Today, the reply focuses on
moderation, sobriety, and whether there are “feel good” aspects of becoming and
serving as a mature Christian believer. Contentment, pleasures, and the
fulfillment of ones sexual aspect are not denied to the people of GOD, yet, the
church founded by Jesus Christ is to be “the evidence of things unseen.” An
important lesson from the Scriptures concerning appetite and conscience
declares: Romans 14: 22-23, King James Version (KJV): 22 Hast thou faith?
have it to thyself before God. Happy is he that condemneth not
himself in that thing which he alloweth. 23 And he that doubteth is damned if
he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not
of faith is sin. Where Christian believers become members of a church
congregation, they agree to obey a code of conduct, follow counsel and
guidelines from clergy and the appointed leadership as well as to perform
specific duties that are required to continue in good standing (e.g., attend
business meetings re church finances; participate in fund raising; pickup and
distribute church fliers and programs). Christian believers all are sinners
called to repentance and a new life wherein they serve as priests and kings of
the divine kingdom Deity is establishing upon the earth. Every sinner must
become transformed through life events and operations by divinity (e.g.,
cleansing, healing, repentance, sanctification) that may require their entire
lifetime, and that will be completed for some only in an instant at the
appearing of Jesus Christ. A fighter in the “Yahoo! Answers” Religion and
Spirituality forum who uses the ID “?” (Level 1 with 231 points, a member since
February 06, 2018) posted the following:
Would a life style with out any stimulants
benefit you as a person or drive you crazy?
E.g no TV, no technology , no drugs /
alcohol nothing that gives you "a feel good " boost. Just drinking water when
thirsty and eating a light healthy meal when hungry. For fun or hobbies you
could do something creative such as read or draw, or exercise.
THE GOLDEN ARROW: Therefore
being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and
rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only so, but we glory in
tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience,
experience; and experience, hope: And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love
of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.
(Romans 5: 1-5, King James Version, KJV)
THE DOUBLE DAGGER: Rendering
Our Reasonable Service (06/15/2018); Christianity Is A Relationship
(04/05/2018); A Matter of Conscience (04/07/2017); How Is Flesh Evil?
(10/28/2016); Material Things in Heaven? (11/10/2016); The Witness of Conscience
(09/23/2016); Freedom of Foul Speech (09/10/2014); Dating and Worship?
(09/11/2014)
“?”, there is a great deal of diversity among the
lifestyles and daily living routines of those who turn to Jesus Christ hoping to
receive a new life from their Creator. There are various principles and
standards shared within the body of Christ (the church) that have been derived
from divine law, sacred practices, and wisdom from the Scriptures. Examples
include regularly gathering and sharing fellowship with like-minded believers
(e.g., attending church, Bible study, working to complete necessary tasks);
Sabbath-keeping; praise within ones congregation; prayer in the home;
evangelism, missions, and prison ministry; visiting shut-ins and those who are
sick; and heartfelt worship. Differences in age, commitment, sacred
knowledge, secular knowledge, and spiritual maturity make it that there is
no single set of attitudes, behavior, and disciplines that will be displayed by
everyone in any given situation.
Those who become “born-again” in baptism (i.e.,
death, burial, and resurrection of the inborn spirit) must “grow up again.”
Their goal should be to acknowledge their own accountability, to become
Christ-like, and to maintain self-government under the authority of GOD.
Sinners are to become developing believers who must mature/ripen to be harvested
from the earth at the Advent of Jesus Christ (we also say, his appearing; the
Rapture; the Second Coming). All must meet “growing pains” and the life
challenges that come by living on the earth. Included can be bereavement,
disappointments, duty (things you must carryout and perform, like it or not),
hardship, sacrifice, and suffering.
The fresh endowment of spirit substance imparted
from the makeup of divinity shields and strengthens a new believer, as they
discover, gradually grow, undergo permanent change, and serve as true vessels of
divinity, offspring of GOD, and joint-heirs with Jesus Christ. Inseparable
aspects of the divine makeup are received such as balance, discernment, faith,
forbearance, holiness, joy, longsuffering, lovingkindness, oneness
without sameness, restraint, wisdom, and wrath against sin. These
working together transform otherwise confusing, mundane, or painful life
experiences in a way that allows the believer to operate as having assurances
and certain victory, even though there are still obstacles and threats to be
overcome, and they may still be in the midst of a storm. Consider the following
that uses language from the Bible:
(1.) Proverbs 23: 29-35, King James Version
(KJV): 29 Who hath woe? who hath sorrow? who hath contentions? who hath
babbling? who hath wounds without cause? who hath redness of eyes? 30 They that
tarry long at the wine; they that go to seek mixed wine. 31 Look not thou upon
the wine when it is red, when it giveth his colour in the cup, when it
moveth itself aright. 32 At the last it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth
like an adder. 33 Thine eyes shall behold strange women, and thine heart shall
utter perverse things. 34 Yea, thou shalt be as he that lieth down in the midst
of the sea, or as he that lieth upon the top of a mast. 35 They have stricken
me, shalt thou say, and I was not sick; they have beaten me,
and I felt it not: when shall I awake? I will seek it yet
again.
(2.) Romans 6: 3-5, KJV: 3 Know ye not, that so
many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? 4
Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was
raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk
in newness of life. 5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of
his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his
resurrection:
(3.) Romans 14: 13-21, KJV: 13 Let us not
therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a
stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother’s way. 14 I know,
and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that there is nothing
unclean of itself: but to him that esteemeth any thing to be unclean, to him
it is unclean. 15 But if thy brother be grieved with thy meat, now
walkest thou not charitably. Destroy not him with thy meat, for whom
Christ died. 16 Let not then your good be evil spoken of: 17 For the kingdom
of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy
Ghost. 18 For he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to
God, and approved of men. 19 Let us therefore follow after the things which
make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another. 20 For meat destroy
not the work of God. All things indeed are pure; but it is
evil for that man who eateth with offence. 21 It is good neither to
eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother
stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak.
(4.) Philippians 2: 12, KJV: 12 Wherefore, my
beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more
in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.
There is far more that should be said, correctly
examined, and spiritually apprehended. (For example, (5.) Revelation 21: 7-8,
KJV: 7 He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and
he shall be my son. 8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and
murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall
have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the
second death.) Even so, I trust this fragment will be useful. Be it unto you
according to your faith.
THE BLACK
PHOENIX
Washington, DC
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