Christian Fellowship Community Group
A safe place for Christians who Love Jesus Christ to meet and ask for prayer and share scriptures from the bible. We value the posting of Christian music, poems, stories and also personal testimonies. Please let us know your needs, concerns and have some fun getting to know each other. We treat each other with respect.
"The wisdom of the fathers"
'DON'T TELL ANYBODY'
There are times when God wants us to give witness, and there are times when He wants our hearts to guard the received blessings as a hidden treasure and not expose them to the eyes of strangers. In this respect we must walk carefully, waiting for the guidance of the Holy Spirit. It seems that in our days the instruction to remain silent has special significance, since there is done much harm to the work of God through the rushed witness of inexperience children of God. They often have difficulty to distinguish the voice of God from the voice of their own self or even the enemy's; there is lacking the inner stillness, the patient waiting for God, which is precious to the Lord.
'I am completely holy and don't sin anymore', says a young child of God after getting to know and acknowledge the complete redemption. How much harm has been done by such redundant announcements, not only to the souls but to the honour and ministry of God. A burning light cannot be hidden; therefore it is better to wait until people around us become aware of our changed character.
The level of knowledge for the beginning believer is still low, so that they are inclined to think their purification of all sin is a personal and independent achievement, instead of being aware that it is ours only through our abiding in Jesus and Him, that is His Blood, indwelling in us. The purification of sin is a grace that is only kept when the soul in deepest humility and submission dwells in the presence of God, - a position where we don't enjoy redundant talk anymore. Who is truly humble before God, will also appear humble and modest among people.
When that is lacking, severe relapses might occur. The old creation may momentarily reassert itself and then sin is denied and not confessed; we may have offended someone and ought to beg forgiveness, but we don't want to because 'we don't sin anymore'.
Or the confused soul looses her security, and the enemy robs the weak light of knowledge of salvation. -
'Don't tell anybody', remain humble and let any possible set-back serve you to ground you all the more on the rock of the full redemption in Christ Jesus. (by M. von Brasch)
'DON'T TELL ANYBODY'
There are times when God wants us to give witness, and there are times when He wants our hearts to guard the received blessings as a hidden treasure and not expose them to the eyes of strangers. In this respect we must walk carefully, waiting for the guidance of the Holy Spirit. It seems that in our days the instruction to remain silent has special significance, since there is done much harm to the work of God through the rushed witness of inexperience children of God. They often have difficulty to distinguish the voice of God from the voice of their own self or even the enemy's; there is lacking the inner stillness, the patient waiting for God, which is precious to the Lord.
'I am completely holy and don't sin anymore', says a young child of God after getting to know and acknowledge the complete redemption. How much harm has been done by such redundant announcements, not only to the souls but to the honour and ministry of God. A burning light cannot be hidden; therefore it is better to wait until people around us become aware of our changed character.
The level of knowledge for the beginning believer is still low, so that they are inclined to think their purification of all sin is a personal and independent achievement, instead of being aware that it is ours only through our abiding in Jesus and Him, that is His Blood, indwelling in us. The purification of sin is a grace that is only kept when the soul in deepest humility and submission dwells in the presence of God, - a position where we don't enjoy redundant talk anymore. Who is truly humble before God, will also appear humble and modest among people.
When that is lacking, severe relapses might occur. The old creation may momentarily reassert itself and then sin is denied and not confessed; we may have offended someone and ought to beg forgiveness, but we don't want to because 'we don't sin anymore'.
Or the confused soul looses her security, and the enemy robs the weak light of knowledge of salvation. -
'Don't tell anybody', remain humble and let any possible set-back serve you to ground you all the more on the rock of the full redemption in Christ Jesus. (by M. von Brasch)
I have also noticed you have few words for anyone else's post. Not only that, but these words are very negative and almost degrading. Not what Paul or Jesus encouraged through-out the New Testament. Jesus taught LOVE. Paul taught edifying!!!
I don't get either one of these images from your posts.
Help me understand!!!
Many of my posts and remarks are skipped over. I figure they just didn't resonate with anyone, just as some posts and remarks do not resonate with me. Is it just a matter of time before I am told I am negative or degrading or something else unacceptable? What about others in the group who do not participate regularly? Will they be subject to criticism, given a quota? Is that a direction we want to take this group?
We all have different styles of communicating, this includes the choices of other speakers we choose to share. I pray that we can continue in Fellowship by accepting each other. Part of being a Christian is, after all, loving those who aren't always easy to love.
"Dear Brothers and Sisters, Please, if my posts don't edify you and you don't find the wisdom of God in them, leave them aside. They are not meant for you. They are meant for the few who are called to the highest positions in the kingdom of God, namely to reign as kings and priest with the Lord"
I must say, I am VERY offended by this!!! I said in my post "You have posted some interesting things" I find them interesting enough to look into them. I find them interesting enough that I have done some research.
And yet, you come back and say that they are not meant for me. You say that they are meant only for "the few who are called to the highest positions in the kingdom of God". I am offended.
Galatians 3:28
There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.
This just does not agree with my view of Christ. Your answer excludes me. I am offended.
I will stay out of any future conversations with you!!!
I will be the first to say, Walter, that I don't know you. I meant no offense. But, by the same token, you don't know me. I must say, if I was not already a Child of God, I would be very put off by your response.
There is soooooo much my human side wants to say, but, my God will not allow me to do it. I will say only, I will be praying.
I remain yours in Christ Walter
Psalm 44:21
would not God have discovered it, since he knows the secrets of the heart?
Acts 15:8
God, who knows the heart, showed that he accepted them by giving the Holy Spirit to them, just as he did to us.
God knows what's in my heart. He knows that I have committed to Him. He knows that I am willing to lose my life so I can be a reflection of His love.
This is what matters to me. I, too, have studied the Bible. Here I find love. Even in the "rebuke" you mention above. I have felt Jesus very close to me. I have felt His loving arms around me. I have also Heard His voice. It reminded me that it's all about Him, not me.
For this reason, I extend His love to you, I want to stop this discussion thread.
I don't quite understand. But, I will understand when I reach the physical presence of Jesus. When I see Him face to face.
There are many other things I can say, especially to the Revelation reference. But, I don't plan to be here during "the end time". I will be called up
1 Thessalonians 4
16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
I'll see you there!!!
Edification means that everyone can understand! Even a little child!
"6 The wolf shall dwell with the lamb,
and the leopard shall lie down with the young goat,
and the calf and the lion and the fattened calf together;
and a little child shall lead them." Isa. 11:6
A true teacher's purpose is to exegete and explain the Scriptures, not obscure them.
My other objection is also like Mary. You always copy and paste your little blurbs, but never interact with other posts or people in the forum.
My thought is to write some of your own thoughts. And make sure they are simple enough that everyone can understand them. I have a pastor with a Ph.D in preaching. When he has preached a sermon, everyone in the church, from the youngest child, to the missionaries and people with theology degrees walks away with something to ponder, to apply, or to praise God about.
That is the kind of teaching that Jesus is happy with. Not veiled elitism!
You don't tell a member of the fellowship that he is not a "true teacher". That he should write his own thoughts. That he must simplify. No. You don't tell another member how he ought to present himself.
Cut and paste? "Little blurbs"? That's not ok? Says who?
I just shared (yes, via cut and paste) the words of Pope Francis... I've asked before on this thread. I'll ask again. Whose next? Are we about sharing our love of God or are we about criticizing each other on a personal level?
Please, stop the name-calling and back-biting. I name no names. If you take this personal, I am sorry.
All I can think about is what if someone outside or away from Jesus were to see this??? I know I would be scared away!!!
I originally only asked that Walter add a personal note. Some of his own views on his post. Even if it was only a sentence or two. I did not want or need to censure anyone. I did find some of post very interesting. Interesting enough to do my own research on the authors.
I feel my words and meaning were extremely taken out of context. I also feel that others were interested in get to know Walter from his own words.
I am truly sorry I started such "drama".
Forgive me, Walter, and anyone else who was offended!!!