Celibacy week...3? is that it? is that even right? who knows...
Category: Spiritual Growth
Question: "How do I know what my spiritual gift is?" Angela, TX
Answer: Every believer has at least one spiritual gift according to I Corinthians 12:7 (NLT), "A spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can help each other." Although we all have a spiritual gift, we often do not know exactly what that gift is or how it should be used. Knowing what brings your heart joy is a good first step to discovering your spiritual gift. What your natural reaction to a situation will offer insight as well to what gifts you possess. For instance, a person with the gift of exhortation will immediately begin to encourage someone facing an obstacle. Another tool to aide you is a spiritual gifts assessment available online. Finally, exercising what you believe to be your gift is also an important determining factor of whether you posses a certain gift.
Question: "I feel like I have just been going through the motions in my walk with God. How can I change that?" - Wanda, FL
Answer: The first issue Jesus corrected in the first of seven letters in Revelations is this issue of first love. He never called us to a religion or a list of rules but to a vibrant relationship with Himself. He gave instructions to the church at Ephesus on how to restore "first love" He said to "remember" what our love for Him was like when we first believed. How we were passionate and obedient, hungry for His word. Secondly, He said to repent, that means to change our minds and course correct. Then, thirdly to return to the first works, the things you first did when you first believed. First love must be our first priority because the danger is, we become like the Pharisees, "They honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me." ( Matt 15:8)
Question: "Is there a 'right' way to read the bible? I try to read it like a book but it just confuses me" - Janice, OK
Answer: The Bible isn't like any other book. The Bible is actually a collection of Books that God inspired, 2 Tim 3:16-17. As a collection of Books it is not necessary to start from the beginning, Genesis, and read straight through. I would recommend that you don't do that at all. People, who do this as a new believer or even someone who is just starting to read the Bible, get caught up in the Law and genealogies and give up reading altogether. I recommend starting in the Book of John. It is an easy Book to read that has the most pertinent information about who Jesus is and why He came to earth. I also recommend that you find an easy to read translation of the Bible. There are a lot of different translations of the Bible and some are easier to read than others. My favorite translations for new believers are the New King James Version, NKJV, and the New Living Translation, NLT. They are written in today's language so it's easier to understand.
Question: "How do I know what is right and wrong?" - Sarah, NY
Answer: God tells us what is right and wrong in His Word. The Bible teaches that anything that displeases and dishonors God is wrong and sin. We have the Ten Commandments that are a list of sinful, wrong things: stealing, lying, dishonoring your parents, and more. When we sin, we feel guilty because God has given us a conscience that helps us know right from wrong. God wants us to love Him with all of ourselves and to love other people as we love ourselves. Sometimes, you might not be sure if something is right or wrong. In that case, you should pray about it, look in the Bible, and ask your parents or a trusted adult for advice. Only through Jesus can we be forgiven for the wrong things we do. And Jesus changes our lives to help us do right things that please God!
Question: "Why does Jesus warn us about lukewarmness?" Joe, WA
Answer: In Revelation 3:14-22, Jesus rebukes the Laodicean church for being lukewarm. A close look at this passage shows us that these “lukewarm” church-goers aren’t followers of Christ at all. How do we know? Because Jesus calls them “poor, blind and naked.” He says that they need to be clothed in a white garment and he is about to spit them out of his mouth. This does not describe the genuine child of God. While we are saved through Christ’s death on the cross and not by our own works (Eph. 2:8-9), scripture makes it clear that real faith displays fruit & deeds (Gal. 5:22-26 & James 2:18-22). We need to examine ourselves. Are we displaying fruit and deeds that are evidence of a genuine faith in our Savior? If not, the good news is that there is a cure for lukewarmness. Jesus continues in Rev. 3:19-20, “Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest, and repent. Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.”
Question: "How do I turn my worries to God after making bad choices?" Tammy, OK
Answer: God is a forgiving God! He tells us in 1 John 1:9-10, "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." Everyone makes mistakes and poor choices that do have consequences. His promise to us though, is that if we confess our sins to him He has to forgive us. The problem we face is to forgive ourselves. The guilt and condemnation we feel after we have been forgiven is not from God. Rom 8:1, "There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit." Now you have the responsibility to practice forgiving yourself and taking the steps necessary to avoid poor decisions.
Question: "How do I know what my spiritual gift is?" Angela, TX
Answer: Every believer has at least one spiritual gift according to I Corinthians 12:7 (NLT), "A spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can help each other." Although we all have a spiritual gift, we often do not know exactly what that gift is or how it should be used. Knowing what brings your heart joy is a good first step to discovering your spiritual gift. What your natural reaction to a situation will offer insight as well to what gifts you possess. For instance, a person with the gift of exhortation will immediately begin to encourage someone facing an obstacle. Another tool to aide you is a spiritual gifts assessment available online. Finally, exercising what you believe to be your gift is also an important determining factor of whether you posses a certain gift.
Question: "I feel like I have just been going through the motions in my walk with God. How can I change that?" - Wanda, FL
Answer: The first issue Jesus corrected in the first of seven letters in Revelations is this issue of first love. He never called us to a religion or a list of rules but to a vibrant relationship with Himself. He gave instructions to the church at Ephesus on how to restore "first love" He said to "remember" what our love for Him was like when we first believed. How we were passionate and obedient, hungry for His word. Secondly, He said to repent, that means to change our minds and course correct. Then, thirdly to return to the first works, the things you first did when you first believed. First love must be our first priority because the danger is, we become like the Pharisees, "They honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me." ( Matt 15:8)
Question: "Is there a 'right' way to read the bible? I try to read it like a book but it just confuses me" - Janice, OK
Answer: The Bible isn't like any other book. The Bible is actually a collection of Books that God inspired, 2 Tim 3:16-17. As a collection of Books it is not necessary to start from the beginning, Genesis, and read straight through. I would recommend that you don't do that at all. People, who do this as a new believer or even someone who is just starting to read the Bible, get caught up in the Law and genealogies and give up reading altogether. I recommend starting in the Book of John. It is an easy Book to read that has the most pertinent information about who Jesus is and why He came to earth. I also recommend that you find an easy to read translation of the Bible. There are a lot of different translations of the Bible and some are easier to read than others. My favorite translations for new believers are the New King James Version, NKJV, and the New Living Translation, NLT. They are written in today's language so it's easier to understand.
Question: "How do I know what is right and wrong?" - Sarah, NY
Answer: God tells us what is right and wrong in His Word. The Bible teaches that anything that displeases and dishonors God is wrong and sin. We have the Ten Commandments that are a list of sinful, wrong things: stealing, lying, dishonoring your parents, and more. When we sin, we feel guilty because God has given us a conscience that helps us know right from wrong. God wants us to love Him with all of ourselves and to love other people as we love ourselves. Sometimes, you might not be sure if something is right or wrong. In that case, you should pray about it, look in the Bible, and ask your parents or a trusted adult for advice. Only through Jesus can we be forgiven for the wrong things we do. And Jesus changes our lives to help us do right things that please God!
Question: "Why does Jesus warn us about lukewarmness?" Joe, WA
Answer: In Revelation 3:14-22, Jesus rebukes the Laodicean church for being lukewarm. A close look at this passage shows us that these “lukewarm” church-goers aren’t followers of Christ at all. How do we know? Because Jesus calls them “poor, blind and naked.” He says that they need to be clothed in a white garment and he is about to spit them out of his mouth. This does not describe the genuine child of God. While we are saved through Christ’s death on the cross and not by our own works (Eph. 2:8-9), scripture makes it clear that real faith displays fruit & deeds (Gal. 5:22-26 & James 2:18-22). We need to examine ourselves. Are we displaying fruit and deeds that are evidence of a genuine faith in our Savior? If not, the good news is that there is a cure for lukewarmness. Jesus continues in Rev. 3:19-20, “Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest, and repent. Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.”
Question: "How do I turn my worries to God after making bad choices?" Tammy, OK
Answer: God is a forgiving God! He tells us in 1 John 1:9-10, "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." Everyone makes mistakes and poor choices that do have consequences. His promise to us though, is that if we confess our sins to him He has to forgive us. The problem we face is to forgive ourselves. The guilt and condemnation we feel after we have been forgiven is not from God. Rom 8:1, "There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit." Now you have the responsibility to practice forgiving yourself and taking the steps necessary to avoid poor decisions.