So again what is growing in the Lord all about?

Backlit said:

Depends. There are some SDAs who don't believe the Bible either. But if you believe the Bible, the least you would do is start observing the Sabbath. That would be a good start. It's always good to spend a day of God's choosing with Him.

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Well there it is, what your stating is that I have to belong to a religious sect to be told to observe Sunday as the Sabbath, I’ve got to say that seems fairly moipic in my opinion. Why can’t I just read Gods word and draw my own conclusions? I’ll say it again. It only divides.

All of the talk of the Holy Spirit, yet still the desire to control ( seek its own). It’s all just a bunch of fluff and all it takes is for one theatrical individual to gain a little momentum is to state I got it from the Holy Spirit Himself and your in business. And there’s a wealth of individuals out there looking for some idiot to tell them what to believe.

Heart2Soul said:

Move along then....I hope this thread can stay positive...encouraging one another in the Word.

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I’m guessing John invited me because he wants to hear the truth. The way I see it. @amadeus ?

If that doesn’t suit you, then I guess you’ll have to dress your garden?

amadeus said:

The words below were saved to my computer on another forum in 2011. They may be pertinent here:

And herein we may see why there are so many denominations or churches based on the Bible, but with often diametrically opposed doctrines.

Many apparently have received the gift of the Holy Ghost, but the Holy Ghost teaches us, only, as we allow ourselves to listen. The Holy Ghost is not always finished on a given point when we close up our spiritual ears as if we had already heard it all.

On some of these points, we may purposely never re-open our ears, so we will remain with what we already have instead of continuing to grow in that area. We must continue to grow until the end or whatever spiritual Life we have received will die. We must continue to eat and drink of the things of God:

"Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you.

Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day.

For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed.

He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him." John 6:53-56

"He must increase, but I must decrease." John 3:30

"And the apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our faith." Luke 17:5

"So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." Romans 10:17

"But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you." John 14:26

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I guess maybe growing requires decreasing.

Munch...munch...

Waiting on him said:

Well there it is, what your stating is that I have to belong to a religious sect to be told to observe Sunday as the Sabbath

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I began observing Saturday as the Sabbath because that's the seventh day that God blessed and sanctified for the purpose of fellowship with Himself and one another. I didn't go to a specific sect to learn that. It's in the bible, and I believed it. You above claim to refuse to go to a sect to discover Sunday... Great. So read the Bible and find out for yourself what day God set aside.
Thing is though, and in line with the OP, how to grow in the Lord must start with obeying Him wouldn't it? How else are we to discover God's will for our lives without a final arbiter in faith and morals... God's written word? If you cannot trust God's word, whose word do you trust?

amadeus said:

@robert derrick
Scriptures below on this post as posted by Robert derrick on another thread:

For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil. [Heb 5:13-14]

Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God. [Heb 6:1]

I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one. [I John 2:14]

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Matthew 4:4
Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”

Romans 15:4
For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.

James 1:22
But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves.

Luke 6:47
I will show you what he is like who comes to Me and hears My words and acts on them:

Romans 2:13
For it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but it is the doers of the law who will be declared righteous.

Matthew 7:21-25
Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven

Growth and maturity comes from knowing Gods word and doing Gods word. Denying ourselves and submitting our wills to His will produces good works, the fruit of the spirit. All men will know you are My disciples by your love for one another. Loving God with our entire being (heart,mind,soul) will results in loving your neighbor. All the law rests on these 2 commandments. Its the Royal Law of Love. The whole book of James makes it clear the real faith produces action and is shown by how we treat others. Knowledge alone puffs up whereas combined with love which is the fruit of the Spirit results in Christlikeness in ones life. Galatians 5:22-23 and 1 Corinthians 13 show us what a person who loves God and their neighbor looks like in a practical way as does the entire book of James, which is faith/love in action.

hope this helps !!!

Christophany said:

Matthew 4:4
Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”

Romans 15:4
For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.

James 1:22
But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves.

Luke 6:47
I will show you what he is like who comes to Me and hears My words and acts on them:

Romans 2:13
For it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but it is the doers of the law who will be declared righteous.

Matthew 7:21-25
Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven

Growth and maturity comes from knowing Gods word and doing Gods word. Denying ourselves and submitting our wills to His will produces good works, the fruit of the spirit. All men will know you are My disciples by your love for one another. Loving God with our entire being (heart,mind,soul) will results in loving your neighbor. All the law rests on these 2 commandments. Its the Royal Law of Love. The whole book of James makes it clear the real faith produces action and is shown by how we treat others. Knowledge alone puffs up whereas combined with love which is the fruit of the Spirit results in Christlikeness in ones life. Galatians 5:22-23 and 1 Corinthians 13 show us what a person who loves God and their neighbor looks like in a practical way as does the entire book of James, which is faith/love in action.

hope this helps !!!

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@Christophany Great verses there! 2 Peter 3.18 is also pivotal, I reckon.... (about growing in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ).

farouk said:

@Christophany Great verses there! 2 Peter 3.18 is also pivotal, I reckon.... (about growing in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ).

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Amen

amadeus said:

Yes, a person who loves God and his neighbor! The two great commandments!. How does anyone love like this? Is it not to be manifested in and through us by God in us? For God certainly is that Love!

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I also think some other things come into play as David and Paul say.

David- Thy word have I hid in my heart that I might now sin against Thee.

And Paul

Romans 12:1-3
Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Ephesians 4:23
to be renewed in the spirit of your minds;

Ephesians 4:24
and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

Colossians 3:10
And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:

KJV 1 John 1:1-4
1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life;
2 (For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us
3 That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.
4 And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.

KJV 1 John 2:22-25
22 Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son.
23 Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: (but) he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also.
24 Let that therefore abide in you, which ye have heard from the beginning. If that which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you, ye also shall continue in the Son, and in the Father.
25 And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life.


KJV John 17:3
3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.

KJV 1 John 2:3-6
3 And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.
4 He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
5 But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.
6 He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.

KJV 1 John 4:11-16
11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.
12 No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.
13 Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit.
14 And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world.
15 Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.
16 And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.

To the law and to the testimony. If they speak not according to this word, there is no light in them. Isaiah 8:20.

Yes, the Bible divides. And that's a good thing. Who wants to live with tares for eternity?

amadeus said:

The best thing to do always is what God tells you in your heart to do.

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Wish I could. But I’ve been way off topic, so you guys get back to your study, and good luck truly hope someone learns something.

amadeus said:

@robert derrick
Scriptures below on this post as posted by Robert derrick on another thread:

For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil. [Heb 5:13-14]

Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God. [Heb 6:1]

I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one. [I John 2:14]

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This is a subject whether a conscious or unconscious effort is made to divide or become divisive, or the opposite, to enjoin or combine, harmonize messages of thoughts and then with actions leading to divisions or union of doctrines and in the understanding of scripture. It is as old as when scripture was written down and recorded and then reproduced. Believers have been doing it from the start. Struggling to come to one accord and understanding of scripture and then formulating sound doctrine on this common understanding.

Also, human error can easily be introduced intentionally or not if we are NOT in the Spirit of truth at that time of communicating spiritual messages and scripture. Being in the Spirit is the key component to this entire discussion.

Secondly, we are usually in the midst of believers or not, who are all at different stages of maturity in the Lord. Those more acquainted in the Spirit and with more knowledge of spiritual truth, the seasoned and mature in the Lord, they must accommodate those drinkers of milk to the point of communicating scripture and doctrine effectively that causes edification and the release of fruits of the Spirit on both sides, of a discussion or debate. And we know when this point is reached and achieved. And we usually sense when this also has not been achieved.

We also usually have 'trouble' frustration or discord when there are two or more involved in a discussion or debate who are all, or the majority audience, still viewing scripture and doctrine through the lenses of new basic truth; of the new or immature believers. The Spirit will NOT make any one of them aware of MORE NEW truth immediately until it is TIME. This is where those, as immature believers, can easily be tempted to force their carnal mind side into the mix to reinforce and expose their ignorance, and usually arguments or heated discussions easily ensue.

Paul's words come to life for this topic like in Ephesians 4:11-14

11 So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers,
12 to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up
13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
14 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming.

Blessings to all,

APAK