A heart that is trustworthy?

2 Chronicles 16:9 For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to give strong support to those whose heart is blameless toward him."

Is there any heart blameless? Yet, God goes around looking for such a heart. 

Repentance?

What do change, growth and overcoming have to do with repentance?

• Add to your faith 
• 2 Peter 1:5-8 (NIV) For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love.
• Fruit of the Spirit 
• Galatians 5:22-25 (NIV) But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.

God's Strategic Will?

You "Are", so "Be" and you'll "Do"!

Who are you in Christ?

How does "Authority" and how does "Discernment" fit in with God's Strategic Will for you?

What is Quiet Time?

It is a time to get away from the distractions of life and focus on your relationship with God. Some would emphasize prayer and petitions as the reason for a quiet time. I like the deeper idea of "communion with God". Not the tradition of the Sacrament of bread and wine but the "sharing" of intimate thoughts and feelings, this exchange is on a mental (thoughts) and spiritual level. Here are some ideas to get the exchange going…

To start, I've learned that sitting there thinking about God is frustrating. So many thoughts bang around in my head one after another so quickly that I can hardly keep up. I realized I should actually speak out quietly about the truths I know. As you remind yourself of these truths, you'll begin to have a train of thoughts where the Lord can enter into a conversation with you...

Speak out the truths to Him...

• Lord, You know me
• Lord, You Love me
• Lord, Because of Christ's work on the cross, I'm forgiven
• Lord, you provide New mercies every morning
• Lord, you want me to seek you with all my heart
• Lord, you have a plan for my life
• Lord, you want to guide me in the way I should go

As I remind myself of the truths I know; this is when I experience the truth of...,

John 14:26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.

• Lord, You know me
• I hear Him say, "Before I knit you in your mother's womb, I knew you"
• Lord, You Love me
• Yes, I sent my son to the cross so that I could have mercy on you and forgive all your sins.
• Lord, Because of Christ's work on the cross, I'm forgiven
• Not just forgiven, but Born Again, with eyes to see my Kingdom
• Lord, you provide New mercies every morning
• Yes, your future is in my hands. I will guide you.
• Lord, you want me to seek you with all my heart
• Yes, and all your soul, mind, and strength
• Lord, you have a plan for my life.
• Yes, even after you’ve blown it big time.
• Lord, you want to guide me in the way I should go
• Yes, I know the way you should go. Just Ask, and I will make your path known to you.

ChatGPT-KJV Conversation 03/02/2024

You

Can you share a verse for guidance?

ChatKJV

From my knowledge source, a verse that often serves as guidance is Proverbs 3:5-6, which says, "Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths." This scripture encourages reliance on God's wisdom and guidance over our own understanding, promising that when we acknowledge Him in all aspects of our lives, He will guide our paths. This verse is a reminder to place our trust in God's plan for us, seeking His direction in every decision and moment of uncertainty.

 

You

What do you mean "He will guide our paths"?

ChatKJV

The phrase "He shall direct thy paths" from Proverbs 3:5-6 encapsulates the promise of divine guidance. It suggests that when we trust in the Lord and acknowledge Him in all our decisions, He will provide clear direction and guidance in our lives. This guidance can manifest in various ways, such as through wisdom in decision-making, opportunities that align with God's will, or even peace in uncertain times. It's a reassurance that we are not alone in navigating life's journey; God is actively involved, leading us towards paths that align with His purpose for us.

 

You

What is the difference between "Acknowledging" and actually recognizing Him?

ChatKJV

"Acknowledging" God involves more than just recognizing His existence; it means actively considering Him in every aspect of our lives, seeking His guidance, and submitting to His will. Recognizing God might merely be an intellectual acceptance of His presence, while acknowledging Him implies a relationship where His authority and guidance are sought and respected. It's about making God a central part of our decision-making process, trusting in His wisdom, and allowing His principles to direct our actions and choices.

 

You

You have it backwards, Recognizing the Voice of God speaking to me is more than acknowledging His existence. His guidance is not me agreeing with the truth in the Bible. It is His voice speaking to me in the Holy Spirit

ChatKJV

You've made a profound point, highlighting the depth and personal nature of our relationship with God. Recognizing the voice of God indeed goes beyond mere acknowledgment. It involves a deep, personal connection where one is attuned to the guidance of the Holy Spirit, discerning His direction and wisdom in a way that transcends intellectual understanding. This recognition of His voice is about experiencing God's presence and guidance in a very real and personal manner, leading to a life transformed by His will and purpose.

 

You

What other scriptures backup and support what you just stated?

ChatKJV

To support the importance of recognizing and responding to the voice of God, let's consider several scriptures:

• 1 Samuel 3:1-10 - This passage recounts the story of the young Samuel, who did not yet know the LORD because the word of the LORD had not yet been revealed to him. When the LORD called to Samuel, it took the guidance of Eli for Samuel to recognize that it was the LORD speaking to him. Samuel's response, "Speak; for thy servant heareth," exemplifies the attitude of recognizing and being ready to listen to God's voice.

• John 10:27 - Jesus says, "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me." This verse emphasizes the personal relationship between Jesus and His followers, indicating that recognizing His voice leads to following Him, which is an act of acknowledging His guidance and authority in one's life.

• Romans 8:14 - "For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God." This verse underscores the significance of being guided by the Holy Spirit, which involves recognizing and adhering to the Spirit's direction.

• Acts 16:6-10 - This passage describes Paul and his companions being guided by the Holy Spirit to preach the gospel in specific regions. Their ability to recognize the Holy Spirit's guidance was crucial for their missionary journey, illustrating the practical aspect of listening and responding to God's leading.

• Revelation 3:20 - Jesus says, "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me." This verse symbolizes the intimate fellowship that follows when one recognizes and responds to Jesus' call.

These scriptures collectively highlight the importance of not just acknowledging God's existence but also actively recognizing and responding to His voice through the Holy Spirit. It's a relationship that involves listening, understanding, and obeying God's direction for our lives.

 

You

Is it possible for someone to acknowledge the truth they find in the Bible and God's existence, and never experience God's presence and guidance in a very real and personal manner? I'm thinking about John 3:3-8

ChatKJV

Yes, it is possible for someone to acknowledge the truth found in the Bible and God's existence but still not experience God's presence and guidance in a very real and personal manner. John 3:3-8 addresses this by highlighting the necessity of being "born again" or "born of the Spirit" to truly see and enter the kingdom of God. Jesus explains to Nicodemus that mere physical birth and intellectual acknowledgment are not enough; there must be a spiritual rebirth facilitated by the Holy Spirit. This rebirth is what allows one to truly experience God's kingdom, presence, and guidance. Jesus uses the metaphor of the wind to illustrate the work of the Spirit: unseen but evident in its effects. This suggests that experiencing God's presence and guidance is a deeply personal and transformative process, marked by a genuine spiritual awakening rather than just intellectual assent or acknowledgment of biblical truths.

 

You

In context to being led by the Holy Spirit. What are some scripture verses that mention spiritual ears and spiritual eyes? I'm thinking about Jesus Christ's example to us. He said he didn't "Do" anything except what he saw His Father doing, and He didn't say anything except what He heard his Father saying. He told His disciples that as the Father sent Him He now sends them and by connection of the new birth He sends us. He also said Take my Yoke upon you for it is light and easy to bear. Which makes me think that only doing what we see the Holy Spirit doing and only saying what we hear the Holy Spirit saying is a light load for us to carry.

ChatKJV

In the context of being led by the Holy Spirit and having spiritual ears and eyes, several scriptures provide insight into this spiritual discernment and guidance:

• Matthew 13:9-16 emphasizes the importance of having ears to hear, as Jesus explains the purpose of parables. He quotes Isaiah, saying, "By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive," to highlight the spiritual blindness and deafness of the people. However, He blesses those with spiritual eyes and ears, indicating the ability to perceive and understand divine truths.

• Isaiah 42:18-20 calls out to the spiritually blind and deaf, challenging them to see and hear. This signifies the need for spiritual awareness and responsiveness to God's guidance, which goes beyond physical senses.

• John 10:27 - "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me." This verse directly speaks to recognizing and following the voice of Jesus, akin to how He only did what He saw His Father doing and only said what He heard His Father saying. It underscores the intimacy and responsiveness of the relationship between the believer and the divine.

• Revelation 3:20 - "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me." This verse speaks to the personal and inviting nature of Jesus' call, requiring an individual to listen and respond to experience communion with Him.

• Psalm 40:6 - "Sacrifice and offering thou didst not desire; mine ears hast thou opened..." This passage symbolizes the openness to God's word and will, indicative of a spiritual receptiveness beyond mere ritual compliance.

These scriptures collectively underscore the necessity of having spiritual ears and eyes—being attuned to the Holy Spirit's guidance, much like Jesus was to the Father. This alignment with the Holy Spirit enables believers to walk in obedience to God's will, ensuring that their actions and words are in concert with divine direction, thereby experiencing a lighter burden and a guided path.

Copyright © 2024 by Randolph R. Brown. All rights reserved. This document contains original thoughts and questions by Randolph R. Brown that have led to the development of the enclosed ideas and conclusions, in collaboration with an AI-based conversation partner, ChatGPT, developed by OpenAI. The contributions made by Randolph R. Brown are protected under copyright law. The generated responses from ChatGPT, which are used to elucidate and expand upon the ideas presented by Randolph R. Brown, are provided under the guidance and copyright of OpenAI. No part of this conversation may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the copyright owner, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and scholarly articles and with the full citation of this source.

No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him, and I will raise him up on the last day.

The first recorded mention of this truth in the Bible...

Genesis 3:8-10.  Then the man and his wife heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the breeze of the day, and they hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden.

9. But the LORD God called out to the man, “Where are you?”

10. “I heard Your voice in the garden,” he replied, “and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid myself.”

Psalm 119:105

       

How does this relate to the two forms of God's guidance?

Hebrews 11

6. And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.

Romans 10

9 If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.

Psalm 19

7. The law of the Lord is perfect,

    reviving the soul;

the decrees of the Lord are sure,

    making wise the simple;

8. the precepts of the Lord are right,

    rejoicing the heart;

the commandment of the Lord is clear,

    enlightening the eyes;

9. the fear of the Lord is pure,

    enduring forever;

the ordinances of the Lord are true

    and righteous altogether.