Does God use signs as a means to tell people to convert

[ask21771]

please answer

[ask21771]

HELP ME!!!

[sheila]

John 2;11...yes He did....and even gives a composite 'sign' in Matthew 24 of His coming and the end of the world. Also the admonition

to not be deceived for many would come in His name..with lying signs.

  it is written..the jews seek after signs and the greeks after knowledge.....Daniel speaks of knowledge increasing..........and the disciples were

given the sign in Matthew 24.   the deceived that said Lord Lord did we not do many things in your name ...will be saved

through the fire when He burns up those works that accompainied a false gospel with lying signs. It is an 'hour of trial' of sorts..with some

suffering 'loss" of what they thought they had[treasure laid up in heaven] but He keeps all men in this hour..even praying on the cross...

Father forgive them they know not what they do.....the hour of trial is the hour of judgement..where people learn righteousness...He must

cleanse and burn up deceptions/misunderstanding etc.[all the power of the wicked one].so the Holy spirit can convince the world of

sin,righteousness and judgement.   NOW is the Prince of this world judged that his works are wicked...deceiving men with a false gospel

and lying signs is very wicked!!!..so Christ must break up these wicked works..and does..... so the people may learn righteousness.


   carnal men[without understanding] have twisted the Gospel of Salvation of all men unto their own condemnation....how confused is that?

  that the very commandment/gospel that God is not counting man's trespass against him...become so twisted by the serpent that

   the "gospel" preached by many is a condemnation and et or ed of man.!   God has bound up all men in sin and error..that mercy

may be shown unto all.the beast overcome and killed the two wittness'es[testimony of Jesus and Holy spirit] Yes the Holy spirit has been

crucified too...did not satan embolden Ananais and Saphira to lie to the Holy spirit? did not Jesus pick Judas and say one of you is a devil/liar?

   the SPIRIT OF TRUTH that leads into all truth is also crucified..by a liar and thief........he has deceived the entire inhabited earth.....

   so saying every man is a liar and let God alone be found true, in order that you may be justified when you are judged is expiedient.

[ask21771]

I thought God converted people from within not with signs

[sheila]

O He gives signs..in heaven and earth...and even the sign of Jonah in the belly of the earth for 3 days...but even if a man come back from

the dead..they would not believe.

[ask21771]

What about synchronicities

[sheila]

in the scriptures..in Jesus day..when the religious leaders were all in an uproar at His teachings miracles and signs...a wise man said to them...

       if this is Not of God..nothing will come of it..but, if it be of God beware lest ye find ye be fighting against God.

[ask21771]

I DONT WANT TO BE A CHRISTIAN

[sheila]

 :laugh:  Jonah didn't want to go to Ninevah either. Moses really didn't want to go speak to Pharoah..Jesus prayed....O'My Father...

  if it be possible..let this cup pass from me; nevertheless,not as I will but as Thou wilt. 

[Ross]

ask21771;
How does a child know they belong to a family?
I.M.O personal contact which speaks to the heart, and is backed up by indications in their environment.
Could use some signs, but they would be meaningful to the individual; these to me are like re-enforcements of the truth.

Through all this the words that speak to the heart, the scriptures, are the key.

I.M.O This is when Christ chooses to open your eyes, just like when a parent speaks to the child alone. Bit by bit their is growth from the whole surroundings.
Please do not go by mans' interpretation of growth or conversion;
after all the truth is to set us free, not to bind us up to a gloomy future.

Romans 8;38,39 highlight that NOTHING can keep us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

[Dandelion]

Three examples that I can think of, during Jesus' life, were when he was baptized, His transfiguration, and His death on Calvary.

During His baptism, the voice of His heavenly father was heard by the crowd, gathered, which said, "This is my beloved son, in whom I am well pleased."

Then, on the hill, when Jesus was transformed before some of the disciples eyes, into just a small bit of his glory.

When Jesus died, the earth shook, the dead were raised, and the curtain of the Holy of Holy places, in the temple, was torn in half, symbolizing the entry of man into the realm of being able to go to God,
without the High Priest.

All these were, I believe, meant to give concrete sight and sound to the presence of the Almighty, in Jesus' life.

In our own lives, I believe that God uses many signs.

I have many, many friends who had very clear signs from God, such as hearing voices, seeing visions, and so on. For some, that was the impetous to convert. Some signs are more subtle, but just as genuine.

These signs teach us to believe and trust.

One story is on the website of Samantha's lil' Bit of Heaven, East Northport, New York.

Another such story is told by Julie Woodley of Restoring the Heart Ministry. You can also find her story on the website.

She also wrote a book, entitled: A Wildflower Grows in Brooklyn.

They are both friends of mine.

D.

[idontknow]

I DONT WANT TO BE A CHRISTIAN

I didn't want to be a Christian either yet here i am...

[marie glen]

I think when we don't want to be a Christian (a believer) it may be because we have the incorrect notion of what a christian is! Is it the pattern of drop all your friends, join a church and now only read the bible and pray?

I'm always very baffled by such a notion.. but I think it's kind of strong. Humans are so given to extremes.. (then there's the 'other' camp that figures anything goes.. drunkeness, fornication.. all those things that lead to depression, and the lack and failure of life!)

I changed a lot when I became a believer.. And I suppose some folks, hanging around with a lot of shifty people, outlaws or something, should drop out of that circle of folks.. Maybe I was just 'lucky' and the people I identified with weren't dire influences.. Though now some 30+ years later, some are pretty die hard atheists and (gulp, of that other political persuasion :laughing7: ) but yet others are also believers these days.. I still get to hang out, tho hubby and i are less social than we used to be.. We even recently had a 'hippie' wedding.. my son and daughter in law's wedding.. (they asked me to officiate!) We have parties once in awhile, take camping trips with relatives, and friends, and with our son's friends. And i can't remember the last time, for instance, I drank too much or something and made a fool of myself.. Because Jesus changed me inside and within.

The Lord didn't take anything away from me that was good. He just made everything richer and better.. I quit disliking some folks, fearing others and competing.. And He poured a whole bunch of love into my heart, and as long as it flows, He pours in more.. The joy (and peace) is unbelievable! There are times He makes us believers sing and dance.. for joy.. Sometimes it's almost like when dreaming of dancing and feet leave the ground in a sort of dancing and flying.. Yep, sometimes, especially after finding others who believe the true and total gospel/good news, I tell friends "i don't know if you've noticed but my feet no longer touch the ground!" (Especially since being strengthened in UR belief/faith.)

But of course, the best times are those times alone with the Lord.. which as a housewife I was able to have quite a bit of.. especially as I'm a bit of a hermit.. especially spiritually.. Though I did just recently worship with an awesome group of folks in their church.. who i mean to connect with online when I remember to do so.. (I'm not bragging about not belonging to a church, tho I did try.. it's a flaw of mine, I start conforming to somebody I'm not.. I think i have a problem with authority figures. too, left over from a challenging childhood.. but one of these days I may join a neighborhood church.. If they don't all fall away that is, into semi atheism..)

I just think too many get carried away with the new christian identity.. we're still the same person.. Life just gets better, and we lose what holds us back! He built us. He has the utter best blueprint of each one of us. Instead of christians changing their self, we just need to let Him in and let Him (naturally) change us.. I guess it's a thing of trust. "We shall be like Him, for we shall" (finally?) "see Him as He is."

I can't speak for every one, but I get a lot of synchronicity in my life.. I figure because I'm so hard headed and hard of hearing.. Otherwise, I imagine He would just speak and I would hear.. We all hear Him some, of course.. Synchronicity, like little arrows confirming, 'this way'.. Go this way..

Of course there's the darker source of miracles and wonders, both spiritual and scientific (modern marvels).. That's why we stay rooted firmly in His Word, the bible.. that oh so slim volume of the New Testament.. (daily bread and new wine)..
:Peace2: I pray for you the best!!

[eaglesway]

Perhaps you do not want to be what you have seen a Christian to be, and their is no blame in that, To be a Christian is to love, and to be connected to the source of love. To be like Jesus, to walk humbly and honestly in this dark world, loving and forgiving- and to drink of the water of life, poured out freely by Him- His mercies are new every morning.

[RonnyTX]

I DONT WANT TO BE A CHRISTIAN

Ronny to Ask:
And I think I can understand that, when I think of some things, that go by the name Christian.  But it will be a different matter, once you are saved/born of God. For in God doing that for you, you will come to learn just how greatly God/Jesus Christ, really does love you. :-)  And that love of God that will flow out on you, that will cause you to love all people and have the great desire, for them to then have the same type of relationship with God/Jesus Christ, as you then have. :-)  So, such will be a great thing for you, when God brings such about, in your life and in your being. :-) Now you can't know that now; but the time is coming, when you will experience and know such. :-)

[RonnyTX]

Perhaps you do not want to be what you have seen a Christian to be, and their is no blame in that, To be a Christian is to love, and to be connected to the source of love. To be like Jesus, to walk humbly and honestly in this dark world, loving and forgiving- and to drink of the water of life, poured out freely by Him- His mercies are new every morning.

Ronny to Eaglesway:
Amen and amen!  :dsunny: :iagree:

[Caffus]

To me being a Christian is to follow Christ to learn to love as He loved and He does this work in our hearts, when we have true fiath in His healing love and yes, He also gives us our fiath. When He gives it to you, you will rejoce over it and count it as your greatest treasure.  :HeartThrob: :Pray:

[rosered]

 :HeartThrob:   

Good question  what makes  folks change their minds and hearts   , for me it is   the
Holy Spirit    in Power  the Light  that shines    to come  and convict   one  of sin /error  being in that darkness and not knowing Gods LOVE for all ..

  The Promise of the Holy Spirit
(Joel 2:28-32; John 14:15-26; Acts 2:1-13; Acts 10:44-48; Acts 19:1-7)
5Now, however, I am going to Him who sent Me; yet none of you asks Me, 'Where are You going?'


6Instead, your hearts are filled with sorrow because I have told you these things.

7But I tell you the truth, it is for your benefit that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you.

8And when He comes, He will convict the world in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment:


9in regard to sin, because they do not believe in Me;


10in regard to righteousness, because I am going to the Father and you will no longer see Me;


11and in regard to judgment, because the prince of this world already stands condemned.

12I still have much to tell you, but you cannot yet bear to hear it.

13  However, when the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all truth.

For He will not speak on His own, but He will speak what He hears, and He will declare to you what is to come.

14He will glorify Me by taking from what is Mine and disclosing it to you.


15  Everything that belongs to the Father is Mine.

That is why I said that the Spirit will take from what is Mine and disclose it to you.

dis·close
disˈklōz/Submit
verb
make (secret or new information) known.
"they disclosed her name to the press"
synonyms:   reveal, make known, divulge, tell, impart, communicate, pass on, vouchsafe; More
allow (something) to be seen, especially by uncovering it.
"he cleared away the grass and disclosed a narrow opening descending into the darkness"
synonyms:   uncover, reveal, show, expose, bring to light



16In a little while you will see Me no longer, and then after a little while you will see Me."