Points are shared, today, on prayer being offered for victims of the recent shooting tragedy in Orlando, FL. For mature Christian believers who are trusting that, through operations of the Holy Spirit, blood, correction, and truth from the cross are flowing to here and now, the benefit and outcome of prayer to oneself is less the proper focus, and instead the divine intent and work of prayer are to be acknowledged. Included are comfort, intercession, and revelation. In the light of abuses and repeated failures in covenant, (i.e., those chosen to cast out covenant-breakers becoming covenant-breakers themselves), believers in GOD upon the earth are no longer to serve as divine armies, cruel instruments, and plagues to punish transgressors of sacred law. Presumption, exaggerated pride (as opposed to healthy self-esteem), self-promotion, and violence have made mankind unfit as judges. For those in Christ, Satan and the imperfection of mankind have been removed from divine Judgment: The followers of Jesus are to show love by restraining from condemnation and punitive judgment (1st Corinthians 4: 5, King James Version (KJV): 5 Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God.) More than this, there will be no accuser when the wicked appear in resurrection. Satan will have been cast into the Lake of Fire, and their assessment will go forward in keeping with the record of their own deeds from the Books of life. The fighter at “Yahoo! Answers” using the ID “Stacy” (Level 1 with 20 points, a member since April 22, 2016) posted the following:
Why are people praying for the victims of the recent Orlando shooting?
The Bible is perfectly clear what happens to gays when they die. I'm sorry to say but they are burning in eternal hellfire right now. They were doomed from the start, hopefully other gays repent and leave behind their evil lifestyle. I'm sorry for their parents who are religious and know they will never see their son again, not in this life or the afterlife.
THE GOLDEN ARROW: Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures. Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God. Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls. But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed. If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man’s religion is vain. Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world. (James 1: 17-27, KJV)
THE DOUBLE DAGGER: How To Treat Unbelievers? (01/13/2016); The GOD Of All? (01/08/2016); That GOD Is Faithful? (08/31/2015); To Err is Human? (07/24/2015); How GOD Answers Prayer? (01/09/2015); What Salvation Is (01/25/2014); Bible Justice? (01/26/2014); Intercession (12/27/2013); Jesus Is GOD’s Word (12/28/2013)
“Stacy”, there are many points a person would have to understand regarding another person’s commitment to GOD before it would be completely clear why and how they use prayer to give expression within their continuing relationship to our Creator. Even so, consider the following:
(1.) The character, nature and substance of the GOD you serve is revealed to others by your prayers, service and worship. That mature believers would pray for victims in a tragedy is a further operation of the Spirit of GOD within them that makes divinity knowable, known, and visible to others outside of themselves. Deity is seen to be clearly active and present having power over the unseen aspects of life (e.g., awareness, duration, existence, joining, “person”, self-will). Where believers turn to a GOD who comforts, forgives, and who even grants rebirth and resurrection from the dead, prayer is acknowledgment and correct submission (some say, awe, fear of the Lord).
(2.) For mature Christian believers a human life is more than flesh and bone. The “breath of life” (we say, life essence, spirit, word) has been imparted to mankind from GOD. Every man is a vessel containing precious substance from the actual makeup of Deity that includes faith, holiness, joy, longsuffering, wisdom, and wrath against sin. The fullness of a man’s life goes beyond carnal, material and social situations as well as the necessary frameworks of time and space. Thus, in the same way a man’s life consists of more than the things he may accumulate and possess, value of a human life goes beyond ones errors, sins, and weaknesses.
(3.) Divine Judgment is exalted by its mercy and righteousness. Compassion and empathy emerge from the elements of shared humanity that include consciousness, desire, feelings, and hope. Finite human judgment is not a correct expression of divine judgment, for it often centers in the beggarly elements of destruction, retribution, and wrath. By contrast, divine Judgment manifests excellence and glory appearing as balance, completeness, correction, forbearance, forgiveness, impartiality, restraint, and grace.
There is far more that should be carefully said, thoughtfully examined, and spiritually understood. (For example, (4.) Life events demand correct reverence (acknowledgment) of GOD. The operations of sin may dominate awareness and self-will in created beings and living creatures. Maintaining ones freedom and integrity of being requires a person have regular contact with the Creator, or his agents and representatives, who are appointed to affirm and authenticate correct belief, proper respect, eternal purposes, and genuine trust.) Even so, I am sure this fragment will be useful. Be it unto you according to your faith.
THE BLACK PHOENIX
Washington, DC
Washington, DC
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