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A Psychic Confesses
I don't read religious works. I don't discuss my spiritual life with any religious leader or spiritual guide. Heck! I don't even go to a traditional church. Ritual makes me shudder. My temper blows if anyone tries to 'convert' or 'save' me. Nothing...
Believing in Jesus is NOT a Religion, and God is NOT a Christian
What are the major misconceptions by ignorant atheists [Less than 4% of the world population (www.adherents.com)]? The ‘fact’ that we are primarily body, and spirituality comes second is the first and most important mistake of all with the...
Salvation Army, Not Just A Religion, A Charity Worth Giving To
Last year during Christmas season I started to enter a store
that I had shopped at regularly for years. I stopped at the
store entrance because I felt that something was wrong. Then I
realized that there was no bell ringing and no Salvation...
Thou Shalt Not.
Have you ever read the Ten Commandments and paused at the words, “Thou Shalt Not?”I have read many an artical condemning Ministers for speaking out against, sin, unrighteousness, life styles contrary to the Commandments of God and Christ, and...
Two Thousand Years Later (The Passion Of The Christ)
TWO THOUSAND YEARS LATER Following the release of the film: The Passion Of The Christ, we should take this opportunity to remember what it was that Jesus Christ may have died for. Perhaps we can re-think and re-learn the message He had been trying...
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Seek God
God dwells within us. If God reveals something to us, according to scripture, that makes us a god (Jn. 10:35). However, we are not God. If the Spirit speaks through us, it is truth and it is God. It is God living through us. Yet, because another believes that makes them God, do we not consider the part of truth that brought them to such a conclusion?
In fact, we go such an opposite extreme that when one is speaking (in the Spirit) something we have not yet considered, we may accuse them of heresy. We limit the ways God can speak to us, do not recognize Him as God at all, deny Him, and thereby miss greater blessings.
When people think emotionalism is spiritualism and it is said one has to pray through to get the Holy Ghost, it sounds as if one has to do something good enough or beg God long enough to get it. So, through omission, we teach that the Holy Spirit and the Holy Ghost is the same thing; missing that when you seek God with your whole heart, once you want Him more than life itself, God will reveal Himself to you in such a supernatural way that you will never be the same again. For such a blessing as the Holy Ghost, one does wrestle with God until God gets all.
When religions promote alcoholic beverages, we tend to run the opposite direction ... yet, never consider those so drunken in knowledge that they can not meet people where they are.
There is nothing new under the sun; meaning history repeats itself. Some believe in reincarnation. While we find no support for that belief; spiritually, we are reincarnated each time God calls us into new spiritual seed. We still experience the same things as people of old, only in modern settings. Animals, insects, birds, etc. were symbolic names for types of people in scripture.
Some teach worship requires a lifting of hands. Spiritually, I lift my hands toward God's holiness whenever I write.
Do we not sacrifice to idols whenever we follow a preacher/religion eaching instead of God? Do we not sacrifice to devils whenever we settle for less than truth?
Some walk in the flesh. Others walk in the Spirit. The law is for God's children (not the lost) and is spiritual, as scripture can only be spiritually discerned. It is no wonder some were shocked when Jesus told them, "Ye must be born again." The Kingdom of God comes not with observation. That includes salvation. It begins once you trade your thoughts for His and let Him sit upon the throne of your heart; where God no longer just visits but dwells.
We claim the name 'Christian' as if that somehow makes us better. But, before people were given the name 'Christian'; they had first become disciples. As it is written, they shall all be taught of God.
Just as there are lost people in churches today and those who have remained in churches for the wrong reasons, if we believe 'God's word will not return void' we must consider there are people who have found God among errors in religion; who may or may not leave that faith.
We teach children that God is everywhere, except in faiths not like ours. Instead of looking for God in the part that is truth, we go the opposite extreme; teaching children to believe whatever we tell them, instead of guiding them in the ability to think and reason for themselves (missing God's best).
Once, I read where a lady was considering beliefs of the Indian. Though she did not practice their faith, she began to realize that the god of corn, the god of rain, etc. was all the same God; that our God is the God who grows corn, the One who makes rain! In her conclusion, how we worship God may be different. But, by whatever name we call Him, it is still God.
After thinking about it, I asked God if that were true. He answered, "Well, when they worship Jesus, aren't they really worshiping me?" (Ex. 34:14; Jn. 4:22; Ph. 3:3)
Consider the following verses:
"Have
we not all one father? hath not one God created us? why do we deal treacherously every man against his brother, by profaning the covenant of our fathers?," Ma. 2:10. "Seeing it is one God, which shall justify the circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through faith," Ro. 3:30.
"But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him," I Co. 8:6. "One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all," Ep. 4:6.
In all religions, can we not say they were at least once seeking truth? Jesus is truth, by whatever name we call Him. God is God, by whatever name we call Him. It is not for us to say who is saved and who is not; who worships correctly or who does not. Correct terminology is not a prerequisite for salvation. (God desires not yours but You. It is a matter of the heart.) But, what is up to each of us is to seek God, who will guide us into all truth.
"Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye?" Mt. 7:1-4.
"For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist," Co. 1:16-17.
"Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues: But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will. For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. For the body is not one member, but many." I Co. 12:4-14.
"Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man's device," Ac. 17:29.
There is only one all knowing God. "One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all," Ep. 4:6.
But, before we can know what God believes, we have to ask Him.
© by Joyce C. Lock
http://my.homewithgod.com/blessingsandlessons/
"For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach,
because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men,
specially of those that believe."
I Ti. 4:10
This writing may be used in its entirety, with credits in tact,
for non-profit ministering purposes.
About the Author
Joyce C. Lock is a published author, poet, and columnist. In addition, she founded and maintains the email ministries "Heavenly Inspirations" http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HeavenlyInspirations/ and "Share a Smile" http://groups.yahoo.com/group/smilesharing/ . Joyce's writings encourage us in our relationship with God and each other.
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