Greetings all,
I will continue to try something on TheNET. I would like to see if we can engage in a Bible study using the forums. I hope to simulate a small group setting, but realize that there will be lag time. Here are the parameters that we will work with ... and this is open to everyone.
1) We are attempting to work our way through the gospel of John.
2) We will not tolerate negative comments made about a person or persons.
3) We are using the S.O.A.P. approach which = Scripture - Observation - Application - Prayer.
... 3a) Scripture text from the Gospel of John using KJV (no copyright attached)
... 3b)Observations about the particular text. What is being said, what is going on, who is involved and what might be the points being made?
... 3c) Application of the text/teaching to our lives today.
... 3d) Prayer pertaining to that which we have sought to discern.
4) It is appropriate to ask questions along the way.
5) I operating as the facilitator and teacher of this online group/class, but want the open participation of others.
6) At the end of each week (Friday's) I will close the current one and start a new one.
This weeks discussion:
John 3:1-9 KJV There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: (2) The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him. (3) Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. (4) Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born? (5) Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. (6) That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. (7) Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. (8) The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit. (9) Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be?
Tags:
LT,
This is a great passage.......with my favorite part - verse 3.
I hear the Lord saying something like: All humans are born into sin (because the curse in the Garden of Eden).We grow into the age of reason up to the moment of truth. If we don't change, we are like "the walking dead".....living lives of sin......on a dead-end cul-de-sac......in darkness.
But, if we come to God through Jesus Christ.....it's the same as being born again....from death to life......with the promise of eternal life in heaven.
And included in Jesus's statement is THAT IT IS THE ONLY WAY TO REDEMPTION.
Nicodemus had a problem understanding the Word......just as people have for the last 2000 years or so.
But, when a person gets the word from the Holy Spirit..... as Peter preached in Acts 2:38 - Truly Repents, Is Baptized, Whose live is changed 180 degrees (Born Again), shows a new person as he/she is sanctified to a new different life.
It's great!
Amen.
Yep, it is a struggle, especially on top of all else we are told in Scripture that wolves will come in with false teaching. I believe that one of the goals of the enemy is to sow seeds of doubt. In last Sunday's message I commented on how those who oppose Christianity can use things like the papyrus that proclaims Jesus had a wife or get people to think the church some how deceitfully kept out the writings know and the gospel of Judas or the gospel of Thomas that some people will fall away from the church. Every new attack will shake the church and some more will walk away, but did the true child of God walk away? I think not, but only those who practiced religion.
You are probably not going like my answer, but I will share it anyway. There are two things I will point out.
1) You give people way too much control over your life. Why do you care what people you don't know or barely know think? This includes going to a new church. You have to test the church to see if they are in the faith before you would allow yourself to be held accountable to that group. If you find them in error on essentials you move on to another church until you find a solid one (not perfect, but solid).
2) The Bible describes us as sheep for a reason and makes a couple of other comments. The first thing we know about sheep is that they do not do well on their own. They are easy prey and easily fooled. Sheep are at their best in a group under a shepherd who looks after them. The Bible also tells us that wolves will come in to some sheep pens. If you go to a church that is full of wolves you move on. If you were a part of a church and wolves tried to come in you toss them out. We also know that false teachers will infiltrate the church and lead many astray. Again if you started to attend a church and found it is led by false teachers you move on. You are still the outsider as the newbie and they are probably entrenched. If you were a part of a church and false teachers sought to infiltrate you fight to keep them out and pure doctrine in.
I recognize you are not saying you are giving up on church, but your emphasis needed addressing. Sheep are unsafe alone (unless God called them to a specific ministry) and the church needs to works at keeping pure doctrine in and false teachers and wolves out. If one is not in a church currently they need to seek out a fellowship to belong to ... that is God's design and we must not let the enemy win the day by giving up or giving in.
Lord Bless,
LT
The beginning of breaking this cycle is the acknowledgement that it exist. Then a simple principle needs to be added as a tool to help overcome the cycle.
Stop - put the breaks on the situation
Step back - don't let the mind run ahead
Pray - ask the Lord for wisdom regarding this one situation
Evaluate - Look at it from a big picture view and not as "the EVENT"
Pray for release of this one situation (each time) - Seeking a road map around the roadblock
Lord Bless,
LT
Basically what you have described is the view of Theophostic, which we have discussed before. Without going into all of it I will highlight 2 points.
1) Lie based Theology: Somewhere in our past a lie gets embedded as the truth and then affects our today and future. One such common lie is "it was your fault" and the person embraces that lie disabling them from healing.
2) Finding the root cause: Problems of like nature tend to recur in our lives until we find the root cause in our past. Too often we blame a secondary event (one that is attached to the root, but not the root itself). Until light is shown on the root and the lie attached dispelled many people remain in bondage.
There are two things I would add to what you have said (and not saying this of you).
1) There is a difference between processing and dwelling on the past.
2) We also must really want to let go of the past. Too often people feel safer holding on to the familiar even when the familiar is negative.
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