xjwsforChrist

I hope these questions are not getting tedious or you are not too exasperated with us that we don't yet 'get it', but I have a question (and I DID ask the Lord and gave Him a good five minutes to answer me )

(Well he might have answered me - I'll have to see what you say).

Whenever you are speaking with Christ, do you talk aloud? Is it necessary? What got me thinking about this is this post from Shelby on another thread:



Especially interesting is this "and is skilled in judging thoughts and intents of the heart."
I don't know what translation that is, but I don't remember ever reading the word 'skilled' there.

So it would seem to me that no external words would be needed. Now maybe knowing your thoughts and intention is not the same as holding a conversation. But if he speaks to us through blood? can we not answer back the same way - or are we always speaking back with him, even if we're not aware or intentionally trying to?

Ataloa, questions don't get exasperating from those asking so as to 'know', not at all.

Hebrews 4:12 is a powerful verse, I don't know this particular translation but it is certainly in tune with others. As to 'speaking' ...well I do both, personally, both out aloud or within. A lot depends on the circumstances around me and what I am asking/talking about.

You're right though the Word is so powerful that He can indeed see the thoughts and intentions of our hearts, so while we might 'speak' words, He can discern the sincerity of our hearts, so any deceit or superficiality would be visible to Him. We can't hide our 'inner' selves.

I find that He will alert me to any self deception that I engage in, and redirect my thinking, He also holds me back from ill thought out responses...teaching me to reevaluate my thinking...

Does that help at all?

Loz x

_________________
"This is my son. LISTEN to Him!"

So it would seem to me that no external words would be needed. Now maybe knowing your thoughts and intention is not the same as holding a conversation. But if he speaks to us through blood? can we not answer back the same way - or are we always speaking back with him, even if we're not aware or intentionally trying to?

Sorry I missed that part....To speak, ask of, or communicate with Christ requires our articulation in words even if they're silent I would say. That is how we understand conversations to work Ataloa, yea? Without such we might not show faith that He hears? But He also 'hears' our thoughts yes, He does and can respond to them when He chooses to, which can often be quite disarming.

Loz x

_________________
"This is my son. LISTEN to Him!"

Wordless contemplation of the Love of Christ in sacrificing Himself for us, or silent arrow-like quick prayers for help, or any conceivable turning of the heart to Him are also possible, ataloa.

It is not up to us to try to limit what might or might not be acceptable to God or Christ. He is without bounds and his great love is infinite and everlasting g, and far, far beyond our understanding, while paradoxically being immediately human and available to us in our terms.

If the heart is sincere, as I think Loz was saying, He knows.

I

Never exasperating, as Loz said : )

Receive free (and also with love); give free (and also with love)

And joy, because there is joy in giving... Him to us, and us to those He wants us to give TO.





Maybe the NWT? There are a few on here that say 'is able to', or 'can', instead of skilled.

http://biblehub.com/hebrews/4-12.htm




I sometimes speak aloud, or whisper, or mouth the words, and sometimes I just speak internally with words.



Yeah, that would be a knowing, but not a conversation without him speaking back and you hearing... you know, a back and forth.



I think we can... and do... answer back in the same way, though we may not be aware. I am not sure that this is a conversation, per se... at least not in our limited means of understanding in this way, yet.

But what I am hearing on that is that our answers in this manner often manifest in what we do.

I am reminded also that 'the blood speaks'. Just as Abel's cried out to God. As well from your Sodom and Gomorrah thread, the cries that went up to God having been from the blood of those hurt/slain. Now I tried to find that passage that says, the blood speaks (of those who are still alive), because these are examples of those who have been killed. I could not find it, but perhaps another can. But our Lord said (or rather asked me), if the blood of those who have died speak and are heard, could not the blood of those who are still alive speak and be heard?


Hope that helps some.


Peace,
tammy

I think I remember someone saying He speaks to us all the time - we just don't hear. If it is through blood, it seems we should also be 'talking to" Him all the time. Well that might not be called a conversation, but it is some form of communicating, if that's what's going on.

When I first thought of this question and I asked Christ, I did it in my head just automatically; it only occurred to me at the last that maybe I should say it aloud. (Or maybe I had a different question starting out but it evolved into this one. lol.) But I think you are saying that when you ask specific questions, it does not matter? You still get an answer?

Thanks, and yes your answers are helping.

And I am still intrigued by that word "skilled" there. Like it was something he had to learn and practice and now he's really good at it. And it makes me wonder if other spirit persons also have that skill to some degree.

Correct. I get an answer, either way. Not always right away though. But for me at least, asking aloud or silent, I do get an answer.


Peace,
tammy

That's an interesting point of view Loz.



Yes I think I understand what you're saying there.




Yes! that's what I'm thinking is happening.

Please could somebody define exactly what you mean by "the blood speaks"?

[quote]...could not the blood of those that are still alive speak and be heard?"

What is meant by that, please?

Blood was in a sacrifice. Abel's blood cried out for vengeance. Jesus sacrificed himself for us to conquer death and enable the consequences our sins to be cancelled out and forgiven, with penitence. In what way will the blood of those who are still alive be heard?

I don't know, Chariklo. I'm hoping someone else will know or set these matters straight, etc. It's just a thought I had this morning.

I can only respond for myself, dear Ataloa (peace to you, dear one!).

When I pray to the Father, I do as my Lord directed: in private (Matthew 6:6). That I should pray so (in private, door shut), means I would be speaking out loud... or at least loud enough so that anyone near could hear... else, why the need FOR privacy? Who can hear you speaking "inside" yourself? He didn't tell us to do something HE didn't do, though: HE always prayed to the Father in private. That is why he ALWAYS went AWAY from his disciples WHEN he prayed (a stone's throw away, out on a boat, etc.).

True, he often gave THANKS in front of his disciples; but that is NOT the same as prayer. "Thanks" is acknowledging something the Father has done/given. "Prayer" is when one is beseeching the Father FOR something. So Christ did give thanks publicly. But he prayed to the Father... out loud... and virtually always in private.

Now, some will say, "Well, if he prayed in private, how did John et al. know what he SAID?" But that's the thing: they knew... BECAUSE he prayed to the Father OUT LOUD. He went AWAY from them to do so in private, but was followed. It was only on the VERY rare occasion that he would pray in front of others. For example, when he was dying on the pole.

In speaking to my Lord, however, it is something that I may do out loud OR in silence. Either way, I do not do it with my "lips", technically (although my lips might manifest my efforts, literally): it is "spoken" with every fiber of my being. It does not require outspoken words, though; indeed, sometimes, it doesn't require literal words at all... because sometimes we don't KNOW what words to USE... what to say/ask for. In which case, our SPIRIT "pleads FOR us with words UNUTTERED"... words that can't BE spoken. Romans 8:26 Our spirit... OR blood... pleads... to HIS: his spirit... blood... holy spirit... that is IN us.

The life... OUR life... is in our blood. Christ is the Life; therefore, by means of holy spirit, HE is in our blood. Because HIS blood... which blood he received from his Father, the MOST HOLY One of Israel, JAH of Armies... comes to be in OUR blood. Our blood, then, speaks to him (it also speaks to humans - what the blood "says" is how we often know how health or sick a person is... or what they have in the vessel - i.e., how much alcohol, glucose, poison, etc.). We need special tools/instruments to "read" blood, to "hear" what it says. God and Christ do not.

So, unless he speaks to one OUTSIDE of the vessel that is the body of flesh (which he also does and I marvel that some here profess a faith in certain "saints" who make such claims but deny that same spirit today!)... his voice is heard "inside". NOT in one's head... but in one's EVERYTHING: blood, tissue, hair... everything. And when it speaks LOUDLY... one can feel it "speaking." Similar to what one feels when a voice reverberates in the physical realm.

He listens to US, dear one. We, though, don't always listen to HIM. FAITH... in him, however... that he DOES speak and WILL speak... and that what we hear that we know is from him IS from him (so that we don't talk ourselves out of it - LOLOL!)... is "how" we hear him, dear one.

Why? Because he SAID he would be with those who belong to him... and that HIS sheep WOULD hear, know, and listen to his voice. If one has FAITH in him... that what he said is TRUE... then one will hear him.

If, however, one listens to "men" who say, "Oh, no, God and Christ don't speak directly, no, one must read the Bible, God speaks through the Bible, the Bible is God's word, etc." then one is NOT putting faith in HIM... and what HE said... but what those... whose aim is to mislead, if possible, EVEN the chosen ones... say.

It really boils down to a choice, dear one... as to WHOM one will listen to: Christ, who said HIS sheep hear his voice... or those who say, no, no one does (well, unless THEY approve such one).

I hope this helps, truly, and again, peace to you!

YOUR servant and a slave of Christ,

Shellama

Hello Char...

Since life..or spirit force from Jah through Christ is in the blood, the blood can speak because the life of that person by means of spirit communicates. Spirit to spirit.


Ataloa....

You can communicate anytime.
I sometimes in my heart, outloud or even a whisper, it does not matter. When I am fully focused I hear him instantly and then continue sometimes the conversation.

Sometimes I am out and about or in the shower ( lol and my husband will ask, are you,talking to me? LOL which I say NO )... and he will remind me of something going on in my heart and then say, " you've been asking WHY or HOW, and I'm here to show and tell you. "
Sometimes to a picture or something in the past he puts before me and I say " AAHHA!!! I see LORD!!!"

A answer briefly can be usually immediate. A conversation can last a while at times. Off and on throughout the day. Like your spending the day with your closest friend. Sometimes for me is best in the early morning when it is dead quiet and I am not thinking of anything else. Sometimes he even wakes me up to answer something.

The differences between this and my prayers are that on many occasions he will initiate the conversation or will wake me up.

Hope this helps also. Just wanted to add what others have shared already!

Love Justmom

sometimes we don't KNOW what words to USE... what to say/ask for. In which case, our SPIRIT "pleads FOR us with words UNUTTERED"... words that can't BE spoken. Romans 8:26 Our spirit... OR blood... pleads... to HIS: his spirit... blood... holy spirit... that is IN us.

The life... OUR life... is in our blood. Christ is the Life; therefore, by means of holy spirit, HE is in our blood. Because HIS blood... which blood he received from his Father, the MOST HOLY One of Israel, JAH of Armies... comes to be in OUR blood.

Yes, I agree with this too.

Loz x

_________________
"This is my son. LISTEN to Him!"

I could not add to what Shelby and JM answered on this above, so I won't ; )

Peace!!

tammy

I do need to clarify something, though (peace to you ALL, and particularly you, dear Ataloa, since you raised the question):

I posted as to what *I* do because I realize many look at me and go, "Why HER? Why (does she think) SHE is so special?", etc.

I don't think I'm special - I KNOW... that I am a good-for-nothing-servant. I shared what *I* do so that perhaps some who might wondering what they CAN do... and can make ROOM for it... MIGHT consider doing "just so" - just what Christ SAID to do. When I heard him say, "Why do you call me 'Lord' but do not do the things I say?"... I was MORTIFIED. Because I THOUGHT, that as a JW... I HAD been doing the things he "said." And then he began showing me what he said, starting with eating his flesh and drinking his blood. With washing feet. With feeding the hungry/clothing the naked, taking in strangers, etc. And... with LISTENING to him. ALL the said. And doing all that he said.

He said to ME (and yes, I have READ it but he SAID it): "He that is faithful in what is LEAST... is faithful... in MUCH." And I understood him to mean it's these little things, like listening to him when he says HOW we are to pray. If we can't even listen... and OBEY... as to PRAYER... then what? He's not asking us to climb up on a pole, but to go into our room and pray in private. To me, no big deal - I can do that. As well as ALL of things he asks... because I have learned that HIS "load" IS light and his "yoke" kindly.

He has never asked me to do something I could NOT do. So, rather than try to justify why it's okay to do what *I* want to do, and tell others, "Oh, it's okay, you can do [it] any way YOU want to"... I learned to just go with the flow... and do EVERYTHING the "way" HE says. To the best of my ability. And when I fall short (i.e., when I just can't get out of bed, down on my knees, in private, with the door closed, etc.) I simply go to my Lord and ask him either to allow me to enter so that I can apologize for my own limitations... or to go and plead for forgiveness FOR me.

And then I let it go... because I KNOW that the Father will forgive, either based on my own supplication after having entered through Christ... or because my Lord himself has asked for me (which I KNOW he did).

But I responded as to what I do so that any who wish to KNOW what *I* do... and some do... will.

I hope this helps and, again, peace to you all!

Your servant and a slave of Christ,

Shellama