Is This Like You

[Cage]

Originally Posted by Prober

I can really identify with this!

There are so many things I'd like to say on many different threads. And before I can type them, I think "am I responding for that person's good or to increase the appearance of my own wisdom".

If anything I say can push someone away from God, it's not worth saying.

Prober, when you are speaking to your brothers and sisters in Christ, do you refrain from speaking Biblicaly, or do you show what's been revealed to you, so they too might see what you see?

To hold back that which is good, is to deny your station as a follower of Christ. The Spirit convicts us all, and it is good when it happens because it can lead us to God's will. It is up to each individual to take from it what they can, I think. Ephesians is a wonderful book that I've been reading lately, and I just wanted to share what I came to realize.


btw, I Loved the Hymn


~James~

[path_of_one]

Thank you for this.

I so often struggle with what I should share and what I shouldn't. Sometimes it's more that I feel someone else out there needs it than the person I'm talking with, which is even more difficult to figure out in terms of how to respond, how to say things...

It's much easier for me to post on the sort of "love-fest" kind of threads than the one's that spark disagreement or debate, because it is so hard to be honest about one's beliefs sometimes and yet also try to encourage others in their own path (instead of coming across like you think you know the answer). That's one of my biggest struggles here- how much to explain my own beliefs and present my own faith versus how much to just let go because of where that could lead for someone else.

I guess it's always important to remember it's a process, a journey. I'm a work incomplete, and the doubt and struggle and sometimes erroneous response (or worse, when our pride or fear gets in the way- which it does for all of us sometimes, I bet, no matter how hard we try and our spirit is wrong in the response)... it all leads to humility which is where I need to be in the first place.

Lovely poem, by the way... and the hymn.

[wil]

Originally Posted by path_of_one

It's much easier for me to post on the sort of "love-fest" kind of threads than the one's that spark disagreement or debate, because it is so hard to be honest about one's beliefs sometimes and yet also try to encourage others in their own path

Isn't it funny how the 'love-fest' threads also find some debate??

Awesome poem...love how it forced me to the bible as well...don't give me the answer..make me look it up!

Incredible thinking and thought, thank you for the nudge and as I've told all of you before...when you see me wandering off the path, you are welcome to push pull or cajole to help me back. This is one that I will be sharing, spirit is such a blessing to use you to provide us with this reminder.

Great time of year for new beginnings....for new thought and understanding to be born within...hopefully all of us have room in the inn for this!

[Quahom1]

Originally Posted by Dondi

On the other hand, Jesus did not often have kind words to say to certain folks He came into contact with. Matthew 23 comes to mind with the "woes" to the scribes and Pharisees.

Nor did Jesus' disciples on occasion. Recall the reaction to Stephen's retort in Acts 7:51-54:

"Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye.
Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain them which shewed before of the coming of the Just One; of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murderers:
Who have received the law by the disposition of angels, and have not kept it. When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth."

What say you to that?

"To everything there is a season..., every way, a reason" Love is not always nice. But it is always, for the best for others.

Sorry InLove, didn't see that I duplicated your thought until after I posted.

[Prober]

Originally Posted by Cage

Prober, when you are speaking to your brothers and sisters in Christ, do you refrain from speaking Biblicaly, or do you show what's been revealed to you, so they too might see what you see?

To hold back that which is good, is to deny your station as a follower of Christ. The Spirit convicts us all, and it is good when it happens because it can lead us to God's will. It is up to each individual to take from it what they can, I think. Ephesians is a wonderful book that I've been reading lately, and I just wanted to share what I came to realize.


btw, I Loved the Hymn


~James~

When the watchman on the wall blows the trumpet, he's delivered his own soul.

I like to share. When it appears that my brother or sister already knows what I am saying, but chooses to ignore or discount it, I can let it go. It may be that I am wrong, and, at any rate, I must take the beam from my own eye before bludgeoning the listener to remove their mote.

My challenge is having the courage to blow the trumpet loud enough (or get a bigger trumpet).

[Quahom1]

Originally Posted by Prober

When the watchman on the wall blows the trumpet, he's delivered his own soul.

I like to share. When it appears that my brother or sister already knows what I am saying, but chooses to ignore or discount it, I can let it go. It may be that I am wrong, and, at any rate, I must take the beam from my own eye before bludgeoning the listener to remove their mote.

My challenge is having the courage to blow the trumpet loud enough (or get a bigger trumpet).

Good point. The watchman and trumpeter is the first one to get shot...better make the first breath count when sounding out.

[Cage]

Originally Posted by Prober

When the watchman on the wall blows the trumpet, he's delivered his own soul.

I like to share. When it appears that my brother or sister already knows what I am saying, but chooses to ignore or discount it, I can let it go. It may be that I am wrong, and, at any rate, I must take the beam from my own eye before bludgeoning the listener to remove their mote.

My challenge is having the courage to blow the trumpet loud enough (or get a bigger trumpet).

I understand what you're saying but consider that all we can do in Christ is share what we've been given. [We] cannot remove anything from anyone, and that's the beam I think Jesus is talking about. [To think that we can] The Holy Spirit that dwells in us does the work, and when you realize all we have and all we've gained comes from God and not of our own works, that is when you can see clearly and know that all you can do is [share].

Matthew 7

1. Judge not, that ye be not judged.
2. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.
3. And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?
4. Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye?
5. Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye.

We all have our faults, and if we restrained our voice in "fear" of that passage, we could NEVER speak, as we will always have our own demons, but that's not the beam. The Beam is attempting to do the work of the Holy Spirit. We can do nothing apart from God, and when we change, it is not by our own works, but by the Spirit that dwells within.

We are just mouthpieces for Christ, and it is not for us to judge anothers "mote", but to build them up with biblical teachings, and share our own revelations, and then to simply let the Spirit to do the work in them as it did in us. We ought to have the courage to speak up, though.

Simply put, don't push, but [share], and realize that you can do nothing [but] share and know that it is the Spirit that convicts and heals.

Did that make any sense at all? We can't change others, only God can do that. We can't even change ourselves, only God can. All we can do is share our thoughts and revelations that were given by God, and hope the Spirit will convict and lead others to this realization. That's my view, anyway . . .feel free to disagree.


btw, when I posted the rhyme it was because I wanted to share my experience, and not because I was judging, or trying to bludgeon others. Not that you were suggesting that, I just wanted to make that clear.


~James~

[Prober]

Originally Posted by Quahom1

Good point. The watchman and trumpeter is the first one to get shot...better make the first breath count when sounding out.

Quite so...

And better not blow wolf

[Prober]

Originally Posted by Cage

We all have our faults, and if we restrained our voice in "fear" of that passage, we could NEVER speak, as we will always have our own demons, but that's not the beam. The Beam is attempting to do the work of the Holy Spirit. We can do nothing apart from God, and when we change, it is not by our own works, but by the Spirit that dwells within.

I don't use the passage as an excuse out of fear. I use it to remind myself to be humble and blow God's horn instead of my own.

[Cage]

Originally Posted by Prober

I don't use the passage as an excuse out of fear. I use it to remind myself to be humble and blow God's horn instead of my own.

How do we exalt God w/o first experiencing him in our lives? Sometimes a testimony is good, and it's hard to do this [share our revelations] w/o coming off a bit high minded to others, lol! Even so, I think poetry is a great medium to touch the heart, and I think/know we should use our talents/gifts to lead others towards God will no matter what others might think of us for doing so.


We shouldn't be in fear of coming off high minded to some, as others will see us for what we are, and where we are coming from.


Much Love,


~James~

[Prober]

Originally Posted by Cage

How do we exalt God w/o first experiencing him in our lives? Sometimes a testimony is good, and it's hard to do this [share our revelations] w/o coming off a bit high minded to others, lol! Even so, I think poetry is a great medium to touch the heart, and I think/know we should use our talents/gifts to lead others towards God will no matter what others might think of us for doing so.


We shouldn't be in fear of coming off high minded to some, as others will see us for what we are, and where we are coming from.


Much Love,


~James~

I certainly agree with your sentiment. Thanks.