The Power Of The Church

[John Caldwell]

No, that's a hypothetical for which it may seem there is only one correct answer, but actually either answer could be correct in a real situation depending on a person's heart. In your example, of course, you have already defined one son as being wicked and one being good. But consider this:

"And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God." Mark 10:18

Why did you or the person who first told the story decide one son was "good"?

It is a hypothetical. And as an illustration it can, of course, be pulled apart (I told you I'd make a mess of the illustration....we can remove "good" and "bad". But the gist remains. Like you say, it is the heart. The son praying for God to give his father life out of love, even though it was God's will that his father perish, was praying the will of the Father.

We do not have to wonder what God's will is for us. It is written between Genesis 1 and Revelation 22. When we look at our lives we can see if we are walking in a Christ-like manner or if we are seeking after our own fleshly desires.

Anyway, I don't disagree with you.

 

[amadeus]

It is a hypothetical. And as an illustration it can, of course, be pulled apart (I told you I'd make a mess of the illustration....we can remove "good" and "bad". But the gist remains. Like you say, it is the heart. The son praying for God to give his father life out of love, even though it was God's will that his father perish, was praying the will of the Father.

We do not have to wonder what God's will is for us. It is written between Genesis 1 and Revelation 22. When we look at our lives we can see if we are walking in a Christ-like manner or if we are seeking after our own fleshly desires.

Anyway, I don't disagree with you.

This is why we do need the Holy Spirit in our lives and helping us even when we read the scriptures.

"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

By the way... Welcome to the forum!

 

[WalterandDebbie]

This is why we do need the Holy Spirit in our lives and helping us even when we read the scriptures.

"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

By the way... Welcome to the forum!

Amen, and if I may add: For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people: Hebrews 8:10

 

[farouk]

This is why we do need the Holy Spirit in our lives and helping us even when we read the scriptures.

"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

By the way... Welcome to the forum!

Well, exactly; we need the Holy Spirit graciously to illuminate our reading of Scripture.

 

[farouk]

@Pearl; yes, I clicked 'like' to @amadeus 's post as well.

 

[WalterandDebbie]

Amen, and if I may add: For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people: Hebrews 8:10

Amen

 

[WalterandDebbie]

Amen, and if I may add: For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people: Hebrews 8:10

Amen

 

[Pearl]

Does the Church have power today? If not why not? And if it does where does that power come from?

I think that some parts of the Church do have power through the work of the Holy Spirit who is welcome in their midst. But I also think that many churches are missing out on that power due to the belief that those gifts have ceased and are not for today.