Record keeping

1 Corinthians 13 tells us that love keeps no record of wrongs. We are also told that God is love. If that is true, does God keep a record of wrongs.
Many Christians think so but as Darin Hufford explains in “The Misunderstood God” (available in the Store) this just isn’t the case and it is very important that it works this way.
I was raised in a religion that taught that God very much did keep a record of our wrongs. The whole point of the religion was to have as few of these wrongs as possible and hope that God would forgive you for the rest. This isn’t the point, however, of the message of the gospel. We are saved totally by grace and do not stand before God based on anything else. God loves us and looks at us as His beloved children. God truly keeps no record of our wrongs.
He also keeps no record of our right actions either. He does not bless us because of the good things we do. He blesses us because He loves us. He does not save us because of the good things that we do, but because He loves us.
God keeps no record of wrongs. Rejoice and be glad that we can have a relationship with the Father without any fear or manipulation. Praise God!!!

Scripture References

These are just a few Scripture passages (NIV) referring to; clay, pottery, creativity art, artists as well as other scriptural references that I use in my presentations. This is not an exhaustive list. We are just to be students of the Bible.

There are over 30 references to clay, and 40 references to pottery/potters/pots in the bible.

Scripture also mentions "skilled craftsman" in Is 3:3 and "craftsmen" in 1 Chron 29:5.

Art is mentioned a couple hundred times, but it's all "whoart thou".

The fact remains that we were CREATED , by a CREATIVE GOD, in His Image, making us inhearntly CREATIVE!

This explains why so many people have a desire to create or make things?

Why do we doodle? Why do we admire beautiful sunsets and master painters?

It is a part of how we are wired.

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Scripture associated with Pottery

Jeremiah 18: 1-6

This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD: "Go down to the

potter's house, and there I will give you my message." So I went down to the potter's house, and I saw him working at the wheel. But the pot he was

shaping from the clay was marred in his hands; so the potter formed it into

another pot, shaping it as seemed best to him. Then the word of the LORD came to me: "O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter does?"

declares the LORD. "Like clay in the hand of the potter, so are you in my

hand, O house of Israel.

Isaiah 64:8

Yet, O LORD, you are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we

are all the work of your hand.

2 Cor. 4:7

But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing

power is from God and not from us.

Romans 9:20,21

But who are you, O man, to talk back to God? "Shall what is formed say to him who formed it, `Why did you make me like this?'" Does not the potter have the right to make out of the same lump of clay some pottery for noble purposes and some for common use?

Isaiah 45:9

Woe to him who quarrels with his Maker, to him who is but a potsherd

among the potsherds on the ground. Does the clay say to the potter, `What are you making?' Does your work say, `He has no hands'?

Job 10:8,9

Your hands shaped me and made me. Will you now turn and destroy me? Remember that you molded me like clay. Will you now turn me to dust again?

Job 33:6

I am just like you before God; I too have been taken from clay.

Psalm 119:105

Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path. (Likely referring to small ancient clay oil lamps.)

2 Timothy 2:21,22

In a large house there are articles not only of gold and silver, but also of

wood and clay; some are for noble purposes and some for ignoble. If a man

cleanses himself from the latter, he will be an instrument for noble

purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work.

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Scripture associated with Art

Exodus 31:1-11

Then the Lord said to Moses, "See, I have chosen Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with Skill, ability and knowledge in all kinds of crafts- to make artistic designs for work in gold, silver and bronze, to cut and set stones, to work in wood, and to engage in all kinds of craftsmanship. Moreover I have appointed Oholiab son

Grace of Faith versus the Gift of Faith

The difficulties besetting the subject of healing by faith disappear when the distinction between the grace of faith and the gift of faith is clearly understood and acknowledged!

The grace of faith is morally obligatory upon every soul having a knowledge of Christ, and the absence of such faith is the ground of condemnation. 2 Thessalonians 2:12:"IN Order that all may be judged and condemned who  did not believe in the Truth, but took pleasure in unrighteousness."

The gift of faith is not required of anyone , but is sovereignly bestowed by the Holy Spirit, "severally as He will". 1 Cor 12:11. This is called by theologians fides miraculosa (Matt 17:20) or miracle working faith, in distinction from saving faith . It has been called (Myers) "a heroism of faith".

There is no more culpability for the absence of the gift of faith than there is for the gift of tongues or of miracles.

The grace of faith is grounded on the bible , while the gift of faith does not rest on the word of God but upon the revelation of the Holy Spirit made immediately to the human spirit.

This testimony may relate to future events, when it is called proophecy:"Let us prophecy according to the measure of faith"; or it may be an inwrought conviction that in answer to prayer a certain sick person will be healed. "Faith" and "the gifts of healing" are in juxtaposition in St. Paul's catalogue of charisms. 1 Cor 12:9. 

James 5:15 This is not the grace of faith, the grace of faith is exercised for blessings only. "Vengeance is mine" says the Lord . The 16 th verse shows that it is prayer specially inspired by the Holy Spirit. "The inwrought prayer of a righteous man availeth much".
No healing follows the prayer not prompted by the  gift of faith. The grace of faith is not sufficient.

The grace of faith, when exercised in prayer, is always accompanied by the condition , "If it be thy will" The gift of faith is the ASSURANCE beforehand that it is God's will to bestow the thing desired. Hence those who have experienced the charism of healing say there is no  IF in this kind of prayer.

The grace of faith is a permanent habit , as indispensable to spiritual, as breathing is to natural life. Faith as a charism is occasional and not personal.

The grace of faith is saving, the charism is not saving. "Even the working of miracles is not proof a man has saving faith". Judas Iscariot once worked miracles but is now in hell (John 17:12). The grace of faith works by love and purifies the heart. The gift of faith ma exist without affecting any moral change of character. 1 Cor 13:2  and in Matthew 7:22 this is shown.

The gift of faith may sometimes be bestowed without any corresponding growth in grace.  "Jesus says in Matt 7:22-23  "Many will come to me in that day and say Lord Lord have we not prophesied in your name? and in your name cast out demons? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then I will profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity"

The need for a special gift of faith for healing is evident when we consider  that every exercise of faith must be under the primal curse, pronounced outside the gates of a lost Eden. Hence, there must be a special revelation that the sickness is not unto death and that it is the will of God to heal. "dust thou art and unto dust thou shalt return".
Every exercise of faith for healing is for a person in probation, in whom it may be the divine purpose to bring forth fot the beautifying of the moral character, the grace of submission to divine will.  No one but God knows how hot or how long the furnace is to be heated. None but He knows the hour of deliverance. When the sufferer, or any other person, has a divinely inspired intimation that the hour has come , he can exercise unwavering faith for his cure.
To prefer gifts to the love that Paul eulogizes is to recede from the highest spirituality , if not to fall from grace. Though the apostle to the Gentiles on rare occasions exercised the gift of healing  (Acts 28:5-9;  he did not give it preeminence in his practise.  At other times he did not exercise the gift of healing as in 2 Tim 4:20.
There are some perils  to attending the doctrine that the atonement conditionally covers all sicknesses as it does all sins. It is perilous to read into divine promises more than the the Spirit of inspiration intended. Many have been assured that the exercise of the grace of faith will heal their sickness , to be bitterly disappointed in the dying hour.

Arrogance--what does the bible say?

Talk no more so exceeding proudly; let not arrogancy come out of your mouth: for the LORD is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed. 1Samuel 2:3

1

Thou hast rebuked the proud that are cursed, which do err from thy commandments.

Remove from me reproach and contempt; for I have kept thy testimonies. Psalm 119:21-22 For I fear, lest, when I come, I shall not find you such as I would, and that I shall be found unto you such as ye would not: lest there be debates, envyings, wraths, strifes, backbitings, whisperings, swellings, tumults        2 Corinthians 12:20 New International Version (©1984) He who loves a quarrel loves sin; he who builds a high gate invites destruction. Proverbs 17:19

Why did Moses Veil His face?

Exodus 34:29-35

The Radiant Face of Moses

²⁹ When Moses came down from Mount Sinai^(A) with the two tablets of the covenant law in his hands,^(B) he was not aware that his face was radiant^(C) because he had spoken with the Lord. ³⁰ When Aaron and all the Israelites saw Moses, his face was radiant, and they were afraid to come near him. ³¹ But Moses called to them; so Aaron and all the leaders of the community^(D) came back to him, and he spoke to them. ³² Afterward all the Israelites came near him, and he gave them all the commands^(E) the Lord had given him on Mount Sinai.

³³ When Moses finished speaking to them, he put a veil^(F) over his face. ³⁴ But whenever he entered the Lord’s presence to speak with him, he removed the veil until he came out. And when he came out and told the Israelites what he had been commanded, ³⁵ they saw that his face was radiant.^(G) Then Moses would put the veil back over his face until he went in to speak with the Lord.

I used to think Mosed veiled his face to cover the glory or so the Irraelites would not be scared. But now, on closer reading, I see that he put the veil on AFTER he spoke with them and only took it off when speaking to them or the Lord!

The radiance of Moses  face was the glory that showed after he was face to face with God. It showed the Israelites what he had been doing and how God had affected him. It probably made them more accepting of what he told them God wanted them to do. But the glory was transient and Moses knew it faded , so  he probably put on a veil to conceal this from the people. Less in seeing the glory fade they might not take this new covenant seriously. This is just a thought but if we go to the NT 2 Corinthians 3:7-18 we see  Paul contrasting 2 dispensations, that of the letter that kills and the spirit that gives life:
⁷ Now if the ministry that brought death,^(A) which was engraved in letters on stone, came with glory, so that the Israelites could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of its glory,^(B) transitory though it was, ⁸ will not the ministry of the Spirit be even more glorious? ⁹ If the ministry that brought condemnation^(C) was glorious, how much more glorious is the ministry that brings righteousness!^{(D) 10} For what was glorious has no glory now in comparison with the surpassing glory. ¹¹ And if what was transitory came with glory, how much greater is the glory of that which lasts!

¹² Therefore, since we have such a hope,^(E) we are very bold.^{(F) 13} We are not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face^(G) to prevent the Israelites from seeing the end of what was passing away. ¹⁴ But their minds were made dull,^(H) for to this day the same veil remains when the old covenant^(I) is read.^(J) It has not been removed, because only in Christ is it taken away. ¹⁵ Even to this day when Moses is read, a veil covers their hearts. ¹⁶ But whenever anyone turns to the Lord,^(K) the veil is taken away.^{(L) 17} Now the Lord is the Spirit,^(M) and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.^{(N) 18} And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate^[a](O) the Lord’s glory,^(P) are being transformed into his image^(Q) with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.


Beacuse we with unveiled faces and are being transformed from glory to glory, as we contemplate the Lord's glory , describes the permancy of that experience  which Christ promises through the abiding of the Holy Spirit in the heart of the believer. It is not transient because it is the glory of the indwelling Christ, the same yesterday, today and forever.
Paul declared in Romans 15:29 I know that when I shall come unto you , I shall come in the fullness of the blessing of  Christ.

This fullness is the heritage of every child of God who claims it in the name of Christ. This confidence of its future abiding is a birthright of every perservering believer.

Moses was founding , not a system of realities, but  of shadows of coming realities. 

Shalom

Meaning of the word "Shalom" Most know that the Hebrew word shalom is understood around the world to mean "peace." However, "peace" is only one small part of the meaning. "Shalom" is used to both greet people and to bid them farewell, and it means much more than "peace, hello or goodbye".... Hebrew words go beyond their spoken pronunciation. Each Hebrew word conveys feeling, intent and emotion. Shalom is more then just simply peace; it is a complete peace. It is a feeling of contentment, completeness, wholeness, well being and harmony. According to Strong's Concordance 7965 Shalom means completeness, wholeness, health, peace, welfare, safety soundness, tranquility, prosperity, perfectness, fullness, rest, harmony, the absence of agitation or discord. Shalom comes from the root verb shalom meaning to be complete, perfect and full. In modern Hebrew the obviously related word Shelem means to pay for, and Shulam means to be fully paid. Of course, there is only one way to find TRUE shalom - and that is in the Word of YHWH. Many search for fulfillment, happiness and contentment in material possessions, money, sex, entertainment, etc. But those things do nothing to fill "that little hole in our soul" that only GOD can fill! Those things only serve to distract and prevent us from finding true peace...the shalom that can only come from Him who created and put all things into place. If you'll recall, Yeshua is called Sar shalom, Prince of Peace, which perfectly describes the ministry and personality of our Messiah (Isaiah 9:6). Luke 2: 8. At this time shepherds were there in that region were they were lodging and keeping watch there at night over their flocks. 9. And behold a Messenger of Elohim came to them. And the glory of Master YHWH shone upon them and they feared with a great fear! 10. And the Messenger said to them, "Do not have fear, for behold I announce hope to you! A great joy which will be to the whole world. 11. For today is born to you in the city of Dawid the Savior who is Master YHWH, the Mashiyach.[1] 12. And this is a sign to you; you will find an infant who is wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger." 13. And at that instant the great host of heaven appeared with the Messenger, glorifying Elohim and saying, "Glory to Elohim in the highest, and on earth peace and good hope to the sons of men. (AENT) [1] One of the most powerful statements about YHWH and His Mashiyach in the entire Aramaic NT. YHWH is the real Mashiyach, who chose the vessel of Y'shua the man. However, within Y'shua the man is an occurrence of the One Divine Nature of YHWH, also known as the Ruach haKodesh (Holy Spirit). This is the literal meaning of the fullness of YHWH dwelling inside Mashiyach, and in accordance with Tanakh prophecy (Isaiah 53:1, Zechariah 12:10). The divine and human natures exist separately yet side-by-side within Y'shua. In other words, the word shalom is a mighty blessing on several levels! Proverbs 18:21 tells us there is life or death in the power of the tongue. Therefore, whenever you employ the word "shalom" you are speaking into someone's life all the wonderful things that shalom means! So, from us at The Refiner's Fire to you: Numbers 6:24-26: YHWH bless you and keep you. YHWH make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you. YHWH lift up His face upon you and give you SHALOM. In the name of Yeshua haMashiyach SAR SHALOM - the Prince of Peace.