DEALING WITH THE PAST: CLARIFICATIONS, AND AFTER THOUGHTS

Thanks be to Jesus, our Redeemer, and Saviour, for putting me into the body of Christ, by His mercy and Grace. I humbly pray He will take this study and cause His name to be exalted in the hearts and minds of the saints. Moreover, I humbly Pray, that He will cause it to be of service to the saints in loving Him more and more, and putting Him first at all costs, and before all things.

I ponder that some may ask if we are not to bring these different philosophies into the church, why bother with them outside of the church at all, since they often and intentionally conflict and contradict the Holy Bible. I mentioned in an earlier part of this study, that we do not have to spiritualize everything for it to be useful. Also we must understand and know what is spiritual and what is natural. We live in this temporal world, and must carefully guard our faith, using this world without abusing it or allowing it to interfere with our Holy Bible, rightly divided.

For example I took a simple run of the mill basic college course in biology, and learned about how the body works, then I turned a certain page and guess what saints? Up popped a long and drawn out passage about Jesus, and how it was impossible for anyone to know in advance about Him being the Messiah, where He would be born etc, because no one can know these things in advance. I once went to a doctor about a medical condition, and received good advice and help for it. Finally the doctor gave me a paper on “spiritual help”, which instructed me to engage in regular sexual activity, although I am not married. My point here, dear ones, is that we should understand and know natural things, yet know that those who present them have overt, and covert philosophies mixed in that must be rejected out of hand, and never be brought into the church. I am sure that many of you have had similar experiences.

The bottom line is that God’s people can use the natural things of the world, without abusing it or being misled by any underlying philosophies that contradict the word of God. The duty of the church, the body of Christ, every believer, no matter what office he or she holds in the body, is to know, live, love and  defend the Word of God, rightly divided, and to take the gospel message to a lost and dying world. God bless you saints richly and thanks for taking the time to stop by.

Love

serola

DEALING WITH THE PAST

GOD’S COUNSEL STANDS SURE (part twenty-seven)

Let the name of our glorious, eternal King and High Priest over the house of God be forever praised, blessed, exalted, glorified and honored in the hearts, minds, and spirits of His saints, for He has washed and cleansed us in His own blood, by His eternal power and love. Brothers and sisters, we had not known what love is, but that He first loved us, who could never earn nor deserve it. But now, out of His great love, He has forever translated us, taken, rescued us from the kingdom of darkness, that now through His blessed, unearned, unmerited grace we have now been made children of light, that we should no more walk in darkness.

We are a forgiven people, mandated as children of the day, to walk, love, live, and obey God’s word, correctly interpreted even in the face of suffering. And it is not a question of if we suffer, but whenever we suffer, dear saints, we do not lose heart, or allow ourselves to become discouraged, for so suffer the saints even to this present day and until the Lord returns. KJV James 5:10-11. 

The scriptures warn us: Romans 8:16-18 (KJV) Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: 13 But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. .

 English Words used in KJV:<G4448> (puroo); ignition, i.e. (special) smelting (figurative conflagration, calamity as a test) :- burning, trial.

 These trials of the saints are not to tear us down, but to build us up, for His glory and our good. Our Saviour, and Redeemer is faithful. Trust God, Trust in His love, trust in His power to deliver you again and again. Then dear children of light He will reward you, strengthen you, build you up, and continually establish you in His righteousness, and raise you up higher than your present suffering, so that you will say out of a heart continually enriched and renewed with His love: Romans 5:1-5 (KJV) Say it with me saints,Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: 2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; 4 And patience, experience; and experience, hope: 5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.

 This rejoicing is far more than a feeling, but an action of consistently  giving loving thanks, praise, and gloriying in the Lord, as His child and a partaker in His suffering. Can you see the blessing in suffering, dear ones? God’s way is the only right way, and the only right way is God’s way. Thus ends this study, dear ones. For now and throughout all the ages to come you can be sure, that God’s counsel stands sure, and you will be sure as He empowers you to stand in Him.

Love

serola

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DEALING WITH THE PAST

GOD’S COUNSEL STANDS SURE (part twenty-six)

Blessed be the name of the Lord, who has given us the right, and the privilege to be saints, by the richness of His everlasting, unmerited, and unearned grace. Holy children as I mentioned in part twenty-five of this study, God does not honor suffering for doing wrong, but is faithful to help us turn from wrong. I want to touch briefly on the fact that although even now we are creatures of eternity that will live on forever through Christ who has given us eternal life, we do have a natural or temporal body. This means that our natural bodies are subject to the same frailties of the flesh as found in the world in general, but we are not to live according to the flesh, and should understand how to recognize when we are dealing with it.

I want to touch on addictions briefly only as I want to avoid a study within a study. Remember, holy children, I said that you do not have to be a guru, pundit, or great scholar to understand the things I speak of herein. Addictions are sins of habituation. If we subject our natural bodies to substances whether it be food, or drugs, or some pattern of pleasure over a long period of time addictions results. The scriptures is clear, sin shall not have dominion over you, Jesus always empowers us so that we do not have to practice sin.

Well then, what now? We deal with the physical and the spiritual. I warned earlier that philosophies that contradict the gospel should not be brought within the church, which results in attempts to make an amalgam of them with the gospel which is blasphemy. Within the church, dear children of light, we must confess and repent, that is change our minds and bring our hearts, behavior, and beliefs in line with God’s word, with the love and help of the Holy Spirit, and other saints, no matter what the sin is, although every sin does not lead to addiction. Dear saints we are to help one another in leading godly lives, putting God first to have true victory in Him, not allowing ourselves to be identified as the sin, for we are always to understand that we are Christians.

Outside of the church, we can attend to the natural and/or physical issues related to addictions, in groups, and other forms of help such as detoxification, because some addictions can and do result in serious medical issues. It goes without saying that some addictions also impact the mental processes, and can impair the ability to think and act rationally. I can say much more about addictions, but that is not the focus of this study. Our Lord and great High Priest over the house of God calls for us to lead balanced lives, and to stand firm through out the trials and challenges of life. Dear, dear saints, let us keep on praying, and helping each other in the love of God, knowing this, that God‘s counsel stands sure. Until next time, God willing, the study will be continued.

Love

serola