Can God?

[Praxeas]

Originally Posted by RevDWW

Thanks for the meat. This was a very substantive post!

What I meant to say was "Can we afford to cede any territory, house, or tool to the enemy". I like the store where Saul and Jonathan went to fight the enemy and they were the only ones that that "real" weapons. The rest had gardening tools and the like. Yet there was victory!

Many times the enemies of Israel would conquer them and confiscate there weapons. Seems the enemy of the Church would like to do the same.

Exactly....what are HIS weapons? Division? Ego? Control? Back to Law? Paul had that problem with the Pharisees

[Timmy]

Originally Posted by RevDWW

Why haven't you been baptized? What’s stopping you?

I was baptized "in the titles", years ago.

Originally Posted by RevDWW

Have you asked God if the infilling of the Holy Ghost is real then let me have it?

Yes. I spoke in tongues. But it wasn't the HG speaking through me. I learned how to do it by watching others, like all the other kids around that altar. Fooled everyone. The initial "evidence" didn't serve the purpose of real evidence, did it? Can you tell when someone gets it for real?

Originally Posted by RevDWW

Would it strike you as odd, that I think faith can move mountains even in someone not "filled" with the Holy Ghost.

Not really. Placebos can do amazing things. Even OPs know that.

Originally Posted by RevDWW

Look at the shysters whose main goal is to make money off the Gospel. Just because someone can lay hands on the sick doesn't mean Jesus even knows them. Don't look at the just the miraculous to verify if someone is of God look at the fruit their life produces. All leaves and no fruit is a tree good for nothing but to be cut down and cast into the fire.

There can be no fruit produced without the power. The leaves of a plant produce the power for life in a plant. Without the Sun, no power. Without the leaves, no fruit. Without fruit no fulfilling God's command to multiply.

Power? Like they're talking about in the thread Do "OPs" Really Have More Power than other Christians? Correct me if I'm wrong, but it seems that most don't think so. You'd think since they get it right, God would honor their faith more than anyone else's.

Originally Posted by RevDWW

Try it, lay hands on the blind man and beleive for his healing. the worst that can happen is nothing happens and he's no worse off.

And this would glorify God.... how?

A church I used to attend sent a missions team to Mexico. Came home with a picture of a little girl, standing up from her wheelchair, face beaming. Congregation loved it. But do you think that little girl is now running and playing with her friends? Think how she and her parents must feel about those Americans and the "God" they preached about. Are they "no worse off"? Is false hope better than no hope?

Originally Posted by RevDWW

I'd also suggest you find a place to form a connected, meaningful, relationship with Jesus, if you haven’t already.

I have, thanks.

[RevDWW]

My Dear Ole Dad is a Infantry Combat Vet of the Korean War.

He's told me many stores. One that comes to mind is that he and his men did not like the Air Force guys all that much. Matter of fact they'd probably not pass up a chance to get in a scrape with'm given half a chance. The Army lived in the field in less then favorable conditions while the Fly boys had nice barracks and hot showers and good food. They barely saw he enemy while the Infantry was face to face with them. One day my Dad observed the North Koreans and some Chinese massing for an attack. It was a large group with bad intentions. He called up the artillery to send a greeting, but the artillery told him they were too far out, past the range of the big guns. The guy on the other end of the field telephone told my Dad to hold on a minute. He came back with news that an air strike would be inbound shortly. Sure enough the planes flew over and dropped napalm on the enemy destroying hundreds of men and breaking the attack. From that day on, the Air Forces pilots were considered great guys.

I wish we’d get that same kind of comradery amongst ourselves. We are not each others real enemy. We need to turn our badest intentions against the fallen one and his imps putting them to flight and taking their territory.

[RevDWW]

Originally Posted by Timmy

I was baptized "in the titles", years ago.


Yes. I spoke in tongues. But it wasn't the HG speaking through me. I learned how to do it by watching others, like all the other kids around that altar. Fooled everyone. The initial "evidence" didn't serve the purpose of real evidence, did it? Can you tell when someone gets it for real?



Not really. Placebos can do amazing things. Even OPs know that.



Power? Like they're talking about in the thread Do "OPs" Really Have More Power than other Christians? Correct me if I'm wrong, but it seems that most don't think so. You'd think since they get it right, God would honor their faith more than anyone else's.



And this would glorify God.... how?

A church I used to attend sent a missions team to Mexico. Came home with a picture of a little girl, standing up from her wheelchair, face beaming. Congregation loved it. But do you think that little girl is now running and playing with her friends? Think how she and her parents must feel about those Americans and the "God" they preached about. Are they "no worse off"? Is false hope better than no hope?



I have, thanks.

Please understand I was not attacking you in the least. If you got that out of my posts then I am truly sorry. I meant every word with the sincere love of Christ. Posted words don't work near as well for me as the spoken word.

So you think none of this can be true, because you and other youngsters faked it as kids?

Being baptized in the titles is as great as those that were baptized into Johns baptism, yet when they heard the Message they were baptized again calling on the name of the Lord?

Timmy, I pray God's great blessings for you and yours!

[Timmy]

Originally Posted by RevDWW

Please understand I was not attacking you in the least. If you got that out of my posts then I am truly sorry.

Oh, I didn't, not at all! No need to apologize.

Originally Posted by RevDWW

I meant every word with the sincere love of Christ. Posted words don't work near as well for me as the spoken word.

So you think none of this can be true, because you and other youngsters faked it as kids?

Not just that. And actually, I don't think "none of this can be true". I'm somewhat open minded about it, but the overwhelming evidence I've seen is that it (that is, miracles, tongues, prophecy, etc.) is not literally true.

BTW, I would like to know: can you tell fake tongues from the real thing?

Originally Posted by RevDWW

Being baptized in the titles is as great as those that were baptized into Johns baptism, yet when they heard the Message they were baptized again calling on the name of the Lord?

Timmy, I pray God's great blessings for you and yours!

Thanks!

[RevDWW]

Originally Posted by Timmy

Oh, I didn't, not at all! No need to apologize.


Not just that. And actually, I don't think "none of this can be true". I'm somewhat open minded about it, but the overwhelming evidence I've seen is that it (that is, miracles, tongues, prophecy, etc.) is not literally true.

BTW, I would like to know: can you tell fake tongues from the real thing?



Thanks!

There are times when I feel I can discern the difference. But I'll leave that up to the Lord and the individual to work out. Now I have seen the real thing a few times. But I try never to tell anyone "You got it". If you have to tell them then there's some sort of issue there wouldn't you think?

Seriously, bad stuff goes on in the name of the miraculous, but that doesn't make Jesus any less powerful does it?

[crakjak]

Originally Posted by RevDWW

Ephesians 3:14 -21 (KJV)
14 For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, 16 That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; 17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; 19 And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God. 20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, 21 Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.

I've been saying for years on this and the other forums that God will complete what He has begun. Neither the so called will of man or the wimpy efforts of "that man, that terrorizes the nations" will hinder our God from redeeming His whole creation.

However, very few will listen, or really consider the vast scripture support for this truth. Tradition is very hard to break thru.

[Timmy]

Originally Posted by RevDWW

There are times when I feel I can discern the difference. But I'll leave that up to the Lord and the individual to work out. Now I have seen the real thing a few times. But I try never to tell anyone "You got it". If you have to tell them then there's some sort of issue there wouldn't you think?

Seriously, bad stuff goes on in the name of the miraculous, but that doesn't make Jesus any less powerful does it?

This gets right to the heart of my concerns. I have no problem with believing that God is powerful. It's silly to say otherwise. I mean, come on, he created the universe!

But it bothers me when "bad stuff" happens, like the fake healings and the false hope, and when exaggerations and lies are told about "miracles". When people are told they are healed, when they're not. When people are told the reason they weren't healed is their lack of faith, or hidden sin. Guilt trips and excuses. Nothing good comes out of this.

Now, can God do miracles today? I think so. But I also say he probably doesn't. Or if he does, it's very rare. But if it's rare, I have to wonder, what is the purpose of miracles? Is it to prove that he is powerful? Or to show us that he loves us? Then I think they'd be quite a bit more common. Consider the danger of thinking he does miracles for us because he loves us: when he (apparently) does something for us, we're happy. We say "Isn't God good? God really loves me!" But when he doesn't come through for us, why shouldn't we say "God isn't good", or "God doesn't love me"? Can't have it both ways!

It's more likely that he lets the laws of nature proceed, without much, if any, interference. I think I've heard a saying, something like God's hands are our hands. In other words, he works through us. Through doctors, teachers, ordinary people who love each other and help each other in times of need. We have each other -- we don't need a genie in a lamp!

[Ferd]

Originally Posted by Timmy

So, next time I see a blind man, I should walk up to him, lay hands on him, and say "In the name of Jesus, be healed!"?

Oh, but it probably wouldn't work for me, not being baptized in Jesus' name or a speaker of tongues, and all. I'll leave it to you guys.

Timmy, I am praying for you to get that fixed!

[RevDWW]

Originally Posted by Timmy

This gets right to the heart of my concerns. I have no problem with believing that God is powerful. It's silly to say otherwise. I mean, come on, he created the universe!

But it bothers me when "bad stuff" happens, like the fake healings and the false hope, and when exaggerations and lies are told about "miracles". When people are told they are healed, when they're not. When people are told the reason they weren't healed is their lack of faith, or hidden sin. Guilt trips and excuses. Nothing good comes out of this.

Now, can God do miracles today? I think so. But I also say he probably doesn't. Or if he does, it's very rare. But if it's rare, I have to wonder, what is the purpose of miracles? Is it to prove that he is powerful? Or to show us that he loves us? Then I think they'd be quite a bit more common. Consider the danger of thinking he does miracles for us because he loves us: when he (apparently) does something for us, we're happy. We say "Isn't God good? God really loves me!" But when he doesn't come through for us, why shouldn't we say "God isn't good", or "God doesn't love me"? Can't have it both ways!

It's more likely that he lets the laws of nature proceed, without much, if any, interference. I think I've heard a saying, something like God's hands are our hands. In other words, he works through us. Through doctors, teachers, ordinary people who love each other and help each other in times of need. We have each other -- we don't need a genie in a lamp!

I have experienced the awesome power of God and know beyond a shadow of a doubt it's real. I have also seen the counterfeit and it's never really that close to the original. Sure it can get passed if attention is not being paid, but under close inspection the flaws show.