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Use Your Discernment
Dear ones, I came across a passage in the bible today that I hope will be an energy bar or strengthening bread for you, to comfort and uphold you today.
I've added color
25 And when they had found him on the other side of the sea, they said unto him, Rabbi, when camest thou hither?
26 Jesus answered them and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye seek me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled.
27 Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed.
28 Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?
29 Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.
30 They said therefore unto him, What sign shewest thou then, that we may see, and believe thee? what dost thou work?
31 Our fathers did eat manna in the desert; as it is written, He gave them bread from heaven to eat.
32 Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven.
33 For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world.
34 Then said they unto him, Lord, evermore give us this bread.
35 And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.
36 But I said unto you, That ye also have seen me, and believe not.
37 All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.
38 For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.
39 And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day.
40 And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.
We don't have to DO the exactly perfect thing or say the exactly perfect words at exactly the perfect time to get the will of God done.
The finished work belongs to Jesus, the Bread of Life, the Word of God, the One come down from heaven who is sitting back there now, waiting for Father to say when its time to come get us.
The work assigned for us to do is to believe on Him.
The Father is the one who draws people to Jesus. All that the Father gives to Jesus will come to Him. Jesus is not going to cast any of those out and He will not lose them. Jesus is their shepherd.
We can pray and ask God to give our loved ones to Jesus, and we know that Jesus is the Good Shepherd and will look after them. We are told that we can ask whatever we want and if its according to God's will, then we can have it. We know that it is God's will for people to be saved. This prayer for loved ones is according to God's will. John 15:16; John 16:23
If our children or loved ones have believed in Jesus and asked Him to be their savior at one time, Jesus did not throw the baby out with the bathwater if they have gone astray. Remember the prodigal son and the assurance given that if we believe in the Lord Jesus we will be saved and our household. One might ask about those who are lukewarm and get spewed out. Well, that would be a fearful and hot awakening. 1Cor 3:15
I have sons, daughters, a husband, mom, neices, nephew, cousins, long list that I desire to be saved. This is what I have done concerning them. Asked God to draw them to Jesus and am standing on the words above. Do I ever doubt or feel terrible about them? Yes, and then I go back to the word of God. This is our daily Bread. The immovable Rock. The Sure Foundation.
Father, thank You for giving us bread today from Your word. Please God, draw those whom Your people love to Jesus. Have those who at one time believed, perhaps in childhood, come to their senses as the prodigal son did, repent, and return to You. Loving not this life more than You, I pray they endure even to death rather than deny Jesus. Please send Jesus for us soon.
We pray for the peace of Jerusalem to come.
We pray for peace, comfort, strength and provision for the persecuted church.
The Spirit and Bride are saying come. Even so, Come Lord Jesus.
Maranatha
Thank you, Regina.
I needed to be reminded of the scriptures you gave, and I thank you also for the wisdom of your words.
Bless you, Regina.
YSiC,
Patti
Website: Check out this video on YouTube: www.youtube.com/watch?v=QopzID7EltI&feature=youtube_gdata_player Sent from my iPhone
I really struggle with this. I understand that it is His will that all should be saved. I also understand that if I will pray and if he hears my prayers then I will have what I ask. The problem is free will. God will NOT make anybody do anything they don't want to do. He may bring the loved one to the end of themselves, but will not force them to accept the free gift. This is my struggle. I have full confidence that my loved ones will have their hearts softened and that He will draw them near. My concern is that my loved ones will not accept it.
Make it count, I struggled with the same "what if they won't come" "free will" questions that you bring up. This is what I've come to believe about those questions, and some scripture for foundation:
The bible says that God gets what He wants. His word accomplishes what He sends it out to do. So if God draws someone, can they refuse?
It is true that God makes some vessels for honor and some for dishonor.
20 On the contrary, who are you, O man, who answers back to God? The thing molded will not say to the molder, "Why did you make me like this," will it? 21 Or does not the potter have a right over the clay, to make from the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for common use?
Ephesians 1:3-5
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, 4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. In love 5 He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will,…
If God calls someone to be a vessel of honor, in answer to our prayer,
I don't think they can then refuse. If they could refuse God's voice, then it means the plan of God is at the whim of us humans.
We know that is not true. God counted the cost before He made the world
Luke 14: 28-29
God has orchestrated creation since before the world was made. He gave Job and friends an earful about His ability.
We were chosen in Him before the foundation of the world. God thought of us and planned us thousands of years before we were born!
Remember when Jesus called the disciples and they left everything?
Isn't that kind of weird? How many of us would walk off the job and wander around for a few years with someone we don't know. It was weird.
It was the power of God.
Make It Count, I think it is the power and design of God that you were born and in contact with these whom you pray for.
God hears you, so trust God, and pray that He draws those you pray for to Jesus. Ask Him for their salvation. He will accomplish His will.
Perhaps they have not been drawn yet, or will be in the tribulation.
Isaiah 46:10
Isaiah 55:11
Numbers 23:19
Revelation 13:8 You see, even in the tribulation, those whose names were in the book of Life from the foundation of the world stand for Jesus.
If you are praying for someone's salvation, since Jesus told us we could ask whatsoever and it will be done, to glorify Him and the Father, then we know God will answer that prayer. Have faith. It is God's good pleasure to save.
Thank you so very much for those encouraging words and verses. Were you told to post this because I've been having some serious discussions with Him lately and just hadn't made it that far. I was SURE FOT was the day and had fully surrendered my love one's to His care. I have faith that my husband will be called to salvation shortly and am hopeful that my family will follow shortly thereafter.
May God richly bless you for posting this. I hope it blesses all who are struggling with the possibility of leaving loves ones behind.
Regina: This is such a big help to me. For many of us, we struggle with giving our loved ones up to God for their salvation. For me, I give them over to God and a few days later I am back struggling with the issue of them not being saved.
Each one of you who posed a reply helped in some way. I will certainly keep coming back and re-reading this again.
I was weighed down with the care on my shoulders for my loved ones to be saved. For years. Even this year, like many I was on a yoyo of faith, confident one minute and ready to cry and wail to God the next.
The Holy Spirit is so kind, He led me to hearing teaching about this and had me to look up these verses which are a comfort indeed. The word of God is sure. Lisa Dennis Sparks looks into the bible, searching for answers to some hard questions. She has a facebook page and youtube channel. Hearing her is where I first noticed these verses. Some of her videos are long, but she makes "pearls" and "nutshells" that are shorter about a particular topic.
We are here for one another. Jesus told Peter, if you love me, feed my sheep. I am glad if this post feeds you. RITAN has and continues to feed me and correct my path at times. Thank you mods.
I read on RITAN some posts of concern for loved ones. Rather than reply to each, I wrote the post. Be comforted RITAN readers, God loves you and hears.
If someone is reading this who has not asked Jesus to be your Savior, if you wonder if that is you that was planned by God thousands of years ago, arranging all those generations to make unique you to be a vessel of honor, then that is Him, your Maker, calling you, saying "Hello" "Pay attention to me and come to me". Accept His invitation now, the Lord God created you with loving intention. Pray with us below as Jesus taught,
In Jesus name we pray, our Father who is in heaven, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come and Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our sins as we forgive those who have sinned against us. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Yours IS the kingdom and power and glory forever. Amen
Yes dear Sister it is a great comfort, and a confirmation of what the Lord has been speaking to my heart this very day.
