Still Thinking...

I just don't know. They are so godly, faithful, believing, faith-full, obedient, open, loving, convinced. I love listening and learning, and Nancy said somethings yesterday that I have to search the Scriptures about. Among other things, I remember the following:

1. Esther (and the other virgins) would have had to sexually please the king during her one night.
2. She speaks in tongues and obviously believes it's still being used today as a way of praising God.
3. Paul's thorn in the flesh could have been the people around him who were persecuting him. This made me wonder whether there are any examples in the Bible of someone who asked/prayed to be healed and was not.
4. When they are in the midst of praise and worship (which I understand to be singing/prophesying/speaking in tongues), gold dust appears (Will gets bigger pieces than she does and she wonders why) and sometimes gemstones (perfect) appear. Can this be a manifestation of God as sort of an earthly reward for their praise of Him? Is God glorified through it? If so, wouldn't it of course be from Him? Would Satan do something like that that allows God to be glorified and that magnifies His name?
5. She is involved in healing ministries, where people ARE healed and she says that people are raised from the dead.
6. She prophesies a lot, and random people have prophesied over Will, saying that scouts will see him and his face will be in magazines. (They thought it was for hockey, but recently someone was more specific and said it would be in movies.) How do we know whether that's from God? There is specific criteria in the Bible regarding prophecy, and prophets, for determining whether it is from the Lord (there were multiple false prophets in the Bible). 1 John 4:1–3; Isaiah 8:20; Deuteronomy 13:1–5; Deuteronomy 18:20
   
• Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God. (His human body was physically real.)
• Ask the person what they know and believe about Jesus, but don't put words in his or her mouth.
• Every spirit that does NOT confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is NOT of God.
• If they do not speak according tot his word [the law and the testimony], it is because there is no light in them.
• The Bible does not address every issue specifically. It does, however, address a variety of issues and how we are to live as God's children. Look at the general and specific issues.
• A prophet or dreamer may give you a sign or wonder. If he speaks or gives such in order to turn you away from God, he should be put to death.
• Am I following a person or the Lord?
• Walk after the Lord your God and fear Him, and keep His commandments and obey His voice; you shall serve Him and hold fast to them.
• You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.
• If a thing spoken in the name of the Lord does not happen or come to pass, the Lord has not spoken that; you shall not be afraid of that prophet.
• If a prophet today says that something will happen on such a date and it does not occur, do you still listen to that prophet?
• Can a prophet today prophesy and be believed if he does not say, "In the name of the Lord"?
• The prophet who presumes to speak a word in God's name, which He has not commanded him to speak, or who speaks in the name of other gods, the prophet shall dies.
• The time of death is not specific.
• They must speak God's word.
7. She thinks that the Left Behind series is a good fiction work.
   • Rapture first, then 7 years, then millennial reign
   • How will people come to know Jesus?
   • I said it will be those who knew (saber) God but didn't know (conocer) Him who then believe and confess that He is Lord and make Him the Lord of their lives. They then spread that truth to others.

The number 1 criterion is saying that Jesus has come in the flesh (physical human form). If that spirit (demonic spirits, who produce false prophets and false teachers to propagate their false doctrine) confesses that truth, it is from God. He who knows God hears us; he who is not of God does not hear us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error. (1 John 4:6)

• The personal, bodily return of Christ before the 7-year tribulation: John 14:1–3; I Corinthians 3:11–15; II Corinthians 5:10; I Thessalonians 4:15–5:11
• Between the rapture and Christ's return with the saints, believers are rewarded according to their works: Matthew 25:41; John 5:28–29; Revelation 20:11–15

Remember that prophecy can include foretelling (what hasn't yet happened but will) and forthtelling (what has already been spoken and needs to be brought up again).

Revelation 3:10 I also will keep you [Philadelphia, the faithful church] from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.

Jeremiah 30:7; Daniel 9:24–27; Matthew 24:21; John 14:1–3; I Corinthians 15:51–52; 1 Thessalonians 4:13–17; ; II Thessalonians 2:1; Titus 2:13; Revelation 7:14, 11:2–3, 12:6, 12:14, 13:5, 20:4–6