HFOG's Posts
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starlingslimnet:Okay. So what's your point now? What's your summary and conclusion? |
kaboninc:I find your use of the word 'claim' confusing. Calling God all powerful, is it a claim? Do you believe the Bible? Do you believe the creation and redemption story? How do we term the personality in charge of all these? About praying...God's ways are far from ours so are His thoughts. All He says and does would not always make perfect sense to us for several reasons. We do not only call Him God but Father. We need to humble ourselves as children to get anything from Him. He is way beyond what we can imagine. As parents there are many things we do not explain to our little children. We cannot even explain it to them because their minds are too puny to understand them. No matter how grown or enlightened we may be there are several things about God that are way beyond our understanding. And except we come simply and humbly with childlike faith we'll miss out in our relationship with God. Why do we need to pray to someone that already knows our need? Because He asked us to pray. If He chooses that it works that way why should we fault Him on that? Doesn't the creator have a right to decide how He wants to do things? Does He owe us an explanation? Must His instructions always make sense to us before we obey them or before they're valid? Who did He consult before creating us? Who then is He obligated to consult before setting principles? He says the way up is down. He says love your enemies. He says ask in prayer whatever you need. He says give and it shall be given to you. Whether we understand or not it really doesn't validate or nullify His Word. It's already settled and not a dot will go unfulfilled. Our best bet is to get aligned to His Word. Resisting, doubting or questioning it ends in futility. |
starlingslimnet:I've just done that. I think I have answered you on the food thingy too. Thanks |
starlingslimnet:Do you pay tax? Why? Do you know that most political leaders in charge of our taxes are unfaithful? What do we then gain from paying tax? About paying Pastors... If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things? Do ye not know that they which minister about holy things live of the things of the temple? And they which wait at the clubs are partakers with the altar? Even so has the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel. |
Talking about the GM and someone applying for something and relating that to God doesn't exactly fit in to me. To conclude that when I give to a church system that misappropriates funds I'll miss the blessing of giving because God would not have a record of my giving would not be right even Scripturally. That translates to faulting God as limited in knowledge and bias in judgement. Why are we so hasty to pass judgement not just on the church leaders but even God? During Jesus' time, He condemned the religious rulers for their hypocrisy severally but he never told his followers to rebel against them or their teachings. He even told his listeners to obey the teachings of the Pharisees but not their lifestyles. He talked about them exploiting widows yet He commended the widow that gave her mite in the temple. We would be taking too much into our hands by assuming the position of criticizing every religious leader who collects tithes and offerings. If you have evidence of their unfaithfulness what is the right thing to do? If you approach them and they refuse to turn a new leaf, what next? Does broadcasting their evil ways and convincing others to shun giving solve anything? What does the Bible recommend? We must realise that the easiest person to change is ourselves and we all would give account of ourselves before God. If as you walk with God, He persuaded and instructed you to quit giving tithes, good for you. Many times we focus on frivolities and ignore the priorities. Giving is taught everywhere in the Bible. Whether it is giving in the church or to the poor and whatever percentage it is God's Word gives you us principles to guide our giving. Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. Cc Kaboninc starlingslimnet |
starlingslimnet:You haven't directly said that but you've said one or two things to indicate your variance with the manner of tithe giving and usage in the church. Concerning the question you asked I gave you possible answers. Food for priests, levites, Israelites, widows, orphans or even God. Pls take your choice. I'll be fine with whichever you pick. I am only trying to fast forward to the exact aim of your question and how relevant it is to our salvation. Let me allow you state clearly the point you're really driving at because you're yet to do that. |
starlingslimnet:Now, what exactly is your point please? Food for priests? Levites? God? The poor? Orphans? Widows? After proving and believing that tithe paying is irrelevant, then what next? Or that tithes should be paid. Let's try to focus on the essentials please. First things first. Whatever we give and however we live ought to flow out of our relationship with the Lord not the other way round. Choosing to give whatever percentage of our resources to a church, person, cause or community is not what makes us God's children. |
Alezy:Yeah my day's been beautiful. I have to stop where the Bible stops. What right to I have to push either way? Glad and grateful you got me a little. |
MizMyColi:You're making me smile, ma'am. Whoever calls on His name would be saved. You know that. :-) |
MizMyColi:haha. You're not blaming her, are you? I'm not sure if you're one either. :-( |
kaboninc:Many thanks for your kind words. I've not been able to access my mail till now. Pls be patient with me. About your questions on children with terminal diseases, infant death and existing elsewhere etc. I do not bother myself about many things. I accept life and God are way bigger than I can fathom on this side of eternity. I do not claim to have everything fixed in my mind. For me, anything that doesn't bother on drawing me closer to God I leave off. Whether I existed before now or not, how does that help me focus on God? Understanding the reason why infants die and good people suffer can't directly help my walk with God or can it? |
4rmGuest2Member:Haha...was simply writing out those Scriptures you said we should read. Thought it would be easier for some folks. Me is not preaching to you in the least oh. Trust you had a restful night. Happy holidays! |
kaboninc:Let me try. How do I illustrate this? Hmm. The president of our nation was elected (rigged or not) and one way or the other found himself as the first citizen of this blessed nation. Truth is he is in charge and can do as he pleases. Nigeria's resources are at his disposal. It's his for the looting or spending or investing. But isn't that only half of the truth? Does that paint the whole picture? Would he be there forever? Doesn't he stand the risk of being voted out or eliminated/killed? And if things were ideal in this world, shouldn't he give an account of his tenure when it is over? Don't know how much sense this makes to you but our president is there by trust and that trust is a gift. If he sees it as his right and so squanders the opportunity would that be a wise choice? Life is a gift to us because we didn't create ourselves. We never chose our gender, parents, race, siblings, tribe or birth date. We simply found ourselves here. Moreover we know that we can't create another. In that sense life is a gift. It is also a gift because we do not choose our death date except we opt for suicide of course. So many (younger, older, wiser, more foolish, holier, more sinful, richer, poorer, better, worse and what have you) are no more alive. Not necessarily because of anything they did or did not do. So when we wake up to the dawn of a new day we know beyond a doubt that life's been given to us as a gift or trust or privilege - whichever makes more sense to you. Take the process of sleeping (complete unconsciousness) and breathing (free air) for example. Who do we pay to have all these? Do we really deserve it? On the other side of the coin, our life is not ours. Isn't that obvious? You do have complete charge over your property, don't you? But do we have complete charge over our lives? Can we quit living (breathing) at will and return to live at will for as long as we wish to? For two major reasons God owns our lives. One, creation. Two, redemption. Life is yours in the sense that you're consciously living it - decisions, thoughts and actions. But it's not really yours because you didn't make it and you have no right to take it. It's simply a gift and opportunity God's entrusted to you. You make of it whatever you want to but remember that ...God will judge us for everything we do, including every hidden thing, good or bad. Haven't you yet learned that your body is the home of the Holy Spirit God gave you, and that He lives within you? Your own body does not belong to you. For God has bought you with a great price. So use every part of your body to give glory back to God, because He owns it. I have been crucified with Christ: and I myself no longer live, but Christ lives in me. And the real life I now have within this body is a result of my trusting in the son of God who loved me and gave Himself for me. |
kaboninc:Hmm. Sometimes I wish I had all the answers. Most times however, I'm glad and grateful I do not. I mean who wants a God that this finite mind can predict and fathom plus there will be nothing to look forward to if everything here makes perfect sense. Pls don't mistake me for a 'know-it-all'. I do not know half as much as I need to. I am saying this so you get my stance while I try to respond to you please. I don't mean to say I am perfect. I haven't learned all I should even yet, but I keep working towards that day when I will be finally all that Christ saved me for and wants me to be... I believe we've settled on the aforementioned. So don't expect perfect and satisfying answers always from me. I do not claim to know it all please. *singing* Unanswered questions at times have questioned my faith, He says those puzzles I never could fit into place But a voice deep within says ‘Child, trust Me and be of good cheer.’ ‘Heaven waits to explain it and make it all clear.’ Heavens holds all the answers that we’ll never know till we’re there All the reasons for all of our trials, our burdens and cares In the presence of Jesus we’ll know and understand well Heaven holds all the secrets that time will never tell Doors that were unopened, storms and painful good byes, Fill my mind with confusion, my mouth with the words ‘Dear Lord why? But He whispers ‘My child, hold My hand and keep following Me’ ‘Someday heaven will focus the picture that now you can see.’ |
Alezy, thought I should break the post so it doesn't get too lengthy. Five, we can neither be compelled to know God nor to present our bodies as living sacrifices unto Him. Even Paul simply beseeched (pleaded) with the Romans to do that even though it's our REASONABLE service. All these imply that as I walk with God as an individual I will personally come to the persuasion that certain things or people are trying to limit my walk with Him and I'll simply give them up for His sake. Now I don't think it would be right for me to insist that everyone walks with God exactly as I do and make the same sacrifices I make. I need to simply pray that their eyes of their understanding would be opened. I have no business criticizing them. At most I would try to exhort them to know the Lord more. Truth is, We all have ourselves to deny and our crosses to carry individually between us and the Lord. We must however strike a balance. There are many things the Bible spells out clearly that must not be in the life of a Christian no matter the level you are in your walk with God. But how can you know what God says when you don't spend sufficient time reading and meditating on His Word? However there are other things we find the Bible is silent over. We must trust the Holy Spirit to stay within the right boundaries because we can't trust our hearts or our impulses. You know why I believe. To me, these boundaries bother on the friends we keep, how we spend our leisure, our dressing, our speech, what we read, where we go and every part of our lives including what we think. ...Dear brothers, I plead with you to give your bodies to God. Let them be a living sacrifice, holy - the kind He can accept. When you think of what He has done for you, is this too much to ask? Don't copy the behaviours and customs of this world, but be a new and different person with a fresh newness in all you do and think. Then you will learn from your own experience how His ways will really satisfy you. Since we have such a huge crowd of men of faith watching us from the grandstands, let us strip off anything that slows us down or holds us back, and especially those sins that wrap themselves so tightly around our feet and trip us up; and let us run with patience the particular race that God has set before us. Keep your eyes on Jesus, our leader and instructor... |
Alezy:Hmm. This is a delicate spot you've touched. I'm trusting God to help me out. :-) One, we're individuals and no two persons can have exactly the same relationship with God. God is fair, just, perfect and impartial yet He relates with us as INDIVIDUALS. Two, each person to a large extent determines his/her relationship with God. You can go as deep as you wish. You set the limits. Let me try to illustrate this. Six friends may go to the same university, offer the same course, write the same exams but they'll never come out with the same result. Who determines their performance? Walking with God takes personal sacrifice and commitment. Not everyone is willing to do that. Why? Because we're individuals. Why? God made us so. Why? He chose to and He has every right to do what He wants to. Who are we to question Him?:-). Three, the closer we walk with God the more we know Him. The more we know Him the less the world has a grip on us. It's futile trying to struggle not to love the world or be part of the world. Aim at walking with God like Enoch did and naturally the things of this world will grow dim. Four, the closer we get to God the more careful we must be because much is required from whoever is given much. Reflect on God's expectation from Moses, Aaron, the Levites and the Israelites. God is a constant, we're the variables. |
Alezy:Stigma? Happy are those who are persecuted because they are good, for the kingdom of heaven is theirs. When you are reviled and persecuted and lied about because you are My followers - wonderful! Be happy about it! Be very glad! For a tremendous reward awaits you up in heaven. And remember, the ancient prophets were persecuted too. Notice the word 'when' not 'if'. A time must come in our walk with the Lord when the world would react this way to us else something's wrong somewhere. I sincerely hope I didn't misunderstand your point.:-) |
4rmGuest2Member:Here we go... I can do anything I want to if Christ has not said no, but some of these things aren't good for me. Even if I'm allowed to do them, I'll refuse to if I think they might get such a grip on me that I can't easily stop when I want to. For instance, take the matter of eating. God has given us an appetite for food and stomachs to digest it. But that doesn't mean we should eat more than we need. Don't think of eating as important, because some day God will do away with both stomachs and eating. You are certainly free to eat food offered to idols if you want to; it's not against God's laws to eat such meat, but that doesn't mean you should go ahead and do it. It maybe perfectly legal, but it may not be best and helpful. Don't think only of yourself. Try to think of the other fellow, too, and what is best for him. |
BreezyRita:Sweetheart, we gotta expect them here sooner or later but as you said ...we'll teach, learn, exhort, help, study, with the help of the Holy Spirit, of course. Daily. God help us. We must depend absolutely on Him. There will be times He'll want us to be silent. We must be sensitive else the purpose of this thread will be defeated. Just like our 'tag and ask' home, not everyone deserves an answer. |
Alezy:haha. Who do we blame then? Satan? God? The world? Blame game would do no good to no one. We know that there will no excuse when we all stand before God. Why? Do you want more and more of God's kindness and peace? Then learn to know Him better and better. For as you know Him better He will give you, through His great power, everything you need for living a truly good life: He even shares His own glory and goodness with us! And by that same power He has given us all the other rich and wonderful blessings He promised; for instance the promise to save us from the lust and rottenness all around us and to give us His own character...For the free gift of salvation is now being offered to everyone; and along with the gift comes the realization that God wants us to turn away from godless living and sinful pleasures and to live good, God-fearing lives day after day... *singing* ...Everyone's got a story...everyone's got a song...everyone's a little different...but we've all gone wrong...but the Saviour came...and He took the blame...and changed everything... |
BreezyRita:Sincerely, I thought about this too. You know I'm very wary of arguing about spiritual issues. It does no good. Many times I let it pass and simply say a word of prayer for those involved because the truth is most of what I believe today has little or nothing to do with anyone persuading me. It was a function of a personal walk with the Lord. So I know that whoever would know God flesh and blood wouldn't reveal Him to such a one. |
MizMyColi:lol. Then you're using unreserved psychology on me abi? I'm interested in that training oh. Is it professional/academic? Which seat you dey rush comot from? Having you here is always our pleasure and privilege. Btw, how's specialist's trip? Has he arrived? |
MizMyColi:I think I could almost guess where you're headed. Don't ask pls - you don't want to know my thought. :-P My day was calm. Trying to rest a little. Would be going out shortly too. I think you know where. :-) |
BreezyRita:Many thanks ma'am for this input. I think the guiding principle is thinking through what the aim of a gathering is and all that is involved. Some so called religious gatherings do not please the Lord either. I believe that whatever we do, we're to do to the glory of God. Because the truth is once God is not glorified, the devil is. I don't think there's a middle ground. Our lives and bodies do not belong to us any longer. Whatever we do or wherever we go that doesn't glorify God we must desist from such actions and places. Cc Alezy |
charijee:The wish of Five gluttons |
elantraceey:Hello darling. |
MizMyColi:How has your day been? |
Alezy:Confusing? Sorry pls. Never my intention. I'm enjoying our discuss anyway. Pls indulge my slow responses. About type and location of party...you want to get me tongue-tied, don't you? Something happens whenever I want to give Debbie water or whatever she's asking for. She ALWAYS drops whatever she's holding - no matter what it is - and grabs what I'm offering. I reflected how unlike her many of us Christians are. We want to receive what God has to offer while still holding on to the world. We attempt to be as close as possible to the world consoling ourselves that we're still within a safe boundary. Unfortunately, the two don't mix. The enemy doesn't mind the mixture I should say but from the Word we're sure that affinity with the world is enmity with God. |
MizMyColi:Thought we'd agreed on this :-( |
MizMyColi:Morning ma'am. Your royal highness |
francizy:Around. |
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