(09/20/2018) Receiving What We Ask

Today, reply is on the application and expression of faith, “sacred knowledge,” and spiritual conviction when presenting petitions to GOD in prayer. Christian believers demonstrate that their prayers are “already answered” when they display accord with one another and divinity by operating on the basis of godly expectations and sacred promises. Such features appear as forbearance, joy, longsuffering, meekness, peace of mind, and wisdom that affirm the declarations of divinity recorded within the Scriptures (e.g., blessings, cautions, curses, and warnings; covenants; judgments and divine law; proclamation, promises, and prophecy). A writer in the “Yahoo! Answers” Religion and Spirituality forum using the ID “canadacraig” (Level 6 with 19,830 points; a member since August 19, 2006) posted the following:

When you ask GOD for something - believe that 'it' has ALREADY been given to you. But how are you supposed to do that - exactly?

This is in reference to a scripture verse found in the Bible.

Matthew 11:24

"Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours."

THE GOLDEN ARROW: Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all, (As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were. Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be. And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sarah's womb: He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform. And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness. (Romans 4: 16-22, King James Version, KJV)

THE DOUBLE DAGGER: Anything We Ask For? (09/12/2018); What May We Request? (05/24/2018); The Meaning of “Faith” (03/28/2018); Praying For “More Faith”? (01/12/2018); Coincidence or Answered Prayer? (11/15/2017); Teach Me To Pray (03/21/2017); Become Like Jesus Christ? (10/27/2016)

“canadacraig”, mature Christian believers must seek the gifts and tools for sacred ministry through prayer and supplication. In the way they direct and focus their own awareness, spirit content, and self-will (we say, willpower), the disciples and followers of Jesus are to exist as the new creation of Christ, who are in an eternal relationship with divine fullness (we say, the GODhead; the Father, the Son, the Holy Spirit) that may be interrupted by sleep, yet, will not be ended by the second death. Sinners must become “born again” through baptism (a death, burial, and resurrection of ones inborn spirit), and receive a fresh endowment of inseparable spirit substance from the makeup of GOD (e.g., faith, forbearance, holiness, longsuffering, lovingkindness, meekness, oneness without sameness, personhood, wisdom, and wrath against sin). As vessels of spirit from GOD who is immortal, incorruptible and unchanging, developing believers are to “grow up again” and become ripe for harvest from the earth by Jesus Christ at his coming (his appearing; the Advent; the Rapture; the Second Coming).

Because the goal of the Christian believer is to become Christ-like, godly, and spiritually mature (i.e., balanced; complete; consistent; stable), the process of new life is one of discovery, gradual growth, learning, and transformation along with unlearning for many things of the flesh and the world.  Sacred knowledge is to be embraced in place of secular knowledge; and the frameworks of time and space often may not be fitted to the eternal purposes and works of divinity. There must be development and sanctification through exercise and practice of discernment (using one own spirit content from the makeup of GOD as a standard to recognize and respond to the spirit substance present within events, messages, oneself, other persons, the holy writings, etc.).

Operating in the flesh appears as appetite (e.g., hunger, thirst, craving sex), sensation (e.g., hearing, seeing, tasting, touching), and expressing emotion/mind (e.g., anger, doubt, fantasy, fear, recall, thought). To “walk in the spirit” is to conduct oneself in accordance with the word of GOD provided as admonitions and warnings; divine law; guidance and instruction; proclamation, promises, and prophecy; and the promptings of the Holy Spirit. Developing believers successfully accomplish living in the Spirit as commitment, consistency, and decisiveness, not by displaying emotion, feelings, or carnal reason. Where believers act upon and speak in faith they carry out sacred expectation (we say, they show what believers are commanded to hope for). Consider again the following that uses language from the Bible:

1. Hebrews 11: 6, King James Version (KJV): 6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

2. Romans 8: 13-17, KJV: 13 For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. 14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. 15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. 16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: 17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.

3. John 15: 15-16,KJV: 15 Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you. 16 Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.

There is far more that should be said, correctly examined, and spiritually apprehended. (For example, (4.) 1^st John 5: 10-15, KJV: 10 He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son. 11 And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12 He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. 13 These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God. 14 And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: 15 And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.) Even so, I trust this fragment will be useful. Be it unto you according to your faith.

THE BLACK PHOENIX

Washington, DC

(11/24/2012) How To Have Conviction

     Conviction and salvation are topics, today, along with more on how much of the Bible to believe. A “Yahoo! Answers” writer using the ID “Florence” (Level 1 with 80 points, a member since November 23, 2012) posted the following:



Christian girl seeking advice - please help?

i want to become a christian again but i just feel confused because i feel that there are so many religions, denominations of christianity out there - how can i have the conviction that my religion (christianity - petencostalism) is correct?



THE BATTLE AXE: Believing Everything? (11/22/2012)—One of the many ways Scripture gives answer to the question is seen in 1st Corinthians 13: 1-13 (KJV). It is necessary to “believe everything” from the Bible only in the sense that the things written in Scripture are all interconnected and woven together as a single presentation of divine truth. For believers in Christ, reaching the point where you easily discern and recognize that this is so may require many years of spiritual development and growth. Obedience and trust are the primary mechanisms that energize the ongoing process of applying, including and integrating broader and deeper levels of sacred truth. Those lacking meekness that comes by the Holy Spirit insist that the Scriptures are a waste of time, cannot be understood, and are outdated and irrelevant. In doing so, they echo those holy angels in rebellion who were given at Creation the full measure of knowledge needed for the duration of their being and service. They do not learn and are distinct from mankind who, while finite and limited, is still fitted to acquire knowledge by experience and reflection. Through Christ, mankind is certain to prosper in their sincere quests for the inexhaustible, unchanging knowledge of GOD.



THE GOLDEN ARROW: And early in the morning he came again into the temple, and all the people came unto him; and he sat down, and taught them. And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto him a woman taken in adultery; and when they had set her in the midst, They say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act. Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou? This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not. So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her. And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground. And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst. (John 8: 3-9, KJV)



THE DOUBLE DAGGER: On Asking Why (11/08/2012); Unto Caesar…? (11/09/2012); Suppose I Am Wrong? (09/28/2012); What Is Reality (a.k.a. Truth)? (09/29/2012); About Conversion (09/03/2012); By Grace (09/04/2012); Yet If I Judge (09/05/2012); The Young Less Religious (08/18/2012); Why Jesus Prayed (09/19/2012)



     In a confidence that Jesus Christ is alive and operating in their lives through an imparted, indwelling spirit from GOD, many mature Christian believers would dare to speak in the name of Jesus, and in obedience to promptings from the Holy Spirit, and would say something like the following:

     Beloved, you do not have to convince and persuade others, or have authority over the beliefs you maintain for yourself, or those held by anyone else. My ministrations that makes the Father visible for mankind is a work to transform human substance, and is primarily carried out now through the Holy Spirit that resides within a person. As a young believer, you do not need to see the Spirit on a day-to-day, moment-by-moment basis, always in you or always in others around you. You need only continue to ask questions as one who is teachable, seek to understand the Gospel more completely and correctly, and respond to the many opportunities for spiritual learning and growth.

     Salvation is more than a process of academic study that focuses upon the holy writings, or social interaction (i.e., church attendance) that centers in family, friends and intimate relationships. Awareness of divine presence, sacred process and godly purposes must be established. Also, an “appetite” (i.e., demand by the organs and tissues of the body) for the things of GOD must be put into place that operates in the same way as hunger, thirst, and cravings for companionship. Church attendance as well as private meditation and reflection should be guided by ones inner spirit, not by emotion, fantasy, imagination, and human reason. Given that salvation goes forward though multiple progressions that are continuous (e.g., fear of the Lord, regeneration, sanctification), only its beginnings are discrete and finite. All else may be spoken of as “eternal life.”

     Certainty, confidence, and trust are received as aspects of faith, where faith is a content of the person of GOD. As the actual substance of divine being, faith is inseparable from such matter as holiness, humility, joy, longsuffering, love, righteousness, wisdom and wrath against sin. A believer may be absolutely certain that the elements of doubt, hesitation, shame and uncertainty do not come forth from GOD so much as they are from the flesh, the world, or the adversaries of GOD. Believers discipline their focus to grasp and apply the tools I have given for obedience to the Father, praise, thanksgiving and unselfish service to others.

     There is far more to be said, correctly applied, and spiritually apprehended. (For example, those who are saved, and born again” must “grow up again”, and face “growing pains.” Becoming a mature believer who is useful to ones community and the household of faith is no less difficult than becoming a mature adult, and establishing ones professional career. Become thoroughly familiar with the special gifts from GOD supplied for those who have a genuine desire to be his sons and daughters through the adoption of the Holy Spirit—his unfailing word shared as praise, proclamation, promise, and prophecy.) Even so, I trust this fragment will be useful. Be it unto you according to your faith.


THE BLACK PHOENIX
Washington, DC