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Comment List
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Hi Jon, Yes petty jealousies occur everywhere, I am remembering a meeting I attended when on holiday, this was years ago. I did not have a letter from my home assembly, thus was warned about taking the bread & the wine at the Lord's day meeting. The elders in question thought they were guarding The Lord's table, whereas what they were doing was refusing an invited guest to partake!
This they did out of keeping it pure, in their eyes. I felt so inadequate that day, I remember it well. The lesson was learnt God spoke to me, about pharisaical ways & was blessed through that. I communed with the living God although I never touched the bread & the wine, Hallelujah what a Saviour.
The old adage: "Man proposes, God disposes" was never truer that day.
Be encouraged in what God says to you, as you read his word, always giving a reason for your hope in & out of season.
There will always be scoffers, remember, "Do not let your hearts be troubled, trust in God, trust also in me" Hope this helps
Love in His Name Stuart
2006-08-19 03:35:54 Posted by Stuart (stuart@sadrankin.com)
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I have just been thinking of all the things you have been through this last year we have known you and then look at you now and what you are doing. Have you looked back and seen why you were in certain places months back. I just love seeing God working in all of our lives.
God Bless
2006-08-19 18:09:19 Posted by Lee ()
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I can understand where you were coming from. I remember a couple of years back when I was a young Christian. The pastor at our church was starting to be led astray by others in the congregation. Up until that time, he was full of the grace and love of Jesus. After that he started becoming more legalistic. Needless to say, we aren't there anymore.
The point is that I had to go through that to really discover the love and grace of our Savior. While I try to walk in His ways every day, I still stumble and am glad to know that He loves me and gives me all that I need to get back up and go on. That helps me to also give grace and forgiveness to those who may stumble with me. I take to heart that the Lord told us to love just like he did, which sometimes includes forgiving others even when we don't feel like it :). Have a blessed day.
2006-08-20 07:29:27 Posted by Chip ()
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You wanted comments. Now I'll give mine. The translation you quoted the Philippian passage is not quite accurate. The statement, "But what does it matter anyway?" is not in the scripture text.
Yes, Paul does rejoice here that Christ is preached, regardless of the motive of the one preaching Him. That doesn't mean that he is condoning selfish, evil motives in ministry. In other New Testament passages that same apostle sets down fairly strict guidelines for ministry qualifications and conduct in the household of God in general. The church of the living God is not some "lovey-dovey, loosey-goosey" friendship club without moral-spiritual accountability. On the contrary, we have a very serious responsibility to demonstrate the truth of God and His ability through the Gospel to lived truly changed, holy lives before each other and the world. They (the world) are looking for this authenticity and quite often, quite frankly we're not willing to pay the price of self-sacrifice to give it. May the Lord help us!
2006-08-20 23:51:29 Posted by Anonymous ()
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That last comment was by me, by the way. Grace to you, dear brother!
2006-08-20 23:52:44 Posted by Michael (coloradclark@aol.com)
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No, of course he's not condoning bad motives. But he is saying that God's word is so powerful that It comes through no matter what. It is reassurance that God is in control, not an excuse to be lax.
2006-08-21 09:28:07 Posted by Jon ()
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Stopped by to say Hi.
God's Blessings Always Jon!
Love!
In Jesus Name
2006-08-21 14:57:02 Posted by Marsha ()
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If Michael is correct and the phrase "But what does it matter anyway?" is NOT an accurate translation of the "ti gar" in Greek, which I personally think is accurate, the context of the rest of what Paul is saying certainly affirms its use.
Michael is right in his statement that there are plenty of places where we are admonished to make sure that our preachers and teachers remain true to the Word of God... but this verse has more to do with people attacking Paul which he is in prison and seeking to undo what he has done using the Word of God to do it.
God is able to use an imperfect vessel to share His Word with His people even if the motives of the preacher or teacher may not be what they should be. Iit is the Holy Spirit that writes its words in our hearts and not the preacher or the teacher.
We can find comfort in knowing that the Word of God will not come back unto Him void... even if the motives of the sower are not what they should be!
God is indeed in complete control and while we should do our part to protect His integrity in our own lives and even in our church to some extent, we can be sure that He will do so!
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2006-08-22 09:56:51 Posted by Bob ()
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