You are absolutely correct. God (Jesus [God's only begotten son]) is the Lord of the believers' life and we CAN and DO stray from His will ... but when it comes to miracles, healings, deliverances and even resurrections ... only HE GOD is in control of what happens in the believer's life. We can pray for healing, etc. but GOD ALONE knows what a healing will bring with it. Will we praise Him? Or will we start a cult built around the person who "laid hands" on us for our healing? Will we give God the glory? Or will we begin to think we're "better" than someone who doesn't get healed? Will we continue to serve Him after we are healed or will we take that healing and misuse it to shame His name? THAT is why I say God is sovereign in the believer's life. We absolutely should pray for healing, etc. but we shouldn't get mad or throw a fit when God says, "Not now. I have another plan for you." (where can this be found in the bible, I have tried to find this through STRONG'S Concordance, without any results. Should I GOOGLE it?)
This is the last time I'm going to address this issue with you because I have already made clear the beliefs of this website.
God is Sovereign. Sovereign does NOT mean "first in rank or order" ... Sovereign means having full control. Sovereign means holding lordship over another, being the ultimate decision maker for another.
The statement above appears to do away with choice in our lives as believers, and if we do not have choice, (the correct kind of choice is listed in Isaiah, it says: "if you be willing and obedient, then you shall eat the good of the land.") If, as stated God is in full control and is the ultimate decision maker, why does the Bible say that God anointed Jesus with the Holy Ghost and power, who (Jesus) went about doing good, and healing all that were sick.? Just like the guy born blind in John 9, the bible says that neither this man sinned, nor his parents, but that the glory of God be shown. Was the one in complete control (God) the one who made this man blind? If that is the case, then Jesus went completely against what God was in control of, and healed this man.
When God and Jesus are called "King, Ruler, etc." there is a quality about it that no American or even modern European can grasp without a firm knowledge of middle ages culture. When Wycliffe, Cloverdale, the King James translators and others of that time said someone was "king" they were saying this person was above the law ... able to do whatever he wished ... He could demand that one of his subjects send his five-year-old daughter to the palace for whatever reason and his subject COULD NOT DENY HIM. (there is no choice here)
this also takes away choice in the lives of believers. If there is no choice, why is someone sent to others to preach the gospel? If God is that much in control, why don't he make everyone get saved, without choice in the matter?
And, another item that this brings up, if God is in control, and it is his desire that a person not be healed at this time, why is it that we, (especially the person who has a sickness, disease, or any type of malady) wants to be well, made whole, or healed. If we are to realize that God is in complete control, and we have no choice, then the person who is sick, is in God's will, and should not have a desire to be healed, because this would mean that the person is not being willing and obedient.
Nowadays people see a King as much like the President. But that isn't what THE TRANSLATORS meant.
We CANNOT DEMAND a healing or anything else from God. We can ... and should ... pray for the sick etc. with the understanding that God may have other plans for them. If you do not have a willingness to bow to God's SOVEREIGN will, then you do not have a proper understanding of Sovereignty. why should we pray for the sick? Are we to determine God's will for the person prayed for on whether the person gets healed or not? Or is there another way to find the soverign will of God? If God is in complete control with His soverign will. The only "choice" we would then have is to stay in His soverign will, isn't that what Jesus said he did? Jesus said that he came not to do his own will, but the will of him (God) that sent him.
I'm beginning to see why hardly anyone posts on this website anymore. The Word has truly been forgotten and has been replaced by your belief system. You have no Scriptures to support your position so you angrily reject anyone who counters your beliefs, even if they have a biblical argument.
You're right, this is the last time you'll have to straighten me out with your doctrine. I'm done posting here.
__________________
"This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent."--John 17:3 "Eternal life is perhaps the most elusive of all the promises of God."--Donald
This is the last time I'm going to address this issue with you because I have already made clear the beliefs of this website.
God is Sovereign. Sovereign does NOT mean "first in rank or order" ... Sovereign means having full control. Sovereign means holding lordship over another, being the ultimate decision maker for another.
When God and Jesus are called "King, Ruler, etc." there is a quality about it that no American or even modern European can grasp without a firm knowledge of middle ages culture. When Wycliffe, Cloverdale, the King James translators and others of that time said someone was "king" they were saying this person was above the law ... able to do whatever he wished ... He could demand that one of his subjects send his five-year-old daughter to the palace for whatever reason and his subject COULD NOT DENY HIM.
Nowadays people see a King as much like the President. But that isn't what THE TRANSLATORS meant.
We CANNOT DEMAND a healing or anything else from God. We can ... and should ... pray for the sick etc. with the understanding that God may have other plans for them. If you do not have a willingness to bow to God's SOVEREIGN will, then you do not have a proper understanding of Sovereignty.
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"I had been eagerly planning to write to you about the salvation we all share. But now I find that I must write about something else, urging you to defend the faith that God has entrusted once for all time to His holy people." Jude 3 Joyce
... but when it comes to miracles, healings, deliverances and even resurrections ... only HE GOD is in control of what happens in the believer's life. If that were true, then every born again believer would have at least experienced one of these demonstrations of the power of God. The only limitation to experiencing these signs are us and our unbelief. God does not force His will in our lives, we have to cooperate with Him.Jesus said,"In this world you will have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world."--John 16:33 Notice what he did not say. Jesus didn't say,"God controls everything that happens in your life so take courage." More often than not, its our own choices that determine the circumstances in our life.
We can pray for healing, etc. but GOD ALONE knows what a healing will bring with it. Will we praise Him? Or will we start a cult built around the person who "laid hands" on us for our healing? Will we give God the glory? Or will we begin to think we're "better" than someone who doesn't get healed? Will we continue to serve Him after we are healed or will we take that healing and misuse it to shame His name? That should not be our main concern when ministering the Gospel. Whether or not someone gives God the glory is immaterial to doing what God's Word commands us to do. Sounds like to me you have a sensitivity in this area. Maybe you were exposed to an extreme "Word-Faith" doctrine.
THAT is why I say God is sovereign in the believer's life. I agree if by sovereign you mean, "first in rank or order" but if you mean that God controls everything, then I disagree. I can go to the Scriptures to show you how unbiblical the latter is if you desire.
We absolutely should pray for healing, etc. but we shouldn't get mad or throw a fit when God says, "Not now. I have another plan for you." Never heard that one before. There is no "not now" if you are praying for something that is a promise of God though Jesus Christ. 2 Cor 1:20 makes that clear. As far as "another plan" goes, I have no idea what could God's plan be that He hasn't already revealed by Jesus Christ.
As for the idea that part of Scripture "sneaked in" ... can't handle that one. Perhaps someone did add it, but even if that is so GOD ALLOWED IT TO GET INTO HIS PRECIOUS LOVE LETTER TO HIS CHILDREN. If it's in there, I believe it ... If God is all powerful, then He most certainly can protect His word from corruption! But God all powerful can't protect His people from corruption as well? You don't have to accept that a small amount of Scripture appeared at a later time than the rest, that doesn't change the facts. The Scriptures were inspired by God but imperfect man wrote them. This is the reason why people can use the Bible to promote their own agendas. It is possible to misinterpret the Bible but not misinterpret God's Word.
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"This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent."--John 17:3 "Eternal life is perhaps the most elusive of all the promises of God."--Donald
Jesus is the Lord of the believer's life, and yet we're able to make decisions apart from the will of God. The Holy Spirit guides us in the way of righteousness but we can, and often do deviate from that path. Which is why we are admonished in numerous verses to pursue godliness and not be led away by sin.
You are absolutely correct. God (Jesus [God's only begotten son]) is the Lord of the believers' life and we CAN and DO stray from His will ... but when it comes to miracles, healings, deliverances and even resurrections ... only HE GOD is in control of what happens in the believer's life. We can pray for healing, etc. but GOD ALONE knows what a healing will bring with it. Will we praise Him? Or will we start a cult built around the person who "laid hands" on us for our healing? Will we give God the glory? Or will we begin to think we're "better" than someone who doesn't get healed? Will we continue to serve Him after we are healed or will we take that healing and misuse it to shame His name? THAT is why I say God is sovereign in the believer's life. We absolutely should pray for healing, etc. but we shouldn't get mad or throw a fit when God says, "Not now. I have another plan for you."
As for the idea that part of Scripture "sneaked in" ... can't handle that one. Perhaps someone did add it, but even if that is so GOD ALLOWED IT TO GET INTO HIS PRECIOUS LOVE LETTER TO HIS CHILDREN. If it's in there, I believe it ... If God is all powerful, then He most certainly can protect His word from corruption!
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"I had been eagerly planning to write to you about the salvation we all share. But now I find that I must write about something else, urging you to defend the faith that God has entrusted once for all time to His holy people." Jude 3 Joyce
The questions you have asked can solicit various responses based usually on the doctrine that the person providing the answer has been indoctrinated in. I myself belong to no particular "Christian belief group" such as Calvinist or Arminian. I am a seeker of truth.
Now to the questions.
First it is important to point out that Mark 16 verses 9-20 weren't in some of the earliest manuscripts. It appeared around the late 4th century or early 5th century. There are actually four different endings for Mark 16 added by other authors. It is debatable whether Jesus actually said this at all. At any rate It is definitely true that the body of Christ is not walking in the authority given to us through Jesus Christ. The modern day "church" is powerless as a whole in meeting the needs of people. We have retreated in a sense and made doctrines to excuse the reason why we can't see the sick healed, the dead raised, the lame walk, and the blind see. Jesus made it clear in John 14:12 that we who believe in Him would do the works that He did. The church"s response to this: "That passed away with the apostles." In other words, God died with the apostles.
Ahh..the sovereignty of God doctrine. Basically, God is ultimately behind everything that happens and every choice we make. An unbiblical position. Jesus is the Lord of the believer's life, and yet we're able to make decisions apart from the will of God. The Holy Spirit guides us in the way of righteousness but we can, and often do deviate from that path. Which is why we are admonished in numerous verses to pursue godliness and not be led away by sin.
__________________
"This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent."--John 17:3 "Eternal life is perhaps the most elusive of all the promises of God."--Donald
Please bear with this. These are presented because of the questions that I have according to what I have been reading. I would like some input to help my understanding.
"Jesus didn't heal every single sick person while He was on earth. God is the absolute ruler and lord of the believers' lives."
I have been reading about these two statements. The first as listed here, is accurate when taken at face value. When people consider what happened through Jesus at the pool of Bethsaida (sp?) the Bible says there were five porches of sick folk, with a variety of ailments. The Bible goes on to relate that Jesus went to one man. So in this instance it can be stated that Jesus did not heal every single sick person while He was on earth.
By continuing to read on through the section of the Bible where this is given (the Gospel account of John, chapter 5) it can be read and then stated that Jesus never healed one person.
John 5: 19 Then answered Jesus and said unto them,Verily, verily, I say unto you, the Son can do nothing of himself, but what He sees the Father do: for what things soever He (the Father) doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise...
John 5: 30 I can of Mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and My judgment is just; because I seek not Mine own will, but the will of the Father which has sent Me.
Then in John chapter 14 Jesus gives further dissertation on what He could do, did, etc. and what He expects Believers to do (those that BELIEVE on Him, or God using His children to do His Will).
14: 10 - 14 Believest you not that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me? The words that I speak unto you I speak not of Myself: but the Father that dwells in Me, He does the works. Beleive Me that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me: or else believe Me for the very works sake. Verily, verily, I say unto you, he (those) that believes on Me, the works that I do shall he (those that believe) do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto My Father. And whatsoever you shall ask the Father in My Name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you (those that believe) shall ask any thing in My Name, I will do it.
Then there are some other verses that indicate that those that went to Jesus, or were brought to Jesus were healed. For instance: Matt. 8: 16, 17 When the evening was come, they brought unto Him (Jesus) many that were possessed with devils: and He cast out the spirits with HIS word. and healed all that were sick: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses. Then there are the verses that tell of, "all the people who touched the hem of His garment were healed (Matt 14: 34 - 36 or Mark 6: 53 - 56), there is also Matt 9 where it says that Jesus healed every sickness and every disease among the people.
What does the verses mean in Mark 16 when Jesus said: In My Name the believers shall: cast out devils, speak with new tongues, lay hands on the sick, and they (the sick) shall recover? Are we as believers missing something, or not doing something that Jesus, the Head of the Church, told the Church (those that [supposedly] believe on Him) to be doing?
These verses are being presented not to present just any mans doctrine, i.e.: wof, Baptist, Catholicism, Episcopalian, Charismatic, Pentecostal, Evangelical, Fundamentalist, or whatever name that anyone may try to give. The verses presented are what the Bible says and what JESUS said about those that believe on Him.
If JESUS said these things, and this is what He expects of: he that believes on ME, how do we / I get to this? What are we supposed to do if we consider ourselves to be believers? What are these verses supposed to mean to us?
The other statement about God being the absolute ruler and Lord of our lives, if this is a true statement, why does the Bible teach that we have choices to make? Such as: accepting Jesus as Lord and Saviour? Or, as Paul wrote to the Colossians, put off all these anger, wrath, malice blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth, lie not one to another, seeing that you have put off the old man with his deeds; and have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of Him that created him: The Bible also says that I am to forgive others as God has forgiven me, in Christ Jesus. Does this mean that I choose to forgive, or is it possible for me to choose not to forgive?
Does not this tell us to put this off, because you have put this on? In other words, we chose to put on Christ, and here is a way for you to know the choice that you have made. How many of us still choose to allow the fleshly man to have its way? If we choose to be angry, then it must be possible to choose to put off anger.
If God, is the absolute ruler of the believer, does this do away with choice in the believers life? If we then have a choice to make, then absolute control does not exist, does it?
-- Edited by engraftedone on Sunday 2nd of May 2010 10:20:42 AM
-- Edited by engraftedone on Sunday 2nd of May 2010 10:22:07 AM
-- Edited by engraftedone on Sunday 2nd of May 2010 11:03:20 AM
i would still like to learn if the verses were being read correctly. and i still don't understand how this can be subverted into a word of faith doctrine.
and the other questions...i guess i'll try to continue onward and try to find the answers in the word.
i don't know who you think you are. but, to tell me that i am not one who wants to learn, and that i think i know it all, how judgmentall is that? the reason for the questions is to learn something is it not?
there are even people mentioned in the Bible that were given compliements by one of the preachers for searching the Scriptures to see what was told them was so or not.
and according to the posting about faith, it was written in it that we can ask God for faith for healing or whatever. the question was where is this in the Bible, cause i would like to check it out.
just so that there is no accusing me of making something up, here is part of the previous post that has been deleted. i told you that i would try and find it.
"Spurgeon said exactly what I believe ... but, in this little quote, didn't mention the fact that FAITH COMES AS A GIFT FROM GOD (you can't decide, "TODAY I'm going to have faith!") And the gift He gives comes as HE pleases to bestow it. Yes we can ask for faith (for a healing or whatever) ... but HE decides whether He is going to give us that faith and we cannot FORCE Him into it by B-E-L-I-E-V-I-N-G! Sometimes God sees that something better can come from our learning to endure through trials instead of being delivered out of them. I believe God still heals today, he supplies food for the hungry, support for the destitute and homes for the homeless ... BUT THESE THINGS ARE DONE IN HIS TIME AND WE CANNOT FORCE HIM TO DO ANYTHING BY WHAT WE DO."
i don't understand how someone asking questions gets changed into word of faith teachings and challenges to your stance? the posts were in response to what was given, and questions were asked if i was reading the Bible correctly. how is that word of faith? or a challenge to you or your stance?
-- Edited by engraftedone on Wednesday 7th of April 2010 12:07:47 AM
The Spirit is not the same as the "gifts" ... and if you've been seeking the gifts, you are in grave danger.
Faith (the measure given to every man) is a FRUIT of the Spirit. The GIFT of faith is for a special need.
I apologize deeply if you are truly a believer who is trying to grow. But your posts do not sound as if you wish to learn ... they sound as if you wish to challenge our stand against the Word of Faith teachings that we will oppose until our dying day.
Word of Faith is a dangerous teaching that encourages greed and selfishness and ends only is disappointment and discouragement for those who get caught up in it.
If you believe the teachings of Kenneth Copeland, Ken Hagin, Kim Clement or others of their doctrine, be honest about it. Don't come here pretending to be a "learner" when you are already convinced you have all the answers.
__________________
"I had been eagerly planning to write to you about the salvation we all share. But now I find that I must write about something else, urging you to defend the faith that God has entrusted once for all time to His holy people." Jude 3 Joyce
i went and read what you gave to us (readers, learners).
in the Bible it actually states that the "gifts of the Spirit are: the WORD OF WISDOM, the WORD OF KNOWLEDGE, TO ANOTHER FAITH..." and by reading the verse preceding the listings it says that the manifestation of the Spirit (or the manifestation of the "gifts") is given to every man to profit withal (the Church that has come together), and that God will also give to every man severally as He WILLS. the only reason that i wrote it out the way the Bible has it, is this, the way that i could quote what you wrote, gives a whole lot of people an excuse of not having any knowledge (LOL), all they gotta say is "God didn't give me any"
so, if this "gift of faith" is given to profit the Church, why would i need it individually to "get through something"? (since as you wrote that God has dealt to every man the measure of faith, the same man also wrote that faith was a component of the FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT)
and the tongues listed here goes along with the interpretation of tongues if i am reading this correctly.
are these different than the tongues that people speak with that believe in the baptism of the Holy Ghost with the evidence of speaking in tongues?
or, are they different than the tongues that Paul said he prayed with when he said that he prayed with his understanding (the language that he knew?), or that he prayed with my spirit.
and, if these are the same, why would Paul tell a church that he prayed in tongues more than the whole church, when God said that He manifests these gifts as He sees fit?
-- Edited by engraftedone on Tuesday 6th of April 2010 08:20:18 PM
-- Edited by engraftedone on Tuesday 6th of April 2010 08:21:09 PM
-- Edited by engraftedone on Tuesday 6th of April 2010 08:23:54 PM
there is a reason for the questions. what happened to wanting to help people grow in their walk with the Lord. when questions that are asked get ignored, where is the growth supposed to come from. am i supposed to be a "status quo" or "whatever will be, will be" Christian? why didn't i or why don't i just wait till someday to get saved, i've got time.
i don't know about you, but i NEVER wished for my children to be SICK in any fashion, nor would i wish sickness on them to teach them discipline, chastise them, or in some way punish them. GOD IS NO DIFFERENT, the NT says that God wants to give good things even more than we do to His children.
saying NO, in instances as you indicate, is nothing more than common sense.
if we as parents did not tell a child NO, Don't touch the hot stove, don't eat candy before a meal etc. it would be close to neglect on our part.
please show me where and when God uses or used sickness to teach someone something. preferrably from the Bible, and not some experience.
Paul' thorn in the flesh won't cut it. if a person would read the chapter before paul mentions the thorn in the flesh (a messenger of satan sent to buffet him) we can read what persecutions he went through. for example, ship wrecks, stoning, beatings with rods, beatings with a cat of nine tails, snake bite, etc, etc, etc. SICKNESS is no where mentioned. and if a person tries to s-t-r-e-t-c-h the word and say that "weakness" was his sickness, wouldn't being beaten or stoned or starving make a person's body weak? through paul's physical weakness God was able to show Himself strong, in enabling Paul to run his race and finish his course.
Job's boils won't work either, these were things that satan put on Job. and if you read the end of the book of Job, it will be found that Job was healed, he received twice as much as he had before, and he died in a GOOD OLD AGE. oh, to be like Job!
the Bible also says that faith is a part of the fruit of the Spirit. but, i guess this ain't the forum to get answers. there were a couple questions that i was looking for answers for, and the questions were ignored.
one of them is, where does it say in the Bible that we are supposed to pray for faith to be healed?
another is, would God do anything less for His children than we would do for ours?
God did tell people NO! He told Paul on one of his (Paul's) mission trips, "NO, Don't go to that city yet?"
i am not arguing that God will sometimes say NO, just tryin to find out what i am supposed to be havin faith for.
the old testament says that God is the God who heals you, and it also says in the OT that God never changes. what am i to do with these verses?
the Bible also says, they that seek the Lord shall not want any good thing. are we to not want healing, protection, deliverance or safety? (are not all these things good?) or does this verse mean that we will not lack these things because God gives them to us?
there is also another verse that says many are the afflictions of the righteous but the Lord delivers him out of them all.
according to what has been posted, that is only if God is not usin it to teach us a lesson of some sort. how did that become part of the verse?
-- Edited by engraftedone on Tuesday 6th of April 2010 11:42:17 AM
-- Edited by engraftedone on Tuesday 6th of April 2010 11:47:10 AM
-- Edited by engraftedone on Tuesday 6th of April 2010 06:22:31 PM
-- Edited by engraftedone on Tuesday 6th of April 2010 06:30:09 PM
Have you ever said "no" to your children? "No you can't have half a cake before dinner," "No you can't spend the night at your boyfriend's house," "No you can't stick your fork in the electrical outlet," "No. Not Now. No I have something better for you. No. No. No. I know something about this that you don't and even though you want it with all your heart, for right now, there is something that will bring you better things ... so do it my way."
God does that too.
I'm not going to get into an argument about faith with you. We are saved by grace through faith. God gives unto each man a measure of faith. God gives gifts to all believers ... "to some, miracles; to some, tongues; to some, knowledge; to some, wisdom; to SOME, faith."
Two types of faith here. A MEASURE of faith for everyone and to SOME a gift of faith.
That's all. If you have a problem with that, as the clerks in the stores say, "Take it up with the MANAGEMENT."
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"I had been eagerly planning to write to you about the salvation we all share. But now I find that I must write about something else, urging you to defend the faith that God has entrusted once for all time to His holy people." Jude 3 Joyce
what if the "measure of faith" ain't enough? how many times have people said or thought, "i don't have enough faith", or "i need more faith". or has anyone ever told a person that they didn't have enough faith, and you just need more faith".
how much faith is enough? how then am i to live by faith, and walk by faith if i don't know what i have is adequate?
what am i to have faith in?
does God make me sick so that i can learn something? i have been sick, and i have been well. well is good, so if God is good and He wants "good" for me, why would He make me sick?
God is supposed to be my Father, since i became born again. is that right?
what does the Bible mean when it says that if i as an earthly parent know how to give "good things" to my child (ren), how much more the Heavenly Father wants to give "good things" to his child (ren) and those that love Him.
i have children, and when they got sick, i did all that i could to get them well. if, i could do that, and God wants more for me as His child, would He do anything less?
where does it say in the Bible that i am supposed to pray for faith to be healed?
i found one verse when a man asked Jesus to "help his unbelief", and the only thing that will get rid of unbelief is knowledge, understanding and wisdom. because there can not be any belief in something that a person doesn't know.
Every person is given a measure of faith ... Paul says that, I believe ... however, there is a special "gift" of faith that is given sovereignly by the will of God alone. It is THAT "gift" of faith that we can pray for. In this original post I said, "HOLD ONTO YOUR FAITH" I didn't say "ask God for faith."
I'm speaking of the "measure of faith" that every person is given.
God is King ... He is ABLE TO DO ANYTHING ... but that doesn't mean that He is always going to heal or whatever. Jesus didn't heal every single sick person while He was on earth. God is the absolute ruler and lord of the believers' lives. That means that He will heal who He wants to heal and will expect other believers to go THROUGH the trial instead of being lifted out of it.
If you aren't willing to pray "not my will but thine be done," then Jesus is NOT Lord of your life!
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"I had been eagerly planning to write to you about the salvation we all share. But now I find that I must write about something else, urging you to defend the faith that God has entrusted once for all time to His holy people." Jude 3 Joyce
as I wrote in the other post, i had read what was there before it was deleted.
how do i know if God has given me "faith" to hold on to? that other post says that i am to "ask God for faith to be healed, etc. so i just won't ask Him for any faith for this, and just hope He will help go through it.
the argument was raised that God only gives faith as He sees fit on the post.
i'll search through some of the files that i made copies of ( i think i copied it onto a word program), but, it seems kinda odd that this post tells people to hold onto their faith.
Welcome to the new United Socialist States of America!
Hold onto your faith, because it's about to become a dangerous thing.
You don't think so? Who would have thought in 2000 that in one decade the government would take over control (have ownership) of one SIXTH of the nations productivity?
Car companies, banks and now health care are all now under the control of the oh, so efficient and loving state. (Not to mention the ancient harbinger of things to come ... the railroads!)
Here we go ... into a very uncertain future ... but we have one "Thing" going for us.
We may not know what tomorrow holds, but we know Who holds tomorrow!
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"I had been eagerly planning to write to you about the salvation we all share. But now I find that I must write about something else, urging you to defend the faith that God has entrusted once for all time to His holy people." Jude 3 Joyce