tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12391603.post826821335093108272..comments2024-03-24T23:41:23.944-07:00Comments on Talk Wisdom: Without Sound Doctrine, One Can Easily Be DeceivedChristinewjchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18434229284833642438noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12391603.post-58204320308557390522007-09-30T06:30:00.000-07:002007-09-30T06:30:00.000-07:00I think that often, we seek out things that are si...I think that often, we seek out things that are sinful to try to fill the void we have when we don't know Jesus. Unfortunately, I don't think many people realize that's what they're doing. They jump from thing to thing...promiscuity, drugs, alcohol etc., searching for something to make them feel whole, loved, worthy and valued. It's only when we know Christ that we can feel those things without needing the temporary fixes. People seek things which are "pleasurable for a time" because they don't know the love of God and salvation through His Son.<BR/><BR/>Of course, we're human, and even when we know Christ, even when we're born again by water and spirit, we still sin. However, we are better able to recognize that sin and we can repent for it. That's part of how we learn and grow closer to God. <BR/><BR/>This was a great post, Christine. I also enjoyed the responses from Susan Smith.Jadedhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01429987593716194512noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12391603.post-13222494753516866922007-09-29T13:34:00.000-07:002007-09-29T13:34:00.000-07:00Christine asked: “Would you ever want to go back ...Christine asked: “Would you ever want to go back to who you once were or what you once believed now that you have been delivered from it through Jesus Christ?”<BR/><BR/>To answer your question, please allow me to quote from a Joyce Meyer daily word not long ago:<BR/><BR/>“There is a life to be lived that is so superior to anything the world has to offer that no comparison can be made, but we must die to self and all its ways and demands in order to attain it. We must die to our own ways of being and doing – the fleshly ways of handling situations. We must also die to our own thoughts and our own idle, willful and contrary talk. We must learn to live beyond our feelings. <BR/><BR/>The ‘bottom line’ is that God relentlessly pursues the flesh and is intent on setting us free from its control.”<BR/><BR/>Joyce Meyer put into words, the answer that is in my heart. I totally agree with what she said.<BR/><BR/>Shabbat Shalom, my friend. (ss)Susan Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01290399161065548291noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12391603.post-6818930483909626752007-09-29T11:13:00.000-07:002007-09-29T11:13:00.000-07:00Susan,You're sweet words of encouragement help to ...Susan,<BR/><BR/>You're sweet words of encouragement help to keep me going here at this blog. Thank you for that!<BR/><BR/>God's Word tells us to lift each other up, and you certainly do that for me each time you comment here.<BR/><BR/>When you first posted the phrase, "my greatest deception was to believe I could not be deceived," at this blog a while back, it had a startling impact on my Christian walk. I realized that without God's Word, we could all be hopelessly deceived in this fallen world. Even fellow Christian believers who are not diligent in discerning truth (again, through knowing Jesus Christ and by studying his Word of Truth!)from error can allow themselves to fall into deceptive ways if they are not careful.<BR/><BR/>Let me ask you this question. Would you ever want to go back to who you once were or what you once believed now that you have been delivered from it through Jesus Christ?<BR/><BR/>That might sound like a foolish question. But I like to ask people that so they can share what they have gained once the scales of deception have fallen off of their eyes.<BR/><BR/>What the enemy of our souls meant for evil, God turned towards good in your life. The same can be said for me; as well as every other born-again believer and follower of Jesus Christ.<BR/><BR/>Our God is so awesome! When redeemed, our sins are as far as "the east is from the west." Yet, as Hebrews 1:3 informs us, we are being transformed and molded into the image of Jesus continually, each and every day. It is the joy of our lives. As you hinted in your comment, we will never completely "arrive" this side of heaven because it is a lifelong journey. Isn't it?<BR/><BR/>This sanctification process has a distinct purpose and helps us fall even more in love with our Savior! He gives us the agape love that cannot be matched by mere humanly-motivated love, yet increases our brotherly/sisterly love with our families, friends and other believers. In marriage, the agape love of God is present in the relationship and strengthens the eros kind of love between husband and wife, too. <BR/><BR/>The presence of the Holy Spirit in our souls nudges us towards Jesus' command of the Great Commission, and gives us the heartfelt desire to share Christ with the lost.<BR/><BR/>For me, I can look back at my previous God-ignoring willful life filled with sin and see the levels of deception that were constantly at work in my life. This makes me aware of the need for Christ's "it is finished" sacrifice at the cross for all my sins in order to be reconciled back to God. Once again, I am humbled and led into joyful praise to God the Father for sending our Savior! I am again renewed in faith and strength with gratefulness to God for His transformation in my life!!<BR/><BR/>I'm so glad that God has allowed us to meet via this blog and continue to minister to each other as sisters in Christ!<BR/><BR/>I love you, too, and may God send many blessings your way today and always.<BR/><BR/>Love in Him,<BR/>ChristineChristinewjchttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18434229284833642438noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12391603.post-60338941047115607102007-09-29T10:25:00.000-07:002007-09-29T10:25:00.000-07:00This is another outstanding post and you, Christin...This is another outstanding post and you, Christine, are an ambassador of Christ the Messiah to the world. Keep up the great job you are doing in the kingdom as you shed more and greater light in places of darkness:<BR/><BR/>Christine said: “To know and love God, and be loved by Him, despite our foolish sinfulness, is the ultimate desire of our souls. Nothing else in this world can ever satisfy our need for God.<BR/><BR/>Oh yes. Sin may be ‘pleasurable for a time,’ but ultimately we find ourselves to be ‘utterly wretched, miserable, poor, blind and naked’ because sin leads to nothing but death. Allowing sin to consume us and keep us in darkness and deception is the ultimate goal of the enemy of our souls. What he offers us is absolutely nothing but evil, sin, deception and death.”<BR/><BR/>This writer was very deceived during more than 20 years of “living” in the homosexual “life” style. I also practiced drunkenness for more than 30 years. Jesus delivered me from homosexual acts in 1985 and from the identity of a lesbian in 1988. My deliverance from alcohol abuse came years later.<BR/><BR/>My greatest deception was to believe I could not be deceived. That continues even now as the pride of self-righteousness and “holiness” often try to creep into my thoughts. We are transformed from glory to glory as we are being molded into the image of God’s Son, because He is the radiance of God’s glory (see HEB 1:3).<BR/><BR/>I love you, Christine. God has used you immensely to minister to my needs. God bless you this day. (ss)Susan Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01290399161065548291noreply@blogger.com