All About GOD - Growing Relationships with Jesus and Others
Why?
Why do so many people look for a perfect world while living in a fallen world? The perfect world is yet to come.
Why do Christians expect an easy life on earth when God tells us that our life will be hard and full of trials and tribulation?
Has Christianity lost its way? Has the pulpit stopped presenting people with truth? Are pulpits failing to prepare them for a life of service and struggle while living as strangers in this fallen world?
Even a quick study of early church history, both from the NT era and the next two centuries tell us how difficult it is to be a Christian in a fallen world. Why do people think that the aged church will have it easier than the newly born church?
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Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Mary O on
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I feel out of place sometimes like I don't really belong here. Isn't this fallen world supposed to hate us as it hated Jesus? Didn't Jesus come to minister to a broken world? IMO He's always there with us no matter what happens. He doesn't leave us or forsake us.
"If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. (John 15:18)
"The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, (Luke 4:18)
Love,
Mary
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Permalink Reply by Charles Burwell on
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LT
I believe that there is a lot of teaching from the pulpits by people who are all too concerned with the quality of life here. We are losing sight of the only important thing there is to life. A personal relationship with Jesus.
We are sometimes ( I speak from experience) looking at our circumstances as a barometer of God's love , instead of instead of viewing our circumstances in the light of God's love. By that I simply mean that God loves us and whatever comes our way is not a surprise to Him or is by any means an obstacle to Him. God is not, as some seem to conclude a 'magic genie' who can be ' manipulated' by our faith or pleading or good works.
God is sovereign and is only and always concerned what is best for us which unfortunately ( at least in our opinion) is many times not what we are wanting . God is working throught the Spirit to conform us into the image of Christ and that is not a place we can reach on a 'flowery bed of ease'.
I would love for everything to work out the way I want it to but long ago have come to the realization that it is not going to. Even though I still catch myself drifting back to that mentality. It is so hard for us to grasp sometimes that we actually do NOT know what is best for us in many situations.
I am currently reading one of the most helpful ( and convicting ) books I have ever read. It is entitled "Just Give Me Jesus" by Anne Graham Lotz. The lead up on the cover says "I don't want to quit , I don't want sympathy, I don't even want a miracle ' JUST GIVE ME JESUS.
I guess that the point I'm trying to make ( however unsuccessfully) is that even good things that we hear from the pulpit , books , tapes or whatever cantrunt our attention from the best. Which is , again in my opinion , our personal relationship with Jesus.
We cannot allow our circumstances , no matter how bleak, to take us from the eternal truth that God is in control and will never let us get into something that He will not give us the grace to get out of. And whatever comes He can use it to our good.
I believe, again in my opinion only, that getting that knowledge into our spirit , mind and life is the true 'abundant life' that Jesus was speaking of.
Anyhow , that's just my opinion.
God bless
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Permalink Reply by Leonard T on
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Charles,
Good points. Thanks for sharing.
Give Me Jesus - By Fernando Ortega
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Permalink Reply by Carla on
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all good questions...
I think it's because we know that we are created by One who is Perfect, and we are created in His image...but yet we're all groaning with creation because everything has gone very very wrong...
...It's like we're living in a constant paradox.
We know we're supposed to be perfect, but we are far from it.
We know the world is supposed to be perfect, but yet it is far from it.
It feels so wrong...even though we know full well what Jesus has said and believe it to be true, but at the same time we don't want it to be true because we understand how things were meant to be.
....just some of my babblings.. :-)
Blessings, Carla
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babble on .... hahaha. I couldn't resist :-)
Good points. Thanks for sharing.
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ha... you know me too well... sometimes I am prone. :-) ( to babble I mean) :-D
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Permalink Reply by a servant (Chris) on
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Another reason "why" LT I think many struggle is, they try to earn what is a Gift. And, they lean more on man's teachings and ideas, than on The Word. Much like Walking in The Spirit. We see people following those who tickle ears, and lead them down empty paths. We have even seen them follow some into death.
So many times we see judging others more acceptable than, Praying for them. Some seem to think they are able to weigh and see the hearts and thoughts of others. And, once they have "locked into" how they see another, they will not change. Sadly what they do not understand is, they have fallen into a trap of the enemy. And "it" will not let them see past what they have judged. Many times I think it take The Spirit to lead, those who have been judged, to Pray and forgive them. Before they can see the error they have made.
For the Body to come together and be the Bride for Christ Jesus, we must put aside those things that separate us. And reach for those things that are clearly in The Word; those things that bind us as One. As in other discussions, there are things that different parts of the Body use and understand. But, we cannot use them to separate us. As in the first line, I believe this is done by accepting The Gift, not trying to earn or envy what is given.
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Christine,
I woul agree that this is the case in many places today. Thanks for sharing.
Lord Bless,
LT
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Hi LT, God bless you!
I'm still working on a paper about 1 Chronicles-Ezra. It seems to me it repeats other books of the Bible, and the ministry asked students to write a paper on it. I'm like, God, why is this here? Not 1 Chronicles-Ezra! Israel continually sinned and then went back to God and He forgave them and helped them. Who wants to talk about Israel sinning? God does, that's who.
I saw this cycle of sin in Israel. Anyone can preach about the positive and the good stuff. It's what people want to hear. It's very popular and easy. It takes courage to stand up and say thus saith the Lord, God loves you, but you're messing up and need to change what you're doing. And I think it takes courage to realize one's mistakes and to change what you're doing.
Consider Nathan, he was not a happy camper when God asked him to talk to David about how he had sinned and had Uriah killed on the front lines. At first Nathan was afraid to approach David, but God told him what to do.
I had almost a thousand words, and then started over. I didn't throw the original stuff. It's a work in progress. That's what I learned from 1 Chronicles-Ezra. About how people can sin and go back to God and He forgives us. He is so willing.
Love,
Mary
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