John 10. Jesus answered, �I did tell you, but you do not believe. The works I do in my Father�s name testify about me, but you do not believe because you are not my sheep. My sheep LISTEN to my voice; I know them, and they FOLLOW ME."
If you are one of Jesus' sheep, then who are you listening to, and following when you deny what He says, and disobey God's Word of Truth?...
I listen to Him as to the Scripture says no matter what man or any accuser may say because they have no discernment of one's heart. Yet I do know that some people tend to twist the word of God like such verses as the one you used to try to be heard instead of listen themselves to the Chief Shepherd.
You are so true Sal,:applause: and this is why we must continue to stay in God's word studying and depending ion the Holy Spirit ot reveal to us those things we might not understand.
It is as what Jesus says and we are taught throughout the word, we know that we are chikldren of God (His sheep) by what we believe God says about His Son, and there are so many Christian believers who do not believe everything God has spoken... it really comes down to taking God at His word without doubt, and leave everything else to His Holy Spirit to sort out for us and lead us, but He requires of us to do our part, and that is to study and stay in HIs word day and night surrendered in submission to His revelations of His divine word. :glow::hearts:
ET, I don't know if all that you said can be proved by the Word, and nor do I dispute it. But I do know that Christ draws as close to us as we draw close to Him, and that we must all continue to do this individually as He is pleased in us alone. To me, prescribing one certain form of direction too many believers is taking away their individual gifts that Christ has enabled and spoken into them, so I chose not to impose what others must do to stay in Christ just as much as I accuse, or state what other Christians believe, or don't believe in, and of Him because I am no discerner of hearts as our Lord Jesus is.
I do know one thing though. Whether to say that a Christian questioning God, or His Word is unbelief or doubt is not my part to state because only God knows. But it is Scriptural to ask, and to seek, and continue to search His word for answers because many a faithful prophet and patriarch has been documented to doing such a thing in our beloved Word or God, the Bible. So, with that being said, I would hesitate to call into question, or doubt one's faith, or belief in Christ knowing that they still are searching the Scriptures. Because as you well know, my sister, through the Word the faith comes. And since our Lord ordered us to search the Scriptures, whether we believe they make us think that we have eternal life, it is the very Scriptures that testify of Him. And only our Lord Jesus Christ, and He alone, can increase our faith and His voice is being heard through the Word regardless of the doubt we may have towards the Christian who doesn't hear a certain pastor's words. Because in the end, the Chief Pastor has spoken and all who hear His voice will be separated to the left and to the right. The ones who listened will put on one side and the ones who spoke it will be put to another. And whom will be accepted will be up to our Lord to decide, so until then, I will accept, and love all who proclaim on the Lord, and don't because He loves them just as much as He loves me.
And that is why I love Him so. Because He loved me before the foundation of the world and will continue to love me at the and of it. He is an amazing and all mighty God and I am in awe of His love and compassion. His mercies are never ending and continue to come and cover everyone with it like the waves of the sea whether they choose to see it or not.
May the Lord Jesus be the first thought of your waking and the last thought of your slumber, my sister.
Agapeton said: ET, I don't know if all that you said can be proved by the Word, and nor do I dispute it. But I do know that Christ draws as close to us as we draw close to Him, and that we must all continue to do this individually as He is pleased in us alone. To me, prescribing one certain form of direction too many believers is taking away their individual gifts that Christ has enabled and spoken into them, so I chose not to impose what others must do to stay in Christ just as much as I accuse, or state what other Christians believe, or don't believe in, and of Him because I am no discerner of hearts as our Lord Jesus is.
Ella says: Agapeton, there is no prescriptions being given out in place of the Word of Truth. Its not about what anyone imposes on others, its what the Word of God says and commands of us as believers, and Jesus Himself has provided for us who are called by His name that we MUST do in order to stay connected to Him.
Jesus made it very plain and clear to us in His word and we find this same teaching throughout God�s word, that there are certain rule and things we MUST do to prove that we are of His flock.. So let�s take a look at what Jesus is saying here: John 10. Jesus answered, �I did tell you, but you do not believe. The works I do in my Father�s name testify about me, but you do not believe because you are not my sheep. My sheep LISTEN to my voice; I know them, and they FOLLOW ME."
Jesus says to those who question His authority and are in doubt, He says that �The works I do in my Father�s name testify about me,� We have been told that faith comes by hearing and hearing the word of God in Romans 10, Jesus also has let it be known in this very same chapter that He was sent of His Father and everything He does, The Father has given to Him the power and authority to do, so this lets us know that God Himself was His witness and testimony of who Jesus is/was yet the people and many do today fail to believe. Jesus goes on to tells us that, �but you do not believe because you are not my sheep� which means those who do not believe in Jesus are not of His flock, because if a person believed in Jesus they would know what He has spoken is from God, and would be followers of Him in obedience.
Its very hard to follow a person you do not believe in. no one can follows the gospel without first hearing it and have faith to believe that it is of God. A person can�t say they believe in God yet do not believe in His Son Jesus Christ. A person can�t say they believe in Jesus Christ without first hearing the gospel message God has spoken through and about His Son and not follow Him in all things including character.
Jesus goes on to explain why He knows they are not of His flock... just as a mother or father knows their children walk, talk, and character, because of the connection, and a child knows these things about their parents as well.. Jesus says , if you are of my flock, my children, my followers as believers, you would know the things I speak are true and you would hear my voice and listen to what I have told you about myself. A child knows the voice of their parents, because of close association, its inborn in them. A baby knows the voice of its mother no matter how another woman tries to do to comfort or imitate it and soothe the crying baby, when its crying, but when a mother or father walks into the room, and speaks, the child hears and listens to the voice and knows this is mom or dad.. Jesus says: My sheep LISTEN to my voice; I know them, and they FOLLOW ME."
So how does a child of God hears and listen, and follows the voice of Jesus?... through the reading of the word which brings about faith to believe, and knows that what is spoken is the voice of God, and when a person stays in the word as we are told to do, we learn to know the voice of God if spoken by others and are able to discern if what is spoken is indeed of God or man�s voice.
It is in a person�s spirit and the Holy Spirit of God confirms as a witness that what is spoken is of God. This is why we are admonished and exhorted to stay in the word and delight ourselves in the Word, or else how will we know God's voice?... Psalm 1 says:1 Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law (gospel) of the LORD, and who meditates on his law day and night. That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither� whatever they do prospers.
4 Not so the wicked! They are like chaff that the wind blows away. Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous. For the LORD watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked leads to destruction.
We are told to delight ourselves in the word of God, and meditate in His word, because this is the only way we can hear and know the voice of God and not fall as the wicked who refuses to listen adn stay or follow what God commands, and have faith to believe what God has spoken about His Son Jesus Christ.
The other psrt of this is that Jesus says that His sheep FOLLOWS HIM. Which lets us know that if as believers we stay in the Word of Truth as we are told day and night and we will heed/hear what God speaks, we will have rivers of water flowing from on the inside of us in spiritual wisdom, knowledge and understanding of who God is thorugh Jesus and we have no problems obeying what we have been commanded to do.
I was taught in high school that here are four important parts to communication that many don�t understand, and Jesus speak to us these things hearing lsitening and thinking and following, using our ears or eyes and is evident throughout the Old and New Testament . (1) we must first HEAR OR SEE what is being said or done with clarity (2) LISTEN carefully to what has been SAID OR SEEN (3) PROPERLY PROCESS or INTERPRETATE what has been said or seen (4) RESOND ACCORDINGLY to what has been said or seen through appilcation.
Therefore, we must really Hear and listen to the voice of God that speaks to us in His word,
Hearing and listening and following Christ in obedience is a sign that a person is a sheep of the flock of Jesus Christ. It has nothing to do with a person individual gifts, because ther is no such things as individual gofits from God to use as we plase, All good and perfect gifts come from God to be used for His glory, and a follower of Christ hears, listens, and follows the voice of Jesus in the use of these gifts for the glory of the Father not his/her own personal good pleasure, if they are true sheep of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Being a follower of Christ is not an individual matter, it�s a God matter unto obedience. Jesus says, we are not of His sheep because He loved us, but we are of His sheep because we love Him in obedience.
Jesus says, If you love me as you say you do, then keep my commandments and follow me. Otherwise, as Jesus also says, when you say you love me, and you do not follow my teachings, then you are only giving me lip service and not heart service. If you live in disobedience and do not follow Jesus in obedience or stay in His word of truth, how can one say they are a sheep of Jesus Christ? How can you hear and listen and know the voice of God?
I do know one thing though. Whether to say that a Christian questioning God, or His Word is unbelief or doubt is not my part to state because only God knows. But it is Scriptural to ask, and to seek, and continue to search His word for answers because many a faithful prophet and patriarch has been documented to doing such a thing in our beloved Word or God, the Bible. So, with that being said, I would hesitate to call into question, or doubt one's faith, or belief in Christ knowing that they still are searching the Scriptures. Because as you well know, my sister, through the Word the faith comes. And since our Lord ordered us to search the Scriptures, whether we believe they make us think that we have eternal life, it is the very Scriptures that testify of Him. And only our Lord Jesus Christ, and He alone, can increase our faith and His voice is being heard through the Word regardless of the doubt we may have towards the Christian who doesn't hear a certain pastor's words. Because in the end, the Chief Pastor has spoken and all who hear His voice will be separated to the left and to the right. The ones who listened will put on one side and the ones who spoke it will be put to another. And whom will be accepted will be up to our Lord to decide, so until then, I will accept, and love all who proclaim on the Lord, and don't because He loves them just as much as He loves me.
And that is why I love Him so. Because He loved me before the foundation of the world and will continue to love me at the and of it. He is an amazing and all mighty God and I am in awe of His love and compassion. His mercies are never ending and continue to come and cover everyone with it like the waves of the sea whether they choose to see it or not.
May the Lord Jesus be the first thought of your waking and the last thought of your slumber, my sister.
Oooooppps! I forgot to delete the last half of what Agapeton said from my comments before posting.:zzzz:
Anywayzzz this is what Agapeton said: I do know one thing though. Whether to say that a Christian questioning God, or His Word is unbelief or doubt is not my part to state because only God knows. But it is Scriptural to ask, and to seek, and continue to search His word for answers because many a faithful prophet and patriarch has been documented to doing such a thing in our beloved Word or God, the Bible. So, with that being said, I would hesitate to call into question, or doubt one's faith, or belief in Christ knowing that they still are searching the Scriptures. Because as you well know, my sister, through the Word the faith comes. And since our Lord ordered us to search the Scriptures, whether we believe they make us think that we have eternal life, it is the very Scriptures that testify of Him. And only our Lord Jesus Christ, and He alone, can increase our faith and His voice is being heard through the Word regardless of the doubt we may have towards the Christian who doesn't hear a certain pastor's words. Because in the end, the Chief Pastor has spoken and all who hear His voice will be separated to the left and to the right. The ones who listened will put on one side and the ones who spoke it will be put to another. And whom will be accepted will be up to our Lord to decide, so until then, I will accept, and love all who proclaim on the Lord, and don't because He loves them just as much as He loves meAnd that is why I love Him so. Because He loved me before the foundation of the world and will continue to love me at the and of it. He is an amazing and all mighty God and I am in awe of His love and compassion. His mercies are never ending and continue to come and cover everyone with it like the waves of the sea whether they choose to see it or not.
May the Lord Jesus be the first thought of your waking and the last thought of your slumber, my sister.
My first part of the statement that ET responded to was: ET, I don't know if all that you said can be proved by the Word, and nor do I dispute it. But I do know that Christ draws as close to us as we draw close to Him, and that we must all continue to do this individually as He is pleased in us alone. To me, prescribing one certain form of direction too many believers is taking away their individual gifts that Christ has enabled and spoken into them, so I chose not to impose what others must do to stay in Christ just as much as I accuse, or state what other Christians believe, or don't believe in, and of Him because I am no discerner of hearts as our Lord Jesus is.
Ella returned with: Agapeton, there is no prescriptions being given out in place of the Word of Truth. Its not about what anyone imposes on others, its what the Word of God says and commands of us as believers, and Jesus Himself has provided for us who are called by His name that we MUST do in order to stay connected to Him.
ME: I agree, sister, and that is why I said it in the matter that I did. Christ speaks and reveals Himself to the individual believer in how ever manner that the individual seeks Him THROUGH HIS WORD. I did not dispute you in any way.
ET further continues with: Jesus made it very plain and clear to us in His word and we find this same teaching throughout God�s word, that there are certain rule and things we MUST do to prove that we are of His flock..
ME: The only rule that he set for us believers was to love one another in John 13: 34-35. If that is there is a rule to go be to prove our being part of His flock then it is to love one another as He loved us.
Joh 13:34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.
Joh 13:35 By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another."
As for the rest you have said, sister, it is all well and good but the fact that Jesus was speaking to a set of people who were searching and wondering whether He was the Christ while some believed and some didn't is an evident fact in the whole chapter you are using. What you are forgetting to see is that ANYONE WHO IS A BELIEVER IN CHRIST AND IS STILL ASKING, SEEKING, AND SEARCHING THE SCRIPTURES is not doubting, challenging His authority or being disobedient to Him. Be cause as you well know, the Scriptures say that one must come to him already in belief. So if one is reading the Scriptures and has, and does call upon the name of Christ, then that person is being taught by God as the Scriptures do declare. And if this is so, then God's Word will do what it is intended to do without any influence from man because the Scriptures say that the anointing that God has given will teach the man that searches. No man is responsible, or capable to teach another man into seeing what the Scriptures say, just as much as as is true about another man discerning whether can discern the heart of another. Only God can do this.
As you have learned in school at a very early age about communication the same things can be said about STUDYING the Word of God by applying the SAME TOOLS we used in schools to make us understand things such as history, customs, and context of what was being presented by the author. Those tools are also what one uses to search the Scriptures with. Those 5 W's and H's still apply when reading God's Word in order to discern truths of what went on during the time of the Jews and the time of those were written to through the words and His Spirit guiding the hands of the men that wrote them. If anyone who is seeking Him in His word, then God will show them the truth as He has promised. To try to say otherwise is denying His power and annulling His Word and His Spirit into nothingness because you essentially are saying that no man can be taught by God in His truths of Scripture without man's guidance.
Again, I am to love all in and out of Christ the same way He loved me. And that is my goal to please Him and show Him that I love Him because everything that i have is His and came from Him and will be used by Him for Him through Him to glorify Him. Anything else is just legalism and man appointed proofs on showing others of what they have accomplished of themselves which is essentially boasting without ever really coming to the saving realization of what "I desire mercy and not sacrifice" means.
May the Lord keep you in His ever abounding Love and mercy which is in Christ, my sister.
1 Corinthians 2:14 "But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand, because they are spiritually appraised"
The Spirit of God is the voice of God, only those in obedience to the word will be able to listen to him to understand and accept His guidiance.
Effective communication is mastering the art of listening before we can hear, before we can understand.
Listen to the Spirit.
Hear the Spirit.
Understand the Spirit.
IF WE ARE IN THE SPIRIT.
May the Holy Spirit continue to guide and teach us how to capture our thoughts to the obedience of Christ.
Manscottell Posted: 1 Corinthians 2:14 "But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand, because they are spiritually appraised"
Manscottell shared: The Spirit of God is the voice of God, only those in obedience to the word will be able to listen to him to understand and accept His guidiance.
Effective communication is mastering the art of listening before we can hear, before we can understand. Listen to the Spirit. Hear the Spirit. Understand the Spirit. IF WE ARE IN THE SPIRIT. May the Holy Spirit continue to guide and teach us how to capture our thoughts to the obedience of Christ.
ME: Brother Scott, I agree that the natural man, that is the non-believer in Christ, as to whom this particular verse is pointing to (1 Cor 2:8), but I would caution you to use it in context, because all that come to Christ and search his Word are His as the our Lord has called them and keeps them in His hands and gives them His Mind (1 Cor. 2:16).
You yourself know that the believer is called before he has even heard the voice of God by divine election and we on earth cannot discern the where the wind comes from or goes and such is the way with discerning WHOM has been born of the Holy Spirit (John 3:8).
So with that being said, we cannot discern who is not doing God's will or who isn't for even the Pharaoh did according to God's will in order to manifest God's glory upon the earth and to us through His Word by his hardening of his heart. And with that, I will complete my statement to all with this post by saying that God uses everything for His purpose be they obedient or not and our only goal is to love Him and the rest of the World by telling, and emulating the same type of love that he has freely and so undeservedly given us in spite of what we have done in the past, and continue to to well into the future for the obedience He asks is pure faith in Him.
The only one who knows and will separate us from the goats and the sheep in our Lord. And with that being said, we are to love all as He first loved us. Let the natural man separate and condemn themselves to death while we gather together and give and speak life to ourselves and everyone else we meet. For only one can kill the body and soul and we should all fear Him who can and not anyone else who thinks they can shut up heaven for the rest as the close minded pharisee did in Jesus day.
Scott shared : May the Holy Spirit continue to guide and teach us how to capture our thoughts to the obedience of Christ.
ME: Amen! May we all die to ourselves daily so that our Lord's love may increase in us more.
Gal 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
May the Love that we have been freely given be the essence that drives us all into wanting others to join that same green pasture.
Any one that doubts the word of God is a natural man and a non believer. Jesus said His sheep hear His voice and follow Him. the Pharisses they know the word but failed to recognized His voice, so they did not follow Christ. Knowing the word and believing the word are two different things. May the Spirit renew our mind and open up our understanding and be able to recognised His voice so that we can do His will.
Scott shared: The word of God is not complicated we are.
ME: I agree. That is why we men complicate the simplicity of of Salvation through Christ by adding more stipulations to John 3:16-18 than what it says.
Joh 3:16 "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
Joh 3:17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.
Joh 3:18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.
