Ervin P

In the following 1 Corinthians 12:10 4 There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. 5 There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. 6 There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work. 7 Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.8 To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, 10 to another MIRACULOUS POWERS, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues,[a] and to still another the interpretation of tongues.[b] 11 All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines. mentions Spirits gift of miraculous powers among others. Now I am not saying that I don’t know anything about it but I was wandering are there any stories recent or from the past that mention some examples of any people who have had or have these miraculous powers and how they worked? Thanks

Probably not. But then again if you go silent and refuse to lie that might be a give away and someone gets killed. Then you’ve practically killed someone. I would like if I can answer with yes, it’s ok, but I can’t say that. i personally still sometimes say a lie to protect myself from what I believe is unjust wrong treatment, but I can’t say that’s good. Lie is a lie. If you are being tortured on an ongoing basis it can become easy to say a lie. But again, we can go silent, but that can amount to more torture, and what if you can’t handle it any more? What if you have been occasionally tortured for let’s say 11 years? What do you do? Thanks

Hi. So is it ever ok or good to lie? Let’s say that example where you are a German in Germany in a second world war and you are hiding Jews from nazis and the German soldiers come asking have you seen any Jews and you lie and say no in order to protect them from murder. Was that lie a good deed or bad deed? Is it ok or good for police to lie when investigating? Police prevent a lots of serious crimes all the time and most of their work is based on deception for good purposes. Is it ok for soldiers to deceive in order to defend the country. Is it ok for them to sneak up on enemy and spy and cary out secret attacks? How about camouflage? Is it ok for us to lie in order to save ourselves from unjust treatment? So basically my question is: Can it ever be said that lie is ok? or can it be ever said that lie is good? Thanks

Ok, I wanted to post the following from the Bible: 1 Timothy 5:23 Stop drinking only water, and use a little wine because of your stomach and your frequent illnesses. Now, how much is little? When does it become to much? I am asking the same question obviously only this time I quoted the Bible. Is it ok to drink other alcoholic drinks like beer, vodka, etc. I ask since wine is mentioned, not whiskey for instance, which is why I drink only wine, red in my case. Thanks

Without me going into a lot I ask how much wine is not to much? My understanding is you could maybe have maybe every let’s say five days half a small standard coffee cup, so that way you don’t even get tipsy. i am a bit tipsy wright now, it’s wrong I know which is why I need to discuss with you brothers and sisters about wine( I happen to drink red). It’s how i deal with some pain sometimes, again which is wrong, so there you go I have another weakness that I might need help for. Don’t get me wrong, it’s been a long time that I have been drunk. It’s the physical pain that I feel from psychiatric medication that drove me today to have some wine and I know I shouldn’t but I have had some. I hope Our Heavenly Father forgives me in The Name Of Jesus Christ Nazarene Amen. Thanks

The following I posted on other site as well, so here is the paste: I just wanted to update that I pray a bit differently now. Yes I still believe and I do address God first, but now I say Our Heavenly Father, first, the I pray for whatever I pray for, then in the end I finish with, In The Name of Jesus Christ Nazarene Amen. Thanks

Hi Caitlin. There have been times in my life when I thought I wasn’t going to be forgiven for same and even worse reasons. Something you can do is read the following from the Bible: 1 Corinthians 12:3: Therefore I want you to know that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, "Jesus be cursed," and no one can say, "Jesus is Lord," except by the Holy Spirit. So, whenever you might feel beyond forgiveness, say: Jesus is the Lord ofcourse, confess to Our Heavenly Father, pray for forgiveness and help in Jesus Christ name amen. Thanks

Just to ad that yes Bible talks of other things being idolatry as well as In the New Testament in Colossians 3:5: Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. But in this thread I would like to discuss people praying through saints, putting up crosses, statues of angels, and so on. Which is not upholding the first commandment of the Old Testament. Thanks

Are you people you saying that it’s ok to put up a cross with a representation of Jesus Christ crucified on a wall and bow down to it? I have seen on tv once priests in the church doing it. I think it was a catholic Church. i personally wouldn’t want to do anything like that, I have been involved in idolatry in so called buddhism, I also did Islamic prayers, so I have done serious sins of that sort in the past, I pray that Our Heavenly Father forgives me for that in Jesus Christ’s name amen. But now I wouldn’t have any pictures on the walls in my room of let’s say so called saints. Also, are those statues representing Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ in any way actually looking like He did. My guess is that they would not bee looking anything like Him. So you have an inaccurate representation which in a form of deception. Personaly I think that first commandment of the Hebrew Scriptures is still to be upheld. Thanks Just to ad now that I edited it, I say so called saints because I don’t know if someone is a saint or not when it comes to let’s say catholic saints. Just because a pope said someone is a saint doesn’t mean he is. Otherwise I am not trying to offend real saints.

Hi. I just wanted to say that I have been contacted by a lady from the Hillsong Church and I have connected with them. Today I had the first online Zoom session with one of their groups over here in Melbourne/Australia and it went for about half an hour. They are lovely, friendly, zealous for doing good, and one thing I noticed is that they came across as very non judgmental Christians. I am very happy now that I got connected with them. It was absolute pleasure being in a meeting with them. It simply brought love and a sense of me wanting to be kinder. Thanks

Thanks Deb. It seems you’re a bit concerned and just to let you and anyone else that might be concerned know that I have just connected to Hillsong. From what I have been told is that they are a Bible Church. i know that there might be something that’s probably not necessarily perfect with them, but I think they are a good Church and thank God they answered. Thanks

Ok, I have contacted four churches all up here in Melbourne, Australia and only Quakers responded. Reasons as to why I started the other thread on the Seventh Day Adventist’s is because I was thinking of contacting them. As some of you might know I haven’t been baptised yet( I probably wouldn’t be able to right now because of very strict virus related restrictions over here in Melbourne). And Quakers don’t baptise. I mean really, is there a Church that’s totally right with everything or do we/I find the best we can and then do our best within that church, even though it might not be fully as we think it should be? Also, do we have to be a part of a church? And yes, I would love to hear about your denomination and why are you a part of that particular Church. Thanks

Hi. I was wondering for any insight into teachings of Ellen G White. I know that Seventh day Adventist’s uphold rather more of the Old Testament teachings compared to other churches. I have a book app on my phone and it has Ellen’s books and I do plan to read them but I am hoping that some of you might know about what they are like. Thanks Thanks

The following from the Bible seems as it might indicate that the satan and the demons can maybe take on a human form and live among us: Genesis 6:1:4 1 When human beings began to increase in number on the earth and daughters were born to them, 2 the sons of God saw that the daughters of humans were beautiful, and they married any of them they chose. 3 Then the LORD said, “My Spirit will not contend with humans forever, for they are mortal ; their days will be a hundred and twenty years.” 4 The Nephilim were on the earth in those days—and also afterward—when the sons of God went to the daughters of humans and had children by them. They were the heroes of old, men of renown. And at 2 Corinthians 11:14: 14 And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. 15 It is not surprising, then, if his servants also masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will be what their actions deserve. Could the above verses mean that satan and other demons take on a human body and live among us? Thanks

Hi Not me. I haven’t heard of him and I personally don’t speak Arabic. I speak English obviously and what I would call souther Slavic language( Serbian, Bosnian, Croatian, Montenegrin/ all the same language but they call it differently). I do have background in islam since my father was of muslim heritage( believer but not practising apart from fasting on ramadan). I am also familiar with buddhist teachings, and others like new age and what not. These days I’ll normally tell people that I think are ok with me telling them that that if they want the truth about God ( and His Only begotten Son) that the Bible is the only book there is, or some books that explain the Bible and that that’s it. Thanks

Thanks Ray. The problem with going in person at the moment over here in Melbourne/Australia is that we have I am pretty sure the most strict restrictions here in Australia. We have a curfew from 8pm till 5pm. We are allowed only one person, once a day for shopping, we we can go for exercise once a day for an hour, everywhere we go we have to wear masks. we can only go only 5 kilometres away from where we live. The churches are not allowed to have services. So the only way for a Church to have a service at the moment would be through online means. When I was looking at Hillsong online I have seen that they have plenty of online services. So, at the moment even if they have responded I wouldn’t have been able to get baptised because of the virus restrictions, or I think that’s the case. Either way I would like to join a Bible church , but I don’t really know whom else to contact. Thanks

Around about the time when I started this thread I ended up contacting the Church of Christ, but they never responded. Then I contacted Quakers and they responded. Then I ended up in a hospital for a bit over 6 weeks( due to so called scizhoaffective disorder, which means Schizophrenia and bipolar at the same time) Once I got out of the hospital I got in touch again with the Quakers and have been doing the silent worship with them on Wednesdays and Sundays( they have offered more if I want to) online through zoom since restrictions are pretty strict here in Melbourne/ Australia, online is the only way. Now, I really wanted to get in touch with a Bible Church so I contacted Hillsong Church about four weeks ago and they never responded. I went online and I have filled the online form and I have told them about myself and I sent it, but they never responded. And then about a two and a half weeks ago I did the same with the Foursquare and they also never responded. So, I am only associating with the Quakers Australia( Otherwise known as the religious society of friends). i would like a Bible Church and it’s a pity that Hillsong and Foursquare Haven’t responded. Thanks

Actually the altered quran you can view if you google the monotheist group quran PDF. Not free minds( free minds is connected to it). Also, if a muslim who might “ know” a bit about the Bible asks you: Are there any contradictions in the Bible? Don’t say none whatsoever, as in nothing like it, because they are going to produce you with all these examples of so called contradictions. Instead you might say that there are so called seeming contradictions, and be ready to give them answers to those so called contradictions. Because if you say there’s nothing like it in the Bible, they might not be interested in further discussion. Thanks

Some Muslims who might “know” the Bible might say something like: Show me in the Bible where Jesus said I am God and you must worship me and I’ll become a Christian. Ok, then you can quote from the Bible the following: John 8:58, NIV: "Very truly I tell you,' Jesus answered, 'before Abraham was born, I am!'" With that you can explain them that the Pharisee where trying to trick Jesus through questions about law in order to I think arrest Him which is why He gave truthful answers, but in a way so that they couldn’t have Him arrested straight away. Jesus was arrested when He knew the time was right. In connection with that you can quote the following: Matthew 22:15-22 Then the Pharisees went and plotted how to entangle him in his words. And they sent their disciples to him, along with the Herodians, saying, “Teacher, we know that you are true and teach the way of God truthfully, and you do not care about anyone's opinion, for you are not swayed by appearances. Tell us, then, what you think. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?” But Jesus, aware of their malice, said,“Why put me to the test, you hypocrites? Show me the coin for the tax.”And they brought him a denarius. And Jesus said to them, “Whose likeness and inscription is this?” They said, “Caesar's.” Then he said to them, “Therefore render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's.” When they heard it, they marveled. And they left him and went away. The other thing that it’s good to make a muslim pay attention to is about how in the Old Testament days they had to sacrifice animals, so pretty much explaining that you had to shed blood to atone for sin, which is what explains Jesus Christ’s coming to Earth, to be That Perfect Sacrifice. Another thing they might say is that quran is the best written book in the world that exists and that it’s so well written that it’s a miracle. In the quran it says that if the whole of mankind and Jin where to gather they wouldn’t be able to produce even one chapter like it (like the quran). Here is that verse: { Say: ‘If all mankind and the jinn would come together to produce the like of this Quran, they could not produce its like even though they exerted all their strength in aiding one another.’ } The Quran 17:88 Now, I know the quran pretty well which you might have guessed by now and the above is not true. I have personally compared the Bible with the quran and to me the Bible is the best written book in the world( one of the reasons how I recognised the Bible as true), actually the Bible is so much better written then the quran that the quran doesn’t even begin to qualify to compare with the Bible. To that they might say something like: But you have to know Arabic in order to see how beautiful the quran is. And my answer to that would be that I have had once a muslim from Somalia who knew both English and Arabic tell me that it’s the same in Arabic as it’s in English( this is actual true, once when I asked this man, that’s what he said). But even without that you can see for yourself that that statement is far from truth. Another thing they might say is that nothing else n the Quran has ever been changed( in Arabic), and I know that’s not true because the so called quran alone muslims have changed it. quran alone Muslims are a muslim denomination who reject the traditional islams second source of teaching called hadiths ( hadits are narrations that are the second source of teachings in sunni/Shia, etc islam). The quran alone muslims have taken out the names of so called surah’s( names of chapters in the quran) and they have put instead of the names of surah’s like chapter 1,2,3, etc. if they don’t believe that then you can ask them to google free minds quran PDF. Or maybe if any of you meet a muslim and if he is open to challenge, then just show him this post. Thanks

I have been thinking lately and I was thinking about the Holly Spirit, since someone somewhere on one of the forums mentioned it in regards to the Trinity. So, I wan to post the following: Romans 8:26:27 26 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. 27 And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God. Ok, so if the Holly Spirit prays for us according to Gods will, than that somehow means that Holly Spirit is best word I can think of( I am pretty sure someone somewhere said it) is a Person, yet One with God. So, Jesus Christ is also One with God, yet He is a Person. So, I have come to believe in Trinity again. Thanks

Thanks Michael for your answer. I originally posted this in Theology/Soteriology section and it got moved to General. I wander why was it moved? Anyway, it would be good if anyone else would want to post their answer to the question. Thanks

I’ll post few different verses first. Ok, so We have the following: Matthew 5:38:42 38“You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ 39But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. 40If anyone wants to sue you and take away your tunic, let him have your cloak also. 41And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two. 42Give to him who asks you, and from him who wants to borrow from you do not turn away. Then we have the opposite: And 2 John 1:10 If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not take them into your house or welcome them. So my question is: When do you not resist and go the extra mile and when do you apply 2John 1:10? Thanks

In the story of Lazarus it seems that as soon as you die you go either to heaven or hell, but in other places for instance it seems as if we are first resurrected, then judged, then whatever comes next. In Luke, the following seems as if soon as you die, you go to wherever your final destination is: Luke 16:19:25 19 “There was a rich man who was clothed in epurple and finelinen and fwho feasted sumptuously every day. 20 And at hisgate gwas laid a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, 21 who desired to be fed with hwhat fell from the rich man’stable. Moreover, even the dogs came and licked his sores. 22 The poor man died and was carried by ithe angels jtoAbraham’s side.6 The rich man also died and was buried, 23 and in kHades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes andlsaw Abraham far off and Lazarus jat his side. 24 And he calledout, m‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarusto dip the end of his finger in water and ncool my tongue, for oIam in anguish in this flame.’ 25 But Abraham said, ‘Child, remember that pyou in your lifetime received your goodthings, and Lazarus in like manner bad things; but now he iscomforted here, and you are in anguish. And in the following in Acts it seems as if we safe all going to be judged at the same time: Acts 17:31 For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to everyone by raising him from the dead.” How do you reconcile these two? Thanks

Happy birthday, all the best

I don’t think it’s literal either. I think simply that without the mark you won’t be doing well financially. But I could be wrong. Do you think it’s literal?