Billiards Ball

It's not about "understanding", that is left-brain logical insight into root causes of depression. It's about communing with God and gaining the peace that is better than UNDERSTANDING.

*Praying/singing in the Spirit/with encouragement/in tongues *Revisiting childhood traumas while asking Jesus to minister in those places/memories *Meeting with qualified, Christian counselors

I understand. Tongues speakers are activating areas of the brain NOT related to language and thoughts, it's a way to meditate and ease anxiety.

Speaking from experience or a guess? If you haven't experienced relief, have someone counsel/pray for you who is a spirit-filled leader.

Certainly! Are you Spirit-filled? Praying/singing in tongues takes the weight completely off of anxious thoughts.

David sinned with Bathsheba, Solomon with many wives and idols. Less than a third of good men and women in the Bible finish their lives that way. 1 Cor 10 tells us not to be surprised at Gideon--"be careful if you think you stand, lest you fall."

An elder must not be a polygamist. Someone could be divorced and remarried and then an elder (for example, their remarriage occurred before their conversion to Christianity).

Tell him you are uncomfortable being touched. Tell him you will return to work for him when you're paid.

Sure does. I've never met Jesus in person, but love Him and have a relationship with Him, via letters. Trust Jesus now for eternal life! Call on His Name to forgive you and wash away your sin through His blood shed on the cross!

Biblically, to hide truth from those except the ones who mix hearing/reading parables with trust in God. Trust Jesus for eternal life and you'll truly start to understand the parables.

It seems more unfair to punish people for sins they would have thought of committing had they lived, rather than actually committing them. "You're going to Hell because you would have defied me and lived a life of meaningless pleasure, that you never felt," is not the God I love. There's a parable addressing your idea--the workers who showed up last minute and didn't do much but got paid (Heaven).

Don't listen to the cult members on this thread. Biblically speaking, you have freedom in this area, unless it feels like sin to you. If something seems sinful to you, don't do it. You can also save money on removal and show people the tattoo or tell them about it to compare your old life to your born again life in Jesus Christ.

Can the person say "Jesus is Lord! Jesus is God in human flesh!" - one set of key biblical tests. Some demons are held in the pit awaiting judgment, others roam the Earth, seeking to possess, tempt and destroy people. If you've trusted Jesus for salvation, you have power over demons and the Spirit to indwell and protect you.

The biblical word translated as "faith" and "belief" in English is TRUST. TRUST JESUS, GOD IN FLESH, died and risen for sin, for ETERNAL LIFE. TRUST JESUS. NOT YOURSELF.

And this kind of anxiety cannot be cured by improved life circumstances. Look for a Bible church where addiction counselors have themselves overcome OCD and anxiety. And always remember what a friend told me about intense, crippling anxiety--95% of the things he was anxious about happening never happened. Satan uses lies as often as he can.

Don't keep "under wraps", but pursue a Bible church where they have counselors who've helped people with anxiety. Pray in the Spirit when you feel anxious.

Hi Joe, John 5:24 says "believe on Him who sent me", that is "trust God". I trust God, who sent Jesus. I agree that Jesus speaks to us through what He said, what He did, etc. However, I hope we can agree John 5:24 and John 3:16 are truth. I've in the past trusted Jesus, so in the future I shall never perish.

Yes, you could say that, since biblically, "faith" and "belief" are trust. Eve trusted the devil, "Disobey God and good things will happen."

Backslidden is used in scripture, referring to Israel/Judah, in the OT. Assurance is scriptural. Why do you think John 5:24 includes the past tense?

Backsliders are miserable. Excessive backsliders die young. Those never saved are happy when they sin.

If you or someone you know is thinking of suicide, immediately reach out for help with an evangelical church or first responder emergency services.

Then join a local church where prophecy and deep relationships are pursued, but don't condemn a church for having fun, please.

There are millions of believers helping with evangelism! If you find evangelism ponderous, I'd be happy to train you in how to get gospel presentations and salvation decisions done rather quickly.

Caesar gets things, so does God. If a government puts out a law to dishonor God (forced abortion, for example) you may disobey it. And if you suffer for honoring God against a wicked law, God sees, intervenes and rewards.

To teach correctly, adhere to the Bible. Not all televangelists are evil. Some are quite effective.