tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5193745359560427451.post7414377841624967710..comments2024-03-17T05:49:51.113-07:00Comments on The Refiner's Fire Blog: Wonder why people don't bother to "know" God?Carmenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14998146626031186940noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5193745359560427451.post-49744139331485113222015-10-06T20:00:06.183-07:002015-10-06T20:00:06.183-07:00Well, Anonymous, it is far too hard to assess this...Well, Anonymous, it is far too hard to assess this issue with just these few words in your comment, and without knowing your friend. The fact that she apparently "wants" to know YHWH and "be in faith" is a good sign. Her reluctance to read and pray may just be the overwhelming lack of understanding that comes from "browsing around" in scripture. Many scriptures, read by themselves, simply make you scratch your head because they don't readily convey a sensible meaning.<br /><br />Ask your friend if she has ever read the Bible, cover-to-cover. I suspect she hasn't. Challenge her to. See if she'll accept the challenge to read the entire Bible, beginning to end, in say, one year. Then tell her you are willing to talk with her about what she learned and what she found difficult and what she found simply incomprehensible. Then slowly reveal to her that all Bibles have "biases" and that now that she has read the whole thing, go back to those parts that did not make sense, and get other Bible versions, and other sources and start reading what others say, and see if some "aha moments" start coming. This might be just what she needs to "come alive". The goal is to get her to see there is a YHWH there to know, and that to know Him will take more than a single run through the scriptures. <br /><br />Regarding Philippians 2:13, here is what I do when I am trying to understand the meaning of a verse. In this case, I'd go back to Philippians 1:1 and start reading from there. In the NT letters, the opening chapter generally informs you to whom the letter was written, and what might be going on. In other words, it sets the stage for the meaning of the later verses in the letter. <br /><br />Here, Paul and Timothy are writing to the Set Apart believers in Philippi! So right away, you know the words in Chapter 2 are not to "just anyone". Paul is addressing those in Philippi who are already striving to live the faith. Thus, chapter 2 verse 13 is Paul's way of saying that Elohim is at work in them, for their desire (which is to spread the Good News of the Kingdom). So you can't apply this verse to your friend. While YHWH *may* be at work in her, she may also need something He is waiting for. That something may well be you! I don't know. Again, the fact that she apparently "wants" to know YHWH and "be in faith" is a good sign - YHWH may be moving!<br /><br />So, without pressuring her, let her know you are there to help, that you don't know everything, but that she might start by committing to first read the whole Bible. (If she says she has already, then ask her to generate a list of those things which left her wondering, then you have an "in" for further discussion.) Liamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00281049645175102119noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5193745359560427451.post-57696008146990677712015-10-06T14:50:04.733-07:002015-10-06T14:50:04.733-07:00How do I help a person who does want to know YHWH ...How do I help a person who does want to know YHWH and to "be in faith" but says she is tired and struggles to have the true desire to read the Bible and to pray? She questions whether she truly is in faith and saved. I myself have a deep desire to read the Bible and study it, to know YHWH, to follow Him, to keep His commandments and to be found faithful and worthy. I consider everything in my worldly life to be trash compared to knowing YHWH. I just don't know how to give some of my desire to my friend, if it were possible. I know the Bible says that YHWH works in us to will and to act; Phil. 2:13. So does it mean that He hasn't worked in my friend to will and to act? I probably don't understand this Bible verse properly. Can you help me please?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5193745359560427451.post-34952366725353373992015-08-07T19:16:47.734-07:002015-08-07T19:16:47.734-07:00Amein, sis! Thanks for your comments! Shabbat sh...Amein, sis! Thanks for your comments! Shabbat shalom to you and yours!Carmenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14998146626031186940noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5193745359560427451.post-2838479309112736942015-08-07T19:00:40.612-07:002015-08-07T19:00:40.612-07:00The cross, the cross, that's what I heard them...The cross, the cross, that's what I heard them say. It is not the cross that saves them but the blood that Yeshua shed. It makes me sick when I hear them say the cross is what saves. It is Idolitry when you idolize the cross. A symbol does not save. Only knowing YHWH & Y'shua in truth will save you. Fallingwatershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08325996378970601462noreply@blogger.com