It would seem that you completely missed my message !
I stopped in 1982, after certain things were said, considered and appreciated. Many will testify of the same sort of experience.
So I am telling you that people do change, any anyone can change and reading your comment : " trust me there is nothing you can do to stop them from smoking.. No source of education can" is a dis-empowering exercise which, if one is fooled by it, is the very obstacle which prevents one's recovery from dependence on this destructive habit.
Well I've taken note of your point and I wouldn't like to start an argument or so But it only takes the grace of God for someone to resist such habits.. Trust me
Well the essence of God's instructions to man is always, repent, or in other words, change your ways. Observe the law of the harvest. Plant goodness and nurture it and it will bear good fruit. i.e. Consume healthy substances and honour the body provided you.
This principle is borne out by observation in the nature of our existence .
All things are by the grace of God as all power provided us is by His decree.
Pivotal in this arrangement is the freedom to choose our actions, referred to as "free agency", but not the consequences, hence, not free from the results our choices create.
Ye shall reap what ye sow is the law of the harvest, the commandment and will of God, and the only reality, whether we believe in God or not.
Grace only comes after all we can do. i.e. Man's extremity is God's opportunity and once we have considered our options, sought His guidance, and striven to act in accordance with His will, then His grace will provide the shortfall our efforts could not produce and save us from our own inadequacy.
If it were not so, then there would be no need to teach righteous principles as our efforts toward change, or repentance would be worthless, since grace would be provided anyway.
The Gospel is there to provide the sick with guidance toward changing into righteous, enlightened, productive individuals, acting in accordance with the will of God, for : "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven."
It would seem that you completely missed my message !
I stopped in 1982, after certain things were said, considered and appreciated. Many will testify of the same sort of experience.
So I am telling you that people do change, any anyone can change and reading your comment : " trust me there is nothing you can do to stop them from smoking.. No source of education can" is a dis-empowering exercise which, if one is fooled by it, is the very obstacle which prevents one's recovery from dependence on this destructive habit.
Well I've taken note of your point and I wouldn't like to start an argument or so But it only takes the grace of God for someone to resist such habits.. Trust me
Well the essence of God's instructions to man is always, repent, or in other words, change your ways. Observe the law of the harvest. Plant goodness and nurture it and it will bear good fruit. i.e. Consume healthy substances and honour the body provided you.
This principle is borne out by observation in the nature of our existence .
All things are by the grace of God as all power provided us is by His decree.
Pivotal in this arrangement is the freedom to choose our actions, referred to as "free agency", but not the consequences, hence, not free from the results our choices create.
Ye shall reap what ye sow is the law of the harvest, the commandment and will of God, and the only reality, whether we believe in God or not.
Grace only comes after all we can do. i.e. Man's extremity is God's opportunity and once we have considered our options, sought His guidance, and striven to act in accordance with His will, then His grace will provide the shortfall our efforts could not produce and save us from our own inadequacy.
If it were not so, then there would be no need to teach righteous principles as our efforts toward change, or repentance would be worthless, since grace would be provided anyway.
The Gospel is there to provide the sick with guidance toward changing into righteous, enlightened, productive individuals, acting in accordance with the will of God, for : "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven."
And that is where I will place my trust.
So true man.... Carry on pastor!!!