The other day, a friend of mine told me that religion had messed her up. And while that may shock some people, I couldn’t agree more.
It is the religion of the self-righteous. The ones who believe in prayer alone and the ones who “live according to the Ten Commandments” and therefore are “sinless”.
Don’t get me wrong, I believe in prayer and its power. But prayer also requires work. Whether GOD works, or HE causes us to work, something must happen.
HE requires action and for the record NO action is an ACTION. If HE says move, you move; if HE says stay, you stay. Don’t let someone else tell you what to do when you ask GOD for help. Trust and obey HIM.
There is a reason the Bible was written so that it is difficult to understand. GOD IS HIS OWN INTERPRETER AND HE WILL MAKE IT PLAIN FOR YOU.
Your WORD is not my WORD. Your path is different from mine. Do not confuse the opinions of others with the WORD of GOD.
Marriage of the flesh is just that: FLESH. It has no authority in Heaven or in THE CHURCH.
How and who is to say or CAN say what GOD joins or separates?
THE CHURCH is the Bride of CHRIST; the only marriage that matters is if your soul is part of the BRIDE. You do not have to be a member of a church, but A MEMBER OF THE BODY OF THE CHURCH THAT IS THE BRIDE of CHRIST.
JESUS said to let the dead bury their dead. To me, that means if you are with someone who is driving a wedge between you and GOD, you need to let that person go and follow where GOD leads. If a person condemns you for your walk with GOD, leave.
GOD is the father and the husband. Honor that Father and that Husband.
GOD doesn’t need to make sense to anyone. HE brought people together and separated them often. Everything serves HIS purpose.
I am not talking just about marriage. Paul and Silas were together in their ministry and because of differing opinions they parted ways and still preached the Gospel.
I think for the sake of “religion”, we excuse many actions against us.
We have been taught that what we suffer for JESUS will be for our benefit, however, HE did not tell us to seek out suffering.
If you read in the Old Testament, there are numerous times where the wife of an unjust man was exalted because of her loyalty to the LORD. She was removed from her torment!! Hallelujah!!
We are not made to suffer for the sake of suffering.
And yes, GOD can change anyone, but that doesn’t mean that it is HIS WILL to have the person change. Some people are made for the destruction of the flesh—they are by design born to die. That is their lot in life. But if you are given the mind to improve your situation and follow CHRIST, then cast away all your cares and follow HIM with all your being.
I heard recently that Faith isn’t ‘can’ GOD do something, it is believing HE can do all things but having the ability to accept that HIS will may not align with your will.
Religion has been twisted and perverted into something I don’t think it was intended to be. It has become a place for monsters to hide and in truth, it was that way with Eli as recorded in First Samuel. His sons did horrible deeds and the LORD made known HIS wrath by killing both men and Eli for allowing them to continue to defile the House of GOD.
Oh, that I could be meek and humble!
I am afraid that even in my writing of this, my bitterness is taking control.
When you are going through rough times, religious people will tell you you just need to love harder, pray more, be patient and give another chance. The BIBLE says to love your neighbor as yourself. If you continually put yourself in a harmful situation, is that self love?? You cannot love your neighbor or anyone UNTIL you love yourself.
I call it forgiving yourself and in a way it is. You have to let some things go so you can move forward. It’s not that you did anything wrong, but you need to realize that not everyone has your heart and not everyone loves the way you love.
Love yourself first and the love you seek will follow.
OneFourZeroPM 
Wow! A lot of info here. I have some questions. Let’s start with, “Some people are made for the destruction of the flesh—they are by design born to die.” When you say “born to die” are you saying they don’t have a chance to do the right things (what those are is another debate) and be saved? My undersstanding is God loves all his children and wants us to be with him in heaven.
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What I’m saying is that yes, there are some people who are not to be ‘saved’ but are destined to go to hell. I do not believe that GOD loves everyone. In the Old Testament, GOD told Saul to kill every man, woman, child, and animal in a city. Saul spared some to ‘offer as a sacrifice’ and GOD, in HIS displeasure, turned from Saul. There are those who do not love GOD and will not; therefore HE will not show mercy to them. That goes along with what I said about faith. Faith says GOD can do anything but that doesn’t mean HE will work according to what we want. Yes, GOD loves HIS children, but HE knows who they are. Some came to JESUS and asked how they could be saved and of all those who inquired, off hand I do not remember one, save the thief on the cross next to HIM, who was saved. The others all returned again to their place. JESUS called HIS followers…HIS children know HIS voice and heed HIS commands.
So yes, I believe there are some that are strictly born to die.
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Admittedly, I am not as familiar with Old Testament as New. Didn’t Jesus die on the cross to save us from our sins? I just can’t believe that some of us don’t even have a chance to be saved.
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Matthew 7:21-23
King James Version
21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
New Testament. If JESUS does not know you, then you cannot know HIM. HE must know you and you must be part of HIM.
GOD the Father viewed the beginning and the end at the same time. HE knew and knows HIS Children. If you were not one of HIS from the beginning, you cannot become HIS.
This is my belief. I’m not saying I’m right and you’re wrong. I’m saying this is MY interpretation. I do not believe in choice. We all know the story of Jonah and the big fish. Jonah didn’t want to follow the LORD’S command, but GOD’S will is always done and he went where he was sent. New Testament Saul was persecuting Christians, seeking them out and killing them. GOD called to Saul on the road to Demascus and Saul was given a new name: the Apostle Paul. JESUS called to Peter while he was fishing and caused him to follow HIM.
The thief on the cross was convicted and asked JESUS to remember him…but had GOD not opened his eyes, he would have never seen that JESUS was the SON of GOD. And that is another thing. After the resurrection of CHRIST, when HE came to HIS disciples HE wasn’t recognized until HE made HIMSELF known. How can you choose to love and follow someone you cannot see unless HE shows HIMSELF? I believe if you truly are shown JESUS, then you are meant to be one of HIS. My thing, too, is I don’t know if I have ever been shown anything of CHRIST and I don’t know anything of certainty.
Again, this is my belief; it doesn’t mean that I am right and you are wrong, just that this is what my interpretation of what I’ve read in the Bible is.
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Just enjoying the discussion – not saying anyone is right or wrong. I have always seen that scripture differently. If you don’t acknowledge the Lord and follow his path, then He will not acknowledge you in the end. But I always wonder about the people who are not exposed to the Word. Sure, there are missionaries who travel to remote locations. But I am sure over the centuries there have been many who never knew the Lord. Are they lost souls?
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If they never knew the LORD and HE never knew them, then they are lost. But that is the thing. You might not ‘know’ the LORD, but if you are HIS, HE will never leave you or forsake you. HE said HE lost none, except the son of perdition. To me that is anyone who is one with the flesh, whose soul is not part of the bride of CHRIST. It doesn’t take a missionary to introduce someone to GOD. HE makes HIMSELF known in various ways. Think back to Moses and how GOD appeared in a burning bush…Balaam’s ass was caused to speak to him because he was going contrary to what the LORD instructed. The WORD is, was, and will be forever. The WORD is alive and is heard by those who GOD purposes.
You know how you can tell someone something and they just not get it? That’s how I interpret the WORD. If GOD doesn’t open a person’s ears to hear, they won’t be able to really hear GOD. The best missionary in the world cannot reach anyone if GOD is not in it.
Likewise I believe that some people who have never heard about GOD will have it better in eternity than someone who heard but who’s heart was hardened. GOD is in everything, if we can be blessed to see and hear HIM, how much better would life be…
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Yes, the Lord makes Himself known. And we pray for the Lord to give us eyes to see and ears to hear.
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