People in Crisis

[placebofactor]

I know from experience that many people without the knowledge of the Bible, in a last-ditch effort to put away things like drugs, alcohol, or some perverse lifestyle, have prayed to God, a God they do not know, and almost instantly they turned their lives around and began to study the Bible, and become a new person.

What I’m describing is one of the most striking and beautiful patterns in Christian experience, and it lines up with something deeply biblical. God will meet people long before they understand Him. In fact, the above is exactly how countless Christians throughout history have come to faith.

Many people in crisis will cry out to a God they barely know, and He will answer. This is one of the clearest demonstrations of his grace. They don’t know theology. They don’t know doctrine. They don’t know the Trinity, and most don’t even know what they’re asking for. But they know they’re at the end of themselves.

And God responds. This is not because their prayer is theologically precise. It’s because God is merciful, and He delights to rescue people who are drowning. Even before someone knows the Bible, the Holy Spirit can convict, draw, awaken, break chains, and create a hunger for truth.

This is not a “new revelation.” It’s God applying the truth of Scripture to a heart that hasn’t read it yet. In other words, the Holy Spirit prepares the heart before the mind catches up.

What usually follows? they turn to the Bible. Those in crisis don’t stay in vague spirituality; they don’t build a religion out of their experience, nor do they follow “any spirit.” What they do seek is the word, then Christ, truth, and holiness.

This is the proof that their experience was genuine. A true encounter with God always leads a person toward Scripture, not away from it.

[JehovahsWitness]

Some are true [in the bible]

When you say "some are true" in the bible what do you mean? It seems as if you are saying there are some things that are TRUE and that those truths (that we can read in the bible) are the words (the declarations) of the Son/Almignty God. It that accurate? You believe we can read the (true) words of the Son/Almighty God in the pages of the bible?

I understand you don't believe it's ALL true but in the book there are some words (declarations) that are from Almighty God/The Son?

[OneJack]

[Replying to OneJack in post #39]

OneJack, I took your quote and lined it up with what is written in the King James Bible. Your comments echo several themes that appear throughout the Bible. Below, I’ve broken the statement into its major ideas and paired each one with a fitting KJV verse.

Your wrote,
1. “All of you who are listening, listen carefully!”
KJV Match: Isaiah 55:3 — “Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live…”

2. “I am your Lord God.”
KJV Match: Exodus 20:2 — “I am the LORD thy God…”

3. “Who are you afraid of? I am the Almighty.”
KJV Match: Isaiah 51:12 — “I, even I, am he that comforteth you: who art thou, that thou shouldest be afraid of a man…?” And Genesis 17:1 — “…I am the Almighty God…”

4. “Who are you intimidated by?”
KJV Match: Psalm 27:1 — “The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?”

5. “When I am by your side, you have nothing to fear, nothing to worry about.”
KJV Match: Isaiah 41:10 — “Fear thou not; for I am with thee… I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee…”

6. “I will save you from any calamity if you trust in Me.”
KJV Match: Psalm 91:14–15 — “Because he hath set his love upon me… I will deliver him… I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him…”

7. “Regard Me as your salvation and eternal life.”
KJV Match: Isaiah 12:2 — “Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid…” And Psalm 27:1 — “…The LORD is my light and my salvation…”

8. “As your Lord, whom you alone will worship and none other.”
KJV Match: Exodus 34:14 — “For thou shalt worship no other god: for the LORD… is a jealous God.”

9. “I am the one true God existing in heaven, earth, or universe.”
KJV Match: Deuteronomy 4:39 — “…the LORD he is God in heaven above, and upon the earth beneath: there is none else.”

10. “I created all things.”
KJV Match: Isaiah 44:24 — “…I am the LORD that maketh all things; that stretcheth forth the heavens alone…”

11. “I gave you life.”
KJV Match: Genesis 2:7 — “…the LORD God formed man… and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life…”

12. “Where will you go? If not to Me, you have nowhere else to go.”
KJV Match: John 6:68 — “Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.”

You did a great job, placebfactor. God bless you. He is Jesus, the Almighty God. But I doubt if you can find matching pairs for the following narratives [shaded in red], which the Lord uttered, and He said:

"I am the Pastor, I am the Good Pastor. Remember, no one else will teach you except Me. If you explain to one another, it's only according to your own will, according to your own thoughts. So remember, anyone who stands as a pastor, who stands as a leader of My church, is working iniquity and stealing My place as the Good Pastor. Because you are only human, you who are pastors, you who teach and stand before people, you who work iniquity, you who cast out demons in My name, remember that when I return, many will call out to Me, 'Lord, Lord, didn't we do mighty works and cast out demons in Your name, didn't we heal?' But remember, I will say to them, 'I never knew you, I never recognized you, you who work iniquity, you who cast out demons.' Remember, when you cast out demons, you're taking away the role that belongs to Me. If you encounter someone possessed by a demon, just pray to Me, and I am ready to hear your prayer and will listen to every complaint you whisper to Me, every cry you make, every prayer you offer. I will help you and never abandon you, especially those who are Mine and follow Me.“

Note: The original utterances of the Lord [in Tagalog language] truly fitted the mode of His utterances in the KJV of the Bible.

[OneJack]

Some are true [in the bible]

When you say "some are true" in the bible what do you mean?

Some are false, too!

It seems as if you are saying there are some things that are TRUE and that those truths (that we can read in the bible) are the words (the declarations) of the Son/Almignty God.

Exactly! You’ve done a perfect home run! But without Jesus, as our Teacher in this context, we can’t arrive at the truth in the Bible.

It that accurate? You believe we can read the (true) words of the Son/Almighty God in the pages of the bible?

Indeed, everybody can read the truth [in the bible] that the Son/Almighty God uttered to His prophets, apostles, disciples, sons, friends, families, and relatives. But as I’ve said, without Jesus, as our Teachers, we can’t arrive at the truth in the Bible.

I understand you don't believe it's ALL true but in the book there are some words (declarations) that are from Almighty God/The Son?

Neither did I say ‘none is true’ in the bible, nor ‘all [in the bible] is false,’ did I?

[OneJack]

[Replying to tam in post #38]

We may find some truth by examining scripture. Though even in that - at the very least we should hold all things up against Christ's words, because He is the Truth and the One to whom God said to listen.

Not until we’ve heard from the real and forever Living Christ, the Lord Jesus, can we hold all things up against Christ’s words since the bible is definitely neither Christ nor His words, per se.

If, however, we want to be led into ALL truth, then the person we must come to, listen to, and follow is Christ. Listen to Him. Hold everything up to Him (He is the Light and the Truth and the Word of God.)

The last sentence holds unconditionally. Jesus is the Way, and the Truth, and the Life.

2 - Christ (whose name is Jaheshua) does speak. He is a living being. Living beings speak. He is the Living Word of God. How can the Living Word of God not speak? He said that His sheep will listen to His voice. He said His sheep know HIS VOICE. He said that He would call His sheep by name. (John 10:4, 16, 27) We have examples of Him speaking to disciples and apostles, often recorded in Acts... and of course the entire book of Revelation was given in spirit, and Christ spoke to John throughout.

The trouble with the ‘small still voice’ talking to you is his outright denial that Jesus is the name of the Almighty God and Christ. Since Jesus is Immanuel, He is always with us, real and forever living.

Yes, there are also false christs, false apostles, even lying spirits. But that is why we are told to TEST the inspired expression. Nothing that contradicts Christ can be true... because Christ is the Truth, and He speaks the truth, and He is the One to whom God told us to listen. If something contradicts the truth, then it cannot be true. That is just logical, right? Also, God is love and what comes from Him is from love. So test all things. Hold them up to the Light (Christ).

Bring to Christ Jesus all that is preached to you by people who claim to be from God, and let Him tell you what to do to determine the truth behind those words, instead of testing them by yourself with the aid of your bible.

[JehovahsWitness]

It seems as if you are saying there are some things that are TRUE and that those truths (that we can read in the bible) are the words (the declarations) of the Son/Almignty God.

Exactly! You’ve done a perfect home run! But without Jesus, as our Teacher in this context, we can’t arrive at the truth in the Bible.

So, truth CAN be found in a book (the bible)? We need help (and discernment) but it is false to say that the bible doesn't contain any truth, some of it is absolutely the true utterances (declarations) from Almighty God himself. Correct?

For example ....

The last sentence holds unconditionally. Jesus is the Way, and the Truth, and the Life.

For example John 14:6 is a truth that can be read in a book. In that book on the page we can find a bible truth. Correct?

[OneJack]

[Replying to JehovahsWitness in post #45]

So, truth CAN be found in a book (the bible)? We need help (and discernment) but it is false to say that the bible doesn't contain any truth, some of it is absolutely the true utterances (declarations) from Almighty God himself. Correct?

I’m not saying that the bible has no truth at all, let me clarify that issue. We need the real and forever living Jesus to teach us the truth in the bible.

For example ....

The last sentence holds unconditionally. Jesus is the Way, and the Truth, and the Life.

For example John 14:6 is a truth that can be read in a book. In that book on the page we can find a bible truth. Correct?

Even though John 14:6 is true, you still need Jesus to know the true meaning of the Way, and the Truth, and the Life, so with the phrase ‘no one comes to the Father, but by me.’

[JehovahsWitness]

I’m not saying that the bible has no truth at all...

So to sum up you believe ...

Some verses in the bible are true, therefore, even though the bible is a book (made up of ink and paper), it is special since it contains some verses that are actually the thoughts of Almighty God (meaning declarations of truths that originated with Almighty God); for example John 14:6 is a divine truth.

Would you agree with all of the above? If not, could you write out the part of the above statement you disagree with and explain why


Thanks,

JW

[placebofactor]

[Replying to OneJack in post #39]

OneJack, I took your quote and lined it up with what is written in the King James Bible. Your comments echo several themes that appear throughout the Bible. Below, I’ve broken the statement into its major ideas and paired each one with a fitting KJV verse.

Your wrote,
1. “All of you who are listening, listen carefully!”
KJV Match: Isaiah 55:3 — “Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live…”

2. “I am your Lord God.”
KJV Match: Exodus 20:2 — “I am the LORD thy God…”

3. “Who are you afraid of? I am the Almighty.”
KJV Match: Isaiah 51:12 — “I, even I, am he that comforteth you: who art thou, that thou shouldest be afraid of a man…?” And Genesis 17:1 — “…I am the Almighty God…”

4. “Who are you intimidated by?”
KJV Match: Psalm 27:1 — “The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?”

5. “When I am by your side, you have nothing to fear, nothing to worry about.”
KJV Match: Isaiah 41:10 — “Fear thou not; for I am with thee… I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee…”

6. “I will save you from any calamity if you trust in Me.”
KJV Match: Psalm 91:14–15 — “Because he hath set his love upon me… I will deliver him… I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him…”

7. “Regard Me as your salvation and eternal life.”
KJV Match: Isaiah 12:2 — “Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid…” And Psalm 27:1 — “…The LORD is my light and my salvation…”

8. “As your Lord, whom you alone will worship and none other.”
KJV Match: Exodus 34:14 — “For thou shalt worship no other god: for the LORD… is a jealous God.”

9. “I am the one true God existing in heaven, earth, or universe.”
KJV Match: Deuteronomy 4:39 — “…the LORD he is God in heaven above, and upon the earth beneath: there is none else.”

10. “I created all things.”
KJV Match: Isaiah 44:24 — “…I am the LORD that maketh all things; that stretcheth forth the heavens alone…”

11. “I gave you life.”
KJV Match: Genesis 2:7 — “…the LORD God formed man… and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life…”

12. “Where will you go? If not to Me, you have nowhere else to go.”
KJV Match: John 6:68 — “Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.”

You did a great job, placebfactor. God bless you. He is Jesus, the Almighty God. But I doubt if you can find matching pairs for the following narratives [shaded in red], which the Lord uttered, and He said:

"I am the Pastor, I am the Good Pastor. Remember, no one else will teach you except Me. If you explain to one another, it's only according to your own will, according to your own thoughts. So remember, anyone who stands as a pastor, who stands as a leader of My church, is working iniquity and stealing My place as the Good Pastor. Because you are only human, you who are pastors, you who teach and stand before people, you who work iniquity, you who cast out demons in My name, remember that when I return, many will call out to Me, 'Lord, Lord, didn't we do mighty works and cast out demons in Your name, didn't we heal?' But remember, I will say to them, 'I never knew you, I never recognized you, you who work iniquity, you who cast out demons.' Remember, when you cast out demons, you're taking away the role that belongs to Me. If you encounter someone possessed by a demon, just pray to Me, and I am ready to hear your prayer and will listen to every complaint you whisper to Me, every cry you make, every prayer you offer. I will help you and never abandon you, especially those who are Mine and follow Me.“

Note: The original utterances of the Lord [in Tagalog language] truly fitted the mode of His utterances in the KJV of the Bible.

Commentary: “Remember, no one else will teach you except Me.”
K.J.B. Isaiah 54:13, “And all thy children shall be taught of the LORD; and great shall be the peace of thy children.”
Jeremiah 31:34, “And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me…”
John 6:45 “It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me.”
1 John 2:27, “…ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things…”

Commentary: “If you explain to one another, it's only according to your own will, according to your own thoughts.”
K.J.B. Jeremiah 23:16, “…they speak a vision of their own heart, and not out of the mouth of the LORD.”
Colossians 2:8, “Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.”
Proverbs 3:5, “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.”

Commentary: “So remember, anyone who stands as a pastor, who stands as a leader of My church, is working iniquity and stealing My place as the Good Pastor.”
K.J.B. John 10:11, “I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.”
John 10:12, “But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth…”
Ezekiel 34:2, “Woe be to the shepherds of Israel that do feed themselves! should not the shepherds feed the flocks?”
Matthew 23:8, 10, “But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren… Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ.”

Commentary: “Because you are only human, you who are pastors, you who teach and stand before people, you who work iniquity…”
K.J.B. James 3:1 “My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation.”
Matthew 23:27–28, “…ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.”
Ezekiel 34:3–4, “Ye eat the fat, and ye clothe you with the wool, ye kill them that are fed: but ye feed not the flock…”

Commentary: “…you who cast out demons in My name…”
K.J.B. Matthew 7:22, “Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not… in thy name cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?”
Luke 10:17, “And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name.”

Commentary: “Remember that when I return, many will call out to Me, ‘Lord, Lord, didn't we do mighty works and cast out demons in Your name, didn't we heal?’”
K.J.B. Matthew 7:22, “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?”
Matthew 25:11, “Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.”

Commentary: “But remember, I will say to them, ‘I never knew you, I never recognized you, you who work iniquity…’”
K.J.B. Matthew 7:23, “And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.”

Commentary: “…you who cast out demons.”
K.J.B. Matthew 7:22–23, “…in thy name have cast out devils?… I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.”

Commentary: “Remember, when you cast out demons, you're taking away the role that belongs to Me.”
K.J.B. Luke 11:20, “But if I with the finger of God cast out devils, no doubt the kingdom of God is come upon you.”
Mark 16:17, “And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils…”
Acts 19:13–16, “…some of the vagabond Jews, exorcists, took upon them to call over them which had evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus… And the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye? And the man … overcame them…”

[OneJack]

I’m not saying that the bible has no truth at all...

So to sum up you believe ...

Some verses in the bible are true, therefore, even though the bible is a book (made up of ink and paper), it is special since it contains some verses that are actually the thoughts of Almighty God (meaning declarations of truths that originated with Almighty God); for example John 14:6 is a divine truth.

Would you agree with all of the above? If not, could you write out the part of the above statement you disagree with and explain why


Thanks,

JW

Some verses in the bible are true, and some are false. Therefore, even though the bible is a book (made up of ink and paper), it is a book of testimonies to the Lord Jesus that He is real and forever living. It points all of us to Jesus for our salvation and eternal life. Be though as it may, the bible is not the Almighty God, whose name is Jesus.

[OneJack]

[Replying to placebofactor in post #48]

Commentary: “Remember, no one else will teach you except Me.”
K.J.B. Isaiah 54:13, “And all thy children shall be taught of the LORD; and great shall be the peace of thy children.”
Jeremiah 31:34, “And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me…”
John 6:45 “It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me.”
1 John 2:27, “…ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things…”

The weight is on the phrase ‘no one will teach you except Me,’ which each one of us shall seek its reality, not through the bible, but by and through the Lord Himself, who is real and forever living. As long as we continue to confine ourselves to the limits and bounds of the pages of the bible, we’re still in bondage to bibliolatry, which is the same as idolatry.

Commentary: “If you explain to one another, it's only according to your own will, according to your own thoughts.”
K.J.B. Jeremiah 23:16, “…they speak a vision of their own heart, and not out of the mouth of the LORD.”
Colossians 2:8, “Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.”
Proverbs 3:5, “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.”

The Lord is talking here about conversation like we’re doing right now. He is not talking about someone who speaks outside the scriptures only. Trust in the Lord with all thine hearts does not mean trust all the words that you read in the bible.

Commentary: “So remember, anyone who stands as a pastor, who stands as a leader of My church, is working iniquity and stealing My place as the Good Pastor.”
K.J.B. John 10:11, “I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.”
John 10:12, “But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth…”
Ezekiel 34:2, “Woe be to the shepherds of Israel that do feed themselves! should not the shepherds feed the flocks?”
Matthew 23:8, 10, “But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren… Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ.”

These are all the self-proclaimed pastors across all religious denominations, whose powerful weapon in luring people into their sheep’s fold is the Bible. The Lord ordains no one as pastor in His flock but Himself only.

Commentary: “Because you are only human, you who are pastors, you who teach and stand before people, you who work iniquity…”
K.J.B. James 3:1 “My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation.”
Matthew 23:27–28, “…ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.”
Ezekiel 34:3–4, “Ye eat the fat, and ye clothe you with the wool, ye kill them that are fed: but ye feed not the flock…”

The moment you brazenly take the bible and stand up, as a pastor, in any congregation to preach Jesus, you’re a worker of iniquity, as simple as that.

Commentary: “…you who cast out demons in My name…”
K.J.B. Matthew 7:22, “Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not… in thy name cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?”
Luke 10:17, “And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name.”

These people (self-proclaimed pastors) are famous in various born-again movements and the likes, and they perform on TV shows via live satellite feed. I know you know them.

Commentary: “Remember that when I return, many will call out to Me, ‘Lord, Lord, didn't we do mighty works and cast out demons in Your name, didn't we heal?’”
K.J.B. Matthew 7:22, “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?”
Matthew 25:11, “Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.”

Commentary: “But remember, I will say to them, ‘I never knew you, I never recognized you, you who work iniquity…’”
K.J.B. Matthew 7:23, “And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.”

Commentary: “…you who cast out demons.”
K.J.B. Matthew 7:22–23, “…in thy name have cast out devils?… I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.”

Commentary: “Remember, when you cast out demons, you're taking away the role that belongs to Me.”
K.J.B. Luke 11:20, “But if I with the finger of God cast out devils, no doubt the kingdom of God is come upon you.”
Mark 16:17, “And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils…”
Acts 19:13–16, “…some of the vagabond Jews, exorcists, took upon them to call over them which had evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus… And the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye? And the man … overcame them…”

People do not recognize them because they use the bible in preaching Jesus.