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God does more than knock--- He draws. And He does that when He puts faith into the unbeliever. Faith is a fruit of the Spirit. If you have faith (even the smallest amount) that is a gift given to you by God Himself. It is not something you dig up or convince yourself that you have, or that you obtain because someone gave a good speech. It is given by God. It is sacred. (And I tell you that many people have been given that special gift, but they do not want to be part of any evangelical group, even though they speak to others what God is doing in their hearts. Christian groups shun these people, because they are not part of their group. But God knows them Himself, because He looks upon the heart.)
Blessings,
brian
AWESOME WISDOM Brian!!!!!!!!!!! This is something that I find the majority of Christians just don't understand. One doesn't have to belong to any group/church to KNOW and have a relationship with God.
God does more than knock--- He draws. And He does that when He puts faith into the unbeliever. Faith is a fruit of the Spirit. If you have faith (even the smallest amount) that is a gift given to you by God Himself. It is not something you dig up or convince yourself that you have, or that you obtain because someone gave a good speech. It is given by God. It is sacred. (And I tell you that many people have been given that special gift, but they do not want to be part of any evangelical group, even though they speak to others what God is doing in their hearts. Christian groups shun these people, because they are not part of their group. But God knows them Himself, because He looks upon the heart.)
You can call it knocking, drawing, calling or anything else you want, but it is the same thing. When He knocks on your door, He has already equipped you with enough faith to open. Why else would be knock? Unfortunatelly people sometimes still do not open. I heard his calling for years and I resisted, and fought back. I knew he was real and wanted to come into my life, but I would not let Him. In the end I gave up and allowed Him in. You can take your stabs at Christian groups, if it makes you feel better, but I don't think it advances your message one bit.
So, you don't have to anything at all? Just keep on living in sin, living any way you please, thinking nothing of God or of Jesus Christ, learning nothing, knowing nothing, and one day you'll have faith because God will just arbitrarily give it to you unasked? You don't have to recognize your sinful state, repent, confess Jesus or anything?
So, you don't have to anything at all? Just keep on living in sin, living any way you please, thinking nothing of God or of Jesus Christ, learning nothing, knowing nothing, and one day you'll have faith because God will just arbitrarily give it to you unasked? You don't have to recognize your sinful state, repent, confess Jesus or anything?
Wow, talk about a cost-free religion!
What happens if He doesn't do that?
Yep, your life is on cruise control straight to heaven, so don't worry about a thing. If God wants to save you in this life, He will do it whether you want it or not, and if He doesn't want to save you, then He will do so in next life. Now go have some FUN, snort some coke, have some sex, live it up. If God didnt' want you to do it, then He would have drawn you to salvation already.
Yep, your life is on cruise control straight to heaven, so don't worry about a thing. If God wants to save you in this life, He will do it whether you want it or not, and if He doesn't want to save you, then He will do so in next life. Now go have some FUN, snort some coke, have some sex, live it up. If God didnt' want you to do it, then He would have drawn you to salvation already.
That is not God talking, that is the enemy.
Then you are the enemy, because I have never seen anyone here say go snort some coke, have some sex, live it up.
Just because we tell them we know the truth, does not mean that they are convinced of it! Someone might believe you because they like you, but that type of faith is fleeting, vaporous.
If you tell them you have "the truth," then they will ask, "how so?" And if you tell them, "I know because of the Spirit of God" then they will answer, "I don't have that experience."
So until EACH individual has a personal experience with God's Spirit, he/she cannot know if what anyone else says is true or not. Only the Spirit can confirm what is true. No amount of preaching can do that. That is why Paul wrote that "eloquent words" are not adequate. Only the power of God is sufficient. The Jews do not believe because the hearing is not mixed with faith in the hearers. That's not their fault. It's God's plan.
Peace!
Brian
Hey Friend.... why wouldn't people believe what you have to say ?? I believe you. I know there are some deep issues we do not agree with each other, but why shouldn't I believe what you have to say ??? It is God who will show me or anyone the truth of what one is saying, right ??
Yes, Brian you are correct in that God draws the heart to Himself through the Holy Spirit ? And yes, we can not convince them...... But how does God do that ?
And yes, people don't get saved by the hand of the human manipulations, etc.... yet, God tells us faith does comes by hearing, hearing the word of God ! How does that word get to the ears of the unsaved ?
Don't you think God uses many ways to draw people to Him through the Holy Spirit.... especially the testimonies of believers in their faith of what God is and has done in their life. No, it doesn't or won't convince them, but isn't it possible it begins the thought process that God uses in creating that faith of the Hope that is found in Christ ??
I truly believe no testimony is ever spoken without the power of God behind it and His word being spoken in it and through it..... because it is the power of His word that His Holy Spirit brings truth to the heart to believe and then the Holy Spirit creates the walk of faith in healing, deliverance and setting the captive free.... Jesus said, the truth shall set us free and when we are free in Christ we are free indeed.... amen !!
And yes, one of God's greatest instruments in speaking to the heart He is drawing to Himself, the non-believer.... is through the believers mouth by the strength of the Spirit speaking the word of God that is in them, their heart and yes, even sermons can be His instrument as the word is spoken and planting the seed of faith in the heart that God is preparing in drawing them to Himself either then or sometime down the road..... as we know God's word does not come back void but accomplishes that which it was sent forth to do.....
The mouth of the human body is that which I believe is one of the things Jesus said, that we will do greater things.... look how people are able to travel all over the world (missionaries), hey, your mouth is there in Italy sharing right ??.... God uses many ways to share His word of Truth and plan, purpose with the world around each and every believer.....
That is why Jesus tells us to, "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”(Matthew 28:19-20) .... And we read He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. (Mark 16:15)
Heck, even in Acts 1:8 is a good scripture..... "but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.” So there God does create His power in the testimony of the believer that God draws and creates the faith in the non-believing, unsaved world....
And what are they witnessing about ? Isn't it....That salvation is through Jesus Christ for the remission of our sin ? How would one know that if they had not read the words spoken by God through His Holy scripture.... those words written within those pages have power beyond our comprehension....
There is no other way to be saved but through the drawing of God through the power of His Holy Spirit bringing to the heart the words of faith spoken by and through the Son of God, Jesus Christ.... amen !!
You deliberately miss the point. It is an old trick, and won't work.
No, as usual you deliberately misrepresent the argument. Where has anyone even suggested you should go out, snort coke, have sex, live it up? I only see that suggested from you.
So, you don't have to anything at all? Just keep on living in sin, living any way you please, thinking nothing of God or of Jesus Christ, learning nothing, knowing nothing, and one day you'll have faith because God will just arbitrarily give it to you unasked? You don't have to recognize your sinful state, repent, confess Jesus or anything?
The flesh wants to have everything solved, and in order, and neat and tidy-- all right away. But God's ways are different than our ways. God is not in a rush. God has always had each of us in His hands. And He knows how to save each one of us.
Our schedule is not God's schedule.
Quote:
Originally Posted by stillkit
Wow, talk about a cost-free religion!
Yes, the gift is free to all who receive it. And those who receive are able to receive it only because God gives them faith to receive it.
The flesh wants to have everything solved, and in order, and neat and tidy-- all right away. But God's ways are different than our ways. God is not in a rush. God has always had each of us in His hands. And He knows how to save each one of us.
Our schedule is not God's schedule.
Yes, the gift is free to all who receive it. And those who receive are able to receive it only because God gives them faith to receive it.
We have to wait upon the Lord.
Peace,
brian
Do you have any idea at what point God gave Adolph Hitler the necessary amount of faith to be saved? I wonder if it was before or after he opened the death camps to slaughter God's own Chosen People by the millions? Not to mention an almost equal number of other people! Since he's dead, it had to have been before that, didn't it?
Or, even if not, you're saying that God will save all men in His own good time, including Hitler, without them having to do anything but wait for it to come? Hitler will be in heaven, right alongside those he murdered, without having to repent, have a change of heart, seek forgiveness or anything else? It's like God will say, "Come on in brother Adolph. I'll put you right next to Pastor Neimour and Ann Frank. I'm sure they'll be glad to see you!"
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