AN IMPORTANT NOTICE...
... about my messages. I've now had two people ask can they use these for their friends and church. This is quite wonderful, of course, but for anyone doing this there are some things it's important for you to understand. I want you to know what's involved, so you are ready for whatever reactions you may receive.
First of all, please understand that each church has its own quite specific doctrine and practice, i.e., many if not most Christians will hold to the teachings of THEIR church! And also defend them strongly! As being "RIGHT", and the only 'right'!
HOW I CAME TO WRITE HOW I DO
Because of our chronic ill-health, we've been out of a church setting for more than a dozen years. Had this not been so I'd be writing differently here (or not here at all more likely), as I'd quite inevitably be 'affected' by church teachings of the one I was in and others I'd previously been in. Sad but true!
Then soon after we had to quit church there was another development: we soon found ourselves in a serious situation in the Spiritual realm, and it bombed us both out very badly.
My reaction to this was pretty swift: which was to throw out ALL - and I do mean ALL - of the things I'd ever been taught in various churches over a period of many decades - AND START AFRESH! I was sick and tired of being led astray by false teaching like had just happened to us.
MY DRASTIC DECISION...
SO... I went to the Lord with a most serious request to Him for the Holy Spirit to teach me the TRUTH from His Word. Which by His amazing GRACE He has! Unaffected by this doctrine and that, from this church and that, I've come to see and understand the New Testament with a clarity that still quite stuns me. And so that's quite simply what I teach here on this wonderful forum!
My source of TRUTH is the Bible, and specifically the NT, just as the Holy Spirit REVEALS it to me - and reveal He has. At the same time as this, I'm doing due diligence humanly by studying from The Amplified Bible, and by constantly looking to the meaning of the Greek text, to check what God originally wrote in that language! THAT'S what I want to know!! That's ALL that I want to know!!! If God did not clearly say it in the New Testament then I am NOT INTERESTED! End of story.
FURTHER, I also cross-check with a couple of the Christian greats from England some hundreds of years ago - men definitely with the runs on the board like Matthew Henry in his Commentary on the Whole Bible, where in turn HE consulted the writings of the greats up to his time, to compile them into his momentous work that's now stood the test of time for hundreds of years. This is seriously SOLID stuff, people! And of course ALL of the above is available on the Internet these days for anyone who wished to do the same as I have!
THE WARNING
Warning's not quite the right word, but anyone taking my writing to another person or group needs to be aware that people hold to THEIR doctrine very strongly! If you try to tell them they're wrong, quoting me, they may not take kindly to this! I personally don't mind you quoting me one little bit, as I've never claimed, and never will, that I have everything right. Only GOD has that! I just want you to be aware of how people think, so that you're not surprised by any responses you may get. Maybe you'll not get any - except positive ones! - and that would be a great blessing indeed.
Please know that I am NOT saying any of this to in any way dissuade you from taking what I write, first, to apply what you can to you own life, and second, to share it with others. That's totally Scriptural to do, and you can expect God to bless it! BUT every time good Spiritual work is being done, the enemy will fight it, and so you come to difficulties and hardships - just like I've written many times here that this is the normal Christian life! You can, and should, rejoice in them!
THE SUGGESTION
This applies at all times in every situation, including what I'm talking about here: never argue (or debate) with another Christian about Bible teaching. This is quite futile, and it is not helpful. Discuss, yes, that's great. But NEVER argue. Mostly you'll find that people will NOT shift from their beliefs. You see, all of us believe that we are right - crazy and all as that may sound! But some WILL, and THEY are the ones we want to reach for Jesus!!
CONCLUSION
Let's spread the word about His Word! AND DO THIS BOLDLY!! Let's spread the word about PRACTICAL Christianity, and how we can, and should, all be living this, living as the Lord wants us to! Let's decide today that we are going to LEARN and GROW so we meet Jesus face to face as a mature Christian man or woman. And we'll be there together. That's the wonderful part! I'll never meet you wonderful Brothers and Sisters on this earth, but we'll be TOGETHER with the Lord of Glory! Praise be to His Wonderful Name!!
Bless you in all of His love!
- BM with his Lady
Please continue praying. I think I'll post this on a thread because this group of Christians can really "hit heaven" I know. Bonnie
War is so hard on people and sometimes in ways people don't even think about.
