SEND YOUR QUESTION

One explanation to this seemingly inconsistency is in the Godhead itself. A theophany is the visible manifestation of God, it was the pre-incarnate Son of God not the Father or the Holy Spirit whom Moses and Jacob saw face to face. Abraham and Joshua also saw the pre-incarnate Lord (Christ) face to face.
God is an omnipresent Spirit and spirit is invisible on the human level. God desired to show the human race what He was really like so He sent His only begotten Son who began to explain God in terms of a loving Heavenly Father. The concept of God up to then was one of fearfulness and awe at a powerful yet distant being who always seemingly was angry at any attempts to please Him and at best tolerated the Jews behaviour with whom He was in covenant with.
Jesus calling God his Father and he His Son challenged this frame of mind of the Jews in Matt 11:27. This kind of talk angered the leadership and Jesus was accused of blasphemy when he claimed to be the Son of God.
Finally Jesus challenged the mindset of His own disciples and declares the truth of His incarnation, God manifest in the flesh. Now all can know what an invisible God is really like by observing the actions and likes of  Jesus Christ who said untoPhilip “…he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father” Jn 14:9

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2. I have friends questioning the authenticity and reliability of the Bible as the inerrant Word of God.  Any suggestions on how to answer them or where to look for information? K.R. (again)

As we are to live by faith not by sight it is advisable to give your friends the simple plan of salvation (Rom 10:9) and trust the Holy Spirit do what He does best, convict of sin, judgment and the need of His righteousness. Here are a few quotes for you:

Arguments about scripture achieve nothing but a stomachache and a headache. TERTULLIAN 

It ain't those parts of the Bible that I can't understand that bother me, it is the parts that I do understand. Mark Twain. 

Another century and there will not be a Bible on earth. VOLTAIRE 

….it is God's highway to Paradise . It is the light on the pathway in the darkest night. It leads businessmen to integrity and uprightness. It is the great consoler in bereavement. It awakens men and women opiated by sin. It answers every great question of the soul. It solves every great problem of life. It is a fortress often attacked but never failing. Its wisdom is commanding and its logic convincing. Salvation is its watchword. Eternal life it’s goal. It punctures all pretence. It is forward looking, outward looking, and upward looking. It out lives, out lifts, out loves, out reaches, out ranks, and out runs all other books. Trust it, love it, obey it, and Eternal Life is yours. A. Z. CONRAD  top V

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3. I want to reach out to God, but I don't think that he wants anything to do with me. When I’m in church I can't "feel" anything. I know it shouldn't be based on a feeling, but I need to feel if God is there, if he loves me. How can I know that God loves me? Why won't he let me feel his presence? 

You really did answer your own question when you said, "I know it shouldn't be based on a feeling." There will be times when it seems like God is not there. That's when the verse of scripture " the just shall live by faith" will try you. Just know that He is in you, you are therefore the Fathers delight and accepted into His family as His very own child. Instead of learning to hate yourself, learn instead about the Christ who lives in you, as you. If He chose to live in you, why should you not now learn to love yourself as you are now the temple He lives and moves in.  Most of our problems stem from the fact that the mind is un-renewed and therefore is enmity to the way God sees things. When the Father looks at you, He only sees His Son birthed in you, and say's "I am well pleased" 
Finally, don't try to reach God just 'be' who you are already, a Son of God the power of an eternal life. These so-called 'dry times' are just as illusionary as a man walking in the hot desert who constantly sees a mirage of cool water. Feelings will always affect us so don't feel condemned. The Father will allow his children to experience periods where it seems like He has left us, we KNOW that He said "I will never leave you or forsake you. top V

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4. If God is love how come so many bad things can go wrong? 

 

When we come to the understanding that this world is nothing more than a schoolhouse to prepare us for eternity then we will be mentally prepared to go through each and every negative that is part and parcel of being a human being.
One thing we can do to help the situation is to make sure that we are not the cause of all our problems. The truth contained in the Bible is a sobering reminder that none of us are going to get away with sowing bad seed and get away with it. Gal 6:7 “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.”
I always take the approach that God is always right and most probably it is my ignorance of Gods ways or my disobedience to His Word that caused the bad thing to have come my way. This at least is an honest attempt not to blame shift and to be open for correction by a loving Heavenly Father.
This world operates on pairs of opposites, night and day, poverty and prosperity, sickness and health, and the one uses the other for its manifestation. So we need that negative for the positive to come into manifestation. 
The book of Romans says “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose”. In other words the negative emotions that we are experiencing are an opportunity for God to work His wonders, and the Grace of God swallows them up of joy. Sickness swallowed up of health, with the end result of the Lord being glorified. top V

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5. When Christians say you should put your past and your circumstances in God's hands...what does that exactly mean?

 

The scripture that they are referring to is found in Eccl  3:15 “That which hath been is now; and that which is to be hath already been; and God requireth that which is past”.

That which is past {Heb. that which is driven away} belongs to God. Try not to borrow tomorrow's troubles for the evil of today is enough. The now is yours to live, so just be. We cannot, the Word says, add an inch to our stature by worrying, so why try. "Cast your cares upon Him, for He cares for you." 

If we continue to take anxious thoughts about our past or future, we spoil the precious moments of the day. Matt 6:31 “Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or What shall we drink? or Wherewithal shall we be clothed“
True faith is to trust in the indwelling Christ that knows that the Father is actively working in us to bring about His eternal purpose which is to reveal His Son in you as your life. Whether or not the circumstances we find ourselves facing are positive or negative, they will bring about eventually, a favourable result.

However we must first let go of trying to figure things out in our own strength, if we are to see Him take over and swallow u p the seemingly impossible circumstance that stands as a Goliath opposing our way.

When we know by faith that God hears us when we pray according to His will, we immediately enter into the promised rest of Heb 4:3. “For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, as I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world. top

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6. How can God take away really negative feelings? And will he?

 

No, God will not take away persons negative thoughts instead He empowers the Christian to do it himself. 2 Cor. 10: 4 “For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds”. Feelings are produced by our thought life.  Prov. 23:7 " For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he” Just refuse to give thought to whatever it is that is negative in your life, and the strength of the emotion will begin to wane and eventually die a death of starvation. Whatever you feed will begin to grow, so the Word exhorts us on what to think. Phil 4:8  "Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things".
Many a Bible teacher has stated that the “Battle field” for a Christian is in the mind.  Who controls your thought life – you or some other influence or voice? That voice is a high thing trying to give the orders, contrary to the known will of God, by taking control of a person thought life. Hearing voices is not an unusual defence by many convicted felons who declare to the judge that the “voice” told to do it. 2 Cor.10:5 “Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ”.

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7. How can I feel God's love when I really need it?

 

What we all need is a revelation of God's love. Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal Him to you, for God IS love. Here’s a couple of formula tic answers... firstly; praising and worshiping Him could well climax with the reverse, with you receiving love and words of love back FROM Him.

Secondly; if you think His loving you depends on your pleasing Him, then renewing your mind through reading the bible with the Holy Spirit as Teacher will help you to reach a knowing of His unconditional love for you. The real answer is more than both of these and it's almost derogatory to suggest formulas anyway.

This is a Person we're talking about, it is not equivalent to a wife asking someone else, about how to receive her husband's love, because the Person in question IS love. Imagine! a moment with Love, for as a Christian, He's living on the inside of you. Love being that close!

You asked also - when you really need it. We all need to be loved that’s a natural human response, and of course there are times more than others.  The Word teaches us Christians that love is not a feeling but an action. Jn “God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever shall believe on Him shall not perish but have everlasting life."  Our whole union with Him is because of that action, what a foundation, your life is built on a foundation of love, and His life of Love is in you and living through you. 

If you have never taken the time to receive Gods Love call upon Him now, and let Him embrace you with His loving arms and to fill you with His Spirit. top WC 305 V

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8. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:8. Why is it that every time I try to pray I feel so guilty and horrible for trying that I never get past saying " Dear God “? Geraldine CA

Don't try to pray just have a good o’l chat with your Heavenly Daddy. He made you and there is nothing He doesn’t know about you, your strengths and weaknesses. All He is requiring of you or me is honesty. Guilty feelings are mostly the result of hiding our shortcomings and sin under the fig leaf of our deceived mindset. If God loved you when you were a sinner, how much more does He love you now that you are His child? 

Most of our problems stem from the fact that the mind is still un-renewed, and as we begin to replace sense knowledge facts with God's revelation knowledge truths, we shall begin to walk uprightly and boldly before Him.  However, if God is telling you to stop what you are doing, that is contrary to sound counsel, and you persist in doing it, you will feel guilty. 

Many ministers are constantly telling us that God loves us unconditionally, and that is true. On the other hand the Bible also tells us in John “If you love me, keep my commandments” you will abide in His love. The Fathers commandments, found in the Pauline Epistles, are not hard or legalistic more to be seen as “love commands”.  Here’s one from Eph 4:32 “And be ye kind one to another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you”. top WC 263

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9.And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.9. Once you are saved, does it mean we are always saved?  Patrick

 

Hopefully this answer will help you in your learning of the "Christ” in you.  Always keep in mind that salvation involves believing in a person, Jesus Christ and His finished work on the cross, and not a thing that we do or don't do. The moment someone believes in and confesses Jesus Christ as their Lord and saviour the SEED of the Divine Nature, which is the spirit of Gods own Son, is sown in the heart (soil) of that person. ROM 10:9.

The Christ comes to live His life in and through that person. It would be reasonable to suggest therefore that He will not lose us somewhere on the way. EPH 2:8-9 “Not of works, lest any man should boast” Let us also then learn live by grace and not legalism. Introducing works would cause us to stumble in our union with Christ, even if the works were good in man’s estimation. The criteria for entrance into eternity is to receive the gift of eternal life; JN 17:3 “And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent” If your salvation then is based on you keeping impossible laws then I would say No to you question. If on the other hand you are basing your salvation on the Christ indwelling the creature - and Jesus’ finished work on the cross then answer is Yes. 

This kind of question is usually answered by the many man-made doctrines – let’s call this one – “once saved always saved”. Moving away from these varied doctrines is the best thing we can do to obtain clarity. The only doctrine the Bible talks about as being beneficial to the Christian is the “Doctrine of Christ” 2 John 1:9 “Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son”. And where is that Christ, in you of course, and where He is you will be also, though eternity. COL 1:27 “To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory ” top WC 280 V

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10. If someone is not baptized with the Holy Spirit, does it mean they are not saved?

 

Baptism in water or the Holy Spirit does not equal salvation. Baptism in water is consequent to be being born-again. An outer, symbolic religious act, a type and shadow of the inward born-again experience.

The baptism in the Holy Spirit means you now have the Teacher abiding in your soul mind to teach you “Christ in you, the Hope of Glory”.

Colossians “To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory”.

Salvation is threefold, spirit, soul and body. The spirit is saved when the individual believes on the Lord Jesus and His finished work at Calvary . At that instance the born-again miracle occurs, Christ comes in and the old man (Satan) is out.

Subsequently to be being born-again, the baptism with the Holy Spirit is offered.  Up to then the believer is saved, possessing the exchanged Christ-Life, but not Holy Spirit filled.  The confusion comes about by not correctly differentiating between the Spirit of Christ and the Holy Spirit and their roles in the believer’s life.  The Spirit of Christ is our only life, now that we are born-again, whereas the Holy Sprit is our teacher working in our soul mind to make that reality known to us. Gal < Hour="2" Minute="20">2:20 “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me”. top WC 280 V

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11. I recently read a book called the “Masks of Melancholy”. The writer, who is a minister, claims many illnesses and mental health problems are due to demon possession and that a minister can help with getting rid of the possession. Is this a fact? If so where does one go to get help? Kay

I believe that many, but not all illnesses have a spiritual root cause that manifests itself ultimately in the body or soul (mind) of a person. The first defence spiritually against demonic activity is to be 'Born Again' by receiving Jesus Christ as one's personal Lord and saviour. This then removes the old satanic nature and replaces it with the Divine nature of Christ. 11Pet 1:4 “Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.”
The next line of defence is to renew one's mind to the facts of what took place when Christ died as you, on the cross. Remember nothing can happen to you as a ' born again believer ' that your Heavenly Father does not know about and has purposed as Rom 8:28 states; “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose”. The sign of demonic possession is when someone is driven to do things, which they have no power over.  Then it would be prudent to seek a “Spirit filled” minister who can minister deliverance.
A word of caution, as there are many who believe that casting out of demonic spirits is the panacea for all ills and personal problems, which is really not so. In this body which Paul called the “body of sin” we will be tempted. This is quite normal, and as we focus our mind and faith on the person of Christ in us, we are delivered through the temptation and trial by the ever-present deliverer in us. top WC 307 V

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12. Is a person saved by faith in Christ alone or is something else needed? 

 

Yes - nothing else is needed - Jesus + nothing when it come to salvation.  Believe in your heart and confess Him with your mouth, this constitutes spiritual salvation according to Rom 10:9-10 “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation”.

Christianity is the only religion that advocates, through its handbook for living which is the Bible, salvation without the necessity of having to do something (Law) but rather receiving someone (Grace). Eph 2:8-10 “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God. Not of works, lest any man should boast.  For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them”.

Unfortunately Christianity can and often does confuse it’s “Amazing Grace“ position by commingling Law & Grace.  This in turn brings it to the base level of the ‘world’s religions’ which requires the faithful to offer their “works” as a means of appeasing their God. These “works” form the basis of acceptance from God and the means whereby the devotees might receive favour and/or blessings. Simply put “works” are anything that a person does from and within him that requires any degree of self-effort to obtain salvation i.e. eternal life. top WC 258

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13. Does God really forgive us every time we ask for forgiveness? I mean if we sin and we absolutely know it is a sin but do it anyway and then feel so terrible about it and ask God to forgive, is he there for us and forgiving? Cynthia

There is no sin big enough that cannot be cleansed by the precious blood of our Lord. We are all, as long as we are in this body of flesh, tempted downward as we travel along the highway of life. However the Lord knows our human frailty, due to our body as yet still not redeemed.  He has provided a way acceptable in His sight. 1 Jn 1:9 says “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness”.

This question has always had a paradoxical touch to it, there is even a prayer that goes along with it “Lord please forgive me for the thing that I am about to do”

Some might reason that I may as well enjoy the sin, that I am about to do, as I can ask God to forgive me later. Well that’s true – Gods word stands sure on forgiveness according to 1 John 1:9 again an honest heart is what God seeks in our asking.

OK that’s me you say, I’m just like what you described. So it looks like I can get away with my sinful ways just by evoking 1 Jn 1:9. Well yes because the Father will honour His word and no because no one gets away with anything. There’s the rub, for the other scripture brings the balance Gal 6:7 “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap”. top WC 300

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14. I am trying really hard to be strong in my faith but sometimes I get depressed because of all the problems legally and financially, Besides that I then do something stupid to try to make the financial situation better, it just makes it worse.

Don't be strong, just honest and faith doesn’t try buts trusts. The Lord knows you cannot manage your life, that's why He placed His son in you when you believed on Jesus' finished work at Calvary . Let Him, who is the strong one; begin to live His life through you.

The way to achieve this is for you to consciously present your body a living sacrifice on a daily basis, Rom 12:1-2 “… present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind…”

Next, “be not conformed to this world:” or in other words “do not think the way the world thinks”. Lets settle it right here and right now, if the world’s teachers say this is the way to act i.e. “If you at first don’t succeed then try and try again”. It is most likely wrong advice for the Christian. What does the Word say about getting life’s problems in order, here’s one found in 1Jn 3:22-23  “And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight. And this is his commandment that we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment.  Love and obedience on our part will cause the power within us to eventually turn our negative situations around. top WC 293

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15. I’ve been given to understand that we are made righteous through faith and that it is a free gift - not earned. This means then even if we we sin we are still righteous and if we are righteous how can we have unrighteousness in us?

When we know that salvation is a person (Christ) in us, and not based on the things that we do or don't do, we enter into the rest of Heb. 4:3

The real you is Christ, because of the birthing, and it is impossible for Christ to commit sin. Gal “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me”.

However when we forget our union we begin to operate independently from our deceived mind, and this leads us to be tempted downward to do sinful acts. However these acts in themselves can never separate us from our union life with the Son, but they need to be cleansed by the blood as we confess them as sin 1Jn 1:9 “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness”.

We are all tempted to sin, but we are not sinners by nature, therefore we cannot commit sin, for sin is a person (Satan), and our union with that person (the old man) is now done away with in our new union with Christ. 1 Jn3:9 “Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God”. top WC 294

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16. How do you deal with your grown children who are taking advantage? My son has no regard to the rules and regulations of the house. He expects my husband and myself to be available to meet his every need and shows no appreciation. I expect him to pitch in. I talk to him and all he does is to avoid it by staying out of my way for a few days and then reverts back to his old ways. He and his fiancé wait to have dinner and never offer to clean up and leave us to do all the work. Debbie

You say that he is grown, but I don't see his age in your email. I'm assuming that he is an adult and can work to provide his own support and accommodation. This is exactly what he should be doing. He is only taking advantage of the situation that has been allowed and offered him. Tough love is the best thing for him. You and your husband need to ask him to prepare to find his own abode where he can do, as he likes. He has grown accustomed to the situation there, and at this point you and your husband will find that there will be resistance to comply with your domestic wishes. He really does need to find his own place if he is out of his teen years. My advice would be to propose a time factor of about three months or so, when he can organize himself and do some advance planning. This by far is the best thing for you and for his further development as a functioning male who will at some point be the head of his own family. The skills he will need to get him to that point will not be developed while he is still in your home. You are doing him and yourselves a favour by insisting in a loving but firm way that these changes take place. top WC331 V

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17. Help me strike the balance between "working out ones salvation with fear and trembling" and the fact that our salvation involves Christ in-dwelling our bodies, which means that the life we now live is by the faith of the Son of God, who lives in us

Working out ones salvation spiritually is impossible for it is a gift to be received according to Eph 2:8 “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God”.

However we can work out the soulical part of our salvation, this is the fear and trembling part, by having our ‘minds renewed’ and by 'studying to show ourselves approved unto God rightly dividing the Word of truth.' 2Tim

When progress is made in these areas, especially in the aspect of dividing the Word, we begin to see the truth regarding our salvation. It’s not as much that we are saved from sin but more meaningful is that we are the container of a person, Christ who is our life, our only life.

The first part, spiritually, involves grace, the latter, soulically, entails works. We become unbalanced when we confuse works with grace and vice a versa. We cite grace regarding bible study where works, literally burning the candle at both ends, is required. Then we apply works to try to be acceptable to God, causing a falling from grace. No wonder many Christians are confused in their Christian walk. top WC 246 V

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18. When the bible talks about there being a rest for the believer, is it referring to when we go to heaven or is there a rest we can enter into now in our lives because we are born-again and have Christ in dwelling us? Barbara – Barnet N. London

The rest promised us in Heb 4:3 is for us now in this life. The requirement is that we believe the Word we hear preached concerning “the works that were finished from the foundation of the world” vs. 3, this in turn permits us to enter into the rest.

The gospel Paul preached regarding salvation, he called 'my gospel', is free from a multitude of ‘works’ and a huge number 'doings', he instead emphasized repeatedly ‘knowing’ and 'being'.

We distinguish by reading Gal and here in Hour="3" Minute="15">3:15 that two opposing gospels were being preached  “Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing you be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you”. By commingling two differing gospels, one advocating circumcision (works) the other exempt (grace), it produces a mental fog and fear replaces faith thus robbing the Christian of their promised rest. The difficulty is in the gospel that that the believer is hearing one produces rest the other a continual conflict. This is where the dividing of the word is paramount in the believer’s life and “Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it“. top WC 261

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19. When we pray that the Lord will show us which way to go in our future, but are prayers are not answered, what should we do? I don't want to do anything He doesn't want me to do. Kay,

You are right in not wanting to do your own thing. Christ is the head of the body so it is always wise to wait on Him to open future doors by Him closing present ones. All of us who are Christ-indwelt have our past, present and future in Him, so apply the promised rest of Heb 4:3 and enter into that rest by believing that He who is your life will bring about His purposes in His time.

When you pray and the answer back from God is seemingly not there, know with confidence that He heard your prayer and that silence was the answer you needed, for it is commonly said that “silence speaks louder than words”.  God speaks in many different ways so be alert after you have prayed for even the strangest things can reveal the will of God. In the case of Balaam the Prophet the will of God was revealed through “the dumb ass speaking with man's voice”. Jesus stated that He is the Way. If He is the Way, and you are in union with Him by the birthing, believe and expect your future to result in the best outcome possible even though your present circumstances reflex differently.

1Jo “And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him”. top WC 293 V

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20. I understand that possession can make a person do things that they don't want to do but what sort of things? I am thinking along the lines of murder and horrible other things. What about depressive symptoms and habits a person wants to be rid of but can't or it hasn't happened. Is this possession? Does it come in degrees (or words to that effect)?

Depression and bad habits are common to the human condition and should not be taken as a sign of demon possession. As we hold the Head by keeping His Word in mind, a Christ consciousness begins to develop, we begin find that the things that held us bound in the past begin to loose their grip on us.

With Christ living in you, as a born again believer, He then is the ever present, ongoing deliverer in you.  Heb 12:2 “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith…”.

Learn to take your shortcomings to the Lord in prayer. He cares for you and He is the answer to the negatives in your life. His way is perfect and He said that He will present you Holy and unblameable in His sight. 1Th “To theend he may establish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God..”.

Honesty is always the best policy and with the Lord that means a lot.  Confess to Him you bad habits as sin, but refuse the temptation to try to get the victory  through self-effort. Instead put the anxiety where it ought to be placed, in His hands, and you will begin to see the depression and bad habits beingswallowed up of Life. top WC 281 V

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21. I have always been drawn to religion but as I am shy I have never actively joined anything since school. I have noticed that ever since I began to wear a crucifix my life is changing, it seems for the better. Some amazing things have happened and theseevents have strengthened the faith I already had by tenfold.

Religion as such is not the answer, as every religion on the face of the earth works on the same premise of good works to attain points with God. Our Heavenly Father rejects self-effort of any kind, even the good kind, as a means of acceptance.  He receives us on the basis of His Son Jesus being birthed in us by believing inChrist’s finished work at Calvary Wear the crucifix by all means but never forget that faith not sight is the requirement for a believer.  Many people unfortunately put their faith or belief in outer things, temporary things, this is not the faith that pleases God but faith in the invisible does. Remember if you can physically see it, touch it or taste it, it’s not faith but sense knowledge. That knowledge is appropriate to all of the Worlds religions, for it comes down from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. 2Co   “While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal”. top WC 251V

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22. I went once and had pranic healing done and the healer told me I had a negative entity on my head and shoulders and she took it away. This frightened me and I kind of wish she hadn't said that. She said she told me because I was doing a course in reiki and wanted to become a healer - plus we had built up a bit of a therapeutic relationship. What do you think of this?

Pranic healing is similar to Reiki, which is an occult, new age healing technique developed by a Japanese Buddhist monk called Mikao Usui Sensei. It is based on Sanskrit sutras believed to relate to cosmic symbols used by the Buddha for healing. Sometimes described as a form of Shinto / Buddhist - Qigong.

Healing energy said to be channelled into a patient's body by laying on of hands. Usually, no contact is made with the body. Practitioners claim the healing energy can also be applied long-distance e.g. on mailing lists  - people are sometimes asked to "send Reiki" to someone.

All new age and physic healing and healers I would stay away from, and I mean a long way. The head of all religion and deceptive practices is Satan himself. Remember what the bible warns about in 2 Cor  “And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works”.

Always talk to Jesus and your Heavenly Father only when it comes to spiritual things, and ask the Holy Spirit to lead you and guide you and teach you Christ in you the hope of glory. top WC 289 V

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23. How do you know when you are operating or living by works?

 

Here are some insights as to your question. When we, as a religious practice, do or give something to God for acceptance or righteousness or power or to give us in any way a sense of gaining points with God that would be acknowledged as “Works”. In other words when our self-effort becomes the criteria for living a righteous or holy Christian life in place of faith in the finished work of Christ on the cross.

Here are a few scriptures for you.

Gal 5:4 “Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace”.

Rom 3:21 “But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference”.

Rom 10:4 “For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth”.

Gal “I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain”.Phil 3:9 “And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith”. Gal 2:16 “Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified”.

Gal “For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them”.  top WC 341

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24. When I read through the bible, I notice how the Jews seemed to be far better at serving God and keeping the Law than we are today. Are we slacking compared to the old days?

You’re talking about the Jews keeping the law given to them from Mount Sinai . Moses who received the Ten Commandments from God was called the lawgiver, When he came down from the Mount, the people had become impatient with Moses for staying up there too long, and they got into trouble. Having made a golden calf they began to dance and partake in idolatrous worship. Moses on seeing their disobedience became so irate with them that he threw the tablets down and broke them. The Dispensation of Law started with the lawgiver himself literally breaking the law. Don’t think for a moment that you can keep them!

Later God pulled Moses aside and said “Because you have not sanctified the people in my eyes, you’ll never enter into the Promised Land, you’ll see it from a mountain top, but you’ll never enter in.” The lawgiver could not enter into the Promise Land for it is to be a place of rest. God has had to teach us for over 6000 years that man cannot within himself manage his life.

The law is Holy it’s an outward representation of a Holy God. The problem of keeping the Law is in you and I, the answer to the problem is Christ, for He fulfilled the Law perfectly for all of us.

God’s people Israel never were Christ indwell, as the born-again is in this Dispensation of Grace. They instead had a High Priest who sacrificed an animal as a sin offering once a year. Christ is our sin offering, He paid the price for broken law.  For us to ‘serve God today’, we need only to present our bodies a living sacrifice by faith, for Him to live and work through. Only the Holiness of His Son impresses God, and that One Son is in all who believe on Him. WC 343 V top >> Next 25-36