Seminary leaders cite distinction between belief and advocacy (Tounges)

SBTexan ^ | October 23, 2006 | Tammi Reed Ledbetter,

[ladyinred]

Thank you Quix. I would appreciate your prayers right now.

[Quix]

CERTAINLY, CERTAINLY.

And I yours.

If you have any more specifics--feel free to use FREEPMAIL.

[Alamo-Girl]

Thank you so much for your excellent insights and Scripture selections!

Indeed the prophet's test and the Berean test are crucial. To those I'll add two more:

1. The fruits of the Spirit test in Matt 7 (and specified fruits of Gal 5:22-23). IOW, if the speaker's life does not include all of these I won't give his spiritual views a serious hearing: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness and self-control.

2. The test of the spirits in 1 John 4. IOW, if the speaker doesn't declare that Jesus Christ is Lord and came in the flesh - I'm outta there. LOL!

[Quix]

Excellent tests . . . quite Biblical as well as Spiritually tuned-in to The Lord's priorities imho.

Thanks much.

Sometimes, I reflect on the Fruits of The Spirit and think--my, Goodness, Lord, You've brought me a lot further than I'd been thinking.

Then He shows me the next level of progress He's calling me to! LOL.

Pastor just finished a good sermon series on the Fruits. Some good stuff. Took perspectives on most that hadn't heard before.

LUB,

[Alamo-Girl]

Thank you oh so very much for all of your engaging posts and encouragements!

I'm glad to hear your pastor addressed the fruits of the Spirit - so sad that they are not frequently addressed.

To me they are like a "Spiritual thermometer" - I keep a list of them near my computer, so I'm sure to take my spiritual temper(ment)ature at least once a day. LOL!

And when my "readings" are off - it invariably is because I've been self-involved in some way - obstructing the Spirit - so it's down to the knees in repentance and rededication.

And if someone uses the opposing words in reference to me (i.e. hatefulness, complaining, anxiety, impatience, meanness, viciousness, roughness, disloyalty and impetuousness) it's down to the knees, too.

[Quix]

To me they are like a "Spiritual thermometer" - I keep a list of them near my computer, so I'm sure to take my spiritual temper(ment)ature at least once a day. LOL!

And when my "readings" are off - it invariably is because I've been self-involved in some way - obstructing the Spirit - so it's down to the knees in repentance and rededication.

And if someone uses the opposing words in reference to me (i.e. hatefulness, complaining, anxiety, impatience, meanness, viciousness, roughness, disloyalty and impetuousness) it's down to the knees, too.

= = = =

Excellent wisdom and practice.

I think I'll put such a post-it note up, too.

Having them in memory is not quite the same thing and they don't stay stuck there unless I recite them regularly.

Thanks big.

You're always welcome, of course, for whatever feeble efforts of mine may be of any aid in your walk.

LUB,
LUB,

[Alamo-Girl]

I'm so glad you liked it!

You're always welcome, of course, for whatever feeble efforts of mine may be of any aid in your walk. Oh I do. I have a lot of bookmarks on you - and I keep your correspondence handy!

Thank you for encouragements!

[Quix]

LIKEWISE.

His Best rest when you get there . . .

heading there shortly . . . some night time reading from BILL SOMERS WHAT'S NEW site . . . been a long time since I visited the site. Some stuff about 2007 I printed off. Should be interesting.

LUB,

[.30Carbine]

Excellent reminders from God's Book, especially Matthew 7 which I'd not read in a while! Thank you! I keep a colorful poster with a list of the Fruit of the Spirit at my case at the P.O., under the Plexiglas where the mail I'm sorting is placed. I am very much in need of the constant visual reminder to do an "oil check" at my workplace. I like your idea of keeping that list at the computer desk as well! Recently I taped up this reminder on a 3x5 card here:

The mind of the wise makes their speech judicious, and adds persuasiveness to their lips.
Pleasant words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the body.
~Proverbs 16:23-24

I am positively desperate every moment for Christ Jesus the Word and Spirit of YHWH, the Whole Counsel of God! Come, Lord Jesus!

"Take my life and let it be
Consecrated, Lord, to Thee."
Amen.

[Alamo-Girl]

Thank you both so much for your encouragements!

And thank you for sharing with us those things you like to keep as "visuals" in your life, .30Carbine. I strongly share your insatiable appetite for Christ.

Maranatha, Jesus!

[Quix]

AMEN! AMEN! AMEN!

THX!

[saradippity]

I came over here to see what post you had pinged JoKus to on another post. You seem to be incredulous even thinking that some could mistake the words of scripture alone to be the Word of God It must be because you simply could not have believed anyone could possibly make a mistake of that magnitude.

I have been reading these posts for many years and I can tell you without doubt or hesitation that many,many do,unfortunately. That horrible hole in their definition of the Word of God is the cause of a multitude of arguments and disagreements on these threads. And there is no use discussing God or religion with persons of that mind set.

[jo kus]

I came over here to see what post you had pinged JoKus to on another post. You seem to be incredulous even thinking that some could mistake the words of scripture alone to be the Word of God It must be because you simply could not have believed anyone could possibly make a mistake of that magnitude.

I have been reading these posts for many years and I can tell you without doubt or hesitation that many,many do,unfortunately. That horrible hole in their definition of the Word of God is the cause of a multitude of arguments and disagreements on these threads. And there is no use discussing God or religion with persons of that mind set

On further thought, you are quite right. It does seem that a few take the words of the bible as LITERALLY ASSOCIATED with God Himself - and thus, they are inseparable from God Himself. I think the confusion is over John 1:1 and his term for the Second Person of the Trinity as "Word". Perhaps it would be better to stick with the Greek term "Logos" - which means more properly "Reason". This might clear up matters. Thus, the words of the Bible are NOT God - and are only a part of God's "Reason" in that man will never comprehend fully God's ways or reasons for what He does here within time and space.

Regards

[Alamo-Girl]

You seem to be incredulous even thinking that some could mistake the words of scripture alone to be the Word of God It must be because you simply could not have believed anyone could possibly make a mistake of that magnitude.

Indeed, that really broadsided me.

Jeepers, the notion that "the Scriptures are God" means in the heart of one who holds that belief, he has made the words of God his God - rather than God Himself. To be so close and yet so far, how sad!

Truly, I assert the words of God - the Scriptures - are inerrant. They are a revelation of God the Father, one of four.

God the Father has revealed Himself in Jesus Christ, in the indwelling Holy Spirit, in Scriptures and in Creation. But neither the Scriptures nor the Creation are God - they were both spoken into physical being whereas God is spirit (John 4).

[Alamo-Girl]

Thank you for your post!

IMHO, using "Logos" is not the answer - logos is used throughout the New Testament where it means words of God as compared to The Word of God.

John 1 however is absolutely clear that The Word of God means Jesus Christ, the person, one of the Trinity.

Revelation 19 also makes it very clear that The Word of God is the person of Jesus Christ:

And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him [was] called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. His eyes [were] as a flame of fire, and on his head [were] many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself.

His eyes [were] as a flame of fire, and on his head [were] many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself.

And he [was] clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. - Rev 19:11-13

[jo kus]

IMHO, using "Logos" is not the answer - logos is used throughout the New Testament where it means words of God as compared to The Word of God.

True. I guess when some people read John 1:1, they may associate "Word" with the normal useage (in Scriptures) of logos, thus making the connection between God and the words printed in the Bible.

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. John 1:1"

Are you familiar with any verses that say that the Bible saves us?

Regards

[1000 silverlings]

Amen. Joh 1:14

And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.

[Rightly Biased]

Ok yall I've been pondering and praying about this subject and this is what I have been led to post.

UNDERSTAND THAT GOD COMMANDS ALL CHRISTIANS TO BE FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT.

 

Ephesians 5:18    “Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.”

 

Can you imagine a verse more contemporary than this?

 

We live in a day when people of all ages, background and economy are seeking ecstasy and escapism through the outward stimuli of drugs and alcohol. Paul says that these things are cheap substitutes for real meaning in life. Being filled with the Holy Spirit is a natural high and it is God’s Command!

 

4 Spiritual Lessons From This Verse:

 

1.)  This is imperative: Living the Spirit-filled life is not optional for the Christian. This is God’s expressed command for everyone of His children, and this includes me!

 

2.)  This vers is in the present tense, meaning that the filling of the Holy Spirit is an experience that is continual. Filling should take place daily or moment by moment.

 

3.)  This verse is plural in number, which means that it applies to all Christians, not just a select few.

 

4.)  This verse is passive in voice, stating that the filling of the Holy Spirit is something that God does to us and for us, not something we do for ourselves.

 

This command is for every believer, not for an elite group.

 

UNDERSTAND THERE ARE REASONS SOME DO NOT EXPERIENCE THE CONTINUAL FILLING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.

 

1.)  Lack of Information – many Christians are ignorant as to what the Bible promises concerning the Spirit filled life.

 

2.)  Misinformation

 

a.)  Some think that the infilling of the Holy Spirit is for great saints. This is not true. The promise and the command are universal for Christians.

 

b.)  Some feel that unless the infilling of the Holy Spirit is accompanied by ecstatic utterances, or glossolilia (speaking in tongues), one has not received the Holy Spirit. This is absolutely and unbiblical teaching that Satan has used to divide the church. Many great Christians do not speak, and have never spoken in tongues. This gift was given for the expressed purpose of evangelism and those who teach differently are either unschooled on doctrinal interpretation or purposely deceptive.

 

c.)  Some feel that the Holy Spirit is sent upon us and removed from us by God as He sees fit. This also, is not true. It was true in the Old Testament times, but after Pentecost, God’s Spirit comes into the life of everyone who is saved at the moment of their salvation, and God’s promise is that He will never leave us.

 

d.)  Some say, if you don’t feel God’s Spirit, He must not be present. This also is not true. The presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives is not dependent upon our emotion, it is dependent upon God’s promises.

 

3.)  Lack of Concern – many times Christians get busy with good things and forget the most important thing. This is when we get our priorities mixed up, and we began to quench the Holy Spirit. The quenching on the Holy Spirit should not be confused with losing the Holy Spirit, but when we quench the Holy Spirit, there is not a continuing filling.

 

HOW TO INSURE THE CONTINUING FILLING OF GOD’S SPIRIT IN YOUR LIFE

 

1.)  Recognize That the Holy Spirit Lives Within You

 

    Romans 8:9‑11     You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ. [10] But if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, yet your spirit is alive because of righteousness. [11] And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you.

 

When you were saved, God took up residence in your life!

 

2.)  Realize That it Is God’s Will for You to Be Continually Filled with His Spirit.

 

Ephes. 5:18b      “    ......be filled with the Spirit. “

 

You will never have more of God than you desire. You must desire to be continually filled with His Spirit and you must live a life that demonstrates that desire.

 

3.)  Confess Every Sin.

 

1 John 1:9      “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”

 

4.)  Abandon Your Will to God’s

 

Galatians 2:20     “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”

Trusting one’s life to God’s will is absolutely essential to living the Spirit controlled life.

 

5.)  Walk in Faith

 

Luke 11:13     “If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!"

 

Why is it that we trust God with our eternity, but not with our today or tomorrow?

 

Remember we are to walk in faith, and not by feelings.

 

Galatians 3:14     “He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit.”

 

 

The gift of salvation is wonderful, but you will never become all that God intends for you to become without being continually filled with His Spirit.

 

You will never be the witness that God intends for you to be unless you are living a Spirit controlled life every day.

Regards RB

[Quix]

Wonderful.

Very excellent.

Appreciated every line.

[Rightly Biased]

Looks like I messed up on my HTML somewhere but I guess you got the point.


Thanks