How Would You Know......?

Thief said:

I'm tossing Job into the discussion

Job was blindsided by scheme of things
He would say....the Lord gives, the Lord takes away

did he really think it was God? doing all those many harmful things
or did he know?...and in such manner he did rebuke the devil

Click to expand...

Excellent questions!

Yes, apparently he thought it was Jehovah God doing those things! And he still stayed faithful, despite that.

Today, we know who's really behind this corrupt world.

Jesus called him "the ruler (prince) of this world" @ John 14:30, the Apostle Paul referred to him as "the god of this system" @ 2 Corinthians 4:4. The Apostle John said 'the whole world is lying in his power' @ 1 John 5:19 and also wrote that he is "misleading the entire inhabited Earth" @ Revelation 12:9. That's a lot of control! And his deception is everywhere!

Even among professed Christians.... @ Matthew 7:21-23, Jesus said that "many" of his followers would be saying, "Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and expel demons in your name, and perform many powerful works in your name?" But Jesus would say, "Get away from me, you workers of lawlessness!" Obviously, they don't have Jesus' (or his Father's) support.

So the question is: from where would they be getting their power, to do these things in some churches? From the same source where Jannes and Jambres did, mentioned in Exodus 7, turning their staffs into snakes.

"Misleading the entire inhabited earth".

Thief said:

I mentioned this a looooong time ago...
so now I'm putting it up front

If you ask of God a good thing....He might do it
and He would expect your soul to return

If you ask of the devil a good thing....he might do it
and he would expect your soul IN return

so.....how would you know who you are dealing with?

Click to expand...

I was waiting for an atheist to say it was a myth. In this case, they would be right in selling one's soul to the devil. That would be from the story of Dr. Faustus. Here's a good summary.

Thief said:

I mentioned this a looooong time ago...
so now I'm putting it up front

If you ask of God a good thing....He might do it
and He would expect your soul to return

If you ask of the devil a good thing....he might do it
and he would expect your soul IN return

so.....how would you know who you are dealing with?

Click to expand...

The devil doesn't have power over your soul only God does.

Thief said:

I'm tossing Job into the discussion

Job was blindsided by scheme of things
He would say....the Lord gives, the Lord takes away

did he really think it was God? doing all those many harmful things
or did he know?...and in such manner he did rebuke the devil

Click to expand...

Job also said "You asked, 'Who is this muddying the water, ignorantly confusing the issue, second-guessing my purposes?' I admit it. I was the one. I babbled on about things far beyond me, made small talk about wonders way over my head." MSG Job 42:3

So when Job said "the Lord gives, the Lord takes away" it was Job that said it and not God. Man has a way of speaking about things they know nothing about.

The Job ordeal, it is said, was about 9 months. It was Satan who stole, killed and destroyed but God gave him life and that more abundantly.

today I lean to the notion that Job DID understand his situation
and in saying .....the Lord gives ....the Lord takes away....
Job affirmed his service to God and made denial in that face of the devil and the harm dealt

Job recognized the harm as the work of the devil.....
and spoke of God's sovereignty to spite the devil

but correct me if I am wrong....
did Job give in?....did he ask of God?..........why?

Thief said:

I mentioned this a looooong time ago...
so now I'm putting it up front

If you ask of God a good thing....He might do it
and He would expect your soul to return

If you ask of the devil a good thing....he might do it
and he would expect your soul IN return

so.....how would you know who you are dealing with?

Click to expand...

Is what was asked in the scriptures? The devil twists the scriptures and asks us to disobey the scriptures.

Thief said:

today I lean to the notion that Job DID understand his situation
and in saying .....the Lord gives ....the Lord takes away....

Click to expand...

I don't think so because he said in reply to God:
Job also said "You asked, 'Who is this muddying the water, ignorantly confusing the issue, second-guessing my purposes?' I admit it. I was the one. I babbled on about things far beyond me, made small talk about wonders way over my head." MSG Job 42:3

Job affirmed his service to God and made denial in that face of the devil and the harm dealt

Click to expand...

Yes, this is what saved him. In truth, his wife was right when she said "Why don't you curse God and die!"

Job recognized the harm as the work of the devil.....
and spoke of God's sovereignty to spite the devil

Click to expand...

True on both accounts. IMV.

but correct me if I am wrong....
did Job give in?....did he ask of God?..........why?

Click to expand...

Don't understand this question in the understanding that he continued to bless God in spite of all situations.

As I view this through the fact that Job is the oldest of all books, there wasn't the plumbline that we have today through Jesus Christ who brings the truth and the light that it is the thief that steals, kills and destroys (Satan takes away) but that it is God who gives life and that more abundantly (but the Lord Gives)

Thief said:

I mentioned this a looooong time ago...
so now I'm putting it up front

If you ask of God a good thing....He might do it
and He would expect your soul to return

If you ask of the devil a good thing....he might do it
and he would expect your soul IN return

so.....how would you know who you are dealing with?

Click to expand...

You can just set things straight up front:

"Hey, I'd like you to do this thing for me, but you need to know up front: my soul isn't on the table as a bargaining chip. I've already decided where my soul belongs."

Then, regardless of who appears to be fulfilling your request, it's clear it wasn't done in trade for your soul, and if it's a good thing... then what's the problem?

Thank You for fulfilling my good, benign, and in no way malevolent request, freely, of your own will.

Thief said:

I mentioned this a looooong time ago...
so now I'm putting it up front

If you ask of God a good thing....He might do it
and He would expect your soul to return

If you ask of the devil a good thing....he might do it
and he would expect your soul IN return

so.....how would you know who you are dealing with?

Click to expand...

Whether you can back out of the deal.

With God you should be able to.
With Satan? Not so much.

As well, there is the matter of just how 'good' the thing is that you are asking....

Good done in the name of evil is still good
Evil done in the name of good is still evil.

So....there it is, IMO: what are you asking for, and....and is the price refundable?

but.....the action of asking imparts an indebtedness

does it not?

and some level of a relationship is dealt

Thief said:

but.....the action of asking imparts an indebtedness

does it not?

and some level of a relationship is dealt

Click to expand...

Some truth... at the inception yes (speaking of making Jesus one's Lord) for my life became His. After that it isn't a matter of indebtedness but rather love.

For an example: when I gave my life to Jesus, yes, I was indebted to Him. He gave me what I could never buy -- forgiveness and life. It became a relationship like unto a husband and a wife.

But when I asked Him to heal my back when I couldn't get out of bed, and He did, there was no strings attached because the relationship is already established--He did it just because He loves me.

Much like when I cook for my wife... I don't do it with strings attached, I do it as an expression of love--it's a gift.

I might not be expressing it perfectly, let me know if there is a need of clarification.

KenS said:

Some truth... at the inception yes (speaking of making Jesus one's Lord) for my life became His. After that it isn't a matter of indebtedness but rather love.

For an example: when I gave my life to Jesus, yes, I was indebted to Him. He gave me what I could never buy -- forgiveness and life. It became a relationship like unto a husband and a wife.

But when I asked Him to heal my back when I couldn't get out of bed, and He did, there was no strings attached because the relationship is already established--He did it just because He loves me.

Much like when I cook for my wife... I don't do it with strings attached, I do it as an expression of love--it's a gift.

I might not be expressing it perfectly, let me know if there is a need of clarification.

Click to expand...

my needs have been different.....

and I have recognition in the parables.......He is my Inspiration

but I stand on a fulcrum because of what I have heard and seen

in receiving the parables.....my plea of ignorance was taken away
I will have no excuses
I have been told

And no doctors involved there !
Must have been a miracle !
Me bad !!

Thief said:

I mentioned this a looooong time ago...
so now I'm putting it up front

If you ask of God a good thing....He might do it
and He would expect your soul to return

If you ask of the devil a good thing....he might do it
and he would expect your soul IN return

so.....how would you know who you are dealing with?

Click to expand...

Examine your intention why you want to ask at all.

Aiviu said:

Examine your intention why you want to ask at all.

Click to expand...

some things are beyond our control....
believing in a Greater Person .....people tend to ask

but how do you know with whom you are in contact?

Why do you want to ask ?
Followed by: who does one get to contact ?
How does one know who is out there, who's in that certain nirvana, or heaven ?
How does one know if the answers are correct for one's own situation ?
Ahhhhh...the transparancy of the invisible nothingness,
it's like being deaf and blind to the messages, that don't really come into one's reality.
To hear voices that come out the emptiness and echo in one's ears, is like magic.
I would be certainly afraid of sounds that come from the void of non-reality.
But....I guess it is what is spoken, maybe whispered, the message is what is important.
I hope that it is a good a message, and soothing to one's needs

Thief said:

some things are beyond our control....
believing in a Greater Person .....people tend to ask

but how do you know with whom you are in contact?

Click to expand...

The motive of asking isnt beyond control. If you know the motive and finding its root in your desire, you know to whom you wish and more importantly deserve! to have contact to.

Aiviu said:

The motive of asking isnt beyond control. If you know the motive and finding its root in your desire, you know to whom you wish and more importantly deserve! to have contact to.

Click to expand...

the motive for asking is not within

someone you know....needs help
the world needs help

are you praying for yourself?
if so, the motive is still beyond you
otherwise, you would not be asking

there are many who say...Lord! Lord!
and He knows them not

how are you sure who you are dealing with?

'mud said:

Why do you want to ask ?
Followed by: who does one get to contact ?
How does one know who is out there, who's in that certain nirvana, or heaven ?
How does one know if the answers are correct for one's own situation ?
Ahhhhh...the transparancy of the invisible nothingness,
it's like being deaf and blind to the messages, that don't really come into one's reality.
To hear voices that come out the emptiness and echo in one's ears, is like magic.
I would be certainly afraid of sounds that come from the void of non-reality.
But....I guess it is what is spoken, maybe whispered, the message is what is important.
I hope that it is a good a message, and soothing to one's needs

Click to expand...

oooooh!......so you DO understand
!!!!!!