I am molded by God

I am molded by God EVERY minute. The potter (God) is working with this soft, yielding clay (us). If this clay does not submit, the potter may not be able to do what I should do according to His will. The potter still could make anything except for useful and beautiful (spiritual fruitful) out of an unyielding blob of clay. If God is going to make those kinds of vessels out of clay (us), however, we are going to have to yield to the spiritual law of surrender. Give ourselves to God as a living sacrifice and let Him have us--all of us. Of course at the same time, I understand that God, just because He is almighty, needs no support from me and He is still able to do what He wills to do. Often I noticed that the providential of God leads me to what I call "coincidences" in my life which perhaps God will make sure that His wills will be done at His right time and place. There are two worlds, set over against each other, dominated by two wills, the will of man (me) and the will of God, respectively. Whose Will have more power? Of course, God. He directs our lives no matter what we do.

Christian History

Its amazing when you look at Christian History, denominations, non-denominations, movements and others which I will call "groups" have grown. I can see by the time Christ comes back, we will have billions of groups. This is my theory, the more divided we are the sooner eternal unity will come when Christ returns.

I found this helpful when trying to understand Sola Scriptura

1. Sola Scriptura is an epistemological principle of norming. It is the PRINCIPLE by which interpretations, etc., will be normed to determine if they are correct. 2. Sola Scriptura is not a doctrine, although it flows from a understanding of Scripture as Authoritative, Divinely inspired, Apostolic, and True - a position held by nearly all Christians. 3. Sola Scriptura embraces Scripture as the norm rather than the self-same proponent of a teaching, claim, etc. The "norma normans" (the norm that norms) is Scripture. 4. Sola Scriptura does not dismiss or discount Tradition (it doesn't address that issue at all). But by place Scripture alone as the FINAL norm, it places it subject to Scripture - not Scripture subject to it. One's intepretation of Scripture (hermeneutics) is accountable to the words of Scripture, the text is not accountable to one's own interpretation of it. Most who embrace this principle of Sola Scriptura also embrace and esteem Tradition (as do I) - however Tradition is limited to hermeneutics and is not the norm or canon for itself (thus avoiding the purely circular, completely self-authenticating principle of Sola Ecclesia). 5. Sola Scriptura affirms and embraces accountability. It is in direct response the the epistemology that the self presenting a view is the "sole final arbiter" for the same self (when this self is a denomination, this is known as Sola Ecclesia), and that the basis (norm, canon, rule, standard) for this evaluation of what this denomination teaches is what this denomination teaches, and the evaluation on that basis is by the self-same denomination. Using this principle, there is no other possible function but that self will arbitrate self as correct according to self. Furthermore, the self-same denomination went on to proclaim that the product of this self evaluating self according to self is infallible and unaccountable. Should self be accountable only to self (Sola Ecclesia) or to an Authority above self (Sola Scriptura)? Is the Word of God subject to the words of self OR are the words of self subject to the Word of God? 6. Sola Scriptura as a principle of norming has two different approaches regarding the issue of use - the issue of WHO or WHAT may use this principle of norming. Some believe that the Scriptures are placed in our hands individually and so they stress study, prayer, the leading of the HS, with the goal of conviction. Others believe that the Scriptures are placed in our hands collectively - as the whole (catholic) church, and so while they too stress study, prayer and the leading of the HS, the goal is more consensus.

Sola Scriptura

Sola Scriptura—Scripture alone with the Holy Spirit (and with the help from trusted Bible teachers). Sola Scriptura was established in principle that no tradition will be used down by word of mouth, no rabbinical opinion, and no other innovation was to be accorded authority equal to the Word of God (The Bible). Tradition like the Pharisees have no legitimate place of authority. That's why Jesus' rebuke to the Pharisees because their faith in Rabbinical tradition was in and of itself a seriously out of the covenant and commandments of God (Matt. 15:3). 1 Samuel 15:22 But Samuel replied: "Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the voice of the LORD ? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams. Matthew 15:9 They worship me in vain; their teachings are but rules taught by men. Isaiah 29:13 The Lord says: "These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship of me is made up only of rules taught by men. The point is, the Word of God needs no support from traditions, however, traditions do need support from the Word of God. The Bible is the voice of God calling us to wake up and He is saying this is the road map for the Church. Where God using His words to warn, command, rebuke, promise, encourage us. The Word of God (Bible) rebukes in order that we may see our faults in traditions and human nature. ''Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.'' Psalm 119:105 "For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Sciptures we might have hope." (Romans 15:4).

Separation of Church and State

"My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence" (John 18:36) In this explanation Jesus makes it clear that there is a definite separation between His kingdom and the kingdoms of this world. The fact that Jesus had not allowed His disciples to defend Him was evidence enough of this fact. Christ's kingdom is heavenly and seeks the reconciliation of the sinner to God, but civil and world governments are of this earth and seek for power and supremacy. The separation of church and state is taught in 2 Corinthians 5:20 where the Christian is referred to as an ambassador - "Now then we are ambassadors for Christ." An ambassador is one who represents one country to another. He does not become involved in the government of the other country but seeks the welfare of his own. Likewise, the Christian does not become involved in the affairs of earthly governments but represents the heavenly kingdom to them. He is in this world but is not of this world (John 17:16). His work is spiritual, not political. His responsibility is to help the people of this world to give their allegiance to the heavenly kingdom of Christ. From my research, God will not establish another "Theocracy" until Christ RETURNS. Jesus said "My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence" (John 18:36). To be fair to all faiths, our government is set up to not establish a state religion. This includes promoting one religion over another. Faith is something that individuals must accept or reject. People either take the leap and believe or they do not. It is not something that can be forced. We just need to look at the whole picture. God never commanded the governments to "spread the Gospels". God commanded to Christians to spread the Gospels. The Gospel is for "spiritual society" while the Governments are for "human society".

Great Example of Faith

One great example is when Abraham was called, by faith obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. True faith is not the superior ability to visualize unseen things of our temporal future but rather the eternal future and power to trust Christ wherever He leads us. Faith is to be contented and unafraid when going on a journey with Lord Jesus Christ.

Uniting and Bearing

In sake of spirit unites while flesh divides, I am going to focus on Christians after God's heart. The concept of the unity of all things written in the Scriptures that God will reconcile all things unto Himself, whether they be things in earth or in heaven in Spirit (not in doctrines). Truth wounds through life's experiences as well as from the Word of God. The truth resolves some difficulties and creates more difficulties. When truth speaks, there is not burdens but rather "The truth shall make you free"; that is, free from the woes, the yokes, the burdens. In the Bible, I believe that there are three kinds of burdens mentioned. 1. The burden of loving help which we are admonished to give to others: "Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ" (Galatians 6:2) which never harmed a soul. 2. The burden of moral responsibility which no one can shift to another: "For each one should carry his own load" (Galatians 6:5) which is a source of comfort if our hearts are right. 3. The burden resulting from our fallen state, consisting of sin, fear, worry, disappointments, sorrows, remorse, bitter memories and self-accusations that are very temporal. The works of hope that people feel, can be deadly delusion because if anyone thinks of their future falls back on reasoning hope and creates for themselves an expectation of peaceful temporal numbered days until we return to dust. This blind works of optimism (another word for Faith) lead a person to that inevitable last day which will come to temporal end and may eventually betrays a person into eternal from which there are second chances. There are times that our lives get complicated that forced us to make moral decisions. It is the crisis that forces us to take a stand for or against by flesh (or by Spirit). One of the problems most frequently encountered by most of us Christians is how to follow the Spirit, in the will of God in a given situation. Because there are concerning decisions which our flesh consult our own preferences as our first priority and then the Word (in Spirit) follows (rather than the other way around). The Scriptures have much to say about what Christians are not to do and require us to call to repentance in every negative as well as to positive moral action between believers. Many of us have different experiences through the Holy Spirit about important moments of their lives and that therefore, everyone is different. God did not make us as robots but rather each individual souls who makes their own moral choices. Through the Word of god, I have learned great importance of spiritual decision-the act of faith (those who understand the concept of faith) by submitting our entire futures to God. One great example is when Abraham was called, by faith obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. True faith is not the superior ability to visualize unseen things of our temporal future but rather the eternal future and power to trust Christ wherever He leads us. Faith is to be contented and unafraid when going on a journey with Lord Jesus Christ. With that great example, by faith, I have found comfort and secured in my eternal salvation. God's eternal blessings do not depend on how I feel because if my eternal hope rested on how I felt physically, I might as well for the faith that Abraham had and focus on temporal happiness with some sort of daily guarantees. By faith, I will NOT dare relate a fraction of my faith and hope to my emotions of my daily circumstances because my eternal hope depends on God's eternal will and His eternal promises. Through Jesus Christ, in His mercy and love when we are forgiven, regenerated and converted and lordship in FAITH. I have remember that God saved me from what I was in flesh because He expects me to spend the rest of our lives praising Him spiritually, telling about the wonders of Christ and His eternal salvation. Christ wants us to spread the good news of the great eternal future He has planned for us in the New Covenant. Through the Holy Spirit is the Spirit of life and light and love. He will always act like Jesus, toward sinners in compassion, toward saints in warm affection, toward human suffering in tenderest pity and love. Do we really submit to the fruits of the spirit as spirit-filled Christians? I am sure there are those who read our posts have made them wonder what it really means to be a Christian.