Do YOU follow Paul? If not, WHY not?

[Christine]

Do YOU follow Paul?


Those who would follow the Lord today will have to follow Paul....Why? Lets look:

Paul writes to the Corinthians and says:
1 Cor 4:15 For though ye have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel.

16 Wherefore I beseech you, be ye followers of me.

17 For this cause have I sent unto you Timotheus, who is my beloved son, and faithful in the Lord, who shall bring you into remembrance of my ways which be in Christ, as I teach every where in every church.


Do you know the ways of Paul? If you are in a denominational church I doubt very seriously that you do - otherwise you would not be there.


Do you follow Paul?


He is our (the Gentiles) apostle today, in the dispensation of the grace of God.

He writes in 1 Tim 1:16 Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.


If you would follow the Lord Jesus Christ you must follow Paul.


1 Cor 14:37 If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I (Paul) write unto you are the commandments of the Lord.


The things Paul wrote were not the suggestions of the Lord. They are the commandments of the Lord.


1 Cor 11:1 Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.


Paul got his information directly from the risen Lord Jesus Christ. If you would follow Christ today you must follow Paul.


Phil 3:17 Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample.


18 (For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ:


Paul commands the Philippians to follow him: that he was the ensample.


1 Th 1:6 And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost:



7 So that ye were ensamples to all that believe in Macedonia and Achaia.

14 For ye, brethren, became followers of the churches of God which in Judaea are in Christ Jesus: for ye also have suffered like things of your own countrymen, even as they have of the Jews:
15 Who both killed the Lord Jesus, and their own prophets, and have persecuted us; and they please not God, and are contrary to all men: 16 Forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they might be saved, to fill up their sins alway: for the wrath is come upon them to the uttermost.

The Thessalonians followed Paul and in doing so became ensamples to others.


Be careful to note in this verse the condition of the Jews! They have been set aside along with their program. One day they will be God's people again and will carry his message again. But not today.


Today in the dispensation of the grace of God, Paul is our apostle and pattern. I didn't say that - God said that!

[Christine]

Take a peek at this information...food for thot, indeed!

[NewDawn]

Hi Christine!

I was wondering, how did our Lord speak to Paul?  Was it audible or was it in Pauls spirit that he heard His voice?
Also, however Paul heard our Lords speak, can we hear Him speak the same way to us?

Thank you!!
Love,
Diana

[Oasis]

Christine

Do YOU follow Paul?

No, I pretty much follow my wife's orders.

[Oasis]

Diana

I was wondering, how did our Lord speak to Paul?  Was it audible or was it in Pauls spirit that he heard His voice?
Also, however Paul heard our Lords speak, can we hear Him speak the same way to us?

That'a a great question Diana!  I'm gonna let Christine answer the bulk of it since your question was directed to her,  but I hope you don't mind me directing you to Acts 9:3-6. 
It says,
"As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him.  He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, 'Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?'  'Who are you, Lord?'  Saul asked.  'I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,' he replied.  'Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.'"

So, we know Paul audibly heard Jesus on the road to Damascus.  The Lord spoke to Paul, personally like he spoke to the other Apostles.  I'll leave Paul's time in Arabia to Christine.

As for whether we hear the Lord audibly today, I believe Scripture tells us that we don't audibly hear Him, but we "hear" the Holy Spirit inside us.  It's like your conscience.  You don't audibly hear your conscience speaking to you, but in your mind and heart you hear that voice that says, "Ok, you can do/say that", or "No!  No!  Don't say/do this or that". 
Know what I mean?

Having said that, the Holy Spirit audibly spoke to some of the prophets in Antioch.  Look at Acts 13:2,
"While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting the Holy Spirit said, 'Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them'"

Dinner is wating on me, so I've gotta stop here.  Hope that gives you a little food for thought, Diana.  I'll be looking forward to Christine's answer, too.

Have a great evening!

ybiC,
Kab

 

[Christine]

Hi Christine!

I was wondering, how did our Lord speak to Paul?  Was it audible or was it in Pauls spirit that he heard His voice?
Also, however Paul heard our Lords speak, can we hear Him speak the same way to us?

Thank you!!
Love,
Diana

Hey Diana,

Oasis gave a very good answer in that Paul heard Christ Risen speaking to him. Today, we hear God speaking to us thru His Word. That is where we get the bulk of our instruction, in  Pauls epistles, which are said to "complete the Word of God" to us. I think we can be led astray easily by looking for voices, even in our heads. As long as what we hear doesn't conflict with the scriptures rightly divided, I used to think we would be safe...but I have reassessed that over the years. It is very difficult for us to LET GO of some of the "CHURCHIANITY" thinking we have collected along the way, isn't it? I have found it to be so, at least....so I'm sure others must struggle with the same issues. We want to think that God is in the details, and HE IS....however, I also think He leads us thru common sense as well.

Remember that we are told that in this dispensation we "walk by faith and not by sight."  That tells me that we need to know what it is that God HAS promised to we who are members of His Body in this present age of GRACE. I know that there are those who claim that God told them this and God told them that....I used to say that alot, didn't you??? Now that I have lived a tad longer and understand a bit more, I am more careful in ascribing to God what I decided to do on my own. I believe He helps me make right choices, yes, but much of that is based on what He has already revealed in His Word to BE HIS WILL for us today. We are given alot of freedom, actually, and I am very grateful for it, aren't you? 

Are you kind of struggling with letting go of the idea of God speaking to you, personally? I think everyone has to face this head on at one point or another, so it is quite normal. Somehow though, satan makes us think that we aren't "trusting God" if we aren't listening for His voice in some whoopdedoooo "spiritual way."  God is perfectly capable of communicating with us in any way He so chooses...His WORD is the way I think He expects us to follow.

What do you think?

[NewDawn]

Kab, of course I don't mind! Oh yes, that's right, the road to Damascus!! He did hear His voice!! 
Christine, I see what your saying, but. . .

Yes, it is hard to let go of the way I was taught, because I'm so used to praying, or talking to the Lord about everything that when I do sense that it's Him speaking to me, I don't hear it in my head, it's in my spirit.   It's hard to explain with out sounding strange, lol!  But if I need to let go of that all, then I will.

I do make sure that everything lines up with the Word.  But it has to line up with what Paul say's right. . . rightly divided. 

I was listening to Les Feldicks teaching in Corinthinans on Friday, I believe and he said that he doesn't believe that God talks us except by opening and closing doors.  When I heard that, it made me wonder then how do we hear God voice, beside in His word.  Can we hear His voice today? 

Yes, I am struggling with that Christine can you tell, lol.  I have to let go of all that other stuff I was taught!  And how do I do that, since alot of that is so instilled in me and I keep reaching for it.

So if Paul heard his voice, we can't? 

Ayye! I don't know, maybe it's still unclear to me about that.  Can you tell me which of the epistles talks about this?   

[Oasis]

Hi Diana,

This is a small portion of a lesson given by John MacArthur entitled, "God Has Spoken--But Why?"

The written Word

As man reads the Word, he receives an intellectual knowledge of God beyond just a consciousness that God is. Our consciousness of God is meant to lead us to the Word of God, which gives us knowledge about God. And the Word leads us to Christ. Jesus said to the Jewish leaders, "Search the scriptures; for ... they are they which testify of me" (John 5:39). God gave us verbal revelation to lead us to a living revelation--the Lord Jesus Christ. So that's the pattern of revelation. If revelation doesn't lead us to Jesus Christ, it's incomplete. 

Isaiah heard much of God's revelation but wasn't satisfied. He said, "Verily, thou art a God who hideth thyself" (Isa. 45:15). In 64:1 he says, "Oh, that thou wouldest rend the heavens, that thou wouldest come down." And that is exactly what God did. Christ didn't simply bring God's revelation; He  is  the full and living revelation. Hebrews 1:1-2 says, "God, who at sundry times and in diverse manners spoke in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son." So God's written revelation is to lead us to the living revelation of God: Jesus Christ--God in human flesh. John 1:18 says, "No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him." 

On the night He was betrayed, Jesus said to His disciples, "I am the way, the truth, and the life; no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also.... Philip saith unto him, Lord, show us the Father, and it sufficeth us. Jesus saith unto him, Have I been such a long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? He that hath seen me hath seen the Father" (John 14:6- 9). Jesus is the self-disclosure of God.

We have God's complete written Revelation.  We no longer need to hear from God audibly.

Yes, it is hard to let go of the way I was taught, because I'm so used to praying, or talking to the Lord about everything that when I do sense that it's Him speaking to me, I don't hear it in my head, it's in my spirit.   It's hard to explain with out sounding strange, lol!  But if I need to let go of that all, then I will.

The way to determine if the Holy Spirit is the one speaking to you is to go to Scripture to verify what you hear.  If it doesn't line up with Scripture, it isn't the Holy Spirit speaking to you.

We are to rely comletely on Scripture today. 
When Paul spoke to Timothy in 2 Timothy 3:15-17 what did he say? 

v15-"and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus."
God's #1 reason for His written Revelation to man is to reconcile man to Himself.  Paul is reminding Timothy of of this in this verse.

v16-"All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work."
That word, "God-breathed" is translated from the Greek, "theopnostos".  It literally means, "breathed into", or "infused".  Paul is driving home the point that Scripture is our sole source for "hearing" from God.  This particular word, "theopnotos" is the same word used in Psalm 33:6,
"By the word of the LORD were the heavens made,
their starry host by the breath of his mouth."
God is telling Paul that his written Revelation comes from the same breathe that breathed the universe into existence.  It doesn't get more important than that.

v17-"so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work."
Paul says, "every good work".  Every means all.  All our knowledge of how to be reconciled to God and equipped for every good work comes from the God-breathed Holy Scriptures.  That leaves no room for anything else.

God speaks to us today through His complete, written Revelation.  If we were literally hearing God today, it would be an indication that His Revelation is not complete.  But, Scripture says it is.
Look at what Paul says to Timothy in some of his last words to him in 2 Timothy 4:2-4.

v2-"Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage--with great patience and careful instruction."
Paul is reiterating what he said in 3:15-17.  Paul is stressing the importance of relying completely on Scripture.

v3-"For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine.  Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear."
Turn on the TV.  The channels are full of these people:
Joel Osteen
Kenneth Hagin
Kenneth and Gloria Copeland
John Avanzini
Robert Schuler
Rick Warren
...the list goes on.  I could name dozens.

v4-"They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths."
Watch these listed above and countless others.  When and if they open their Bibles to teach, they will use one verse and take it completely out of context.  Why?  They don't want you to understand God's Word.  If you do, you'll stop giving to them and they can't build their mega churches, crystal cathedrals, and personal mansions with fancy cars parked outside.  They care more about what's in their wallet than what's in Scripture, and they obviously care nothing for the souls they are dooming to eternal Hell.

Ok, I'm off my soap box.

Christine

Are you kind of struggling with letting go of the idea of God speaking to you, personally? I think everyone has to face this head on at one point or another, so it is quite normal. Somehow though, satan makes us think that we aren't "trusting God" if we aren't listening for His voice in some whoopdedoooo "spiritual way."  God is perfectly capable of communicating with us in any way He so chooses...His WORD is the way I think He expects us to follow.

Christine is right. God's Word is the way.

Have a great evening, Diana and Christine! 
This dude is headin' for some snoozin'!

ybiC,
Kab


 


 


 

[Christine]

Kab, of course I don't mind! Oh yes, that's right, the road to Damascus!! He did hear His voice!! 
Christine, I see what your saying, but. . .

LOL...do I hear the "billy goat christian" in here somewhere??? But, but, but......wink

  We DO want the SIGNS don't we? Our FLESH wants the "specialness" of thinking that God tells US what to do, while others  cannot seem to make out His voice....now don't deny it...remember, I had to face this issue myself and struggled with it BIGTIME. God DOES give us instructions and precepts and guidelines and He also lives inside of us and can lead us in any number of ways. However, His main mode of operation in this dispensation of Grace is to speak to us thru His completed WORD. He also uses other believers to confirm the direction He is leading us in, as well as closed or open doors...but mainly, He has narrowed it down to His written word.

Yes, it is hard to let go of the way I was taught, because I'm so used to praying, or talking to the Lord about everything that when I do sense that it's Him speaking to me, I don't hear it in my head, it's in my spirit.   It's hard to explain with out sounding strange, lol!  But if I need to let go of that all, then I will.

Praying and talking to the Lord about everything is fine and quite normal. Your spirit should be able to sense His direction...but what about the times when our "feelings" are off, or we are having a bad day emotionally? I just don't like making decisions based on how I "feel", but instead on what I KNOW from His revealed will. I have gone down too many rabbit trails only to find that my emotions were running the train instead of following sound doctrine. I DO know exactly what you mean...God will want to wean you from following your emotions and it just simply takes time. He knows what He is doing, so just let Him know that you want to cooperate with Him and He will do the rest.

I do make sure that everything lines up with the Word.  But it has to line up with what Paul say's right. . . rightly divided. 

I was listening to Les Feldicks teaching in Corinthinans on Friday, I believe and he said that he doesn't believe that God talks us except by opening and closing doors.  When I heard that, it made me wonder then how do we hear God voice, beside in His word.  Can we hear His voice today? 

Yes, I am struggling with that Christine can you tell, lol.  I have to let go of all that other stuff I was taught!  And how do I do that, since alot of that is so instilled in me and I keep reaching for it.

So if Paul heard his voice, we can't? 

Ayye! I don't know, maybe it's still unclear to me about that.  Can you tell me which of the epistles talks about this? 

The reason we have trouble letting go is that it makes us FEEL GOOD (there are those emotions again at the forefront...did you notice that??? wink) to think that God is going to lay out the blueprints and we won't really have to TRUST HIM daily for those things that may pop up suddenly. We need to realize that we are given grace for ONE day at a time and we are to trust Him one day at a time. His Word is all any of has. He lives IN us, and HE is all any of us has. We don't need the voices...but we DO need His Word and to get to know HIM BETTER THRU THE STUDY OF IT!


You may find these things to be helpful:

So here is what you and I can do on a daily basis to find God’s will for ourselves in important areas of our lives: Present your whole body soul and mind to God. Rom 12:1 “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy,acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.” Not in some theoretical way, but in the context of all of the desires of the body.


     That’s what God told us in Rom 6:12,13 “Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it (sin) in its (the body’s) lusts. 13 And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God.”


     The only way Christian character is developed is by controlling the lusts of the body. But this control has to be the Holy Spirit’s gift, self control. We have to look completely to God for all our changes. He will perform the Christian life in us. I believe we can look at our lives with God’s help, to see how real our commitment is. It really shows us by what we do with our bodies. our professing lips are unmasked by the thoughts in our minds and the actions of our hands and feet.


     Two things must be done. We must use the spiritual gift of self control. Rom 12:2a And do not be conformed to this world. Don’t let the world squeeze you into its mold. Develop a repugnance to the world. 1 Jo 2:15-17 says, “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world; the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life; is not of the Father but is of the world. 17 And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.”

 Instead, God wrote through Paul, Rom 12:2b But be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” But how can you be transformed? Again, we see this is a function of the Holy Spirit. First, He saved us. Tit 3:5,6 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, 6 whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior,


     Then, it’s the Spirit and your spirit. Eph 4:23 and be renewed in the spirit of your mind. This takes place in the real you, the inner man. 2 Co 4:16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day.


    This transformation takes place by setting your mind on the Lord, meditating on His person, His qualities and character. 2 Co 3:17,18 “Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. 18 But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory [His glory] to glory [Our glory], just as by the Spirit of the Lord.” This is done by meditating, reading, chewing, and assimilating God’s word.


     Further, the word purifies us as we read it and submit to God. Eph 5:26 “that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word.” We ought to know His word so well that we just sense His will from His word. Then we will be able to prove “what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”


  If you think you have missed God’s ideal will for your life, don’t give up. Phi 3:13,14 says, “Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, 14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” Paul had not made it at the time he wrote Philippians. He had already been a Christian for many years. A few years later he said in 2 Ti 4:6-8, “For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand. 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.”


     God gave us the freedom to make our choices. Christ could do nothing of Himself. Neither can we. We are constantly lead by the Holy Spirit. Let’s tune in to His word and we’ll find His will.


     I hope this helps you. This has been a very important issue in my life too.

[Christine]

OASIS SAID:

God speaks to us today through His complete, written Revelation.  If we were literally hearing God today, it would be an indication that His Revelation is not complete.  But, Scripture says it is.
Look at what Paul says to Timothy in some of his last words to him in 2 Timothy 4:2-4.

v2-"Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage--with great patience and careful instruction."
Paul is reiterating what he said in 3:15-17.  Paul is stressing the importance of relying completely on Scripture.

v3-"For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine.  Enstead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear."
Turn on the TV.  The channels are full of these people:
Joel Osteen
Kenneth Hagin
Kenneth and Gloria Copeland
John Avanzini
Robert Schuler
Rick Warren
...the list goes on.  I could name dozens.

v4-"They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths."
Watch these listed above and countless others.  When and if they open their Bibles to teach, they will use one verse and take it completely out of context.  Why?  They don't want you to understand God's Word.  If you do, you'll stop giving to them and they can't build their mega churches, crystal cathedrals, and personal mansions with fancy cars parked outside.  They care more about what's in their wallet than what's in Scripture, and they obviously care nothing for the souls they are dooming to eternal Hell.

What an insigntful and on the money post!!

We forget that the "heart is deceitful and desperately wicked."  God gives us His Word, rightly divided and IN CONTEXT so that we are NOT so easily led astray by a "gospel of another kind" or by those who tell us what we WANT TO HEAR. We still live in these bodies which are bent toward sin and the only thing I know of that keeps me on the straight and narrow is Gods Word and His indwelling presence.

We SEE all these people getting special "revelations from God" and God telling them this and telling them that...and WE want in on it!!! That is why it is so difficult to let go once we have bought into that mindset.

Changing our thinking is the ONLY way I know of to counter this problem we ALL face.

Any old dead fish can float downstream with all the other dead fish. It takes a LIVE fish to swim against the current! Gods Word and His Spirit dwelling within give US that extra edge! Thank the Lord for His marvelous wisdom, ehhh???

[Oasis]

Christine

We forget that the "heart is deceitful and desperately wicked."  God gives us His Word, rightly divided and IN CONTEXT so that we are NOT so easily led astray by a "gospel of another kind" or by those who tell us what we WANT TO HEAR. We still live in these bodies which are bent toward sin and the only thing I know of that keeps me on the straight and narrow is Gods Word and His indwelling presence.

Absolutely, Christine!  The inner dwelling of the Holy Spirit will give us the understanding we need from God's Word. 

The whole of Romans chapter 8 is a great read on this.  This first several verses deal directly with the struggle with the sinful nature and the rest deals with our victory over this sinful nature.  I find myself reading this chapter over and again to remind myself of what I am in God's eyes and to remind myself that nothing can take that away from me.  The last few verses complete our victory.

"No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.  For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." 

Diana

I was listening to Les Feldicks teaching in Corinthinans on Friday, I believe and he said that he doesn't believe that God talks us except by opening and closing doors.

I'm a couple of days behind on Les(we tape his shows).  I'll listen to what he said.

When I heard that, it made me wonder then how do we hear God voice, beside in His word.  Can we hear His voice today?

This all goes back to your question above, Diana.  God's Word is his voice to us today.

Have a great day!  I'm off to work!

ybiC,
Kab

[NewDawn]

Thanks Christine and Kab! 
LOL!! Christine, I'm not trying to be a billy goat!! 

As I was thinking about all that I had learned at that time, I realized that I don't know the bible as I thought I did.  I was not shown or taught to read Pauls's books.  I mean not in the way I'm learning now.  We picked and chose what scripture fits for the circumstance at that time, but we didn't take the time go through all his books to see what God is saying to the Body of Christ! 

Reading Pauls epistles at that time didn't really mean that much as far as how to live.  I can see why at that time little significance was made reqarding his books.  For some reason, no one wants to teach them, and I think because they don't have that understanding of what they are really about.

 Like Kab said, in order for these people who ask for money to support there cause, they don't talk about Paul saying, be a cheerful giver or freely give.  They want people to be bound to the Law, so they can give more!  I've even heard Joyce Meyer say when people question tithing is OT law, she still makes the remark that it doesn't matter.  If God say's to do that, we have too! 

Now, I need to go back and read Pauls' gospel in a different light, in the way I'm supposed too, rightly dividing the word of truth. 

I'm giving up all that other stuff to Lord and I'm going to allow Him to show me His truth as I read with the understanding that I'm under grace and not works, and that those epistles are for me and what God is saying for me today.

Let me know if I'm headed in the right direction. 

Sincerely,
diana

[Christine]

Thanks Christine and Kab! 
LOL!! Christine, I'm not trying to be a billy goat!! 

I know you aren't, sweetie!  And I also know that it is a difficult thing to lay aside things that "feel" comfortable. It might help to remind yourself that much of what you were taught comes straight from Gods OLD program with Israel, and while it IS true, it is just not true FOR YOU. God HAS changed programs! The program we are in is fine tuned JUST FOR US! God appeals to OUR MINDS and the inner man is strengthened while our outer man IS perishing. Signs and wonders and "audible voices" and  all those things belong to those who were stubborn and refused to simply TRUST God and what He has said. Why do you think Israel demanded "signs?" They were a stiffnecked, and rebellious people, the Bible says. When we simply walk by faith in what  God has already told us, we HONOR HIM. Roll that one around in your head for awhile and let it sink in.

As I was thinking about all that I had learned at that time, I realized that I don't know the bible as I thought I did.  I was not shown or taught to read Pauls's books.  I mean not in the way I'm learning now.  We picked and chose what scripture fits for the circumstance at that time, but we didn't take the time go through all his books to see what God is saying to the Body of Christ!

You aren't alone, Diana. I had been saved for over 20 some years and thought I knew the Bible too....I knew selected verses and could put together a Bible Study using those verses quite nicely. Did I KNOW how to study the Bible Gods way? NOPE...I was clueless. Do you think I might know how you feel here? Twenty some YEARS of being what others considered me to be as a BIBLE TEACHER...yikes....how embarrassing. Now I wasn't teaching out and out error, and I had a basic understanding of GRACE and what had happened at the Cross, but I had NO IDEA where to go for OUR information today or how God was operating in this present dispensation.

At this time I had friends who were in the charismatic movement and who seemed to hear God so much more clearly than I did. I wanted that for my own life as well. MY motive was really that I wanted to really do something GREAT for God (like he needs ME to improve on what HE has already DONE?? LOL) I didn't go for the tongues thingie, cuz I had a husband in the past who divorced me for NOT speaking in tongues as he "told me to", and I already KNEW that wasn't the way to go; but the prophecy thing intrigued me and I thot I had that "gift."

I relied heavily ,at that time, on the still small voice that I was certain was Gods voice. I came "THIS CLOSE" (measure with your thumb and index finger) to actually marrying a DEATH ROW INMATE who was incarcerated in San Quentin. I visited him regularly for over a year and became part of a "ministry team" that held studies with these inmates over a time period of two years.

Now had I used the common sense God gave me, and realized that ministering to MEN, and myself being (at that time mind you) young and attractive, was NOT the best idea I've had...but hey, these guys really thot I was the "bees knees" and listened to the studies I prepared for them intently. Being honest NOW, I actually basked in the attention I received from these guys who hadn't even SEEN a "girl", let alone an attractive single CHRISTIAN LADY in YEARS! I look back now and I am embarrassed at my own stupidity and stubborness. But I stood behind the FACT that God told me to marry this guy....what a JOKE! We are, and I believe especially as women, so easily deceived by the same enemy that harrassed EVE! If we do NOT know what Gods program and plan IS for today, it is so much easier for him to "take us captive" and put us in a position of uselessness. I could write a book on the many wrong turns I took due to NOT KNOWING the information that God provides in His Word, but I fear that it would only be used by stand up comedians in their onstage acts...LOL LOL

Reading Pauls epistles at that time didn't really mean that much as far as how to live.  I can see why at that time little significance was made reqarding his books.  For some reason, no one wants to teach them, and I think because they don't have that understanding of what they are really about.

BINGO! Satan KNOWS the significance of GRACE and especially of the instructions given to us by OUR apostle! He will keep us away from THOSE words any way he can...He HATES the message of GRACE!

Like Kab said, in order for these people who ask for money to support there cause, they don't talk about Paul saying, be a cheerful giver or freely give.  They want people to be bound to the Law, so they can give more!  I've even heard Joyce Meyer say when people question tithing is OT law, she still makes the remark that it doesn't matter.  If God say's to do that, we have too!

Isn't that just toooooooo sad??? I used to teach from Joyce Meyers material too! Now all I can do is shake my head at my ignorance and sigh loudly. Can you hear me sighing? 

Now, I need to go back and read Pauls' gospel in a different light, in the way I'm supposed too, rightly dividing the word of truth. 

I'm giving up all that other stuff to Lord and I'm going to allow Him to show me His truth as I read with the understanding that I'm under grace and not works, and that those epistles are for me and what God is saying for me today.

Let me know if I'm headed in the right direction.

Thats the attitude to have, Diana! Not because I am telling you its right, but because you KNOW that God wants you to be ESTABLISHED in the faith, and ONLY Pauls information is where we find that promise! You are wise to simply set all that you learned before ASIDE....and allow God to show you the simplicity that is IN CHRIST!

You are definitely headed in the right direction and I can promise you that you won't be sorry. MY promise is not the one to grasp onto however, but the promises of God that He 'will work all things together for good to them who are called according to His purpose'...His purpose today is to "make all men SEE what is the fellowship of the MYSTERY..." and you are now a part of that purpose and plan.

I will email you my phone number, in the event that you want to talk privately or ask questions or just YAK! Hows that?

We are praying for Gods peace to envelop you, Diana , so that you will have a confidence that nothing will shake as you learn the wonderful message of GRACE.

Your sister in Him
Christine

[Christine]

Diana,

This might be of help to you as well:

Judaism = Peter

Under Judaism, the blessings of God were mainly in the PHYSICAL realm, with spiritual blessings relegated to second place. For example, in Genesis 15:18, "In the same day the Lord made a covenant with Abram saying, unto thy seed have I given this LAND, from the river Euphrates."

This is part of the Abrahamic Covenant, and the LAND referred to here is about 3 or 4 times the size of Palestine. The Jewish people have never occupied this land in its entirety, and so this verse WILL BE fulfilled in the Millennium. This will be one of THEIR blessings.

When the Kingdom is set up there will be THRONES of rule in it. One will be for the King (2 Samuel 7:13) and 12 thrones will be for the 12 apostles (Matthew 19:28) This is the realm of physical blessings.

When the Lord ministered to Israel, He HEALED all those that came to Him. Healing is a physical blessing. Paul wrote that the Jews required a SIGN (1 Cor. 1;22) Signs, wonders and miracles are all physical blessings that belong to Israel and its program.


Christianity = Paul

Today, according to the Gospel of the Grace of God, the believer in Christ is blessed "with ALL SPIRITUAL BLESSINGS in heavenly places in Christ" (Eph. 1:3)

The emphasis has been shifted by God from the physical realm under the law to the spiritual realm under grace. 2 Corinthians 4:16 is a good example of this: ..."Though our outward man (the body) perish, yet the INWARD MAN is being renewed day by day" Spiritual blessings are for our growth in Christ. They are to keep us well balanced , spiritually and morally. See also Ephesians 3:20

Now there are physical blessings of the Lord in this Dispensation but they are secondary to the great spiritual blessings which are ours in Christ. God can and does heal people when it is His will to so (Philippians 2:25-27) but we must understand that God doesn't heal everybody. "But my God shall supply allyour need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus" is a promise of God for the believers to trust. (Phil. 4:19) But notice it says "needs", not "wants". Most Christians demand their "wants" to be supplied by the Lord and are not satisfied when He supplies their "needs."
 

[NewDawn]

Thanks Christine!  That was really good!  I see, I see, Hallelujah!! 

Thanks Christine!! I'll get your number and save it on my cell phone.

It's funny, years ago, I always prayed that God would show me His truth, because I always thought there was more to His Word than what I had been taught.  I just didn't know what truth it would be. 

You mentioning the Philippians scripture and I remember one of the ladies in the church I used to go to got up to give a "word" and she was going on and on with her word, the she said something that brought up a red flag.  In her word she ended with, "because you are a God of our wants and not just our needs."  I thought to myself, well that doesn't sound right!  I searched the bible for where I would find what she said and could not. 

Ever since then, I just totally lost interest in the prophetic "church"!  With good cause, because the Lord has led John and I here and to this truth!!! 

Thank you again Christine, I'm sure I'll have more questions, and nothing is too personal for me to post.  Kab and Glenda have heard alot already, lol!!

Sincerely,
diana

P.S. When my family does Karaoke, I always sing "Johnny Angel" to my John!! LOL!!!