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 Posted: Sat Jun 27, 2009 2:52 pm
One of my greatest struggles with the faith right now is scripture. Why is scripture important to God? Does it appear that He'd prefer to leave some of us, like myself at present, left in a perpetual state of doubt because of a book? I have many issues with the bible now. Maybe it is because I lack the Holy Spirit, or am at least blinded to him. However, I have seen enough of the damage scripture can do without God, not only in my life but in the lives of others.
My greatest desire is to know/feel/experience that God loves me again. That God loves people again. All people. When I express this to others, I receive the casual "read the bible" response. When I do, not only am I left more distraught than before, but if anything I'm brought further from God. People never seem to talk about the horrors of the Bible. The warnings are left out sometimes in sermons. I have spoken with close friends and family about the warnings of Christ's return. Some have tried to explain what they mean to me. However, variations in interpretations do little to slake a hungry heart. I often find myself wondering if they're just wrong, wrong in their ideas and beliefs. And if they are wrong, and I believed them, what does that mean when Christ returns?
What then is the solution? Apparently nothing. God is silent. Any time I try to hear advice from friends, some using the bible, it fails on deaf ears because of the simple fact: what if they're wrong? What if they're wrong and I believed them? What then? If they all spoke in harmony with each other, it would be a different story. But when there's a buffet of answers, little is accomplished.
So I'm asking, not with reliance on scripture (though of course you can quote from it, it's a free country...eerr, free countries), why do you think God cares more to give us a letter than Himself? Or do you have Him? If you do, why do you need the bible?
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Posted: Mon Jun 29, 2009 10:16 am
What's on my heart to share with you about this is the word 'Rhema'. It is a Greek word meaning, 'the living, BREATHING word of God'.
Now ..... I can read scripture all day long and most of the time, it just seems like words .... but occasionally, it's like I'm reading in the dark, and a bright light shows down on a word, or phrase, or verse, and it almost glows neon! It gets my attention! As if there's a voice saying, "THIS IS IT!"
That's rhema. I think we've spoken on this before and you've had those types of experience with scripture on occasion. I've felt His rhema when reading the bible, listening to a sermon, sometimes watching a movie or listening to a song when He has something in there He wants me to pay attention to.
I believe the Bible started out as a desire to put down on paper (papyrus, whatever!) what God had done for His people as a reminder.
I do believe that many times today believers worship the book instead of the INSPIRER of the book! I find myself being open to however God wants to give me direction, whether it's from the bible, a person, direct prayer, or even a movie!
I don't believe that God limits Himself by saying, 'you can only feel me in this book.' .... He's interested in getting our attention any way He can.
heart heart heart
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Posted: Mon Jun 29, 2009 10:46 am
beaufleur What's on my heart to share with you about this is the word 'Rhema'. It is a Greek word meaning, 'the living, BREATHING word of God'. Now ..... I can read scripture all day long and most of the time, it just seems like words .... but occasionally, it's like I'm reading in the dark, and a bright light shows down on a word, or phrase, or verse, and it almost glows neon! It gets my attention! As if there's a voice saying, "THIS IS IT!" That's rhema. I think we've spoken on this before and you've had those types of experience with scripture on occasion. I've felt His rhema when reading the bible, listening to a sermon, sometimes watching a movie or listening to a song when He has something in there He wants me to pay attention to. I believe the Bible started out as a desire to put down on paper (papyrus, whatever!) what God had done for His people as a reminder. I do believe that many times today believers worship the book instead of the INSPIRER of the book! I find myself being open to however God wants to give me direction, whether it's from the bible, a person, direct prayer, or even a movie! I don't believe that God limits Himself by saying, 'you can only feel me in this book.' .... He's interested in getting our attention any way He can. heart heart heart Yes, I remember this conversation. I guess I pushed the meaning of the conversation in my insatiable lust to disregard the bible completely after the pain it brought. *Sighs* I apologize. Movies. Yes, I think I've thought God speaking to me through movies too. Direct prayer? Maybe once or twice. I'll think on it more. People? I hope so. A voice? Never. Not once. My mind is too unreliable to say God has spoken to me there. You've heard a voice before, right Gini?
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Posted: Tue Aug 11, 2009 5:59 am
Hayabashi2 beaufleur What's on my heart to share with you about this is the word 'Rhema'. It is a Greek word meaning, 'the living, BREATHING word of God'. Now ..... I can read scripture all day long and most of the time, it just seems like words .... but occasionally, it's like I'm reading in the dark, and a bright light shows down on a word, or phrase, or verse, and it almost glows neon! It gets my attention! As if there's a voice saying, "THIS IS IT!" That's rhema. I think we've spoken on this before and you've had those types of experience with scripture on occasion. I've felt His rhema when reading the bible, listening to a sermon, sometimes watching a movie or listening to a song when He has something in there He wants me to pay attention to. I believe the Bible started out as a desire to put down on paper (papyrus, whatever!) what God had done for His people as a reminder. I do believe that many times today believers worship the book instead of the INSPIRER of the book! I find myself being open to however God wants to give me direction, whether it's from the bible, a person, direct prayer, or even a movie! I don't believe that God limits Himself by saying, 'you can only feel me in this book.' .... He's interested in getting our attention any way He can. heart heart heart Yes, I remember this conversation. I guess I pushed the meaning of the conversation in my insatiable lust to disregard the bible completely after the pain it brought. *Sighs* I apologize. Movies. Yes, I think I've thought God speaking to me through movies too. Direct prayer? Maybe once or twice. I'll think on it more. People? I hope so. A voice? Never. Not once. My mind is too unreliable to say God has spoken to me there. You've heard a voice before, right Gini? No need to apologize bro, we're all in this together as Red Green would say! ^^ I have mostly heard like an 'impression' in my mind, almost like a whisper (the term 'mind meld' comes to mind ^^) Only once did I ever hear Him audibly ... when I was about to die when my ex had me on the floor and was close to snapping my spinal cord. I heard the Lord LOUD and clear ... that was an EXTREME happening and without His direct intervention, I know I would have died. Trust me, that doesn't happen very often ..... Also, keep your recent experience of almost drowning in mind .... He hasn't forgotten you at all, nor does He not care. I love you bro. *mucho hugs*
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