These are simply negative things: vinegar and gall.I’ve been thinking more about the verse in
Matthew 27:34 where ‘They gave him vinegar to drink mingled with gall: and when he had tasted thereof, he would not drink.’
again, not that it matters; I’m only sharing thoughts for your input. I can’t stop thinking about the vinegar mingled with gall, and how when he tasted the vinegar mingled with gall, He would not drink.
I have tasted vinegar and did not like it at all. Gall is apparently the contents of the gall bladder is supposed to be extremely bitter. I would not even want to test it with a taste. Yet when Jesus was thirsty that is what men offered him to drink.
Figuratively speaking perhaps, people are both offering and partaking of these things. Maybe they are doctored up to look appetizing and even to taste 'good', but that is Not what they are! How good is the good life that so many people set as their goal on planet Earth? How good is the American way? [Truth, justice and the American way?]
For God nothing is debatable! That is a man thing. That men do debate tells something about where they are and where they are not in God. Only God gives any real, "Good" increase! If any person gains in the things of God from participating in or reading some of the debates on this forum, it is because the person is open to God and God is using that means to accomplish His purpose. God is not bound to do that. To presume that He is, is to try to put Him in a box. He does not fit!One the reason I keep coming back is regarding this topic about being sober. How can we be sober when we aren’t even sure what being “sober” is? For example the passage on being not of the darkness and of the night, but to be of the day and of the light. all this pointing to being “sober” and to “watch”. How can we say we are “watching” and of those “watching”… if “being sober” is debatable?
What is sober according to men?
What is sober according to God?
Who is going to debate the differences and come up with God's answer?
How does one watch... but according to God? Without ears to hear and eyes to see via the Holy Spirit, are we not deaf and blind? Consider the way of unbelievers and lazy believers versus the believers with their ears and eyes open:
"For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.
But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear." Matt 13:15-16
When a person who has received the Holy Spirit is quenching the Spirit in him, how much like God is his mind? How much of the Love, which God is, is being manifested through him?Someone mentioned the mind in regards to what alcohol or drunkenness does to the mind. (unless I’ve misunderstood) being “sober” is connected to “the power of Love, and of a Sound Mind”? What is a Sound Mind if not a “Sober” and “Awake” mind? Consider “Let this mind be in you that was in Christ”
People who have met the Master are in different places with God for different reasons. Some are babies and need to grow. Some are more mature, and have been growing. Some have been quenching the Spirit and need to stop that so that they can grow! Not to grow is to stagnate and die!
Look at the differences here:@amadeus this isn’t directed at you but I’m only walking through some passages…why? Because I fear a lot! Of “a sound mind” is needful which brought it back to His tasting of the vinegar mixed with Gall and He would not drink.
You mentioned God gives Good things. I agree which makes me wonder what was in the cup He tasted?
Ga 5:19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
Ga 5:20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,
Ga 5:21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
Ga 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
Ga 5:23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
Ga 5:24 And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.
What are our works? What are we trying to do? What are we doing? Can we manifest the fruits of the Spirit if we are continuously partaking of the fruits of the flesh instead of the fruits of the Spirit? What are we consuming? The flesh and blood of Jesus?
Have we not been given power to overcome the obstacles standing between us and God?
Are we not able to ask God to help us when we are unable to proceed and win alone? When are we able to proceed in the right direction all alone?
If we are not walking always in the Spirit, what kind of fruits will we show? If we routinely quench the Holy Spirit in us, what kind of fruits will we show?
We need to do the impossible:
"For this cause also thank we God without ceasing," I Thess 2:13
"Pray without ceasing" I Thess 5:17
"Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice." Phil 4:4
"And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible." Mark 10:27
"To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:" Col 1:27
Give God the glory!For me what you said is inspiring and lines up with God doesn’t give the spirit of fear again to bondage but the Spirit of of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
2 Timothy 1:7-8 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. [8] Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God;
Consider that perhaps what He tasted (for every man) was the spirit of fear unto bondage because what else leads to death, which He tasted, but would not drink?
Acts 13:34-37
the spirit of fear again unto bondage…are we not warned it leads to death in “fear not what man can do to the body”. Some may argue He was afraid, yes sweating blood, but after tasting death (the spirit of fear unto bondage?) He did not drink…Did He overcome the spirit of fear unto bondage by submission and trust and Faith instead in the Father that gives not the spirit of fear unto bondage but who gives the Spirit of power, and of Love, and of a sound mind. Consider that He tasted of the spirit of the world, but would not drink? Instead trusting God in all things which overcomes “the world” and the spirit of it?