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The Barn

The first-fruit has gone to the temple..

the barn is for storing the seeds for the leaner times.

Post any odds bits of studies or cool info you happen to have laying 'round for all to enjoy and ponder..
 

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In keeping within the guidelines of this forum: Following Jesus forum is a place for members to discuss what it means to be a disciple of Jesus Christ, and to encourage and help one another be His disciples. Keeping the postings within >>>>
 
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Seven attitudes of following from some old study of notes to self

1) Love Jesus best & others more than myself. To put myself out on behalf of others
2) Be set apart. A person of sorrow and aquinted with grief. Bear burdens & enter into others suffering.
3) Willing to forego my rights. No self-assertion. No individual rights. Take a backseat and play second fiddle. He who has no sense of self-importance cannot be offended or deflated.
4) Be willing to be not boss but bottom of the heap. Desire for simply pleasing God and others. Serene soul= absence of 'drive'. Have time and energy to please others.
5) Finding no fault with life but willing to accept every circumstances of life in attitude of gratitude. Slow to forget blessings , quick to forget our misfortunes. All part of God's plan.
6) Co-operate with God's will instead of asserting my will. Thy will not mine be done.
7) Choose to follow Christ's Way. Simple straightforward obedience. Do what He asks, go where He invites me to go, say as He instructs me, act and react in the manner He maintains is in my best interest as well as for His reputation.
 
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JCFantasy23

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I always found a particular devotional written in 'The Upper Room' in January 2010 to be interesting and a favorite of mine throughout the years. I did a blog post about it awhile back but will post it here as well -

Three-Legged Stool

As Christians, we also need a firm foundation in order to do our daily work for the kingdom of God. This foundation is our Bible-based faith. Three qualities of God make up the three strong legs of my foundation: God is love (1 John 4:8); God is holy (Lev. 11:44), and God is spirit (John 4:24).

If we put our weight upon one attribute of God to the exclusion of the others, we will surely slip and fall.

Concentrating on God's love alone may cause us to lapse into permissive sentimentality.

Emphasizing God's holiness alone may cause us to become rigid, legalistic, and judgmental.

Focusing on God's spirit alone may motivate us for service, but we may easily burn out apart from the underlying support of God's love and holiness.
 
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I found a whole box of studies that may edify those with a particular appetite such as a caterpillar cacooned would enjoy feeding on...


Evolution of humanity?

God has some awesome ambitions for the human race. The account of creation shows the lower animal being added in progression by the higher animal until mankind is revealed, then still as the bible progresses we see natural mankind being replaced in importance by the spiritual man. The spiritual man is one of humankind in touch with God. Natural mankind has the compacity to rise into spiritual mankind as surely as a caterpillar has the ability to metamorphis into a butterfly. Not every natural human rises to the spiritual state any more than all caterpillars evolve into butterflies. Some do, some do not. Mankind could but mostly do not.

To accomplish such Jesus says one must have personal dealings with God. That person's life must be vitalized by the Holy Spirit. Natural humanity may become a fine specimen of a human just as any caterpillar can become a fine caterpillar but that type od caterpillar can never be called a butterfly. A human that remains a fine specimen of humanity has missed the destiny God had created mankind for. Unfortunately a caterpillar cannot recieve the revitalizing touch of the hand of God, but He is there for those who extend to His grasp in the vital union with Him.

John the Baptist's beginning lessons taught that. His was a preparation. His message was that he could prepare with water unto repentance but the One coming only can baptise with fire and the Holy Spirit. Nicodemus thought that to be a very hard saying.
Yet Jesus' insistance on it means it is something that needs to be thought about. Far too many are content to be the best caterpillar they can be. Decent respectful caterpillars while the ambitions of the Spirit of God is waiting for the correct response to Him. Be still, know that He is God. All around like the air we breath the Spirit blows where ever it wills. His voice is in the stillness.

Must we think that the free breath of God is confined to the saintly soul living amid the priveleges of the Church? The story of a rough soldier who had been brought up in an evil home, loved by his comrades for the utter unselfishness that is his nature, dying in Christ fashion to save another, is less saintly? Every good and perfect deed is from above. When it comes to the breath of God one canst tell.
 
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~ Verses to ponder in your heart
when seeking to release the inner spirit
that is connected to the Holy Spirit
so as to overcome the old nature ~

John 12:24
I tell you for certain that a grain of wheat that falls on the ground will never be more than one grain unless it dies. But if it dies, it will produce lots of wheat.

2 Corinthians 3:6
He makes us worthy to be the servants of his new agreement that comes from the Holy Spirit and not from a written Law. After all, the Law brings death, but the Spirit brings life.

Galatians 5:16
If you are guided by the Spirit, you won’t obey your selfish desires.

Galatians 5:22-23
God’s Spirit makes us loving, happy, peaceful, patient, kind, good, faithful, gentle, and self-controlled. There is no law against behaving in any of these ways.

Galatians 5:25
God’s Spirit has given us life, and so we should follow the Spirit.

Matthew 11:29-30
Take the yoke I give you. Put it on your shoulders and learn from me. I am gentle and humble, and you will find rest. This yoke is easy to bear, and this burden is light.

Ephesians 3:16
God is wonderful and glorious. I pray that his Spirit will make you become strong followers

2 Corinthians 4:16
We never give up. Our bodies are gradually dying, but we ourselves are being made stronger each day.

continued in next post...​
 
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~ Verses to ponder in your heart
when seeking to release the inner spirit
that is connected to the Holy Spirit
so as to overcome the old nature ~
Part 2

Hebrews 4:12-13
What God has said isn’t only alive and active! It is sharper than any double-edged sword. His word can cut through our spirits and souls and through our joints and marrow, until it discovers the desires and thoughts of our hearts. Nothing is hidden from God! He sees through everything, and we will have to tell him the truth.

1 Corinthians 2:11-14
You are the only one who knows what is in your own mind, and God’s Spirit is the only one who knows what is in God’s mind. But God has given us his Spirit. That’s why we don’t think the same way that the people of this world think. That’s also why we can recognize the blessings that God has given us.
Every word we speak was taught to us by God’s Spirit, not by human wisdom. And this same Spirit helps us teach spiritual things to spiritual people. That’s why only someone who has God’s Spirit can understand spiritual blessings. Anyone who doesn’t have God’s Spirit thinks these blessings are foolish.

Romans 7:6
The Law no longer rules over us. We are like dead people, and it cannot have any power over us. Now we can serve God in a new way by obeying his Spirit, and not in the old way by obeying the written Law.

Romans 8:4-8
He did this, so that we would do what the Law commands by obeying the Spirit instead of our own desires.
People who are ruled by their desires think only of themselves. Everyone who is ruled by the Holy Spirit thinks about spiritual things. If our minds are ruled by our desires, we will die. But if our minds are ruled by the Spirit, we will have life and peace. Our desires fight against God, because they do not and cannot obey God’s laws. If we follow our desires, we cannot please God.

Mark 8:34
Jesus then told the crowd and the disciples to come closer, and he said:
If any of you want to be my followers, you must forget about yourself. You must take up your cross and follow me.

1 Thessalonians 5:23-24
I pray that God, who gives peace, will make you completely holy. And may your spirit, soul, and body be kept healthy and faultless until our Lord Jesus Christ returns. The one who chose you can be trusted, and he will do this.​
 
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Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
Hebrews 12:1

A cloud for Leading ~ What does that mean?

Numbers 9:15-22
15-16 As soon as the sacred tent was set up, a thick cloud appeared and covered it. The cloud was there each day, and during the night, a fire could be seen in it. 17-19 The Lord used this cloud to tell the Israelites when to move their camp and where to set it up again. As long as the cloud covered the tent, the Israelites did not break camp. But when the cloud moved, they followed it, and wherever it stopped, they camped and stayed there, 20-22 whether it was only one night, a few days, a month, or even a year. As long as the cloud remained over the tent, the Israelites stayed where they were. But when the cloud moved, so did the Israelites.​

The Lord is in the cloud to be with His people.

Exodus 13:21-22
During the day the Lord went ahead of his people in a thick cloud, and during the night he went ahead of them in a flaming fire. That way the Lord could lead them at all times, whether day or night.​

The Israelites may have thought of the wilderness travellings as an extended camping trip but little did they know that it was in fact a race that they were running that few but 2 won the prize of the original starters.

We are now in this thick cloud of witnesses. Our instructions being to lay aside the weight that entangles us to the world, satan and self.

1 Corinthians 9:24
Do you not know that those who run on a racecourse all run, but one receives the prize? Run in this way, that you may lay hold.

Hebrews 10:36
For you have need of endurance in order that, having done the will of God, you may obtain the promise.

Hebrews 10:35
Do not cast away therefore your boldness, which has great reward.
 
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God rejects imperfect beings as well as all imperfect acts to save or reinstate imperfect beings. By the resurrection of Jesus God rejects all other means of salvation. The Risen Christ is the One with Whom God entered into covenant, to the exclusion of all others.
He raised in Him all those who commit to Him their whole life in a deep sence of their direst need and full confidence in His power to save.

The groundwork of anyone's acceptance with God is that there has been communicated to them the life of Christ. We have no claim or merit except that which is imputed to us by the Spirit as He reveals to our understanding and realizes in our character the perfections of Christ.

Jesus was ever acting in response to the Spirit of power, the Spirit of love, the Spirit of discipline (authority). His creed was truth, true character and triumph in conduct.

Jesus is God's Man and Jesus is mankind's God. Apart from Him people can have no perfect understanding of God. Without Jesus mankind will forever project their fallen state into immensity.
 
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Joy

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I always found a particular devotional written in 'The Upper Room' in January 2010 to be interesting and a favorite of mine throughout the years. I did a blog post about it awhile back but will post it here as well -

Three-Legged Stool

As Christians, we also need a firm foundation in order to do our daily work for the kingdom of God. This foundation is our Bible-based faith. Three qualities of God make up the three strong legs of my foundation: God is love (1 John 4:8); God is holy (Lev. 11:44), and God is spirit (John 4:24).

If we put our weight upon one attribute of God to the exclusion of the others, we will surely slip and fall.

Concentrating on God's love alone may cause us to lapse into permissive sentimentality.

Emphasizing God's holiness alone may cause us to become rigid, legalistic, and judgmental.

Focusing on God's spirit alone may motivate us for service, but we may easily burn out apart from the underlying support of God's love and holiness.

Thank you so much for sharing this. I have heard this before but it's good to be reminded of this again.
 
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Reposting these few posts from the last few days so as not to be lost in the shuffle ...

*********************
Matthew 24:43-44
Homeowners never know when a thief is coming, and they are always on guard to keep one from breaking in.
Always be ready! You don’t know when the Son of Man will come.​
The kingdom and the culture is guarded by the parousia, without which cardboard castles will fall. The house of faith can be seen as the interior work of the believers. We are the masters of our own house. The keepers of our temples.
Hebrews 3:6
but Christ, as Son over his house, whose house are we, if indeed we hold fast the boldness and the boast of hope firm to the end.
Mark 13:34
it's as a man gone out of the country, having left his house and given to his bondmen the authority, and to each one his work, and commanded the doorkeeper that he should watch.
Matthew 7:24
Whoever therefore hears these my words and does them, I will liken him to a prudent man, who built his house upon the rock;​
Does it seem odd that in this parable Christ Himself typifies the thief?
1 Thessalonians 5:2
for ye know perfectly well yourselves, that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief by night.
2 Peter 3:10
But the day of the Lord will come as a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a rushing noise, and the elements, burning with heat, shall be dissolved, and the earth and the works in it shall be burnt up.
Revelation 3:3
Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and keep it and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come upon thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know at what hour I shall come upon thee.
Revelation 16:15
Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watches and keeps his garments, that he may not walk naked, and that they may not see his shame.​
The Lord, unlike a common thief, has announced His arrival and comes not to cause loss but to cause a blessing. What is reinforced in the parable is that He may come at any time. I think we all are aware of when our own deeply guarded house has been broken into by the Lord. Even the foundations have been shaken and with fear and trembling we have had to rebuild on higher truths.
************************
Colossians 2:2
That their hearts may be comforted, they being knit together in love and unto all the riches of the full assurance of understanding, unto the full knowledge of the mystery of God, Christ,​
Emotions of love for God as the mystery is revealed. Knowledge that is one with the mind of Christ. Eventually that will result in the full knowledge of Christ.
Ephesians 3:9-12
..to shed light for all about the administration of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things. This is so God’s multi-faceted wisdom may now be made known through the church to the rulers and authorities in the heavens. This is according to His eternal purpose accomplished in the Messiah, Jesus our Lord. In Him we have boldness and confident access through faith in Him.​
That which is unsearchable means that it's untraceable, previously not made known. These are not doctrines. They are announcements of His riches for us, His Body; Christ as light, truth, life, holiness, righteousness. Things He has for us, the accounts of what He has attained for us.
Paul deemed himself to be the least to receive the grace to be an ambassador of the mystery. Paul's gift was unique but the grace to achieve maturity is for all.
Ephesians 2:4-8
But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love that He had for us, made us alive with the Messiah even though we were dead in trespasses. You are saved by grace! Together with Christ Jesus He also raised us up and seated us in the heavens, so that in the coming ages He might display the immeasurable riches of His grace through His kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift—​
*************************
Bitterness of the Old testament isn't the same as Christians are meant to experience bitterness in the New Testament.
The old testament refers to "the angry discontent of a rebellious person" resulting from the "poison venom of the serpent".
Look at these results from a search of Strong's Concordance on the word bitter or bitterness in the Hebrew

4751 mar mar or (feminine) marah {maw-raw'}; from 4843; bitter (literally or figuratively); also (as noun) bitterness, or (adverbially) bitterly:--+ angry, bitter(-ly, -ness), chafed, discontented, X great, heavy.
4805 mriy mer-ee' from 4784; bitterness, i.e. (figuratively) rebellion; concretely, bitter, or rebellious:--bitter, (most) rebel(-lion, -lious).
4846 mrorah mer-o-raw' or mrowrah {mer-o-raw'}; from 4843; properly, bitterness; concretely, a bitter thing; specifically bile; also venom (of a serpent):--bitter (thing), gall.

There are other references in the OT but these are the usual meaning. There is, however, only 4 meanings for the same words in the NT.
When bitterness is spoken of in the NT believer it refers to a bitter and violent piercing and makes no mention of anger, discontent or rebellion.

4087. pikraino pik-rah'-ee-no from 4089; to embitter (literally or figuratively):--be (make) bitter.
4088. pikria pik-ree'-ah from 4089; acridity (especially poison), literally or figuratively:--bitterness.
4089. pikros pik-ros' perhaps from 4078 (through the idea of piercing); sharp (pungent), i.e. acrid (literally or figuratively):--bitter.
4090. pikros pik-roce' adverb from 4089; bitterly, i.e. (figuratively) violently:--bitterly.

It seems to me that satan can still bite the new creation of believers, sometimes using those closest to us to inflict the pain.
Jesus' saving grace saves us from the anger, discontent and rebellion but not from the pain involved from the poison inflicted on tender hearts, made more tender from association with Jesus. Jesus' compassion always shone through His pain, but no doubt Satan inflicted serious poison on His soul, probably more than any other.

It also helps to see and prove His overcoming to the new creation ...

**********************
The secret to not let the poison set in is to not harbour anger either good or bad, but to clean the slate with God each and every night. Ephesians 4:26
Be angry, and do not sin. Quoted from Psalms 4:4. By NT standards, anger can be either good or bad, depending on motive and purpose. Paul may have been sanctioning righteous indignation, anger at evil. This type of anger hates injustice, immorality, ungodliness, and every other sin. When such anger is unselfish and based on love for God and others, it not only is permissible but commanded. Jesus expressed this righteous anger
Matthew 21:12 Mark 3:5 John 2:15
Even righteous anger can turn to bitterness, so should be set aside by the end of each day. If anger is prolonged, it may become hostile and violate the instruction of Romans 12:17-21
 
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Wasn't going to post anything for the rest of the summer because I'm tired of it. But my documents had somehow been pulled up to desktop and I thought I had taken care of the problem. However this caught my attention so I'll post it anyway.

Food for thought on the example of original intention in the incarnation

The incarnation as being a revelation to mankind of mankind as to the Divine intention is first and foremost. But it's also a revelation of God, for perfect man is the image of God. In Jesus is revealed God's intention as to the purpose of every human being;
- having a mind of royal and loyal love expressed in the activity of self-emptying service as the expression of loyalty.

From this consideration of God, mankind and the ideal man Jesus there breaks upon the conscience the truth concerning God;

In Jesus, man finds Him for Whom he has been searching, and being unable to find, has created the false dieties that have cursed his whole life. According to this revelation is God's concern in the personal interest of all His creation. His affectionate joy in the joys of His people, and sorrows in the midst of their sorrows. His will is ever impulsed by His perfect affection, and operates within this intimate knowledge. These truths, too large for perfect comprehension, are yet recognized as the lines from the unique Personality of Jesus into immensity. Thru the man Jesus, man has found God.

Fallen mankind had built upon his fallen nature a false conception of God that had projected his own nature into immensity, thereby creating a false god.Now, upon the perfect nature of the Last Adam, mankind forms a correct definition of an infinite.

The crises of the Christ | G. Campbell Morgan [/indent ]

It is our duty and reasonable service to have the mind of Christ. The mind of Christ is submissive to the dominion of Love yet reigning in the Power of Love.

Jesus of Nazareth is perfect in His humanity. That humanity is the cornerstone and if all it's lines are carried forth the whole fact will be included.

Human misconceptions of God creates hatred of God that is really the hatred in human hearts. If and when Christ is revealed and mankind knows Him as the revealer ... they love Him.​
 
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From Christ's victory comes the spoils of war. His inheritance for us is not merely to investigate and admire the skillful ways of divine wisdom but it's should be our purpose to mark and digest them. A refreshment to the soul and faith in His gracious provisions. What more can be expected from a disciple of Jesus than to find strengthening and delight in His victory?
 
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"What do I have to do with thee?" Jesus' question to Christianity
The 1st miracle as the beginning of miracles / Transformed life = water into wine
Drink freely to all the invited guests
John 2:1-11​

The woman, His mother, is representative of the New Jerusalem,
those of the Promise, according to grace.
(She is never referred to as Mary in John's gospel)
Not limited in understanding of who the Son is,
nor is Jesus confronted with her lack of faith.

Her last recorded words in this scene are "Whatsoever He saith unto you, do it"

The life of the human condition is running out but when a new miracle happens
an intoxicating vision breaks into the scene.
It's the central theme of the gospels - the defining quality of Jesus' Person and His teachings.
The crushing of grapes has produced a sweet wine that affects our consciousness
and changes the make-up of our lives.
The new wine is the life force that surges thru the New Creation, the Two becoming One.
The water of individuality has changed to the wine of the Union.
The miracle is the new spiritual state of the Bride with Her Bridegroom.
The water that had been reserved for purification rites has now become that which is served last
as the best offering, provided by the Son.

It was the 3rd day, signifying resurrection.
Cana means reed, signifying the weak or fragile people. (Strong's # 2580,7071)
Of Galilee signifies that which is despised.
Isaiah 42:3, Matthew 12:20

Matthew 11:7
But as they went [away], Jesus began to say to the crowds concerning John,
What went ye out into the wilderness to see? a reed moved about by the wind?​

The principal set forth in the first miracle at the marriage in Cana is the principal of death to life.
All the miracles in the book of John are called signs and all refer to that principal.

Matthew 22:1-14 Marriage likened to the Kingdom of heaven.
 
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The beginning of showing forth His good works in us is first to be born again. To be regenerated. Otherwise what we are seeking is belief. But those who are His disciples already believe. Regenerated not of corruptible seed but of incorruptible, through the living and abiding word of God. 1 Peter 1:3; Hebrews 4:12

From milk to meat involves our life's growth in Him where our own salvation is being worked out,Romans 8:30 being built up as a spiritual house into a holy priesthood to offer up spiritual sacrifices 1 Peter 2:5, to tell out the virtues of Him 1 Peter 2:9 because the church is the witness to the heavenlies Ephesians 3:10-12. In doing so one receives the end of faith, which is the salvation of your soul. 1 Peter 1:9, Hebrews 10:39. Bold and not shrinking back from that which is the new covenant to return to that which is of the old covenant which is a different inheritance, an earthly inheritance, one for the nation not that of a disciple. Shrinking back to ruin I think can be seen in the account of Simeon that can be read in this blog-post if anyone is interested.
Move to Maturity | Christian Forums

That's not a falling back into perdition but a falling into direct dealings with God Hebrews 10:29-31

Gaining of the soul is the reward of the kingdom to the over-comers who follow the Lord Jesus Christ. Hebrews 10:35, Matthew 16:22-28.
 
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Scattered notes on body, soul and spirit

Having the mind (the nous) of Christ Romans 12:1-3 the askesis that is commonly taught in the bible. It is indeed the gospel according to Jesus.
If anyone is willing...
let him first deny himself...
then take up his cross...
and follow me...
One has to be willing to deny themselves, the body and mind subject to the spirit, pick up the cross, follow HIM as He is subject to the Spirit, to make the first step of purification of the soul as entry into the Faith (in Him) which Christ discipled to His Disciples (chela).

The catharsis... the purged conscience... is maintained at the throne of Grace in daily coming to Him in prayer. One shouldn't choose to seek Him elsewhere ...
The kata-holon the “totality.”.. is the heart of the matter. A darkening of the nous that returns to the ways of the Gentile is forbidden.
Ephesians 4:17-24
This I say therefore, and testify in [the] Lord, that ye should no longer walk as [the rest of] the nations walk in [the] vanity of their mind, (nous)
being darkened in understanding (dianoia), estranged from the life of God by reason of the ignorance which is in them, by reason of the hardness of their hearts,
who having cast off all feeling, have given themselves up to lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greedy unsatisfied lust.
But *ye* have not thus learnt the Christ,
if ye have heard him and been instructed in him according as [the] truth is in Jesus;
[namely] your having put off according to the former conversation the old man which corrupts itself according to the deceitful lusts;
and being renewed in the spirit of your mind;(nous)
and [your] having put on the new man, which according to God is created in truthful righteousness and holiness.​

We are to keep an unveiled spirit to live in communion with God. Where there is a closed nous, there is a closed spirit that God cannot shine light into. Darkened in understanding is called dianoia ... having the same root as nous but while nous is a organ the dianoia is the function of the nous.
This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind 3563,nous
Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart: (blindness: or, hardness) Strong's Greek: 1271. (dianoia) -- the mind, disposition, thought


Romans 13:12 The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh.
Galatians 5:17
For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want.
Romans 13:14
But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh to fulfill its lusts.​

Theological Dictionary of the New Testament.
nous the meaning of the term:
1. The original meaning of nous is (inner) sense directed on an object, and from this come such meanings as ``sensation``power of perception, and mode of thought. The main nuances are ``mind, insight, understanding, judgement and meaning``
2. The word is rare in the LXX, since Kardia is there the main organ of understanding. The usual meaning in Apocrypha is mind or disposition.
3. The term is imprecise in postbiblical Jewish works, having such senses as moral nature, mode of thought, and power of spiritual perception.

1 Corinthians 14:19
Nevertheless, in church I would rather speak five words with my mind (nous) in order to instruct others, than ten thousand words in a tongue.​
An inspired message or revelation from God in the 5 words are good from intuition of the nous while a prepared message is from the intellect and not necessarily inspired.
The intellect and intuition are separate functions. Intellect is of the soulish (soul-life) intellect and intuition is a function of the human spirit.
It's important to know at every moment from what area of nous one is working from. Sometimes it could from direct revelation, other times it could be from those things that have been pondered upon in the heart and other times it could be from a darkened mind. In reflecting upon these things there is no problem in discerning one's actions at all times. The bible's example is to the revelation, followed by the pondering in the heart, giving forth to rightly dividing the Word of God, and speaking forth with knowledge.

A believer hasn't the same mind of the darkened intellect referred to in Romans 1:28 where it says reprobate nous. or Ephesians 4:17 vain nous. or Colossians 2:18 fleshly nous. or 2 Timothy 3:8 corrupt nous. or Titus 1:15 defiled nous.

The believer 'knows' God and in 'knowing' Him they 'know' they are saved. In hearing they have believed, being reborn into the new heart and spirit. They have a renewed nous that they can understand spiritual things. That 'knowing' is the work of the regenerated nous. John 17:3 The place where Christ dwells within is where we KNOW that He hears our prayer, where the peace beyond understanding dwells because it is NOT associated with conditions pertaining to the outer condition of the soul.

The author of the book of Hebrews advised believers not to stagger in the wandering of their souls, the souls they had to deny, but to press on in their spirit so as to enjoy the heavenly Christ so that they could participate in the king's rest.
If they staggered in that soul wandering, they would miss out on God's goal by suffering the loss of the enjoyment of Christ and also the kingdom's rest in this age. His word to the Hebrews was able to expose the intent behind the believers who were staggering thru the process of salvation.

Our spirit is the organ with which we contact God, while our heart is the organ with which we love God. So for the human spirit to contact or experience God requires that our heart love God. Soul is of 3 parts ~ mind, emotion, and will; also the human spirit contains 3 parts ~ conscience, communion and intuition. The heart is a composition of all parts of the soul plus the conscience which is a part of the spirit. Therefore heart can be said to be the thoughts of the mind and the will with it's intentions. Thoughts affect intentions while intentions carry out one's thought. God's word can cut through our spirits and souls until it discovers the desires and thoughts of our hearts.

The heart of each individuals nous, whether it be acting from body, mind or spirit is our lifeline knit into us. A renewed nous is the organ to contact while the heart is the bearer of what comes out of the mouth, ie: the fruit thereof. When God is invisably there it's in knowing that the nous is enacted. Enacting prayer w/o ceasing. The knowing of His invisable Presence, never leaving never forsaking, while the position of the believer can be working from any area of the nous at any time. The difference can be in the awareness, but the awareness is part of the 'knowing'
He doesn't withdraw, only going from visable (whether in sight, sound, or feeling) to invisable where the trial goes on in His "seeming" absence.
(( We were talking about this elsewhere where "spiritual blessings" are the "meat" for mature believers rather than that which is material or visable.))
I believe it's His teaching method to 'seemingly' withdraw where His disciples are 'seemingly' left.
Yet we're told to worship in spirit because God is Spirit. Many people have many different blessings from God and when these are withdrawn we tend to suppose that God has also.
One can have visions of Him or hear audibly from Him or the Word comes alive in reading the bible while some have showers of material blessings come to them and others He visits with healing or comfort. Yet He just is whether we see, feel His touch, hear Him or not. Sometimes He just wants us to stand still while He moves the world around us.

The heart of each individuals nous, that part that has body and mind (soul-life) in submission to human spirit that is in turn connected in submission to the Holy Spirit .... is that which is connected to God in the uniqueness of our walk. Impossible when the soul is not under submission to the spirit. Our human spirit needs to be submissive to the Holy Spirit. It's that part of the human anatomy that suffered death at the fall and that which is renewed at regeneration.

God loves us because of who we are, vessels for Him, not in spite of who we are. It's the non-submission of body to mind or mind to spirit that keeps us in the fallen path and that should not be.
 
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A favorite old study :::::::::::

Why we are here

This world is a quarry where living stones are being shaped, forged and fitted for being built up together to become the city of our God, the New Jerusalem. Do you know that when Soloman's temple was built that not a sound was heard in the temple area? All the fitting was done elsewhere and then brought to the building site.
1 Kings 6:7
In building the temple, only blocks dressed at the quarry were used, and no hammer, chisel or any other iron tool was heard at the temple site while it was being built.​
That's why Peter could say "Count it all joy as we share in His suffering"
Every hammer blow of suffering, every time the chizel meets the stone we are being shaped into the same image as Christ. We are the shadow but He is the substance.
1 Peter 4:13
But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.​

Every bit of suffering is God carving His Name into us.
We come and go, in the world but not of the world, make mistakes and get up and carry on. But once placed as part of the New Jerusalem we will remain forevermore.
John 10:9
I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture.
Revelation 3:12
Him that overcomes will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.​

Every day we see loved ones being called up from being jars of clay that temple Him within, to become living stones unhewn by human hands to help form the building of our heavenly dwelling, His Bride.
Ephesians 2:19-22
So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God's household, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit.​

This is what I find peace in :amen:
 
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The Adams in the garden~ how that temptation extends to us

Satan's main objective, after enticing the emotion with lust of the eye, and provoking the intellect with lust of the flesh to step outside of God's protection, is to gain the will. The belief that satan won Adam (male & female) to was that God's restriction was not an act of love and that they were better off without Him.

What Adam and Eve lost for the human race was the ability to act in the way we were designed to. Our bodies house an intellect beyond that of any other creature in that we were made to comprehend the things of God. Satan said they (the old Adam) would become gods. In effect what happened was that without the divine fellowship and cooperation they had passed into a region where the essential powers of their being could no longer find the correct field of operation. None of the knowledge gained from the tree of knowledge of good and evil could bring them back.

The consequences? Their abode was no longer with God. Angel's were put in place to block the way.
The Way was replaced when God came again to us personally in incarnation as our new tree of life. To gain the proper character and conduct was just to abide in Him. Without Him we can do nothing. There is always the devil trying to point to an easier softer way that is self-reliant, but it's a lie and foolishness to believe that lie. There is a yoke to bear with Christ when we continually present ourselves to Him but it's a light load that is the Way, the road, that leads to peace, joy and contentment. It's a life lived with Him, abiding in & with Him in the heavenly realm and Him abiding in us for both our lives and to carry out His work.

Intelligence determines the action of emotion and the final attitude of the will.
When our essential being is operating in the wrong sphere the emotions are dwarfed having lost the perfect object, the intellect is bounded being severed from infinite knowledge and the will, in attempting mastership, has lost it's true spring of action. Emotions are set on love of material things. Intellect looks to physical things in semi-blindness, And the will, always attempting authority, is beaten and overcome. In using our own will we dethrone God and enthrone ourselves in separation from God.

As at the garden, as at Shiloh, and for many today, the covenant is violated and mankind is put outside of His protection. God is rejected.

So satan's main objective is to gain the will in use of the emotions and intellect. Thereby causing independant actions, ungoverned activity. Outside the sphere of God, away from the tree of life. And outside of the family of God.

We need that perfect fitness between the work to be done and the workman prepared. We're limited and we need to be complimented with the unlimited. Un-limited, that is, except by the constraints of God's love. Abiding in our proper sphere (confidence in God's love) the emotion, intellect and will are united with God. I believe that these three areas of self can be a constant in our lives due to our will being set on Him.

Jesus, as God, was the exact image while we are just the shadow. But we must never doubt God's love. Satan is a roaring lion looking for whom he can devour. Dear ones, created to be One with Him, don't fall into satan's food-chain in double-mindedness by doubting God's love. Bring yourself to the throne of grace where you are guaranteed grace and mercy by His sacrifice for you. And keep yourself there as is your reasonable service.
 
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In keeping with the barn effect:

What we're dealing with is facts of the promises of God. They are revealed to us by His Spirit and thru that revelation we "know" it to be true by the spirit giving evidence within us so that we lay hold on these.
Facts are facts whether we believe them or not. If we don't believe the facts of the cross they still remain as real as ever, but they are valueless to us. It doesn't take faith to make things real in themselves, but faith can "substantiate" them and make them real in our experience.
Whatever contradicts truth of the Word of God is the devil's lie, not because it may not be a real fact to our senses, but because God has stated a greater fact before which the other must eventually yield. John 17:15b, John 17:17

As soon as we begin to accept our death with Christ as a fact, satan will do his best to convince us by the evidence of our day-to-day experience that we are not dead at all but very much alive. So we must make the choice to believe satan's lies or God's truth.
2 Corinthians 5:14; 2 Corinthians 5:7

The death is found with Christ, where also is our life and where we abide. Ephesians 2:5; Colossians 2:10;

This also is "reckoned" unto us. A fact to be accepted. God in His gracious purpose, has included us with Christ. The character of the branches is determined by the vine. Discovering facts of Christ (and knowing that what He reveals, He will accomplish in us) is our food and growth in our new life. Romans 6:4; Romans 6:9-10; Romans 5:21

So, standing steadfast on Who Christ is, we find that all that is true of Him becoming true in us. 2 Corinthians 3:18; John 15:5; Romans 6:14

Therefore:

1 Corinthians 5:7-8
Clean out the old yeast so that you may be a new batch, as you really are unleavened. For our paschal lamb, Christ, has been sacrificed. Therefore, let us celebrate the festival, not with the old yeast, the yeast of malice and evil, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.​

Keeping the feast, the continuous eating of the pass-over lamb, a nonstop feasting of Jesus,in sincerity and truth, because after all we are what we eat, right.
The old leaven is the old creature we once were before believing in Christ with all the sins, now we need to feast on Him and who He is continually in sincerity and truth to purge out the old leaven. Jesus gives us the grace to continually feast on Him, thru His Love and His indwelling and in His power. Thank You, Jesus (Christ is our only pass-over and He is our redeemer)
1 Corinthians 11:24; 1 Corinthians 11:27-29; 1 Corinthians 9:13; 1 Corinthians 10:31; 1 Corinthians 15:32-33; Revelation 2:17


We eat of Christ every time we think of Him, His Love, His words, His work, His deeds, His care for the poor and every time we act on His commands, which are all His character in action.

In the tabernacle in the desert, the Holy place, the place were the priest worked, there was the shew bread, Jesus is the bread of life. Also there was the candlestick, Jesus is the light. The light used oil to burn, which is the symbol of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit shines light upon the Word of God to illuminate it to us. Just as the Holy Spirit shines light upon the scriptures to reveal them to us. The altar of incense, used for intercessory prayer is the only other priestly equipment in the room. The golden incense holder contains the prayers of the saints.

The eucharist and communion are outward symbols of what we are doing here inwardly, eating of Him, which should be partaken of continually.
 
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“Paisios”

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The Barn

The first-fruit has gone to the temple..

the barn is for storing the seeds for the leaner times.

Post any odds bits of studies or cool info you happen to have laying 'round for all to enjoy and ponder..
I don't have anything to add to this thread right now, but I wanted to say thank you for sharing all of this. I have enjoyed reading it.
 
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