Christian Fiction, Sci fi,make believe...

[Anthony D'Arienzo]

Does not say Scripture alone. In fact there is no where that says Scripture alone at alone, Scripture alone is a man made idea. Cessationist are fast to accuse of going beyond Scripture but Scripture alone goes beyond Scripture also. As far as the Verses you gave I agree with them but it does not say go by Scripture alone.

Be safe on the road and thank you driving for all of us so we can have things. My cousin drove long haul and when I was younger he dropped by and backed up his rig a whole block, was impressive to me

Thank you for your kind response, even if we do not agree on some things, I have found some value in you relating to your journey of faith, and that demonstrates your willingness to search things out.
In central Florida, tonight, down to the Ft. Lauderdale/ Miami, tomorrow, then pick up to take product back up to NY.

 

[Angelina]

Thank you for your kind response, even if we do not agree on some things, I have found some value in you relating to your journey of faith, and that demonstrates your willingness to search things out.
In central Florida, tonight, down to the Ft. Lauderdale/ Miami, tomorrow, then pick up to take product back up to NY.

That's sounds like a long haul. When do you get to sleep?

 

[Anthony D'Arienzo]

Josho,

So where does it say that in the Bible?

We are to pray to God, believing prayer. God answers prayer. That is the normal Christian life.
God is supernatural yes. Not everything is a "miracle" however.
My wife was healed years ago in answer to prayer, where we went to a specialist concerning a growth or lump near her ribs. We prayed, it did not go away, we prayed,the next day ,it seemed to get larger, we made an emergency visit to a specialist. It cost 300$ to walk in the door.
He examined her, then called mi into another room, asked me to describe where the lump was and how long it had been there, so I said it is right in the same place it has been.
He informed me that there was no lump.
I thought for a minute then realized we were meant to present the gospel to Him so I explained I did not make an appointment to just give him 300$
, the lump was there 45 minutes earlier as we drove to his office, so evidently God has answered our prayer now, but then described the need of Jesus blood to cleanse us of sin.

My wife has also had cancer, that did not go away by prayer, but God healed her, through surgery, chemo, and prayer. She has had dozens of opportunites for gospel presentations with other women who find themselves in a similar circumstance.
So God is in control in both these situations. One more dramitic, but both used by Him.

 

[Anthony D'Arienzo]

That's sounds like a long haul. When do you get to sleep?

I am getting older now, so it is a bit more of a challenge,most times I do 600-700 miles a day.I used to run ny to oregon, washington state, California, and Montana for years, 6000, to 7000 miles in a 10-to 12 day period.
Last night into yesterday was harder than normal, a 10 pm delivery, drive330 miles south for a 630 am delivery, got 1.5 hours of sleep. Passed out in truck this afternoon after meeting with a brother in Christ who is an old friend who owns
http://solid-ground-books.com Solid Christian Books for the whole family
Picked up 6 study books, by Gerhardus Vos, and Herman Bavnick. two well-known bible scholars.
Ordered a 6 volume set of Thomas Brooks the Puritan.

I like to search out scripture, and am not afraid to challenge what I hold with a view to improve on it.

If I am going to minister to people about life and death issues, I am going to make sure I know what I am speaking about, and ask God to keep me faithful to what He has entrusted to me.
I have learned over time to use this truck as a vehicle to be used as a missionary, in all the states. I pray about it, asking God to use me, and have seen many stunning answers to prayer, given bibles away, had stunning providential opportunities that were clearly of the Lord.
You remarked that you are not a "Calvinist". I am because I see in scripture that everything in life is planned and predestined by God, so I look to every opportunity when I encounter strangers to turn it into a gospel opportunity. God is going to seek and save all of His lost sheep that are elected by Him before the world was. I do not know who they are, so I present the gospel to all people I can engage in conversation with..
That is how God gathers in those sinners He intends to save. That is also how He reprobates those scoffers and truth suppressors.

If a person is prayerful and prepared to be used by God, there is no shortage of opportunites.If God used Balaams donkey to speak, He can use me or you.

 

[Anthony D'Arienzo]

The main reason why members who have issues with moving in the gifts of the Spirit is usually because they have never, ever experienced the Holy Spirit's presence, power or anointing. It then makes them wonder if they are really saved.....

What if they have, but it is actually much different than what you describe. What if I told you that many times when the Spirit is present, the result is not jumping up and down, shouting, making rhyming noises with arms raised while swaying back and forth, doing cartwheels, and rolling on the floor.

What if while alone in prayer the Spirit is so present that you know that your life itself is in His hands as you get convicted of remaining sin so much that you feel as if He might remove the very breath from your body, if not for His mercy and love being extended to you.
Have you ever been present when the word is preached in true power that the whole assembly is convicted and cannot even speak without prayerful reflection on that very word preached?

 

[Anthony D'Arienzo]

Some people may indeed be making up things, but you should not generalize... lumping everyone that is not exactly where you are with those who are purposely falsifying. Remember what Solomon wrote 3,000 years ago is still true today:

"Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the LORD pondereth the hearts." Prov 21:2

There is always a danger to broad-brush things, but online interaction as we have discussed is a limited form of communication.

 

[Anthony D'Arienzo]

The Two Witnesses: Some say that they are Elijah and Enoch. Others say, that they are Elijah and Moses but these are just guesses. No-one really knows who they really are...[added] These two witnesses are moving in signs, wonders and miracles and prophesying. This is a future event.

Let me ask you something then. As I understand, you believe that the sign gifts or Apostolic gifts are no-longer functioning today. Why then are they active in Revelation 11:3-6. If the sign gifts are finished when the last Apostle died, how is anyone going to believe that these two guys are actually from God and not from Satan?

Some see Revelation as mostly fulfilled in the first century, with rev 19-22 still to come. The two witnesses would be symbols of the church, Jesus sent them out two by two to begin to evangeklize the hostile world, but that is a large topic in and of itself.

 

[Angelina]

I am getting older now, so it is a bit more of a challenge,most times I do 600-700 miles a day.I used to run ny to oregon, washington state, California, and Montana for years, 6000, to 7000 miles in a 10-to 12 day period.
Last night into yesterday was harder than normal, a 10 pm delivery, drive330 miles south for a 630 am delivery, got 1.5 hours of sleep. Passed out in truck this afternoon after meeting with a brother in Christ who is an old friend who owns
http://solid-ground-books.com Solid Christian Books for the whole family
Picked up 6 study books, by Gerhardus Vos, and Herman Bavnick. two well-known bible scholars.
Ordered a 6 volume set of Thomas Brooks the Puritan.

I like to search out scripture, and am not afraid to challenge what I hold with a view to improve on it.

If I am going to minister to people about life and death issues, I am going to make sure I know what I am speaking about, and ask God to keep me faithful to what He has entrusted to me.
I have learned over time to use this truck as a vehicle to be used as a missionary, in all the states. I pray about it, asking God to use me, and have seen many stunning answers to prayer, given bibles away, had stunning providential opportunities that were clearly of the Lord.
You remarked that you are not a "Calvinist". I am because I see in scripture that everything in life is planned and predestined by God, so I look to every opportunity when I encounter strangers to turn it into a gospel opportunity. God is going to seek and save all of His lost sheep that are elected by Him before the world was. I do not know who they are, so I present the gospel to all people I can engage in conversation with..
That is how God gathers in those sinners He intends to save. That is also how He reprobates those scoffers and truth suppressors.

If a person is prayerful and prepared to be used by God, there is no shortage of opportunites.If God used Balaams donkey to speak, He can use me or you.

Why that is just awesome! I have done what you are doing for many years now and it continues onward. God is so good. I love speaking to people about God particularly those who do not know him.

 

[Josho]

Josho,

We are to pray to God, believing prayer. God answers prayer. That is the normal Christian life.
God is supernatural yes. Not everything is a "miracle" however.
My wife was healed years ago in answer to prayer, where we went to a specialist concerning a growth or lump near her ribs. We prayed, it did not go away, we prayed,the next day ,it seemed to get larger, we made an emergency visit to a specialist. It cost 300$ to walk in the door.
He examined her, then called mi into another room, asked me to describe where the lump was and how long it had been there, so I said it is right in the same place it has been.
He informed me that there was no lump.
I thought for a minute then realized we were meant to present the gospel to Him so I explained I did not make an appointment to just give him 300$
, the lump was there 45 minutes earlier as we drove to his office, so evidently God has answered our prayer now, but then described the need of Jesus blood to cleanse us of sin.

My wife has also had cancer, that did not go away by prayer, but God healed her, through surgery, chemo, and prayer. She has had dozens of opportunites for gospel presentations with other women who find themselves in a similar circumstance.
So God is in control in both these situations. One more dramitic, but both used by Him.

Those are 2 very good testimonies there, I would definitely consider the first one a miraculous healing though, and would even say it's a spiritual gift of healing.

And from reading your truck driving post, it sounds like God is already using you, and you have even moved in some of the Holy Spirit's spiritual gifts without knowing it.

 

[Anthony D'Arienzo]

Why that is just awesome! I have done what you are doing for many years now and it continues onward. God is so good. I love speaking to people about God particularly those who do not know him.

To meet people quickly I engage in conversation, listen to what is on their mind a bit.
when I can,i just ask them are you a church person?
Depending on the response,I explain that I have something for them, a free app on the phone.
www.sermonaudio.com.
I show them.They like that it is free.Then the door is wide open for spiritual conversation.
Some have been hurt by past life ecperience, even bad churches, so when I pray I ask God for the ability to speak a word in season and look to establish the word of God as the authority.
many opportunities are there when you ask God to prepare their hearts

 

[amadeus]

There is always a danger to broad-brush things, but online interaction as we have discussed is a limited form of communication.

I have had a problem in the past in trying to read and answer all of the posts... so sometimes I do not. Either the number posted has increased since I have been here on this forum or I have slowed down quite a bit. I believe that both things many be certainly true but the latter is overwhelmingly true with regard to me.

My own effort therefore is to try to answer as best I can one person specifically rather than to everyone. Some people may not receive an answers to whom I would like to give an answers, but I am not Jesus. I am not God. I am in a fallible ever weakening vessel of flesh. So... I strive to not generalize or, as you say it, "broad-brush things". When you do that, or I do that, it is also a part of the message we are giving to anyone who is reading our post. It becomes a part of how people see us even though it may be inaccurate and misleading. If I were you I would stick to quality and precision in your answers rather trying to talk to most of the disagreeing crowd. Someone besides the one you are presently answering may also be reading what you wrote... What did Apostle Paul mean by these words?

"Do we begin again to commend ourselves? or need we, as some others, epistles of commendation to you, or letters of commendation from you?
Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men:
Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshly tables of the heart." II Cor 3:1-3

 

[Renniks]

I fail to see how any supernatural event can be anything but a miracle. In fact, I believe many events that may not look supernatural from our angle are miracles. Certainly, salvation is always a miracle.

 

[Preacher4Truth]

What if they have, but it is actually much different than what you describe. What if I told you that many times when the Spirit is present, the result is not jumping up and down, shouting, making rhyming noises with arms raised while swaying back and forth, doing cartwheels, and rolling on the floor.

What if while alone in prayer the Spirit is so present that you know that your life itself is in His hands as you get convicted of remaining sin so much that you feel as if He might remove the very breath from your body, if not for His mercy and love being extended to you.
Have you ever been present when the word is preached in true power that the whole assembly is convicted and cannot even speak without prayerful reflection on that very word preached?

AMEN!

 

[Anthony D'Arienzo]

Renniks,

I fail to see how any supernatural event can be anything but a miracle. In fact, I believe many events that may not look supernatural from our angle are miracles. Certainly, salvation is always a miracle.

I understand what you and others mean. Earlier I posted this;
We are to pray to God, believing prayer. God answers prayer. That is the normal Christian life.
God is supernatural yes. Not everything is a "miracle" however.

If we ascribe everything as a miracle, the word loses its meaning.

When Paul addressed the 1st century church is made a distinction ;
29 Are all apostles?
are all prophets?
are all teachers?
are all workers of miracles?

30 Have all the gifts of healing?
do all speak with tongues?
do all interpret?

The answer to each question was No.

 

[Heart2Soul]

@Renniks I would like to share my understanding of what the OP said in post #534.....
First let me ask you....why was Paul saying all this to the Corinthians?
It's because they were arguing about whose gift was more important......
to understand what Paul was trying to convey to the Corinthians you need to read the whole chapter....and read the cross references as well.
1 Corinthians 12 (KJV)
¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯
With this verse Paul is establishing who it is that enables us to say that Jesus is Lord...which is the Holy Spirit whom all gifts come from.
³ Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost.

Here Paul teaches the different gifts....
⁴ Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.
⁵ And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord.
⁶ And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.

⁷ But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.

⁸ For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;
⁹ To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;
¹⁰ To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:
¹¹ But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.

Here explains how they are all members of the same body......
¹² For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.
¹³ For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.
¹⁴ For the body is not one member, but many.
¹⁵ If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?
¹⁶ And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?
¹⁷ If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling?
¹⁸ But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him.
¹⁹ And if they were all one member, where were the body?
²⁰ But now are they many members, yet but one body.
²¹ And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you.
²² Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary:
²³ And those members of the body, which we think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow more abundant honour; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness.
²⁴ For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour to that part which lacked:An
²⁵ That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another.
²⁶ And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it.

And in finally he concludes in saying as members of the body we can't all be the same part of that body....And he even tells them to covet earnestly the best gifts.....and yet he will show them a more excellent way.

²⁷ Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.
²⁸ And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.
²⁹ Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles?
³⁰ Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret?
³¹ But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way.


Now I am going to go to my next post where Paul teaches the Ephesians about the gifts and callings.

 

[Heart2Soul]

Then Paul teaches the Ephesians about the gifts and callings

Ephesians 4
Paul talks with the Ephesians in a more mature way than he did the Corinthians...
1. I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called,
2 With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;
3 Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

4 There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;

5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism,
6 God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.
7 But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.
8 Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.
9( Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth?
10 He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)


Paul explains the purpose of the gifts and callings:

11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:
16 From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.

Paul concludes by encouraging them to not be like the other gentiles (wonder if he was talking about the Corinthians...lol)

17 This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind,
18 Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart:
19 Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.
20 But ye have not so learned Christ;
21 If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus:
22 That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;
23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;
24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.
25 Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another.
26 Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:
27 Neither give place to the devil.
28 Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.
29 Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.
30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.
31 Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:
32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.


Now in my conclusion...why would Paul spend so much time teaching something that no one can accomplish except himself and the apostles of that time?

 

[Anthony D'Arienzo]

"Heart2Soul,

Now in my conclusion...why would Paul spend so much time teaching something that no one can accomplish except himself and the apostles of that time?

The sign gifts were fully operational in the early church. The revelation was still taking place, and the Spirit had Paul write the rules for the lawful use of those gifts at that time.
Now that revelation has ceased the Apostles and prophets died, we now have the completed revelation, no longer partial knowledge.

 

[Renniks]

Renniks,


I understand what you and others mean. Earlier I posted this;
We are to pray to God, believing prayer. God answers prayer. That is the normal Christian life.
God is supernatural yes. Not everything is a "miracle" however.

If we ascribe everything as a miracle, the word loses its meaning.

When Paul addressed the 1st century church is made a distinction ;
29 Are all apostles?
are all prophets?
are all teachers?
are all workers of miracles?

30 Have all the gifts of healing?
do all speak with tongues?
do all interpret?

The answer to each question was No.

I did not claim everything is a miracle. Although I believe in Calvinist theology either everything is a miracle or nothing is. If God answers prayers with supernatural intervention, how is that less than miraculous?

 

[Enoch111]

Then Paul teaches the Ephesians about the gifts and callings...

You will note that while Paul speaks about ALL spiritual gifts in 1 Corinthians, he focuses on ministry gifts in Ephesians (as well as Romans).

In the ministry gifts he lists them in order of importance (Eph 4:11):
1. Apostles
2. Prophets
3. Evangelists
4. Pastors
5. Teachers

There could be no evangelists, pastors and teachers unless there had first been apostles and prophets. But what many Christian fail to see is that ever since the completion of the book of Revelation, the apostles and prophets are found in the written Word of God. Therefore none of the Apostolic Church Fathers ever claimed to be either apostles or prophets.

So today the ministry gifts are (1) evangelists, (2) pastors, and (3) teachers. And this does not come about by simply attending a seminary. It is the Holy Spirit who gives these gifts to men (whether or not they have attended any seminary). Since women are excluded from preaching and teaching in the church, these gifts are not for women.

 

[Anthony D'Arienzo]

I did not claim everything is a miracle. Although I believe in Calvinist theology either everything is a miracle or nothing is. If God answers prayers with supernatural intervention, how is that less than miraculous?

Good question, God can answer prayer providentially God could answer prayer internally in the person where the miraculous the the signs and wonders with things that don't happen in a way that could be explained other than being a miracle so you don't want to have doubtful things where people get confused as to what a miracle is And what a miracle is not.