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Wesley L

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  1. It wasn't God's will for him to be healed. As it wasn't God's will for Paul to be healed. Sidenote. When christians go out to pray for unbelievers to heal. And when the success rate is rather low. I will question whether they are doing God's will.I believe when it is God's will for someone to be healed, the succes rate should be 100%. Why would God command christians to go heal people with such a low succes rate? Does it glorify God? I can't see in scripture that it is God's will for christians nowadays to do so.
  2. Hi @Bro.Tan, i believe you are a Seventh Day Adventist? I will reply you later.
  3. Let's compare becoming saved with becoming a top chef. Just for illustration purposes. Jesus says only through faith in Him we can become top chef. That is not of any works of our own, but by faith in Him only. You can not become a top chef by hard work. It can only be achieved by faith in Him. You may memorize the Cook Book, you may cook earnestly, but you will fail miserably if done without faith in Him. Anything you cook without faith, will be seen as junk food by Him. If you turn from your junk food habits and turn to Him in faith, He will make you a Top Chef. You will love cooking delicious healthy meals and you will be able to cook these meals. Sometimes you will turn back to your old habit of junk food. But the Holy Spirit will convict you of it and let you turn back to the healthy meals. Nevertheless, you are top chef by faith only. James says. If you say you have become a top chef, then it must be shown by cooking delicious meals according to the Cook Book. If your meals taste bad and look like junk food, that would be a good reason to test yourself whether you are truly a top chef. If you hate cooking, then it would be a good reason to test yourself whether you are truly a top chef. If you turn to junk food every day, then it would be a good reason to test yourself whether you are a top chef. Matthew 11:28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Matthew 12:8 For the Son of Man is lord of the Sabbath. Mark 2:27 And he said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. Hebrews 4:9-10 So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God, for whoever has entered God's rest has also rested from his works as God did from his. Sabbath day means rest day for man. When we turn to our Lord Jesus Christ in faith, we rest in Him, our Lord, the Lord of the Sabbath. You have the freedom to take one day apart for the Lord to glorify God. But never should one forget that we have our rest in Jesus Christ alone on any day, any time, any moment of our lives. And it certainly wouldn't be wise to work 7days a week without rest. We have the obligation to take good care of our bodies, which belongs to Him. Here Paul lists the most important command to keep. Peace is the fruit of the Spirit, by faith we have peace and rest in Him on any day. Galatians 5 14 For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 15 But if you bite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another. 19 Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, 21 envy,drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. 24 And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.
  4. Colossians 3:11 Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all. Acts 15:7-9 And after there had been much debate, Peter stood up and said to them, “Brothers, you know that in the early days God made a choice among you, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel and believe. And God, who knows the heart, bore witness to them, by giving them the Holy Spirit just as he did to us, and he made no distinction between us and them, having cleansed their hearts by faith. John 10:16 And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd. I believe "all Israel" that will be saved are the ones who are saved through faith in Jesus Christ. Israel can mean different people groups in the bible, depending on the context. As also explained here https://www.ligonier.org/learn/devotionals/who-israel/
  5. Romans 7:15-24 15 For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. 16 Now if I do what I do not want, I agree with the law, that it is good. 17 So now it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. 18 For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. 19 For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing. 20 Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. Paul is certainly not saying he is without sin. Nor is he trying to move away from his own responsibility of his current sins. Here Paul is emphasizing the fact of his changed heart, how he hates sin and long for righteous living. The mark of a born again believer is NOT lying to himself telling himself he does not sin anymore. This is a false teaching, because experience tells us otherwise. You have to twist your own reality to make yourself belief this lie. That is not what a born again believer should do. This is what an unbeliever does, denying the truth to make himself feel righteous. That is why you try to avoid the question when asked whether you actually never sin in your current life. That is the conviction of your conscience and I truly hope also the conviction of the Holy Spirit within you. Let's assume you are without sin. Then it still wouldn't be applicable to believers who are not without sin. That would be putting a yoke on their necks about their salvation. Because salvation is by faith in Jesus Christ alone. Abraham was seen as righteous by God because of faith and yet Abraham sinned. The mark of a believer is a convicted heart towards sin and a longing for living righteous. 1 John 1:8 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 1 Corinthians 2:14 The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned. Ephesians 2:8-9 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. Romans 6:1-2 6 What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? 2 By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? The Holy Spirit Who dwells in me convict me of my sins. The sins which I hate. I repent (turn away) every time and follow Christ. I would never lie about being sinless, that would be a blasphemy towards Jesus Christ who died on the cross for all my past and future sins and rose again on the third day. Never will I forget that I was a unbelieving sinner. And now I am a saved born again believer who sometimes fall back into sin. But each time, Jesus Christ saves me and helps me living righteous again. Not by myself have I received salvation. Not by myself shall I keep my salvation. Not by myself can I lose my salvation. I am not mine, I am His bought with His blood. All by Him, for Him. Through the Holy Spirit that lives in me and His words of wisdom. All glory to our Lord!
  6. You are totally right that we must love our neighbour as self. But your good deeds will be seen by God as filthy rags, if you are still in your own sins. Isaiah 64:6 We have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment. I have heard someone summarize the bible in one word, "REDEMPTION". By faith in Jesus Christ we are saved, not of any good works. All good works without faith, without redemption are filthy rags in the eyes of God. You can't use the bible as a restaurant menu and pick out what is according to your personal flavour. The bible is God inspired words and not a restaurant menu to pick out from. Don't create your own god to fit your own desires. How do we know that we are hearing God's words? Because God is alive. Jeremiah 29:13 You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.
  7. I'd give it away to a poor person or a person in need and share the Gospel. And if willing double the amount from your own pocket. If the pastor asked you what you did with it, you can tell him you gave it to Jesus. (More like an objection to the pastor's expectation and the way he tries to explain the parable.) I believe this is a very bad way to explain the parabel. It is not about money and increasing in money. It is a warning for all christians to be prepared before Christ's return. Mark 8:36 For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul? What is the MOST valuable that we have been given by Christ? Not money, not talents. But the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We must share it boldly and generously with everybody we meet. So when He comes back, we have been good servants. (If people say you need money to do it effectively... that sounds like blasphemy in my ears. Faith is all we need, the rest will be given to us.)
  8. Indeed. But not of which that comes out of the mouth, but which that is inside the heart. God hears prayers because not of the words, but of the heart. A repentant heart. Jeremiah 17:10 10 “I the Lord search the heart and examine the mind, Jeremiah 29:13 13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.
  9. Thanks for sharing. I agree with your points. We have no control over our desires. Our desires control us. Before we were saved, we were captured in our sinful desires. (Rom3:11) I believe it was 100% God Who changed me, so that I could repent and trust in Him. New desires and a new heart was given to me. And the Holy Spirit which dwells in me. Everytime we make a choice, we are weighing our desires. Once saved, the desire to follow Christ will weigh the heaviest. BUT, we sometimes fall for the flesh, the old desires of the flesh. The Holy spirit Who dwells in you will convict you of the sin and will wake you up to repent and follow Christ. Unless He doesn't dwell within you. It sounds like that there is no free will. Somehow I believe there is freedom of choice, free will and on the other hand I believe God is soevereignly electing His people. To me, this is still a mystery. Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.
  10. Amen! I am preparing a bible study about the parable of the ten virgins. In which I will also point out salvation. During my preparation, an important question came to my mind to ask christians brothers and sisters. "Were you taught in church to believe you are saved OR were you taught in church to believe in Jesus Christ alone?"
  11. As a christian amateur musician, I have recently started a youtube channel rewritting popsongs into gospel songs to share with unbelievers. Today I have finished recording and editing this one. If you think the message is true, feel free to share the good news.
  12. Hi Caitlin, First of all, don't worry about what you can do to please Him. Nobody can please God by their works alone. The most important thing is FAITH in Jesus Christ alone. Without Him, we can't do anything right. We all have sinned and fall short to the glory of God. (Romans 3:23) Jesus didn't ask us to have emotions for Him. Jesus asked us to have faith in Him. So whatever your feelings may be, pray to Him. Ask Him for help, for peace, for certainty, for strength, for wisdom to teach you how to follow Him, how to obey Him. Why would Jesus want us to pray to Him? Doesn't He know our hearts and thoughts already without us having to pray? Jesus wants us to pray to Him, so we can surrender ourselves to Him. Put our faith in Him, not ourselves. We need the prayers. Praying for you. God bless!
  13. Dear Brother, God speaks to us through scripture. My faith is weak I suppose. Romans 10:17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ. I don't have miraculous faith to talk about. Never saw a miracle. John 20:29 Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” All I have is a contrite heart. I'm sorry for all the selfish evil I have done. Im sorry for being a fool. Sorry I lack faith to move a molehill. I feel like a loser. A man on the outside.. just a poor pathetic sinner.. 2 Corinthians 7:10 For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death. Where is my hope? Depression, anxiety self loathing misery. I hate myself Romans 15:13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope. Philippians 4:6-7 6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Why do others have more faith? Exodus 20:17 “You shall not covet your neighbor's house; you shall not covet your neighbor's wife, or his male servant, or his female servant, or his ox, or his donkey, or anything that is your neighbor's.” Why are they worth something and I'm not? Matthew 6:26 Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? So if faith comes from hearing the word of Christ. And with faith comes peace beyond comprehension, joy and hope. We all have have to keep hearing / reading the bible. To grow in faith and consequently grow in peace, hope and joy. Don't believe the lies of the devil. Read God's words, your sword and shield. God bless!
  14. Well, do you truly want fair? Then we will all have to go to hell for our sins. Was it fair for Jesus Christ to die on the cross for sinners? God is not fair, God is gracious and merciful. And we should be thankful to God that He created us. And even though we were sinners, He sacrificed His only begotten Son, for us to be saved. We should be thankful that God saves infants. That He also saves murderers, liars, thiefs, adulterers, blasphemers. Because I am one. Clearly we have to learn to accept God as our God and not be our own gods with our own personal desires. That is how sin came into the world. If we accept God because God's will is according to our desires. Then that is not faith, that is just agreeing with Him. If we trust in God and deny our own selfish desires, that is true faith. Romans 5:1-5 5 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom we also have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we celebrate in hope of the glory of God. 3 And not only this, but we also celebrate in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; 4 and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; 5 and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us. Why can’t we all just be allowed into heaven when we want to be? Because we are not God and our lives are not ours. We are sinners, trying to be our own gods. And God says to you and to me, salvation is only by faith in Jesus Christ.
  15. In my point of view the US already isn't what she was anymore. If things were up to the devil, things would turn bad much quicker than it does now. Thanks to God, the Restrainer keeps delaying the events, so that many have time to turn back to God. God is truly compasionate and patient towards us. Nobody knows the day nor the hour. But when seeing signs all around us, we know it is close. And the most sensible thing for us to do is to warn the lost, to share the gospel and watch things unfold. God bless!
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