The close doors are in the context, God wants sincere prayers to Him not showy prayer for others to see or heard to be impressed. Sincere prayer means honest prayer where many times it's just simple prayers, prayers that may not sound churchy or full of church lingo, at time it may sound silly or prayers that is un-eloquent. As long as your prayers are sincere, it's a prayer...even a groan is a prayer.

Close door doesn't mean we must pray behind close doors all the time else what about your Friday/Wed Prayer meet in Church? I mean everyone there is expected to pray, you don't suddenly go in a private room to pray alone and what about time of emergency, time of sudden distress where there are no private room to pray?

But the principal of increasing one Faith has to do with spoken words and Jesus tells us to "say it out" or voice it out against our mountain. It's in Luke 17:5-6 and Matthew 17:20.

And Yes you're right What make things happen is the one who is behind our prayers, God where our Faith hooks on but still "spoken words" is what Jesus said about vocalizing it out is in those verses., It's the principal of God's kingdom.

Luke 17:5-6 (NIV) - 5 The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!” 6 And the Lord said, “If you had faith like a mustard seed, you would say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and be planted in the sea’; and it would obey you.

Matthew 17:20 (NIV) - He replied, "Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you."

The word say in the Greek is "ereó" which means (denoting speech in progress), (a) I say, speak; I mean, mention, tell, (b) I call, name, especially in the pass., © I tell, command.

This post has been edited by unknown warrior: Jul 23 2017, 10:36 PM

Hi, I haven't got to know you so...I'm might be presuming somethings.

I think it's more than prayer, it has to do with life itself.

Well, there's basically 2 opposing forces of 2 different world/kingdom that's competing for your Life. It all depends on where you put your heart in. If you spend your life chasing after the things of this world, you need to know, this world is designed to hinder the interest of God and to make God elusive in many ways.

It's the powers behind that system that's causing this.

You can pray a simple prayer for God to help you see this and to help you understand God...it may sound like an ironic prayer but God does answer such prayers.

Thanks but...I don't know whether it'll work, I mean, I asked for signs, and I prayed many, many times, only to feel I'm drifting further apart. I'm not even sure if God is deliberately doing this to punish me, or if He wants me to be patient, or whether I wasn't praying correctly, or whether if, anything. I mean I needed only 1 sign, but I'm not even sure if they are signs or not. I don't understand God just wouldn't talk straight to me...it's just, I dunno, it hurts when you want someone to respond, but you can't hear them at all no matter how much you want to.

Perhaps you have a wrong view/understanding of God that's hindering your prayer...I call it wrong belief system or in Bible lingo, wrong sort of faith.

First you need to establish, God is not out to punish you. There are many verses that speaks of this. One such example.

2 Corinthians 5:18-19 (NIV) - All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation.

See the word there "not counting"? That is an accounting word in definition in the greek. (NT was recorded in Greek) So you need to get erroneous understanding out of your system.

Second we need to understand, we cannot force our view/expectation what we think about God, that God must react in the way of our view/expectation. I give you 1 example, there are Christians who tell me today God no longer work healing because the way people heal is not the same as in the Bible, they will quote in the Bible everyone was healed instantly so they expect the same to happen today.....the argument is that today's healing are slow...they take time, so it's natural body healing and it's not from God some may go as far as to say it's from from the devil if someone says God still heals today.

I can easily debunk that sort of reasoning, during the Bible time, majority of the noted Man/Woman of God could easily hear the audible voice of God, so if today we don't hear the same "audible" voice of God, like Moses did,, like Elijah did, like Jonah did, like Paul and all the disciples did then how? then does it mean the Christian life is no longer valid, God ceased to exist or no longer speaks today? Do you see how flawed our own reasoning can be?

Third, God has instituted Faith as the core style of the Christian Life. Without Faith it's impossible to please God. Is Faith meant to be used only once or twice when we need God? No, Faith is to be used daily, the rest of our Christian Life until we die. If we give up on faith along the way, we have not complete what God require of us as Christians. You have seen the notable great Man of Women of God, how God move mightily in their life. How God responded to them so consistently. Do you think they had it easy? No, they went through the same training which I believe you need to go through. Without Faith, our Christian life is incomplete.

I've always propagated robust faith, stubborn faith or aggressive Faith if you will, because I believe some of you needed it to understand and see God move.

To further elaborate, God the father reside in the 3rd Heaven (highest Heaven) and Lord Jesus Christ has risen and was taken up, now resides in the same place as Father God in Heaven. God has given us his 3rd trinity part...the Holy Spirit to be with us here on Earth. This is how God communicates with us, through his Holy Spirit, through his word in the Bible. And God has made it in such a way because He instituted Faith as the core living of the Christian Life. If God were to openly speaks, then Faith is no longer required and that would contradict what He has instituted for everyone.

And why Faith? So that everyone has equal opportunity to know God, everyone will have equal ground because anyone from the disabled to the rich can learn to believe. If God were to instituted strict adherence to his laws so that only those who successfully adhere then He will only speak, then not everyone can do that. It would not be fair of God, would it?

And about signs. When you asked in Faith for God to show you a sign, it may be within a short time or a long time. Whichever it is, you can see the same signal being given to you from various people, from your environment..whatever it is, you will know in your spirit..that there is a peace and you're not troubled in seeing the same thing being spoken through different vessel (people or environment, things). If you have unrest and no peace about it, then that is not a sign from God. It could also be a "NO" as your answer because God may have something else in mind for you.

What does it mean by 'working out your faith in fear and trembling'? Some Christians/Catholics believe that nobody truly knows if they're saved until they die. When you ask them why, that's what they will quote.

There has been a misconception about justification and sanctification for many decades now.

Christians have been preaching cheap gospel, ie believe in Jesus and you will go to heaven.

But they do not take into account where Jesus said to count the cost, take up your cross and follow me, hate the world etc. if you want to follow Him.

That is why they cannot make sense of verses like working out your salvation etc.

In short, when you come to follow Jesus (justification) you need to be a disciple of Him, you have to be OBEDIENT to Him, OBEY what He says, be prepared to die for Him, and the gospel(sanctification)

The true saving faith is guaranteed when you obey Him. (Parable of the sower, parable of the wheat and tares)

Everything else just does not cut it.

Pick up a book by John Macarthur titled The Gospel according to Jesus and you will understand this fully.

This post has been edited by thomasthai: Jul 27 2017, 08:20 AM

Work it out!

Philippians 2:12 (NIV) - Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed--not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling,

There's a question that some may asked, why do we need to work out our salvation with fear and trembling? Does it mean we don't know if we are actually saved therefore we need work for our salvation and because we are not save, we need to be in fear and quake in trembling? I will address this from Bible perspective.

Philippians 2:12in the NIV started with a "therefore" so it means I have to read the preceding verse before this, to understand and apparently Philippians 2:1 also started with a therefore, so it means I have to backtrack to Philippians 1 and read it before I can understand Philippians 2. In Philippians 1 Apostle Paul was talking about his struggle between staying here on earth or to be with our Lord Jesus Christ. This give us insight of Paul choosing getting ready to die. Some people purported that to be a Christian is so serious, we need to be serious with everyone, exhibiting hardcore trait because we need to be ready to be martyred. Truth is Paul choosed, it was his willing choice not enforce by, in fact He mention it is "far better to be with Christ" and yet Paul understood love. If you meet such ignorant Christians exhibiting a preacher of doom trait, always fighting and being bitter with others, ignore such people, they are ignorant of the gospel giving a bad testimony to Christ. However the point is, Paul write in a way affirming He was already saved. Nobody would be willing to die if he is not convinced of the person he is to die for. Look at verse 28 of Philippians 1...the phrase "..that you will be saved—and that by God"

Now In Philippians 1, Paul was exhorting us, to conduct ourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ, meaning watch your character and conduct. In Philippians 2, Paul started off by saying... if you have anything encouraging from being united with Christ, meaning knowing that you are already saved (hence "being united") therefore think like how Christ think and being one in spirit and of one mind with another brethren.

In Simple words, since you are already saved, start acting like one! And we come to the main verse of our devotion today, work out your salvation with fear or trembling. It is to start having a goal and the to be convinced, because you are saved, be how God wants you to be...humble, consider others better than yourself, do nothing out of selfish vanity, etc. Work out the life of how one who is saved (hence the meaning work out your salvation) and do it with fear and trembling, meaning do it with reverent fear of God and with joy of trembling not horror of trembling. Where do we get this meaning? Never interpret the meaning of the word of the bible on your own, always let the Bible define it's meaning. Bible interpret Bible. If you look at Psalm 2:11, this is the most accurate to help understand why Paul always uses the phrase "with fear and trembling" in his letters.

The words and the context used in the Bible always assures us of our Salvation, never the opposite. If you look at verse 13 of Philippians 2, it says:

for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.. How can you not be saved and yet God works in you..remember the context here is "IN YOU" meaning referring to the work of the Holy Spirit which again I must re-iterate how can you not be saved and yet have the Holy Spirit?

In Summary, the Bible is saying Work out your salvation because you are saved, not work out your salvation in order to be saved as you've seen in context of what was explained.

Will you not be assured that you are indeed Saved by the Grace of God?

God Bless


This post has been edited by unknown warrior: Jul 27 2017, 10:35 AM

Eh any news of the guy who got really sick? is he ok?

"Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, “Oh, that you would bless me
and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me, and keep me from
harm so that I will be free from pain.” And God granted his request."
1 Chronicles 4:10 (NIV)

This prayer definitely debunks a lot of theology teaching out there.
Best of all God granted that prayer. Some Christians just don't like it that we have a God who loves to prosper his children.

This post has been edited by unknown warrior: Jul 31 2017, 09:15 AM

I thought they would argue that it's in the past era?

For me past or present is not the point.

What's important is that God hates sin and doesn't condone something that is wrong.
Yet God answered that prayer. If something that is deemed wrong in the past, would have been wrong in the present imo.

Jabez prayed a prayer many would deemed as something selfish.

"God Bless me and enlarge the boundary of my possession." That is like asking God to prosper the person and also to spare the person for "pain" of life.

I think some people would flip at this sort of prayer and yet that was what it was.

I'm want to destroy the argument that praying for prosperity is wrong.

before someone else mouth start to foam...this is not asking God for millions of dollars.
*I'm just going to stop here and see reactions from far.

This post has been edited by unknown warrior: Jul 31 2017, 04:36 PM

I guess folks are busy.

How does prophecy work? I had one saying that I'll be a teacher. Back then i believed it because i was a teacher in training but now... Not a teacher anymore.

What does it mean to be a teaher too? Is it going to be something i never expect or? I mean, nobody expected Jesus' story to turn out like it did.

I just had a dream that i was tutoring kids. Sakit hati when i woke up and it turns out to be all a dream.

5 Reasons The “Prosperity Gospel” Is Actually A Non-Christian Religion
April 28, 2017 by Benjamin L. Corey



Does being a good and faithful Christian result in good health, a long life, having an abundance of possessions, and material wealth?

That’s the subtle/not so subtle belief of a brand of Christianity that’s often called the “prosperity gospel.”
There is a growing number of Christians who believe that– a shocking amount, actually. And not just in the United States, either– this is a growing belief around the world. I think this is happening in large part because charismatic Christianity is the fastest growing brand of Christianity in many places, and the prosperity gospel is something that seems to have infected charismatic circles more than others.
While I believe we as Christians ought be careful about declaring who is in and who is out (I feel the wrath of the heretic hunters, so I know what that’s like), when it comes to this belief system that associates being a good Christian with materialism, health, and wealth, we cannot be silent or tip-toe over words: the prosperity gospel is completely outside the Christian religion. It’s not Christianity, period.
Here’s 5 reasons why:


5. The prosperity gospel encourages us to be money focused instead of people focused.
Within the prosperity movement, the ultimate goal is how to get from here (lack of material wealth) to there (an abundance of material wealth).
This places the ultimate focus of this religion on materialism– but that’s not what Christianity is focused on.
Christianity is a religion that is focused on other people– how to love other people, how to disciple other people in the ways of Jesus, and how to be the tangible agent of God in the lives of others. Nothing about true Christianity is about self– in fact, Jesus said to become a Christian you actually had to die to self.


4. The prosperity gospel promotes a performance based religion.
Christianity is not a religion about performance, but the prosperity gospel is all about performance.
The prosperity gospel teaches that if you do X, Y, and Z (one of them usually involves sending money into a guy on TV) that you will get more in return (a concept they call “sowing”). This paradigm sees God’s favor as something you earn by doing, instead of something you receive freely by God’s grace alone.
In fact, Jesus blew this concept out of the water when he described God’s love and favor as being like the rain which falls upon those who do good and those who do evil. He even went on to say that God is actually kind to the wicked.
But instead of seeing God’s love and blessing as something freely given through his grace, the prosperity gospel associates God’s favor with right behavior, and interprets hard times as God holding back his favor. But according to the Bible, none of that is true.


3. The prosperity gospel promotes one of the most frequently condemned sins in Scripture: greed.
The prosperity gospel is a gospel of more, and that completely stands against what Christianity is about.
One of the most frequently condemned sins in scripture is that of greed, even going so far as to say that greed is idolatry. In fact, the apostle Paul found greed to be such a repulsive form of idolatry that he commanded Christians to refuse to even share meals with someone who claimed to be Christian, but was greedy.
Instead, the Christian message is one of learning to be content with what you have. In the 10 Commandments we’re taught to not “covet” which is the same as saying, “thou shalt be content with what you have.” Again, Paul talks about this and recognizes that life will have cycles where you have plenty, and cycles where you don’t have enough, but that what God wants for us in all those places is to be content with what we have.
Bottom line: if you have what you need, but still want more– especially while others go without– you are greedy, and this sin is biblically considered wickedness, even if modern society (and Americanized Christianity) excuses it.


2. The prosperity gospel promotes elitism among the body of Christ.
One of the central beliefs of Christianity is that we are all on an equal playing field in God’s eyes. We are all created in the image of God and have unsurpassable worth, so much so that Jesus died for us. For those of us who are Christians, the Bible says we are all part of “one body” and that we are equal. However, the prosperity gospel has a way of creating an elite status of Christians– because if you’re really rich, it must be because you’re doing it better than everyone else.
Case in point: a few years ago prosperity preachers Kenneth Copeland and Jesse Duplantis argued that they needed to fly in private jets because flying commercial on an airline was like getting in a “long tube with a bunch of demons.” They also lamented how annoying it would be for people to come up to them and ask for prayer… thus, they “need” to fly in private jets.
This kind of disgusting elitism is not just outside of Christianity, it’s opposed to Christianity. It in no way reflects the homeless Jesus who hung out with the worst of sinners.



1. The prosperity gospel perverts God’s purpose in material blessing.
Can or does God bless with material excess? Certainly! The Bible says that every good and perfect gift we receive comes from God. But the prosperity gospel forgets that, in occasions where God blesses someone with financial or material excess, that blessing comes with a specific purpose: to bless others.
When God gives us more than what we need, he does so in the hopes that we will honor him by sharing it with others who don’t have enough. The early church in the book of Acts actually founded the earliest Christian community on this premise– when they had more than needed, they shared their wealth so that there were “no poor among them.”
The idea that God gives some people more than what they need so that they can enjoy the high-life of luxury while people around them die of hunger and illness, is a disgusting perversion of the actual Gospel.
…
There’s plenty of things that are killing the church today, but one of the biggest things killing the church is the rise of a false, anti-Christ religion that so many people mistakenly believe is part of Christianity.
Let me be blunt: the prosperity gospel and those who preach it are not part of the Christian religion. They just made up their own religion of materialism and are falsely calling it “Christian.”

I smells the entire article was plot twisted preaching of prosperity leads to materialism.

Was it, that somebody just said it, instead of being prophesied by someone telling you it's from God?

Romans 8:26 (NLT) - And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don't know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words.

It's interesting the word Help in the Greek = sunantilambanomai which means: lend a hand along with, take interest in (a thing) along with (others), assist jointly to perform some task, cooperate with, take my share in, help, aid.

Word study defines it like this: to give assistance with full initiative

How is it the Holy Spirit helps us to pray with full initiative and with groans that's too deep for word? Remember the point here is that the H.S is the one taking the full initiative leading us in prayer with groans that cannot be expressed. And the expression is through our vocalising..that is what it means assist jointly or lend a hand along with.

Let's assume for a moment praying in tongues is not what is meant here...how does this happen for the believer? If anyone were to see the believer praying in such spirit would be shocked to think he's mental isn't it?

Think about it. Let me know your thoughts you Anti-Speaking in tongue denomination. What does this verse means?

This post has been edited by unknown warrior: Aug 2 2017, 01:37 PM

Hello! Just dropping by, used to lurk sometime back spending lots of time reading the squabbles. May or may not lurk again depending on how active I am on LYN ;D Happy fellowship-ing and GBU all.

thank you bro. GB.

???

I don't understand what mean. If it's just an opinion? Nah. It's supposed to be from God.

Well if you believe it's from God then hold on to it.

It can come true in the future even if you don't feel like it may.

We can't predict the future.