How Do YOU Draw Conclusions?

[Bendito]

Just curiosity here…..Do you form an opinion and set out to find verses that back up your conclusions? Do you read scripture and simply believe it as it says it? Do you try to translate it into something understandable? Do you listen to a preacher expound on it and believe it as it was preached?

I ask this because I am curious only. No judgment involved.

I saw one thread where it talked of some people being offended about the bride. Some men taking offense about being part of the bride? Why would anyone take offense over a metaphor? It would seem that opinions here are formed without reading the Word.

Another; The rapture, or catching up of the church; Is it pre? Post? Mid? Or is it to happen at all? What does the Word say? Many of us simply believe what we have been told by a preacher. Or our wives/ husbands when we get saved, and don't look for ourselves into the Word

Some of us form that opinion based on how we see God. My mother often said when I was young “It’s a wonder God doesn’t strike you dead!” Sorry Mom. LOL I used to cringe when she said that, expecting a bolt of lightning or something. It never came, which did serve to help me form and opinion of what God is like. Then I read His Word. I learned that God does care what I do. I learned that God is incredibly merciful, (which explains why He didn’t strike me down). And God is very very present even when one is not saved. I learned that the Love of God is like a covering over my every move, in that because of His Love His mercy was all over me. And His Grace was a part of my life even when I did not know it, or Him.



Do you see the question I’m asking from the examples?

 

[fightngwrmwood]

Do you see the question I’m asking from the examples?

Reading this the question seems to be getting at the inner person, that greater man of Christ in us, that Paul wants to be strengthened in that beautiful prayer in Ephesians 3 and foreshadowed over and over again, as in Deuteronomy, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel. His gift of heart that can't help but love him, and is always speaking truth.

My prayer is that those that do not feel strengthened in their inner person, even if they have asked Him to change their hearts and lives will never give up the hope that He's at work and be encouraged that there is always much, much more waiting, beyond what we can ask or imagine, the more we are able to accept what is at this moment, what we have just as is.

Anyone else?

Scriptures that came up for me:
Ephesians 3:14-18 "For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us..."
Deuteronomy 30:6 "And the LORD your God will circumcise your heart and the heart of your offspring, so that you will love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, that you may live."
Deuteronomy 30:14 "But the word is very near you. It is in your mouth and in your heart, so that you can do it."
Jeremiah 24:7 "I will give them a heart to know that I am the LORD, and they shall be my people and I will be their God, for they shall return to me with their whole heart"
Ezekiel 11:19 "And I will give them one heart, and a new spirit I will put within them. I will remove the heart of stone from their flesh and give them a heart of flesh"
Ezekiel 36:26 "And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh"
1 John 4:4 "Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world."

 

[Curtis]

Just curiosity here…..Do you form an opinion and set out to find verses that back up your conclusions? Do you read scripture and simply believe it as it says it? Do you try to translate it into something understandable? Do you listen to a preacher expound on it and believe it as it was preached?

I ask this because I am curious only. No judgment involved.

I saw one thread where it talked of some people being offended about the bride. Some men taking offense about being part of the bride? Why would anyone take offense over a metaphor? It would seem that opinions here are formed without reading the Word.

Another; The rapture, or catching up of the church; Is it pre? Post? Mid? Or is it to happen at all? What does the Word say? Many of us simply believe what we have been told by a preacher. Or our wives/ husbands when we get saved, and don't look for ourselves into the Word

Some of us form that opinion based on how we see God. My mother often said when I was young “It’s a wonder God doesn’t strike you dead!” Sorry Mom. LOL I used to cringe when she said that, expecting a bolt of lightning or something. It never came, which did serve to help me form and opinion of what God is like. Then I read His Word. I learned that God does care what I do. I learned that God is incredibly merciful, (which explains why He didn’t strike me down). And God is very very present even when one is not saved. I learned that the Love of God is like a covering over my every move, in that because of His Love His mercy was all over me. And His Grace was a part of my life even when I did not know it, or Him.



Do you see the question I’m asking from the examples?

For me, conclusions come as the Holy Spirit teaches me a "concept", or a "precept" of the Word of God. Each and every scripture is true in what it says, but "truth" is only found when two scriptures that are true are combined, and compared to each other, which gives "revelation". God has given man the capacity to come to a conclusion once truth is given to him by the Holy Spirit. Scripture builds upon scripture. The truth detector is found in the "anointing" not in the physical mind where men store and analyze scripture. We are to bring every thought unto the "obedience" of Christ (anointing).

1Co 2:11 For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.
1Co 2:12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.
1Co 2:13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.

2Co 10:5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

 

[Chad]

Good questions. I think there's something important here when discussing about GOD, His Word and truth. Basically, opinions should not be interjected in your response to others' questions or even your own thoughts. Truth is not debatable, questionable or changeable. It must come from the bible, anything to do with GOD. There's a lot of different interpretations from people for obvious reasons. Lack of study, lack of prayerful reading, confusion and of course pride (unwilling to admit they might be wrong, or an unteachable spirit). It's important we pray for the Holy Spirit to teach us as we read the Word and to speak truth as we share the Gospel with others. If we're not 100% sure how to answer something, it's best to keep shut in respect to GOD and for the sake of the listener, not to cause him or her to stumble.

 

[Travis]

Jumping to conclusions is bad:

But, if you are going to do it, make sure you can make it to the next fish bowl:

Being a fish out of water is no fun.

 

[Dovegiven]

When I was saved at age 31 I had been attending my wife's Baptist denomination, in effect badgered to church. The only Bible learnin' I got in those days was Sunday School, which issued verses in tiny doses with lots of practical example scenarios and testimonies, Actual teaching was effectively absent, classes being a reading of the published lessons through 3/4 of the classs periods. The service sermons were out of a custom diary style manual the pastor had written up decades earlier, numbered by the week of the year. I learned that when he had me read the Father's Day sermon out of it so he could travel to be with his children and grandchildren. I knew then the reason all his sermons seemed too familiar.

Next the church decided that since I had a college degree I should be a Training Union leader, there being a shortage of teachers, 'teaching the Bible' some, with no published itinerary. I became expert at looking at one verse or small passage, then deriving an opinion, then teaching it to the apparent delight of all the hearers. Some among them knew I was lacking knowledge, but they held their peace a while.

After a year of that a very seasoned businessman elder approached me about my rendering of scriptures, that I needed some training "to be even more effective at reaching souls". That sounded right, seeing nobody was being saved. He and wife invited our class to his home for Thursday night Bible study, then began patiently introducing me to how one scripture I would camp out on interpreted with my own opinion actually would be linked to many others that modify how the reader ought to regard one passage that appears isolated, and limited to one literal interpretation to the exclusion of whatever else the Bible says about a topic. It took two years for that to sink in. All that in spite of the fact that at being born again I had given up all entertainment, like TV, even sports shows, for a year to read the NIV Bible through several times. But that wasn't enough to assemble all the "scattered" passages that compliment each other to reveal the actual truth of any one of them. I still do that with the KJV, though only once a year due to more study time. While doing that I fill out a stack of spirial notebook of notes of points to go back to to study besides "read-through" times. I'm doing that on an AoG site for licensed teachers and pastors that read and study together daily, and from a similar So. Baptist ministry site.

Long story shortened, it takes a lot more time than ever before for me to conclude anything of Bible doctrine until having exhausted all possible connections in scriptures. Diving into the Hebrew and Greek has caused much of that extended decision process. I pray when studying, that being a time when family knows not to disturb me, even if the Cowboys are playing. I take part in internet discussions while in my study, prayerfully constructing replies. All along, the Holy Spirit is continuously bringing things to my recollection, putting thoughts together with confidence, along the way preparing possible sermons if I'm called to fill in for a preacher somewhere with usually no advance notice.

Another part of drawing conclusions is what often will be a change of former conclusions, through what we like to call "iron sharpeneth iron".

It's been a process of willingness to adjust my thinking over the past 39 years of study, best said in the lesson of
Isaiah 28:9-13 (KJV)
9 Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts.
10 For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little:
11 For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people.
12 To whom he said, This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear.
13 But the word of the LORD was unto them precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little; that they might go, and fall backward, and be broken, and snared, and taken.

We know Israel's priests ignored how God chose to speak to them, not taking that passage as the way God teaches mature men, instead complaining Isaiah's instruction was for children, refusing to learn that way. I am determined to learn the way God chooses to my last day. Christians learning that way will not be taken like they were.

 

[Hekuran]

My experience is similar. Much of my understanding of my faith is inherited or assumed, or caught in the wind. As I mature in my faith, I am gradually challenging my ideas, coming to a new and better understanding. The process is often an extended conversation with God and goes something like this

• crisis - i come across a Bible passage that I cannot make sense of, or I read something that challenges my ideas
• I struggle with it, pushing ideas back and forth, trying to find a way to fit things together. This is usually very uncomfortable
• After some time, I carefully question my ideas and set aside things that no longer fit with my renewed understanding

It often takes quite a bit of time - maybe six months from initial upset to settling down on something new. I htink I can say that every time I have been through this process I have come out of it with a richer, stronger and more joyful faith.

 

[amadeus2]

Drawing conclusions by means of our own logic is never the right way unless God is directing the logic in us.

Man's education can be useful tool in the ways of men, but I know for me that when I really met the Lord and began serving Him, my formal education was very much in the way. The Holy Ghost had to help me unlearn some of my learning, especially the university learning.

Now I am growing and realize how very wrong many of my early beliefs and conclusions were wrong. As to all of the truth that God has, it really must, I believe, be based on our vision:

"Where there is no vision, the people perish:" Prov 29:18

"For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known." I Cor 13:12

Where we get a vision or improve on it are questions worth pursuing, but have a care as to how we proceed toward Him. For me the Way to eat the flesh of Jesus and to drink his blood daily.

 

[Bendito]

Drawing conclusions by means of our own logic is never the right way unless God is directing the logic in us.

Man's education can be useful tool in the ways of men, but I know for me that when I really met the Lord and began serving Him, my formal education was very much in the way. The Holy Ghost had to help me unlearn some of my learning, especially the university learning.

Now I am growing and realize how very wrong many of my early beliefs and conclusions were wrong. As to all of the truth that God has, it really must, I believe, be based on our vision:

"Where there is no vision, the people perish:" Prov 29:18

"For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known." I Cor 13:12

Where we get a vision or improve on it are questions worth pursuing, but have a care as to how we proceed toward Him. For me the Way to eat the flesh of Jesus and to drink his blood daily.

So now, dear friend, you've come to the conclusion that some of your earlier beliefs are wrong. Did you come to this conclusion on your own? LOL I love the way the Holy Spirit leads us to good conclusions like that. That is, when we listen to Him as you did. Too many of us try to grow spiritually by efforts of the mind as you say. I like this post.

 

[amadeus2]

So now, dear friend, you've come to the conclusion that some of your earlier beliefs are wrong. Did you come to this conclusion on your own? LOL I love the way the Holy Spirit leads us to good conclusions like that. That is, when we listen to Him as you did. Too many of us try to grow spiritually by efforts of the mind as you say. I like this post.

No, my friend! We never make the really "good" decisions or changes('come to ... conclusions') on our own, or so I believe. There is none "good" but one, so when anyone really does something good, is it not as a result of following the lead of the "good one" even if the person doesn't even know it?

 

[Bendito]

No, my friend! We never make the really "good" decisions or changes('come to ... conclusions') on our own, or so I believe. There is none "good" but one, so when anyone really does something good, is it not as a result of following the lead of the "good one" even if the person doesn't even know it?

LOL I think that's what I said...

 

[amadeus2]

LOL I think that's what I said...

Absolutely! Give God the glory!