Dear Mike,<\/p>\n

Several weeks ago I sent a question re: karma in the bible and you were kind enough to reply.\u00a0 I also thanked you for helping me to understand the total sovereignty of God.\u00a0 And I shared with you how that knowledge has helped me to be able to forgive. Somehow, my mind wants to connect the two ideas; karma and God’s sovereignty. While I can do all things through Christ, apart from Him I can do nothing.\u00a0 It is God who sends the lying spirits, the evil spirits, the condemning spirits etc.\u00a0 His intention is always righteous.\u00a0 It is also God who inspires all that is “good”.<\/p>\n

Knowing this leads me to more questions.\u00a0\u00a0God inspired my husband to take a job for which we had to move.\u00a0 I had a “bad feeling” about it, which I shared.\u00a0 He chose to go forward.\u00a0 He was never more unhappy in his life with a job.\u00a0 On the other hand, I was in heaven.\u00a0 God blessed me with what I thought only existed in the dreams of my imagination.\u00a0 I was never happier.\u00a0 Never did I feel more connected to God and His creation.\u00a0 Life was simple and beautiful.\u00a0\u00a0When I realized my husband was so miserable [ and that was evident in his personality], the blessing suddenly became a nightmare [ but I still loved it].\u00a0 I was “inspired” to pray for my husband’s boss and co- workers, to ask for prayer from any and all that I could. For two and a half years I prayed daily. The stress of his unhappiness became heavier and heavier until one night [ he worked nights] I asked God to please get him out of the situation, even if it meant leaving my little dream. Not two weeks, not one week, but suddenly one day later, a position opened within the company.\u00a0 My husband knew how I felt about where we were [ he liked it there, too] and he knew how I felt about where we would be going.\u00a0 God ‘inspired’ me to encourage him to apply.\u00a0\u00a0One month later I write this to you from the place I was brought to 24 years ago kicking and screaming . The place I lived for 18 years and escaped from for a while. My husband is happy to be back in ‘familiar territory’.\u00a0 He is also happy with his new location and new boss and new co- workers [ all happy. laid back people].\u00a0 I am filled with anger.\u00a0 “What am I being punished for, God?” Praying that God will remove the anger from my heart, I see that I have no good fruit at this time.\u00a0Perhaps I never did.\u00a0So, God is in control.\u00a0 He inspired me to pray, not just a “please help him God’ prayer, but a prayer deep from the bowels, a painful prayer.\u00a0 I knew I was praying against what I willed for myself, although I did pray for peace. I should not be angry with my husband, but I am.\u00a0 Even though I know it is God working all after the counsel of His own will, I have so much anger I don’t know what to do with it all!\u00a0I know I have a question somewhere in all of this rambling and that God will reveal it to you, and you will somehow send me a word that will help.\u00a0God<\/p>\n

Bless you for your good heart,<\/p>\n

E____<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Hi E____,<\/p>\n

Thank you for your question.<\/p>\n

I usually repeat a person’s question at the beginning of a letter and then use God’s Word to answer. In your letter you say “Somehow, my mind wants to connect the two ideas [of karma and God’s sovereignty]. Indeed the scriptures do teach:<\/p>\n

Gal 6:7\u00a0 Be not deceived; God is not mocked<\/u><\/strong>: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap<\/strong>.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

We do indeed reap what we sow. God is a just God and will not tolerated sinful behavior:<\/p>\n

Tit 2:11\u00a0 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,
\nTit 2:12\u00a0 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The word ‘teaching’ is the Greek word ‘paideuo,’ and it is most often translated ‘chastened’ as in this verse;<\/p>\n

Heb 12:6\u00a0 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth<\/strong>, and scourgeth every<\/strong> son whom he receiveth.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

A loving Father never fails to chasten a stubborn and self- willed child. Anything less is not love. Here is what is love. Nothing else even comes close. Anything less will be rewarded with these words:<\/p>\n

Luk 6:46\u00a0 And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?<\/p>\n

Mat 7:21\u00a0 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father<\/u> which is in heaven.
\n<\/strong> Mat 7:22\u00a0 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
\nMat 7:23\u00a0 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity<\/strong>.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Many Christians do many wonderful works in Christ’s name but they simply cannot tolerate Christ’s doctrines which teach us to love our enemies and do all we do to His glory.<\/p>\n

1Co 10:31\u00a0 Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

In this e- mail you told me:<\/p>\n

“… one night [ he worked nights] I asked God to please get him out of the situation, even if it meant leaving my little dream.”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

That is a wonderful and selfless prayer. It is very much akin to Christ’s own prayer the night of his being apprehended by the Jews.<\/p>\n

Luk 22:42\u00a0 Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will<\/u>, but thine, be done.<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The only difference between these two prayers of yours and Christ’s is that Christ meant what He prayed, and you did not. God answered your selfless prayer, and now you are angry. God is showing this to you. If you did not mean what you prayed, you ought not to have made such a request. If you are angry, I pray that you are not taking it out on your husband to whom you asked God to minister.<\/p>\n

I like to point out that the prayers of God’s elect are always answered and are never ignored. But God’s elect mean it when they pray “Not my will, but thine be done.” All such prayers are always answered simply because:<\/p>\n

Eph 1:11\u00a0 In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all<\/u> things after the counsel of his own<\/u> will:
\n<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

While you were in the other state, that was where God wanted you. Now that you are back in “familiar territory” you are still where God wants you to be at this time. If you are truly miserable, then find out why and work to improve your situation, in close consultation with your husband. We are instructed to always come before God with thankful hearts for his work with the children of men.<\/p>\n

I will cut and paste you a letter on prayer, which I hope will be of some help to you. It is a letter answering the question, ‘For what should we pray? It will appear below.<\/p>\n

My prayer is that between the letter I will forward you and this e- mail, something is said which will be of benefit to you.<\/p>\n

Your brother in Christ,<\/p>\n

Mike<\/p>\n

… Let’s review your dilemma and see what is making you so apprehensive and so anxious. If you can see clearly what is taking place, it will help you to deal with your anxiety\u00a0 Here is what you admit bothers you:<\/p>\n

“I used to worry about eternity. What would happen if I wasn’t really “saved”. What happens if my children do not accept Jesus before they die. I now have total peace about the future. I know without a doubt that God has a plan and He will be All in All one day and I do not worry about these things anymore, however this life has me terrified.<\/strong><\/p>\n

“I now understand that God created evil for\u00a0a good purpose and that my steps are ordered. What bothers me is that I do not know how to pray at all<\/u><\/strong>. My delusion<\/u> that God wanted the best for me has been shattered,<\/strong> one case in point, Job. I live in fear<\/u><\/strong> of what each day brings and knowing that everything God does is to bring about good does not seem to help. I am afraid<\/strong><\/u> of the pain that I may go through. I fear<\/u><\/strong> losing one of my children or my husband or becoming homeless (we have constant financial problems). I don’t get prayer anymore either.<\/strong><\/u> God has a plan and I can not change that plan (not that I ultimately want to) but what do I pray for<\/u><\/strong>. His will is going to be done regardless<\/strong> of what I ask for. He already knows what I and others need and want, I’m not telling Him anything He doesn’t already know when I talk to Him<\/strong>. I just feel paralyzed and I don’t know how to resolve these feelings. Paul had peace or learned to be content in all situations, how did he have that? What did He understand that I do not? Or was it a gift of God?<\/strong>“<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Do you see those words I have emboldened? You contradict yourself, and do not even notice it. Just look at that contradiction:<\/p>\n

“I now have total peace about the future<\/u><\/strong>.”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

And then the very next words out of your mouth are these:<\/p>\n

“I live in fear of what each day brings…”<\/p>\n

“My delusion<\/u> that God wanted the best for me has been shattered,<\/strong> One case in point, Job.”<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

“My delusion that God wanted the best for me has been shattered?”<\/p>\n

Delusion?\u00a0 You are listening to an evil spirit which is telling you that you must enjoy this life, and the extent to which you enjoy this life, is the litmus test of whether God really wants what is best for you. That is the same voice to which Eve listened. The serpent actually convinced Eve that God was holding back something that was good for her. Look again at what you say:<\/p>\n

” I live in fear<\/u><\/strong> of what each day brings and knowing that everything God does is to bring about good does not seem to help.<\/strong> I am afraid<\/u><\/strong> of the pain that I may go through. I fear<\/u><\/strong> losing one of my children or my husband or becoming homeless (we have constant financial problems). I don’t get prayer anymore either.”<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Of course I understand what you say here:<\/p>\n

“I know without a doubt that God has a plan and He will be All in All one da<\/u> y and I do not worry about these things anymore,”<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

You are telling me that you have the intellectual understanding that God will “one day be all in all,” but you fear what it will take to get to that “one day.”<\/p>\n

But you come right out and admit that you “live in fear of what each day brings and knowing that everything that God does is to bring about good, does not seem to help. I am afraid of the pain I may go through. I fear losing one of my children, or my husband, or becoming homeless (we have constant financial problems). I don’t get prayer anymore either.”<\/p>\n

Now look at what you have shown yourself about where you are so far as spiritually understanding<\/u><\/strong> what is the love of God. This whole experience is teaching you what is the love of God. Please do not be offended when I tell you that your e- mail reveals that you do not yet understand what is the love of God. I also want to assure you that you will<\/u><\/strong> come to understand and rejoice to know what is the love of God. What you are experiencing is the very process required to come to that spiritual understanding of what really is ‘love.’<\/p>\n

Consider carefully this verse of His Truth:<\/p>\n

1Jn 4:18\u00a0 There is no fear in love<\/u><\/strong>; but perfect love casteth out fear:<\/u><\/strong> because fear hath torment.<\/strong> He that feareth is not made perfect in love.<\/u><\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

I want to help you to see what God is showing you and Job and me about ourselves. We think we ‘love’ God when in reality we don’t even as yet know what is the love of God.<\/p>\n

I came to where you are and where Job, in type, was. We all<\/u> must come to this point. It is a necessary part of the process of salvation. It is part of ‘the revelation of Jesus Christ.’ We must all “live by every<\/u><\/strong> word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.” What you are saying demonstrates that you do not yet know or appreciate the love of which John speaks, and the love that taught Paul to be content in every situation. The love of which John speaks is the love which Christ had. It was through this love that Christ was strengthened, in the face of certain death,\u00a0 to tell Pilate, ” you have no power but what is given you from above:”<\/p>\n

Joh 19:9\u00a0 And went again into the judgment hall, and saith unto Jesus, Whence art thou? But Jesus gave him no answer.
\nJoh 19:10\u00a0 Then saith Pilate unto him, Speakest thou not unto me? knowest thou not that I have power to crucify thee, and have power to release thee?
\nJoh 19:11\u00a0 Jesus answered, Thou couldest have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above:<\/u><\/strong> therefore he that delivered me unto thee hath the greater sin.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

When you say, “Knowing that everything God does is to bring about good does not help. I am afraid…”\u00a0 What you are saying, without realizing it, is that you fear that God has no intention of allowing flesh and blood to inherit the kingdom of God, and you simply do not like that prospect. You want to cling to the things of this life; your children, your husband and your home. You are simply being shown that you are still attached to this physical sphere, the natural realm, and you are not yet attached to “the things of the spirit.” In reality “the things of the spirit are [ still] foolishness to you” because you fear losing the things of this life. Here is Christ’s solution to that dilemma:<\/p>\n

Mat 10:39\u00a0 He that findeth his life shall<\/u> lose it<\/strong>: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

God is demonstrating for you that your affection is still on the things of this world and not yet on the “things above:”<\/p>\n

Col 3:2\u00a0 Set your affection on things above,<\/strong><\/u> not<\/u> on things on the earth.
\n<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Now look at the verses which immediately precede Mat 10:39. That verse tells us that we must lose our life in order to find it. The verses preceding that verse set the stage for that statement. Pray fervently that God will give you the ability to receive these words. That ability is granted to but a “few… blessed and holy:”<\/p>\n

Mat 10:34\u00a0 Think not that I am come to send peace on earth:<\/strong> I came not to send peace, but a sword.
\nMat 10:35\u00a0 For I am come to set a man at variance against his father,<\/strong> and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.
\nMat 10:36\u00a0 And a man’s foes shall be they of his own household.<\/strong>
\nMat 10:37\u00a0 He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.
\nMat 10:38\u00a0 And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.
\n<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

We all read of that second horseman of the four horsemen, and we think he must be the Devil himself. After all he has a sword and has come to take peace from the earth:<\/p>\n

Rev 6:3\u00a0 And when he had opened the second seal, I heard the second beast say, Come and see.
\nRev 6:4\u00a0 And there went out another horse [ that was] red: and [ power] was given to him that sat thereon to take peace from the earth<\/u>, and that they should kill one another: and there was given unto him a great sword<\/u>.
\n<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Christ has just revealed to us that it is He who is riding this horse. It is he who holds the reins of this horse and “takes peace from the earth… [ with] a great sword… I came not to bring peace but a sword.” We simply cannot see these words and we certainly do not like these words.<\/p>\n

You don’t yet believe that Christ came to bring a sword and to make a man’s enemies “they of his own household.” You actually still want “peace on this earth,” your husband and your children to be there for you and you for them. If indeed you really do want to be there for your husband and your children, then give them up, and put God first. Only then will God give them to you and with them will come the peace of mind which Christ and Paul both displayed as they stared death in the face.<\/p>\n

Now when I say “give them up,” I am not saying that you should in any way neglect your husband or your children. You should not neglect your husband or your children, but you should not worry about their welfare. God will take care of you all if you put Him in His proper place in your life, and His proper place is to be first in all things:<\/p>\n

Mat 6:33\u00a0 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness;<\/strong> and all these things shall be added unto you.<\/p>\n

“He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.”<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

God is not, at this time, developing foot soldiers for his army. All God is developing at this time is kings and priests. We are not, at this time in ‘boot camp,’ or for that matter, even in ‘officers training.’\u00a0 We are in training as kings and priests. In military terms, ‘officers training’ is far more rigid and far more demanding than boot camp. How much more demanding must God be, if He is at this time, calling those who are predestined to rule this world? Again, I repeat:<\/p>\n

“He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me<\/strong>: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me<\/strong>. And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me<\/u>.”
\n<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Do you really know and believe that your steps are ordered by the Lord and that God is working all things after the counsel of His own will, for the good of all mankind? If you really did believe that, then you would rejoice<\/u> at these words:<\/p>\n

Mat 4:4\u00a0 But he [Christ] answered [Satan] and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every<\/u> word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God<\/strong>.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

So rest assured that the anxiety you are now experiencing is the “distress and the trouble” common to all of God’s elect, future kings and priests, as they are being prepared to be “worthy of Me” and to rule the world and angels. Here is God’s method of operating in the lives of His elect:<\/p>\n

Psa 107:23\u00a0 They that go down to the sea in ships, that do business in great waters; [That is you and me]
\nPsa 107:24\u00a0 These see the works of the LORD, and his wonders in the deep.
\nPsa 107:25\u00a0 For he<\/u><\/strong> commandeth, and raiseth the stormy wind, which lifteth up the waves thereof.
\nPsa 107:26\u00a0 They mount up to the heaven, they go down again to the depths: their soul is melted because of trouble.<\/strong>
\nPsa 107:27\u00a0 They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wits’ end.<\/u><\/strong>
\nPsa 107:28\u00a0 Then<\/u><\/strong> they cry unto the LORD in their trouble, and he bringeth them out of their distresses.<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

You are even now “doing business in great waters,” and those waters seem to be on the verge of drowning you. I know because I have been there with you, and just like you, “my soul melted because of trouble [ and I too] was brought to my wits end.” This is all a necessary part, required before the Lord can speak the words of the next verse: ” Then<\/strong><\/u> they cry unto the LORD in their trouble, and he bringeth them out of their distresses.”<\/p>\n

Psa 50:15 sums up God’s M. O., His method of operation:<\/p>\n

Psa 50:15\u00a0 And call upon me in the day of trouble:<\/u> I will<\/u> deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me.
\n<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

You see and you know all of this. You tell me so:<\/p>\n

“I now understand that God created evil for a good purpose and that my steps are ordered. What bothers me is that I do not know how to pray at all<\/u>.”<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Your honesty is refreshing. You acknowledge that you do not know how to pray. In this e- mail you reveal why that is, and I want you and hopefully many others just like you, to see and to understand exactly why you have that problem.<\/p>\n

The reason is two- fold. First, as I have pointed out, is the fact that you do not yet understand what is the love of God. As I said above, love is far more than simply treating your brother and your neighbor, or even your enemies, as you want to be treated. How we treat our fellow man is a byproduct of the love of God, but it is not to be confused with the love of God. The love of God is to keep His commandments and that<\/u><\/strong> is the love which casts out all fear.<\/p>\n

1Jn 5:3\u00a0 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments<\/strong>: and his commandments are not grievous.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

1Jn 4:18\u00a0 There is no fear in love;<\/strong> but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.
\n<\/strong><\/u><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The second part of your struggle is the fact that you, just as we all do, have allowed the Adversary to pervert God’s sovereignty into an occasion for fleshly complacency.<\/p>\n

The Adversary has taken the Truth of God’s sovereignty, a gift from God, and has successfully turned that gift into a curse. You, just like all of us to a greater or lesser degree, when we come to see and to acknowledge the total sovereignty of God, have taken pride in your new found knowledge. We all do this simply because we must “live by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God,” including this verse:<\/p>\n

1Co 8:1\u00a0 Now as touching things offered unto idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up<\/u>, but charity edifieth<\/u>.
\n<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

What you and I and all who come to this point need is love’s edification to which Paul refers. But we will not receive that edification or the comfort which accompanies that love until we come to know what is the ‘charity’ to which Paul refers. You ask why you don’t have the peace that Paul had?<\/p>\n

“Paul had peace or learned to be content in all situations, how did he have that? What did He understand that I do not?<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

I hope that by the time you finish this e- mail you will know why you do not have the peace and the ability to pray to your heavenly Father that Paul possessed.<\/p>\n

Before I let your own words demonstrate the fleshly complacency to which I referred, I want to say a little more about the kind of ‘love’ that is demonstrated in scripture and in the lives of God’s apostles.<\/p>\n

‘Charity’ is, of course, just an old English word for love. But not one person in a thousand knows what is scriptural, Biblical, “agape” ‘love.’ As I said above, most any Christian will tell you that your love is shown in how you treat your fellow man, but believe it or not, the Biblical definition for love is not so much concerned with how you treat you fellow man as it is with how you treat God. That is why the first<\/u> and greatest<\/u> commandment is to love God:<\/p>\n

Mat 22:37\u00a0 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God<\/u><\/strong> with all<\/u><\/strong> thy heart, and with all<\/u><\/strong> thy soul, and with all<\/u><\/strong> thy mind.
\nMat 22:38\u00a0 This is the first<\/u> and great commandment.<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

“All… heart, soul, and mind” does not leave any room for any thing else. It so happens that if you do indeed love God with all your heart, soul and mind, that you will then also “love your neighbor and your enemies” simply because Christ and His Father command us to do so.<\/p>\n

So when this\u00a0 “first and great commandment” is kept, all other commandments are automatically kept. The question now becomes, How do we love God? How do we keep the first and great commandment? The common answer is that we love our neighbor and our enemies and we are therefore loving God. But that reverses the order given in scripture:<\/p>\n

Mat 22:39\u00a0 And the second<\/u><\/strong> is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
\nMat 22:40\u00a0 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

While it is true that we must love our neighbor and even our enemies, that answer is not “the sum of God’s Word” on what is “the love of God.” Far too often we reverse the order of these two commands and place the second, first. But God will have no part of doing that. God’s order is of utmost importance to Him, and He will not have His order tampered with or reversed, and so He declares and clarifies for us exactly what is the love of God:<\/p>\n

1Jn 5:3\u00a0 For this<\/u> is the love of God, that we keep his commandments:<\/u><\/strong> and his commandments are not grievous.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

But Babylon has no eyes to see 1Jn 5:3 and insists that an ecumenical, all inclusive spirit of “agreement on the essentials and toleration in the nonessentials” is a much better and more loving spirit than “keeping God’s commandments.” In Babylon, ‘love thy neighbor just as he is, expecting no change in his doctrine of his life style,’ is deemed the first and greatest commandment. God’s elect, on the other hand, would much rather be separated from their brothers by their love for God and His Truth, than to be united with their brothers in the lie that unity is more important than obedience to God’s commands. God’s elect pay very close attention to all<\/u> the commandments, sayings, precepts, and “every<\/strong> word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.” Not one word which proceeds out of His mouth is deemed “nonessential.” As Christ Himself puts it:<\/p>\n

Mat 4:4\u00a0 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every<\/u> word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.
\n<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Luk 6:46\u00a0 And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say<\/u>?<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

“The things which I say” are “that which is written,” and they include things like:<\/p>\n

Mar 7:9\u00a0 And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God<\/strong>, that ye may keep your own tradition.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

And those “traditions” include the tradition of “agreement in the essentials and toleration in the nonessentials,” while “the things that I say,” verses like:<\/p>\n

1Jn 4:1\u00a0 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits<\/u> whether they are of God: because<\/u> many false prophets are gone out into the world.
\n<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

… are deemed ‘nonessential,’ and even worse, ‘divisive.’<\/p>\n

The Pharisees believed in the resurrection, but the Sadducees, which was the ‘denomination’ to which the high priest and his family belonged, did not even believe that there would be a resurrection of the dead. Nevertheless the Pharisees and the Sadducees\u00a0 agreed on the ‘essential’ doctrine that no man, not even the Messiah, could claim to be the Son of God.<\/p>\n

Those are examples of the ‘spirits to be tried’ here in 1Jn 4:1. False prophets bring with them false doctrines and it is their false doctrines which John refers to as “the spirits” we are told to ‘try.’\u00a0 The doctrine of ecumenism and unity above truth, is the worst of the lot, simply because it nullifies these words inspired of our Lord:<\/p>\n

1Co 1:10\u00a0 Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak<\/u> the same<\/u> thing, and that there be no divisions<\/u> among<\/strong> you; but that ye be perfectly joined together<\/strong><\/u> in the same<\/strong><\/u> mind and in the same<\/strong><\/u> judgment.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

What does that verse have to say about the multi- fractured Catholic whore with her multi- fractured Protestant harlot daughters. Christ has but one bride who “speaks the same thing, has no divisions among them.” Christ’s one bride is “perfectly joined together” in His Words and sayings and commandments and is “of the same mind” and “has the same judgment.” God’s elect reject denominational labels and hold up the entire<\/u> Bible and “every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God” as their one and only “statement of beliefs.”<\/p>\n

The ‘love of God,’ the ‘love’ of which John speaks, does not concern itself with whether brothers, sisters, sons, daughters or mothers, or any other family member or any kinfolk agree, or see the Truth of the “doctrine of Jesus Christ,” “the love of God [ simply] keeps His commandments,” and let’s the chips fall where they may. Love God, know and keep His precepts, and your worries about your family and finances will subside greatly.<\/p>\n

Come to Him in praise and gratitude that He has seen fit to open your eyes to see what He is doing with you, and you will then be living a life of prayer.<\/p>\n

One thing I referred to above is that God’s elect never “speak above what is written.”<\/p>\n

1Co 4:6\u00a0 And these things, brethren, I have in a figure transferred to myself and [ to] Apollos for your sakes; that ye might learn in us not to think<\/u><\/strong>[ of men] above that which is written<\/u>,<\/strong> that no one of you be puffed up for one against another.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The words “of men” are in brackets because they are not in the original. What Paul said was “that you might learn in us not to think above that which is written.” Neither Paul nor Peter (Greek, ‘Cephas’), nor Apollos, dared to “think above that which is written.”<\/p>\n

Act 24:14\u00a0 But this I confess unto thee, that after the way which they call heresy, so worship I the God of my fathers, believing all things which are<\/u> written<\/u> in the law and in the prophets:
\n<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

All who take it upon themselves to “think above that which is written” are no longer capable of “trying the spirits to see whether they are of God” because they have nothing against which to try the spirits. Such people inevitably become disdainful of God’s word and call it “dead letters of ink on paper.” All these people are doing is testifying to their own dead spiritual ears, and their dead spiritual condition which causes Christ’s spiritual words of life to work death in them. But what does Christ say of His own words which are recorded and written for us?<\/p>\n

Joh 6:63\u00a0 It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you<\/strong>, they are spirit<\/u>, and<\/u> they are life<\/u><\/strong>.<\/u><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Christ’s words “are spirit and they are life” to those who know His voice. To which words the holy spirit leads Paul to agree:<\/p>\n

1Ti 6:3\u00a0 If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ,<\/strong><\/u> and to the doctrine<\/u><\/strong> which is according to godliness;
\n1Ti 6:4\u00a0 He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings,
\n1Ti 6:5\u00a0 Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself<\/u>.<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

That is what is going on with you and with us all at our appointed time. We all act as if certain “words that proceed from the mouth of God” are nonessential and we all are guilty, at our appointed time, of “speaking above that which is written.”<\/p>\n

You confess to me:<\/p>\n

“What bothers me is that I do not know how to pray at all<\/u>.”<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

One reason why you and I and and Job, each at our appointed time, do not know how to pray is that we fail to see these words which also\u00a0 come “out of the mouth of God.”<\/p>\n

Php 4:4\u00a0 Rejoice<\/strong> in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice<\/strong><\/u>.
\nPhp 4:5\u00a0 Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand<\/strong><\/u>.
\nPhp 4:6\u00a0 Be careful for nothing<\/u><\/strong>; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving<\/u><\/strong> let your requests be made known unto God.
\nPhp 4:7\u00a0 And the peace of God<\/strong><\/u>, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

There it is! There in verse 7 is that “peace of God,” for which you so long. It comes only through the love of God and approaching Him with prayers of gratitude and rejoicing in praise for what He is doing in your life. Let’s read Php 4:6 in a couple of other versions:
\n<\/strong><\/p>\n

(ALT)\u00a0 Stop being anxious about anything<\/strong>, but in every thing by prayer<\/strong> and by petition, with thanksgiving<\/u><\/strong>, be letting your* requests be made known to God.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

(CEV)\u00a0 Don’t worry about anything<\/strong>, but pray about everything<\/strong>. With thankful hearts<\/u> offer up your prayers and requests to God<\/strong>.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Like Job, you and me, each at our appointed time, cannot pray simply because we are not yet thankful<\/strong> for God’s chastening, “wonderful works with the children of men.” Therefore we are not yet capable of rejoicing, simply because we are not yet able to come before God “with thanksgiving.” We are right here with Job:<\/p>\n

Job 3:25\u00a0 For the thing which I greatly feared<\/u> is come upon me<\/strong>, and that which I was afraid<\/strong><\/u> of is come unto me.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

And we are also with king David:<\/p>\n

Psa 22:15\u00a0 My strength is dried up like a potsherd; and my tongue cleaveth to my jaws<\/strong>; and thou<\/strong><\/u> hast brought me into the dust of death.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Like Job, we all despise “the wonderful [“chastening and scourging”] works of God with the children of men.” With Job we also complain:<\/p>\n

Job 27:1\u00a0 Moreover Job continued his parable, and said,
\nJob 27:2\u00a0 As God liveth, who hath taken away my judgment<\/u><\/strong>; and the Almighty, who hath vexed my soul<\/u>.<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

As we are being judged, we accuse God of “taking away our judgment:” As God is performing in us “His wonderful works with the children of men”, we are terrified and are complaining instead of coming to Him “with thanksgiving, making our petitions known to Him.” Indeed the life of God’s elect is a “fiery trial,” but all the fire does is to burn away our bonds:<\/p>\n

1Pe 4:12\u00a0 Beloved, think it not strange<\/strong> concerning the fiery trial<\/strong><\/u> which is to try you<\/u><\/strong>, as though some strange thing happened unto you:<\/strong>
\n1Pe 4:13\u00a0 But rejoice<\/u><\/strong>, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings;
\nthat, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.
\n<\/strong> 1Pe 4:17\u00a0 For the time is come that judgment<\/u> must begin at the house of God<\/u>:<\/strong> and if it first begin at us<\/strong><\/u>, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?
\nDan 3:27\u00a0 And the princes, governors, and captains, and the king’s counsellors, being gathered together, saw these men, upon whose bodies the fire had no power,<\/u> nor was an hair of their head singed, neither were their coats changed, nor the smell of fire had passed on them<\/u>.
\n<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Dan 3:27, “upon whose body the fire had no power,” is true only for those who have given their bodies away to God. A dead man has no fear of death, and that is what is true peace. That is where this experience is taking you. That is where you will soon be.<\/p>\n

You confess that you fear what might happen next. Like me and Job, you aren’t yet thankful that God is showing you what you are, by “vexing your soul.” You want relief before you are ready for relief. As you said, God knows when you need relief, and He is ready to send relief when we have learned what we must learn. But we all tire of the trial long before we learn to be thankful for the calling we have been given. Our calling requires these sore trials to prepare us to rule this world and to also rule angels. Our trials and our reaction to those trials, always demonstrate for us all, that our attachment to this realm of flesh and blood is yet far too strong. We fear the loss of the things of this realm, and we count the chastening and scourging of our heavenly Father as curses to be dreaded and feared, instead of blessings to be appreciated and for which we ought to “come to God and make our petitions known with thanksgiving<\/u>.”<\/strong><\/p>\n

Four times in Psa 107 we are told of the trials, troubles and distresses into which our loving heavenly Father brings us to show us what we are, and after each progressive revelation we see these words repeated:<\/p>\n

Psa 107:8\u00a0 Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!<\/strong><\/p>\n

Psa 107:15\u00a0 Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!<\/p>\n

Psa 107:21\u00a0 Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Psa 107:31\u00a0 Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Neither you nor I can pray to God, without coming to Him with a grateful heart<\/strong> for His goodness and wonderful works to the children of men [ as he] “chastens and scourges every son He receives.” There cannot be prayer to God without gratitude<\/strong>, and there is no gratitude toward God\u00a0 which is not counted as a sweet smelling prayer.<\/p>\n

Heb 12:5\u00a0 And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children,<\/strong> My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him:
\nHeb 12:6\u00a0 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every<\/u> son whom he receiveth.<\/strong>
\nHeb 12:7\u00a0 If<\/u><\/strong> ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?
\n<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The word ‘sons’ here is the Greek word ‘huios.’ It means a grown son, the heir of his Father. It means a son who has been chosen, not as a foot soldier, nor even as an officer, but a son who is to inherit a kingdom over which he is qualified and found worthy to rule with compassion, having experienced, everything his subjects are to endure:<\/p>\n

Heb 2:17\u00a0 Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto [ his] brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things [ pertaining] to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.
\nHeb 2:18\u00a0 For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

1Co 6:2\u00a0 Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world?<\/strong> and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters?
\n1Co 6:3\u00a0 Know ye not that we shall judge angels?<\/strong> how much more things that pertain to this life?<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Those things seem spiritual and far away and rather worthless while one is suffering deprivation of, and physically desiring the red pottage of this world. Immediate relief from physical trials seems far more valuable, at this moment, than the things of promise.<\/p>\n

Gen 25:30\u00a0 And Esau said to Jacob, Feed me, I pray thee, with that same red pottage; for I am faint: therefore was his name called Edom.
\nGen 25:31\u00a0 And Jacob said, Sell me this day thy birthright.
\nGen 25:32\u00a0 And Esau said, Behold, I am at the point to die: and what profit shall this birthright do to me?<\/u><\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

I have good news for you. Mat 4:4, Rev 1:3 and 22:7 are all being lived out in you and will be finished in you, at their appointed time.<\/p>\n

Here is what the one man who God did not reprimand, told Job:<\/p>\n

Job 33:7\u00a0 Behold, my terror shall not make thee afraid,<\/strong> neither shall my hand be heavy upon thee.
\nJob 33:8\u00a0 Surely thou hast spoken in mine hearing, and I have heard the voice of thy words, saying<\/strong><\/u>,
\nJob 33:9\u00a0 I am clean without transgression, I am innocent; neither is there iniquity in me.
\nJob 33:10\u00a0 Behold, he findeth occasions against me, he counteth me for his enemy,
\n<\/strong> Job 33:11\u00a0 He putteth my feet in the stocks, he marketh all my paths.<\/strong>
\nJob 33:12\u00a0 Behold, in this thou art not just:<\/u><\/strong> I will answer thee, that God is greater than man.
\nJob 33:13\u00a0 Why dost thou strive against him?<\/strong> for he giveth not account of any of his matters.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Fear God, don’t fear for your family, fear only that you might not keep his commandments. Quit accusing God of “putting your feet in stocks and marking you” for torment. “His terror will not make you afraid.” And yet you say:<\/p>\n

“My delusion that God wanted the best for me has been shattered, one case in point Job.”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

So I will close this first part of why you cannot pray with this scriptural admonition. When you apply these words, you will no longer be unable to pray to God. You will rather be able to pray to God all day every day in nothing but “praise and thanksgiving for His wonderful works with the children of men.”<\/p>\n

Heb 12:1\u00a0 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
\nHeb 12:2\u00a0 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame<\/u>, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.<\/strong>
\nHeb 12:3\u00a0 For consider him<\/u> that endured<\/u> such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.<\/u><\/strong>
\nHeb 12:4\u00a0 Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.<\/u>
\n<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Thank God that He has seen fit to open your eyes, and has even gone so far as to place the trials upon you which are necessary for producing a king and a priest in His service.<\/p>\n

Now I want you to see the other major principality with which you are dealing as you struggle to be pleasing to our heavenly Father. That spirit is the pit of complacency into which we all fall when we first become aware of a totally sovereign God. Again, this is common to us all, but it is insidious, and it will rob us of our inheritance if we are not made aware of its affect upon us. Again, we need to examine your honest and heartfelt appeal to know how to get in touch with your heavenly Father. In that request for help, here is what you have so eloquently said:<\/p>\n

“I don’t get prayer anymore either. God has a plan and I can not change that plan<\/strong> (not that I ultimately want to) but what do I pray for. His will is going to be done regardless of what I ask for. He already knows what I, and others need and want, I’m not telling Him anything He doesn’t already know when I talk to Him. I just feel paralyzed and I don’t know how to resolve these feelings<\/u><\/strong> . Paul had peace or learned to be content in all situations, how did he have that.<\/strong><\/u> What did He understand that I do not.<\/strong><\/u> Or was it a gift of God. I am sorry to ramble, it is just that I am tormented by this. I am not even overly concerned if I am one in the lake of fire.<\/strong> I would love to be one of the elect but I just don’t see myself as having the qualities of the elect. What is one of the first things listed in the lake of fire… fearful… that would be me! It is just this life that I am trying to get a handle on.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

To tell you the truth, this is the most encouraging paragraph of this e- mail. What you have, in essence consented to is the fact that you have indeed “kept the sayings of the prophecy of this book right down to being “fearful and unbelieving.” You see, we all “keep the sayings of the prophecy of this book,” and being fearful and unbelieving is not peculiar only to those in the lake of fire. That is a trait that is most well known as being displayed by all of Christ’s apostles:<\/p>\n

Mar 14:50\u00a0 And they all [ apostles] forsook him [ Christ], and fled.<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

So you and I are simply “living by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God, and we are “keeping the sayings of the prophecy of this book,” just as we all must do at our own appointed time:<\/p>\n

Eph 2:2\u00a0 Wherein in time past<\/strong> ye<\/strong><\/u> walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:
\nEph 2:3\u00a0 Among whom also we all<\/strong><\/u> had our conversation in times past<\/u><\/strong> in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature<\/u> the children of wrath, even as others.<\/u>
\n<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

But now let’s examine the complacency displayed in this paragraph, and let’s come to see that this “God has a plan and I can not change that plan<\/strong>,” attitude is not the attitude which the knowledge of God’s sovereignty ultimately produces in God’s elect.<\/p>\n

You continue with this helpless, hopeless and complacent attitude:<\/p>\n

“… What do I pray for? His will is going to be done regardless of what I ask for. He already knows what I, and others need and want, I’m not telling Him anything He doesn’t already know when I talk to Him.”<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

This again is nothing less than the voice of the serpent Himself, telling us that there is no need for a truly vibrant Father and son or Father and daughter relationship. ‘Why, God already knows what you need, so why waste His time and yours when the end was written in His book before the foundation of the world?’<\/p>\n

Psa 139:16\u00a0 Thine eyes did see mine unformed substance; And in thy book<\/u><\/strong> they were all written<\/u>, Even the days that were ordained for me, When as yet<\/u><\/strong> there was none of them<\/u>.<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

So why bother praying? Well, the answer for both ourselves and the Adversary is clearly stated in scripture, but I want to ask you first if you have noticed that the details of what is “written in thy book” are not listed. In other words, God doesn’t need our prayers, it is we who are in the dark, and it is for our own benefit<\/strong><\/u> that God commands us to “come before Him with thanksgiving for His wonderful works with the children of men” when He is so kind and thoughtful as to show us our faults as He “chastens and scourges every son whom He receiveth.”<\/p>\n

Here is what James tells us about how we should conduct ourselves when we become aware that God is completely sovereign.<\/p>\n

Jas 4:13\u00a0 Come now, ye that say, To- day or to- morrow we<\/u><\/strong> will go into this city, and spend a year there, and trade, and get gain:
\nJas 4:14\u00a0 whereas ye know not<\/u> what shall be on the morrow.<\/strong> What is your life? For ye are a vapor, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.
\nJas 4:15\u00a0 For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall both live, and do this or that<\/u>. (ASV)<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Does James say that we ought not plan what we will do tomorrow? Does He tell us not to ask God for His direction through each day? No, He does not, rather he simply instructs us to say “If the Lord will, we shall both live, and do this or that.”<\/p>\n

Yes, indeed, “The preparations of the heart and the answer of the tongue [ both] are from the Lord.” But what are we told to do with this knowledge?<\/p>\n

Pro 16:9\u00a0 A man’s heart deviseth his way<\/strong>: but the LORD directeth his steps.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Knowing that “The preparations of the heart and the answer of the tongue is from the Lord,” is intended to cause us to cry out to God that those preparations be pleasing to Him. It was never intended to make us complacent.<\/p>\n

Knowing that “God knows what tomorrow holds” is intended to cause us to ask God that His<\/u> will be done and that our plans be in accord with His. It is not intended to cause us to forgo asking for His will to be done in our lives. Telling us of His sovereignty and yet not giving us the details involved, is deliberate on God’s part. God has not taken us into His confidence to the extent that He tells us what each new day holds for us in advance. That is both how and why He tries our faith in Him and in His ways and in His Word, and that is how he builds that all important virtue called patience:<\/p>\n

Jas 1:2\u00a0 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;<\/strong>
\nJas 1:3\u00a0 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.<\/strong>
\nJas 1:4\u00a0 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
\n<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

It is true that “in your patience possess ye your souls.”<\/p>\n

Luk 21:19\u00a0 In your patience<\/u> possess ye your souls.<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

But ‘patience’ is a virtue cultivated by restraining one’s desire to get ahead of God, it is never to be confused with complacency or a fatalistic, do- nothing attitude.<\/p>\n

Are we to acknowledge God’s sovereignty? Yes, of course. But we are never to act as if we are not, by God’s design, intended to be involved in God’s sovereign work. We are intended to be involved to the extent that the apostle Paul speaks under inspiration of the holy spirit,<\/u> after this manner:<\/p>\n

Php 3:7\u00a0 But what things were gain to me, [ the things of this life] those I counted loss for Christ.
\nPhp 3:8\u00a0 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ<\/strong> Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things<\/strong>, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,
\nPhp 3:9\u00a0 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:
\nPhp 3:10\u00a0 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings<\/u>, being made conformable unto his death;<\/strong>
\nPhp 3:11\u00a0 If by any means<\/u> I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.<\/strong>
\nPhp 3:12\u00a0 Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.
\nPhp 3:13\u00a0 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended<\/strong>: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,<\/strong>
\nPhp 3:14\u00a0 I press toward the mark<\/u> for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.<\/strong>
\nPhp 3:15\u00a0 Let us therefore, as many as be perfect [ Greek, ‘are being perfected’], be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you
\n<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Does that sound like a man who feels that since God is sovereign, he is uninvolved? No, not at all. Paul “ pressed<\/u><\/strong> toward the mark for the prize of the high calling<\/strong> in Christ Jesus.” He tells us “Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.”<\/strong>
\n
\n<\/strong> Then he also makes this shocking statement with which I will close this exhortation:<\/p>\n

Php 2:12\u00a0 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation<\/u> with fear and trembling.
\n<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Why are we told to “work out our own salvation?” Is Paul denying God’s sovereignty? Of course he is not doing any such thing. What Paul is telling us is that those who have a proper understanding of God’s sovereignty realize that God’s sovereignty includes and insists upon a zealous<\/u> spirit with a strong desire to be working in service to our heavenly Father, and so in the very next verse Paul makes this connection very clear:<\/p>\n

Php 2:13\u00a0 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do<\/u> of his good pleasure.
\n<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Those in whom God is working to will and to do His good pleasure, “work out their own salvation with fear and trembling.”<\/p>\n

In conclusion, I hope this has shown you what is “the love of God,” His commandments and precepts, which keep His true body united in “the same mind, the same spirit, speaking the same thing.” I hope you can now approach God with an attitude of praise and thanksgiving for His wonderful works in your life, and finally I hope that you can now see clearly that God’s sovereignty was never intended to produce in you a fatalistic attitude which drains you of a vibrant, vital and daily life of prayer and worship and praise for your heavenly Father and all that He is working.<\/p>\n

I hope you now see that all of the apparently dire pronouncements of scripture are ‘dire’ only to the flesh and to our attachment to the things of the flesh, and that you can now come to your heavenly father with thanksgiving for the trials with which He has blessed you, and praise Him for His wonderful works with the children of men.”<\/p>\n

Yours is not to be ruled, but to rule. The fact that you do not see yourself as God’s elect is the best thing you have going for you, but only if you realize that “you can<\/u><\/strong> do all things through Christ who strengthens you.”<\/p>\n

Php 4:13\u00a0 I can<\/u> do all things<\/strong> through Christ<\/strong><\/u> which strengtheneth me.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Your brother in Christ.<\/p>\n

Mike<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Dear Mike, Several weeks ago I sent a question re: karma in the bible and you were kind enough to reply.\u00a0 I also thanked you for helping me to understand the total sovereignty of God.\u00a0 And I shared with you how that knowledge has helped me to be able to forgive. Somehow, my mind wants to connect the two ideas; karma and God’s sovereignty. While I can do all things […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_exactmetrics_skip_tracking":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_active":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_note":"","_exactmetrics_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[332],"tags":[31,93,397,114,208],"class_list":["post-3545","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-faqs","tag-gods-sovereignty","tag-his-own-will","tag-obedience","tag-prayer","tag-sacrifice","series-gods-sovereignty-2","series-his-own-will","series-obedience","series-prayer","series-sacrifice"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/server1.xploreseo.com\/iswasandwillbe\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3545","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/server1.xploreseo.com\/iswasandwillbe\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/server1.xploreseo.com\/iswasandwillbe\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/server1.xploreseo.com\/iswasandwillbe\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/server1.xploreseo.com\/iswasandwillbe\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3545"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/server1.xploreseo.com\/iswasandwillbe\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3545\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":25084,"href":"https:\/\/server1.xploreseo.com\/iswasandwillbe\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3545\/revisions\/25084"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/server1.xploreseo.com\/iswasandwillbe\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3545"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/server1.xploreseo.com\/iswasandwillbe\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3545"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/server1.xploreseo.com\/iswasandwillbe\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3545"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}