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| Reflections [message #7354] |
Sat, 18 September 2010 13:48  |
 james
Messages: 2138
Registered: April 2008
Location: Birmingham, AL |
Senior Member |
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This morning I was thinking about an encounter I had with a person this week who admitted to being prejudiced. It made me reflect upon my own preconceived opinions. The person is extremely liberal and usually asks questions in a manner that tries to instigate a conflict. He brought up Terry Jones(just in case you've been in a cave or asleep, he's the pastor from Florida who was going to burn copies of the Koran last Saturday) and how 'Christians' hated Muslims. I shared with him that Terry Jones didn't represent all of Christianity and that his views didn't always represent Biblical teachings. I used Osama Bin Laden as an example, he doesn't represent all Muslims in the world.(contrary to popular opinion, not all Muslims follow Shariah Law or support the Taliban...)(It goes without saying that we know that Islam is a false religion filled with deceptions from Satan)
I went on to point out that Todd Bentley wasn't a true representative of the Charismatic movement(as it started off, anyway...many today do seem to be about 'kookie fads'.) Sarah Palin and the 'conservative' Republican party aren't a reflection of true Christians, though many think they are. He finally said that he had to admit that he'd been prejudiced against Christianity due to the actions of a few, lumping together everyone as extremist.(we should be extreme and radical in the world's eye, but that's another discussion.)
So I had to confess that I too was prejudiced and that to various degrees, we all are. We have to be careful in what we say when trying to point out truths to others, if there's a glaring inconsistency in our own testimony, then our witness is often times negated.
This doesn't mean that I support Osama Bin Laden, Islam, the Taliban, Shariah Law, Terry Jones, burning the Koran, Todd Bentley, or Sarah Palin, or the Republican party...or the Democratic party...just so I'm not misunderstood, I'm just reflecting on how we all have prejudices.
“But God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us,”
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| Re: Reflections [message #7364 is a reply to message #7354] |
Tue, 21 September 2010 20:57  |
james
Messages: 2138
Registered: April 2008
Location: Birmingham, AL |
Senior Member |
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More reflections...
Just recently I heard this statement made, "You know a leopard can't change it's spots..." This was made in reference to someone who seems incorrigible and the 'hope' of them ever changing seems impossible. It was as if the person being spoken of was predisposed for destruction.
As I was reading Grandom's post on 'Faith or Desire' I was reminded of this and started thinking of the scripture in which it's found and how many people 'desire' to change their lives and can't...because they don't understand that only God can change us, as we ask for the gift of repentance; which is the turning from sin.
Jeremiah 13:23 "Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots...?"
God's answer to a man changing of his own volition...
Luke 18:27 "And He said,The things which are impossible with men are possible with God."
So, as we know, change can be made,(the spots can be removed, but not by the leopard) but it's only God that can bring it about resulting in salvation.
It's good for man to 'desire' righteousness, but it can only be obtained through FAITH...and that not of ourselves, it is a gift from God....just like all His promises.
“But God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us,”
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| Re: Reflections [message #7462 is a reply to message #7364] |
Sat, 06 November 2010 13:52 |
james
Messages: 2138
Registered: April 2008
Location: Birmingham, AL |
Senior Member |
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Further Reflections...
"My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge:because thou hast rejected knowledge , I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me:
seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children." Hosea 4:6
I've been meditating (thinking upon) the knowledge God has given us(born-again Christians) through His Word, His prophets, teachers, and by revelation of The Holy Spirit...and how so many have rejected it. Yet so many don't believe they've rejected God or knowledge of Him in any way and justify their stance with scriptures or by comparing their actions to the popular majority of christianity.
Some examples that I've encountered in just the last few days: Christians celebrating pagan holidays; Christmas, Easter, and Halloween...even when they acknowledge that they are aware of the pagan origins and how the whole world embraces them with all their commericalization. Is this a rejection of knowledge? Well, they almost always defend it by using the acccount of Christ birth in Luke and throw in the family tradition that 'they' didn't think about the holiday's origin, they were only thinking of Jesus and His birth.(or for Easter, His death and resurection) For Halloween, it's pretty much a right to defend their liberity and allow the children to 'have some fun'.
How about the teaching that the just shall live by faith and to take no thought for tomorrow? I find evidence of more and more 'christians' who are preparing for the end-times by storing up food supplies, survival gear, weapons, and escape plans. I remember back in March of 09 there was a 'word from The Lord' to store up 30 days of food and supplies, from a man that several here listen to.
We have to take responsibility for our actions, both as individuals and as a nation. What does God say? "...Because thou hast rejected knowledge..." There has got to be REPENTANCE, which is the TURNING FROM SIN. What is sin? It is sin when God gives us knowledge and we reject it. How do we reject it? By walking in disobedience. What are the ramifications of rejecting knowledge given us by God? He says He will reject us, because we've forgotten the law of our God; and He will also forget our children as well. This couldn't be any more serious, God is giving us fair warning, well in advance, so that there'll be NO excuses.[there's a truth about TRUTH, when a person's heart is right before God they will rejoice in truth and embrace it...when there's sin in our lives, we start defending our actions...the truth hurts.]
America as a nation has rejected the knowledge of God, and is being destroyed. The institutional church has rejected the knowledge of God, and is being tossed to and fro with every wind of doctrine. And many individual christians have rejected the knowledge of God...and their lives reflect the results, as well as the children.
Are we walking in the knowledge given us, the knowledge of what God requires of us, desires of us? Holiness? Faith? Are we set apart unto Him? Righteousness? Filled with The Spirit? Prayerful and watching for Him? Seeking truth and sharing it?
"As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent." Revelation 3:19
“But God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us,”
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| Re: Reflections [message #9033 is a reply to message #7464] |
Fri, 20 July 2012 01:54 |
james
Messages: 2138
Registered: April 2008
Location: Birmingham, AL |
Senior Member |
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Reflections on Chastisement...
V49 "Remember the word unto thy servant, upon which thou hast caused me to hope.
V50This is my comfort in my affliction: for thy word hath quickened me.
V67 Before I was afflicted I went astray: but now I have kept thy word.
V68 Thou art good, and doest good; teach me thy statutes.
V71 It is good for me that I have been afflicted, that I might learn thy statutes.
I know, O Lord, that thy judgments are right, and that thou in faithfulness hast afflicted me." Psalms 119:49,50,67,68,71,75
"Blessed is the man whom thou chastenest, O Lord, and teachest him out of thy law."Psalms 94:12
"My son, despise not the chastening of the Lord; neither be weary of his correction.
For whom the Lord loveth he correcteth, even as a father the son in whom he delighteth."Proverbs 3:11&12
Speaking for myself only, I can truthfully say that I am thankful for chastisement, not only has it brought correction in my life and drew me into a much closer relationship with Jesus, it has solidified my assurance in God's unconditional, unearnable, incomprehensible, Love for me. In it, the chastisement, God has taught me more about His Grace and Love and Mercy in the last few months that I had learned over the last 30+ years. Ha, one might say, "Brother sounds like you a little slow on 'getting it' ." One would be right, I now know (at least a as much as I do at this time, hopefully I'll grow more and more in this Grace, Love, and Mercy) that theology, doctrine, quoting scripture all have a place in a Believers life, BUT they are of limited benefit if that person hasn't got it in their heart.
But, OH what a relief and joy it is when one gets it. Praise The Lord, His LOVE is...
“But God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us,”
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| Re: Reflections [message #9035 is a reply to message #9034] |
Sat, 21 July 2012 19:13 |
JWBTI
Messages: 253
Registered: March 2007
Location: Ohio |
Senior Member |
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Amen GWB,
Job found Grace An Mercy in the eyes of the Lord
1Then Job answered the Lord, and said,
2I know that thou canst do every thing, and that no thought can be withholden from thee.
3Who is he that hideth counsel without knowledge? therefore have I uttered that I understood not; things too wonderful for me, which I knew not.
4Hear, I beseech thee, and I will speak: I will demand of thee, and declare thou unto me.
5I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth thee.
6Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes.
Job 42:1-6 (KJV)
Job humbled himself before the Lord and repented !
12So the Lord blessed the latter end of Job more than his beginning:
Job 42:12 (KJV)
James said:
(Brother sounds like you a little slow on 'getting it') speaking of himself !)
Yep ! Me too brother ! But we are both catching up now !
(still got aways to go to catch up with GWB, girls always did learn faster than the guys) 
Thank you Jesus !
Ron
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