SteveB
Well-known member
Hmm......The lack of alarm on your part in regards to that church's commitment is why I was sharing my concern.
I learned a long time ago that I'm not Jesus' church police, that I needed to go around whacking people over the head for not being as diligent as I think they need to be.
It's part of being able to Trust in God's Spirit to ensure that those who are his, actually follow Him. As you referred to--- Resting in Him.
A couple of reasons.
1- Philippians 3:15
15 Therefore let us, as many as are mature, have this mind; and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal even this to you.
2- Hebrews 12:1-2
1 Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
and
John 21:20-22
20 Then Peter, turning around, saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following, who also had leaned on His breast at the supper, and said, “Lord, who is the one who betrays You?” 21 Peter, seeing him, said to Jesus, “But Lord, what about this man?”
22 Jesus said to him, “If I will that he remain till I come, what is that to you? You follow Me.”
First, God is quite capable of ensuring his people pay attention to what matters, and if we get off the narrow path, he knows how to reach us.
Second, We're not following anyone but Jesus. If we start paying attention to what others are doing, we're no longer following Jesus.
Jesus was quite clear to Pete.
What difference does it make to you what I have him doing--- you follow me!
Believe me, after 44 years of learning to follow Jesus, I have a lot of--- wait! What about them! questions I could be asking. He's constantly reminding me--- I didn't ask you about them. I asked you to follow me!
Yep.Because you profess your desire to follow Jesus. You repeated the desire for me to follow Jesus.
Very important. That however requires we take the time to learn what matters to Him, and not what we think matters.
As Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians 10:3-6
3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. 4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, 5 casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, 6 and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled.
I can't punish disobedience until my obedience is fulfilled.
So, I must first do as Jesus said to Peter---- You follow Me!
To follow Jesus, I must learn.
Being a Jesus follower is a student. The word used in the gospels, which is translated, disciple, is the word- mathetes. It's the word for student. It could also be translated- apprentice.
I say apprentice, because a mathetes isn't only a student who sits in a class. It's a student who works along side his master. In our case-- Jesus is our master. So, we work alongside Jesus, to observe how he works, and does what his Father has him doing. Jesus then tells us--- as I have done, so you do likewise. Just like a journeyman of a craft tells their apprentice.
So, the first thing we need to do is to recognize that we are the student/apprentice of Jesus, and according to John 14:26, 16:12-15, Isaiah 54:13, and numerous other passages, we're going to be students/apprentices for the rest of our lives.
So, take the time to be a mathetes. An apprentice, who is constantly learning from Jesus.
God's Spirit is going to be our teacher, and He will only give us what Jesus has given him to give us.
I see a lot of things, but the manner with which you presented them, they did not convey a clear and coherent idea. So, I've asked you to clean them up, so I can see what you're saying in a manner that shows clarity of thought.You seem not to see how His words comes true because by that commitment is the knowledge of sin and by that commitment, Jesus warned us not to do anything by the flesh in regards to our relationship with Him for He will do it.
Considering that I read the scriptures, and pray daily, I'm not ignoring what you've said. I've stated that your ideas are incoherent.The fact that you are unmoved by the correction by the scriptures only confirms my concern for you. You have gone through great lengths in your reply to me but if you do not see how my experiences confirms His words, and what He has done for me to bear more fruit, then I have to leave you in His hands.
Furthermore, I've "paid attention" to such warnings before, only to be dragged off into a field, and be beaten up by ungodly people. So, having learned those lessons, I am doing what Jesus said more closely--- guard your heart with all diligence.....
Great, and what if I tell you I am indeed doing exactly that?You keep saying to me "Follow Jesus". I say to you, "Trust Jesus as your Good Shepherd to help you follow Him & your joy may be full."
Your ideas lack clarity.If you hardly see me saying the same thing as you are saying, then you are not referring to our faith in Jesus Christ.
I stopped using oaths, vows, and promises decades ago. With the exception of my vows to my wife in our marriage, I don't find them constructive, and in fact, I actually find them destructive, because I learned a long time ago that I am a sinner, in need of a savior, who can free me from my sin, and old sin nature. As he said--- I now let my yes be yes, and my no be no.Our society is built around needless boastful oaths, vows, & promises.
Well, if you're opposed to marriage vows, then your issue on that is not with me.The enemy over time, has added marriage vows made by the couple's in adding to God's covenant of marriage and see nothing wrong with it. Society & courtrooms add vows, even swearing on it, and yet God cannot help them tell the whole truth when they are ordered by the judge to answer in a yes or no answer or be held in contempt of court.
I'm neither, so I'm not concerned with this.Even churches add promises for the office of deacons & elders and that was not the qualification for fulfilling that office in scripture.
that you are raises the question to me if you fancy yourself a church police officer, jury, and judge.
James tells us in his letter that we're not to judge.
11 Do not speak evil of one another, brethren. He who speaks evil of a brother and judges his brother, speaks evil of the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge. 12 There is one Lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy. Who are you to judge another?
So, I'd encourage you to become a follower, a mathetes.
Wouldn't know. I've never been a freemason. I have some older brothers in Christ who used to be freemasons. They've long since ceased their affiliations with the lodge.Freemasons gets in everywhere as religious men wants to take advantage of the zeal of people in bringing them into bondage in doing the right thing. Making vows does not guarantee anything nor does it help anyone to be good or to do good or otherwise, Jesus died in vain.
I don't live in Freemason country. the Jesus followers out here have other issues.Believers have gone astray in Freemason country but Jesus is Lord and will deliver those saints who recognize the snare in being overcharged for the cares of this life and rest in Him so they are ready and willing to go to escape what is coming on the earth when He comes.
An absolutely fantastic passage!Luke 21:33 Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away. 34 And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. 35 For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth. 36 Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.
My daily prayer.....
To be accounted worthy to escape the things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man.