarly Israel is not literal Israel.

Hello Gigi! You should try a Southern Gospel concert.

"Pots"

"Though ye have lien among the pots, yet shall ye be as the wings of a dove covered with silver, and her feathers with yellow gold."

In a broader sense pots are a metaphor for physical bodies. God commands Jeremiah to instruct the nation with the earthen pot, "Then shalt thou break the bottle in the sight of the men that go with thee,/ And shalt say unto them, Thus saith the Lord of hosts; Even so will I break this people and this city, as one breaketh a potter's vessel, that cannot be made whole again."(Jer.19.10-11).The psalm is referring to the soul of man which is like a dove. "And I said, Oh that I had wings like a dove! for then would I fly away, and be at rest."(Ps.55.6) Gideon's ragtag army won the battle, "And the three companies blew the trumpets, and brake the pitchers, and held the lamps in their left hands, and the trumpets in their right hands to blow withal: and they cried, The sword of the Lord, and of Gideon."(Judg.7.20) The sword of God was what the army carried within the pitcher or pot. Our soul merely because is hidden does not mean it has no role. For anyone who trusts in God and obeys him the soul is like a dove with silvery wings tipped with gold.

Earthen pots signifies brevity of earthly expectations. Instant gratification that rules over the worldly shall know how foolish they are. ""As a snail which melteth, let every one of them pass away: like the untimely birth of a woman, that they may not see the sun./Before your pots can feel the thorns, he shall take them away as with a whirlwind, both living, and in his wrath."(Ps.58.8-9)

In the day of wrath these pots shall be smashed with a rod of iron."(Rev.19.15) God set Jeremiah at the eastern gate, pointing to the end times. "The valley of slaughter where God has prepared a feast, "and their carcases will I give to be meat for the fowls of the heaven, and for the beasts of the earth./And I will make this city desolate, "(Jer.19.2,6-8)

Hello Ronald,

I am not offended at all, Ronald. Be assured, we all have been given talents and as in the parable of Jesus how you spend it is your business. You hve to give account to the Lord. Either you gather with Christ or you scatter: either you by the grace of God go on increasing or lose whatever you have had in the first place. " For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath./ And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness."

I post what is revealed to me in this forum and nothing is hidden to my God and the knowledge that it is before a great congregation that suffices me, (Ps.40.8)

with greetings,

Thanks for sharing this bro Giannis. Like you, my first encounter with the LORD was in Oct, 1979 while in the military. Though brought up in a loving Christian home & having lost my mother in 1969, I probably was still grieving (& rebelling) for what the Lord had done. I didn't want to go the way of the world, but with peer influence & a lack of spiritual fortitude, I soon found my way into a worldly sensual lifestyle. But the Lord hadn't let me go altogether; in hindsight, it seemed that He allowed my departure from Him and into the world so that I might see that sin, even with the temporary enjoyment it brings, also promises misery, a lack of deep satisfaction, & of course, dealing with an angry God.

The LORD now set the time to approach Him, even as He went before me. There was no one in my living quarters at the time (usually a couple of men); the Spirit prompted me to reach for my hidden Bible in the top shelf for the first time in eight years; even just reading a small portion of Scripture (can't even remember what I read), was sufficient for the transaction to begin. My many sins over the years overwhelmed me & combined with deep sorrow for it, sinning against such a Holy Loving God, brought me to my knees in uncontrollable tears. I wept much for straying away, for my awful sins, & grieving the Lord Who had the power to consign me to hell - but He chose to have mercy on me, one who deserved none of it. And just moments later, the tears ceased, & joy & laughter filled me, as the Spirit confirmed my release from sin's shackles, a new birth was given, & I was now accepted through Jesus Christ His Son. If anyone walked into the room during that time, would certainly believe I was a good candidate for a mental asylum. God was so good to me - and I sense this is similar to what you Giannis had experienced at your conversion.

Yes, weeping does happen whilst in prayer. But I believe one needs to be alone with God & the Holy Spirit fully engaged with us. GBU.

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. (further thoughts on James 1:17)

We are reminded here of another verse in James 5:3 Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire. Ye have heaped treasure together for the last days. (see also Matthew 6:19-20). There are other verses about silver and gold not saving us in the future wrath of God ( Zephaniah 1:18; etc). Once the mark of the Beast is established it won't be a viable option.

It is interesting to look at how a toy truck as an example is received with great joy for about a week or two maybe a couple months by a bratty kid. Five years later if he hasn't destroyed it or traded it it will likely go into storage; just for some collector 50 years hence to lovingly display it and if sold expect top dollar. Which of these is the most logical approach? Maybe the kid; because in the end it is all going to burn up with the rest of this old world. The Lord giveth and He taketh away ( Job 1:21). It is like that bad joke an elder quotes in our church about someone who got their wife to agree to take all the money with him to his grave. She said yes; I wrote a check and placed it there. In any case heaven is lined with gold streets and decorated with precious jewels. We won't be missing out there but of course it all reflects HIS glory; front and center stage.

As to the last post; in our relationships in the end we should seek to bring forth the jewels fitting for entry into heaven...And they shall be mine, saith the LORD of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him. ( Malachi 3:17). None of us who know the Lord will miss any sinful aspects of our brothers in the Lord; and its effects of physical death and mental decline.

Maranatha-come soon

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. ( James 1:17).

When we look into the eyes of a spouse; we can look and see they aren't as attractive as they used to be. After years of being together we can remind ourselves of every weakness; every annoying habit and such or we can live in the Spirit continually reminding ourselves of 1 Corinthians 13.

Another more dangerous deception is letting our hearts be smitten by someone that is temporarily satisfying some need or desire but whose hearts are selfish. Sadly my mom was that way with my dad who by worldly standards was a "narcissist". She spent much of the last couple years of her life lamenting over her disbelief and confusion that he could only think about himself when she knew very well along with the rest of the family that it was basically the only thing my dad ever displayed.

Ironically it was from a type of escapism from a very abusive father that led my dad to pursue being alone much of the time in his own sort of world surrounded by his favorite music in particular and later that influenced his philosophy on life and his book he obsessed about. It is also regrettable that my mom didn't have the faith to believe that God could do a miracle to change my Dad even though she would probably acknowledge that indeed that is what it would take to change him. As her mind started to be clouded towards the end she seemed to act like he wasn't always that way and forgot all the level of abuse he had on me when he was much younger and how I was assessed by a child Psychologist that I'd never be normal (of course I'm NOT normal but that's because I find the world's definition per se to be boring). As for my Father one advantage of his personality is that he doesn't seem to have time to bear grudges (although with his dementia now he usually forgets things anyway).

Let us focus on things above!

John 8:31 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;

My prayer is that for the college students lately that seem to be responding to at times genuine preaching; are baptized; etc. that they will a year from now still remain in the faith. Discipling seems in short supply today; and for some reason it seems those who have been Christians for more than a few years aren't approached with such opportunities. Not sure about the rest of the readers here but I could continue to use that sort of discipline.

I was listening to snippets from some of Paul Washer's recent sermons on how those close friends and family members can influence us. The main point being the often subtle ways the enemy slowly chinks off our armor. Wisdom is certainly needed on how much we distance ourselves and if we can and should do so.

Being salt and light ( Matt. 5:13-16) is something that needs to be maintained. Maybe it is just me but sometimes I wonder how the light of truth has dulled in my heart; sometimes it is obvious sin but not always that clear. Oftentimes; especially with social media things that may be good but not God's best for us can be an issue. Music in particular is something I enjoy listening to; usually I stick with Christian music but interest in guitar experts and blues type music sometimes takes up too much time. I hope to be able to honor God by building up my talent with the free time I have playing the guitar that I didn't have the last couple years. But as things like exercise ( 1 Tim. 4:8) whether physical or mental benefit little.

A sermon from the late Loran Livingston also captured my attention tonight in regard to teaching our children not to just succeed with their talents and gifting in this world but to maintain a relationship with the Lord. Kids learn from what they see from parents; again in this case something can be good but if God is left out what does it profit?

Hello Giannis,

I have not experienced crying as you have but I have experienced a few episodes where I have been so unsettled in spirit, anguished of heart, and a sense of urgency to pray. In each episode I soon found out that someone I knew was having great difficulties, one even struggling at the end of life from a stroke. Another was my friend who had a debilitating stroke at 38, another my father-in-law had just found out he had cancer, and the other, a young boy lost his life in a family in the neighborhood.

I know that this is the Holy Spirit interceding in and through me for others even though I did not know what was happening to these people at the time. In a few of these instances, the effects on me went on for several weeks. But in all of them, it stopped just as suddenly as it had started. And then it wasn't long before I got the news about the one I was interceding for. These were very intense experiences and I knew that I needed to be in prayer as long as I was feeling God's hand on me and the Spirit in me pray without knowing details.

Hasn't occurred for me in about 20 years, but the memories of these experiences are still very vivid and instructive to me.

"Tears by God"

I believe every reborn christian is experiencing moments during prayer where one cries without any apparent reason. Yes cry without any reason at all.

What is this? Why is it occuring? How is it possible to cry without any reason? Without feeling sad or happy or anything?

The fisrt time it occured to me personally was at the time of my regeneration. After I cried I was feeling so "light" and happy. I was feeling "clean". But it keeps occuring quite often during prayer.

What is it? Well, it is the presence of God that makes this happen.

What is the reason? Here opinions differ. Others say it is mere the presence of God. God wishes to show to us that He is there together with us during prayer and listening to us .Others say that during that time of tears our heart is getting cleansed. Thus it is a way that God cleans our heart. But whatever the reason is the fact is that we feel nice and happy after those tears.

Has anybody something to share, a personal experience about these "tears by God"?

Blessings.

Mateo,

I am so sad to hear that your sister died in this pool accident.

Do you have any other siblings?

I will pray for you and your family. If God does bless your parents with another child, that would wonderful.

It is up to Him to choose to give life or not. So we ask of Him and acknowledge that He is Lord of all and chooses as He sees fit for His glory.

This can be hard to do in such a time. But God's ways are always best. whether He gives what we request or not.

Psalm 68.6 "Family"

"God setteth the solitary in families."

God is One. (Deu.6.6) God created man and the elohim aspect of God gives us the Trinity which is irrefutable. The tripartite nature man of holds to God 'our Father which art in heaven,' for the reason we may call as his Holiness. "And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness."

God sets the solitary in families: "And theLordGod said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him."(Gen.2.18) When God brought His creation what criteria did Adam use that God used his rib instead? God is one but His holiness created a template already for him to follow. Power and Wisdom render God expresses himself so after 'our image' has its own power that places man respond accordingly. Similarly 'after our likeness' has Wisdom of God because of which Adam as soon as he was awake would exclaim,"This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man." Wisdom of the Word (Which was God) understand what Eve signified in terms of the word of God. It is thus the Word become flesh where he is the head and the church is his body. God created the heaven and the earth. By word of God he 'framed' heaven and the earth: the earth is created 'after our likeness' in terms of the Father Son relationship. In the Gospel of John we have the Word,"All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.". In order make this distinction we have this saying of Jesus." For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother."(Mt.12.48-50) This familial relationship is on the basis of the Word which was with God. Jesus Christ as the firstborn of all creation renders us co-heirs with him in the family of God. Thus sons of Adam have a different meaning.

Hi Bennymkje,

I am sorry you have misunderstood what I said, I did not mean that towards you, I meant it for us, we should not study for self-edification. Maybe I used the wrong wording, I meant we, as in I should not study for the knowledge to make us think we know more and are superior and boast. But our study should be focused on truth in God and Jesus and their will, not ours. I hope that makes sense and I am sorry if you were offended, I surely did not mean to.

God bless,

RLW

Hi Ronald,

I work with whatever gifts God has granted me, and it is OK if you would think it is self-edification. That precisely states the matter. I place in this forum what seemed as a matter of necessity for me. It is God who opened my eyes to the scripture. If it is lost to you, it could be that certain blindness has come in between. I serve for His glory and it is God who shall judge and not by so many Amens in this forum.

I get sometimes the same feeling as the two disciples on the way to Emmaus would have appreciated. These moments are my oxygen and it is an almost daily thing, it keeps me going. Experience helps me weather the days where is absent. I also learn that more you have more it is added to me. With Greetings

Hi Bennymkje,

Not sure how to answer your reply, we may get distracted in discussing nothings, nothing to you may be what I need to grow or vice versa. We learn by being inspired to pray and study, but not for the wisdom for self-edification, but the wisdom of God through Jesus Christ, "the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him," that we may pass on.

God bless,

RLW

Hi GiGi,

Thank you, I do not mind discussing this topic as you mentioned Hebrews 1:8 and John 17. The reason is that it can create tensions, as many consider it non-debatable and inappropriate for discussion. While there are some denominations labeled as cults, I do not support, or have any part in. We should inspire one another to pray and study God's word with love and a sincere desire for truth, from Genesis to Revelation, acknowledging that all that was, and is, and is to be, was before the world was.

God bless,

RLW

Hello Roger,

"To whom then will ye liken me, or shall I be equal? saith the Holy One." And without faith what on earth heathens would want to know? "Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth." Your intellect is not strong; neither is mine. So let us not waste time over trifles but hold onto Jesus who of God has become wisdom. (1 Cor.1.30) With greetings from one who has spirit soul as well as body so I could write as one,

Ps.68.1-2 "Glory of God"

"Let God arise, let his enemies be scattered: let them also that hate him flee before him./As smoke is driven away, so drive them away: as wax melteth before the fire, so let the wicked perish at the presence of God."

Arise is in the sense the glory of God. 1. it is expressed in terms of light. "Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of theLordis risen upon thee."(Isa.60.1). 2. also expressed in terms of a city, A city on a hill cannot be hidden, "the joy of the whole earth,ismount Zion,onthe sides of the north, the city of the great King."(48.2).3. God is a consuming fire so glory of God is expressed in terms of the word of God. Gog and Magog joined forces against saints, "And fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them/And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone,"(Rev.20.9-10). 4. "A fire goeth before him, And burneth up his enemies round about. His lightnings enlightened the world: The earth saw, and trembled. The hills melted like wax at the presence of the LORD, At the presence of the Lord of the whole earth."(Ps.97.3)

Glory of God gives a body as it pleased him. Thus Jesus Christ is the brightness of his glory (1 Cor.15.38; Heb.1.3). It makes us appreciate glory as the quality of His holiness that purges our sin. "Then flew one of the seraphims unto me, having a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar:/And he laid it upon my mouth, and said, Lo, this hath touched thy lips; and thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged."(Isa.6.6-7) The glory of God is the word of his power. Coal is just a lump no better than our earthy body is for 'dust to dust and ashes to ashes'. Our glorious body is spiritual and makes up the voulme of the holy city of God.

Hello Richard,

I remember Keith Green. He was a few years older that my husband and I. We first met him in a concert at our college in 1980.

I do think many of the songs he created are wonderful and perhaps now, classical. we were planning to attend an upcoming concert of his but his plane crash and death of all on board happened first.

I think he was so young and fresh in the Lord in the years he walked with Jesus here. He was pretty sold out. And that was admirable.

However, he did not have a great deal of biblical background or training in these years and there were some things he promoted that I would not embrace. He was Arminian in his approach to the reception of the Gospel. Even so, he certainly was an impetus to the Christian music venue, taking it to a whole new level that it was before (which was quite "folk musicy" for many years).

Jump ahead 40+ years and there have been some serious artists with some great worship songs that have been a great aid to me in my worship times. But concerts, that is another thing. I cannot go to them anymore because they are so over the top, like worldly concerts. And so overstimulating with flashing lights, big screens, smoke, musicians umping up and down, loud, loud music and other special effects. The last one I went to I had to ask myself, "Where is Jesus in all of this? Is He being magnified? Are people drawn to undistracted worship of God in Christ or distracted by the "show".

I don't know if we can go back to those early years before music videos where we just heard the music, singing of the artists at a volume we could deal with. It would be so good if artists could rewind a bit and return to bringing a strong sense of worship of God to their presentation without the "look at me (us) up here" aspect and effects that are meant to excite the emotions and drown out our rational thinking as we bring heartfelt and thoughtful praise to God.

Perhaps God will step in a redeem this avenue of worship soon.