Dear Dgjot , this is my last appeal to you my brother , please read Matt Ch 26 V 6-16 , Mark Ch 14 V 3-11 , Luke Ch 14 V 12-14 and finally John Ch 12 V 1-8 . I shall hassle you no more , God bless you .
Dear brother, I'll tell you a true story. Some years ago a sister in Christ over here owned a pizza house. A guy, a drug addict often came in since he knew there was always a plate with food and a glass of wine available for him there for free. The sister always talked to him about Jesus and salvation. Nothing seemed to occur for several years. Once he came to the church but he was too stoned to understand anything. Time passed by and that guy eventually believed in Jesus and his life changed completely. He became a very happy person, he always mentioned that he was the only one from his friends that escaped heroin, the rest died. Afterwards he became a street preacher. He was going to all the places that drug addicts gathered and talked to them about Jesus. In my life I never met such a person with such a courage when preaching in public. He had no fear or shame at all. So you never know what God's plan is for people and who eventually will be saved. Sometimes we have to be patient. As someone in another post said, often love is going to attract people to Jesus.
My emergency prayer request that I'm deeply deeply deeply desperately seeking urgent prayers for God to permanently deliver my daughter Alexsina destiny castel from all the dark evil forces around her for God to disappear permanently all of the dark evil ENERGY'S evil people strangers family members evil spirit the evil clouds voodoo spells around my daughter Alexsina destiny castel for God to permanently CLEANES MY DAUGHTER ALEXSINA DESTINY CASTEL POWERFULLY take full control over my daughter life future her health and dark evil forces that's being a prosecutor in her life prosecutions for God to send everything back permanently where it comes from for God to completely cover my daughter Alexsina destiny castel under the shadow of his powerful Almighty miracle blessings Deliverance hands to shine down his powerful Almighty miracle blessings Deliverance lights down on my daughter Alexsina destiny castel permanently for God to protect my daughter from all dark evil ENERGY'S and forces surrounding my daughter for God to take fully control over her intelligent focusness for God to become one mind one body and one soul with my daughter for God to permanently walk with my daughter through her life journey and future together has one for God to permanently blessed my daughter in school to succeed to be successful and graduate and go to college and have a successful career forgot to bless my daughter with lots of Fortune in her life to be financially stable to have money for her to survive to be wealthy and stable forgot to send my daughter her guardian angels to walk with her to protect her to guide her and everything that she's doing immediately ASAP STARTING now for God to permanently blessed my daughter Alexsina destiny castel with lots of blessings money fortune healing protections full joy happiness laughter peace of mind for God to permanently transform my daughter Alexsina destiny castel entire life to be humble mentally emotionally physically spiritually to b
Dear Dgjot , I am genuinely worried for you my brother . You have read those verses in James and yet they don't seem to mean anything to you . Have you honestly read all the Bible ? If your answer is 'yes' then you know that there are dozens upon dozens of verses that I could quote to you . Here are a few , please read carefully Rev Ch 2 V 4 , Rev Ch 3 17-20 , Deuteronomy Ch 24 V 10-22 and James Ch 4 V 17 . Don't you know that you own nothing ? Don't you know that you are not of this world ? Therefore your attitudes should not be the same as the world's attitudes . Don't you know that you cannot , not should not , you cannnnot judge the hearts and minds of others ? I worry that the people that you are mixing with are encouraging you in this cynical attitude , I don't care if they are church people , if they are church people they should know better than to stray from the first principals of Christianity and the direct commandments of God and Christ who are the head of all Christians , we answer to them , not to each other . I pray you will recognise that your heart is hardening and that you will please take steps to come back to Him who loves you and who has saved you from yourself and this world through His supreme act of....love . Much love to you in Christ .
Many prophets have gone out into the world today and has the Lord not spoken to them?! The office of the prophet was not just in the time of Moses but in today's times. If we didn't have prophets there wouldn't be a need to have gifts because they all rely upon one another. The difference here is having the fruits of the holy spirit and my question to you is does God not speak to his prophets before he does something?!
Great truths you've shared there, brother S. Spencer. I particularly affirm that sentence on your page 2: "Taking something literally requires adhering to the words exactly without imagination or exaggeration."
The Bible is a both a Book of historical facts as well as a Book that leads the reader into spiritual Truth & challenge. Where concepts such as parables & allegories are clearly indicated, we need to learn & heed. Where they are not given, the Words written are to be read simply "without imagination or exaggeration". To do anything else that's intended, is to virtually re-write the Bible according to one's whims & fancies. I will admit though, the the Holy Spirit can, & often does, take a Word and apply to the reader's heart which may otherwise seem inconsistent to the normal understanding of that Scripture. In this instance, I see it as 'that Word from the Lord' that is given for personal reception & application & not for public circulation or promoting some new teaching.
Much more could be added, but your presentation deals with this important matter very well. Thanks again.
Encouragement from the Streetpreacher - 1 year ago
Some Christians manifest a different kind of flip-flop. It's a flip-flopping lifestyle. These are called flip-flopping saints.
Sadly, flip-flopping is the kind of action that negatively affects their walk with God. This kind of flip-flopping is a change of mind. It's a decision to reverse an earlier decision. Flip-flopping faith seems common among some who say they believe God one day but easily change their minds the next.
Apostle James wrote about flip-flopping Faith. He said, "A double-minded man is unstable in all his ways" ( James 1:8). A double-minded man is someone that believes today but changes his mind tomorrow. This is the flip-flopping saint that can't be trusted. He is double-minded. He is not dependable, breaks rank, is lukewarm, and doesn't keep his word. The Holy Spirit says this person is unstable and double-minded. You should be careful around such a person.
Abraham refused to walk in flip-flopping faith. The Bible says, "He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; And being fully persuaded that what he had promised he was able also to perform" ( Romans 4:20-21).
Flip-floppers can never please God. Remember, faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God. Don't let the seed of God's word fall on hard ground. Build your house on the rock. Scripture declares, "And these are they which are sown on good ground; such as hear the word, and receive it, and bring forth fruit, some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some a hundred" ( Mark 4:20). God rewards steadfastness.
Watch your walk. As already said, be careful around flip-flopping faith. Stagger not in unbelief but give glory to God. Think about this. "God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?" ( Numbers 23:19)
Listen to this song: "Lay Down This World" by Darrell Mansfield
Romans 13:14 - But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.
I think it sets us apart, as followers of Jesus; to dress modestly. To let the Light of Jesus be what attracts others to us. A prospective husband is well able to be attracted your inner beauty first.
The four loves in the Bible:
* Storge - empathy bond.
* Philia - friend bond.
* Eros - romantic love.
* Agape - unconditional (God kind of love)
Other types of love:
* Philautia - Self-love.
* Pragma - Enduring Love.
* Ludus - Playful Love.
* Mania - Obsessive Love
Agapelove is the highest level of love referenced in the Bible. This form of love is everlasting and sacrificial, whether or not the giver receives the same level of love in return. In the original Greek translation of the Scriptural passage "God is love," the word agapewas specifically used to identify the type of love God embodies ( 1 John 4:8,
I'm guessing , though I may be wrong about this , that you have never been hungry or homeless ? I have been both when I was a young woman . Jesus says that when we ask for blessings on some one that we should not turn our eyes away if we can physically help some one in a practical way , not just spiritual . It's hard to concentrate on anything when you are cold and hungry , your physical uncomfortableness is very distracting . Also , who are we to judge what is in any one's heart or mind ? Only God knows that and your act of kindness may help to open some one's heart to the Truth . I have never for one second forgotten even the smallest act of kindness that anyone has ever done for me , even things from decades ago . Jesus says about the good Samaritan "go , and do likewise " , he's talking to us when he says that .
And they drew Alexander out of the multitude,.... Or "some of the multitude brought forth Alexander"; into the theatre, in order to kill him, by casting him to the wild beasts. Some think this is the same with Alexander the coppersmith, who apostatized upon this danger he was exposed to, and became a blasphemer, and a great enemy of the apostle, and did him much evil, 1 Timothy 1:20. This man, though his name was a Greek name, yet was a Jew, as is expressed in Acts 19:34 and from the times of Alexander the great, who was at Jerusalem, this name became common among the Jews; See Gill on Acts 4:6.
The Jews putting him forward; being equally enemies to him, as being under a profession of Christianity, as the Heathens were; or as the Syriac version reads, "the people of the Jews", that were there, out of themselves, pitched upon him as a proper person to still the uproar; and they brought him out of the multitude, to a convenient place, where he might be heard; and they the rather were forward to this, that he might lay all the blame of this confusion and uproar upon Paul and his companions, whom the Jews had an aversion to, as well as the Gentiles:
and Alexander beckoned with the hand; for silence, that he might be heard:
and would have made his defence unto the people; which looks as if he was a Christian, or at least was charged with being one, and was in danger of his life on that account; and therefore was desirous of being heard, that he might make an apology for the Christians, or remove such an imputation from himself, if he was not.
The Holy Spirit is our Helper - In Reply on 1 John 5 - 1 year ago
Yes he is, beloved,
2 Kings 14:26
For the LORD saw the affliction of Israel, that it was very bitter: for there was not any shut up, nor any left, nor any helper for Israel.
Job 30:13
They mar my path, they set forward my calamity, they have no helper.
Psalms 10:14
Thou hast seen it; for thou beholdest mischief and spite, to requite it with thy hand: the poor committeth himself unto thee; thou art the helper of the fatherless.
Psalms 30:10
Hear, O LORD, and have mercy upon me: LORD, be thou my helper.
Psalms 54:4
Behold, God is mine helper: the Lord is with them that uphold my soul.
Psalms 72:12
For he shall deliver the needy when he crieth; the poor also, and him that hath no helper.
Romans 16:9
Salute Urbane, our helper in Christ, and Stachys my beloved.
Hebrews 13:6
So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.
And there was war in heaven - Here Satan makes his grand opposition to the kingdom of God; but an end is now put to his accusing the saints before God. The cause goes against him, verses 10, 11, Revelation 12:10-11 and Michael executes the sentence. That Michael is a created angel, appears from his not daring, in disputing with Satan, Jude 9, to bring a railing accusation; but only saying, The Lord rebuke thee. And this modesty is implied in his very name; for Michael signifies, Who is like God? which implies also his deep reverence toward God, and distance from all self - exaltation. Satan would be like God: the very name of Michael asks, Who is like God? Not Satan; not the highest archangel. It is he likewise that is afterward employed to seize, bind, and imprison that proud spirit.
People's Bible Notes for Revelation 12:7,8 And there was war in heaven. The woman had been seen in heaven, and there she is seen to be assailed. She has, however, a champion who fights her battles.
The angel Micheal is called ( Dan. 12:1) a "prince"
And they thrust forward - Namely, the artificers and workmen, Alexander - Probably some well - known Christian whom they saw in the crowd: the Jews pushing him on - To expose him to the more danger. And Alexander waving with his hand - In token of desiring silence, would have made a defence - For himself and his brethren.
People's Bible Notes for Acts 19:33
They drew Alexander out of the multitude. A Jew, evidently of great prominence, and put forward by the Jews, in order to disavow Paul, and to turn the tumult to their advantage. They wished to shift all blame on the Christians. The Gentile aversion to Jews was, however, too great to allow him a hearing.
I like to tell stories like Jesus did. There are many to choose from.
1. Noah and the Ark
2. The Tower of Babel. How the Godhead (Father, Son, Holy Spirit) confused the languages. What Nimrod did with the tower.
3. Gideon. How he arose from being a coward and became a mighty general of God. His men lapped water like dogs and kept their armor on, and eyes looking for enemies. As in Don't get distracted.
4. Ruth and Naomi and how Naomi brought her and Boaz together.
5. How Queen Esther saved the nation of Israel. How she won and kept her husbands heart close to her. Defeated her enemies.
6. King David's humble beginnings as a shepherd boy that played a musical instrument.
7. Deborah who was a judge over Israel. Sometimes God uses a woman to lead a nation.
I'd get a highlighter marker and mark those passages in a special color, so you can just flip through the Bible. I learned to follow Jesus by what other people in the Bible did. Clearly you can see what is right and what Is the wrong way.
One day I was reading Ezekiel 37. The Holy Spirit nailed me in verse 3, concerning the messes and disasters in my life! I was gifted at it. He says can these bones live? Take a side trip to Ezekiel 12. Back to 37. He tells me to prophesy to the bones of my failures. I followed His leading and my dead hopes lived again.
Your niece can learn, that mistakes and bad judgement don't have to be fatal__dried out sun-baked bones. :)
I love of the story of the donkey that spoke.
And Peter walking on water, then he sees the waves and starts to sink. Like us when we see problems mount up like tsunamis in our lives. Peace, be still_in Jesus Name.
Just show her how we found deliverance and direction in the scriptures!
Memorizing scriptures is ok; but it is stories we hear that grow fast roots.
Hello Gene. I've checked my KJV & also the 1611 KJV, and both show Acts 10:13, as "And there came a voice to him, Rise, Peter; kill, and eat." Can you recall where you saw those words, "slay and eat"?
A quick check on some other translations, shows that the Darby Translation, Coverdale Bible (1535), Literal Standard Version, Young's Literal Translation, & a couple of others do show it as "slay and eat".
And because Jesus is holy, when He died on the cross for us, He not only forgave us our sins when we repented, He also gave us His holiness. Only the people God makes holy can be with Him. 1 Corinthians 1:30 tells us that when we are in Jesus (i.e. we belong to Him), He not only redeems us, but also makes us righteous & sanctifies us (or, makes us clean & holy people, separated from others who don't love God). That means we can stand before God and God only sees the holiness and righteousness of Jesus in us, Jesus who lives within us (by His Spirit), instead of seeing our sin. But if we do sin, we can quickly repent to God & he will forgive us and restore us as His precious holy children ( 1 John 1:9).
Here are a few verses that you can read together and discuss:
Leviticus 20:26 (God separated Israel as a holy people for Himself).
1 Samuel 2:2 (Hannah's prayer that there is no other God & nothing compared to His Holiness).
Isaiah 6:3 (the cry of praise by the seraphim (heavenly beings), who worship God continually declaring His Holiness).
Mark 1:23,24 (even the unclean spirits, as also the Devil, recognize the holiness of God & His Son).
A thoughtful child may ask, 'If I sin then don't I become unholy & God wouldn't love me anymore?' Then, you would have to talk about our sinful nature, of our propensity to sin, of repentance, of being forgiven. We aren't like God, One Who cannot sin at all - we can sin, we all sin but we must repent & hate that sin. God has made us holy by separating us from the Devil & the world & making us a part of His family. He wants us to be careful & always try to live to His Standards. If we fail Him, He won't cast us out, but wants us to say 'sorry' & enjoy being in His family to please Him in everything. I trust something here may be helpful Richard.
My apologies Richard, I gave a response based on your last question, not taking into account that the matter of 'being holy' was actually to be explained to a child.
Of course, the age of the child & its understanding of biblical Truth would determine our response. Probably a very young child would not be introduced to such a subject, nor would he hear it from a teacher. Given the child's age is between 6 & 12 for example, ages when they can understand yet inquisitive to everything they read or hear, I would approach it as follows:
Firstly, Define it: To be holy means to be unique (special), but separate from all other things, and absolutely pure and perfect, doing no wrong.
Secondly, Know It: God is Holy, which means He is distinct (totally different in character/person) from every other person or thing. His Holiness means that nothing can make Him less than perfect, even when He lives within us. Because God is Holy, sin can never touch Him. God's Holiness is an important reason why we worship (pray to) Him.
Thirdly, Talk about It: Ask: when you think about the word "holy," what do you think of? They may think of songs sung in church. Such as, 'Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty', or 'O Holy Night', might come to their minds. We say the word "holy" a lot at church. We pray to our 'Holy Father', we also say 'Holy Spirit', or we talk about how Jesus is Holy. But what does it mean to be holy? And can we also be holy like Him?
When we're talking about God or Jesus, the word 'holy' means two things. First, it means God is distinct or different from everything else that ever was or ever will be. He's the one & only God, and He is separate from His creation which has been affected by sin (of course, the child would need to know about sin & its outcomes). Secondly, it means that God cannot be corrupted or made to be anything less than holy (stained) by sin. He's uniquely perfect, totally untouched by sin. That means that Jesus His Son is too.
Deut. 32:22 - For a fire is kindled in mine anger, and shall burn unto the lowest hell, and shall consume the earth with her increase, and set on fire the foundations of the mountains.
Psalm 9:17 - For a fire is kindled in mine anger, and shall burn unto the lowest hell, and shall consume the earth with her increase, and set on fire the foundations of the mountains.
Psalm 86:13 - For great is thy mercy toward me: and thou hast delivered my soul from the lowest hell.
Isaiah 5:14 - Therefore hell hath enlarged herself, and opened her mouth without measure: and their glory, and their multitude, and their pomp, and he that rejoiceth, shall descend into it.
Mark 9 -
43 And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched:
44 Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.
45 And if thy foot offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter halt into life, than having two feet to be cast into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched:
46 Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.
47 And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out: it is better for thee to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire:
48 Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.
I believe in a literal heaven and a literal hell, based on the Word of Him Who can not lie! Glory to God!
Again, grace to you ELB! Have a good weekend ahead!
Deut. 4:39 - Know therefore this day, and consider it in thine heart, that the Lord He is God in heaven above, and upon the earth beneath: there is none else.
Deut. 10:14 -Behold, the heaven and the heaven of heavens is the Lord's thy God, the earth also, with all that therein is.
Isaiah 66:1 - Thus saith the Lord, The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool: where is the house that ye build unto me? and where is the place of my rest?
1 Thes. 4:16 - For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
Isaiah 6:1,2 - Though these verses do not say 'heaven', we've already established that heaven is God's throne, and He, and other inhabitants live there! ---
In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple.
2 Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly.
John 14:2 2 - In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you
The Father lives where His throne is, i.e., heaven.
Space doesn't allow me to continue with more 'heaven' verses, and there's not enough room left to look at 'hell', so I'll do a 2nd reply!
According to this dangerous practice the Bible exists only to help you learn more about yourself, and if it doesn't, then it can be replaced by any other book, scientist, experience, or gut feeling.
After all, the words are not what matter, and it is not about adhering to any one tradition. All that matters is whether you find solace, benefit, or help from how you read it.
This approach is identified by the question, "what does it say to you?"
Objective truth and facts cannot be understood without taking something literally. Spiritualizing is subjective.
Conclusion
Spiritualizing the Bible is the enemy of Bible believing dispensational study which tries to understand the meaning of God's words by the words.
Any attempt to retranslate, change the words, spiritualize, or otherwise separate the interpretation from the doctrinal and historical context of words on the page will lead to ignorance of the truth of God and his will.
If the Bible should be left alone and words matter to deliver meaning, then the Bible should be read literally.
This will eventually lead you to mid-Acts Pauline dispensational Bible study, understanding the truth, and knowing God's will.
One of the problems with over-spiritualizing is that you can forget the real meaning of the thing you are over-spiritualizing.
This causes over-spiritualization to have a devastating impact on the credibility of the church.
Another problem with over-spiritualizing is its propensity to narrate the wrong view of God. Those people and groups that excel in over exaggerating and over spiritualizing hardly give God any room in the normal workings of the world. He is omitted and ignored in the daily cycles of life and in simple acts of kindness. Yet Scripture says otherwise, God makes the sun and rain shine and fall on everyone
( Matthew 5:45.)
Just have to follow His written word, and you will walk in the right direction ( Joshua 1:8 ).
It is called spiritualizing the text because nothing has a solid and specific application. Instead, the Bible teaches only general moral principles. In this case, the meaning is not forced into a rigid structure and definition formed by words.
Exact words matter less in this approach, and it has led to the multitude of colloquial and casual Bible translations and even visual Bibles that intend to preserve the meaning without the words. There must be many of these options because resting on any one form of words would lead back to a literal reading.
Spiritualizing Leads to Not Knowing
In the case of the spiritual allegorical way of reading the Bible, the question arises as to how you know your interpretation is correct?
There are only two answers to this question.
The first option is that an educated expert or group of such experts must tell you if your interpretation is correct.
This only serves to divorce you, as an uneducated layman, away from interpreting the printed words of God for yourself. You are captive to other men's interpretations which stand upon the strength of numbers, tradition, or extra-Biblical visions, revelations, positions, etc.
In this way of interpreting the Bible you must rely on commentaries, church historians, and the tradition of your elders to know how to explain passages in the scripture.
You cannot know without them.
The way you know you are correct in this way of interpretation is not by trusting God's words, but by conforming to man's tradition.
Spiritualizing Leads to No Objective Truth
The second option is that there is no correct way to interpret the Bible. The idea that the Bible is communicating one objective truth to everyone that reads it is anathema from this perspective.
In this approach, the authority is solely upon your subjective feelings, circumstances, and needs.
Once we have taken those steps mentioned in part 1 we come to dispensational Bible study is the product of taking the Bible literally.
The opposite of taking the Bible literally is spiritualizing, also known as mystical or allegorical study of the Bible.
This is dangerous because it makes God's actual words unimportant, makes the Bible text itself irrelevant, and inhibits understanding the truth of God's revealed will.
Taking the Bible Literally
The word "literally" has fallen on hard times in the culture. People use the word, but not according to what it truly means.
'Literal' means according to the letter and word. If something literally happened, then it actually happened exactly as the words describe.
(If my mind was literally blown, then I could not be writing this and would not have a brain.)
Taking something literally requires adhering to the words exactly without imagination or exaggeration.
Taking the Bible literally is the idea that the meaning or interpretation is limited by the words that are used printed in black and white on the page. This requires attention and importance be given to every word. Words deliver meaning.
This is the approach that claims that God means what he said.
Spiritualizing the Bible
Not taking the Bible literally is when the interpretation is limited only by the imagination of the reader. This is to say, the meaning is not truly limited at all. It can mean whatever the receiver perceives it to mean and is often defined by outside authorities like tradition or popularity.
This is the approach that says that whoever wrote the Bible (it is not required to literally be God) did not say exactly what they mean.
This is called mystical because the meaning is secret and not clearly expressed in the words on the page.
It is called allegorical because it assumes the entire Bible must be representative of something else.
GBU
The Bible is a both a Book of historical facts as well as a Book that leads the reader into spiritual Truth & challenge. Where concepts such as parables & allegories are clearly indicated, we need to learn & heed. Where they are not given, the Words written are to be read simply "without imagination or exaggeration". To do anything else that's intended, is to virtually re-write the Bible according to one's whims & fancies. I will admit though, the the Holy Spirit can, & often does, take a Word and apply to the reader's heart which may otherwise seem inconsistent to the normal understanding of that Scripture. In this instance, I see it as 'that Word from the Lord' that is given for personal reception & application & not for public circulation or promoting some new teaching.
Much more could be added, but your presentation deals with this important matter very well. Thanks again.
Sadly, flip-flopping is the kind of action that negatively affects their walk with God. This kind of flip-flopping is a change of mind. It's a decision to reverse an earlier decision. Flip-flopping faith seems common among some who say they believe God one day but easily change their minds the next.
Apostle James wrote about flip-flopping Faith. He said, "A double-minded man is unstable in all his ways" ( James 1:8). A double-minded man is someone that believes today but changes his mind tomorrow. This is the flip-flopping saint that can't be trusted. He is double-minded. He is not dependable, breaks rank, is lukewarm, and doesn't keep his word. The Holy Spirit says this person is unstable and double-minded. You should be careful around such a person.
Abraham refused to walk in flip-flopping faith. The Bible says, "He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; And being fully persuaded that what he had promised he was able also to perform" ( Romans 4:20-21).
Flip-floppers can never please God. Remember, faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God. Don't let the seed of God's word fall on hard ground. Build your house on the rock. Scripture declares, "And these are they which are sown on good ground; such as hear the word, and receive it, and bring forth fruit, some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some a hundred" ( Mark 4:20). God rewards steadfastness.
Watch your walk. As already said, be careful around flip-flopping faith. Stagger not in unbelief but give glory to God. Think about this. "God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?" ( Numbers 23:19)
Listen to this song: "Lay Down This World" by Darrell Mansfield
I think it sets us apart, as followers of Jesus; to dress modestly. To let the Light of Jesus be what attracts others to us. A prospective husband is well able to be attracted your inner beauty first.
The four loves in the Bible:
* Storge - empathy bond.
* Philia - friend bond.
* Eros - romantic love.
* Agape - unconditional (God kind of love)
Other types of love:
* Philautia - Self-love.
* Pragma - Enduring Love.
* Ludus - Playful Love.
* Mania - Obsessive Love
Agapelove is the highest level of love referenced in the Bible. This form of love is everlasting and sacrificial, whether or not the giver receives the same level of love in return. In the original Greek translation of the Scriptural passage "God is love," the word agapewas specifically used to identify the type of love God embodies ( 1 John 4:8,
1 Corinthians 13, John 21:17)
Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible
And they drew Alexander out of the multitude,.... Or "some of the multitude brought forth Alexander"; into the theatre, in order to kill him, by casting him to the wild beasts. Some think this is the same with Alexander the coppersmith, who apostatized upon this danger he was exposed to, and became a blasphemer, and a great enemy of the apostle, and did him much evil, 1 Timothy 1:20. This man, though his name was a Greek name, yet was a Jew, as is expressed in Acts 19:34 and from the times of Alexander the great, who was at Jerusalem, this name became common among the Jews; See Gill on Acts 4:6.
The Jews putting him forward; being equally enemies to him, as being under a profession of Christianity, as the Heathens were; or as the Syriac version reads, "the people of the Jews", that were there, out of themselves, pitched upon him as a proper person to still the uproar; and they brought him out of the multitude, to a convenient place, where he might be heard; and they the rather were forward to this, that he might lay all the blame of this confusion and uproar upon Paul and his companions, whom the Jews had an aversion to, as well as the Gentiles:
and Alexander beckoned with the hand; for silence, that he might be heard:
and would have made his defence unto the people; which looks as if he was a Christian, or at least was charged with being one, and was in danger of his life on that account; and therefore was desirous of being heard, that he might make an apology for the Christians, or remove such an imputation from himself, if he was not.
2 Kings 14:26
For the LORD saw the affliction of Israel, that it was very bitter: for there was not any shut up, nor any left, nor any helper for Israel.
Job 30:13
They mar my path, they set forward my calamity, they have no helper.
Psalms 10:14
Thou hast seen it; for thou beholdest mischief and spite, to requite it with thy hand: the poor committeth himself unto thee; thou art the helper of the fatherless.
Psalms 30:10
Hear, O LORD, and have mercy upon me: LORD, be thou my helper.
Psalms 54:4
Behold, God is mine helper: the Lord is with them that uphold my soul.
Psalms 72:12
For he shall deliver the needy when he crieth; the poor also, and him that hath no helper.
Romans 16:9
Salute Urbane, our helper in Christ, and Stachys my beloved.
Hebrews 13:6
So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.
And there was war in heaven - Here Satan makes his grand opposition to the kingdom of God; but an end is now put to his accusing the saints before God. The cause goes against him, verses 10, 11, Revelation 12:10-11 and Michael executes the sentence. That Michael is a created angel, appears from his not daring, in disputing with Satan, Jude 9, to bring a railing accusation; but only saying, The Lord rebuke thee. And this modesty is implied in his very name; for Michael signifies, Who is like God? which implies also his deep reverence toward God, and distance from all self - exaltation. Satan would be like God: the very name of Michael asks, Who is like God? Not Satan; not the highest archangel. It is he likewise that is afterward employed to seize, bind, and imprison that proud spirit.
People's Bible Notes for Revelation 12:7,8 And there was war in heaven. The woman had been seen in heaven, and there she is seen to be assailed. She has, however, a champion who fights her battles.
The angel Micheal is called ( Dan. 12:1) a "prince"
Wesley's Notes for Acts 19:33
And they thrust forward - Namely, the artificers and workmen, Alexander - Probably some well - known Christian whom they saw in the crowd: the Jews pushing him on - To expose him to the more danger. And Alexander waving with his hand - In token of desiring silence, would have made a defence - For himself and his brethren.
People's Bible Notes for Acts 19:33
They drew Alexander out of the multitude. A Jew, evidently of great prominence, and put forward by the Jews, in order to disavow Paul, and to turn the tumult to their advantage. They wished to shift all blame on the Christians. The Gentile aversion to Jews was, however, too great to allow him a hearing.
1. Noah and the Ark
2. The Tower of Babel. How the Godhead (Father, Son, Holy Spirit) confused the languages. What Nimrod did with the tower.
3. Gideon. How he arose from being a coward and became a mighty general of God. His men lapped water like dogs and kept their armor on, and eyes looking for enemies. As in Don't get distracted.
4. Ruth and Naomi and how Naomi brought her and Boaz together.
5. How Queen Esther saved the nation of Israel. How she won and kept her husbands heart close to her. Defeated her enemies.
6. King David's humble beginnings as a shepherd boy that played a musical instrument.
7. Deborah who was a judge over Israel. Sometimes God uses a woman to lead a nation.
I'd get a highlighter marker and mark those passages in a special color, so you can just flip through the Bible. I learned to follow Jesus by what other people in the Bible did. Clearly you can see what is right and what Is the wrong way.
One day I was reading Ezekiel 37. The Holy Spirit nailed me in verse 3, concerning the messes and disasters in my life! I was gifted at it. He says can these bones live? Take a side trip to Ezekiel 12. Back to 37. He tells me to prophesy to the bones of my failures. I followed His leading and my dead hopes lived again.
Your niece can learn, that mistakes and bad judgement don't have to be fatal__dried out sun-baked bones. :)
I love of the story of the donkey that spoke.
And Peter walking on water, then he sees the waves and starts to sink. Like us when we see problems mount up like tsunamis in our lives. Peace, be still_in Jesus Name.
Just show her how we found deliverance and direction in the scriptures!
Memorizing scriptures is ok; but it is stories we hear that grow fast roots.
A quick check on some other translations, shows that the Darby Translation, Coverdale Bible (1535), Literal Standard Version, Young's Literal Translation, & a couple of others do show it as "slay and eat".
And because Jesus is holy, when He died on the cross for us, He not only forgave us our sins when we repented, He also gave us His holiness. Only the people God makes holy can be with Him. 1 Corinthians 1:30 tells us that when we are in Jesus (i.e. we belong to Him), He not only redeems us, but also makes us righteous & sanctifies us (or, makes us clean & holy people, separated from others who don't love God). That means we can stand before God and God only sees the holiness and righteousness of Jesus in us, Jesus who lives within us (by His Spirit), instead of seeing our sin. But if we do sin, we can quickly repent to God & he will forgive us and restore us as His precious holy children ( 1 John 1:9).
Here are a few verses that you can read together and discuss:
Leviticus 20:26 (God separated Israel as a holy people for Himself).
1 Samuel 2:2 (Hannah's prayer that there is no other God & nothing compared to His Holiness).
Isaiah 6:3 (the cry of praise by the seraphim (heavenly beings), who worship God continually declaring His Holiness).
Mark 1:23,24 (even the unclean spirits, as also the Devil, recognize the holiness of God & His Son).
A thoughtful child may ask, 'If I sin then don't I become unholy & God wouldn't love me anymore?' Then, you would have to talk about our sinful nature, of our propensity to sin, of repentance, of being forgiven. We aren't like God, One Who cannot sin at all - we can sin, we all sin but we must repent & hate that sin. God has made us holy by separating us from the Devil & the world & making us a part of His family. He wants us to be careful & always try to live to His Standards. If we fail Him, He won't cast us out, but wants us to say 'sorry' & enjoy being in His family to please Him in everything. I trust something here may be helpful Richard.
My apologies Richard, I gave a response based on your last question, not taking into account that the matter of 'being holy' was actually to be explained to a child.
Of course, the age of the child & its understanding of biblical Truth would determine our response. Probably a very young child would not be introduced to such a subject, nor would he hear it from a teacher. Given the child's age is between 6 & 12 for example, ages when they can understand yet inquisitive to everything they read or hear, I would approach it as follows:
Firstly, Define it: To be holy means to be unique (special), but separate from all other things, and absolutely pure and perfect, doing no wrong.
Secondly, Know It: God is Holy, which means He is distinct (totally different in character/person) from every other person or thing. His Holiness means that nothing can make Him less than perfect, even when He lives within us. Because God is Holy, sin can never touch Him. God's Holiness is an important reason why we worship (pray to) Him.
Thirdly, Talk about It: Ask: when you think about the word "holy," what do you think of? They may think of songs sung in church. Such as, 'Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty', or 'O Holy Night', might come to their minds. We say the word "holy" a lot at church. We pray to our 'Holy Father', we also say 'Holy Spirit', or we talk about how Jesus is Holy. But what does it mean to be holy? And can we also be holy like Him?
When we're talking about God or Jesus, the word 'holy' means two things. First, it means God is distinct or different from everything else that ever was or ever will be. He's the one & only God, and He is separate from His creation which has been affected by sin (of course, the child would need to know about sin & its outcomes). Secondly, it means that God cannot be corrupted or made to be anything less than holy (stained) by sin. He's uniquely perfect, totally untouched by sin. That means that Jesus His Son is too.
Hell:
Deut. 32:22 - For a fire is kindled in mine anger, and shall burn unto the lowest hell, and shall consume the earth with her increase, and set on fire the foundations of the mountains.
Psalm 9:17 - For a fire is kindled in mine anger, and shall burn unto the lowest hell, and shall consume the earth with her increase, and set on fire the foundations of the mountains.
Psalm 86:13 - For great is thy mercy toward me: and thou hast delivered my soul from the lowest hell.
Isaiah 5:14 - Therefore hell hath enlarged herself, and opened her mouth without measure: and their glory, and their multitude, and their pomp, and he that rejoiceth, shall descend into it.
Mark 9 -
43 And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched:
44 Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.
45 And if thy foot offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter halt into life, than having two feet to be cast into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched:
46 Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.
47 And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out: it is better for thee to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire:
48 Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.
I believe in a literal heaven and a literal hell, based on the Word of Him Who can not lie! Glory to God!
Again, grace to you ELB! Have a good weekend ahead!
Deut. 4:39 - Know therefore this day, and consider it in thine heart, that the Lord He is God in heaven above, and upon the earth beneath: there is none else.
Deut. 10:14 -Behold, the heaven and the heaven of heavens is the Lord's thy God, the earth also, with all that therein is.
Isaiah 66:1 - Thus saith the Lord, The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool: where is the house that ye build unto me? and where is the place of my rest?
1 Thes. 4:16 - For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
Isaiah 6:1,2 - Though these verses do not say 'heaven', we've already established that heaven is God's throne, and He, and other inhabitants live there! ---
In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple.
2 Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly.
John 14:2 2 - In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you
The Father lives where His throne is, i.e., heaven.
Space doesn't allow me to continue with more 'heaven' verses, and there's not enough room left to look at 'hell', so I'll do a 2nd reply!
Grace to you!
God Bless YOU!
According to this dangerous practice the Bible exists only to help you learn more about yourself, and if it doesn't, then it can be replaced by any other book, scientist, experience, or gut feeling.
After all, the words are not what matter, and it is not about adhering to any one tradition. All that matters is whether you find solace, benefit, or help from how you read it.
This approach is identified by the question, "what does it say to you?"
Objective truth and facts cannot be understood without taking something literally. Spiritualizing is subjective.
Conclusion
Spiritualizing the Bible is the enemy of Bible believing dispensational study which tries to understand the meaning of God's words by the words.
Any attempt to retranslate, change the words, spiritualize, or otherwise separate the interpretation from the doctrinal and historical context of words on the page will lead to ignorance of the truth of God and his will.
If the Bible should be left alone and words matter to deliver meaning, then the Bible should be read literally.
This will eventually lead you to mid-Acts Pauline dispensational Bible study, understanding the truth, and knowing God's will.
One of the problems with over-spiritualizing is that you can forget the real meaning of the thing you are over-spiritualizing.
This causes over-spiritualization to have a devastating impact on the credibility of the church.
Another problem with over-spiritualizing is its propensity to narrate the wrong view of God. Those people and groups that excel in over exaggerating and over spiritualizing hardly give God any room in the normal workings of the world. He is omitted and ignored in the daily cycles of life and in simple acts of kindness. Yet Scripture says otherwise, God makes the sun and rain shine and fall on everyone
( Matthew 5:45.)
Just have to follow His written word, and you will walk in the right direction ( Joshua 1:8 ).
God bless.
It is called spiritualizing the text because nothing has a solid and specific application. Instead, the Bible teaches only general moral principles. In this case, the meaning is not forced into a rigid structure and definition formed by words.
Exact words matter less in this approach, and it has led to the multitude of colloquial and casual Bible translations and even visual Bibles that intend to preserve the meaning without the words. There must be many of these options because resting on any one form of words would lead back to a literal reading.
Spiritualizing Leads to Not Knowing
In the case of the spiritual allegorical way of reading the Bible, the question arises as to how you know your interpretation is correct?
There are only two answers to this question.
The first option is that an educated expert or group of such experts must tell you if your interpretation is correct.
This only serves to divorce you, as an uneducated layman, away from interpreting the printed words of God for yourself. You are captive to other men's interpretations which stand upon the strength of numbers, tradition, or extra-Biblical visions, revelations, positions, etc.
In this way of interpreting the Bible you must rely on commentaries, church historians, and the tradition of your elders to know how to explain passages in the scripture.
You cannot know without them.
The way you know you are correct in this way of interpretation is not by trusting God's words, but by conforming to man's tradition.
Spiritualizing Leads to No Objective Truth
The second option is that there is no correct way to interpret the Bible. The idea that the Bible is communicating one objective truth to everyone that reads it is anathema from this perspective.
In this approach, the authority is solely upon your subjective feelings, circumstances, and needs.
See Part 4.
Once we have taken those steps mentioned in part 1 we come to dispensational Bible study is the product of taking the Bible literally.
The opposite of taking the Bible literally is spiritualizing, also known as mystical or allegorical study of the Bible.
This is dangerous because it makes God's actual words unimportant, makes the Bible text itself irrelevant, and inhibits understanding the truth of God's revealed will.
Taking the Bible Literally
The word "literally" has fallen on hard times in the culture. People use the word, but not according to what it truly means.
'Literal' means according to the letter and word. If something literally happened, then it actually happened exactly as the words describe.
(If my mind was literally blown, then I could not be writing this and would not have a brain.)
Taking something literally requires adhering to the words exactly without imagination or exaggeration.
Taking the Bible literally is the idea that the meaning or interpretation is limited by the words that are used printed in black and white on the page. This requires attention and importance be given to every word. Words deliver meaning.
This is the approach that claims that God means what he said.
Spiritualizing the Bible
Not taking the Bible literally is when the interpretation is limited only by the imagination of the reader. This is to say, the meaning is not truly limited at all. It can mean whatever the receiver perceives it to mean and is often defined by outside authorities like tradition or popularity.
This is the approach that says that whoever wrote the Bible (it is not required to literally be God) did not say exactly what they mean.
This is called mystical because the meaning is secret and not clearly expressed in the words on the page.
It is called allegorical because it assumes the entire Bible must be representative of something else.
See Part 3.