Gods box

[EarlyCall]

Ooh! Ooh! Call on me!! Pick me!! Can I give an example?

Seriously, I agree with what you have said. People - in their ignorant perspectives place limitations on God and put Him that proverbial box. In actuality however, God isn't in that box at all.

Here's my example.

Zechariah, John the Baptist's father.

He was the priest in charge of burning the incense and waiting for God to speak. There were people outside the Temple waiting for the priest in charge of the incense to come out and give them the Word. But God hadn't spoken in 400 years. So the burning of the incense just became rote to some people.

One day though, and you know this, the angel Gabriel came during the incense burning and spoke God's Word to Zechariah. He said a list of things to Zechariah that got bigger, affected more people, and were more wondrous as he spoke them. He said:

• God has heard your prayer and you and your wife are going to have a baby son.

Well, Zechariah was viewing God and the appearance of this angel who just popped in and scared him to death through the filter of (a) God not speaking for a long, long time and (b) he and his wife being very, very old; her being too old to have babies; and their not having had babies for their entire married lives.

So.....when the angel Gabriel said that a baby was coming and that God had heard their prayers, Zechariah already had placed God in that box of limitations and he couldn't get past that message and MISSED OUT on the rest of what Gabriel had to say......

• You will call him John (Zechariah personally)
• He will be a blessing to you (Zechariah and Elizabeth)
• And many will rejoice at his birth (extended friends and family who will be so happy for them)
• He will be great in the sight of the Lord. He won't drink wine because He will be filled with the Holy Spirit from birth. (John will have a Godly purpose)
• He will bring back many people of Israel to the Lord (the whole nation will be affected by him)
• He will go one before the Lord, in the spirit and the power of Elijah and will make an entire group of people ready for the Lord (the whole nation is looking for Elijah and now God's man has come to continue the spirit and power of Elijah and the whole nation will know it.)

And after all that - because Zechariah had metaphorically placed God into that box of limitations, all he can say to this supernatural being in front of him is....

....."I don't know about this. My wife and I are really old."

When we place limitations on God out of our own life's filters - we forget just how powerful God really is. And so did Zechariah - apparently, he - a PRIEST for crying out loud - had forgotten what God did for the elderly and childless couple Abraham and Sarah.

You get it and that is a very good example you have given.

[Slug1]

That seems a quibble of terminology though Slug. While I am not suggesting that Christians should conclude that "God has to do" a certain thing on their behalf, a "box" does not necessarily mean that either. Perhaps a better term would be "bounded" (immutable) according to His purposes and the counsel of His own will.

Oh I don't know... when the word "bondage" gets dropped, many get all bent out of shape.

I know when I was "bound" and thus... IN bondage and I had my box secured around me, I WAS all bent out of shape when the word bondage was dropped into any conversation. Especially EVERY conversation where testimony was given of what God was doing out in the world (outside my box)... that really got me all bent out of shape.

Now out of that box... years later this hasn't changed, and the fact that those who are in some sort of bondage get all bent out of shape when the word "bondage" is dropped, still shows us one thing... those in a bondage of some sort REVEAL this when they get bent out of shape... BY WHAT God is doing outside their box.

[Slug1]

But let me give you an example of what I mean of people putting God in a box.

I have been told by some, do not put God in a box. If your faith is strong enough (funny, theirs never seems to be sufficient in place of my own to get the thing done!), then God will heal you of whatever you ask.

Since He doesn't bend to our will... this fact don't show those who have this perspective, that the perspective is wrong?

[EarlyCall]

Since He doesn't bend to our will... this fact don't show those who have this perspective, that the perspective is wrong?

Well, no it doesn't, but you would rightly think it should. And it does puzzle me too.

[Boo]

Oh I don't know... when the word "bondage" gets dropped, many get all bent out of shape.

I know when I was "bound" and thus... IN bondage and I had my box secured around me, I WAS all bent out of shape when the word bondage was dropped into any conversation. Especially EVERY conversation where testimony was given of what God was doing out in the world (outside my box)... that really got me all bent out of shape.

Now out of that box... years later this hasn't changed, and the fact that those who are in some sort of bondage get all bent out of shape when the word "bondage" is dropped, still shows us one thing... those in a bondage of some sort REVEAL this when they get bent out of shape... BY WHAT God is doing outside their box.

Actually, that is not quite true. You see, since God's revelations to many of us define what we know about God, it is not "what God is doing outside of their box." It is actually that we may not believe that what people claim as their spiritual empowerment is something that God is doing. It may be something that man is doing for man's reasons and not God's. If God is doing it, and if God wants us all to know that He is doing it; He will teach us. Until then, we will live by what God has taught us in scripture - and rightfully so.

I really wish that you could understand that. Some people are not against God - they are against man's emotional teaching of things not clearly seen in scripture.

With all the "snake charmers" and scammers running around in this world re-creating God into man's image; we would be foolish to buy into it without discernment. It has gone on for thousands of years, and the people of Israel fell for it time and time again. We are to be still and know God. God is not in a box, but "religion" has put Him in one through doctrines based on man's desire rather than scripture. Each "religion" has them.

[Slug1]

With all the "snake charmers" and scammers running around in this world re-creating God into man's image; we would be foolish to buy into it without discernment. It has gone on for thousands of years, and the people of Israel fell for it time and time again. We are to be still and know God. God is not in a box, but "religion" has put Him in one through doctrines based on man's desire rather than scripture. Each "religion" has them.

I agree with this Boo... this is how the enemy keeps people "in" a box. People are in bondage due to doctrine/rituals/traditions etc, they are "hurt" by the church and those "in" the church... and the enemy takes this and drives it deep into their hearts until a box is created and the people are... safe. Everything is exactly the way they want it to be. Even when God IS doing things outside that box that is what they may doubt, or isn't aligned with what they have come to believe, or revolves near the area in which they are hurt.

So, as you raise the enemy produces imitation that is similar yet false but the thing is... this keeps people in the safety of their box?

My point is this and always will be, the safety of that box will not stop God from doing what He does out there in the world. Is this Him not caring for the individual stuck in a box? Nope... it's God just being God and people have that choice to come out of the box and... KNOW God.

[Boo]

I agree with this Boo... this is how the enemy keeps people "in" a box. People are in bondage due to doctrine/rituals/traditions etc, they are "hurt" by the church and those "in" the church... and the enemy takes this and drives it deep into their hearts until a box is created and the people are... safe. Everything is exactly the way they want it to be. Even when God IS doing things outside that box that is what they may doubt, or isn't aligned with what they have come to believe, or revolves near the area in which they are hurt.

So, as you raise the enemy produces imitation that is similar yet false but the thing is... this keeps people in the safety of their box?

My point is this and always will be, the safety of that box will not stop God from doing what He does out there in the world. Is this Him not caring for the individual stuck in a box? Nope... it's God just being God and people have that choice to come out of the box and... KNOW God.

Well, sir, I hope you will accept that those in the box that you claim that they are in DO know God. They may not know Him as you do, but that does not mean that they lack anything. They are different - not inferior. To claim that they do is a bit presumptuous, don't you think?

[watchinginawe]

Oh I don't know... when the word "bondage" gets dropped, many get all bent out of shape.

I know when I was "bound" and thus... IN bondage and I had my box secured around me, I WAS all bent out of shape when the word bondage was dropped into any conversation. Especially EVERY conversation where testimony was given of what God was doing out in the world (outside my box)... that really got me all bent out of shape.

Now out of that box... years later this hasn't changed, and the fact that those who are in some sort of bondage get all bent out of shape when the word "bondage" is dropped, still shows us one thing... those in a bondage of some sort REVEAL this when they get bent out of shape... BY WHAT God is doing outside their box.

I perceive this isn't so much about the topic of the thread as someting else, though I thank God for your testimony. I think you asked:

Thus why I asked that question... I just don't see how a promise from God can be turned into God putting Himself into a box?

Something becomes "predestined", or if you will, "in a box" when God determines His purpose upon a thing. Some of these God has chosen to reveal as declarations or promises. Some of these things are declared conditional upon response. If God says He will bring death UNLESS... then their is a boundary He offers regarding His actions, He has bounded His actions upon the response. If God outright promises or declares a thing, then again there is a boundary of potential actions God has, none of which can be contrary to His declared will. God has bounded His actions, or "predestined" them.

I'm OK with the term "box", but maybe not the thought. God doesn't need options, He knows what He is doing. When God bounds Himself by a declaration or a promise, He doesn't become trapped, He merely is revealing what it is He is going to do.

[Slug1]

Well, sir, I hope you will accept that those in the box that you claim that they are in DO know God. They may not know Him as you do, but that does not mean that they lack anything. They are different - not inferior. To claim that they do is a bit presumptuous, don't you think?

No... when a person's box has caused them to look out and call anything and everything that God is doing in the world, NOT God and the only reason for this is because what God is doing isn't what they believe... then what do they believe and does their belief SEPARATE them from God?

Thus... do they "know" God at all?

Some are so bad out there that when you tell them a testimony of simple healing, they say it's of satan because God don't do that anymore. Mention a demon deliverance, mention anything supernatural... they will claim you are nuts and lost and will literally curse you from inside the safety of their box.

"They" don't KNOW, God.

As we've discussed, are "they"... ALL in the Body of Christ? Hardly!!!

If anyone reads this and the shoe fits... then "they" are those who are in such a box and THEY need to GET out of the box and KNOW Him.

[Boo]

No... when a person's box has caused them to look out and call anything and everything that God is doing in the world, NOT God and the only reason for this is because what God is doing isn't what they believe... then what do they believe and does their belief SEPARATE them from God?

Thus... do they "know" God at all?

Some are so bad out there that when you tell them a testimony of simple healing, they say it's of satan because God don't do that anymore. Mention a demon deliverance, mention anything supernatural... they will claim you are nuts and lost and will literally curse you from inside the safety of their box.

"They" don't KNOW, God.

As we've discussed, are "they"... ALL in the Body of Christ? Hardly!!!

If anyone reads this and the shoe fits... then "they" are those who are in such a box and THEY need to GET out of the box and KNOW Him.

I have yet to run into a person who claims that any miraculous event is of Satan. We are told to watch out because Satan can discieve us with false signs and miracles. We could banter the definition of miraculous, but I don't really want to do that. It is possible that people could think just about anything consitutes a miracle, so it would be an unending journey.

Those with a discerning eye will not accept just anything, so there will always been some disagreement. Many only THINK that they have a discerning eye when, in reality, anything that trips their emotional trigger must be a miracle.

I think that we agree that no box can hold God. Just about any box can hold us.

[Slug1]

It is possible that people could think just about anything consitutes a miracle, so it would be an unending journey.

Many only THINK that they have a discerning eye when, in reality, anything that trips their emotional trigger must be a miracle.

Hooah... in these specific statements, this can be a "box" that some in the Body of Christ have put themselves in.

It's funny... you say this as well:

I have yet to run into a person who claims that any miraculous event is of Satan.

While you have never met such a person (yet), I have never met anyone (yet) in the Body of Christ that thinks just about anything constitutes a miracle.

I think that we agree that no box can hold God. Just about any box can hold us.

Yes, I agree.