"When God wants to bless you, how does He do it? He sends people into your life."
How true this has been for me lately. This is the hardest time in my life and I have been blessed to have people come around me, pray for me, offer their time to hang out and talk.
Did you make that up or is that a quote from someone?
First of all, God's blessings do not always come through other people but often in many interesting and varied ways....that's been my experience.
"The thief (Satan) comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I (Jesus) have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." John 10:10
I guess I don't spend too much time thinking about how the devil may want to destroy me.....does he have the power to send people into our lives to destroy us?....maybe you mean he sends people into our lives to make us miserable?!
As a child of God I am living under the belief that although I will be faced with trials, temptations and tests I do not have to worry about the devil having any power over me to destroy me. I chose life.
I had never heard of her either but I googled her when you gave her name. Mega church.....prosperity doctrine....Benny Hinn...Joyce Meyer...emphasis on the devil...Kenneth Copeland... Florida...T.D.Jakes....and heresy. It's all wrapped up in the same package.
God works through people for sure. He did this in an amazing way for me this week. God rang my doorbell (through the post man) and it wasn't what he was delivering that was the blessing. A lady from Soul (another "person") had left a gift bag at my front door but it remained unnoticed until the post man arrived causing me to open the door that isn't frequently used. The gift was partially covered in snow, so it had probably been there a day or two -- waiting until I needed it the most...on a down day.
In the gift bag was a book on "hearing from God", written by another "person" God has worked through.
A friend of mine said, "You were crying out to God and all the while he was at your door waiting."
I said, "Ya, and God even rings doorbells."
(and no, I'm not equating God with a book - it's about him making himself known and blessing me)
I agree God uses people to bless us, I was just pointing out that his blessings are not limited to only coming to us through other people.
As for the "oy vey" yeh....I am very wary of preachers, evangelists who use Christianity as a cover up for greed, self promotion and a way to make people feel justified to pursue wealth instead of the heart of God.
I think when the devil wants to destroy us, he convinces us we are alone. The greatest enemy to a healthy relationship with God is cutting yourself off from His people. If you look around there seems to be this false doctrine teaching that we can be "christians" without attending church, or being part of a church community.
We were created to be in relationship, and we cannot be healthy children of God in isolation. Isolation can be both physically cutting ourselves off, and, also cutting ourselves off relationally and emotionally. We can be physically in community, but still isolated. Dying of thirst standing knee deep in fresh water. It's ana amzing lie.
When God wants to Bless us, he sends people.
When the Devil wants to destroy us he convinces us we are alone, and that we are the only person who thinks that way.
I agree with Patrick. When I read the post the first part definitely struck me as true. The second part struck me as only partially true. Sometimes the people around us can be a challenge but I never really think of them of being specifically sent by the devil. I think about the circumstances in their lives that are causing them to not be nice to me as being sent by the devil. There have been a few circumstances in my life where I wonder if those individuals were controlled specifically by the devil or demons or whatever but by and large I have figured out that people are just trying to get by.
But what Patrick said about isolation really resonated with me and I have been working on that. I believe the devil can make us think that we need to isolate ourselves. I know that is something I am working on and something I needed to hear specifically today.
I agree with Patrick to a point. I believe the Devil tries to first convince us we are alone and then uses encounters with people to make us feel like everyone is against us isolating us further.
On the topic of evangelists I try to live by 1Thess 5:21 that says "Prove all things; hold fast that which is good." I know that many of them have stumbled and fallen and sometimes have controversial beliefs however by painting them all with a negative brush arent we negating the fact that through them many are coming to Christ?
"..arent we negating the fact that through them many are coming to Christ?"
I struggle with this. In regards to "Word of Faith" and "Prosperity Doctrine" teachings I have no doubt in my mind that they do more harm to a person who is seeking God than good. It's ear tickling the listener and the focus more often than not rests on what God can do for us rather than seeking what he wants us to accomplish for him. God is reduced to our puppet if we speak positively and say the correct prayers. Is that God?
I know I made an extremely wide sweep with the paintbrush during my last comment, and that was probably not a fair thing to do. The so called founding fathers of these movements, Charles Capps, Oral Roberts, Kenneth Copeland etc. do not even all believe the same things. Sorry
I was frustrated with a sermon I had just listened to in regards to prayer that said
"God handed over all dominion to man in the garden. Therefore God no longer has the right to step in unless we allow him. He is powerless. He can do nothing unless we give him permission."
This is word of faith/prosperity doctrine teaching. In this case a tiny bit of truth twisted and taken to an extreme. I cringe because that does not describe God to me. I cannot mix this with my belief that God is always in control and always sovereign no matter how much salt I mix with this statement. I have many friends who believe this stuff and I feel sickened. I love my friends and when I think about it too much I want to scream at every preacher who spouts off these words to rethink what message they are conveying to people.
Anyway back to your comment...I'm not sure. Are we sure the Christ presented in 2008 by some people is the same as the Christ we read about in our Bibles? Sorry if that sounds negative.
I can definitely see your point and I can see that you feel passionately about this. May I ask how they do more harm than good? I have attended events held by some of these evangelists and read their works and while I too struggle with some of their beliefs I have not heard them use statements like the one used.
To answer your final statement I would have to say that the way we can be sure about this is the same way we can be sure of anything. We think critically and carefully about what is being said and line it up with what we already know. And above all else we never stop studying God's word, praying and asking the tough questions of those who proclaim to have easy answers.
16 comments:
"When God wants to bless you, how does He do it? He sends people into your life."
How true this has been for me lately. This is the hardest time in my life and I have been blessed to have people come around me, pray for me, offer their time to hang out and talk.
Did you make that up or is that a quote from someone?
First of all, God's blessings do not always come through other people but often in many interesting and varied ways....that's been my experience.
"The thief (Satan) comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I (Jesus) have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." John 10:10
I guess I don't spend too much time thinking about how the devil may want to destroy me.....does he have the power to send people into our lives to destroy us?....maybe you mean he sends people into our lives to make us miserable?!
As a child of God I am living under the belief that although I will be faced with trials, temptations and tests I do not have to worry about the devil having any power over me to destroy me. I chose life.
The author of these words can be attributed to Paula White.
Oh....now it's all coming together....I was concerned for a few minutes.
I do not know who Paula White is...I just thought the statement was interesting....
I had never heard of her either but I googled her when you gave her name. Mega church.....prosperity doctrine....Benny Hinn...Joyce Meyer...emphasis on the devil...Kenneth Copeland... Florida...T.D.Jakes....and heresy. It's all wrapped up in the same package.
OUCH!
Oy vey Karen
God works through people for sure. He did this in an amazing way for me this week. God rang my doorbell (through the post man) and it wasn't what he was delivering that was the blessing. A lady from Soul (another "person") had left a gift bag at my front door but it remained unnoticed until the post man arrived causing me to open the door that isn't frequently used. The gift was partially covered in snow, so it had probably been there a day or two -- waiting until I needed it the most...on a down day.
In the gift bag was a book on "hearing from God", written by another "person" God has worked through.
A friend of mine said, "You were crying out to God and all the while he was at your door waiting."
I said, "Ya, and God even rings doorbells."
(and no, I'm not equating God with a book - it's about him making himself known and blessing me)
Hi Rosalie
I agree God uses people to bless us, I was just pointing out that his blessings are not limited to only coming to us through other people.
As for the "oy vey" yeh....I am very wary of preachers, evangelists who use Christianity as a cover up for greed, self promotion and a way to make people feel justified to pursue wealth instead of the heart of God.
I think when the devil wants to destroy us, he convinces us we are alone. The greatest enemy to a healthy relationship with God is cutting yourself off from His people. If you look around there seems to be this false doctrine teaching that we can be "christians" without attending church, or being part of a church community.
We were created to be in relationship, and we cannot be healthy children of God in isolation. Isolation can be both physically cutting ourselves off, and, also cutting ourselves off relationally and emotionally. We can be physically in community, but still isolated. Dying of thirst standing knee deep in fresh water. It's ana amzing lie.
When God wants to Bless us, he sends people.
When the Devil wants to destroy us he convinces us we are alone, and that we are the only person who thinks that way.
It works very well too.
I agree with Patrick. When I read the post the first part definitely struck me as true. The second part struck me as only partially true. Sometimes the people around us can be a challenge but I never really think of them of being specifically sent by the devil. I think about the circumstances in their lives that are causing them to not be nice to me as being sent by the devil. There have been a few circumstances in my life where I wonder if those individuals were controlled specifically by the devil or demons or whatever but by and large I have figured out that people are just trying to get by.
But what Patrick said about isolation really resonated with me and I have been working on that. I believe the devil can make us think that we need to isolate ourselves. I know that is something I am working on and something I needed to hear specifically today.
Thanks Patrick.
Patrick
"I think when the devil wants to destroy us, he convinces us we are alone."
That is a great insight. I think a lot of people can identify with that.
Nicely put Patrick and without judgement.
I agree with Patrick to a point. I believe the Devil tries to first convince us we are alone and then uses encounters with people to make us feel like everyone is against us isolating us further.
On the topic of evangelists I try to live by 1Thess 5:21 that says "Prove all things; hold fast that which is good."
I know that many of them have stumbled and fallen and sometimes have controversial beliefs however by painting them all with a negative brush arent we negating the fact that through them many are coming to Christ?
Just my thoughts.
Karl
"..arent we negating the fact that through them many are coming to Christ?"
I struggle with this. In regards to "Word of Faith" and "Prosperity Doctrine" teachings I have no doubt in my mind that they do more harm to a person who is seeking God than good. It's ear tickling the listener and the focus more often than not rests on what God can do for us rather than seeking what he wants us to accomplish for him. God is reduced to our puppet if we speak positively and say the correct prayers. Is that God?
I know I made an extremely wide sweep with the paintbrush during my last comment, and that was probably not a fair thing to do. The so called founding fathers of these movements, Charles Capps, Oral Roberts, Kenneth Copeland etc. do not even all believe the same things. Sorry
I was frustrated with a sermon I had just listened to in regards to prayer that said
"God handed over all dominion to man in the garden. Therefore God no longer has the right to step in unless we allow him. He is powerless. He can do nothing unless we give him permission."
This is word of faith/prosperity doctrine teaching. In this case a tiny bit of truth twisted and taken to an extreme. I cringe because that does not describe God to me. I cannot mix this with my belief that God is always in control and always sovereign no matter how much salt I mix with this statement. I have many friends who believe this stuff and I feel sickened. I love my friends and when I think about it too much I want to scream at every preacher who spouts off these words to rethink what message they are conveying to people.
Anyway back to your comment...I'm not sure. Are we sure the Christ presented in 2008 by some people is the same as the Christ we read about in our Bibles? Sorry if that sounds negative.
I can definitely see your point and I can see that you feel passionately about this. May I ask how they do more harm than good? I have attended events held by some of these evangelists and read their works and while I too struggle with some of their beliefs I have not heard them use statements like the one used.
To answer your final statement I would have to say that the way we can be sure about this is the same way we can be sure of anything. We think critically and carefully about what is being said and line it up with what we already know. And above all else we never stop studying God's word, praying and asking the tough questions of those who proclaim to have easy answers.
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