Question> Can You Be A Christian Agnostic (It's like a Vegan Big Mac Eater I Guess?)

QUESTION RECEIVED:

I question my faith.

I have prayed a prayer and wonder if I am a Christian or if there is a Jesus or God.

Can you be a Christian/Agnostic?

Profile: Male 18-30 North America

MY ANSWER:

Young man I pray this gives you assurance.

First of all faith comes from above-it is God sent.

Romans 10:17 New King James Version (NKJV)

17 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

Faith is not generated by your thoughts or actions.

It is God given.

God sent His Son to live a perfect life and to die for the sins for all who repent and believe.

This is only when he sends the Holy Spirit to convict you of your sins.

Ephesians 1

13 In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, 14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.

Your Creator knows you better than yourself. 

Do you really think He will not save you because of what you perceive as your physical or mental condition?  Of course He does not.

The work of Christ- and not your works- makes you a new creation.

2 Corinthians 5:17

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

Jesus Christ said you must be saved or “born again”.

John 3:16

New King James Version (NKJV)

16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

You do not get half-way saved.  You are saved or not saved.  Only God or you know.

God wants you to be saved.

2 Peter 3:9 New King James Version (NKJV)

9 The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.

The Apostles hid in terror after Christ was crucified.

After they saw the resurrected Christ they gladly faced lynching and murder to share the lifesaving gospel.

It is not you it is Christ who saves.

Trust in the work of Christ nor you.

He is the Savior.

I urge you to pray-repent and declare Jesus Christ as Lord.

And Trust Him.

Question > Grumpy Church Leadership? Just Say No!

QUESTION RECEIVED:

At the end of our council meetings, we set the date to meet next month - as this juncture - those who have prior commitments that date - advise us of such - when the date rolls around, people who last month had no prior commitment and had agreed to meet on that date, all of a sudden, has "something", that "came up.  This is frustrating and hurting the church.

Why can’t people honor their commitments to their church?

Yes I have frustration with people who cannot honor commitments.

There can be many reasons.

Were the wrong people chosen?

Most work problems I feel are personnel problems.

Are the meetings scheduled at the wrong times.

Have you tried scheduling before church services?

Are personnel picked by popularity or having the same families?

Is old Mr. X always on the council because he is always on a council and that includes putting him on even when he cannot serve after a hip replacement?

Here is some biblical principles that can help your council and church.

Father figures cannot annoy or gripe children into obedience.

Ephesians 6:4  (NKJV)

4 And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord.

Edification I think is a key approach.

Identify the problem and not by negativity.

Build up people and look for practical solutions with biblical support.

Get the right people on board with clear biblical goals for your church council.

Ephesians 4:29-32 (NKJV)

29 Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. 32 And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.

  

QUESTION RECEIVED> Trusting Spiritual Fathers?

QUESTION RECEIVED:

I know we have to obey our spiritual fathers 

but how far does that go?

My ANSWER:

What or who is a “spiritual father”?

Spiritual father is a term the Apostle Paul gave himself for the church at Corinth.  The Corinthian church was being pulled apart by false teaching and immoral pagan behavior. 

These people had an Apostle with direct revelation from Christ.

A “spiritual father" is a title not to be thrown around to whoever claims it. 

Today some people call themselves bishop, prophet, apostle and other names they have no biblical mandate in doing so.

The person who would be a “spiritual father” should have authority only if they are devoted to a righteous Christ-like life.

1 Corinthians 4:15 New King James Version (NKJV)

“15 For though you might have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet you do not have many fathers; for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel.”

Do you ”have to”, as your question asks,  

obey your spiritual father?

NO!

And who says you have one and why?

You have to obey and honor God.

Some men you may be wise to obey.

Matthew 22

36 “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?”

37 Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.”

In the Ten Commandments it says to honor your mother and father –not blankly obey evil instruction.

Exodus 20:10

12 “Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be prolonged in the land which the Lord your God gives you.

Evil men have used spiritual authority to profit financially and abuse those in the church.

If any man tries to get you to sin physically in word or deed and claims spiritual reasoning he is accursed.

Matthew 18:6

6 “Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were drowned in the depth of the sea.”

No man saved you but the God/Man Jesus Christ.  He lived a perfect life. Christ died in the place of and paid for the sins of all who would repent and believe.

Trust Christ and only people whose life and mouth confess Christ consistently.

Good News at Noon Prayer List 6/13/2013

          

Watch the video of one of Mr. B's Noon meal prayers.

Below is our new prayer list.

Good News at Noon Prayer List 6/13/2013

Mr. Marvin O. Richter, our hall of fame Thursday cook for almost 20 years is in the hospital with pneumonia.  Marvin is 90 years young.  Thank you for Marvin Lord and Bless him.

Bill Sailors a resident requests prayers for his health.  Hear our prayers Lord.

Jim Chapman’s recovery from a wreck.  Hear our prayers Lord.

We pray for Mr. B’s strength and thank you for his leadership and continual blessing he is to us.

Thank you Lord.

We pray for Abu and his full recovery from his head injury.  Hear our prayer Lord.

We pray for our good friend in jail.  Hear our prayer Lord.

We thank you for Amy’s special celebration and birthday party this week.

We pray for healing with this young mother and wife’s Parkinson disease.

Hear our prayer Lord.

We thank you and ask blessings for Sue Pope and her women’s ministry.

Hear our prayer Lord.  Thank you for the women who love her so and had a birthday party and celebration for their “Mother”.

Bless Tim Livingston our children’s ministry and his enthusiasm for children’s ministry.

Hear our prayer and strengthen him and give him rest Lord.

Bless Mike Robinson in his selfless work Lord.

Hear our prayer.

Bless and heal John Lilly our chairmen as he recovers from illness. 

Bless Mike Brown as he works to exhaustion in building our new men’s shelter.

Hear our prayer Lord.

Thank you for Thomas Ramirez and him helping a young mother receive salvation and her burden of probation lifted.  Thank you Jesus.

Thank you for blessing Neal Bledsoe and bless his prayer ministry.

Hear our prayer Lord.

Bless Darold Boyd and his Sunday School teaching.

Thank you Lord.

Bless Larry Martin as he runs the front desk and his health.  Thank you for Larry Lord.

Strengthen Pastor Fletcher in the Word and prayer and to trust in you only for employment along with his Good News ministry.

Lord hear us and dwell with us and trough us as we pray to yield to you more fully

Thank you for the article in the Atlanta Journal – Constitution May 26 about Good News, Mr. B and Thomas to magnify your work.  Bless and be real in the life of writer Christian Boone.

Thank you for the church who unsolicited sent us a strong contribution – you know our needs-a new shelter building-vans- food sources for family night and more.

Lord please send us musicians for worship to glorify you.

Help us to Lift Jesus Up in Word and deed.

In Jesus Saving Name we pray!

A-MEN

  

                 MR. B teaching on Thursday Family Night at 5:30.  Andrew distributes the food box.

                                                   We lift Jesus Up in Word and Deed!

Krispy Kreme and the Order of Salvation In Christ

A visit to Winston-Salem, N.C. to celebrate my nephew's graduation led to a Krispy Kreme visit.  Winston-Salem is the headquarters for Krispy Kreme.  While watching the doughnuts being made I thought about the steps of our salvation in Jesus Christ. Christian friends please add your comments if you want to suggest a different reordering of this process.

                                    

                                      Innocent State

Romans 11:6 If the first piece of dough is holy, the lump is  also; and if the root is holy, the branches are too.

                                          The Fall

PSALM 51:5  Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity,

And in sin my mother conceived me.

                             Sinful State

ROMANS 3:23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

                          Warning -Repent

Luke 3:7 So he began saying to the crowds who were going out to be baptized by him, “You brood of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?

         Conversion, Justification, Regeneration

          (What order do these things happen?)

Romans 8:30 and those whom He predestined,He also called;and these whom He called, He also justified;and those who He justified, He also glorified.

  

 Imputed Righteousness Then Full Immersion

ACTS 16:33 And he took them that very hour of the night and washed their wounds, and immediately he was baptized, he and all his household.

                               

                            Sanctification

Hebrews 10:14 For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are sanctified.

                            

Question> Are There People Who Can Not Be Saved?

QUESTION RECEIVED:

Are there people who because of mental illness or attitude unable to be saved?

MY ANSWER:

Does God want the people you described to be saved?  Can anybody be saved?

Yes.

1 Timothy 2:3-5 New King James Version (NKJV)

“3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. 5 For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus,”

First God will save whoever He wants to save and draw men to His Son.  

John 6:44  (NKJV)

“44 No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day.”

People have always resisted the Holy Spirit.

Acts 7:51 “You stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit; as your fathers did, so do you.

Here is a concise Scriptural way of Salvation.

Ephesians 1

“13 In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, 14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.”

All people must be drawn by God to be saved.They can resist the call of salvation. They hear the gospel that Jesus Christ who was fully God and man, who lived a perfect life died to pay for the sin of us who repented and believed.  Jesus Christ received our sins.  We receive forgiveness of sins,  peace with God and eternal life in Heaven.

Illness or mental conditions are as not as strong as God.

A mental condition or illness is not stronger than God’s salvation.

When God draws people they can hear the gospel, repent and believe.

QUESTION >When Doubting Your Faith What Do You Do?

Thomas touches THE BODY OF CHRIST

QUESTION RECEIVED:  

What do you do when you doubt your faith?

My ANSWER:

Many things make me doubt my faith.

The main thing is ME.

But you probably want to know what to do about it.

What can cause doubt?

My prayers can cause me to doubt by my prayers not being answered like I want God to answer them.

Lack of prayer will leave me with a Christ-less attitude that I take into a Christ-less world.

Now the world is even worse than before.

The death and sickness of those I love can cause me to doubt.

I let depression get me away from the Word and I go into a Christ-less world without the wisdom and assurance of God.

Now the world is even worse than before.

The church failing to carry out its commission can make me doubt.

I can let this pull me down and become judgmental and  fall deeper as I deny myself fellowship with those who would build me up.

Now the world is worse than before.

Going through the motions of prayer, studying Scripture and fellowship with the church body as a check off system instead of caring for relationships with my Lord and the Body He died for can cause me to lose faith.

Now the world is worse than before.

A healthy body is key to faith building.

I am not talking about going to the gym for personal enhancement.

I am talking about building faith with the saints wiser than me and helping those who I can help in their faith.

The worst country song title ever written about Christianity is

‘Me and Jesus Got Our Own thing Going’.

If you want your faith built up please contact me and we can use you in service

at the Good News at Noon Ministry that ministers to 

the homeless and disadvantaged in Gainesville.

It is a biblical truth.  If you want to build your faith work with the Body(Church) of Christ.  The Apostle Thomas had doubts.  He touched THE BODY and his faith was healed.  Christian history says Thomas died a martyr after a powerful career as an evangelist that established Christianity in parts of the east that still continue today after he touched THE BODY.  

And Christ told us “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed”.

That is us –we cannot see the glorious Body now –we can see and work with the church also known in Scripture as the Body of Christ.

We can serve with the Body of Christ in word and deed now and build our faith.

John 20:25-29 (NKJV)

25 The other disciples therefore said to him, “We have seen the Lord.”

So he said to them, “Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe.”

26 And after eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus came, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, “Peace to you!” 27 Then He said to Thomas, “Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing.”

28 And Thomas answered and said to Him, “My Lord and my God!”

29 Jesus said to him, “Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”