TheHolleringStump.com: Seeing Isn't Always Believing

"Seeing is believing" is a well known phrase among most of America's citizens if not the Earth's population and it may hold true in some instances concerning the physical realm but when it comes to spiritual matters seeing isn't always believing and it can be downright hazardous. The sciences rely on that little phrase, which is the basis of all science. This is the reason for experimentation. To see how things that are different interact with each other on whatever level to come to an understanding of how things operate in this realm. How to harness a reaction to the benefit of mankind. Today many enjoy the benefits of all the experimentation done by today's tinkerers and scientists as well as all that was discovered by man for the last thousands of years. The human race's journey from cave dwelling hunter/gatherers to modern life has been over a long road of trial and error (mostly error!) but we now live in a time where even the very building blocks of the universe, atoms, are controlled and manipulated to do our bidding. Giving us so much more comfort and security than the thousands and thousands of generations previous to us. And not only that, but answers to so many questions carried by the countless curious of those generations. It was bound to happen sooner or later as this curiousness... this quest for knowledge I believe may very well be an attempt to regain the "dominion" that was once held by man as recorded in the blessing given by God in Genesis 1:28, which reads, "And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and *replenish (*= fill) the earth, and subdue it: and *have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth." (*= this dominion became twisted when Satan became a driven wedge between God and man and will not be restored to man until the end of the next administration through the Christ as recorded and explained in Hebrews 2 and other sections of God's Word.)

It was relying on the senses over and instead of God's Word for truth
that caused man to lose the spirit that was originally created for him

While we're at it... what about this sense of eternity that is in man? We all have a sense of eternity. It seems hardwired in us. I can't help but wonder if this verse in Ecclesiastes isn't referencing when man struck out on his own without the spiritual connection he was originally designed with. As recorded in Genesis...

Genesis 3:20-24 (KJV)
20 And Adam called his wife's name Eve; because she was the mother of all living.

21 Unto Adam also and to his wife did the Lord God make *coats of skins, and clothed them. (*= I believe this to be the first animal sacrifice. A blood atonement for sin. The spirit was lost but a fellowship with God remained. As much as could be.)

22 And the Lord God said, Behold, the man is become *as one of us, (*= The figure of speech nosism. God speaking of Himself in His majesty) to *know good and evil:(*= it wasn't intended for man to experience evil) and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever:

23 Therefore the Lord God sent him forth from the *garden of Eden, (*= man's original state. The spiritual connection with God) to till the ground from whence he was taken.

24 So *he drove out the man; (*= stated again for emphasis but this is also the idiom permissive figure of speech. God took the responsibility for what man by his free will chose to do) and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to *keep (*= guard, to keep secure from man) the way of the tree of life.

Could that sense of eternity have something to do with an exposure to the "tree of life" before man lost the spiritual connection? I am convinced without it we may very well have lost any knowledge of God at all! But back to the subject at hand.

Science is wonderful and seeing can be believing in the physical realm

but, as explained in the Perceptions post on this site,
seeing cannot be relied on concerning spiritual matters

I believe the problem for many bible reading believers when it comes to science is an ignorance of figures of speech used in God's Word. People many times take the figures literally and the literals figuratively. Tradition tells us "creation" took place in 6 days. Six 24-hour periods. First of all this time period of 6 days is not referring to creation. It is referring to God's restoration after a tremendous calamity which occured some time between Genesis 1:1 and 2. "And the *earth (*= referring to the physical realm) *was (*= KJV badly translated "was" which there is no word for in the Hebrew and should have been translated "became") without form and void". But the point here is James tells us "A day with the Lord is as a thousand years and a thousand years as one day." Time doesn't exist as we understand it in the spiritual realm. Which is where God dwells. I see 6 ages... or perhaps stages... of restoring the physical universe. (I'm still working on it but I'm thinking we are living in the 7th one now. Stand by for that future post! Or not...) Evidence revealed by science fits with God's Word for many as they disregard religion's tradition and let God's Word just speak. It is by the revealed Word of God that true believers base their thinking on. As it is written, the just shall live by *faith (*= believing. Believing the revealed Word.)

It is natural knowledge carried by traditions of men that blinds God's people spiritually. These traditions come by way of personal opinion and/or personal experience. These traditional ways of thinking are hard to break. I know! This is why a genuine meekness to and an accurate knowledge of scripture is vital for anyone desiring discipleship to Jesus Christ. The Holy Bible, the Word of God contains the knowledge of the Promised Redeemer so it is to that knowledge one must discipline oneself to. This can be very trying as we have to rely on others when first starting out but as one learns to rely on the gift to communicate with God much of the error we're taught can be dispelled and disregarded. This takes spiritual prayer and much meditation... on a daily basis... of what is being learned when reading scripture. And asking the Father of lights for...?... enlightenment! After all... this is what the revelation manifestation are for! (mistranslated as "gifts" in the KJV. Biblical Research Principle: Words italicized in the KJV are italicized to show the reader that word was added by the translators. 1 Corinthians 12:1 Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant. "Spiritual gifts" should have been translated "spiritual matters". Another BRC: Context! Check v. 7. It begins with "but" which sets in contrast to what's just been stated. What follows is not only how the gift of holy spirit is to be utilized but also the profit of the energizing. ("For to one" is not referring to people but to the profit of that energizing of it.) These are not gifts! These are the ways the gift of spirit manifests in the physical realm. In us!) What are the revelation manifestations? Word of knowledge; information you need concerning an experience, condition or for your personal understanding and growth, word of wisdom; what to do and/or how it fits with the information received and discerning of spirits; what, if any spirits are involved in the experience or condition, whether angelic, evil or brethren. It is by way of the energizing of the gift into operating these abilities that God communicates with His people. This could include those "ah-ha!" moments. Visions which also can be mental pictures. "Hearing" His still small voice. An experience or emotion or feeling that you recognize as not your own concerning a situation. (Example: Why did Jesus call some devil spirits "foul"? Because he could "smell" them. The revelation to him by the energizing of the spirit upon him was they smelled like death.) It takes time to recognize but it is recognizable as revelation as you keep your thinking straight according to God's Word for it will show you the counterfeit as you study and meditate on what you study. John 14:26; "But the *Comforter, which is the *Holy Ghost (*= should be lower case, referring to the gift of holy spirit) whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you." Sadly there are many in the Body of Christ that will never break their reliance on others for spiritual nourishment and never tap into this resource for fear of "teaching another doctrine" that is not approved of the leadership of the group involved. I don't know why. That leadership is not the head of the body. If you feel your growth is stunted that's probably why!

Let's Dismantle A Couple Of Lies With God's Word!

Personal opinions concerning scripture twists truth so much that believing can become void. Ever been told to pray for the world? Or for peace in the world? It sounds sweet and you can of course do so but you are wasting your time. If you learn anything from the bible it should be that there will never be a sustainable peace in the world of men as long as Satan is free to roam! It is written that there will only be a short time of peace in this world and that's future... just before everything comes crashing down! (1 Thessalonians 5:3) It is also recorded that Jesus himself wouldn't pray for the world... as it is written in Jesus' last recorded prayer in the gospel of John Chapter 17...
8 For I have given unto *them (*= his followers) the words which thou gavest me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came out from thee, and they have believed that thou didst send me.
9 I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine.
10 And all mine are thine, and thine are mine; and I am glorified in (* the world? NO!) them (*His followers. God's chosen!).
Jesus told his followers personal peace was available through him but the world would make them to be troubled and suffer. John 16:33; These things I have spoken unto you, that in me *ye (*= old English for plural) *might (*= it is available) have peace. In the world ye *shall (*= absolutely) have tribulation: *but (*= in contrast to the trouble and pain) be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

Another lie to debunk. Many (most) people will put their own personal experiences (natural knowledge) up and over the Word of God (spiritual knowledge.) It is after all... only natural! But the spiritual supersedes the natural. This is where the wedge is. Even though we know the senses can be deceived, many choose to vaunt their own knowledge based on their own experiences and conclusions above the written Word of God. You can look out over the ocean and believe the horizon is the edge of the Earth... if you so choose. But you would be wrong. The horizon is an illusion and is understood to be as such by those that have come to an understanding that it is not as it appears. It once was widely believed the sun rises and sets when in truth it's the planet spinning that gives us the illusion of the sun rising and setting. Kind of funny though in that even though we now know the truth we still refer to it as rising and setting! And people will do the same thing when it comes to death. Even though they've read the many scriptures referring to death they still hold to the opposite of what it says. Why? Because they put their own desire for what they want above the written Word! God's Word plainy shows us all who have died remain dead until the Return or the Judgements and yet people will choose to believe dead loved ones are "alive in heaven" because of talking to "them" in a seance or experience or know someone that has had a near death experience. I've seen the bright light death experience explained by science as it appears that way to the one dying as the brain begins to shut down but it could also very well be a devil spirit manipulation of the natural process of death. I say that as the witness given of it certainly goes completely against what God makes clear in His Word concerning death. It certainly is devil spirit power manifested for those mediums that call up the "dead" to be communicated with. From my studies on the subject most of these mediums are fake and looking to make a buck. There are also those that can produce the faces of those being conjured by way of mucus made by the medium's body functions for those in attendance. These dead loved ones "prove" themselves by revealing information no one else would know. In the Old Testament these were referred to as "familiar spirits" because they are familiar with those that have lived and died. They know all the little things that were involved in everyone's life and can even manipulate the medium to sound just like your great gramma! This is a lying sign. This build false hope. Life continuing on in another realm immediately after death is rooted in paganism.

Behold, I shew you a mystery; *We (*= born again) shall not all *sleep (*= die),
but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.

So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on

immortality, *then (*= THEN!) shall be brought to pass the saying that is written,
Death is swallowed up in victory.

1 Corinthians 15:51-54

Those not willing to submit to what God says about it hold to this lie even when presented the truth of God's Word. Including believers! This is what deception is! It's the same damn lie Satan hit Eve with in Genesis 3. Remember? When Adam and Eve chose to elevate natural knowledge over spiritual knowledge they died! This is why man is so screwed up! Yeah, yeah the seeds of physical death were planted here but that's not the point! They lost the spirit that was created in them that was there so they could experience God wholly in the spiritual realm! And gave themselves... and all humans since... over to the bondage of physical knowledge. Which is what sin is. This is where the separation is. The wedge. The absence of true spiritual knowledge. And yet... an awareness of eternity remains in all men. (Eternity is of the spiritual realm.) And thankfully... so does God's Word remain in the world. In written form. Which is in fact a lifeline from God to His people that are stuck here (temporarily) in the world (behind enemy lines) that desire that sense of eternity to make sense. It's this desire to know spiritual truth that brings one to the Word of God that leads the chosen one to the revelation of Christ, offered the new birth (your personal spiritual connection established between you and God) and... a lifetime of learning and fellowshipping with the Creator of all there is! This world flashes many shiny objects to distract and bait everyone away from spiritual knowledge. Why? Because it is spiritual knowledge that gives you spiritual vision. Which reveals the power behind all the shiny objects so that you aren't fooled by the counterfeit. Then can the counterfeit be discarded and you continue to lay hold to that which is good. As we are instructed to do in the book of Romans. Which is addressed to born again believers and is the foundational doctrine for a believer's spiritual standing and state. Romans 12:9; Let love be *without dissimulation (*= unfeigned.) Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.

Spiritual Knowledge Is Referred To As Light For A Reason
Godliness Will "Shine" Brighter To The Chosen
(sooner or later!)

- Published 02/22/2018

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