Religious people and painful absence of spring of living water

On 2016-03-302016-03-30 By GuestspeakerIn Christianity, God the Father - Eternal Jehovah, Jeshua - Jesus Christ Son of God, Relationship & Connection, Religion & Church21 Comments

Religious people often are looking for their gods or for The God and may find those gods or God useful for obtaining things in life. It is said that

Christians find God beautiful and knowing Him is the chief good they seek. {Gazing Upon True Beauty}

Lots of those people who call themselves Christian do not see the spiritual lifeline that will keep them from giving their heart to lesser loves and other beauties that will ultimately lead them into bondage, misery, and despair.

With most of those calling themselves Christian there is a painful absence of the spring of the living water, welling up in the lives of many walking around on this earth.

The fundamental reason why is that we have obeyed our thirst rather than embracing God’s gift. {Image is Nothing…Thirst is Everything…Obey Your Thirst}

Most Christians do not listen to the words of Jesus or do not want to hear what he says about his relationship with his heavenly Father. They prefer to listen to the false teachings of those who call themselves theologians and twist the words of the Holy Scriptures.

To cherish to commend gave on 2016 March 18 a sound definition from the British-born Canadian Christian theologian who is known in the low church Anglican and Reformed traditions, James I. Packer his classic book Knowing God in the chapter “Thy Word is Truth”

“A person who acknowledges and lives under the Word of God. He submits without reserve to the Word of God written in ‘the Scripture of truth’ (Daniel 10:21), believing the teaching, trusting the promises, following the commands. His eyes are to the God of the Bible as his Father, and the Christ of the Bible as his Savior. The Word of God has convinced him of sin and assured him of forgiveness. He aspires to have his whole life brought into line with it. The promises are before him as he prays, and the precepts are before him as he moves among others.

He knows that in addition to the Word of God spoken directly to him the Scriptures, God’s Word has also gone forth to create, and control, and order things around him; but since the Scriptures tell him that all things work together for his good, the thought of God ordering his circumstances brings him only joy. He is an independent fellow, for he uses the Word of God as a touchstone by which to test the various views that are put to him, and he will not touch anything which he is not sure that Scripture sanctions.”

J.I. Packer asked back in 1973: “Why does this description fit so few of us who profess to be Christians these days?” He concludes: “You will find it profitable to ask your conscience, and let it tell you.” {What is a Christian}

Jesus very well knew the Scriptures. After he was born he had to learn everything and before his death had still to say he did knew a lot of things not, whilst only God knows everything. The One Who can not die placed Jesus above the angels (him having been lower than angels before), but Jesus knew also he could not do anything without God Who is greater than him.

English: Resurrection of Christ — Resurrection of Christ (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The Only True God Who send his only begotten beloved son to the world has given the world a spring for new life. Because that man, not doing his own will, not falling for temptation, always showing his love for God and fulfilling God’s commandments, accepted his ransom offering and took him out of the dead, to come to sit next to (or besides) Him (God) as a high-priest and mediator between Him (God) and man.

Ephesians 1:20 (Anderson)
which he made active in the Christ when he raised him from the dead, and caused him to sit at his right hand in the heavenly places,

Matthew 26:64 (Anderson)
64 Jesus said to him: You have said. Moreover, I say to you, Hereafter you shall see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of the Almighty, and coming upon the clouds of heaven.

Hebrews 1:3 (Anderson)
who, being the effulgence of his glory and the exact representation of his essence, and upholding all things by his own powerful word, when he had by himself made expiation for our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,

Hebrews 10:12 (Anderson)
but after offering one sacrifice for sins, he himself sits continually at the right hand of God,

Hebrews 3:1-3 (Anderson)

Hebrews 3
1 Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the apostle and high priest of our confession, Christ Jesus, 2 who is faithful to him that appointed him, as Moses also was faithful in all his house. 3 For this man is counted worthy of more glory than Moses, inasmuch as he who has builded the house, has more honor than the house.

Hebrews 3:1-3 (Anderson)

Hebrews 3
1 Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the apostle and high priest of our confession, Christ Jesus, 2 who is faithful to him that appointed him, as Moses also was faithful in all his house. 3 For this man is counted worthy of more glory than Moses, inasmuch as he who has builded the house, has more honor than the house.

1 Timothy 2:5-7 (Anderson)
5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave himself a ransom for all, [of which] the testimony [has been given] in its proper times, 7 to give which testimony I have been appointed a preacher and an apostle; (I speak the truth, and lie not;) a teacher of the Gentiles in faithfulness and in truth.

Those who call themselves Christian should belief what Jesus says and what the God Who does not tell lies says. they also should come together to the city of the living God, becoming partakers of the Body of Christ. Together they should unite and become one with Christ, as Christ is one with God. The ones who call themselves “Christian” should belong to the congregation of the firstborn, who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous, who have been made perfect, and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant. They should really appreciate to have received the grace of salvation under the sprinkled blood that speaks of something better than Abel’s does.

Real Christians are those who follow the teachings of Christ and take care not to refuse the one who is speaking!

Hebrews 12:22-27 (Anderson)
22 But you have come to Mount Zion, and the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to myriads of angels; 23 to the general assembly and church of the first-born, who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the just made perfect, 24 and to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than the blood of Abel. 25 See that you reject not him that speaks: for if they escaped not who rejected that earthly man who gave the oracles, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that is from heaven, 26 whose voice then shook the earth; but now he has promised, saying, Yet once more I will shake not the earth only, but also the heaven. 27 And this [prophecy], Yet once more, signifies the removing of the things that are shaken, as of things that have been made, that the things which can not be shaken may remain.

The native New Mexican with roots in Santa Fe and Albuquerque Paul Smith, ventures into troubling waters today or is into foggy skies, wrestling for the past few days with a question that recurs frequently in conversations among brothers and sisters in Christ.

That question is, “Who is my brother or sister in Christ?” {Boundaries of Brotherhood}

Which is a very important question by which we as Christians should stand still. Because being a Christian is as follower of Christ also wanting to be a Brother in Christ.

At the center of the discussion is the frequently repeated and much discussed phrase, “in necessariis unitas, in dubiis libertas, in omnibus charitas.” (in matters of necessity, unity; in matters of doubt, liberty; in all things love) Confusion and ignorance reign. {Boundaries of Brotherhood}

We should be fully aware that there is a big difference in which way those Christians consider Jesus to be “Lord“. Lots of them want to make him to be the Most Highest Lord of lords instead of the worldly Lord of lords, the son of man and son of God.

Intellectually we may know that God’s grace must exceed our own human limits – otherwise we would be God!

– but emotionally I have a hard time welcoming those who disagree with me. After all, I am always right (c’mon – my tongue is firmly planted in my cheek). {Boundaries of Brotherhood}

writes the blogger of Instrument rated theology.

He seems to know that he must reject out-of-hand the growing chorus of the “easy believeism” that is sweeping through the Churches of Christ, and says

That is nothing other than the “Cheap Grace” identified by Dietrich Bonhoeffer. We cannot accept that two diametrically opposite views of Holy Scripture can both be correct. We cannot accept that two diametrically opposed views of worship – or especially of the requirements of Kingdom membership – can both be correct. We must allow for differences of opinion and conscience, but at some point there must be a determination of wrong and right, of heresy and of sound doctrine. Likewise, we must be careful that we do not elevate our own intellectual prowess to the level of God’s judgment. We do not tell God who is a part of his Kingdom, God does that. Refer to my Undeniable Truth for Theological Reflection #1, the foundation for theology must be humility. Our greatest error is in proclaiming that we are beyond making errors. If universalism is wrong, so is Phariseeism. {Boundaries of Brotherhood}

At the same time it is that want to have our human ideas instead of accepting the words of the Holy Scriptures that is dividing Christendom and Christianity. Human beings preferring to stick to human doctrines instead of Biblical doctrines make it that we do have so many denominations.

Problem is that not enough people are willing to pray for God’s Spirit to guide us into the healthy truth. When they ask their own gods (except from the Only One True God, not Jesus but Jehovah), whoever they might be, we do not think they will get answers from them, but if they listen carefully they shall be able to hear the Call of God, because God knows the heart, and when they sincerely want to look for God He shall guide them.

– the truth that sets proper boundaries where God has placed them, and not where fallible humans have placed them. {Boundaries of Brotherhood}

Pastor Craig Schweitzer thinks

Jesus is challenging us to open our hearts and minds to hear today’s humbling good news – God’s immeasurable love. {“God Loves You.” 03.06.2016 Sermon}

and asks

Are you and I open to that good news? The good news of our prodigal God’s immeasurable love that is freely and extravagantly shared with all: love that we cannot earn, love that we do not deserve. And our response to God’s grace and mercy encourages and invites us, even pleads with us, to share God’s perfect love with others. Even when those others look and act a whole lot like the two sons in today’s parable. (This section was inspired by the writing in Day Resources, Sundays & Seasons.com) {“God Loves You.” 03.06.2016 Sermon}

It makes it important for us to decide which way we do want to go. do we want ot keep to human tradition and keep sticking to the so called Holy Trinity, or do we want to take the Word of God, the Bible to be infallible and telling us the truth?

Fewer and fewer people take the time for deep study and thought anymore, partly because of the busyness of our lives. We are quick to believe what we hear on social media or in the news because we just can’t be bothered with actually taking the time to investigate and think for ourselves. {Sounds Nice, But is it in the Bible?}

At this site we do ask you to compare what we and others say, with what is written in the most sacred Book of books and best-seller of all times: the Bible.

Let the living water flow of the pages of that book. Let it come into your hands, into your heart and into your spirit, opening your eyes and showing you that Jesus is the Way to the Only One True God.

Read also

+++

Relating to God is it possible

On 2016-03-132016-03-17 By Relating to GodIn Bible = Book of books, God the Father - Eternal Jehovah, Jeshua - Jesus Christ Son of God, Relationship & Connection15 Comments

Relating to God Weebly site Relation page

Some people do find it ridiculous to hear others saying to “relate to God”. There are those who say there does not exist a god and others who say God is so Divine it is impossible for man to have a relationship with Him. Others say it is only the son of God who is related to God because he is the incarnation of God himself, God having coming to earth. For them God became personified. Some two thousand years ago, according to them, there took place an act of embodying in flesh. Those believers who call themselves also Christians are convinced that Christ Jesus is an incarnate yatsar or form of God. For them he is the manifestation of God and the visible embodiment of the Most High. They think it was God who took an the form of a slave.
At this site we shall show that God may be manifested in Christ Jesus but that the Bible teaches that Jesus is the son of God and that nowhere in the Holy Scriptures is written he would be the “god the son” (a big difference).

Somewhere in the world there are others who believe what the Bible says, that God is the sent one from God, the one who came to “let it be known” that the God of gods is the Divine Creator Who wants His creatures to have a good relationship with Him and His creatures.

The Nazarene rabbi Jeshua (Jesus Christ) declared his intentions and got followers who listened to his words, followed his teachings and unleashed a worldwide movement. That what was stirred up in the first century of this common era (CE) still continues these days with new followers of Christ (Christians) who also want to keep to Jesus his teachings and to the same books Jesus followed and preached from (the Hebrew and Aramaic writings or 39 Judaic Books = the Old Testament). Additionally those followers to day use also the books written by Jeshua’s disciples and the called apostle Paul, 27 writings compiled in the Messianic Writings or New Testament).

Those followers of Jeshua from all over the world join forces to have people come to know the Way to God, who is this sent one from God, rabbi Jeshua, son of man and son of God. They do agree that the Divine Creator has distinguishing features and that not all human beings do have the required qualities to have mutual relations. What’s more, most people are living on strained relations with each other and with the Creator.

Being created in the image of God every human from whatever race is in the likeness of God. Being of the old world descendants of the 1° Adam or of descendants of the 2° Adam, who are in the likeness of Christ Jesus, the first born of the New World, like Jesus was in the image of God.

Genesis 1:1 (RNKJV)
Genesis 1
1 In the beginning Elohim created the heaven and the earth.

Genesis 1:26-27 (RNKJV)
26 And Elohim said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. 27 So Elohim created man in his own image, in the image of Elohim created he him; male and female created he them.

Psalms 100:3 (RNKJV)
Know ye that יהוה he is Elohim: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.

Isaiah 64:8 (RNKJV)
But now, O יהוה, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand.

Colossians 1:15 (RNKJV)
15 Who is the image of the invisible Elohim, the firstborn of every creature:

When a Maker would make something in His image, do you not think He would like to relate to it.?

First of all it is something He created. He made it Himself. He also liked what He made. After He created something every time we are told He looked at it and saw that it was good.

Genesis 1:31 (RNKJV)
31 And Elohim saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day.

Also later when Jesus was born and had done everything according God’s Will, God was pleased with that creation.

Colossians 1:19-20 (RNKJV)
19 For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell; 20 And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.

We are also told that the heavens were sanctified with what the Elohim Hashem Jehovah had done.

Psalms 19:1 (RNKJV)
The heavens declare the glory of El; and the firmameint sheweth his handywork.

Psalms 104:24 (RNKJV)
O יהוה, how manifold are thy works! in wisdom hast thou made them all: the earth is full of thy riches.

Psalms 104:31 (RNKJV)
The glory of יהוה shall endure for ever: יהוה shall rejoice in his works.

Ephesians 3:21 (RNKJV)
Unto him be glory in the assembly by the Messiah Yahushua throughout all ages, world without end. amein.

When God’s glory has to stay for ever it means also when He has to heave pleasure in His works, and others should glorify His works, than it means that there must be a relationship with that what He created.

Throughout history we also can see how God kept contact with those who came after Adam and Eve. Although they had doubted God’s right to have dominion over man, God was forgiving and loving His creatures, wanting them to give an other chance. Those who were willing to come to Him He was willing to receive.

From the many Bible stories we can clearly see that the Elohim Hashem Jehovah, the Divine Creator really wants to make an alley with His creatures.

At this and our sibling website we want to show the world that God wants to connect with the living creatures. We also want to show how we can be involved in God’s demand for an ally.

By going through the coming articles you might come to see how you can have a bearing on the creation and can empathize with the Divine Creator and other living creatures.

Additional reading:

+++

Welcome to this WordPress site

On 2016-03-122016-03-17 By ChristadelphiansIn Bible = Book of books, God the Father - Eternal Jehovah, Jeshua - Jesus Christ Son of God, Journal - News & Facts, Relationship & Connection2 Comments

Welcome and thanks for coming to have a look at this sibling-site of Relating to God.

Explaining the Christadelphian Aims on Relating to God page.

The Belgian Christadelphians following up the task Jesus gave his disciples to go out in the world and to preach the gospel of the coming Kingdom of God, want to let God’s Name be known all over the world and let people enjoy the hope Jesus has given to the world by offering himself as a ransom for the sins of man.

Relating to God (Weebly website) Tools page

With Relating to God (on Weebly) and here on WordPress, we want to show people the importance of coming into good relationships with each other and with the Divine Maker of all things. On both platforms we would like to hand out some tools to help each other to come on the right track and to see that the Way to God is Jeshua, the Kristos, better known as Jesus Christ, the Messiah.

When you are looking for God and want to find Him for connecting with Him, we advise to use His Own Tool, He provide already in the past centuries. The Best Tool God Himself provided is His Word, presented to us in a divine library of 66 books (39 in Hebrew and/or Aramaic and 27 in Hebrew). It has become a best-seller of all times though many people never read it. In case more people would read it there would be less problems on earth. We would like to bring people so far that they go to look in their Bible for answers and to compare those things what are said by human beings and what is really said by the Divine Author or the Holy Scriptures, Who is a God Who does not tell lies.

19 God is not like a man, so that he would lie, nor is he like a son of man, so that he would be changed. Therefore, having spoken, will he not act? Has he ever spoken, and not fulfilled? (Numbers 23:19 CPDV)

Relating to God (Weebly website) God of gods page.

This God of gods Who is not a man of flesh and blood, but a Spirit, has given His word so that man can learn from it. And that is what we should do and help each individual to understand that it is God His Word they should listen to more than to words of man who like to bring forward their own dogma’s.

We would love people to accept the Words written as they are in the Bible, having them to come to see Who is who and having them to accept those Bible characters for what and who they are, always taking as their guide and remembering the Word of God.

24 God is Spirit. And so, those who worship him must worship in spirit and in truth.” (John 4.24 CPDV)

19 He responded: “I will show you all that is good, and I will call out with the name of the Lord before you. And I will take pity on whomever I will, and I will be lenient to whomever it will please me.”
20 And again he said: “You are not able to see my face. For man shall not see me and live.” (Exodus 33:20 CPDV)

16 In all things, take up the shield of faith, with which you may be able to extinguish all the fiery darts of the most wicked one.
17 And take up the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit (which is the Word of God).
18 Through every kind of prayer and supplication, pray at all times in spirit, and so be vigilant with every kind of earnest supplication, for all the saints, (Ephesians 6:16-18 CPDV)

12 For the Word of God is living and effective: more piercing than any two-edged sword, reaching to the division even between the soul and the spirit, even between the joints and the marrow, and so it discerns the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
13 And there is no created thing that is invisible to his sight. For all things are naked and open to the eyes of him, about whom we are speaking.
14 Therefore, since we have a great High Priest, who has pierced the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, we should hold to our confession.
15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to have compassion on our infirmities, but rather one who was tempted in all things, just as we are, yet without sin.
16 Therefore, let us go forth with confidence toward the throne of grace, so that we may obtain mercy, and find grace, in a helpful time. (Hebbrews 4:12-16)

16 All Scripture, having been divinely inspired, is useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for instruction in justice,
17 so that the man of God may be perfect, having been trained for every good work. (2 Timothy 3:16-17 CPDV)

To come to a good relationship with somebody we may not twist the words that person speaks, the same for the biblical characters, when they say something we should not think something else. For example when God says that Jesus is His begotten son we should also read and accept that Jesus is the son of God and not making it in “being the god son“.

We should believe what is written in God’s Word, the Bible and should know that there shall come a time that people will not want to know about what is really written in it and would prefer to follow the teachings of men, like words of theologians.

3 For there shall be a time when they will not endure sound doctrine, but instead, according to their own desires, they will gather to themselves teachers, with itching ears,
4 and certainly, they will turn their hearing away from the truth, and they will be turned toward fables. (2 Timothy 4:3-4 CPDV)

Therefore we ask you to let our words settle and if you find something we say or write different from what you were taught, or perhaps even shocking, please do check everything we say with the Bible, and get your knowledge from that Word of God. At this site you are also welcome to ask your questions or give your remarks, if you have them, at the end of each article. We shall appreciate your contribution.

7 The beginning of wisdom is to obtain wisdom, and, with all that you possess, to acquire prudence. 8 Grasp her, and she will exalt you. You will be glorified by her, when you have embraced her. (Proverbs 4:7-8 CPDV)

3 For if you would call upon wisdom and bend your heart to prudence, 4 if you will seek her like money, and dig for her as if for treasure, 5 then you will understand the fear of the Lord, and you will discover the knowledge of God.
6 For the Lord bestows wisdom, and out of his mouth, prudence and knowledge.
7 He will preserve the salvation of the righteous, and he will protect those who walk in simplicity: 8 serving the paths of justice, and guarding the ways of sanctity.
9 Then you shall understand justice and judgment, and equity, and every good path.
10 If wisdom is to enter into your heart, and if knowledge is to become pleasing to your soul, 11 then counsel must guard you, and prudence must serve you, 12 so that you may be rescued from the evil way, and from the man who speaks perversities, 13 from those who leave the straight path to walk in dark ways, 14 who rejoice when they have done evil, and who exult in the most wicked things. (Proverbs 2:3-10 CPDV)

We would love those coming along our sites to join us on the climb to above. We do believe we should take the Bible as a book to be set apart (to be holy)

5 Every word of God is fire-tested. He is a bronze shield to those who hope in him.
6 Do not add anything to his words, lest you be reproved and be discovered to be a liar. (Proverbs 30:5-6 CPDV)

2 so that your ears may listen to wisdom, then bend your heart in order to know prudence. 3 For if you would call upon wisdom and bend your heart to prudence, 4 if you will seek her like money, and dig for her as if for treasure, 5 then you will understand the fear of the Lord, and you will discover the knowledge of God.
6 For the Lord bestows wisdom, and out of his mouth, prudence and knowledge.
7 He will preserve the salvation of the righteous, and he will protect those who walk in simplicity: 8 serving the paths of justice, and guarding the ways of sanctity.
9 Then you shall understand justice and judgment, and equity, and every good path.
10 If wisdom is to enter into your heart, and if knowledge is to become pleasing to your soul, 11 then counsel must guard you, and prudence must serve you, 12 so that you may be rescued from the evil way, and from the man who speaks perversities, 13 from those who leave the straight path to walk in dark ways, 14 who rejoice when they have done evil, and who exult in the most wicked things. (Micha 4:2-14 CPDV)

We endeavour to present ourself approved to God, a workman not made ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth and do hope to bring others to God by looking forward they too will share that Word with the true message in the right way.

15 Be solicitous in the task of presenting yourself before God as a proven and unashamed worker who has handled the Word of Truth correctly. (2 Timothy 2:15 CPDV)

In case you want to know more about the Christadelphians, you may find it useful to read:

+++

	Today’s thought “Rea… on How do people want to grow and…
	rules? \| From guestw… on Revolt against the Authority o…
	Suffering and the Go… on Motivated by love
	Damien de Soto on Bible offering hope and w…
	Marcus Ampe on Bible offering hope and w…

	Today’s thought “Rea… on How do people want to grow and…
	rules? \| From guestw… on Revolt against the Authority o…
	Suffering and the Go… on Motivated by love
	Damien de Soto on Bible offering hope and w…
	Marcus Ampe on Bible offering hope and w…

Read also

Related articles

Share this:

Additional reading:

Related articles

Share this:

Related articles

Share this: