Idol worship.

Que.  I’m from India,a Christian.From my childhood my parents prohibit me from going to Hindu temples and mosque. Now I am in college, my friends of other faith persuade me to go to temples and other religious centres.Is it wrong? My parents say that those places have evil spirits and possibly possess me. Who is correct – my parents or friends?

Ans.  Dear son, your parents are absolutely right and NEVER go with your friends to any temple or mosques ever to worship with them.  The Bible is very clear that those who do not trust in Christ are under the power of the evil spirits (Eph.2:2).  In fact, the whole world is under the power of the evil one (1John 5:19).  The Bible very clearly tells that those who sacrifice to idols are sacrificing to demons (1Cor.10:20).  So  NEVER go to temples or guru-dwaras or mosques ever to worship.

I need to give you a little more clarification about this.  Then only you will understand why this is very important.

Son, all religions say that man is a sinner.  We know this to be true in our personal life and in the life of all our friends.  There is selfishness, anger, envy, jealousy, pride etc etc in all our hearts.  These are the things which separate us from a holy God who is our one and only creator.  The Bible calls these attitudes of our hearts sin.  Sin is not merely adultery and murder or stealing.  Sin is the corrupt nature of our heart.

When any one calls on God without settling the sin problem, true holy God can NEVER listen.   When any one calls on god without a clean heart, only duplicate gods or gods of imagination will come to their aid. Demons come in the name of god and get their worship. Remember only house flies will come if there is some dirt in a place. Is it not?  You can never see a honey bee where there is dirt.

You can hear your friends who go to temples talk about miracles and answers to prayer.  True, Satan can perform miracles and that is how Satan is able to keep them in his fold. The Bible is very clear that when any one worships any idol, worship goes to demons (Acts 7:41,42).  But if you ask them whether their sins are forgiven, they will never be able to say it.  Truly, it is impossible for man to get forgiveness of sins by self effort (Mat.19:25,6).

So the Bible tells us that God made the way for man to be forgiven by sending His sinless Son as a man to this earth and Jesus took the punishment of our sins and if we repent and trust in Christ, we will be forgiven and our harts will be cleansed.  Then when we call on God, true and living God who is our only creator will listen to us and answer our prayers.

So what you need is to invite Christ into your heart now and become a child of God.  I will give you the link below which you can use to do that and you can know for sure that God has forgiven you and that you are a child of God.  May God bless you and make you a channel through whom many of your friends too will experience salvation and forgiveness of sins.    Here is the link for you.  www.4stepstogod.com/

If you have any more doubt or question please do not hesitate asking us.  I personally want to be with you and pray for you so that you can have a life full of blessings by God Almighty.  May His name be praised through your life.  Amen.

 

 

Is God partial?

God doesn’t show favoritism, says the Bible. Then why does God show visitation to some people who have never pursued him while to some, not? And why does He give great gifts to some of his elects and not to all?

You are right.  God does not show favoritism. Then you asked why He shows visitation to some people and not others.

The answer is very simple.  God visits some who never pursued Him and not others because some where some one is praying for those whom God is visiting.  Remember that only in answer to prayer God does any thing spiritual in the world today (Mat.7:7; James 4:2). 

Then you asked why He gives great gifts to some of His people and not to all.  Good question. 

God Himself gives answer to your question in 1Cor.12.  Read that chapter several times until you are able to understand what God says about different gifts to different people.  Take special note of v.24. 

Same is true about riches and poverty.   God is not showing favoritism but when you read the first chapter of the book of James you will come to know that riches and poverty are the trials of your faith. Read the whole chapter but see vv.9-11 specially. 

God is never partial.  If you don’t have some thing, you have some thing else which others don’t have (James 2:5). God bless!

 

Inter-caste marriage

I am from India,where there are a lot of castes. People from one caste don’t marry people of other caste, but being Christians should we follow that? Even though our parents are Christians, they don’t allow inter-caste marriage. How should we deal with this kind of situation, where both the bride and groom are Christians but of a different caste?

The Bible clearly says that once a person accepts Christ that he/she is a new creation (2Cor.5:17) and that he/she is now a member of a new nation (1Pet.2:9).  While this is the real truth, generally that truth is not put in practice even by born again believers in India.

There are many reasons for the same.   Caste in India is basically based on social and economic status.  It is highly unimaginable for a high caste Hindu girl to be the wife of an untouchable!    One must remember there are a lot of cultural problems.  Each caste and sub-caste has its own cultural strands and sometimes it will not be tolerable by other groups.   Simple example is food habits.  One thing which is panacea for one group is poison for another group. I know of a newly married couple who has to cook two different kinds of meals at home!

Another situation in India is that marriages are arranged by parents and elders and it is not just an agreement between young couples but two families coming into a contract with each other. That makes the situation more complicated. Is it imaginable to have family and their relatives being engaged together in one place with a family which is socially and economically  incompatible?

As we all know, no marriage is without problems.  But why invite more problems knowingly by being in alignment with a family which is not compatible in any way.

On the other hand, if the families are educated and socially able to accept each other, inter-caste marriage is ideal which will bring glory to God.  God bless!

 

Bindi (Hindu mark of respect) and Christian believer.

Queston text:  Is wearing Bindi(Mostly Indian women wear on middle of forehead) wrong in christianity? Give us bibilical answer please.

Answer text:

Indian culture is very much influenced by the Indian religion. In fact, it is very difficult to separate Indian culture from its religion. Most of the cultural practices are based on some religious concepts. Bindi is no exception. It was originally given by the poojaries as a mark of approval after idols were worshipped. Though Bindi today has become just a beauty spot, originally it has had its religious implications. Now to answer your question whether it is right for a Christian believer to use it, you need to see it in this light. We are commanded in the Bible that no relics of idolatry is to be brought home lest we be cursed(Dt.7:25,26). Read what the Psalmist would say about other gods in Psa.16:4. God hates idolatry and worship of other gods because it destroys the worshipper and takes the worshipper away from God for time and for eternity. So no trace of idolatry is to be found any where near the child of God. God bless!

 

Am I Forgiven?

Question Text: My name is Dany.   I did a lot of wrong things in my life and I want a change now.  I prayed a lot and  I confessed to God the sins that I know of.  Now,  what about the sins that I forgot about?  How do I confess them?  I just said,   “Lord, you know me better than I know about myself.  I ask you to forgive me.”  I confessed all my sins like that.   Is that sufficient?   Honestly I believe that I confessed my sins to him but I don’t know whether they are forgiven.  Please tell me,  how to recognize God`s work in my life?  I know that I am still alive is because of  his grace but my life is still like yesterday’s.  I want to see God in my life.  In my prayers I said I will be waiting for his reply but i don’t seem to get any response.  I don’t know what to do.  Please help.

Answer Text:    I am so pleased to meet such an earnest soul like you with your question. I pray that the Lord will help me to give you a satisfying answer for His glory.

Dany, there are one or two things you need to remember when it comes to confessing sins to God. It is from 1Jn.1:8 & 9 that you get this knowledge. Please read the verses. “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness”.

Did you notice in v.8 it is ‘sin’ in singular and in v.9 it is ‘sins’ in plural? This is very significant. When you come to the Lord for forgiveness for the first time, all that you have to confess is that YOU ARE A SINNER. In fact, you are accepting the fact that you belonged to the devil and that you were living a self-life with out God till now. Repentance means to turn from sin and self to God. Then all that you confess is the sinful nature that you have and the Lord will accept all who call upon Him in truth. It is He who said that He would forgive us and give us rest (Mt.11:28). So if you ever went to Him with repentance and faith, He accepted your plea with out a question. He will forgive you.  Then you have to invite Him to come and live within you.   He will come in to live within you as the Holy Spirit and you then will be adopted into the family of God. This you have to believe  because this is what God promised in His Word.

When you begin to believe the promise of God and thank Him for forgiving you, the Spirit of God who has come to live within you will begin to witness to your spirit that you ARE a child of God (Rom.8:16). The Bible clearly says that as many as received Christ, God gave them authority to become children of God (Jn.1:12). 1Jn.3:2 says that we are children of God NOW. These are not any one’s opinion. This is the Word of God. So you can believe it with out a doubt or a question.

Rom 8:1 says that there is no condemnation to them who are IN CHRIST Jesus. Till then you were IN ADAM.    Now your position is changed and you became some one IN CHRIST. You can not and need not think about and confess ALL individual sins that you committed all your life till  that time. But if you had done some serious crimes against some one, like Zacheus (Lk.19:2,8), you need to make restitution for the same. All right. But after you became a child of God, it is your responsibility to confess and reject each individual sins in your life regularly.

Now, if you are NOT sure that God has forgiven you and that He has adopted you as His child, I request you to pray the prayer I am going to give you here. Remember, saying this prayer or any other prayer will not save you. It is only trusting in Christ that can save you from sin. This prayer is simply a way to express to God your faith in Him and thank Him for providing for your salvation. `God, I know that I have sinned against you and am deserving of punishment. But Jesus Christ took the punishment that I deserve so that through faith in Him I could be forgiven. I place my trust in You for salvation. Thank You for Your wonderful grace and forgiveness—the gift of eternal life! Amen!`

From now on you need to live a thankful life praising God for making you His child. Then you need to walk daily with God according to the Word of God. You must decide to spend time in the morning and evening to be alone with God and read His Word and pray. When reading His Word, He will speak to you and you need to make sure that you live according to what God has said in His Word. When you begin to do it regularly, you will begin to see the mighty working of God in your life. Here is what God has done for me. This I give here to encourage you to pray in secret. Surely this could be your experience as well. www.mathewpaul.org/2008/10/21/brief-testimony . Please feel free to write to us for any doubt or question. May the Lord bless you and give you a powerful life. To His Name be all glory.

 

How Could One Be Wise And Not Know God?

We must remember that we are living in a world which is under the power of the evil one (1Jn.5:19). We must also remember that the God of this world has blinded the minds of unbelievers so that they can not see the glorious light of the Gospel (2Cor.4:4). The spirit which is at work in the minds of the unbelievers now is the prince of the air (Eph.2:2).

So the natural man can not understand the things of God (1Cor.2:14). In 1Co 1:20-21 we read, “Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the lawyer of this world? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? For since, in the wisdom of God, the world by wisdom did not know God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save those who believe”.

Yes, indeed, two world systems are under operation here. The wisdom of the world and wisdom of God. They work diametrically against one another. God told Adam that the day he ate the fruit, he would die. Satan told Eve just the opposite. Satan said that their eyes would be open. True it was. Their eyes were opened to see them as naked people!! This is what the wisdom of the world doing today to people. It looks appealing to begin with. Indeed they are very proud of their wisdom and their findings. Tragically they will come to know the reality later and it will be too late then.

The real wisdom is the knowledge of God. Christ is the wisdom of God (1Cor.1:24). The wise men of this world would never grasp this truth by their own wisdom. Satan has trapped them in a heavy fortress called the wisdom of this world and unless that fortress of the enemy is demolished by spiritual warfare using spiritual weapons the wise men of this world would never receive the wisdom of God. In 2Co 10:4-6 this is what Paul is talking about as to what he did in reaching them with the gospel. “For the weapons of our warfare are not fleshly, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds, pulling down imaginations and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought into the obedience of Christ;and having readiness to avenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled”. Unless the strong man is bound, his property can not be plundered (Lk.11:20,21).

Thus communicating the gospel to the wise of this world, as others who are trapped by the enemy in other strongholds, involves real spiritual warfare. May the Lord give us grace to see this truth! To His name be glory.

 

Two Issues

Question Text Can you help me with two issues. 1) What exactly did Jesus mean by `i never knew you` when casting those who believed they served him into hell. 2)How can anyone who has not yet received the holy spirit, therefore a carnal being, make the decision that he or she understands and believes the gospel which is surely a spiritual decision and if God does something in advance to remove the barrier of being deceived by the God of this world in the mind of some people, why not all?? please help,,thanks.

Answer Text The answer to your first question is that relationship with the Master is more important than service to the Master. There are ever so many who pretend to serve Him with out ever knowing Him in person. There are so many in the world today who believe in the gospel with out ever repenting while the clearest statement of the gospel is to repent and believe in the gospel (Mk.1:15). It is repentance towards God and faith towards Christ which makes a person a true child of God (Acts 20:21). Look at the Laodecian church. They are a church, alright! Yet Christ is standing out side and knocking for an entry (Rev.3:20)!! The Bible is written so that we KNOW that we have eternal life (1Jn.5:13). Tragically many who serve Him today do not KNOW for sure whether they are saved or not!! So, any one serving Christ must make sure that he/she has a right relationship with Christ to begin with. Otherwise they would face the same words one day being uttered to them like those others who thought they were serving Him as well!!

Your second question needs a little clarification. You talk about any one who has not received the Holy Spirit as being carnal. This is not what the Bible teaches. Any one who has not received the Holy Spirit is said to be a `natural man` (1Cor.2:14). It is the natural men who can not understand the things of God. On the other hand, carnal men are those who are born again children of God who never bothered to feed themselves daily with the Word of God and therefore have not grown and live like the natural men(1Cor.3:1-3).

Ok. I am sure, your problem is about natural men who are not able to understand the things of God. The Bible clearly states that no one can ever come to Christ unless the Father draws him (Jn.6:44). And it is the Spirit of God who convicts the world of sin, of judgment and of righteousness (Jn.16:8). Unless God the Holy Spirit convicts a person, and unless the Father draws that person to Christ, none can ever come to Christ. This is why INTERCESSION is most important in all our evangelistic activities. The one who presents the gospel must simultaneously pray that the Spirit of God will convict that person and the Father will draw him/her to Christ.

Evangelism with out prayer is cultivation with out water. Here the intercessor is entering into real spiritual warfare as he is trying to plunder the goods of the enemy (Lk.11:21,22). Some times the strongholds of the enemy where he has trapped them are very strong (1Cor.10:3,4). Unless these strongholds are demolished, those trapped inside can never see the light of the gospel (2Cor.4:4). That is why we are commanded to continue steadfastly in earnest prayers, praying always in spirit (Eph.6:18) for those who are preaching the gospel (Eph.6:19-20). This truth is amply illustrated by the history of the church. The early church in Acts was a praying church. The result was that the then known world was saturated with the gospel. When ever, where ever there was a praying church millions turned to Christ. The times of Wesley, Moody, Finny and others in history who made such impact in church history were simply because there was a movement of prayer associated with them. God is not partial. Even today such things can happen if there are individuals and churches who are willing to obey the clear commands of the NT about striving in prayer (Rom.15:30-32). These verses in Romans clearly tell us that God’s perfect will can ONLY be achieved by striving in prayer. May the Lord give us grace. To His Name be all glory. Amen,

 

Whom Do I Marry?

Question Text:   The Lord lifted me from scratch and gave me every thing I need in life.   Now  I really need some help in the form of a life partner.    I am willing to accept what lord Jesus choose for me.   Please make it sooner rather than later.   Please give me an honest answer and pray for me.

Answer Text :    I am so glad to hear how the Lord lifted you from scratch and gave you every thing you need in your life. I am also glad to hear that you are willing to have a life partner chosen by the Lord. It is indeed wonderful to talk to you.

The Bible teaches that the concept of the family originated with God. In fact the God-head is a unique family. Three persons in the God-head always think, will and feel the same thing! Thus though they are three separate persons, they together make One God – the Triune God of whom the Bible speaks. The triune God has ordained that man also should be in families. He looked at Adam and said to Himself, `It is not good for man to be alone` (Gen.2:18) and He decided to make a helper suitable for Adam. Thus man and wife became one flesh. In reality they became one family. Psalm 68:6 says that God sets the solitary in families. So even today, it is God who is uniting people in to families.

Talking about marriage Jesus our Lord said, `that which God has united, let no man put asunder` (Mt.19:6). So the uniting work is done by the Lord Himself. Now I am sure that some one some where is already prepared by the Lord as your spouse and it is for you to discover who it is by waiting upon the Lord in prayer and in consultation with fellow believers around. I am sure you are already on the move and that’s why you came to us with this question. So let me ask you to learn to pray in secret about this matter. I have set up a website just to talk about prayer and specially how to pray to get answers. Please go to www.mathewpaul.org and select `book on prayer` from categories and read about how to make prayer a secret habit with you. Then prayer must always be accompanied by steps in faith.

As a step of faith may I suggest you to register your name in www.believersmatrimonil.com and send your profile to them. You can also see there dozens of profiles of highly qualified believer girls from all language groups in India looking for life-partners. If you wish you can also register in one or two other matrimonials and wait upon the Lord to show you the right person of His choice as your life-partner. We pray that the Lord will indeed guide you in your decision for His glory. You must also remember that the Bible talks about another family for every man to be a member of. It is the church of the living God which is pictured as the house of God in 1Tim.3:15. If you are not already a member of the house of God, you need to think of it seriously and try to become one. Otherwise spiritually you will be like some one with out a house! May that not ever be true of you. May the Lord lead you in every step of the way. To His Name be glory. Amen.

 

Sin In The Life Of A Believer

Question Text.   Some people have accepted Christ but they keep sinning and don`t feel convicted. How is that? Are they really saved? If we confess with our mouths but don`t change our hearts are we saved?

Answer Text  The message which our Lord preached is to repent and believe in the gospel(Mk.1:15). Faith with out repentance is like that of the devils`. Js.2:19 says that devils also believe and tremble. It goes on to say that faith which does not show itself in life (i.e. in a transformed life) is a dead faith.

Now in your question you have quoted verses from the Bible and you know what it says. Why should you doubt what those verses tell us so clearly? That exactly is the clear teaching of the Bible. I have a Catholic friend who is now corresponding with me. That person believes that if some one confesses a particular sin to a priest, the person can go on living in that sin again! I have asked that person to give me the Scripture which teaches that particular doctrine!! I am yet to get an answer. I am sure that person would never be able to answer me.

1John talks about people who say spiritual things. (1Jn 1:6) `If we say that we have fellowship with Him and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth`. (1Jn 2:4) `He who says, I have known Him, and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him`. (1Jn 2:6) `He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk even as He walked`. (1Jn 2:9) `He who says he is in the light and hates his brother is in darkness until now`. (1Jn 4:20) `If anyone says, I love God, and hates his brother, he is a liar. For if he does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen?`

The sign of being saved is a transformed life. `If any man be in Christ, he is a new creation; old things are passed away, behold every thing is new` (1Cor.5:17). Some one confessing with mouth but does not have a change of heart is NOT a saved person. No one accepting Christ as Lord can ever continue to live a life of sin!!

Yet it is tragically true that there could be people living like the one of whom we read in 1Corinthinans 5:1-5. Such would be brought under the chastening of the Lord here and now that their souls may be saved on the day of the Lord Jesus. 1Cor.11:29-32 teach us that believers who part take of the Lord`s supper unworthily would also be brought under divine chastening as well. Thus the Scripture gives the responsibility to a saved person to live a life acceptable to Him after being saved. May the Lord give us grace for His glory. Amen

 

An Atheist Professor of Philosophy speaks to his Class (An Interesting Conversation)

An Atheist Professor of Philosophy speaks to his Class on the Problem Science has with GOD, The ALMIGHTY.
He asks one of his New Christian Students to stand and . . .

Professor : You are a Christian, aren’t you, son ?
Student : Yes, sir.
Professor : So you Believe in GOD ?
Student : Absolutely, sir.
Professor : Is GOD Good ?
Student : Sure.
Professor : Is GOD ALL – POWERFUL ?
Student : Yes.
Professor : My Brother died of Cancer even though he Prayed to GOD to Heal him.
Most of us would attempt to Help Others who are ill.
But GOD didn’t.
How is this GOD Good then ? Hmm ?

( Student is silent )

Professor : You can’t answer, can you ?
Let’s start again, Young Fella.
Is GOD Good ?
Student : Yes.
Professor : Is Satan good ?
Student : No.
Professor : Where does Satan come from ?
Student : From . . . GOD . . .
Professor : That’s right.
Tell me son, is there evil in this World ?
Student : Yes.
Professor : Evil is everywhere, isn’t it ?
And GOD did make Everything. Correct ?
Student : Yes.
Professor : So who created evil ?

( Student does not answer )

Professor : Is there Sickness ? Immorality ? Hatred ? Ugliness ?
All these terrible things exist in the World, don’t they ?
Student : Yes, sir.
Professor : So, who Created them ?

( Student has no answer )

Professor : Science says you have 5 Senses you use to Identify and Observe the World around you.
Tell me, son . . . Have you ever Seen GOD ?
Student : No, sir.
Professor : Tell us if you have ever Heard your GOD ?
Student : No , sir.
Professor : Have you ever Felt your GOD , Tasted your GOD , Smelt your GOD ?
Have you ever had any Sensory Perception of GOD for that matter ?
Student : No, sir. I’m afraid I haven’t.
Professor : Yet you still Believe in HIM ?
Student : Yes.
Professor : According to Empirical, Testable, Demonstrable Protocol, Science says your GOD doesn’t exist.
What do you say to that, son ?
Student : Nothing. I only have my Faith .
Professor : Yes. Faith . And that is the Problem Science has.
Student : Professor, is there such a thing as Heat ?
Professor : Yes.
Student : And is there such a thing as Cold ?
Professor : Yes.
Student : No sir. There isn’t.

( The Lecture Theatre becomes very quiet with this turn of events )

Student : Sir, you can have Lots of Heat, even More Heat, Superheat, Mega Heat, White Heat,
a Little Heat or No Heat.
But we don’t have anything called Cold.
We can hit 458 Degrees below Zero which is No Heat, but we can’t go any further after that.
There is no such thing as Cold.
Cold is only a Word we use to describe the Absence of Heat.
We cannot Measure Cold.
Heat is Energy.
Cold is Not the Opposite of Heat, sir, just the Absence of it.

( There is Pin – Drop Silence in the Lecture Theatre )

Student : What about Darkness, Professor ? Is there such a thing as Darkness ?
Professor : Yes. What is Night if there isn’t Darkness ?
Student : You’re wrong again, sir.
Darkness is the Absence of Something.
You can have Low Light, Normal Light , Bright Light, Flashing Light . . .
But if you have No Light Constantly, you have Nothing and it’s called Darkness, isn’t it ?
In reality, Darkness isn’t.
If it is, were you would be able to make Darkness Darker, wouldn’t you ?
Professor : So what is the point you are making, Young Man ?
Student : Sir, my point is your Philosophical Premise is Flawed.
Professor : Flawed ? Can you explain how ?
Student : Sir, you are working on the Premise of Duality.
You argue there is Life and then there is Death, a Good GOD and a Bad GOD .
You are viewing the Concept of GOD as something finite, something we can measure.
Sir, Science can’t even explain a Thought.
It uses Electricity and Magnetism, but has never seen, much less fully understood either one.
To view Death as the Opposite of Life is to be ignorant of the fact that
Death cannot exist as a Substantive Thing.
Death is Not the Opposite of Life : just the Absence of it.
Now tell me, Professor, do you Teach your Students that they Evolved from a Monkey ?
Professor : If you are referring to the Natural Evolutionary Process, yes, of course, I do.
Student : Have you ever observed Evolution with your own eyes, sir ?

( The Professor shakes his head with a Smile, beginning to realize where the Argument is going )

Student : Since no one has ever observed the Process of Evolution at work and
cannot even prove that this Process is an On – Going Endeavor,
are you not Teaching your Opinion, sir ?
Are you not a Scientist but a Preacher ?

( The Class is in Uproar )

Student : Is there anyone in the Class who has ever Seen the Professor’s Brain ?

( The Class breaks out into Laughter )

Student : Is there anyone here who has ever Heard the Professor’s Brain, Felt it, Touched or Smelt it ? . . ..
No one appears to have done so.
So, according to the Established Rules of Empirical, Stable, Demonstrable Protocol, Science says that
you have No Brain, sir.
With all due respect, sir, how do we then Trust your Lectures, sir ?

( The Room is Silent. The Professor stares at the Student, his face unfathomable )

Professor : I guess you’ll have to take them on Faith , son.
Student : That is it sir . . .
the Link between Man & GOD is FAITH.
That is all that Keeps Things Moving & Alive.

NB:
I believe you have enjoyed the Conversation . . . and if so . . .
you’ll probably want your Friends / Colleagues to enjoy the same . . . won’t you ? . . .
Forward them to Increase their Knowledge . . . or FAITH