Our Covenant Relationship with God... (belief, Holy Spirit, Jesus, Ghost)

[Verna Perry]

Moderator cut: orphaned post


Blessings....[/quote]...I love you dearly my sweet sister...thank you for your encouragement...I really do need it once in a while...you lift me up with your precious heart......and give me strength to carry on!!

Love....Love....Love....YOU!!!
Verna.

[Verna Perry]

...Jeremiah 11:1-17 "JUDAH"S BROKEN COVENANT"

The Lord gave another message to Jeremiah. He said, "Remind the people of Judah and Jerusalem about THE TERMS OF MY COVENANT WITH THEM. Say to them, "This is what the Lord, the God of Israel says: CURSED IS ANYONE WHO DOES NOT OBEY THE TERMS OF MY COVENANT! For I said to your ancestors when I brought them out of the iron~smelting furnace of Egypt, "IF YOU OBEY ME AND DO WHATEVER I COMMAND YOU, THEN YOU WILL BE MY PEOPLE, AND I WILL BE YOUR GOD." I said this so I could keep My promise to your ancestors to give you a land flowing with milk and honey~~the land you live in today.' "
Then I replied, "Amen, Lord! May it be so."
Then the Lord said, "Broadcast this message in the streets of Jerusalem. Go from town to town throughout the land and say, 'Remember the ancient covenant, and DO EVERYTHING IT REQUIRES. For I solemnly warned your ancestors when I brought them out of Egypt, "OBEY ME!" I HAVE REPEATED THIS WARNING OVER AND OVER AND OVER TO THIS DAY, BUT YOUR ANCESTORS DID NOT LISTEN OR EVEN PAY ATTENTION. INSTEAD, THEY STUBBORNLY FOLLOWED THEIR OWN EVIL DESIRES. AND BECAUSE THEY REFUSED TO OBEY, I BROUGHT UPON THEM ALL THE CURSES DESCRIBED IN THIS COVENANT.' "
Again the Lord spoke to me and said, "I have discovered a conspiracy against Me among the people of Judah and Jerusalem. They have refused to listen to me and are worshiping other gods. Israel and Judah both HAVE BROKEN THE COVENANT I MADE WITH THEIR ANCESTORS. Therefore, this is what the Lord says: I am going to bring calamity upon them, and they will not escaspe. THOUGH THEY BEG FOR MERCY, I WILL NOT LISTEN TO THEIR CRIES. Then the people of Judah and Jerusalem will pray to their idols and burn incense before them. But the idols will not save them when disaster strikes! Look now, people of Judah; you have as many god's as you have towns. You have as many altars of shame~~altars for burning incense to your god Baal~~as there are streets in Jerusalem.
"Pray no more for these people, Jeremiah. Do not weep for them or pray for them, for I WILL NOT LISTEN TO THEM WHEN THEY CRY OUT TO ME IN DISTRESS.

"What right do My beloved people have to come to
My Temple,
when they have done so many immoral things?
Can their vows and sacrifices prevent their DESTRUCTION?
They actually rejoice in doing evil!
I, the Lord, once called them a thriving olive tree,
beautiful to see and full of good fruit.
BUT NOW I HAVE SENT THE FURY OF THEIR ENEMIES
TO BURN THEM WITH FIRE,
LEAVING THEM CHARRED AND BROKEN.

I, the Lord of Heaven's Armies, who planted this olive tree, HAVE ORDERED IT DESTROYED. FOR THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL AND JUDAH HAVE DONE EVIL, ARROUSING MY ANGER BY BURNING THEIR INCENSE TO BAAL."

I love you,
Verna.

[Verna Perry]

Originally Posted by Verna Perry

* mediator. 3316. from 3319; a go-between, i.e. (simply) an internunciator <(Messenger), or(by impl.) a reconciler (intercessor):-mediator...

...Jesus is our only Way to have a relationship with God the Father...IF WE WALK N THE SPIRIT OF CHRIST!!!!...Certainly not if we walk in the flesh!!!!

Malachi 3:1 "The Coming Messenger of God"

"Behold, I send My Messenger,
And He will prepare the way before Me.
And the Lord, whom you seek,
Will suddenly come to His Temple,
Even the Messenger of the covenant,
In whom you delight.
Behold, He is coming,"
Says the Lord of Hosts.

Jesus came to annul the Old Covenant, based upon the sacrifices of animals, and to establish the New Covenant based upon a single Sacrifice...His own...once and for all time, which would forever free man from his sins. No further sacrifice was needed!
Jesus is the MESSENGER of the covenant because He came to establish and proclaim it!
Upon the completion of the Passover meal, Jesus set forth the New Covenant. He took the bread, blessed it, broke it and gave it to them to eat. He then took the cup of wine...the "cup of blessing"...gave thanks and told His disciples, "For this is My blood of the new covenant, which (ratifies the agreement and) is being poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins" (Matthew 26:28).
The bread represented Jesus' body...His flesh...that would be broken on the cross. The cup of wine represented His blood. His body and His blood represented His entire Being, which He willingly offered up to God to forgive man's sin and DELIVER HIM COMPLETELY FROM THE POWER OF SIN.
There was only one way that the New Covenant could be declared effective and legally binding...
...let's read Hebrews 9:11-28..."CHRIST IS THE PERFECT SACRIFICE"

So Christ has become the High Priest over all the good things that have come. He has entered that greater, and more perfect Tabernacle in heaven, which was not made by human hands and is not part of this created world. With His own blood~~not the blood of goats and calves~~He entered the Most Holy Place once for all time and secured our redemption forever.
Under the old system, the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a young cow could cleanse people's bodies from ceremonial impurity. Just think how much more the blood of Christ will purify our consciences from sinful deeds so that we can worship the living God. For by the power of the eternal Spirit, Christ offered Himself to God as a perfect sacrifice for our sins. That is why He is the One who mediates a new covenant between God and people, SO THAT ALL WHO ARE CALLED CAN RECEIVE THE ETERNAL INHERITANCE GOD HAS PROMISED THEM. FOR CHRIST DIED TO SET THEM FREE FROM THE PENALTY OF THE SINS THEY HAD COMMITTED UNDER THE FIRST COVENANT...(***PLEASE TAKE NOTE THAT JESUS" SACRIFICE WAS TO SET THEM FREE FROM THE PENALTY OF THE SINS THAT WERE COMMITTED UNDER THE FIRST COVENANT!)...
Now when someone leaves a will, it is necessary to prove that the person who made it is dead. The will goes into effect only after the person's death. While the person who made it is still alive, the will cannot be put into effect.
That is why even the first covenant was put into effect with the blood of an animal. For after Moses had read each of God's commandments to all the people, he took the blood of calves and goats, along with water, and sprinkled both the book of God's law and all the people, using hyssop branches and scarlet wool. Then he said, "This blood confirms the covenant God has made with you," And in the same way, he sprinkled blood on the Tabernacle and on everything used for worship. In fact, according to the law of Moses, nearly everything was purified with blood. For without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness.
That is why the Tabernacle and everything in it, which were copies of things in heaven, had to be purified by the blood of animals. But the real things in heaven had to be purified with far better sacrifices than the blood of animals.
For Christ did not enter into a holy place made with human hands, which was only a copy of the true one in heaven. He entered into heaven itself to appear now before God on our behalf. And He did not enter into heaven to offer Himself again and again, like the high priest here on earth who enters the Most Holy Place year after year with the blood of an animal. If that had been necessary, Christ would have had to die again and again, ever since the world began. But now, once for all time, He has appeared at the end of the age to remove sin by His own death as a sacrifice.

And just as each person is destined to die once and after that comes judgement, so also Christ died once for all time as a sacrifice to take away the sins of many people. He will come again, not to deal with our sins, but to bring salvation to ALL WHO ARE EAGERLY WAITING FOR HIM...end.

To restore man to Himself, God sent Jesus...His only begotten Son. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, Jesus (in the form of human flesh) lived a perfect, sinless life and walked in 100 percent obedience to God.
It was through His obedience that He became the perfect Sacrifice and the author of eternal salvation. It was His obedience unto death that made His blood accepted as the only sacrifice sufficient to take away man's sin and restore him to God. "For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the One Man (Jesus) the many will be made righteous" (Romans 5:19).
There is only one way to enter into a blood~covenant relationship with God...through Jesus Christ, Who is the Mediator of the New Covenant. It is through Him we receive the promise of our eternal inheritance.
Jesus told them: "Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends. You are My friends IF you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything I have learned from My Father I have made known to you" (John 15:13-15).
He gave them His Name...His power and authority. He said, "You have not chosen Me, BUT I HAVE CHOSEN YOU~~I have appointed you, I have planted you~~that you might go and bear fruit and keep on bearing; that your fruit may be lasting (that it may remain, abide); so that whatever you ask the Father in My Name (as presenting all that I AM) He may give it to you" (John 15:16).
As Jesus entered into this blood covenant with His disciples, He laid out the TERMS AND CONDITIONS of this New Covenant. Just as God's blood~covenant with Abraham and Israel required 100 percent obedience, the New Covenant requires 100 percent obedience. Jesus said, "You are My friends, IF your do what I command you" (John 15:14).
He said: "IF you keep My comandments~~IF you continue to obey My instructions~~you will abide in My love and live on in it...<<(PRECIOUS!!); just as I have obeyed My Father's commandments and live on in His love" (John 15:10).
Under the New Covenant we are to obey...walk in 100 percent obedience to God...just as Christ lived His life in 100 percent obedience and was obedient unto death. WE MUST HAVE THE SAME COMMITTMENT TO OBEDIENCE THAT CHRIST HAD!!!

*******There are Christians today who say that it is no longer necessary to obey the commandments...that Christ did away with the Law...that since we live under grace, we no longer need to obey the commandments. Jesus did not come to destroy the Law, BUT TO FULFILL IT (Matthew 5:17).

*******There are Christians today who say it is impossible to live in 100 percent obedience to God. IT IS POSSIBLE!!! Jesus proved it is possible and He made it possible for you and I to do the same!!! HE PLACED THE SAME HOLY SPIRIT WITHIN YOU AND ME THAT MAKES IT POSSIBLE!!!

Under the New Covenant, all the commandments of God are summed up in one great commandment. Jesus said, "A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another; as I have loved you...This is what I command you, that you love one another" (John 15:9,12,17).
To walk in a blood~covenant relationship with God, where we daily appropriate the covenant promises He gave us, we MUST be obedient...we MUST love one another with the SAME love the Father has for His Son, and the SAME love Christ has for us that made Him willing to die for us.
Manifesting God's love is the condition we must meet, if we are to claim His covenant promises. We must love other members of the Body of Christ FERVENTLY...with love that makes us willing not only to lay down our lives in death for them, if need be; but also, to lay down our lives unselfishly in loving service for others, the way Jesus became a servant to us......(I am so touched by the Holy Spirit right now......because you all don't understand...He is speaking to me...first...I'm only sharing what He is teaching me...I feel His very love being poured into me to give to others........Precious Jesus................................)......How will this be possible? The natural man does not possess this quality of love......Our love fluctuates up and down with our emotions...as hard as we try, we cannot produce this type of love....How will we manifest this love to one another and to the world....?
In His prayer for the Church before He went to the cross Jesus gave the answer...He said: "And I have declared unto them Thy name, and will declare it: that the love wherewith Thou hast loved Me may be in them, and I in them" (John 17:26).
Under the New Covenant, God placed the SAME love within us He has for Jesus...the SAME love Jesus has for us...that makes it possible for us to love one another with His "agape" love!!!...

....What we need in the Body of Christ today is a fresh revelation of His love that He placed within us, so that there will be a fresh manifestation of that love flowing out to one another and to the world...God's love in us IS THE DISTINGUISHING MARK...the outward manifestation...the evidence that we have entered into a blood~covenant relationship with God!!! Jesus said, "By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another" (John 13:35).....

...The world will see the greatest manifestation of power it has ever known when we allow His love to be manifested through us.......

I pray to God to love you more...to love you like He loves you...like He loves me...like He loves Jesus...like Jesus loves us...to be One with all...
Verna.

[Harold Kupp]

Verna:

Under the New Covenant, all the commandments of God are summed up in one great commandment. Jesus said, "A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another; as I have loved you...This is what I command you, that you love one another" (John 15:9,12,17).

Verna, are you saying that the ten commandments are no longer in effect? How could one keep the Sabbath by loving one another? Speaking of the ten commandments James said that if we fail in one we fail in all???

What about graven images? Or Thou shalt have no other Gods before me?

HK

James 2:10 For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.
For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law.

[Verna Perry]

Verna, are you saying that the ten commandments are no longer in effect?

No. I would think it is pretty clear by my posts on this thread that I believe we should and can obey the 10 commandments.

What I am saying is...without Love...there is no truth....and showing that Jesus has placed in us, through the Holy Spirit, ALL that we need to be who He wants us to be, in which love is a very, very important commandment in and of itself...Love is what makes us want to obey The Word of God...with joy!

To walk in a blood~covenant relationship with God, where we daily appropriate the covenant promises He gave us, we MUST be obedient...we MUST love one another with the SAME love the Father has for His Son, and the SAME love Christ has for us that made Him willing to die for us.
Manifesting God's love is the condition we must meet, if we are to claim His covenant promises. We must love other members of the Body of Christ FERVENTLY...with love that makes us willing not only to lay down our lives in death for them, if need be; but also, to lay down our lives unselfishly in loving service for others, the way Jesus became a servant to us.
How will this be possible? The natural man does not possess this quality of love......Our love fluctuates up and down with our emotions...as hard as we try, we cannot produce this type of love....How will we manifest this love to one another and to the world....?
In His prayer for the Church before He went to the cross Jesus gave the answer...He said: "And I have declared unto them Thy name, and will declare it: that the love wherewith Thou hast loved Me may be in them, and I in them" (John 17:26).
Under the New Covenant, God placed the SAME love within us He has for Jesus...the SAME love Jesus has for us...that makes it possible for us to love one another with His "agape" love!!!...

....What we need in the Body of Christ today is a fresh revelation of His love that He placed within us, so that there will be a fresh manifestation of that love flowing out to one another and to the world...God's love in us IS THE DISTINGUISHING MARK...the outward manifestation...the evidence that we have entered into a blood~covenant relationship with God!!! Jesus said, "By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another" (John 13:35).....

...The world will see the greatest manifestation of power it has ever known when we allow His love to be manifested through us.......


Howard,
I am not going to pass judgement on another because of the day of the week that they may choose to set aside to dedicate to, and worship, the Lord. I do believe we should not forsake the assembling of ourselves together to the worship of God...to come together to hear the Word of God...to pray together and for one another...to submit to the authoritative Word of God brought to bear upon our hearts...as you know, God has me in my church for a purpose...and I am experiencing and witnessing the Holy Spirit working in and through me and my pastor because of the commission He (the Lord) has given to me through the Holy Spirit to be used by Him to present to my pastor a truth that he was failing to see and teach otherwise...for the sakes of the people...the innocent lambs who are being taught by him...I am where I am supposed to be...and I am there on Sundays...and the Lord, through the Holy Spirit is doing something that brings tears of joy to my eyes as I hear how the teachings of my pastor have changed because of this commission. I am serving a bigger purpose than myself for the first time in my life...and I know that God is using me to make a difference in the lives of these souls...and it is happening on Sundays...the church was lost...and it is coming to life...and I will remain faithful to God's church because I see the difference I am making by listening to God's leading...through His Holy Spirit. Love does no wrong to others...I won't judge another believer, I will leave that to God...who am I to judge another's choice of making Saturday or Sunday their day to rest in the Lord...they are responsible to the Lord, so let them judge whether they are right or wrong. And with the Lord's help, they will do what is right and will receive His approval...
...Romans 14:5-6 says: In the same way, some think one day is more holy than another day, while others think every day is alike. You should each be fully convinced that whichever day you choose is acceptable. Those who worship the Lord on a special day do it to honor Him...and if we love like Jesus wants us to...we won't look down upon a brother or sister in judgement of them for not worshipping on a certain day.

I do believe that once we are baptized with the Holy Ghost that we can, in the power of the Spirit of Christ, overcome the power of sin in our lives, and be obedient to the will of God for us. We will all give an account face to face of ourselves to Jesus...I will let Him be the Judge.

I love you,
Verna.

[Harold Kupp]

Harold to Verna:

Verna, are you saying that the ten commandments are no longer in effect?

Verna to Harold
1. No. I would think it is pretty clear by my posts on this thread that I believe we should and can obey the 10 commandments.

Verna to Harold
2. I am not going to pass judgement on another because of the day of the week that they may choose to set aside to dedicate to, and worship,

Verna these two statements contradict each other. If we can and should obey the ten commandments then we can and should keep the seventh day holy.

The question is not whether you are to judge another but for you to judge yourself. Do you keep the ten commandments or not? If Satan can get you to break one of God's commandments he has won.

James 2:11 For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law.

Make no mistake Verna - the transgressor of the law will be lost on Judgment day.

HK

[Harold Kupp]

Verna wrote:

...Romans 14:5-6 says: In the same way, some think one day is more holy than another day, while others think every day is alike. You should each be fully convinced that whichever day you choose is acceptable. Those who worship the Lord on a special day do it to honor Him...and if we love like Jesus wants us to...we won't look down upon a brother or sister in judgement of them for not worshipping on a certain day.

Verna, why would you suppose that trying to save someones life is to "...look down upon a brother or sister..."?

Do you realize you are teaching people to commit sin by saying they can ignore the 4th commandment? As I said - if Satan can get us to fail in one commandments he has won. Are you certain you are right - when you stand before Jesus will you be able to prove that you are right? Or will their blood be on your hands...

Paul was not even talking about the Sabbath in Romans 14 - do you see the word "Sabbath" in that chapter?

Please read this study

Verna - keeping the Sabbath is not about going to church - it is about not working - it is a day set apart at creation to honor God. We can go to church any day we want - but we cannot keep the Sabbath any day we want.

The greatest love you can have for your brothers and sisters is to deliver them from the demonic teaching that we do not have to keep the Sabbath commandment as it was written by the finger of God. God did not tell us to change the day - so why are you?

HK

1 John 2:4 He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.

[little elmer]

Originally Posted by little elmer

That's enough

Apparently not.

Originally Posted by Verna Perry

...We do agree that The Faithful One creates in us the heart to follow Him...Those He chooses to Baptize with the indwelling of the Holy Spirit are the ones who receive the power to overcome their own will, and overcome the power of sin in their lives, and are enabled to obey God and live in His will...through His Spirit...the Holy Spirit IS the Power of God's Holy Word...Jesus...and if one is not filled with His Spirit, they can not possibly have the power to choose God's will over their own...so they choose their own will, which leads to death...destruction...and yes, OF COURSE it begins and ends with Him...this is VERY, VERY clear!!! << No argument there either!!

We agree, you said "those He chooses" - just to stress the point. He also "works in them both to will - and to do - of His good pleasure". You act as if we're satellites with a broken tether, instead of vessels where He resides.

Originally Posted by Verna Perry

Where we differ little elmer, in our interpretation of His Word is; for some reason you think that when He says all will be reconciled back to Him, you take that to mean that all will be with Him in His Kingdom for all eternity, and I'm sorry, but you are so wrong...that is NOT what His Holy Word says at all...

It's what you're reading Verna that makes it wrong. Scripture clearly tells us (agree?) that flesh, carnality, corruption, evil doers, etc. will not enter in.

Follow me so far?

The God that has made this covenant with man is Himself a consuming fire. Stop for a moment and examine the Body of Christ; it presently contains the aforementioned flesh, corruption, carnality, etc. Does She reflect the Light of the world? Is She the salt of the earth? Are those that "sleep with their fathers" not still carrying sin in their members?

What is the outcome there - does God look the other way? Or does He deal with every spot and wrinkle not conforming to His holiness? Forgiven? Absolutely. Clean? Not yet. Without seeing the separation of the soul and spirit, you're not going to see how God can take from one person and leave the person whole.

Should I call you blind and stiff necked? No, I shall not - but please refrain from saying such about others. There is more that we don't know than that we do.

Originally Posted by Verna Perry

it is what you want it to say, and you truly believe that you are right...and I am prooving over and over again what The Word truly says concerning this...maybe your misunderstanding is because you have not received revelation knowledge...you said...

"...I won't see it differently."

Love,
LE

...and I take this to mean that you have made up your own mind that you WILL NOT SEE IT DIFFERENTLY...you have made a decision to be closed minded to any other idea than your own...no matter what.

No, but you're belittling the faithfulness of God - that's the way I see a barrage of points made that we must do this and that for Him for have His way. That, Verna is not scripture - and just as importantly, it's not experiential either.

Originally Posted by Verna Perry

What about the scriptures that I have posted little elmer?...do they speak to you at all? Do they cause you to stop and think at all, that maybe...just maybe you may be acting in a prideful way?...

Stand down soldier, and hear me. Have I boasted once that I can keep His commandments, do all that is asked of me, be the man, the husband, the servant, the son that He desires me to be?

No.

All the scripture you've so graciously posted should do one thing and one thing only for the child of God: cause us to cry out for Him to make us that faithful servant that carries in us the light that this world so desperately needs. The 10 Commandments proved that the children of Israel could not be faithful, and now that the Comforter has come, we need His enabling to perform His commandments.

Back to Author.

Originally Posted by Verna Perry

...Little elmer...the scriptures you use, are saying that even those who rebell, and continue in their sin, and continue to disobey God's commandments will also come to realize, while they are going through, and after they have received His judgement...(which His judgement will be to them, "GUILTY!")...they will THEN realize that He IS GOD...but it will be too late for them...judgement will have been given...their eternal torment will be their separation from God for all eternity...

Mercy is in there somewhere...

What is judgment - to us? Then stop and consider the "otherness" of Christ. One who judges righteously and does not forget the frame of the man He has formed. Am I saying any one of us gets a pass?

No.

But I do put my faith in the living God (the savior of...never mind. ) His word gives us the promise of reconciliation: an adjustment, or bringing together of two things which differ one from the other so that they can now agree and be as one.

Originally Posted by Verna Perry

Please don't be closed-minded little elmer...

I was once Pentecostal - you can't get any more closed minded than that.

Originally Posted by Verna Perry

allow yourself to open up to receive ALL of His Word...not just the parts that sound good to your ears...

That's what I would like to say to you.

Originally Posted by Verna Perry

you are too precious...there are people in your life who are and will be affected...think of them...stick to the WHOLE Word...please...don't teach others that no matter what they do, they will end up abiding eternally with God in His Kingdom...this is a lie...according to His Word...please don't.

You sound as if your whole world would come crashing down if it was true. What I'm asking of you is to take the entire bible and consider that He is able to fulfill it in a way that is beyond what you can conceive in your finite mind (no offense).

You started this thread to exhort Christians to walk uprightly before God, and I appreciate that; but in doing so, we've exchanged viewpoints to the point that the faithfulness of God has been deminished, and the responsibility for man's destiny has been put back in his lap. I don't see that in the entirety of scripture.

But that's not what this thread is about, is it?

Originally Posted by Verna Perry

If you are not sure...be still and quiet, and seek Him with your whole heart...pray that you too will receive His truth...and search yourself for it...passionately!

This is what I am doing little elmer...the very thing that I am asking you to do...I am seeking His truth with my whole heart...sticking to EVERY Word that proceedeth from the mouth of God...and you have brought some real thinking points to me...and I have pondered and prayed about what I read from others here on this forum...

I'm cheered by the passion you display Verna; it's His heart we desire to know, and His face we desire to see. May the mystery of the ages - namely Christ in us, the hope of glory - be realized.

Originally Posted by Verna Perry

I realize everyone has a good heart,

Not scriptural, but that's sweet.

Originally Posted by Verna Perry

and we all want the same thing...to know God's heart...and I know that we ALL would give anything...everything, to know how He thinks...to know what is truly in His heart...but we can not. So we continue to seek and search for ourselves, and pray for enlightenment...revelation knowledge...I can not judge you, nor can I judge anyone, that would make me just as guilty...but I am so sorry for some...I don't know...I ask God to help me...I want to do the right thing in His eyes...I want to please Him...I love you little elmer..I hope I have not offended you in any way...I speak from my heart to you...

I receive your words with gratitude, and would like us to take a step back and know that we may not be able to grasp that bright and brilliant star, but our attempt may cause someone to gaze in that direction who otherwise would not.

Olive branch.

[.sparrow.]

Originally Posted by Harold Kupp

Verna - keeping the Sabbath is not about going to church - it is about not working - it is a day set apart at creation to honor God. We can go to church any day we want - but we cannot keep the Sabbath any day we want.

What about those who are in professions where they are caring for others, i.e. medical emergency personnel, doctors, nurses, hospice, nursing home employees, etc. ??

[Verna Perry]

• Originally Posted by little elmer

  apparently not.

Originally Posted by little elmer

...and i'm glad...

• we agree, you said "those he chooses" - just to stress the point. He also "works in them both to will - and to do - of his good pleasure". You act as if we're satellites with a broken tether, instead of vessels where he resides.

...you are right...that he also works in them both to will - and to do - of his good pleasure...but satellites with a broken tether...?......hummmmmmm...that's not so good is it?

• it's what you're reading verna that makes it wrong. Scripture clearly tells us (agree?) that flesh, carnality, corruption, evil doers, etc. Will not enter in.

...o.k...

• follow me so far?

...i'm listening...

• the god that has made this covenant with man is himself a consuming fire. Stop for a moment and examine the body of christ; it presently contains the aforementioned flesh, corruption, carnality, etc. Does she reflect the light of the world? Is she the salt of the earth? Are those that "sleep with their fathers" not still carrying sin in their members?

...yes...

• what is the outcome there - does god look the other way? Or does he deal with every spot and wrinkle not conforming to his holiness? Forgiven? Absolutely. Clean? Not yet. Without seeing the separation of the soul and spirit, you're not going to see how god can take from one person and leave the person whole.

...hummmmmmm.....not so sure about what god will do here...

• should i call you blind and stiff necked? No, i shall not - but please refrain from saying such about others. There is more that we don't know than that we do.

...amen to that little elmer...there is definately more that we do not know, than what we do!!!...and i will refrain from saying that again...i'm sorry.

• no, but you're belittling the faithfulness of god - that's the way i see a barrage of points made that we must do this and that for him for have his way. That, verna is not scripture - and just as importantly, it's not experiential either.

...here is where you and i differ little elmer...we, in fact, do have a will to choose whether or not we will hearken to the voice of god...and submit to his will over our own...this is scriptural!!

• stand down soldier, and hear me. Have i boasted once that i can keep his commandments, do all that is asked of me, be the man, the husband, the servant, the son that he desires me to be?
• no.

...no...you have not...forgive me...

• all the scripture you've so graciously posted should do one thing and one thing only for the child of god: Cause us to cry out for him to make us that faithful servant that carries in us the light that this world so desperately needs. The 10 commandments proved that the children of israel could not be faithful, and now that the comforter has come, we need his enabling to perform his commandments.

...i agree!

• mercy is in there somewhere...

...o.k...

• what is judgment - to us? Then stop and consider the "otherness" of christ. One who judges righteously and does not forget the frame of the man he has formed. Am i saying any one of us gets a pass?
• no.

...o.k...

• but i do put my faith in the living god (the savior of...never mind. ) his word gives us the promise of reconciliation: An adjustment, or bringing together of two things which differ one from the other so that they can now agree and be as one.

...not so sure what god would do in this instance...

• i was once pentecostal - you can't get any more closed minded than that.

...point taken......

• that's what i would like to say to you.

...this is what i treasure the most about our relationship here little elmer...listening and learning from one another...this is good...

• you sound as if your whole world would come crashing down if it was true. :d what i'm asking of you is to take the entire bible and consider that he is able to fulfill it in a way that is beyond what you can conceive in your finite mind (no offense).

...no offense taken......it is true of all of us...(the finite Mind part)...you are right. I am taking the entire bible......this is what i want to say to you!!...:d

• you started this thread to exhort christians to walk uprightly before god, and i appreciate that; but in doing so, we've exchanged viewpoints to the point that the faithfulness of god has been deminished, and the responsibility for man's destiny has been put back in his lap. I don't see that in the entirety of scripture.

...what i see little elmer, is we must accept or reject the terms and conditions of our covenant with god...and each has that freedom to do so...come judgement day...we will each stand, and give an account for our choices...once one has been baptized in the holy ghost, and he dwells in them...in this we have been given the power to overcome sin in our life...we do have a responsibility to choose life...or we can choose death.

• but that's not what this thread is about, is it?

...that's o.k...it's all important...means the difference between life and death...

• i'm cheered by the passion you display verna; it's his heart we desire to know, and his face we desire to see. May the mystery of the ages - namely christ in us, the hope of glory - be realized.

...amen.

• not scriptural, but that's sweet.

..true...but i meant those that do have a heart for the things of god...

• i receive your words with gratitude, and would like us to take a step back and know that we may not be able to grasp that bright and brilliant star, but our attempt may cause someone to gaze in that direction who otherwise would not.

...amen little elmer...i love you......god bless you brother.
olive branch.