Tuesday, October 17, 2006

When You do not Know what You do not Know

Today I will start right in with the reason I had to write a confession about what I did not Know,in the sense that I understood not. It goes way back to a book called Job. In the thirty third chapter I became aware of my plight and quickly repented of my former action that caused my dilemma.
1BE THAT as it may, Job, I beg of you to hear what I have to say and give heed to all my words.
2Behold, here I am with open mouth; here is my tongue talking.
3My words shall express the uprightness of my heart, and my lips shall speak what they know with utter sincerity.
4[It is] the Spirit of God that made me [which has stirred me up], and the breath of the Almighty that gives me life [which inspires me].
5Answer me now, if you can; set your words in order before me; take your stand.
6Behold, I am toward God and before Him even as you are; I also am formed out of the clay [though I speak with abnormal wisdom because of a divine illumination].
7See my terror [for I am only a fellow mortal, not God]; I shall not make you afraid, neither shall my pressure be heavy upon you.
8Surely you have spoken in my hearing, and I have heard the voice of your words, saying,
9I am clean, without transgression; I am innocent, neither is there iniquity in me.
10But behold, God finds occasions against me and causes of alienation and indifference; He counts me as His enemy.
11He puts my feet in the stocks; He [untrustingly] watches all my paths [you say].
12I reply to you, Behold, in this you are not just; God is superior to man.
13Why do you contend against Him? For He does not give account of any of His actions. [Sufficient for us it should be to know that it is He Who does them.]
14For God [does reveal His will; He] speaks not only once, but more than once, even though men do not regard it [including you, Job].
15[One may hear God's voice] in a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falls on men while slumbering upon the bed,
16Then He opens the ears of men and seals their instruction [terrifying them with warnings],
17That He may withdraw man from his purpose and cut off pride from him [disgusting him with his own disappointing self-sufficiency].
18He holds him back from the pit [of destruction], and his life from perishing by the sword [of God's destructive judgments].
19[God's voice may be heard by man when] he is chastened with pain upon his bed and with continual strife in his bones or while all his bones are firmly set,
20So that his desire makes him loathe food, and even dainty dishes [nauseate him].
21His flesh is so wasted away that it cannot be seen, and his bones that were not seen stick out.
22Yes, his soul draws near to corruption, and his life to the inflicters of death (the destroyers).
23[God's voice may be heard] if there is for the hearer a messenger or an angel, an interpreter, one among a thousand, to show to man what is right for him [how to be upright and in right standing with God],
24Then [God] is gracious to him and says, Deliver him from going down into the pit [of destruction]; I have found a ransom (a price of redemption, an atonement)!
25[Then the man's] flesh shall be restored; it becomes fresher and more tender than a child's; he returns to the days of his youth.
26He prays to God, and He is favorable to him, so that he sees His face with joy; for [God] restores to him his righteousness (his uprightness and right standing with God--with its joys).
27He looks upon other men or sings out to them, I have sinned and perverted that which was right, and it did not profit me, or He did not requite me [according to my iniquity]!
28[God] has redeemed my life from going down to the pit [of destruction], and my life shall see the light!
29[Elihu comments] Behold, God does all these things twice, yes, three times, with a man,
30To bring back his life from the pit [of destruction], that he may be enlightened with the light of the living.
For many years I have seen this bright spot in my mind's eye, as if I am in a pit looking up at the sky.And I wonder 'how can this be?' Apparently pride and judging others can get you thrown into a pit that you dug for them because you think that they are less than you are.
We are what we are by God's choice. Rich or poor, bond or free is His placement. Where and when is up to Him. Why do we think it has anything to do with us? It is His will, His way, and His plan. Our choices consist of obedience and acceptance or disobedience and rejection of God. Obedience is by far the greater choice. Acceptance of Him as our savior, Lord, deliverer and healer is a must or the pit awaits-hot and horrible, utter destruction.
I feel as if I have been and am in a pit because of my reluctance and wrong thinking of others. Who am I to judge and who am I to condemn? I am nothing without Jesus Christ and His righteousness. How can it be that I did not know this sooner, know with understanding and embrace His choice for all? God help me? God forgive me? god deliver me from this pit I dug for others. Pray for me Jesus. Let Your righteousness be rendered to me because of Your mercy. When will we see and stop digging pits for others? When will we stop judging and stop looking down on anyone?
Idid not know what I did not know.Now I see and say 'You are God, I am not.' End of story. You make oak trees, asp and ash trees,pine and palm trees.Your choice! You make beavers and buffalo,lizards and tree toads. your Choice! Not all of Your critters can be together for many and varied reasons. Your choice again Lord.
Existing in a pit we have dug for others makes me cry' oh God, hear Jesus for us and deliver us from ourselves and our pits. Change us to know You and Your choices. Make us over fresh and new. Fill us with Your Holy Spirit to hear and obey You. Alert us when we start to think in that wrong direction,Jesus, please. Flash the danger signals.Totally change our thinking. Let mercy, pardon,compassion and understanding become normal for us for Your glory, Your praise, Your adoration. You lead, guide and direct- Your choice, Yours. Make us what You want us to be to each other for our God reigns in all the earth.
Dona Hatherley creates roads to wellness in all areas of life by pointing out ways and means as well as the expectations you can have from God's viewpoint. newfreshcreatedjustforyou.blogspot.com
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Obese because You resist God the Holy Spirit?


A young man named Stephen was stoned to death literally for pointing out to church leaders their resistance to God the Holy Spirit. Read it here in the book of Acts. Acts 7 Amplified Bible (AMP) Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation
Acts 7
1AND THE high priest asked [Stephen], Are these charges true?
2And he answered, Brethren and fathers, listen to me! The God of glory appeared to our forefather Abraham when he was still in Mesopotamia, before he [went to] live in Haran,(A)
3And He said to him, Leave your own country and your relatives and come into the land (region) that I will point out to you.(B)
4So then he went forth from the land of the Chaldeans and settled in Haran. And from there, after his father died, [God] transferred him to this country in which you are now dwelling.(C)
5Yet He gave him no inheritable property in it, [no] not even enough ground to set his foot on; but He promised that He would give it to Him for a [a]permanent possession and to his descendants after him, even though [as yet] he had no child.(D)
6And this is [in effect] what God told him: That his descendants would be aliens (strangers) in a land belonging to other people, who would bring them into bondage and ill-treat them 400 years.
7But I will judge the nation to whom they will be slaves, said God, and after that they will escape and come forth and worship Me in this [very] place.(E)
8And [God] made with Abraham a covenant (an agreement to be religiously observed) [b]of which circumcision was the seal. And under these circumstances [Abraham] became the father of Isaac and circumcised him on the eighth day; and Isaac [did so] when he became the father of Jacob, and Jacob [when each of his sons was born], the twelve patriarchs.(F)
9And the patriarchs [Jacob's sons], boiling with envy and hatred and anger, sold Joseph into slavery in Egypt; but God was with him,(G)
10And delivered him from all his distressing afflictions and won him goodwill and favor and wisdom and understanding in the sight of Pharaoh, king of Egypt, who made him governor over Egypt and all his house.(H)
11Then there came a famine over all of Egypt and Canaan, with great distress, and our forefathers could find no fodder [for the cattle] or vegetable sustenance [for their households].(I)
12But when Jacob heard that there was grain in Egypt, he sent forth our forefathers [to go there on their] first trip.(J)
13And on their second visit Joseph revealed himself to his brothers, and the family of Joseph became known to Pharaoh and his origin and race.(K)
14And Joseph sent an invitation calling to himself Jacob his father and all his kindred, seventy-five persons in all.(L)
15And Jacob went down into Egypt, where he himself died, as did [also] our forefathers;(M)
16And their [c]bodies [Jacob's and Joseph's] were taken back to Shechem and laid in the tomb which Abraham had purchased for a sum of [silver] money from the sons of Hamor in Shechem.(N)
17But as the time for the fulfillment of the promise drew near which God had made to Abraham, the [Hebrew] people increased and multiplied in Egypt,
18Until [the time when] there arose over Egypt another and a different king who did not know Joseph [neither knowing his history and services nor recognizing his merits].(O)
19He dealt treacherously with and defrauded our race; he abused and oppressed our forefathers, forcing them to expose their babies so that they might not be kept alive.(P)
20At this juncture Moses was born, and was exceedingly beautiful in God's sight. For three months he was nurtured in his father's house;(Q)
21Then when he was exposed [to perish], the daughter of Pharaoh rescued him and took him and reared him as her own son.(R)
22So Moses was educated in all the wisdom and culture of the Egyptians, and he was mighty (powerful) in his speech and deeds.
23And when he was in his fortieth year, it came into his heart to visit his kinsmen the children of Israel [[d]to help them and to care for them].
24And on seeing one of them being unjustly treated, he defended the oppressed man and avenged him by striking down the Egyptian and slaying [him].
25He expected his brethren to understand that God was granting them deliverance by his hand [taking it for granted that they would accept him]; but they did not understand.
26Then on the next day he [e]suddenly appeared to some who were quarreling and fighting among themselves, and he urged them to make peace and become reconciled, saying, Men, you are brethren; why do you abuse and wrong one another?
27Whereupon the man who was abusing his neighbour pushed [Moses] aside, saying, Who appointed you a ruler (umpire) and a judge over us?
28Do you intend to slay me as you slew the Egyptian yesterday?
29At that reply Moses sought safety by flight and he was an exile and an alien in the country of Midian, where he became the father of two sons.(S)
30And when forty years had gone by, there appeared to him in the wilderness (desert) of Mount Sinai an angel, in the flame of a burning bramble bush.
31When Moses saw it, he was astonished and marveled at the sight; but when he went close to investigate, there came to him the voice of the Lord, saying,
32I am the God of your forefathers, the God of Abraham and of Isaac and of Jacob. And Moses trembled and was so terrified that he did not venture to look.
33Then the Lord said to him, Remove the sandals from your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy ground and worthy of veneration.
34Because I have most assuredly seen the abuse and oppression of My people in Egypt and have heard their sighing and groaning, I have come down to rescue them. So, now come! I will send you back to Egypt [as My messenger].(T)
35It was this very Moses whom they had denied (disowned and rejected), saying, Who made you our ruler (referee) and judge? whom God sent to be a ruler and deliverer and redeemer, by and with the [protecting and helping] hand of the Angel that appeared to him in the bramblebush.(U)
36He it was who led them forth, having worked wonders and signs in Egypt and at the Red Sea and during the forty years in the wilderness (desert).(V)
37It was this [very] Moses who said to the children of Israel, God will raise up for you a Prophet from among your brethren as He raised me up.(W)
38This is he who in the assembly in the wilderness (desert) was the go-between for the Angel who spoke to him on Mount Sinai and our forefathers, and he received living oracles (words that still live) to be handed down to us.(X)
39[And yet] our forefathers determined not to be subject to him [refusing to listen to or obey him]; but thrusting him aside they rejected him, and in their hearts yearned for and turned back to Egypt.(Y)
40And they said to Aaron, Make us gods who shall [be our leaders and] go before us; as for this Moses who led us forth from the land of Egypt--we have no knowledge of what has happened to him.(Z)
41And they [even] made a calf in those days, and offered sacrifice to the idol and made merry and exulted in the work of their [own] hands.(AA)
42But God turned [away from them] and delivered them up to worship and serve the host (stars) of heaven, as it is written in the book of the prophets: Did you [really] offer to Me slain beasts and sacrifices for forty years in the wilderness (desert), O house of Israel?(AB)
43[No!] You took up the tent (the portable temple) of Moloch and carried it [with you], and the star of the god Rephan, the images which you [yourselves] made that you might worship them; and I will remove you [carrying you away into exile] beyond Babylon.(AC)
44Our forefathers had the tent (tabernacle) of witness in the wilderness, even as He Who directed Moses to make it had ordered, according to the pattern and model he had seen.(AD)
45Our forefathers in turn brought it [this tent of witness] in [with them into the land] with Joshua when they dispossessed the nations which God drove out before the face of our forefathers. [So it remained here] until the time of David,(AE)
46Who found grace (favor and spiritual blessing) in the sight of God and prayed that he might be allowed to find a dwelling place for the God of Jacob. [II Sam. 7:8-16; Ps. 132:1-5.]
47But it was Solomon who built a house for Him. [I Kings 6.]
48However, the Most High does not dwell in houses and temples made with hands; as the prophet says,(AF)
49Heaven [is] My throne, and earth the footstool for My feet. What [kind of] house can you build for Me, says the Lord, or what is the place in which I can rest?
50Was it not My hand that made all these things?(AG)
51You stubborn and stiff-necked people, still heathen and uncircumcised in heart and ears, you are always [f]actively resisting the Holy Spirit. As your forefathers [were], so you [are and so you do]!(AH)
52Which of the prophets did your forefathers not persecute? And they slew those who proclaimed beforehand the coming of the Righteous One, Whom you now have betrayed and murdered--
53You who received the Law as it was ordained and set in order and delivered by angels, and [yet] you did not obey it!
54Now upon hearing these things, they [the Jews] were cut to the heart and infuriated, and they ground their teeth against [Stephen].
55But he, full of the Holy Spirit and controlled by Him, gazed into heaven and saw the glory (the splendor and majesty) of God, and Jesus standing at God's right hand;
56And he said, Look! I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing at God's right hand!
57But they raised a great shout and put their hands over their ears and rushed together upon him.
58Then they dragged him out of the city and began to stone him, and the witnesses placed their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul.(AI)
59And while they were stoning Stephen, he prayed, Lord Jesus, receive and accept and welcome my spirit!
60And falling on his knees, he cried out loudly, Lord, fix not this sin upon them [lay it not to their charge]! And when he had said this, he fell asleep [g][in death].
How many times has Holy Spirit spoken to us about changing our eating habits? I was told "Change your eating habits." Rather than resisting apple pie, brownies, pastas, breads, donuts, pizza and buttertarts I resisted God the Holy Spirit. Why? What good did it do me? None.
Now I am obese. No, I am looking obese. I am really the temple of God the Holy Spirit. For a few months now I have been negligent about entering into a seven day plan for 7 weeks that is to prepare me to become obedient to God the Holy Spirit.
I received three copies (is that a sign or what?) of the Maker's Diet by Jordan Rubin and his 7 week plan of health and wellness. Today the Lord convicted me of being as these church leaders .Not listening to God the Holy Spirit is a terrible and foolish thing to do
.
Once again I must repent and turn from my wicked way Lord, and ask for Your kind forgiveness. Please strengthen me and help me to overcome obesity by obeying You. To obey is to be not obese. I wrote in the front of our one copy of Jordan Rubin's book ' The Great Physician's Rx for Health and Wellness' a note. It says 'Why do we resist the Holy Spirit? Stupidity. Fatal.'
Jordan and David Remedios MD are missionaries to the church,bringing us back to right eating, exercise and hearing God the Holy Spirit about practical things.
Dona Hatherley creates roads to wellness in all areas of life by pointing out ways and means as well as the expectations you can have from God's viewpoint. newfreshcreatedjustforyou.blogspot.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dona_Hatherley