Results 41 - 60 of 115
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Results from: Answers On or After: Thu 12/31/70 Author: Parable Ordered by Verse |
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Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
41 | Why should we obey God? | Psalm | Parable | 109522 | ||
We should obey God because we need to be under His authority. When we live according to our own will, we find only death. By accepting His lordship over us, we find life. We can trust Him to do the right thing for us, whereas we must beware our own desires, for they have been shown time and time again to be unreliable. | ||||||
42 | addicted to porn-help | Psalm | Parable | 118351 | ||
reposted for the benefit of the orinal post....sorry for the inconvenience. --- I have just finished reading an excellent book that may help you understand and address your situation. It is "Sex, Men and God: A godly man's road map to sexual success" by Douglas Weiss. Basically, his thesis is you are not addicted to porn, you are addicted to the powerful chemicals produced by your brain that are released to your brains' pleasure centers during sexual climax. This chemical response becomes associated with whatever you look at during orgasm. Weiss explains how this dynamic is established, as well as how to apply godly principles, backed by scripture, to overcome this addiction and replace it with a healthy biblically-based sexuality. Also, without endorsing or condoning masturbation, he explains how three different kinds of masturbation lead to three different consequences in a man's life. There are questions to answer that help you identify where you are on the spectrum and specific suggestions for how to stop destructive behaviors and replace them with healthy attitudes and lifestyles. The point is, there is hope, but you must be willing to confront your situation honestly and take steps to change. The first is to accept God's way and reject man's. I cannot recommend this book enough to both Christian men and women. Parable |
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43 | Psalm 20:1-4 | Ps 20:4 | Parable | 192003 | ||
Its a blessing. | ||||||
44 | What does this verse mean? | Ps 37:1 | Parable | 44684 | ||
Sometimes it helps to consult another translation and to look at the context of a verse (NIV) Psalm 37:1-4 1 Do not fret because of evil men or be envious of those who do wrong; 2 for like the grass they will soon wither, like green plants they will soon die away. 3 Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. 4 Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart. To me, this means, don't get upset over the actions of wicked people for their fate is certain. Instead, devote yourself to the Lord; you will be safe from the wicked, so there is no need to worry about what they do. |
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45 | Why haven't I given personal information | Proverbs | Parable | 76715 | ||
Peace to you. Please know that you are under no obligation to reveal anything about yourself to anyone on this or any other internet forum. You can edit your personal profile by clicking on Update User Info under Resources to the left of the page. However, do not feel pressured to include anything about yourself that compromises your right to privacy. You are wise to be cautious, there are predators lurking on the internet, even on bible websites. |
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46 | Losing Salvation/ Punishment for Sinning | Prov 15:22 | Parable | 44124 | ||
Proverbs 15:22 "Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed." For your financial problems, contact a professional personal financial advisor. If excessive debt is a problem, consider a consumer credit counseling agreement through a reputable service. Most importantly, consider your level of giving. Ask yourself if you have trusted God to provide for your means, or if are you holding back out of fear. Regarding your family, ask your family's pastor for help. Regarding the idea of being punished, perhaps you need to take an inventory of God's blessings to you and ask God for the grace to endure the problems you have, rather than expecting them to go away. See 1 Peter for a great discussion of Hope. |
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47 | how do i pray and leave it with the lord | Prov 15:22 | Parable | 44125 | ||
Yes, take it to the Lord, AND to an addiction specialist. Nicotine is the most addictive substance known. It will take more than your will power for you to break its grip on you. In addition to spiritual healing, addicts almost always need education on the mental aspects of addiction as well as the physical. Also, if your doctor says its ok, start exercising vigorously for at least 30 minutes at least 3 times per week. Your victory over this addiction will be a glorious testimony to others. |
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48 | what can i do for problems in marriage. | Prov 15:22 | Parable | 44260 | ||
See your pastor or a good marriage counselor. Proverbs 15:22 "Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisors they succeed." Also, there is a book you might find helpful: "Love Must Be Tough", by Dr. James C. Dobson. You can read more about it at www.amazon.com Just do a search for a book with that title. Grace and Peace to you in Christ! |
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49 | help | Song of Solomon | Parable | 76719 | ||
I'll attempt to answer your question in general terms. Where the bible speaks, we are firm and where the bible is silent, we are free to live according to the principles of Godly living. To my knowledge, the bible does not discuss in detail what is allowed and what is prohibited between husband and wife. In principle then... That which expresses passionate love and unbridled joy for both husband and wife, that which promotes spiritual intimacy, that which honors and respects each person, those are the behaviors that glorify God. Sex is His gift to us; we should cherish it. That which expresses selfishness or lust, that which denegrates or objectifies a person, that which injures, that which manipulates, that which does not honor the other person, etc, those are the behaviors that must be avoided. Leviticus 15:19 and 24 declares that sexual relations during menstration renders both unclean. However, as I understand it, this relates to ceremonial cleanness. In Christ, we are freed from the OT law, so so this issue may not imply anything about sexual conduct between husband and wife today. I'll leave this point for others more knowledgeable than me. Ultimately, in this area, like all areas of our lives, the Spirit is our guide. |
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50 | Adult Question young people please do no | Song of Solomon | Parable | 89367 | ||
I'll attempt to answer your question in general terms first. Where the bible speaks, we are firm and where the bible is silent, we are free to live according to the principles of Godly living. To my knowledge, the bible does not discuss in detail what is allowed and what is prohibited between husband and wife. In principle then... That which expresses passionate love and unbridled joy for both husband and wife, that which promotes spiritual intimacy, that which honors and respects each person, those are the behaviors that glorify God. Sex is His gift to us; we should cherish it. That which expresses selfishness or lust, that which denegrates or objectifies a person, that which injures, that which manipulates, that which does not honor the other person, etc, those are the behaviors that must be avoided. Second, sexual immorality is a sin. It has been suggested the original reason for this is sexual immorality is a form of idolatry, i.e. worshipping false gods or putting something before God. The basis for this suggestion is that in many pagan rituals in biblical times, sexual acts of all kinds, heterosexual, homosexual, bestial or involving children were common as part of the worship. However, the prohibition is not just against doing what pagans did, as if the intent behind the act were the only problem, but rather against the act itself because it is inherently immoral, like murder, etc. It then follows we are not to be sexually immoral so we can remain pure and holy before the Lord, with our bodies as a living sacrifice in faithful obedience. The question then becomes, is oral sex a form of sexual immorality? If one surveys the OT for instances in which sexually impure people are described (Gen19:5, Gen19:30-38, Gen34:1-2, Gen35:22, Gen38:9, Gen38:14-18, Num25:6-14, Judg16:1, 1Sam2:22, 2Sam11:4, 2Sam13:14, 2Sam16:22, Hos 1-2, John 4, John 8:1-11, Luke 7:36-39, 1Cor5:1, Rev2:20), you find the issues are homosexuality, incest, rape, adultery, refusal to father a child by the wife of a dead brother, fornication, sex in the tabernacle and in public, and leading others to sexual immorality. In a few instances, the term "sodomy" has been used to translate the original meaning, which is not described in detail. In other cases, the word "perverted" has been used. The origin of the word "sodomy" has to do with Sodom, a city known for its sexual immorality, especially its aggressive homosexual men. Given all this, I suggest that if there is sin attached to any sexual activity in marriage, it comes from the content of each person's heart, as Jesus taught. Of course, this does not give license to do just anything. I suggest Jesus' summation of the law applies here..."So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets." - Matthew 7:12 |
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51 | Is this the opinion of most Christians? | Matt 5:39 | Parable | 89681 | ||
Yes, I agree that the command is for us to submit rather than demand justice. The OT prescriptions of "eye for eye, tooth for tooth" were to maintain social order, instead of promoting escalation, e.g. killing someone who insults your mother. Jesus, as usual, goes beyond the OT prescription, requiring that we address the contents of our hearts. Revenge starts in the heart as a desire for justice, but we err when we try to deliver justice ourselves instead of leaving that to God. Also, if we have no desire for justice for ourselves, we will never do anything that will provoke revenge by others. Ironically, to be peacemakers, we must work for justice, yet not for ourselves, but for others. Parable |
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52 | Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. | Matt 12:23 | Parable | 44277 | ||
The "unpardonable sin" is saying the devil is responsible for the work of the Holy Spirit, see Matthew 12:23. Why this sin is unforgiveable lies not with God's unwillingness to forgive a penitent believer, but rather the obstinance of someone who is so hardened that they are unable to recognize the difference between God and the devil. Hence, its not that God won't pardon them if they repent, (whether they CAN repent is the subject of Hebrews) but rather, they can't accept God's pardon because they don't recognize Him or His authority to grant one. This is the most severe form of rejection that a person can make against God. The consequence of separation from God is spiritual death. If anyone worries about whether or not they have committed this sin, surely they have not, for if they had, they wouldn't care. |
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53 | What exactly is this Unforgivable Sin? | Matt 12:32 | Parable | 109412 | ||
My understanding is that one cannot receive forgiveness from another, i.e. actually accept that forgiveness in order to be healed by it, unless you can recognize that other person, accept the fact you have wronged them and that they may by their grace nullify the debt you owe them because of your offense. If you see the work of God as that of the enemy, or vice versa, then it is not possible for you, on your own, to recognize your offense against God. This makes it impossible for you to recognize God as the one you owe and to recognize His grace in His forgiveness. It's not that God WON'T forgive you, but rather that you cannot accept His forgiveness because you are blinded by the hardness of your heart. At some point, God lets us be the way we want to be, and if we reject Him enough, He will respect that and let us die in our stubbornness. It is a question of how forgiveness works rather than whether God chooses to forgive everything except what is described as the unforgivable sin. It is unforgiveable because we reject that forgiveness, not because the forgiveness is not forthcoming. |
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54 | forgiveness | Matt 18:1 | Parable | 191335 | ||
Before you can answer this question, you must know it means to forgive. This is hard to put into words, but here's what I believe is consistent with the biblical teachings on forgiveness: To forgive is to surrender your right to see justice done, or to be the one who brings justice to the transgressor. Forgiveness releases us from the mental/emotional attachment that binds us to the transgressor. Lack of forgiveness leads to resentment and bitterness, and these attachments often become a form of idolatry because they keep the transgressor foremost in your mind and heart, instead of keeping those places reserved for God. Forgiveness doesn't mean you condone or approve of what was done to harm you. It just means that you are separating yourself completely from any obligation you may feel to make things right. As Christians, we are blessed because we can forgive knowing that the Lord will address the wrongs that were committed, one way or another. By surrendering this to Him, we allow him to act according to His plan for that person. Thus, forgiveness witnesses to our faith in Him. Finally, forgiveness does not mean that you allow the transgressions to continue, and it does not mean that the other person has to apologize first, or ever,for that matter. Peace. |
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55 | Should we leave our church? | Matt 18:17 | Parable | 191730 | ||
Before you decide to leave, you might attempt the procedure for addressing problems outlined in Matthew 18:15-17. This passage is about discipline with an individual, but perhaps the process applies equally well to the congregation and the leadership. That is, "If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over. But if he will not listen, take one or two others along, so that 'every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.' If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, treat him as you would a pagan or a tax collector." |
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56 | What if it's just a feeling I get? | Matt 18:17 | Parable | 191746 | ||
Your welcome, samnlucysmom. I agree that your feelings probably reflect as much about you as about your church. Given that, perhaps it would be helpful to consider your purpose for being there. Each of us is called to be discerning: "And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God." -- Philippians 1:9-11 One path of action would be to make your concerns known, by speaking the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15) with gentleness and respect (1 Peter 3:15). You could talk with the senior pastor or pastor who is charged with congregational care, or you could talk privately with individuals to see how they feel. How others respond will likely tell you what you need to know in order to decide what you will do. In any case, prayer, counsel, fasting and waiting for the Spirit's lead would be good ways to prepare yourself for whatever the next step may be. Ultimately, you will have to decide what is the right thing to do, and then do it. |
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57 | for what reason can a man divoce his wif | Matt 19:9 | Parable | 191339 | ||
Infidelity and abandonment are the two reasons for divorce expressly stated in the bible. Also, in Matthew 5, Jesus explains that lust is a form of adultery. Since adultery is a legitimate reason to divorce, it follows that lust also is a legitimate reason to divorce. Yet to many people, lust alone does not seem cause for divorce. However, in this case, the biblical word for lust does not refer to a passing thought anyone might experience then immediately dismiss, but rather “sinful longing” (Eastons’ 1897 Bible Dictionary). This refers to a pattern of inappropriate thoughts that are indulged at the expense of another person for base gratification of prurient desires. In the economy of God, such thoughts are morally bankrupt and are form of infidelity. These high standards demonstrate what marriage is supposed to mean for us by showing us what it means to God. Also, in recent times, application of biblical principles leads to the conclusion that certain patterns of abuse are also legitimate grounds for divorce. Regarding Matt 19:9, this verse is often interpreted out of the context of Jesus’ response to the Pharisee’s question about divorces that we being granted for any and every reason, as derived from Deut 24:1-4. Jesus denounces the idea that merely providing a certificate of divorce is all the law requires, and as a result, anyone who marries a person “divorced” in this illegitimate way, commits adultery and makes the other person into an adulterer. Again, we see God's higher standard convicting those who were divorcing for any and every reason. It is important to remember that God knows about divorce firsthand. In Jer 3:8, God divorced Israel for her faithlessness (abandonment) and idolatry (infidelity). We can know that God identifies with our suffering because He has experienced divorce. This divorce was necessary because the marriage with Israel was dead from a break of faith. It is in the context of faith that we are to be married, and when that is no longer possible, due to the hardness of someone's heart, (Matthew 19:8) divorce is appropriate. Divorce declares the death of a marriage, and thus releases us to grieve that loss and move on in life. |
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58 | Judas betraying Jesus? | Matt 26:1 | Parable | 41438 | ||
I believe Jesus knew about Judas' betrayal far in advance. I think it may have been one reason why Jesus selected Judas as a disciple. Judas' betrayal was a necessary act that delivered Jesus to the cross. Jesus knew His earthly mission of salvation required His suffering and death for us. Yet, I do not believe Jesus caused Judas to betray Him, but rather, Jesus let him exercise his free will, knowing what Judas would choose, just as He wants all of us to come to Him of our own choice, knowing our hearts as only He can. There are many scriptural references that show He knew why He was with us and that He was in harmony with the will of the Father at all times. |
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59 | Searching for the truth | Matt 28:19 | Parable | 76623 | ||
Rapid growth is not so important as steady, solid growth. Many a venture has failed because it expanded too quickly to manage properly. Churches grow one person at a time. Each member is as responsible for the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19) as the pastor. So, the key is to have each member bring a new friend. This means they must establish meaningful relationships with unbelievers, and at the right time, invite them to church. The friends are most likely to come if they see the light of Christ in the person who invites them. Also, the church needs to establish a nurturing children and youth program in which the kids bring their friends, who later get their parents to come. Finally, the pastor must periodically provide sound teaching on the spiritual discipline of giving, being clear about its benefits to everyone and its importance to Kingdom work, but not nagging the congregation about it. Visitors should be encouraged to refrain from giving until they become members. Parable |
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60 | I'm writing a book, need to know | Mark 14:16 | Parable | 48944 | ||
People will be concerned if what you say: 1. contradicts Scripture, 2. does not follow from Scripture, 3. adds to Scripture, 4. takes away from Scripture, and 5. is not reasonable and/or likely in light of generally accepted scholarship about bible history, culture, archaeology, etc. On the other hand, the Bible does not provide exhaustive detail on every situation, but rather gives us what we need to know in order to receive God's message. If you speculate, be sure to clarify to your readers that what you are about to say is speculation and explain why you are doing this. So, why would you want people to consider the possibility that Mary was present at the Last Supper? Parable |
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