GREENE STREET LETTERS: DOING AND SAYING ONLY WHAT HE GIVES US

Tuesday, July 19, 2022

DOING AND SAYING ONLY WHAT HE GIVES US

Jesus is talking to some people who are unbelievers, and He makes a statement that I need to take to heart in my own life.

John 8:26 - "I have much to say about you and much to condemn, but I won't. For I say only what I have heard from the one who sent me, and he is completely truthful."

Did I read that right? Jesus had a few more things to say to these people, but the Father did not give him permission to. Of course Jesus' operated by the idea that he only does what He sees the Father doing. If the Father isn't showing him, or telling Him certain things, Jesus is not going to act on them.

John 5:1-9 Jesus shows up at the pool of Bethesda. This was a place where cripple and lame people (as well as others with all manner of infirmities) came to be healed. So evidently there was a crowd there. If you read the events of John 5, you'll see that Jesus, in spite of the numbers, only healed one man. Why not all of those present? Because the Father did not give Jesus the go ahead to do so. Why? If I could answer that.....well, I can't. Such is way above my pay grade. The point that struck me is that anything we say, anything we do, any choice we make should only be done as the Father leads us.

Some may say that this is way too much work and effort. Why not go ahead and do what we want and let God sort out the mess. I think we loose sight of the simple fact we have been called to "follow" not strike out on our own, making choices based on our own assumptions. To follow is not simply a direction or way, it is also following the presence, character and nature of Jesus in our daily life.It is the Holy Spirit living in us that guides us daily. It is the Holy Spirit living in us that should lead us in not only what we say, but how we say it.

Chew on this and see what God would say to you....

God on you...

michael b

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Looking At The World Through Cracked Lens

As ol' Paul wrote in his Corinthian letters.."We see in part and we know in part." Now what piece of this bit of wisdom do we not get? I wish to not run around acting and trying to be some sort of Biblical G00-Ru (I meant to spell it wrong). Or a sage of sages.

I simply want to be able to communicate some of what God has given to me. Why? Do I think what I get is better than what you may have received from Him? Nope. But I do think encouragement comes when we share our daily story of struggle and victory in an effort to encourage each other.

Thanks for letting me share.

Time to soldier on..

mbb

Our Statement of Faith

We believe that God is the eternal king. He is an infinite, unchangeable Spirit, perfect in holiness, wisdom, goodness, justice, power and love. From all eternity He exists as the One Living and True God in three persons of one substance, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit equal in power and glory. we believe that God created mankind in His image, male and female, for relationship with Himself and to govern the earth. Under the temptation of Satan, our original parents fell from grace, bringing sin, sickness and God's judgment of death to the earth. Through the fall, Satan and his demonic hosts gained access to God's good creation. Creation now experiences the consequences and effects of Adam's original sin. Human beings are born into sin, subject to God's judgment of death and captive to Satan's kingdom of darkness. We believe that Jesus, God's Son, was sent to this world, conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of a virgin, Mary, fully God and fully man in one person. He is humanity as God intended us to be. Jesus was anointed as God's Messiah and empowered by the Holy Spirit, ushering in God's kingdom reign on earth, overpowering the reign of Satan by resisting temptation, preaching the good news of salvation, healing the sick, casting out demons and raising the dead. Jesus' atoning death on the cross took God's judgment for sin which we deserved as law-breakers. Jesus' resurrection and ascent back to heaven opened the door for those who received salvation to begin a relationship with God.

Little Nets Into Deep Waters

Fishing nets were designed for one purpose only. To catch fish. Nets are no good if they stay on the boat. Nets serve no purpose if they are never used. I think maybe God sees us this way. We are all created for a purpose (by the way, the creator gets to define what our purpose is). Any other use besides the one we were created for does us no good. But when the creator places His hands upon us, casting us out into those scary, dark places with deep waters, it is then we can see the reality of our purpose. He knew there would be a catch waiting for us. I think I will be the net God has called me to be.

The Twelve Steps

As a community of people in recovery, we affirm that our higher power is Jesus Christ. He did for us what we could not do for ourselves. Just as God told the children of Israel He was going to give them a promised land, He has revealed to us that He desires to give us a "Promised Life." When Israel got to the promised land, God instructed them to go and in a possess it, fight for it and claim it. In recovery, the 12 Steps are the directions given to us on how to fight, possess and claim this promised life.

Tuesday, July 19, 2022

DOING AND SAYING ONLY WHAT HE GIVES US

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THE REALITY OF THE NAME OF GOD