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Re: Gleanings from the "Gospels" [message #11659 is a reply to message #11655]

Sun, 12 July 2015 07:36

Gary
Messages: 1025
Registered: August 2008
Location: Indiana

Senior Member

james wrote on Sat, 11 July 2015 12:09

Gary,

Sometimes stopping to meditate on the surrounding scriptures and even chapters allow us to see things differently and in an all together different light. I was thinking this morning as I read my daily reading, Matthew chapter twenty one about the question you asked concerning Bethany and it's location in relation to Jerusalem.

We're told near the end of chapter twenty that Jesus and His disciples were coming from Jericho towards Jerusalem(east to west) and came to the area known as Bethphage where Jesus sent the two ahead to get the ass (to fulfill the prophecy made in the OT concerning how He would enter the city of Jerusalem.)

After entering the city amid the praise and worship of the people lining the way and clearing out the temple He left Jerusalem and went to Bethany to spend the night.(Good chance He stayed with Lazarus, Martha, and Mary, but it doesn't say that). The next morning He got up and returned to the city(as we know, Bethany is only a couple miles away...like the suburbs, and would take maybe only half an hour walking or less if by donkey.), this is where the fig tree was cursed for not having figs on it and the scripture that is/was so often quoted in the faithcamp about speaking to the mountain and casting it into the sea and not doubting.

Anyway, stopping and thinking about what we're reading and maybe going to the maps in the back of the Bible, <my antique Thompson Chain Reference> it can help us understand better. I seem to 'discover' things that I'd not seen previously each time I go through, as, I'm sure is true for all who approach God's Word seeking truth and understanding. (Praying and asking for wisdom and understanding certainly is not excluded, Duh!)

James,

To be honest I mainly am trying to keep some type of dialogue going that may spark conversation. LOL I enjoy what small amount of fellowship we have here. There is something about those who have walked through what we experience I guess will never leave me. Some call it the good old days, and there was a lot of good and bad memories associated with the past, I realize.

Again I must say its a whole different world out there now. I work around 7 or 8 men who are christian heathen. What I mean by this is they are faithful church goers, all different backgrounds, who believe they can use every curse word you can think of, and two of them brag about their porn, I have even heard some curse God. Several of these men attend pentecostal style churches and I know the pastor of the one church.

I'm the odd ball who does not participate in their vile jokes and sensual rhetoric, I generally have to leave acting like I'm busy at work. Anything spiritual they mock and make fun at, there is a definite lack of understanding or maybe their not being taught much.

So its refreshing to know that on the board here, there is some still out there who hold to a higher standard. Some may call this legalism but I believe what Jesus said, that a man will be justified by his words, by our words we will be justified and by our words we will be condemned. Its appointed for men once to die and then the judgement. Who is His mother and brothers and sisters?, its those who does His will and word and keeps it. I don't see in scripture that Christians can just do what they want when they want. So I may come up with stuff that sounds elementary sometimes just overlook what you can and bare with me.

I recently heard that there has been a discussion or sermon in some churches that says what makes a word a cuss word is only recognized by those who thinks its wrong. In other words, words are what we make them. If you think a cuss word is wrong then its wrong for you but if you think its okay to use then there is nothing wrong with using it. Like I said things have sure changed since I came into the walk. Now we see cocktail parties, people loving this old world, smoking and cussing all in the name of Christianity.

Another thing you mentioned about those in the "faith camp". I know there was a lot of extremes, but I have found every church for some reason or another falls into some type of pet peeve doctrine. I don't know why this is unless they think there is safety in staying with just certain concepts and ideas.

Why I am saying this is I still consider myself part of the faith camp. Not with all the extremes that we witnessed. But when I read where Jesus was constantly dealing with a persons faith in daily matters. Whether it was healing, walking on water, or casting trees in the ocean. He either rebuked them for a lack of faith, having little faith, or having great faith.

It sounds to me like Jesus is concerned on what a person believes in Him and His abilities as God. I believe if Jesus said we can cast a mountain in the ocean or a tree that the ability is there, whether I ever experience it or not.

While reading the gospels I cannot get away from the fact that the faith message originated with the Lord Himself. Maybe this is why He said when He returns will He find faith on the earth. I don't believe this is only concerning salvation but that is a part of it.

I've tried to look at the Bible and see if Jesus meant something else when He talks about faith, (maybe its just all about salvation), but I find that He is the One who confronts us concerning our lack of faith in His ability as the Living and only God.

God is God and is so much greater then us as created beings and it seems sometimes that everyone forgets who He really is, what He can do, and what He says to us.

I know that many have went to extremes concerning this teaching, and have tried to lord it over others. When its a reality we have to seek out on our own and to know Him, I guess the Bible calls it working out our own salvation.

Mainly I'm just sharing somethings here and know you were only making a statement not implying anything, but the thoughts crossed my mind to share what I thought about the Lord. I hope you understand what I am saying in the right spirit of things concerning all of this. Jesus told His brothers one time that their time was anytime but His time had not yet come.

We all stand on the very edge of eternity and as Jesus said to His brothers can apply to us as well, our time is anytime, it is in His hands. If were given eighty years what is that in the light of eternity. There is an old song that goes, "Only whats done for Christ will last". Eighty years is nothing compared to eternity, were still and always will be little children compared to the Eternal One.

Anyway woke up at 1:30 thinking about all of this and thought I'd might write a quick note, Oh, I did look at the map later after you shared about it and there was Bethany it was very close, I don't know why I did not think to look first. Duh hopefully not a senior moment.

William
I will look for that book concerning the hard sayings it sounds like a good one to have. I recently was going through CBD's catalog wondering if there was any good books left out there.

Gary

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