Today, reply is made on discernment, and the benefits of both church attendance and ministry through activity on the Internet. The liberty provided by the imparted Spirit of GOD allows sinners to acknowledge the atonement and propitiation for sin established by Jesus Christ through the cross, demonstrate repentance, and to pursue new life through ministry and service, not to answer the Father with fleshly lusts, do-as-you-please, pleasure-seeking, and self-promotion. Freedom and liberty from GOD will never mean that sinners do not have to accept the consequences and results from their own actions and choices; and the alternatives granted as salvation are not to be taken lightly. There is no provision from GOD that is a substitute for physically attending church. Even so, believers may apprehend the inseparable aspects of fellowship, prophecy (i.e., comfort, edification, and exhortation), and ministry that are shared because they must be spiritually discerned and received. Simply having a habit of church attendance accomplishes no more than ones private prayer life using unknown tongues for self-edification that does not also edify the church. Mature believers all should put into practice the important declaration shared by Christ: I came to minister, not to be ministered unto. To be loved and ministered to by GOD is also to be loved and ministered to by his sons and daughters on the earth who are willing vessels of his Spirit. The work of responding to others through the social media now available is no less important than the work once carried out by the first apostles who traveled by foot, and those of earlier times who served as missionaries to colonial peoples traveling, first, by great sailing ships and later by steamers. Believers are correct to use the means provided by GOD through present day technology that allow personal contact, the making of brief, yet complete, presentations, and the ability to respond quickly to the direct questions and comments that arise when evangelizing. One of the fighters at “Yahoo! Answers” using the ID “Anonymous” (no profile information shared) posted the following:
If christians on here are true christians what are they doing on here from 10-12 o clock ?shouldnt they be paying attention to the service?
THE GOLDEN ARROW: I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul shall make her boast in the LORD: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad. O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together. (Psalms 34: 1-3, King James Version, KJV)
THE DOUBLE DAGGER: Becoming Joined To GOD (10/13/2017); In Spirit and Truth? (10/02/2017); Prophets and Christian Ambassadors (08/07/2017); ...Gathered In My Name (05/29/2017); ...Because GOD Loves You (03/05/2017); Become Like Jesus Christ? (10/27/2016); The Right Place to Get Knowledge (02/17/2014); Arguing Against the Bible in Church? (02/18/2014)
“Anonymous”, while the “name” of GOD is proclaimed throughout the holy writings, and divinity is made knowable, known, and present by describing the sacred deeds and works of GOD (his reputation, so to speak), Christian believers are to be identified and recognized primarily through “discernment” (the sacred practice of using ones own spirit content from the makeup of GOD as a standard to examine and respond to deposits of the same spirit within events, other persons, motives and purposes, promises and prophecies, doctrines and teachings, etc.). Inseparable aspects of divinity will appear in those who are offspring of GOD and joint heirs with Christ that include faith, holiness, forbearance, longsuffering, lovingkindness, wisdom, and wrath against sin. The finite gifts of authority and office, intellect, carnal reason, and secular knowledge all have less value; and believers will be discovered by their displays of spirit content through words, deeds, outreach, and unselfish service more than by their formal spiritual practices and religious disciplines (such as observance of ceremonies, church attendance, and rituals intended for their own edification), their strict obedience to sacred law, and the peculiar good works they may perform (e.g., giving, healing, music ministry). This being said, sinners who lack and do not practice divine discernment will fail to acknowledge and respond to believers as legitimate agents and spokespersons sent from GOD. For the present time, many have found the unmistakable “mark of GOD” to be manifest as forgiveness, mercy in judgment, and faith that the return of Jesus Christ to harvest those belonging to him from the earth will be in our lifetime. Consider again the following from the Bible:
(1.) 1st Corinthians 12: 3, King James Version (KJV): 3 Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost.
(2.) 2nd Corinthians 3: 17, KJV: 17 Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.
(3.) Romans 8: 4-9, KJV: 5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. 6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. 8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. 9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.
(4.) John 13: 34-35, KJV: 34 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. 35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.
There is far more to be said, thoughtfully practices, and spiritually apprehended. (For example, (5.) 1st John 5: 1-6, KJV: 1 Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him. 2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments. 3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous. 4 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. 5 Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God? 6 This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth.) 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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