Religions and Revealed Knowledge

MusicLover123 · March 17, 2018, 04:08:42 AM

Hey all, just some quick thoughts...

In terms of other religions(religion in general?) would it be the case that God "hears" and maybe even "answers" other religious people's prayers?

We see in Romans that God is clearly seen throughout Creation, so that man is without excuse, so how much, if any, do these other religious groups have revealed to them by God; how much of that veil has been removed for them as opposed to True Believers?

Lastly, since Christ strengthens us to do all things, and we cannot do good ourselves. what do we call the "unbelievers" (not yet saved) who appear to do good works? Is Christ in everyone, yet has not taken full effect in everyone until later?

A bit of thinking out loud here :Chinscratch:

Blessings

WhiteWings · March 17, 2018, 08:13:48 AM

God hears everthing. Every prayer, every thought, every word, every joke, just everything of everyone.

Nobody comes to Jesus usless the father draws them. So if people convert to Christianity it may be an action of God Himself.

My thoughts on what faith is, is different of that what most Christians believe. Faith has two components, thought and actions. Some have faith, some have actions, some have both.
(the good samaritan parable may be about that).

The sheep and goat judgement clearly shows those with both go to heaven. Those with only faith go to LoF.
But what about those with only works?

Can't find anything about that in the Bible but if we look at the parable, the helping of others really pleases God.
If so, why would a muslim caring for the sick, poor, depressed, etc, be of any less value than a Christian doing the same thing? (speaking purely about the works intself, not the religion)
What would God be more pleased with a muslim with a bad religion but caring works, or a selfish Christian pew warmer?

rosered · March 17, 2018, 04:43:23 PM

Quote from: MusicLover123 on March 17, 2018, 04:08:42 AM
Hey all, just some quick thoughts...

In terms of other religions(religion in general?) would it be the case that God "hears" and maybe even "answers" other religious people's prayers?

We see in Romans that God is clearly seen throughout Creation, so that man is without excuse, so how much, if any, do these other religious groups have revealed to them by God; how much of that veil has been removed for them as opposed to True Believers?

Lastly, since Christ strengthens us to do all things, and we cannot do good ourselves. what do we call the "unbelievers" (not yet saved) who appear to do good works? Is Christ in everyone, yet has not taken full effect in everyone until later?

A bit of thinking out loud here :Chinscratch:

Blessings

God promises to destroy to works of the devil [ Jesus is in ALL authority now :dsunny:

Lord of the living and the dead , satan lost that power though the CROSS , but we also have to die to the world in order for the things of God to begin to happen in our hearts
God knows the heart motives , anyone seeking Him will not be disappointed.

In the book of Revelation we have God taking vengeance upon anyone dying in the Lord , innocence

for the guilty it has been going on for ages but God in his patience has waited and waited even for Babylon that great whore of the earth to repent , but she will be made a huge example of what God means to deceive and rob and steal and kill and use the innocent in the world to make Herself glorious and fool even the very elect if it were possible ...

I have thought of Daniel 12 and how at the Cross of Christ , the Lord raised up everything into HIMSELF dead and living being all , this is why the lawlessness has increased in these last days , everything is being openly shown for what it is and no one can hide behind excuses any longer as God did not deal with them yet , but waited till the Lord come , and HE DID in the fullness of time come as a human born of woman under the law and was prepared to make known everything that was hidden from the ages till now !!

And is conquering by the SWORD OF HIS strength all evil and death shall be done away with in Christ .

14The beginning of strife is like letting out water, So abandon the quarrel before it breaks out. 15He who justifies the wicked and he who condemns the righteous, Both of them alike are an abomination to the LORD. 16Why is there a price in the hand of a fool to buy wisdom, When he has no sense?...

Exodus 23:7
"Keep far from a false charge, and do not kill the innocent or the righteous, for I will not acquit the guilty.

Psalm 94:21
They band themselves together against the life of the righteous And condemn the innocent to death.

Proverbs 17:26
It is also not good to fine the righteous, Nor to strike the noble for their uprightness.

Proverbs 18:5
To show partiality to the wicked is not good, Nor to thrust aside the righteous in judgment.

Proverbs 24:24
He who says to the wicked, "You are righteous," Peoples will curse him, nations will abhor him;

Proverbs 31:5
For they will drink and forget what is decreed, And pervert the rights of all the afflicted.

Isaiah 5:20
Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who substitute darkness for light and light for darkness; Who substitute bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!

Isaiah 5:23
Who justify the wicked for a bribe, And take away the rights of the ones who are in the right!

Lamentations 3:35
To deprive a man of justice In the presence of the Most High,

Revelations being the revealing of Christ is being fulfilled and laid bare right before our very eyes :2c:

the great battle of the supper of GOD and the gathering place of the 7 trumpets messengers Revelation 9:13-19 the 6th have been blowing already as the 7th are sounding the warnings to take place shortly from the cross of Jesus Christ , many believe this is already going on , for me we have seen the evil increase drastically over the past 2000 years when Christ come to show us the way and truth and life and look at the past 200 years when this tiny nation of the US rose up out of the earth to become and great power and spectacle as the world is seeing it all go down by the Spirit of prophecy .

we have to consider the fact that one day in Gods sight is 1000 years to us , so when we see these things happening it is for us to take heed to the warnings and share what God has declared from the beginning what is in our hearts

I have no desire to place fear in the hearts of believers , but the truth is what sets us free and if the fear of the Lord is the beginning of Wisdom of the Holy Spirit working in us , because the devils do know and tremble at His Word , than what of us that are learning just what the righteousness of God really is .

All is being completed in Jesus Christ HE is getting things done and quickly !!! we are to get in and be Hid in Him totally
till all this madness and overflowing scourge of destruction passes though the earth .

ephesians 1 Thanksgiving and Prayer

15 For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints,

16 I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers,

17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him,

18 having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints,

19 and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might 20 that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places,

21 far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come.

22 And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.

When Paul wrote this by the Spirit of prophecy and revealing the LORD to us , many were still under the law and ministration of death , as was I also , being a servant and not knowing the will of GOD .

But when the Lord come in my own heart and made me know the will of God , I have become his child and though I have not inherited everything yet , like all of us , His children and offspring

we differ only from servitude in this , when He served us by giving us everything , he than become our Master

and the world was no longer was our master as slaves to sin nature , but have since taken on His likeness and Image and attributes , by the Holy Spirit bearing witness in the fruits and works of God in us , that we are the children of God ..

marie glen · March 17, 2018, 09:24:59 PM

Quote from: MusicLover123 on March 17, 2018, 04:08:42 AM
Hey all, just some quick thoughts...

In terms of other religions(religion in general?) would it be the case that God "hears" and maybe even "answers" other religious people's prayers?

We see in Romans that God is clearly seen throughout Creation, so that man is without excuse, so how much, if any, do these other religious groups have revealed to them by God; how much of that veil has been removed for them as opposed to True Believers?

I agree with the doctrine that no one chooses God.. but He chooses - and I think of it sort of like benefiting from something which is pretty much just a lucky shake of the heavenly dice.. I think imperfection, itself (period) is two things, death and a bottomless pit of potential. In order to prove Himself RIGHT about life and all things, all degrees of that pit have to be 'allowed' to unfold.. Like He removing His hand in all sorts of ascending degrees of that pit (which ends in death - at all degrees. Imperfection being opposite to Perfection/God/Life... Otherwise you don't let things run a natural course (unfold). And in order to do that? Create no rational creatures ever? - Am I straying? Forgetful of what we're even talking about? :laughing7:

When God became known to me I was camping in the Rocky Mountains. It was a beautiful day of hiking, and now I was sitting on the side of a mountain. I'd been studying world religions and astrology (yes, astrology) because of a very strong feeling, that, surely(?) there had to be more to life than just the day to day mundane. I was also in a class of two, one day a week, learning meditation.

I believe I 'knew' God a little bit and for a little while before knowing Jesus. Perhaps I should explain.. This is how it hapened,

One sunny day in the mountains, it seemed as though a thought drifted across the very blue sky and hit me in the head. :laughing7: What the thought said is "you've been learning about all the forces at work in the universe, what about the force that created the universe? And what if that force has consciousness?" And like a big light bulb turning on, I thought "God!" ...And I felt a Presence that although I never knew it, I had always known Him all along..

I did not learn about Jesus for at least a while, because whenever we were in the mountains.. there the quiet, peaceful, joyful God was... But when not in the mountains.. not really.. And I missed Him!!

Then one day, I had picked up a bible tract - could've even been a "Chick Publication"! :faint: Or not.. I don't remember any reference to hell.. but :dunno: ..The tract was called in big letters over a blue and pink sky "God's Great Plan Of Salvation". I read that tract four times and four times went into a room and prayed along the lines of, "is this really true?" Strangely, for those days, I happened to be home alone. After the 4th time, as the sun was setting west of us, over the mountains - same ones where God was! :gsmile: the sun sitting half way down atop the mountains, the light streamed from behind the mountains, into our living room through an inch gap in the curtains, across the room, and lit up the off television screen with (my meditation symbol) a brilliant 8 rayed star. Which I later identified as the star portrayed with the wise men from the east. (Who were likely astrologers, or so I've heard.. and doctors..etc.) Kind of a silly little thing, but I quit asking if believing in Jesus was real. That was in '79! (Never took to church.)

I believe most(?) indigenous faiths began on a truth someone 'discovered' and over time it was taken over.. etc.. grew.. Although now I have learned more and more how the king/priest systems created mythology involving "forever afterlife condition" of either blessedness, if one had done 'good' during life (behaved!) or of torment, if they had not been 'good'.

But somehow with all the threads of deception, I think there are threads of truth. Otherwise, if a whole tapestry is all lies, wouldn't it fall apart? I can't help thinking that!

Quote
Lastly, since Christ strengthens us to do all things, and we cannot do good ourselves. what do we call the "unbelievers" (not yet saved) who appear to do good works? Is Christ in everyone, yet has not taken full effect in everyone until later?

A bit of thinking out loud here :Chinscratch:

Blessings

:Chinscratch: ....very interesting... this surely deserves some thought...

I tend to think of any (most if not all) afterlife torment, as the torment one feels when they rise "still in their sins" and in the very presence of God and His bright radiant light.. If one has tormented others during their life, all of a sudden, for truth to come crashing in, and they realize just what depraved creature they became.. weeping.. gnashing of teeth! ...Outer darkness! :Chinscratch: ..If you spent your life not being SO awful.. or maybe you actually did quite a bit of good! - not enough to feel like you are all that.. not in His radiant Presence.. still some torment.. regrets.. even some burning shame.. But man.. not as tormenting as if you'd been a kingpin in the sex slave trade.. or some evil despot making thousands of lives unbearable cruel..

Yet.. It's all God' choice. The sad truth is, except for the grace of God.. there go I.

eaglesway · March 18, 2018, 01:02:36 AM

God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son.....

So, does He love us "after" "we choose" Him? or before? Does He love everyone? Or just those who "He pre-chose" to love Him?

:o) I believe God loves everyone, even His enemies. I believe He hears every honest prayer and sees into the very center of every heart. He ministers to the ignorant and sends trials to break even the most impenitent heart. He speaks, "Come let us reason togehter tho your sins be as scarlet they will become white as snow".

I believe God hears every prayer. The answer He gives is dependent upon His grace, His wisdom and the needs of the person praying(as He sees them).

MusicLover123 · March 18, 2018, 09:56:26 PM

MG:

I like your story! Lot's of interesting things to consider... :dsunny:

Quick question though. You mentioned some things on meditation? One thing I have not found a sufficient answer for on meditation is, what do these people who practice that get these supposed "benefits" from? Why do some claim to feel a certain "energy" when doing these kinds of things? Is it some kind of demonic influence? :dunno2:

I guess you could throw in Yoga with that as well.

MusicLover123 · March 18, 2018, 10:02:02 PM

Do not want to sound rude or anything, but I don't feel satisfied on one thing so far...

So, as others mentioned, we all agree that God hears, see's, and loves everyone, correct?

But, does God answer anyone's prayer? Or only as a believer?

Imagine this. Suppose I am a Muslim in a faraway country. I have never heard of Christ or anything, and am only aware of Islam and consider myself to be a devout Muslim. My family is struggling, and I pray that my family be healed and be safe. Maybe even some financial help too. Would God fulfill that prayer? Not just say "no" for the time being, but actually make these things happen?

If I missed anything in others posts that answer this, please forgive me...

CHB · March 18, 2018, 10:25:10 PM

Just my personal opinion but I think God looks on the heart not on what religion we are associated with. I had prayers answered when I was in the WWCG. We only see hear and believe what God gives us. "By the grace of God go I". I am thankful he opened my eyes to see the salvation of all.

CHB

GodIsLove · March 18, 2018, 11:52:47 PM

My thoughts:

These two verses seem to explain why some prayers are answered and some are not:

1 John 5:14-15

And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him.

James 4:3

You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions.

So yes, I believe someone from another religion can pray to God and he will know their motive and what is in their heart.

marie glen · March 19, 2018, 06:50:32 PM

Quote from: MusicLover123 on March 18, 2018, 09:56:26 PM
MG:

I like your story! Lot's of interesting things to consider... :dsunny:

Quick question though. You mentioned some things on meditation? One thing I have not found a sufficient answer for on meditation is, what do these people who practice that get these supposed "benefits" from? Why do some claim to feel a certain "energy" when doing these kinds of things? Is it some kind of demonic influence? :dunno2:

I guess you could throw in Yoga with that as well.

I don't know what others think or even use it for.. Yoga keeps one limber.. and when I meditated, I had learned about God.. so my perception was meditation was to try to still one's mind, quiet enough to 'hear' (sense) the 'voice' of God..

I think others who practice it, some share the reason why I did.. and others perhaps differently?

I don't practice it any more.. since finding Jesus and the bible, and "meditation on His Word" (ps 1)

But I do still seek quiet times to study.. seek, listen.. I feel like recently the Lord let me know my prayer times were too noisy!

I'm sure there can be demonic influence.. But also I think on its own.. as yoga bodily exercise, and the quieting of one's mind.. is simply that.

If it gets tied up with 'religion' or 'new age' etc.. then I think demonic influence would be more likely.

I also think anything Satan&co seem to have 'control' of dominion of, has been confiscated and stolen from God! Deep breathing, of itself.. how could that be satanic.. but built into a religious or new age system, it could become so..

To me, the sWord of God, in our mind and heart, the tip of that sword can separate in tapestries, threads of truth from threads of error and vice versa.

Take the Native Americans of the U.S... the churches declared all they believed to be evil and tried to force their conversion to christianity.. and it was beastly and abusive. Wouldn't it have been better to seek common ground and friendship first and then build upon that.. after all, there certainly seems to me to be some truth behind the idea of a "Great Spirit".

The "energy" I felt, I do believe was of God.. when doing yoga the instructions were, it seemed to me to envision "the light" streaming through one as they stretched.. All I know is, although all I do now is an occasional stretching, ballet type exercise, once in a great while, but to this day, age 62, I can still touch the floor without bending my knees..

I think stretching, deep breathing gives energy (vitality, life! which "spirit" returns to God upon death; this same vitality condensed, I think of as the Holy Spirit as I think God iS life.)

I do not practice either any more for years and years now.. but the practice of meditating to quiet one's inner self, deep breathing and stretching.. I do not feel are 'evil' of their self.. But like anything can be used and abused for satanic ends.

Something else, I have noticed. The Christian God portrayed as angry, vindictive, will throw ppl to hell.. is not the real God and creator, but is a masquerade, I believe is closer to being satan than Yhvh. And stands in front of the real God, who is love. And the God who is sought by monks of the far east, though not acknowledged as Yhvh.. seems much more so than the vindictive satanic one of ET!

I believe God is always calling.. So at the time of one's conversion, whether during this life or after ('day' of judgment?) one can see how He is always calling.. is in His nature..
:Peace2:

p.s. - about prayer before one is saved.. I think for sure God hears and responds.. but I also things His main focus is on the heart.. drawing them to the truth.. so one may pray for help, and who's to say God doesn't respond, but the bigger cause of God would be the heart.. Many Muslim folks are coming to the Lord.. or at least that's what I read from time to time.. Receiving visions etc.. of Jesus speaking to them, etc.. are these responses to prayers? idk Could be! :gsmile:

MusicLover123 · March 20, 2018, 03:06:47 AM

QuoteI don't know what others think or even use it for.. Yoga keeps one limber.. and when I meditated, I had learned about God.. so my perception was meditation was to try to still one's mind, quiet enough to 'hear' (sense) the 'voice' of God..

Ok, I have heard some voices in the past say that you cannot separate the philosophies of Buddhism and Hinduism from Yoga/Meditation. According to your post, I am guessing you disagree with that notion? From my guessing, the pose of meditation is to maintain "balance" or whatnot, as they believe in the "balance of the universe" or something, whatever that means...

QuoteI don't practice it any more.. since finding Jesus and the bible, and "meditation on His Word" (ps 1)

When we talk about meditating, is it strictly about reflecting on something, and the "pose" of meditating can be divided from reflection? I mean, since the pose apparently has effects on its user, there has to be something to it, right?

As I was reading on the NDERF website through their NDE stories, one user claimed that their NDE had them seeing "the energy of the universe" and said how it was nothing like typical Christian philosophies claimed about heaven and whatnot. He said he only gets this feeling again through meditation, so just trying to figure out of there is some wrong interpretation on his part, and what this energy he feels is. Did God just create this pose as another way to experience him? And, if one is to meditate in this sense, but also pray and reflect on Scripture at the same time, is that a good thing?

QuoteI also think anything Satan&co seem to have 'control' of dominion of, has been confiscated and stolen from God! Deep breathing, of itself.. how could that be satanic.. but built into a religious or new age system, it could become so..

You are familiar with new age philosophies and Buddhism and such, right? Well, how much truth do you think they have from God; how much of that veil has been removed in these systems?

QuoteTake the Native Americans of the U.S... the churches declared all they believed to be evil and tried to force their conversion to christianity.. and it was beastly and abusive. Wouldn't it have been better to seek common ground and friendship first and then build upon that.. after all, there certainly seems to me to be some truth behind the idea of a "Great Spirit".

When you dehumanize another person, and think of them as less than human (An animal, an object, or in this case an "unbeliever,") it becomes very easy to do these horrible things to others. In their minds, they were probably thinking that God does not care for these people, so why should we? I am not supporting these ideas, but only commenting on what happens when you view someone else as "less than human."

Speaking of the "Great Spirit" the Bible speaks of God as Spirit, yes?

QuoteI do not practice either any more for years and years now.. but the practice of meditating to quiet one's inner self, deep breathing and stretching.. I do not feel are 'evil' of their self.. But like anything can be used and abused for satanic ends.

Curious, if you do not view these things as satanic, then why don't you practice them anymore? Not complaining or telling you to lol, just wondering why.

QuoteSomething else, I have noticed. The Christian God portrayed as angry, vindictive, will throw ppl to hell.. is not the real God and creator, but is a masquerade, I believe is closer to being satan than Yhvh. And stands in front of the real God, who is love. And the God who is sought by monks of the far east, though not acknowledged as Yhvh.. seems much more so than the vindictive satanic one of ET!

Ooh, I have a good question for you. Do these people worship the same God, but call Him by a false name? Have these people experienced God in some sense, but have added lies into it? If so, by how much compared to us?

Quotep.s. - about prayer before one is saved.. I think for sure God hears and responds.. but I also things His main focus is on the heart.. drawing them to the truth.. so one may pray for help, and who's to say God doesn't respond, but the bigger cause of God would be the heart.. Many Muslim folks are coming to the Lord.. or at least that's what I read from time to time.. Receiving visions etc.. of Jesus speaking to them, etc.. are these responses to prayers? idk Could be! :gsmile:

I remember hearing about that a while ago! Pretty cool stuff if it is true. :boyheart:

One article from a while back said that God will not answer any prayer unless you are saved, or if it is a prayer for salvation.

eaglesway · March 20, 2018, 06:26:59 PM

Many have been saved because God answered their prayer. :o)

We often cede to many things to the religions and philosophies of the world. Meditation is not Buddhist or Hindu. Meditation is meditation... a quieting of ones soul in order to contemplate and commune. It is written of in the scriptures and was/is practiced by sages and prophets, children and servants of God since the beginning.

Since everyone began in darkness, God must have spoken into that darkness for EVERYONE before there was any light. However, the light was always the light(Logos, Christ), the darkness was always confusion because from the beginning the adversary has sought to twist the word of God into destruction.

And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, in whose case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. For we do not preach ourselves but Christ Jesus as Lord, and ourselves as your bond-servants for Jesus' sake. For God, who said, "Light shall shine out of darkness," is the One who has shone in our hearts to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.

He blinds through confusion, as an "angel of light to deceive" so we have to be devoted To Jesus and not to the world because the world is always trying to slip some poison in the soup. Pure devotion to Jesus is the only source of clarity and preservation in these last days where "even the very elect could be deceived" so while yoga is exercise and exercise is free from religious possession, same as meditation- if in it one is fellowshipping with spirits of confusion that are advancing yoga or meditation as "a way" or "the way" then it would be wise to beware, and imo, depart. Each one must exercise discernment, but there is very little that is "spiritually benign" in this world.

Jesus is the fountainhead of light, the Logos- "expressed thought" of God. All the wisdom and revelation of God is in Him and that is not something that binds and hides, because He is the fountain of living water and the source of all that is and He is gracious, giving out "exceedingly above and beyond all that we can ask or think" of wisdom and knowledge and glory in the Spirit.

He is the radiance of the Father's glory and exact representation of His nature.

I love to meditate in His temple and consider His glory and the greatness of His ways and to commune with Him in the quiet places. I dont need a priest or a monk or a special house or to pay somebody to teach me how to do it. I dont need a church or an ashram and I dont need to wear a special outfit, shave my head or grow my hair :laugh:. I just need my love for Him and the intense hunger for all that is real in Him to carry me like a hang glider as I tool around the mountains of spices(Song of Sol 8).

sheila · March 20, 2018, 06:53:58 PM

research 'kundalini"spirit associated with 'serious'yoga endeavours..and Indian'Magic'as some practice 'native american" exercize great caution..we don't want to

gather a serpent unto our breast..as we 'gather in the love of Christ "such'things' are wood for the fire... :2c:

MusicLover123 · April 05, 2018, 11:58:18 PM

So, the "meditation position" that is thought to go with meditation... Is not religious in and of itself either? If I were to do it, with deep breathing and all that, would be Ok?

(I have not myself, just wondering about it.)

marie glen · April 06, 2018, 05:21:36 AM

Quote from: MusicLover123 on April 05, 2018, 11:58:18 PM
So, the "meditation position" that is thought to go with meditation... Is not religious in and of itself either? If I were to do it, with deep breathing and all that, would be Ok?

(I have not myself, just wondering about it.)

Can you bend that much? :laughing7: Not me! Likely never could! I think other faiths are seeking the Light.. and Jesus is that light. I quit all that other stuff because the heavenly Father and Jesus are so wonderful! I think He granted me some glimpses in my seeking, but it was all so up and down.. Jesus is the door, so I realized all other seeking(s) just couldn't compare.

Once I climbed to the top of a mountain which had a big rock ledge at the top.. And I figured if I sat up there and prayed (sort of) and waited, why surely God would make Himself known! The only thing that happened was a sunburn! :laughing7: He has His way.. very orderly I'm thinking.. but the joy is limitless! "Sing! And make melody in your heart to the Lord!"

I guess I do believe in some self effort though. Along with "resting in the Lord" and resting "in His finished work". I'm not sure, but it seems to me that when I got serious with Him, He got serious with me.. Led me to yield, yield, yield.. then one day, when I felt like I'd gotten to yielding down to the very floor of my being.. is when He told me to start pulling up floor boards! :faint:

I think He leads each one of us as He will.. But a lot of it, I think is quieting our heart before Him, just quieting our self and mind in prayer.... I wouldn't mess with any of that other stuff. If satan&co make use of Christianity (in a sense? or in ways?) how much more any other system of belief! I have a niece, I love a lot, but don't see often.. but she mixes all this weird new age stuff with the Lord.. and so she's ever seeking.. never really finding.. I emphasize Jesus with her, but so far :dunno: Not that I'm worried or anything.. But I sure wish we could just give Him away! I think we can, but only when that other person is seriously seeking Him. Until then, we pray..

I've always had a good amount of time during my life and days, to seek Him and to study the bible. Nowadays I use my biblehub phone app whenever I'm reading and studying, so I can read verses in the interlinear with the links to the original greek and hebrew. So many things become so much clearer.. His word is how He talks to us.. Yes, we hear Him in our heart and mind, but it is via His word. I don't care what anyone else may say..In some circles they downgrade His word (and usually start spouting human 'wisdom'.. Lord help us!) The Bible is what God thinks. Other books are what ppl think. "Learn of Me" Jesus said. And the more we do the more joyful we are! Or at least that's true for me. The more I can hear His quiet voice/guiding/teaching (revealing) the happier I seem to be.

I can't remember if I answered your questions I hope so..

Eaglesway said it VERY well! And so did Sheila!

And you know, I believe there will be apocalyse and the further along we get the more confusion and strong spirit of - well, mind control there will be.. spiritual, political.. all ways.. I mean there's two crops.. the wheat harvest and the grapes of wrath.. [for now]. Discernment would be a good thing to have. I think too, during Judment 'Day' is when we will be able to examine all things as to what was true and what was false..

And in the 'end' there will be one tapestry and it will be made up of all and only, threads of Truth. :banana: :banana: :dsunny: :HeartThrob:

jabcat · April 06, 2018, 07:50:03 AM

:thumbsup: :dsunny: marie :)

jugghead · April 07, 2018, 11:46:55 AM

Quote from: eaglesway on March 20, 2018, 06:26:59 PM
Many have been saved because God answered their prayer. :o)

We often cede to many things to the religions and philosophies of the world. Meditation is not Buddhist or Hindu. Meditation is meditation... a quieting of ones soul in order to contemplate and commune. It is written of in the scriptures and was/is practiced by sages and prophets, children and servants of God since the beginning.

Since everyone began in darkness, God must have spoken into that darkness for EVERYONE before there was any light. However, the light was always the light(Logos, Christ), the darkness was always confusion because from the beginning the adversary has sought to twist the word of God into destruction.

And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, in whose case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. For we do not preach ourselves but Christ Jesus as Lord, and ourselves as your bond-servants for Jesus' sake. For God, who said, "Light shall shine out of darkness," is the One who has shone in our hearts to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.

He blinds through confusion, as an "angel of light to deceive" so we have to be devoted To Jesus and not to the world because the world is always trying to slip some poison in the soup. Pure devotion to Jesus is the only source of clarity and preservation in these last days where "even the very elect could be deceived" so while yoga is exercise and exercise is free from religious possession, same as meditation- if in it one is fellowshipping with spirits of confusion that are advancing yoga or meditation as "a way" or "the way" then it would be wise to beware, and imo, depart. Each one must exercise discernment, but there is very little that is "spiritually benign" in this world.

Jesus is the fountainhead of light, the Logos- "expressed thought" of God. All the wisdom and revelation of God is in Him and that is not something that binds and hides, because He is the fountain of living water and the source of all that is and He is gracious, giving out "exceedingly above and beyond all that we can ask or think" of wisdom and knowledge and glory in the Spirit.

He is the radiance of the Father's glory and exact representation of His nature.

I love to meditate in His temple and consider His glory and the greatness of His ways and to commune with Him in the quiet places. I dont need a priest or a monk or a special house or to pay somebody to teach me how to do it. I dont need a church or an ashram and I dont need to wear a special outfit, shave my head or grow my hair :laugh:. I just need my love for Him and the intense hunger for all that is real in Him to carry me like a hang glider as I tool around the mountains of spices(Song of Sol 8).

Must have missed this thread ..... excellent post EW, could not help but relate to what stuck out more than others at this point and it was:

the Logos- "expressed thought" of God.

when someone else I know spoke the words: a son is a thought communicated came rushing back by your words.

Same truth spoke differently which is also summed up by what you quoted also in:
He is the radiance of the Father's glory and exact representation of His nature.

How can He not be the exact representation of His nature since He is the expressed thought of God .... it is an impossibility not to be.

Blessings Brother

eaglesway · April 11, 2018, 08:55:28 AM

Amen jugghead. This truth is what saved me from religion.

I was initially saved by a sovereign revelation of Christ, but I became lost in religion- in the mazes of religiosity, the arrogance of churchmen, the service of knowledge instead of the "image" of Christ.

As God began to hammer into me the truth that the word, taken out of the context of the character of Christ, was no longer the word- I began to get free. The word was God in the beginning. The word became flesh. The light shines in the darkness and the darkness cannot overcome it because- "He is the radiance of the Father's glory and the exact representation of His nature and all things hold together by the word of His power". That for me, with "Christ crucified"- is the ultimate and only context within which the truth manifests as grace, love, liberty and fruitfulness.

If the real Jesus (not in name only but in character, in His "image"- laying down His life for the love of His adversaries) is not at the center, then the center cannot hold. This is why we see chaos and ignorance and division among those who claim to be His- but they think they are His because of something they know or something they say. I think we only become good representatives of Him when we have come to know Him "as He is".

The Word only brings life when it is broken and shared, even as He allowed Himself to be broken and shared and thus became The Light.

marie glen · April 11, 2018, 06:05:32 PM

"As God began to hammer into me the truth that the word, taken out of the context of the character of Christ, was no longer the word"!!

A-men!! :thumbsup: :thumbsup: Any doctrine, no matter how long, or strongly held, is not beyond examination, it simply MUST comply with his word, the Logos/Jesus and "man shall not live by bread alone but by every word of God" - and with the truth that "God is love", and "is perfect". Doctrine has to agree with our heavenly Father's attributes!

"We shall be like Him for we shall see Him as He is" - then the world could see Jesus, and that Jesus is "the exact representation of His person" - of Him! "All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the LORD"..

MusicLover123 · April 11, 2018, 06:59:37 PM

Quote from: eaglesway on April 11, 2018, 08:55:28 AM
This truth is what saved me from religion.

QuoteIf James (1:27) talks about true religion, than why would you not call yourself religious/Christian?

rosered · April 11, 2018, 09:32:58 PM

I so recall being very confused about anything to do with God .
Its scary ,and did do as the Bible warns , stumbled over His Word , it invoked great fear in me

I could never see the salvation of all with my own carnal mind and thinking with it . the dead know nothing , I was dead in sin and error and by nature an enemy of the cross of Christ .

Some scriptures make you doubt it big time that scarcely anyone can be saved .[ 1 Peter 4;18] :sigh:
But other scriptures seemed to agree it was possible . as all things are possible with God .

Why would the love of God fail anyone of us ? It is not Gods will that any should perish , I believe every last one of us has a son of perdition that has to perish in order for Christ to be lifted up from the earth to draw all men unto Him , It is His works after all, that the salvation comes . none are saved by their own works , but obedience to Christ so His greater works can be done and finish up what the law of sin and death could not do .

Until the Lord began to speak though the scriptures , I began to understand every last one of humanity is born of woman under the law [Adam & Eve] .

and is by its own nature an enemy against the Spirit .
But everyone is a spirit and has a soul and a natural body , we know this natural body is a temporary vessel that is changed when it is born again of the Spirit of God , that Christ seed by His Word is growing within [sons of God yet to be revealed while in the womb] , or it remains dormant , till faith by hearing the Spirit of Life starts the birthing process [ John 3 5 Jesus answered, "Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. 6 Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit.

7 You should not be surprised at my saying, 'You must be born again.'

8 The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going.

So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.

I believe that is the mystery of Gods will , no one knows when it comes upon them or where it is being led to go .

I believe this chaos the world is of , it is being judged by the WORD OF GOD , we can understand what suffering and death is by it ,

but in the same moment , so are those born again of the Spirit .

I believe this is why everyone is warned by the scriptures not to judge anything before the time , when the Lord comes With Light .

Many cannot see the kingdom of God , but only those that are born again of the Spirit and are healed by the Lord to see and hear and understand it and is growing in truth and grace by Gods increase , I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy and harden whom I will harden . Even Gods glory and POWER was seen in His dealings with Pharaoh [ROMANS 9 ]

Even the carnal nature we still contend with , does not get it , and never will . we cannot believe in what we think any longer , but believe in GOD ..

Our true battles are spiritual in nature , because the short stay of the flesh and blood are so very very temporary .

That was never going to inherit anything but death in the first place .

But all things glorify GOD !, until we can get that part understood , we will always be struggling with what is good and evil .

The tree of Life is when we can begin to be free from the law of sin and death and our struggles with it ..

The truth sets us free by faith in HIM and His perfect works , not of ourselves it is the gift of God . we can begin to truly rest in that hope when the LOVE OF GOD completes everything in CHRIST [ 1 Colossians 1 ]

as all death is swallowed up in victory though our Lord Jesus Christ .. the man in the ditch is as worthy of Gods love as the finest soldier , God has made all things for His glory and all praise to our Heavenly Father , will be made known to all ...

The Supremacy of the Son of God

15 The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.

16 For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him.

17 He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.

18 And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy.

19 For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him,

20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.

GODS Amazing grace how sweet the sound :dsunny: :HeartThrob:

Eph 1
8that He lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding.

9And He has made known to us the mystery of His will according to His good pleasure,

which He purposed in Christ

10as a plan for the fullness of time, to bring all things in heaven and on earth together in Christ....

eaglesway · April 12, 2018, 10:01:25 AM

QuoteIf James (1:27) talks about true religion, than why would you not call yourself religious/Christian?

[/quote]

There is true religion, as you posted, to visit orphans and to help widows in their affliction..... At the same time there are people who call themselves religious who have no idea who Jesus really is, what he taught, etc.

I am not at all ashamed to call myself a Christian, but a lot of religious garbage shelters under that umbrella and it is easy to get caught up in it- and lose the essence of God and the pursuit of the divine nature, the change of character and depth of understanding that ought to accompany faith in Christ.

rosered · April 12, 2018, 12:21:59 PM

Quote from: eaglesway on April 12, 2018, 10:01:25 AM

QuoteIf James (1:27) talks about true religion, than why would you not call yourself religious/Christian?

There is true religion, as you posted, to visit orphans and to help widows in their affliction..... At the same time there are people who call themselves religious who have no idea who Jesus really is, what he taught, etc.

I am not at all ashamed to call myself a Christian, but a lot of religious garbage shelters under that umbrella and it is easy to get caught up in it- and lose the essence of God and the pursuit of the divine nature, the change of character and depth of understanding that ought to accompany faith in Christ.
[/quote]

I agree John ,

The Babylon mixing by confusion .
Some having the form of godliness but deny the power ,

Jesus Christ is the wisdom & power of God , The very source , without Him we can no nothing , but deceive our own hearts by denying this Truth and way and Life .

Those desiring to be seen of men and seek the praises of men :sigh:
Jesus whom drank the cup of suffering for us all , that we might know the True Father , always in communion with Him asked for His Father's will / desire to be done and not his own , the true example we must come to accept in faith , by His working though those called and chosen to do His good pleasure in .

Philippians .2 Shining as Stars
(Matthew 5:13-16)

12Therefore, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not only in my presence, but now even more in my absence, continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling.

13For it is God who works in you to will and to act on behalf of His good pleasure.

14Do everything without complaining or arguing,

15so that you may be blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and perverse generation,

in which you shine as lights in the world

16as you hold forth the word of life, in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor in vain.

1Corn 1 24 but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.

25For the foolishness of God is wiser than man's wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man's strength.

I do believe Babylon is failing , given so much time to repent , by the Fathers long suffering and patience towards mankind

Pride of life being , a false spirit of idolatry worshiping many gods , causing to sin /error in judgment , lording over the many seeking God making them children of wrath cursed children 2 fold the sons of Gheena .

Gehenna from the Hebrew Gehinnom is a small valley in Jerusalem. In the Hebrew Bible, Gehenna was initially where some of the kings of Judah sacrificed their children by fire. Thereafter it was deemed to be cursed

Matt 23
... 15Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You traverse land and sea to win a single convert, and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much a son of hell/ Gheena as you are.

But the Lord says , one sinner that repents the angels of heaven rejoice in this !! true repentance , Jesus will confess them before the Father as His own ..

Luke 10 10In the same way, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of God's angels over one sinner who repents."

Matthew 10:32
Therefore everyone who confesses Me before men, I will also confess him before My Father in heaven.

Luke 12:8
I tell you, everyone who confesses Me before men, the Son of Man will also confess him before the angels of God.

Luke 12:9
But whoever denies Me before men will be denied before the angels of God.

Luke 15:7
In the same way, I tell you that there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous ones who do not need to repent.

True repentance makes us surrender an opposing worldly will and satans blinding those from the TRUE Light and Life , that is now able to receive the things of God by the Holy Spirit and a new Life in Christ by working and teaching us what Gods desire/will is for all mankind ..

Gods Kingdom come and will be done on earth as it is in heaven within you ... cleaning the inside of the cup first from all its dregs ,the most worthless part or parts of something.

Be Filled with the Holy Spirit , the good and perfect gifts of God though our Lord Jesus Christ works of the cross , destroying the works of satan , working death in us all and all whom it touches , making everything new and clean and holy by His covenant of Life over death that had been working in us though satans power leading astray ..

Matt 6 ;9 So then, this is how you should pray: 'Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name,

10 Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. 11 Give us this day our daily bread,...

Draw close to the Lord and He will us also , and do not touch the unclean thing ..

2 Corh 6 Do Not Be Unequally Yoked

...16What agreement can exist between the temple of God and idols?

For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said:

"I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be My people."

17"Therefore come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord.

Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you."

18And: "I will be a Father to you, and you will be My sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty."...

What wonderful promises of God to be fulfilled by the Lord Jesus Christ and all our hope depends on Him to finish it perfectly !!!

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