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 Posted: Tue Nov 03, 2009 8:15 am
THERE IS NO SUBSTITUTE FOR GOD'S WORDI just had this thought cross my mind, and I felt like i needed to share it here. Aside from reading the Bible, there is no way to know God. It is his very words. We believe that it is God Breathed and is useful in every aspect of our lives. Today, my young ones, i want us all to read James, we can spread it out over the week if needed. Post here your thoughts/comments/opinions on the book and we shall discuss. Spoonfeed:
-Read the post above
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Posted: Tue Nov 03, 2009 10:24 am
Okay. I've just read the first chapter. I'm focusing on verses 2-8 at the moment. I dunno, I feel like I don't get it, or something. It's really relevant to something I'm going through at the moment; I just have no idea what God wants with my life. I have a couple of ideas, but I'm not sure if they're from God or not. And it's just really hard to "believe and not doubt". Because I feel like I'm not sure if God will give me the wisdom, because I just don't have the faintest idea where to start.
As for the bit in chapter two, when James is talking about faith without deeds being worthless, does he mean that faith doesn't exist without deeds? Such faith can't save you, because you don't do anything about the faith. It just stays as faith, and just faith doesn't really count for anything because it's only a thought. To quote Seven Places, "what if salvation had been something He only thought about?"
On chapter four now (yes, I'm adding to this post as I read more), and I think God is challenging me to know the Bible better, and to know Him better. Verse 17, "Remember, it is sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it." (NLT; I've been reading it in a bunch of different versions). I guess I don't even have the chance to sin in that respect because I don't know what I ought to do. I don't particulary know how I can find out what God wants me to do, either, other than asking Him.
I also guess that I need to start taking a stand against worldly things. Verse four: "Don’t you realize that friendship with the world makes you an enemy of God?" (still NLT.) I'm trying too hard to be a friend of the world. I laugh when people do things with the obvious intention of fitting in, when I do exactly the same thing, just less obviously. I swear, I laugh at dirty jokes, I make dirty jokes, because I want to fit in. And I guess I need to stop that.
Verse 11b: "But your job is to obey the law, not to judge whether it applies to you." I guess I need to know more and more and more about the law, and just accept that it all applies to me. Not simply knowing it and ignoring it every time I want to do something contrary to it.
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Posted: Tue Nov 03, 2009 11:32 pm
Let this ease your mind. Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. God is omniscient. He knows everything that was, is, and will be. No matter what you do, He knew that you would do it. You relax some knowing that whatever you do will be of His plan. Corinthians 10:13 (NIV) 13No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it. He won't throw something at you that you can't take. So put away your human doubt, and trust that He will do what He will do. No, you cannot have real faith and not have any works. James 2:20 (NKJV) 20 But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead? James 2:18 (The Message) 18I can already hear one of you agreeing by saying, "Sounds good. You take care of the faith department, I'll handle the works department." Not so fast. You can no more show me your works apart from your faith than I can show you my faith apart from my works. Faith and works, works and faith, fit together hand in glove. If you truly have faith, then you will do works. If you do not, then your faith is not real and you are not striving to be like God. However, if you do works and do not have faith, then you are not saved. You cannot earn your way into heaven. Period. John 14:6 Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. On your not knowing: Matthew 7:8 For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened 1 Peter chapter 2 (TEV) 1 Rid yourselves, then, of all evil; no more lying or hypocrisy or jealousy or insulting language. 2 Be like newborn babies, always thirsty for the pure spiritual milk, so that by drinking it you may grow up and be saved. Ephesians chapter 5 (NLT) 4 Obscene stories, foolish talk, and coarse jokes - these are not for you. Instead, let there be thankfulness to God. Ephesians 2:1-3 (NIV) 1As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. 3All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature[a] and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath. (Slightly out of context [since I couldn't find the verse referencing following laws], but meant for the parallel that does apply) Matthew 22:21b Then he said to them, "Give to Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what is God's." We are to follow the laws of the land, unless it contradict God's commands. I personally love the book of James. In just five chapters, he unloads an amazing amount of insight and wisdom. (We also happened to be dwelling in James last Wednesday in youth group ninja ) @Saint: This was a great book to start on! 3nodding @Voldy: Did this answer your questions? smile
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Posted: Wed Nov 04, 2009 8:11 am
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Posted: Wed Nov 04, 2009 9:09 am
No problem. I'm deciding that I should use more references from scripture. I have knowledge of what the bible says, but I am not so good at memorizing it. Thankfully, there is BibleGateway.com smile
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Posted: Sun Nov 08, 2009 9:49 pm
guys, if this wasnt clear..
THIS IS A GUILD PARTICIPATION THING
which means all of you
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Posted: Mon Mar 08, 2010 9:07 am
Saint Angel 07 guys, if this wasnt clear.. THIS IS A GUILD PARTICIPATION THING which means all of you This. Guild participation =/= me, haven and saint.
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Posted: Mon Mar 08, 2010 6:59 pm
Voldemort point two Saint Angel 07 guys, if this wasnt clear.. THIS IS A GUILD PARTICIPATION THING which means all of you This. Guild participation =/= me, haven and saint. Seconded
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Posted: Mon Mar 08, 2010 7:02 pm
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Posted: Mon Mar 15, 2010 3:09 pm
James 1 2Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. 4Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. 5If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. 6But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. 7That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; 8he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does. This is so relevant to me at the moment. I'm going through so much crap, and this just speaks to me. I definitely believe Him now. I've seen far too much not to.
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