Two really important questions

[Scottmcc1]

Use unanswered prayer as a reason for more prayer and Bible meditation.

 

[weariedsoul]

Use unanswered prayer as a reason for more prayer and Bible meditation.

So many times i became angry with God for not answering my prayers, but i was wrong i think. God answered them, i just didn't see it.

 

[jiminpa]

Many Christians SAY they believe the Bible, but then their actions or their doctrine shows us something different!

Many don't believe that the Gifts if the Spirit are for today. They think that signs and wonders are a thing of the past, and died out with the apostles.

Other Christians think that that the Old Testament has nothing relevant for us to learn from it.

I have even run into some people on this forum that think the words of Jesus don't apply to us today! Everything for them is chopped up into dispensations, and so essentially only a very small portion of the Bible is still usable by Christians.


Jesus complained to his disciples and said: "Why do you call me 'Lord, Lord,' but do not do the things that I say?" James teaches us that faith without works is dead.

So I ask the same question. Who is the one that really believes the Bible? The person who says "Lord, Lord" to it but doesn't do what it says? Or the person who finds a way to apply as many principles as they can from the Word into their daily life?

I also observed some who claim that they believe that the gifts are for today and desirable, but never miss an opportunity to criticize the gifts when they are used. Their words don't match.

 

[weariedsoul]

I also observed some who claim that they believe that the gifts are for today and desirable, but never miss an opportunity to criticize the gifts when they are used. Their words don't match.

Exalting tradition over the scriptures doesn't seem to be a gift of the spirit. All scripture is inspired by God. The Spirit teaches us the things Jesus already spoke, the Lord has said so Himself. The spirit will not teach contrary to the scriptures and will exult Gods word found in scripture.

 

[JimB]

Well, how are you determining whether or not something works?

It seems you do also have a point, Jim. But fools like me
don't dun need all this here confyoozhun.

You are right. Actually, I don’t think it is my place to second-guess God or analyze his every action. I pray and know that hears me, I ask that the Lord’s will be done, then I rest in whatever he decides to do … which is really none of my business. I know that he has heard me and will answer my prayer. I think that’s what Jesus meant when he said, “Have faith in (i.e., trust) God." Magdalene Crocker got it right when she wrote, "I don't need to understand, I just need to hold his hand."

 

[Yahu]

Our resident pastor posted this on another thread, and I did not want to derail that thread, so I thought I'd bring it here.

Here is the quote:

1. Is the Bible just a text book?

Is it not inerrant? Is it not the Word of God?

2. Does personal experience trump the textbook?

The bible is a collection of anointed writings put together by man. The prophecies within it are the Words of Yah. There are also histories and opinions of man. For example, you can't take the speeches of Job's friends as TRUTH. We are told they are in error but their speeches are 'in the bible'. It is their opinions being presented and they are wrong opinions.

Now I consider all the Torah and prophets as anointed truth yet some of the law for example was given by Moses not Yah. Yeshua stated that Moses allowed divorce due to the hardness of men's hearts. So was the law on divorce Yah's law or Moses?

Now ONLY the original text can be considered TRUTH. The translations are full of error from later vowel pointing errors or the translators not understanding the context. When truth is filtered through man, error creeps in.

Now can personal experience trump scripture? Well it can trump our interpretation of scripture. It can reveal the error of standard doctrines and traditions of man.

A prophetic word can also be a direct living word. Now it should never contract scripture but it can contradict our understanding of scripture as well.

 

[Ajax 777]

I guess I just don't think it wise to put more faith
in man's inability to understand than I do in the great
Living and Most High God to make plain the things of Him.

God is greater than our hearts, people. He can make a donkey speak,
and He can make men to understand. He is able.

So we seek Him.

 

[weariedsoul]

The bible has no err that cannot be corrected by scripture through the HS

Where is our faith?

 

[Ajax 777]

Exactly, wearied soul.

 

[weariedsoul]

Its not Rocket science. Trust in the Lord and hope in him, pray everyday and ask God to teach us, read the scriptures yourself and dont listen to a preacher only. Learn what the apostles say is good and follow that.


I need no bishop to teach me these things, although if he were a good servant he would teach me those things.

 

[JimB]

I guess I just don't think it wise to put more faith

in man's inability to understand than I do in the great Living and Most High God to make plain the things of Him.

God is greater than our hearts, people. He can make a donkey speak,
and He can make men to understand. He is able.

So we seek Him.

Sure, God could. Only it seems that he thinks the joy is in the journey not in just finding answers. Ideally, we would all think the same thing if the same Spirit were guilding us into mere doctrinal fact. IMO, there is a vast difference between truth and facts. It's truth that makes us free, not biblical fact. Jesus taught in parables, which were more fable than factual, but they told the truth.

 

[Ajax 777]

Well, yes. By no means was I trying to say we come to perfection
before we are fully formed. Nobody hopes for what he already sees,
for hope that is seen is not hope. But our Hope does not disappoint,
for our God is able. The mind of a man may plan his way, but the LORD
directs his footsteps.

Like Paul, we have not laid hold of it by any means. But the high calling
of God is indeed in Christ Jesus. Is He not our goal and our end? As long as
we dwell on the earth, He'll always be up above it all,
a God far off as well as One near to any one of us.
So He strengthens us daily to choose Him, and it is a choice we must
make every day, in thought, word, and deed.

By all means, the journey is just as delightful as the hope of the destination.

 

[Scottmcc1]

Yes. But experience can show that the interpretation of scripture that I have been badly taught is not true. If it were true, what I believe would work.

The Bible is true though every man is a liar.

There is a difference between belief and acknowledging the truth of a statement. I can acknowledge the truth of a statement and still not believe. It is when I am assured and act on the word of God putting my life in harms way, this can be believing. Believing has works.



Let us pray for God's infilling and wisdom in each situation.

 

[JimB]

The Bible is true though every man is a liar.

There is a difference between belief and acknowledging the truth of a statement. I can acknowledge the truth of a statement and still not believe. It is when I am assured and act on the word of God putting my life in harms way, this can be believing. Believing has works.



Let us pray for God's infilling and wisdom in each situation.

Of course God’s Word is true, providing we get it right. God has not obligated himself to respond to our misinterpretations of what he said.

 

[Scottmcc1]

Of course God’s Word is true, providing we get it right. God has not obligated himself to respond to our misinterpretations of what he said.

Isaiah 30:21 "Your ears will hear a word behind you, This is the way, walk in it, whenever you turn to the right or to the left."

Obligation? He said He would tell us which way to go. I don't see the Bible that hard to understand.

John 3:16 is easy to understand.
John 15:7 is easy to understand.

And if we are not following it correctly the Holy Spirit will guide us. John 14:26; James 1:5; James 4:6

It is faith and trust that God guides us that frees us to have faith in this life for what the world would call crazy.

What verse or passage are you using to say that God is not obligated to direct us?

 

[jiminpa]

Of course God’s Word is true, providing we get it right. God has not obligated himself to respond to our misinterpretations of what he said.

Always that seed of doubt. "Did God really say..., or did I misinterpret it?" Did it ever occur to you that it is good to trust God's faithfulness above our faults? I am having to learn that lesson all over again myself. It does say, in Romans I think, that God is still faithful when we are faithless. I agree that there is joy in the journey, but the journey is not the goal, and because we are always growing, that doesn't mean we have to work to stay mired in our doubts. That is sin--not that the doubts exist, the part where one would embrace the doubt rather than just trust God. We should be growing out of our doubts not further in them.

I want to say more, but it would end up too easy to misinterpret, so I will hold my tongue.

I guess what I am trying to say is that scripture is true! period! Just as God is true.

 

[JimB]

Ooooops.

 

[JimB]

Always that seed of doubt. "Did God really say..., or did I misinterpret it?" ...

IMO, it's better to have honest doubts than blind ignorance. At least you can overcome your doubts.

 

[jiminpa]

IMO, it's better to have honest doubts than blind ignorance. At least you can overcome your doubts.

What's the difference between doubting God and blind ignorance? God is absolutely trustworthy, so any doubt in Him comes from blind ignorance. I wish I could say all of what's on my mind. You really need to hear it.

 

[Frogster]

Wow! I just saw it on CNN..a mountain was tossed into the Adriatic Sea!

Oh well, I guess it was not figurative speech after all.