Hello,

I wonder if you might help me work out this for me? A little background first, so bear with me as its relevant.

Hugely influenced by Buddhism for many years, I mean decades - I had an experience that dictated I started to develop a faith in Christ. I won't go into the details, but it was a very simple openness to the possibility that I can be heard by Christ and as such I started to feel 'held' (emotionally and mentally). You have to realise, this was so far removed from the deep immersion in Buddhist philosophy (Madhyamika Prasangika if you're interested) and as such my subsequent view of reality - I still maintain that this particular school of Buddhism corners the non-dual approach. But anyway, none of that seemed anything more than a conceptual understanding, my mind and heart had given up and was leaning into this new feeling of 'faith'.

It was as if I was starting to see the world though eyes I had not used before. It was liberating and exciting. A much more relaxed approach to the inherent anxieties that we experience as humans.

However, there's always a 'but' isn't there! Of late, I have started to have some real doubts. The very 'faith' that I was experiencing, the positivity, the warmth and lack of anxiety has been replaced with an almost aggressive attitude to my previously new thinking style. Here's a breakdown of how I am thinking now - your help unpicking this would be gratefully received.



Anyway, you get the gist, but here's the thing. I am STILL feeling a nagging compulsion to give in, read the Bible, Pray to God etc..... Its really irritating me now, as exactly 50% of me is erring on the side of my thoughts are merely a desperate attempt to quash my existential fears....and 50% s=telling me its the Holy Spirit.

Thanks for reading.

I stumbled upon this message online and wanted to query the men. Since we're blessed in that regard I hope you're willing to weigh in and share your thoughts. The author is married and a Christian. This is what she wrote.



Do you agree with her statement? If yes, what appeals and why does it resonate? If not, why do you disagree? Would your list look the same? What would you add?

Ladies are welcome to participate.

There are no wrong answers. Please respect differences and respond with grace. May we be edified through our discourse.

~bella

I’m in a discussion on fb with someone who was bashing the Bible and I said it is a wise and profound book. He replied something like this: “What part? Rape? Incest? Genocide?“ and he said that the Bible “just regurgitates beliefs and tenants from other religions.” How do I respond to that? And is the Bible stories copied from other religions?

I’m in a discussion on fb with someone who was bashing the Bible and I said it is a wise and profound book. He replied something like this: “What part? Rape? Incest? Genocide?“ and he said that the Bible “just regurgitates beliefs and tenants from other religions.” How do I respond to that? And is the Bible stories copied from other religions?

I believe when we walk with Jesus, we come to a point where we start to separate scriptural truth, and things the Lord makes plain to us, from man made doctrines, and denominational beliefs.

The scriptures are full of verses that do not make free will, the king / big dog on the block, but instead talk about Gods Sovereignty. Let me just give one example, Paul says the following in

Romans CH 9
"16 So then it is not of him who wills, nor of him who runs, but of God who shows mercy. 17 For the Scripture says to the Pharaoh, “For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I may show My power in you, and that My name may be declared in all the earth.” 18 Therefore He has mercy on whom He wills, and whom He wills He hardens.

19 You will say to me then, “Why does He still find fault? For who has resisted His will?” 20 But indeed, O man, who are you to reply against God? Will the thing formed say to him who formed it, “Why have you made me like this?” 21 Does not the potter have power over the clay, from the same lump to make one vessel for honor and another for dishonor?"

Notice the underlined, I hope you concentrate on "Not of Him who wills" and "Why does He still find fault" (Note they are NOT disagreeing with Paul), then lastly "Who are you to reply against God (Notice Paul is strengthening their argument, he is not saying, no, no, you misunderstood my point, I meant, you know, if you are willing, then God does X,Y, or Z).

Here let me give the same verse from The Message Bible:

The same point was made when God said to Pharaoh, “I picked you as a bit player in this drama of my salvation power.” All we’re saying is that God has the first word, initiating the action in which we play our part for better or worse.

19 Are you going to object, “So how can God blame us for anything since he’s in charge of everything? If the big decisions are already made, what say do we have in it?”

20-33 Who in the world do you think you are to second-guess God? Do you for one moment suppose any of us knows enough to call God into question? Clay doesn’t talk back to the fingers that mold it, saying, “Why did you shape me like this?” Isn’t it obvious that a potter has a perfect right to shape one lump of clay into a vase for holding flowers and another into a pot for cooking beans? If God needs one style of pottery especially designed to show his angry displeasure and another style carefully crafted to show his glorious goodness, isn’t that all right? Either



Now let's talk about what we call the Godhead or trinity (I think we make this hard to understand)... We have one God, but we have 3 that are separate, yet one. You might say that sounds impossible. No, it's not. Let me share how I see it OK?

Let's start in Genesis, this is where we first see "The Word" in action. God (who is Spirit), says "Light Be" and Light became.

Now John Ch 1 says that Word (Lite be), created everything we see, and everything invisible.

John also says, that Word "BECAME" flesh and dwelt among us. Further John says that "One" (Jesus) was full of the Spirit without measure. For God is Spirit, and God filled the Lamb (Jesus), that sinless one, not like the first Adam, who sinned, full of His Spirit.

The scriptures also declare God and Jesus are "ONE"... How so?

Has God ever been flesh? Nope!

Has Jesus ever been totally flesh, absent of Spirit? Nope!

So they are one in Spirit, that is their common denominator.

So we have God, who is Spirit, Jesus who was born in the flesh, via a virgin, without sin, full of Gods Spirit, without measure, they are 2 and yet in Spirit they are one.

Then Jesus says, when I leave I will send this same Spirit to indwell you (of course this is not without measure). So we have 3, yet all have the same single common denominator, which is Spirit

Please listen to the sermons at bottom
In Chinese, we continue in Proverbs and associated subjects
In English, we focus on sexual purity

JOHN 4
约翰福音第4章

32 But he said to them, “I have food to eat that you do not know about.”
32耶稣回答说：“我有吃的东西，是你们所不知道的。”

33 So the disciples said to one another, “Has anyone brought him something to eat?”
33 门徒彼此议论：“莫非有人拿什么给他吃吗？”

34 Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work.
34 耶稣对他们说：“我的食物就是遵行差我来那一位的旨意，做成他的工。

WHAT ARE YOU EATING?
你所吃的是什么？

It's important to eat well.
吃得好很重要。

The disciples had gone into the Samaritan village to buy food, they thought Jesus was hungry. But he had real food to eat.
门徒进了撒马利亚人的村庄去买食物，他们以为耶稣饿了。但他有真正的食物吃。

The food that Jesus was to do the will of his Father and to finish the work given to him by his father. We are following in his path.
耶稣的食物是要遵行他父亲的旨意，完成他父亲交给他的工作。我们正沿着他的道路前进。

Let me ask you these questions:
让我问你这些问题：

Are you doing the will of God?
你在遵行上帝的旨意吗？
Are you accomplishing the work God has given you?
你正在完成上帝交给你的工作吗？

Food is important to the body, without it, we won't survive, likewise if we don't do the will of God, we won't survive spiritually.
食物对身体很重要，没有食物，我们就无法生存，同样，如果我们不遵从上帝的旨意，我们灵里的生命就无法生存。

Are you doing the will of the Father and doing the task God has given you
你是遵行父的旨意，遵行神所吩咐你的事吗？

Below we will see what this task is
下面我们将看到这个任务是什么

God Bless You
上帝祝福你


KK


SOAK IN SCRIPTURE

CHINESE

PROVERBS BY OUR PASTOR

17-防止性罪 Guard Against Sexual Sin

Our Pastor | 箴言 Proverbs

Truth Baptist Church

sermonaudio.com/sermon/6292121337683

18-这条路特别滑 This Road is Slippery

Our Pastor | 箴言 Proverbs

Proverbs 7:6-27


sermonaudio.com/sermon/832115763516
马太福音 09讲 哀恸的人必得安慰

Patrick Yan | 马太福音查经

Toronto Christ Gospel Church

sermonaudio.com/sermon/112820451327696

万国祷告的殿

Tony Wang

圣传归正教会改革宗华语堂

sermonaudio.com/sermon/5292225034875






ENGLISH

God's Will; Our Sexual Purity Part 1

Al Albano | Our Sexual Purity

Peak Bible Church

sermonaudio.com/sermon/6280623309

God's Will; Our Sexual Purity Part 2

Al Albano | Our Sexual Purity

Peak Bible Church

sermonaudio.com/sermon/7306163221

Men and Pornography

Dan Dodds | Sexual Purity

Woodruff Road Presbyterian

sermonaudio.com/sermon/2131923045285

Personal Purity

Dr. Steven J. Lawson

OnePassion Ministries

sermonaudio.com/sermon/103009847250

So I was up at the lake yesterday, and walking back from the pier I saw a man who was feeding some cats so I thought I'd pass him out a tract, but then he turned around and walked away while I was still far off. But... that was not the end!!

I heard this one false prophet talking about how the Thief on the cross is not a good picture of salvation for today, he was dispensational. trying to say the Thief was only an old covenant death so he doesn't apply. That's false, Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever. salvation has always been grace through faith alone and the Thief perfectly represents this simplicity in Christ, and their are so many lies people attack the thief on the cross story with trying to teach this junk. Dispensational is false I know that. now I do think some dispensationalists are saved, even though I disagree with it, but the hyper dispensational people who say we were saved differently in the OT, than the NT, and in the Old testament they were saved by works, that person is a false prophet and not saved at all. Salvation is believe on the Lord Jesus Christ with zero works. Abraham believed God and was counted righteous. Jesus did the work for salvation, we do nothing, it's faith alone.

2 Corinthians 11:3 “But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.”


Luke 23:39-43

39 And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us.

40 But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation?

41 And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss.

42 And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.

43 And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise

Psalm 5:7 "But as for me, I will come into thy house in the multitude of thy mercy: and in thy fear will I worship toward thy holy temple." as saved believers in Christ we should not be forsaking the assembling. yes it is grace alone faith only, only trusting and ask Lord Jesus Christ for salvation. now that should mean that you want to serve him even more go to Gods house, the bible says his servants will serve him in eternity Revelation 22:3. God expects you to be in the house of God, fellowship with believers, supporting Gods people, worshipping Jesus Christ. Paul was sick yet still served God. Yes it is true that church is not required for salvation, but to be right with God yeah you can't be forsaking and then thinking that's ok.

Hebrews 12:28-29 Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear: For our God is a consuming fire.

If you're not saved here today you need to get saved, now is the day now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation. 2 Corinthians 6:2

God said my spirit shall not always strive with man, don't keep rejecting him and putting him off, God is a God of second chances, but he isn't always the God of the 17th chance if you keep putting him off. The bible says that the Word was made flesh, God was manifest in the flesh died in our place, for our sins, was buried, rose again on the third day.

Romans 10:9-10 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

Will you call on the name of the Lord today? Ask Jesus Christ to save you, ask him this prayer repeat after me: Lord Jesus, I know I am a sinner and deserve hell, but I know that you died on the cross for me, shed your precious blood on the cross, were buried, and rose again the third day, will you please save me Lord, I believe in you alone, I am only trusting you Lord. thank you for saving me, in Jesus name I pray, amen" If you prayed that prayer and meant it in your heart, then the Bible says that you are saved and have eternal life congratulations! and welcome to Gods family.

John 6:47 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.

John 10:28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.

1 John 5:13 “These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.”

"Unhappy is the soul enslaved by the love of anything that is mortal.

-- St. Augustine"

Appropriate as the political season heats up.

Does your Christian faith conflict with your society or politics or business/economic beliefs? Does it divide you, not into Satan's right and left, but between the two kingdoms? If not, how come?

Romans 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

James 4:4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.

John 17:14 I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. 15 I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil. 16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.

1 John 2:
15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

This thread is not to mock the President, but to identify the video and audio that is leading more than 63% of the American Voters to believe he is in cognitive decline. This thread also has nothing to do with a speech impediment.

****Please note, it is about Mr. Biden and no one else****

He looks extremely weak and fragile


He seems to get lost in his thoughts.


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When I was a new believer years ago, we sang the following song in Sunday school class:

I Am Covered Over With The Robe of Righteousness

"I am covered over with the robe of righteousness that
Jesus gives to me, gives to me;

I am covered over with the precious blood of Jesus
And he lives in me, lives in me,

Oh what joy it is to know my Heavenly Father loves me so,
He gives to me, my Jesus.

And when He looks at me He sees not what I used to be, but
He sees Jesus, Jesus."

I enjoyed the song and it certainly seemed Scripturally correct, but I always struggled with the last line: "He sees Jesus, Jesus".

My problem was not with "who I USED to be", but who I still was in the flesh - an utter wretch. Though I understood theologically that I was in a daily war between the new creation and the old sinful nature, I just couldn't comprehend how God could see Jesus when He looked at me.

The Lord finally led me to the one Scripture that settled it for me:

Galatians 23:26-27 NIV

"So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ."

Now it made sense what the "robe of righteousness" actually was - Jesus Himself! This opened up other Scripture, especially:

Jude 1:24-35 ESV

"Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of His glory with great joy, to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen."

This is why we who are believers are not to have a "fearful expectation of judgement" because we are destined to be presented to Him "blameless" with "great joy" because we are "clothed with Christ".

When He sees us He sees Jesus, indeed!

Thoughts?

While the issue has not moved forward in the Senate, the Florida House on Friday passed a controversial bill that would lower the minimum age from 21 to 18 to buy rifles and shotguns.

The Republican-controlled House voted 76-35 along almost-straight party lines to pass the bill (HB 1223), which would reverse a decision that raised the minimum age after the 2018 mass shooting at Parkland’s Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School that killed 17 people.

Senate President Kathleen Passidomo, R-Naples, has repeatedly said the Senate doesn’t have a similar bill, meaning the proposed age change will not pass during this year’s legislative session.

So in the pass I have tried dating sites, but only being somewhat literal with modern technology I have had great problems with loading up photos. Has anyone else had this problem and more importantly can someone explain to me how to do this?

A few days late for this, but Finland's new president Alexander Stubb has now officially become the 13th president of Finland. In a ceremony held on 1st of March, power was handed over to him from outgoing President Niinistö, after having served full 12 years in office.

In his first speech as president, Stubb talked about the current world situation, Finland's membership in NATO and about ensuring peace.

John 3:18 NIV
Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil.

Click to expand...

What does it mean to believe in a name?

Wouldn't that also include everything the person stands for, therefore His words also?


I think that given the following context:

Deuteronomy 18:18-19 Acts 3:23
"I will raise them up a prophet .....whosoever will not hearken unto him will be destroyed from among the people"

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John 1:14 "The Word became flesh and dwelt among us."

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Matthew 7:26 "everyone that hears these sayings of mine, and does not do them,
shall be likened unto a foolish man which built his house upon the sand...."

Click to expand...

"and they were astonished at His doctrine for He taught as one with authority" Matthew 7:28

Click to expand...

"whoever transgresses (disobeys the Torah) and abides not in the doctrine of Christ, has not God,
he that abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son" 2 John 1:9-10

Click to expand...

"My sheep hear my voice, I know them and they follow me" John 10:27

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"I say unto you that hear....."
"Why call ye me Lord Lord and do not the things that I say?"
Luke 6:27-49

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"He that has my commands and keeps them, he it is that loves me...
He that does not keep my commands does not love me"
John 14:21-24

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"if anyone does not love the Lord Jesus Christ, let that person be Anathema! Oh Lord come!"
1 Corinthians 16:22

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Given that context I think John 3:18 is better understood in this manner:
Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the word of God’s one and only Son. This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil.



What are your thoughts?

Psalm 25 NIV

1In you, Lord my God,
I put my trust.
2 I trust in you;
do not let me be put to shame,
nor let my enemies triumph over me.
3 No one who hopes in you
will ever be put to shame,
but shame will come on those
who are treacherous without cause.
4 Show me your ways, Lord,
teach me your paths.
5 Guide me in your truth and teach me,
for you are God my Savior,
and my hope is in you all day long.
6 Remember, Lord, your great mercy and love,
for they are from of old.
7 Do not remember the sins of my youth
and my rebellious ways;
according to your love remember me,
for you, Lord, are good.
8 Good and upright is the Lord;
therefore he instructs sinners in his ways.
9 He guides the humble in what is right
and teaches them his way.
10 All the ways of the Lord are loving and faithful
toward those who keep the demands of his covenant.
11 For the sake of your name, Lord,
forgive my iniquity, though it is great.
12 Who, then, are those who fear the Lord?
He will instruct them in the ways they should choose.
13 They will spend their days in prosperity,
and their descendants will inherit the land.
14 The Lord confides in those who fear him;
he makes his covenant known to them.
15 My eyes are ever on the Lord,
for only he will release my feet from the snare.
16 Turn to me and be gracious to me,
for I am lonely and afflicted.
17 Relieve the troubles of my heart
and free me from my anguish.
18 Look on my affliction and my distress
and take away all my sins.
19 See how numerous are my enemies
and how fiercely they hate me!
20 Guard my life and rescue me;
do not let me be put to shame,
for I take refuge in you.
21 May integrity and uprightness protect me,
because my hope, Lord, is in you.
22 Deliver Israel, O God,
from all their troubles!

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Make My Life A Prayer To You - Keith Green

Make my life a prayer to You
I wanna do what You want me to
No empty words and no white lies
No token prayers no compromise
I wanna shine the light You gave
Through your Son You sent to save us
From ourselves and our despair
It comforts me to know You're really there

Well I wanna thank You now
For being patient with me
Oh it's so hard to see
When my eyes are on me
I guess I'll have to trust
And just believe what You say
Oh You're coming again
Coming to take me away

I wanna die and let You give
Your life to me so I might live
And share the hope You gave to me
The love that set me free
I wanna tell the world out there
You're not some fable or fairy tale
That I've made up inside my head
You're God the Son and You've risen from the dead

Well I wanna thank You now
For being patient with me
Oh it's so hard to see
When my eyes are on me
I guess I'll have to trust
And just believe what You say
Oh You're coming again
Coming to take me away

I wanna die and let You give
Your life to me so I might live
And share the hope You gave to me
I wanna share the love that set me free

Source: LyricFind
Songwriters: Melody Green
Make My Life a Prayer to You lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

In case anyone on this forum is familiar with the church, Chambersburg Christian Fellowship (located in south central PA), which is the church that David Bercot attends, does anyone know of a church with the same or very similar beliefs and teachings that is located in or near the Kansas City, MO area (such as within an or so drive)?

As a family, we are looking to come to the UK for a period of one to three months, is there any possibility that you can help us with accommodation for part of or all of the period.

If you can or know of anyone who can, please let us know.

We would also be looking to share with your church about the situation in China

Please pray about this.

Thanks

Keith Helen and Sherry

There would be three of us

We can know that we belong to the Lord if we understand His Mysterious Plan, hidden since the beginning.

Colossians 1:25-26 NIV - "I have become its servant by the commission God gave me to present to you the word of God in its fullness - the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the Lord's people."

As the Scripture states, the Lord's people have been disclosed this Plan. Therefore, and as suggested, you can know that you belong to the Lord if you know this Plan as it existed since the beginning.

How has the Plan been kept hidden? In how many different ways? Furthermore, why was the Plan kept hidden?

If we will take the time to figure these things out . . . our understanding of the True Saving, Gospel Plan of Christ will be revealed to you.

The following video talks about my thoughts on Putin, Israel, and the need for brotherly love.

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