Knowing The Voice Of The True Shepherd
T___ wrote:Hi T____,
In listening to the Dallas conference video the first talk a verse stuck out at me.
Genesis 1:26 And God 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. Now I like this analogy: God gives us for the sea. I know from Revelation that the sea is all of mankind, God tells us that directly. Taking what Christ said, "I will make you fisher's of men". Anyway, God creates all the fish of the sea just as he calls whom he will to the church/Christ. Then just as men draw in a fish, so God draws each of us right?
Also in reading Proverbs 19, it is speaking about talking with perverse lips or hastening our feet, and it hit me that the church world are the people this is talking about. They speak perverse things, a lying tongue, false doctrines because 1. it's not given to them to understand and 2. the hunger for God's word isn't given them. Then in thinking of an example of this, Proverbs18 came to light. In professing these false doctrines they become talebearers, professing doctrines they do not know or understand (have never looked into) bearing witness of 'gossip' they have heard from their pastors.
I realize these are pretty basic biblical concepts, but it always refreshing when these little nuggets are given, and I always feel like sharing them with everyone.
T____
I am happy that you are listening to the audios of the conference talks.
That is exactly right. It is God who drags us to Himself just like Peter and the apostles drug the net full of fish to the shore. We cannot come any other way:
Thank you also for sharing with me the revelations which the Lord has given you. I must confess that I had never made the connection between "I will make you fishers of men" and the 'sea.' Yes, it is indeed elementary. But "iron sharpens iron," and we all learn from each other. I feel so blessed to be the recipient of so many revelations via this web page. It is not just from letters like yours, but it is also from the questions which I am forced to consider and answer every day. I have to depend on Christ every day and for His Words to give scriptural answers. There are those who believe that we can give answers from what they call a "word of knowledge" or "the proceeding word." Both are nothing more than "thinking above what is written," and it is condemned by both Christ and Paul:John 6:44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw [Greek- drag] him: and I will raise him up at the last day.
John 6:63 It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.
1 Cor 4:6 And these things, brethren, I have in a figure transferred to myself and to Apollos for your sakes; that ye might learn in us not to think [of men] above that which is written, that no one of you be puffed up for one against another.
Leave out the 'of men.' It is not in the Greek. Neither Paul or Apollos would ever have attempted what is so very common today. Many, if not most, ministers are more than willing to think and speak "above what is written," and to attach the words 'Thus saith the Lord" to what they are saying. And it is these very same people who point the finger at those who are faithful to God's words and accuse them of thinking that they "know it all and are never wrong." I personally am being corrected every day of my life, but this does not mean that the written word of God is not to be trusted as our bar against which we "try the spirits" which are doctrines, to see whether they be of God."
So if indeed we want to know what is the Truth of God's spiritual mind we must "acknowledge that the things...[written] are the commandments of the Lord."
1 Cor 14:37 If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual , let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord.
1 Cor 14:38 But if any man be ignorant, let him be ignorant.
"If any man [or woman] think himself to be a prophet or spiritual" then that person will happily "acknowledge that the written word is as Christ told us "spirit and life." It is not the conflicting so called 'words of knowledge' or 'the proceeding word' which contradicts the written words of either Christ or His apostles.
1 Tim 6:3 If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ , and to the doctrine which is according to godliness;
1 Tim 6:4 He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings,
1 Tim 6:5 Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.
"From such withdraw yourself." Now there are some words which are indeed hated by those with 'words of knowledge' and 'the proceeding word.' Both are words from their own hearts which despise "the wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ" and of His apostles. Without God's written words, we can neither "try the spirits" nor have any idea from whom we should "withdraw ourselves." We are a ship without a rudder adrift in a sea of people who preach love and practice hatred toward God's Word and all those who will not compromise that Word. All who refuse to compromise God's Word will indeed be "hated of all men..."
Mike
Matt 10:22 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.
Christ's 'name' and His 'voice' are both His Word.
Stay in touch.Thanks again for sharing your epiphanies with me.John 10:4 And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice.
John 10:5 And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers
Mike
