Tammy, this is the first step. Only those who accept what Shelby says are "living stones in the temple of God."
"Do Not Forsake the Gathering of Yourselves..."
by AGuest 37 Replies latest jw friends
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journey-on
Dearest Shelby.....thank you! Thank you for sharing this. Please elaborate on your statements below. This jumped out at me (for reasons I won't elaborate on here) and I would so very much appreciate additional info either here or by pm. I won't be available for a few hours, so if you respond immediately, please understand I'm walking out the door, but will return this evening. Peace to you (and much affection :-)
As for gathering ourselves... I asked my Lord about this and was told that not only was it a specific admonishment to the Hebrews, it had nothing to do with meetings, such as churches promote... but with coming together to partake of the flesh and blood of Christ... which resulted in the "gathering" of the "eagles"... which occurs where "the body" (or carcass) is.
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PSacramento
We must take this within the context of the total NT writings.
We, those the believe in Jesus Christ as our Lord and Saviour ARE the church, the Body, of Christ and the koingdom of God is within Us as the Holy Spirit is within Us.
The meeting place anyone of us choose to meet in is just that, a meeting place.
When Paul reminded his readers to continue to meet it was part of his writings on how they could strengthen each other and 'feed" on each others faith and love, safety in numbers if you will.
Of course Jesus said that where 2 or more gather, He would be there.
Does that mean that He is NOT there when we are alone? Of course not, He was just emphasising that it was not the size of the gathering that mattered, that He is Lways with us til the end of time.
People can choose to go to church or congregation to be with the like minded and for some "group comfort" or they can choose to worship and pray in private or at home with their family or in a small "house church", truly it is up to the individual.
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donuthole
It was kind of interesting to have this verse drilled into my head as to why I should go to the Kingdom Hall and then later when I visited some area churches and have the same one used as to why people should go to their particular church on Sunday. It is a favorite of religionists that is for sure. When the writer of Hebrews encourages ones not to forsake the gathering of themeselves it wasn't a gathering without purpose as if mere attendence did anything for anyone but rather so that they could be mutually edified and encouraged by Christ through one another. The natural inclination of the spirit is toward unity within the body of Christ so it happens that when ones walk according to the spirit they will want to seek out and meet together with their brothers and sisters. Where and how this takes place is not specified. From my experience as one of Jehovah's Witnesses I can say that despite repeated admonitions to "get to the Kingdom Hall" on the basis of this verse from Hebrews there was very, very little true refreshment and encouragement to found therein.
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Inkie
To the G.E.D. dummy who wrote:
“Only those who accept what Shelby says are "living stones in the temple of God."”
And YOU were an elder? (I’d keep that quiet if I were you.) Damn ignorant elder!
AGuest has quoted what someone else wrote long ago. These words aren’t hers. She’s just quoting them to prove her point.
Mon Dieu! You are ignorant!
--Inkie
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OnTheWayOut
Inkie, Inkie. Pay attention. Inkie, are you listening. Put your ear close to the speaker so you hear this:
Go feed the dog. The Lord told me to tell you that. Oh, and your package from Victoria's Secret came. Please post photos.
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notverylikely
Inkie, Our Lord has instructed me to tell you that your atitude is not helpful towards those that need his soothing words. A reply, when mild, turns away rage. You response with inflammatory words inspires rage. Those are the words our Lord has instructed me to tell you.
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AGuest
The greatest of love and peace to you, dear Cantleave, tec, PSacto, Inkie (whoo-weee, dear one, please... calm down - LOLOL! OTWO is of absolutely no significance. I have left him to our Lord so his words pretty much read like the WTBTS speakers last sounded to me - wanh, wanh, wahn, wahn, wahn... in the manner of Charlie Brown's teacher. I don't even look at them so I've no idea what he's saying or you're responding to. And I don't want to know. So, please... let it... and him... go... and let nothing but our Lord's peace be upon you!)... and to you as well, dear DH.
Dearest JO... the greatest of love and peace to you, as well! There really are not "eagles". The word "eagles" is really a transliteration of "flying flesh eating" things. Due to man's limited understanding of the spirit realm, the only thing "we" could relate that to would be "birds of prey." Thus, "eagles"... or birds that eat flesh. Spirit beings, however, fly... and eat flesh. The flesh of Christ... or the "leaves" of the Tree of Life. This was clarified in at Psalm 78:25 where it referenced man's eating of manna:
"Men ate the bread of angels; he sent them all the food they could eat."
Christ, the "bread from heaven"... or TRUE manna... is the "Tree" from which even spirit beings eat. It is how they "live forever." His flesh is TRUE "food". It was him that Adham and Eve were "cut off" from when they were cast out of the spirit realm, the garden [in Eden]. It was from him that the "angels that sinned" were "cut off" from. He is the One that "Gog" (the goats) are cut off from [eating from] when they are restricted from entry into the "kingdom."
Unlike physical food, this "bread"... does not pass through a man only to end up in the sewer. This "food" remains IN one... and becomes a PART of one... so that one's body... both the physical (hence, healing/resurrection)... and the spirit body (the WHITE ROBE)... is "made alive" by means of consuming it. Now, symbolically. Then, literally... just as it is literally for spirit beings now.
As for the "carcass"... that is the body of our Lord... which PROVIDES such "food"... he, the Slaughtered Lamb. He is our Passover, from which we, spirit beings yet in fleshly vessels... must EAT... to "passover"... from death... to life. He gave up his physical body to return to a spirit body... and in imitation of the spirit beings who eat his flesh NOW... he told his disciplies to also do so, symbolically, as a representation of what they/we would ALSO do when WE are given white robes... white outer garments... spirit bodies... in which to dwell. When we become "like the angels"... spirits in spirit bodies. Truly free. For now, we are only relatively free... because we are still bound... in earthen vessels, the physical body.
Thus, when we "gather"... we are to partake of it together. That's what Paul was speaking of when he counseled the early brothers about how they were conducting themselves when they came together for this purpose. When we gather to share in the body and blood of our Lord... when we partake of the "Passover Lamb"... there he, the "carcass"... or "slaughtered Lamb"... is, also. While some of us may "eat" daily... we do not necessarily gather with others, daily.
The word of my Lord is that the reason for the admonition to the Hebrews is because they, Israel, were being counseled to continue to observe the FIRST Passover, as well... which those who were NOT fleshly Israel, but still joined to Christ (the "nations")... did not customarily do. Israel, however, was told:
"This day shall be for you a memorial day, and you shall keep it as a feast to JaHVeH; throughout your generations, as a statute forever, you shall keep it as a feast."
The Passover observance was NOT a part of the Law. It was given to Israel BEFORE the Law was set down in writing. Thus, it did NOT "die" with the Law Covenant. Which is why my Lord himself observed it... and in doing so, set the example for his disciples. He just changed the "food" and drink... from the flesh of a literal lamb... to his flesh, as symbolized by the bread... and to his blood, as symbolized by the wine.
So, there is the "daily bread"... or manna... and then, there is the Passover Lamb... both representing the flesh of Christ.
I hope this helps, and again, peace to you all!
YOUR servant and a slave of Christ,
SA
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OUTLAW
Hey Shelby..
Individual Christians making up a church,as opposed to an organization,makes a lot more sense..
That being said..
Do you believe "All Christians who "Exclusively" Follow Jesus,are the Church?..
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...OUTLAW -
notverylikely
OTWO is of absolutely no significance. I have left him to our Lord so his words pretty much read like the WTBTS speakers last sounded to me - wanh, wanh, wahn, wahn, wahn... in the manner of Charlie Brown's teacher. I don't even look at them so I've no idea what he's saying or you're responding to. And I don't want to know.
My dearest Shelby, peace unto you. Our Lord has instructed me to remind that it is not you that determines who is or is jot of signifigance, many has a purpose from our Lord, even though they themselves may not know it, and that it is not for you to determine their signifigance or worth. Truly our Lord asks me to remind that you are not the judge, are not worthy to be the judge and are not speaking in his name, but rather from the hardened state of your ears and heart. Woe unto those that take upon themselves the task of sifting and judging unto themselves says our Lord. In your igorance you do not want to know what he is saying even tough his words can lead unto the path of our Lord's humility. Foolish woman, says our Lord, do you not know that our Lord sends what we need in due time?
Foolish woman, says our Lord, do you not know that by disrespecting the words our Lord sends by man that you disrespect and disown the few words our Lord has seen fit to grant you?
Peace to you, dear Shelby, for these are not my words, but the words of our Lord, who has sent me to deliver a message to you.
