Speaker: Bible

Question:

Is it a sin or a bad thing to listen to rap/hip hop music more than you listen to Christian/Gospel Music? Or secular music?

It is not necessarily a sin as long as the lyrics are not explicit. However, you need to always keep in mind that music is impacting your heart and soul. It is designed to do that by the Lord.

Question:

Is it possible to see angels because I saw one with wings?

Yes, it is possible but only as the Holy Spirit wills. This happens through the gift of discerning of spirits found in 1 Corinthians 12.

Question:

Is there such a thing as generational curses? If so, what are they and how do you stop them?

Exodus 20:5; Deuteronomy 5:9 – Refer to idolatry and that sin being passed down from one generation to the next, but repentance is always the answer! There are things that can be passed from one generation to another, but they can also be stopped in the Name of Jesus. You are redeemed from the curse (Galatians 3:13).

Question:

Explain Matthew 16:19 and Matthew 18:18 and what does it mean to bind on earth as in Heaven and what is loosed on earth will be loosed in Heaven.

Matthew 16:19 NKJV (19) And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”

Matthew 16:19 AMP (19) I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatever you bind (declare to be improper and unlawful) on earth must be what is already bound in heaven; and whatever you loose (declare lawful) on earth must be what is already loosed in heaven. [Isa. 22:22.]

Matthew 18:18 AMP (18) Truly I tell you, whatever you forbid and declare to be improper and unlawful on earth must be what is already forbidden in heaven, and whatever you permit and declare proper and lawful on earth must be what is already permitted in heaven.

Question:

What did Jesus mean when He taught on throwing pearls before swine?

Matthew 7:6 / Proverbs 9:7-9 – correcting a scoffer – There are some people that you would be wasting your time trying to convince those who do not want to be convinced or change.

Question:

How do you let go and let God?

Proverbs 3:5-6; Philippians 4:6-7 You do this by rolling your cares over on the Lord and letting Him handle the situation whatever it may be.

Question:

Why do non-believers not believe that there is a dire need to be saved; even when they know that Heaven and Hell exist?

2 Corinthians 4:4 / Matthew 9:38 – Very simply put, they are blinded by the devil to the truth that they need a Savior. They do not know they need to be saved.

Question:

Do you have to come to church every Sunday and Wednesday to be considered a Christian, if you read the Bible and follow God’s Word?

Ephesians 4:14-16

Question:

How do you know when your blessing is right around the corner?

You are blessed now! You are not trying to get blessed.

Question:

Why do we get tempted? James 1:13-15

Can the devil live in people? Yes, but not necessarily him personally. We know from the Scriptures that demons can live in and possess people, but not Christians. Christians can be oppressed but not possessed.

Question:

Are baptisms necessary and what are they? Matthew 28:19

Baptism is not what saves you, but they are important is this is a public declaration of an inward work by God in salvation. You are identifying with the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus.

Question:

How do we learn to control our emotions in order to not act out of our emotions (especially when our emotions are overwhelming)?

We must have our souls saved by receiving the Word of God and renewing our minds. Also, surrendering more and more to the Holy Spirit will help in controlling your emotions as this is a sign of maturity. Really, this happens as the fruit of the Spirit is produced in our lives.

What do you do to kill doubtful/fearful thoughts before they get into your heart?

Question:

(2 Corinthians 10:3-5) We can refuse to accept doubt filled thoughts by contradicting them with the Word of God spoken on our lips.

Question:

With the recent change in many states allowing gay marriage, it is becoming more accepted to lead an alternative lifestyle. How should Christians react to this? Should Christians be loving and supporting of this? What does the Bible say about gay people being in leadership in the church?

Romans 1:26-27 / Galatians 5:17-21

Question:

Can demons physically attack you? Matthew 9:17-18

Question:

Is salvation the only thing you need to go up in the rapture and if you are sinning will you still go up in the rapture? Will we feel the rapture when it comes or just disappear into thin air?

Question:

Are hardships in life tests by God? James 1:13

Question:

How do you know when God is talking to you? Col 3:15 AMP

Question:

Why are all sins the same? Example: murder = lie

It is the root of all sin that is important: selfishness and rebellion

Consequences are not the same. The wages are the same.

Question:

If you keep doing the same sin, will God keep forgiving you?

1 John 3:9 NKJV

(9) Whoever has been born of God does not sin, for His seed remains in him; and he cannot sin, because he has been born of God.

Question:

When unsaved children die, do they go to Heaven or Hell?

Children that die before the “age of accountability” are spiritually innocent and will go to heaven.

Romans 7:9 NKJV I was alive once without the law, but when the commandment came, sin revived and I died.

Question:

Is the world full of sin because of what Adam and Eve did? Romans 5:19

Question:

What does God consider the beginning or initiation of a marriage? (For instance, is it the vows, rings, completion of ceremony, etc.)?

Marriage is based on a covenant

Question:

If disease is caused by sin, do you need to have repented for healing? In the Bible, it does not seem that Jesus asked people if they had repented before He healed them.

Not all sickness is a direct result of sin. Mark 2:5

Question:

Can you explain Luke 10:18-19 and what Jesus meant by lightning in verse 18 and serpents and scorpions in verse 19?

Can you explain the first part of Mark 16:18?

Luke 10:18-19 NKJV (18) And He said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. (19) Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you.

Mark 16:17-18 NKJV (17) And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; (18) they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”

Question:

Based on John 16:23-24 under the New Covenant do we always pray to God in Jesus’ Name and no longer pray to Jesus? Ephesians 5:20 says we give thanks unto God in the Name of Jesus?

If there is a terribly evil person who did horrible things throughout life, on their deathbed they accept Christ. Does that erase all of their previous acts and they go to Heaven?

The first thing that has to be asked in this situation would be, were they truly repentant and genuinely sorry for their sins and did they truly realize their need for a Savior in Jesus Christ?

If they were going through some religious act in order to avoid the eternal penalty of the sin, then maybe not.

The truth of the matter is that we have no way to know this. Only God knows what is really going on in a man’s heart.

The other thing that we must remember is that a man is not separated from God eternally because of his sins. He is eternally separated from God because of one sin: the rejection of Jesus Christ.

The multitude of a man’s sins are an out working of the one sin: being separated from God.

We also need to remember that sin is sin. We categorize sin based on our standards of conduct, culture, etc. but God does not look at it that way.

Can Christians drink wine?

The consumption of wine was quite common in ancient Hebrew culture. There are 8 different words in the Hebrew language that refer to wine or strong drink.

This continues to be very common in Jewish culture even today.

Although wine was consumed there was a very strict cultural guideline regarding how much wine was consumed.

In ancient Jewish culture, drunkenness was frowned upon greatly in society and was considered a taboo thing to do. There was great social pressure against it.

It would be similar to the change that we have had in our country in our attitude about smoking. 40 – 50 years ago, smoking was very fashionable and seen in advertisements, on television and in movies. But today it is nowhere what it used to be because of this change of culture. There is an increased pressure on smokers today that was not there years ago.

In Jewish culture, drinking in moderation was acceptable but not intoxication. It was part of the culture.

The following scripture illustrates the attitude of the culture:

1 Samuel 1:12-18 NKJV (12) And it happened, as she continued praying before the LORD, that Eli watched her mouth. (13) Now Hannah spoke in her heart; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard. Therefore Eli thought she was drunk. (14) So Eli said to her, “How long will you be drunk? Put your wine away from you!” (15) But Hannah answered and said, “No, my lord, I am a woman of sorrowful spirit. I have drunk neither wine nor intoxicating drink, but have poured out my soul before the LORD. (16) Do not consider your maidservant a wicked woman, for out of the abundance of my complaint and grief I have spoken until now.” (17) Then Eli answered and said, “Go in peace, and the God of Israel grant your petition which you have asked of Him.” (18) And she said, “Let your maidservant find favor in your sight.” So the woman went her way and ate, and her face was no longer sad.

It was considered an abomination to pray while you were intoxicated.

Over and again drunkenness was condemned in the scriptures.

Proverbs 20:1 NKJV (1) Wine is a mocker, Strong drink is a brawler, And whoever is led astray by it is not wise.

Proverbs 21:17 NKJV (17) He who loves pleasure will be a poor man; He who loves wine and oil will not be rich.

Proverbs 31:4-7 NKJV (4) It is not for kings, O Lemuel, It is not for kings to drink wine, Nor for princes intoxicating drink; (5) Lest they drink and forget the law, And pervert the justice of all the afflicted. (6) Give strong drink to him who is perishing, And wine to those who are bitter of heart. (7) Let him drink and forget his poverty, And remember his misery no more.

You could bring a curse upon yourself for giving someone alcohol and encouraging them to get drunk.

Habakkuk 2:15 NKJV (15) “Woe to him who gives drink to his neighbor, Pressing him to your bottle, Even to make him drunk, That you may look on his nakedness!

The culture we described among the ancient Jews does not exist today in our culture.

In that day, the worst thing that happened in that day when someone became drunk was that they might get into some kind of fight or physically harm themselves by falling or something like that.

Proverbs 23:29-30 NKJV (29) Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has contentions? Who has complaints? Who has wounds without cause? Who has redness of eyes? (30) Those who linger long at the wine, Those who go in search of mixed wine.

The cost of alcoholism and drunkenness today is immeasurable. I would venture to say that there are not too many families that have not been touched by tragedy that comes because someone drove drunk. The toll that it takes is an incredible price.

We live in a different world today. Our cultural norms are different.

Our consumption of alcohol today is totally different because today it is usually not about having one beer to go along with your cheeseburger; especially among young people. For them the goal of alcohol consumption is to see how drunk one can get. “Dude, how wasted am I?”

That is the cultural norm.

When we see people in commercials telling us to drink responsibly, they are not telling you to consume a beer let that be the end of it. The assumption is that you are going to get drunk, so make arrangements ahead of time for a designated driver to get you home.

The believer’s decision in regard to the consumption of alcoholic beverage has to be made with respect to others.

As a Christian, I now have a responsibility to something much greater than myself. I have a responsibility to my church, my community, and my group.

2 Corinthians 5:14-15 NKJV (14) For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died; (15) and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again.

After we become a Christian and we begin to grow in the things of God, in order to mature we must understand that our lives are no longer about us.

Once we learn this and begin to live our lives as though it is not about us and our needs, God makes sure that it becomes all about you and your needs.

Romans 14:15-17 AMP (15) But if your brother is being pained or his feelings hurt or if he is being injured by what you eat, [then] you are no longer walking in love. [You have ceased to be living and conducting yourself by the standard of love toward him.] Do not let what you eat hurt or cause the ruin of one for whom Christ died! (16) Do not therefore let what seems good to you be considered an evil thing [by someone else]. [In other words, do not give occasion for others to criticize that which is justifiable for you.] (17) [After all] the kingdom of God is not a matter of [getting the] food and drink [one likes], but instead it is righteousness (that state which makes a person acceptable to God) and [heart] peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.

I can tell you emphatically that getting drunk is clearly a sin in the scripture.

Galatians 5:19-21 NKJV (19) Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, (20) idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, (21) envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

With clear conscience however, I cannot tell you that it is a sin to have a glass of wine.

It is a matter of personal conscience and conviction as to whether you drink a glass of wine.

But I am to consider my brother and my sister in my consumption of wine. Is it in the best interest of those around me who may be watching my life as an example for me to do that?

Remember, our culture is not like it was in ancient times. Overindulgence is the norm in the culture in which we live.

Alcohol has never been known to lift any society.

1 Corinthians 6:12 NKJV (12) All things are lawful for me, but all things are not helpful. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.

Romans 15:1-6 NIV (1) We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves. (2) Each of us should please his neighbor for his good, to build him up. (3) For even Christ did not please himself but, as it is written: “The insults of those who insult you have fallen on me.” (4) For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. (5) May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus, (6) so that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

The real question to ask is my moderation drinking worth risking causing someone who may be weak or ignorant to stumble and fall? Do I want to be that selfish as to not even take that into consideration?

Someone may say, “I only drink a glass of wine to take the edge off…”

My response to that is: God never wants you to use anything artificial to “take the edge off” of the pressures of life.

Time and time again we are told to think soberly about different things, God does not want anything to have an effect on your mental faculties because it can affect your power of choice, and He is strongly against that. It is actually a substitute for what God’s has made available for people.

Ephesians 5:18 NKJV (18) And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit,

Ephesians 5:18 MSG (18) Don’t drink too much wine. That cheapens your life. Drink the Spirit of God, huge draughts of him.

God’s intent is for the ministry of the Holy Spirit to take the edge off. He wants to be your source of happiness when you need it. (Acts 2:13-15)

When we are filled with the Spirit, we don’t need what alcohol offers to us!! Why go for the substitute when we can have the real thing in excess?

How do I forgive like the Bible Teaches?

Mark 11:23-26 NKJV For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. (24) Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them. (25) “And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses. (26) But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your trespasses.”

Notice that Jesus added the necessity for us to forgive others right after He teaches on faith and receiving answers to prayer. That is because they are so closely related to one another.

How does God forgive?

There are three parts to forgiveness:

• The Heart of Forgiveness
• The Act of Forgiveness – make the relationship right
• Restoration of the position in the relationship

Let’s see how God operates in forgiveness:

• When Jesus died for us, He died for all.

Ephesians 4:32 NKJV And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.

Romans 5:12,18 NLT (12) When Adam sinned, sin entered the world. Adam’s sin brought death, so death spread to everyone, for everyone sinned. (18) Yes, Adam’s one sin brings condemnation for everyone, but Christ’s one act of righteousness brings a right relationship with God and new life for everyone.

Hebrews 7:27 NIV Unlike the other high priests, he does not need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people. He sacrificed for their sins once for all when he offered himself.

Jesus never again has to die, because the price has been paid once and for all. Based on these Scriptures, it is safe to say that in the heart of God, the price has been paid for all men to be saved and forgiven?

• When Jesus died for us, he paid in full the sin debt that we were incapable of paying.

Colossians 2:13-14 NASB (13) When you were dead in your transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our transgressions, (14) having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.

• So, in the heart of God, we are forgiven but does that mean we are automatically saved? (in a right standing relationship with Him?)

No. We know from what the Bible teaches that this does not happen. (There is a part that God has played and a part we must play)

1 Timothy 2:4 NKJV God… who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

• We must acknowledge the truth that we are sinners, believe what He did for us, repent and then receive the act of His forgiveness.

Acts 3:19 AMPC So repent (change your mind and purpose); turn around and return [to God], that your sins may be erased (blotted out, wiped clean), that times of refreshing (of recovering from the effects of heat, of reviving with fresh air) may come from the presence of the Lord;

Once we repent, believe that Jesus was raised from the dead and make Him the Lord of our lives, we are saved, Born Again and in right relationship with God.

How does God want me to forgive?

Matthew 18:21-35 NLT Then Peter came to him and asked, “Lord, how often should I forgive someone who sins against me? Seven times?” (22) “No, not seven times,” Jesus replied, “but seventy times seven! (23) “Therefore, the Kingdom of Heaven can be compared to a king who decided to bring his accounts up to date with servants who had borrowed money from him. (24) In the process, one of his debtors was brought in who owed him millions of dollars. (25) He couldn’t pay, so his master ordered that he be sold—along with his wife, his children, and everything he owned—to pay the debt. (26) “But the man fell down before his master and begged him, ‘Please, be patient with me, and I will pay it all.’ (27) Then his master was filled with pity for him, and he released him and forgave his debt. (28) “But when the man left the king, he went to a fellow servant who owed him a few thousand dollars. He grabbed him by the throat and demanded instant payment. (29) “His fellow servant fell down before him and begged for a little more time. ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay it,’ he pleaded. (30) But his creditor wouldn’t wait. He had the man arrested and put in prison until the debt could be paid in full. (31) “When some of the other servants saw this, they were very upset. They went to the king and told him everything that had happened. (32) Then the king called in the man he had forgiven and said, ‘You evil servant! I forgave you that tremendous debt because you pleaded with me. (33) Shouldn’t you have mercy on your fellow servant, just as I had mercy on you?’ (34) Then the angry king sent the man to prison to be tortured until he had paid his entire debt. (35) “That’s what my heavenly Father will do to you if you refuse to forgive your brothers and sisters from your heart.”

1. In your heart, you begin forgiving by releasing any ill will towards them and wish goodwill to them.

(Luke 2:14 NKJV) “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”

2. With a heart of forgiveness, you release that person from owing you a debt to make things right between you.

(Matthew 6:12 NKJV) And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors.

BTW: There is no such thing as spiritual amnesia.

3. This might be something you do many times; but do it until you have fully released the debt.

(Matthew 18:21-22 NLT) Then Peter came to him and asked, “Lord, how often should I forgive someone who sins against me? Seven times?” (22) “No, not seven times,” Jesus replied, “but seventy times seven!

4. If and when they come to you and repent, then you extend to them the act of forgiveness and move towards restoring the position of the relationship. (Privileges, Benefits)

How do I know that he has repented? I will be able to see it in their actions.

(Matthew 3:8 NLT) Prove by the way you live that you have repented of your sins and turned to God.

When someone meets the qualifications in that they acknowledge the truth, repent, and then show the fruits of that repentance, then I MUST show them the act of forgiveness. I must restore our relationship and allow them to move forward in our relationship.

5. If they never repent and ask for forgiveness, trust God with the outcome.

Can I hate them? Can I hold malice in my heart towards them? (Malice is the desire to see harm to come to someone because they wronged you.)

(Ephesians 4:31 NKJV) Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice.

(Romans 12:19 NLT) Dear friends, never take revenge. Leave that to the righteous anger of God. For the Scriptures say, “I will take revenge; I will pay them back,” says the LORD.

But we must come to a place that we trust that God is the only one that can truly settle the score and we let go of that anger and malice and leave justice up to Him.

We must walk in the attitude of forgiveness towards those people, let go of any anger, malice and bitterness towards them and then leave the payback and justice up to God.

The Law of sowing and reaping applies to sowing wrong towards others just like it does money.

Remember, God always wants to show mercy and it is not our place to determine if He is able to do that and when. We let Him determine what is the best course of action for people.

Galatians 5:6 KJV For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.

Galatians 5:6 TPT When you’re placed into the Anointed One and joined to him, circumcision and religious obligations can benefit you nothing. All that matters now is living in the faith that is activated and brought to perfection by love.

If there is a terribly evil person who did horrible things throughout life, on their deathbed they accept Christ. Does that erase all of their previous acts and they go to Heaven?

The first thing that has to be asked in this situation would be, were they truly repentant and genuinely sorry for their sins and did they truly realize their need for a Savior in Jesus Christ?

If they were going through some religious act in order to avoid the eternal penalty of the sin, then maybe not.

The truth of the matter is that we have no way to know this. Only God knows what is really going on in a man’s heart.

The other thing that we must remember is that a man is not separated from God eternally because of his sins. He is eternally separated from God because of one sin: the rejection of Jesus Christ.

The multitude of a man’s sins are an out working of the one sin: being separated from God.

We also need to remember that sin is sin. We categorize sin based on our standards of conduct, culture, etc. but God does not look at it that way.

Can Christians drink wine?

The consumption of wine was quite common in ancient Hebrew culture. There are 8 different words in the Hebrew language that refer to wine or strong drink.

This continues to be very common in Jewish culture even today.

Although wine was consumed there was a very strict cultural guideline regarding how much wine was consumed.

In ancient Jewish culture, drunkenness was frowned upon greatly in society and was considered a taboo thing to do. There was great social pressure against it.

It would be similar to the change that we have had in our country in our attitude about smoking. 40 – 50 years ago, smoking was very fashionable and seen in advertisements, on television and in movies. But today it is nowhere what it used to be because of this change of culture. There is an increased pressure on smokers today that was not there years ago.

In Jewish culture, drinking in moderation was acceptable but not intoxication. It was part of the culture.

The following scripture illustrates the attitude of the culture:

1 Samuel 1:12-18 NKJV (12) And it happened, as she continued praying before the LORD, that Eli watched her mouth. (13) Now Hannah spoke in her heart; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard. Therefore Eli thought she was drunk. (14) So Eli said to her, “How long will you be drunk? Put your wine away from you!” (15) But Hannah answered and said, “No, my lord, I am a woman of sorrowful spirit. I have drunk neither wine nor intoxicating drink, but have poured out my soul before the LORD. (16) Do not consider your maidservant a wicked woman, for out of the abundance of my complaint and grief I have spoken until now.” (17) Then Eli answered and said, “Go in peace, and the God of Israel grant your petition which you have asked of Him.” (18) And she said, “Let your maidservant find favor in your sight.” So the woman went her way and ate, and her face was no longer sad.

It was considered an abomination to pray while you were intoxicated.

Over and again drunkenness was condemned in the scriptures.

Proverbs 20:1 NKJV (1) Wine is a mocker, Strong drink is a brawler, And whoever is led astray by it is not wise.

Proverbs 21:17 NKJV (17) He who loves pleasure will be a poor man; He who loves wine and oil will not be rich.

Proverbs 31:4-7 NKJV (4) It is not for kings, O Lemuel, It is not for kings to drink wine, Nor for princes intoxicating drink; (5) Lest they drink and forget the law, And pervert the justice of all the afflicted. (6) Give strong drink to him who is perishing, And wine to those who are bitter of heart. (7) Let him drink and forget his poverty, And remember his misery no more.

You could bring a curse upon yourself for giving someone alcohol and encouraging them to get drunk.

Habakkuk 2:15 NKJV (15) “Woe to him who gives drink to his neighbor, Pressing him to your bottle, Even to make him drunk, That you may look on his nakedness!

The culture we described among the ancient Jews does not exist today in our culture.

In that day, the worst thing that happened in that day when someone became drunk was that they might get into some kind of fight or physically harm themselves by falling or something like that.

Proverbs 23:29-30 NKJV (29) Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has contentions? Who has complaints? Who has wounds without cause? Who has redness of eyes? (30) Those who linger long at the wine, Those who go in search of mixed wine.

The cost of alcoholism and drunkenness today is immeasurable. I would venture to say that there are not too many families that have not been touched by tragedy that comes because someone drove drunk. The toll that it takes is an incredible price.

We live in a different world today. Our cultural norms are different.

Our consumption of alcohol today is totally different because today it is usually not about having one beer to go along with your cheeseburger; especially among young people. For them the goal of alcohol consumption is to see how drunk one can get. “Dude, how wasted am I?”

That is the cultural norm.

When we see people in commercials telling us to drink responsibly, they are not telling you to consume a beer let that be the end of it. The assumption is that you are going to get drunk, so make arrangements ahead of time for a designated driver to get you home.

The believer’s decision in regard to the consumption of alcoholic beverage has to be made with respect to others.

As a Christian, I now have a responsibility to something much greater than myself. I have a responsibility to my church, my community, and my group.

2 Corinthians 5:14-15 NKJV (14) For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died; (15) and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again.

After we become a Christian and we begin to grow in the things of God, in order to mature we must understand that our lives are no longer about us.

Once we learn this and begin to live our lives as though it is not about us and our needs, God makes sure that it becomes all about you and your needs.

Romans 14:15-17 AMP (15) But if your brother is being pained or his feelings hurt or if he is being injured by what you eat, [then] you are no longer walking in love. [You have ceased to be living and conducting yourself by the standard of love toward him.] Do not let what you eat hurt or cause the ruin of one for whom Christ died! (16) Do not therefore let what seems good to you be considered an evil thing [by someone else]. [In other words, do not give occasion for others to criticize that which is justifiable for you.] (17) [After all] the kingdom of God is not a matter of [getting the] food and drink [one likes], but instead it is righteousness (that state which makes a person acceptable to God) and [heart] peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.

I can tell you emphatically that getting drunk is clearly a sin in the scripture.

Galatians 5:19-21 NKJV (19) Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, (20) idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, (21) envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

With clear conscience however, I cannot tell you that it is a sin to have a glass of wine.

It is a matter of personal conscience and conviction as to whether you drink a glass of wine.

But I am to consider my brother and my sister in my consumption of wine. Is it in the best interest of those around me who may be watching my life as an example for me to do that?

Remember, our culture is not like it was in ancient times. Overindulgence is the norm in the culture in which we live.

Alcohol has never been known to lift any society.

1 Corinthians 6:12 NKJV (12) All things are lawful for me, but all things are not helpful. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.

Romans 15:1-6 NIV (1) We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves. (2) Each of us should please his neighbor for his good, to build him up. (3) For even Christ did not please himself but, as it is written: “The insults of those who insult you have fallen on me.” (4) For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. (5) May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus, (6) so that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

The real question to ask is my moderation drinking worth risking causing someone who may be weak or ignorant to stumble and fall? Do I want to be that selfish as to not even take that into consideration?

Someone may say, “I only drink a glass of wine to take the edge off…”

My response to that is: God never wants you to use anything artificial to “take the edge off” of the pressures of life.

Time and time again we are told to think soberly about different things, God does not want anything to have an effect on your mental faculties because it can affect your power of choice, and He is strongly against that. It is actually a substitute for what God’s has made available for people.

Ephesians 5:18 NKJV (18) And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit,

Ephesians 5:18 MSG (18) Don’t drink too much wine. That cheapens your life. Drink the Spirit of God, huge draughts of him.

God’s intent is for the ministry of the Holy Spirit to take the edge off. He wants to be your source of happiness when you need it. (Acts 2:13-15)

When we are filled with the Spirit, we don’t need what alcohol offers to us!! Why go for the substitute when we can have the real thing in excess?

What is Heaven like and where is it located?

There are some glimpses of Heaven in the Bible that describe what it is like in all of its beauty and splendor.

Revelation 21:9-27 NLT Then one of the seven angels who held the seven bowls containing the seven last plagues came and said to me, “Come with me! I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb.” (10) So he took me in the Spirit to a great, high mountain, and he showed me the holy city, Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God. (11) It shone with the glory of God and sparkled like a precious stone–like jasper as clear as crystal. (12) The city wall was broad and high, with twelve gates guarded by twelve angels. And the names of the twelve tribes of Israel were written on the gates. (13) There were three gates on each side–east, north, south, and west. (14) The wall of the city had twelve foundation stones, and on them were written the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. (15) The angel who talked to me held in his hand a gold measuring stick to measure the city, its gates, and its wall. (16) When he measured it, he found it was a square, as wide as it was long. In fact, its length and width and height were each 1,400 miles. (17) Then he measured the walls and found them to be 216 feet thick (according to the human standard used by the angel). (18) The wall was made of jasper, and the city was pure gold, as clear as glass. (19) The wall of the city was built on foundation stones inlaid with twelve precious stones: the first was jasper, the second sapphire, the third agate, the fourth emerald, (20) the fifth onyx, the sixth carnelian, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, the twelfth amethyst. (21) The twelve gates were made of pearls–each gate from a single pearl! And the main street was pure gold, as clear as glass. (22) I saw no temple in the city, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. (23) And the city has no need of sun or moon, for the glory of God illuminates the city, and the Lamb is its light. (24) The nations will walk in its light, and the kings of the world will enter the city in all their glory. (25) Its gates will never be closed at the end of day because there is no night there. (26) And all the nations will bring their glory and honor into the city. (27) Nothing evil will be allowed to enter, nor anyone who practices shameful idolatry and dishonesty–but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.

We know that Heaven is 1400 miles wide, 1400 miles deep and 1400 miles high.

We know that the scriptures tell us that there are streets made of gold, jewels in the walls, and pearls make up the gates.

We know there is music and singing in Heaven.

Revelation 5:9 NKJV (9) And they sang a new song, saying: “You are worthy to take the scroll, And to open its seals; For You were slain, And have redeemed us to God by Your blood Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation,

Zephaniah 3:17 NKJV (17) The LORD your God in your midst, The Mighty One, will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing.”

We know that there is absolute peace in Heaven.

Matthew 6:10 NKJV (10) Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven.

Isaiah 11:6-9 NKJV (6) “The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, The leopard shall lie down with the young goat, The calf and the young lion and the fatling together; And a little child shall lead them. (7) The cow and the bear shall graze; Their young ones shall lie down together; And the lion shall eat straw like the ox. (8) The nursing child shall play by the cobra’s hole, And the weaned child shall put his hand in the viper’s den. (9) They shall not hurt nor destroy in all My holy mountain, For the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD As the waters cover the sea.

We know that we will eat in Heaven, but we will not need to eat to live.

Revelation 19:9 NKJV (9) Then he said to me, “Write: ‘Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!’ ” And he said to me, “These are the true sayings of God.”

How will you find your loved ones when we get to Heaven, especially ones that died long ago? Will they look like they did on earth?

Hebrews 12:1 NKJV (1) Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,

I believe that our loved ones will pursue locating us when we get there because they have been somewhat aware of what has been going on in our lives spiritually here on the earth.

I believe that we will be able to recognize our loved ones that we knew by natural means but also we will recognize each other by supernatural means.

Luke 16:23-24 NKJV (23) And being in torments in Hades, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. (24) “Then he cried and said, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.’

Matthew 17:1-5 NKJV (1) Now after six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother, led them up on a high mountain by themselves; (2) and He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light.

(3) And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Him. (4) Then Peter answered and said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here; if You wish, let us make here three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” (5) While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them; and suddenly a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!”

One thing to remember is that once you step over into eternity, a sense of time stops. The Bible says that there is no sun in Heaven but that it is lit by the light that comes out of the face of God. Therefore, we do not need our daily cycle of time.

If there is a terribly evil person who did horrible things throughout life, on their deathbed they accept Christ. Does that erase all of their previous acts and they go to Heaven?

The first thing that has to be asked in this situation would be, were they truly repentant and genuinely sorry for their sins and did they truly realize their need for a Savior in Jesus Christ?

If they were going through some religious act in order to avoid the eternal penalty of the sin, then maybe not.

The truth of the matter is that we have no way to know this. Only God knows what is really going on in a man’s heart.

The other thing that we must remember is that a man is not separated from God eternally because of his sins. He is eternally separated from God because of one sin: the rejection of Jesus Christ.

The multitude of a man’s sins are an out working of the one sin: being separated from God.

We also need to remember that sin is sin. We categorize sin based on our standards of conduct, culture, etc. but God does not look at it that way.

Related question: With all of the recent murder/suicides, if the person committing the crimes was to ask God for forgiveness before dying, would God forgive and how would justice be handled/served?

We have to understand that God is always just in all of His ways.

There are going to be times when we are not going to understand how justice will be served and we should leave that up to God and His wisdom.

In my opinion, very often, it is the same twisted, diseased thinking that would cause someone to commit blatant, unprovoked murder that causes them to take their own life.

Luke 23:32-33 NKJV (32) There were also two others, criminals, led with Him to be put to death. (33) And when they had come to the place called Calvary, there they crucified Him, and the criminals, one on the right hand and the other on the left.

Matthew 27:44 NKJV (44) Even the robbers who were crucified with Him reviled Him with the same thing.

Mark 15:32 KJV (32) Let Christ the King of Israel descend now from the cross, that we may see and believe. And they that were crucified with him reviled him.

Luke 23:39-43 NKJV (39) Then one of the criminals who were hanged blasphemed Him, saying, “If You are the Christ, save Yourself and us.” (40) But the other, answering, rebuked him, saying, “Do you not even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation? (41) And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds; but this Man has done nothing wrong.” (42) Then he said to Jesus, “Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.” (43) And Jesus said to him, “Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.”

Mark 7:1-6 NKJV (1) Then the Pharisees and some of the scribes came together to Him, having come from Jerusalem. (2) Now when they saw some of His disciples eat bread with defiled, that is, with unwashed hands, they found fault. (3) For the Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they wash their hands in a special way, holding the tradition of the elders. (4) When they come from the marketplace, they do not eat unless they wash. And there are many other things which they have received and hold, like the washing of cups, pitchers, copper vessels, and couches. (5) Then the Pharisees and scribes asked Him, “Why do Your disciples not walk according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashed hands?” (6) He answered and said to them, “Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written: ‘THIS PEOPLE HONORS ME WITH THEIR LIPS, BUT THEIR HEART IS FAR FROM ME. (7) AND IN VAIN THEY WORSHIP ME, TEACHING AS DOCTRINES THE COMMANDMENTS OF MEN.’

We must understand the difference between a conviction of conscience and the commandments of God.

A conviction of conscience is something that my conscience tells me that I should not have anything to do with because of my own life. The commandments of God are always going to be universal and apply to everyone.

Conviction of conscience is shaped by environment and culture and not necessarily the Word of God.

Can Christians drink wine?

The consumption of wine was quite common in ancient Hebrew culture. There are 8 different words in the Hebrew language that refer to wine or strong drink.

This continues to be very common in Jewish culture even today.

Although wine was consumed there was a very strict cultural guideline regarding how much wine was consumed.

In ancient Jewish culture, drunkenness was frowned upon greatly in society and was considered a taboo thing to do. There was great social pressure against it.

It would be similar to the change that we have had in our country in our attitude about smoking. 40 – 50 years ago, smoking was very fashionable and seen in advertisements, on television and in movies. But today it is nowhere what it used to be because of this change of culture. There is an increased pressure on smokers today that was not there years ago.

In Jewish culture, drinking in moderation was acceptable but not intoxication. It was part of the culture.

The following scripture illustrates the attitude of the culture:

1 Samuel 1:12-18 NKJV (12) And it happened, as she continued praying before the LORD, that Eli watched her mouth. (13) Now Hannah spoke in her heart; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard. Therefore Eli thought she was drunk. (14) So Eli said to her, “How long will you be drunk? Put your wine away from you!” (15) But Hannah answered and said, “No, my lord, I am a woman of sorrowful spirit. I have drunk neither wine nor intoxicating drink, but have poured out my soul before the LORD. (16) Do not consider your maidservant a wicked woman, for out of the abundance of my complaint and grief I have spoken until now.” (17) Then Eli answered and said, “Go in peace, and the God of Israel grant your petition which you have asked of Him.” (18) And she said, “Let your maidservant find favor in your sight.” So the woman went her way and ate, and her face was no longer sad.

It was considered an abomination to pray while you were intoxicated.

Over and again drunkenness was condemned in the scriptures.

Proverbs 20:1 NKJV (1) Wine is a mocker, Strong drink is a brawler, And whoever is led astray by it is not wise.

Proverbs 21:17 NKJV (17) He who loves pleasure will be a poor man; He who loves wine and oil will not be rich.

Proverbs 31:4-7 NKJV (4) It is not for kings, O Lemuel, It is not for kings to drink wine, Nor for princes intoxicating drink; (5) Lest they drink and forget the law, And pervert the justice of all the afflicted. (6) Give strong drink to him who is perishing, And wine to those who are bitter of heart. (7) Let him drink and forget his poverty, And remember his misery no more.

You could bring a curse upon yourself for giving someone alcohol and encouraging them to get drunk.

Habakkuk 2:15 NKJV (15) “Woe to him who gives drink to his neighbor, Pressing him to your bottle, Even to make him drunk, That you may look on his nakedness!

The culture we described among the ancient Jews does not exist today in our culture.

In that day, the worst thing that happened in that day when someone became drunk was that they might get into some kind of fight or physically harm themselves by falling or something like that.

Proverbs 23:29-30 NKJV (29) Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has contentions? Who has complaints? Who has wounds without cause? Who has redness of eyes? (30) Those who linger long at the wine, Those who go in search of mixed wine.

The cost of alcoholism and drunkenness today is immeasurable. I would venture to say that there are not too many families that have not been touched by tragedy that comes because someone drove drunk. The toll that it takes is an incredible price.

We live in a different world today. Our cultural norms are different.

Our consumption of alcohol today is totally different because today it is usually not about having one beer to go along with your cheeseburger; especially among young people. For them the goal of alcohol consumption is to see how drunk one can get. “Dude, how wasted am I?”

That is the cultural norm.

When we see people in commercials telling us to drink responsibly, they are not telling you to consume a beer let that be the end of it. The assumption is that you are going to get drunk, so make arrangements ahead of time for a designated driver to get you home.

The believer’s decision in regard to the consumption of alcoholic beverage has to be made with respect to others.

As a Christian, I now have a responsibility to something much greater than myself. I have a responsibility to my church, my community, and my group.

2 Corinthians 5:14-15 NKJV (14) For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died; (15) and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again.

After we become a Christian and we begin to grow in the things of God, in order to mature we must understand that our lives are no longer about us.

Once we learn this and begin to live our lives as though it is not about us and our needs, God makes sure that it becomes all about you and your needs.

Romans 14:15-17 AMP (15) But if your brother is being pained or his feelings hurt or if he is being injured by what you eat, [then] you are no longer walking in love. [You have ceased to be living and conducting yourself by the standard of love toward him.] Do not let what you eat hurt or cause the ruin of one for whom Christ died! (16) Do not therefore let what seems good to you be considered an evil thing [by someone else]. [In other words, do not give occasion for others to criticize that which is justifiable for you.] (17) [After all] the kingdom of God is not a matter of [getting the] food and drink [one likes], but instead it is righteousness (that state which makes a person acceptable to God) and [heart] peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.

I can tell you emphatically that getting drunk is clearly a sin in the scripture.

Galatians 5:19-21 NKJV (19) Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, (20) idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, (21) envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

With clear conscience however, I cannot tell you that it is a sin to have a glass of wine.

It is a matter of personal conscience and conviction as to whether you drink a glass of wine.

But I am to consider my brother and my sister in my consumption of wine. Is it in the best interest of those around me who may be watching my life as an example for me to do that?

Remember, our culture is not like it was in ancient times. Overindulgence is the norm in the culture in which we live.

Alcohol has never been known to lift any society.

1 Corinthians 6:12 NKJV (12) All things are lawful for me, but all things are not helpful. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.

Romans 15:1-6 NIV (1) We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves. (2) Each of us should please his neighbor for his good, to build him up. (3) For even Christ did not please himself but, as it is written: “The insults of those who insult you have fallen on me.” (4) For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. (5) May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus, (6) so that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

The real question to ask is my moderation drinking worth risking causing someone who may be weak or ignorant to stumble and fall? Do I want to be that selfish as to not even take that into consideration?

Someone may say, “I only drink a glass of wine to take the edge off…”

My response to that is: God never wants you to use anything artificial to “take the edge off” of the pressures of life.

Time and time again we are told to think soberly about different things, God does not want anything to have an effect on your mental faculties because it can affect your power of choice, and He is strongly against that.

It is actually a substitute for what God’s has made available for people.

Ephesians 5:18 NKJV (18) And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit,

Ephesians 5:18 MSG (18) Don’t drink too much wine. That cheapens your life. Drink the Spirit of God, huge draughts of him.

God’s intent is for the ministry of the Holy Spirit to take the edge off. He wants to be your source of happiness when you need it. (Acts 2:13-15)

When we are filled with the Spirit, we don’t need what alcohol offers to us!!

Why go for the substitute when we can have the real thing in excess?

Jesus makes it very clear that when you are in His Kingdom, no man can step between you and God and take you out of God’s hand.

There is no one else that can tamper with your salvation. Your salvation is between you and God alone and no one else can interfere with that.

Romans 8:33-39 NKJV Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. (34) Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. (35) Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? (36) As it is written: “FOR YOUR SAKE WE ARE KILLED ALL DAY LONG; WE ARE ACCOUNTED AS SHEEP FOR THE SLAUGHTER.” (37) Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. (38) For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, (39) nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Paul says there is no one that can come between you and the Lord and affect God’s love for you.

However, there are a number of Scriptures that talk about believers who fall away.

The two most prominent places in the Word that discuss this are referring to a very mature believer who falls away NOT someone who just recently received Jesus or the brand-new Christian.

There is a huge difference between someone who is struggling who does not have a lot of knowledge of God, has not been taught the Word of God and is new in their faith and someone who ought to know better.

Hebrews 6:1 NKJV Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God,

Hebrews 6:1 ERV So we should be finished with the beginning lessons about Christ. We should not have to keep going back to where we started. We began our new life by turning away from the evil we did in the past and by believing in God. That’s when we were taught about baptisms, laying hands on people, the resurrection of those who have died, and the final judgment. Now we need to go forward to more mature teaching.

The whole idea of walking with Christ is to grow towards perfection and to rise above sin and not to stay where you are in your walk with the Lord.

Hebrews 6:1-3 NKJV Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, (2) of the doctrine of baptisms, of laying on of hands, of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. (3) And this we will do if God permits.

There is nowhere in the Bible that teaches us that if you sin as a believer, you lose your salvation.

There is a difference between fellowship and relationship. Your fellowship may be broken because of sin but your relationship is not broken.

Have you ever had an argument with your spouse or maybe your kid has done something to disobey you as the parent? Your fellowship may be broken at that moment, but your relationship is not.

Naturally speaking, if you stay out of fellowship for a long period of time, you will eventually destroy the relationship.

Hebrews 6:4-5 NKJV For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit, (5) and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come,

These are people who are Born Again, partook of the Holy Spirit, have walked in God’s Word and have even experienced the power of God for you and through you.

Hebrews 6:6 NKJV if they fall away, to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put Him to an open shame.

When these people fall away from God, there is no coming back because they don’t want to come back. They would not repent even if they could.

Why did God cast out the third of the angels that rebelled with Lucifer? Why does that seem harsh? It is because they don’t want to repent and come back. Even if God were to hold His hand out in mercy, they don’t care.

The people that have committed the unpardonable sin don’t care and are not the least bit interested in coming back to God. So if you are thinking that you have gone too far and you are afraid that you have committed the unpardonable sin and are eternally lost, that is a good sign that you have not; simply because you are bothered about it. That is a sign that there is a lot of hope for you.

If a person is troubled about where they are in their relationship with God, it is a good sign that they are not in as bad shape as they think they are.

What are the things that lead to a Christian to walk away from their faith?

Romans 1:20-22 AMPC For ever since the creation of the world His invisible nature and attributes, that is, His eternal power and divinity, have been made intelligible and clearly discernible in and through the things that have been made (His handiworks). So [men] are without excuse [altogether without any defense or justification], [Psa 19:1-4] (21) Because when they knew and recognized Him as God, they did not honor and glorify Him as God or give Him thanks. But instead they became futile and godless in their thinking [with vain imaginings, foolish reasoning, and stupid speculations] and their senseless minds were darkened. (22) Claiming to be wise, they became fools [professing to be smart, they made simpletons of themselves].

• People begin to fall when they quit giving God glory.
• People begin to fall when they are no longer thankful.
• People begin to fall when they become vain in their imaginations.
• People begin to fall when they become full of pride.
• People begin to fall when they profess themselves to be wise.

The thing to remember in all of this is that this is a PROCESS and does not happen OVERNIGHT.

Five things that you can do to keep yourself from falling:

1. Do not forsake coming to church and being an active part.

Usually when people fall, it is because they are isolated and disconnected from their local church.

2. Have a regular time of devotion and prayer and spending time in the Word of God.
3. Continually recall God’s goodness and give Him thanks for His goodness in your life.
4. Examine yourself before God and make corrections as He brings things to your attention.

There is a difference between self-examination and self-condemnation.

Self-examination is to keep you of trouble. When you hear that you are sorry and no good is condemnation.

1. Don’t let pride in your life.

Proverbs 16:18 NKJV Pride goes before destruction, And a haughty spirit before a fall.

When you refuse to become prideful, you will always remain sensitive.

At some point in our Christian lives, and the earlier the better, you must decide that you believe that the Word of God is the truth and you choose to believe it over anything else.

Question:

What is hell like and where is it located?

Contrary to some teaching today, hell is a literal place that was originally created for Satan and his angels.

Luke 16:19-31 NKJV (19) “There was a certain rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and fared sumptuously every day. (20) But there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, full of sores, who was laid at his gate, (21) desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table. Moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. (22) So it was that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s bosom. The rich man also died and was buried. (23) And being in torments in Hades, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. (24) “Then he cried and said, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.’ (25) But Abraham said, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things; but now he is comforted and you are tormented. (26) And besides all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed, so that those who want to pass from here to you cannot, nor can those from there pass to us.’ (27) “Then he said, ‘I beg you therefore, father, that you would send him to my father’s house, (28) for I have five brothers, that he may testify to them, lest they also come to this place of torment.’ (29) Abraham said to him, ‘They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.’ (30) And he said, ‘No, father Abraham; but if one goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’ (31) But he said to him, ‘If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rise from the dead.’ “

Hell is a place of unimaginable torments. It is a place where there is fire that burns constantly but it does not consume anything.

It was so bad the rich man was willing to let Lazarus dip his finger in the water and touch his tongue.

Where is hell located?

2 Peter 2:4 NKJV (4) For if God did not spare the angels who sinned, but cast them down to hell and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved for judgment;

Acts 2:22-27 NKJV (22) “Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a Man attested by God to you by miracles, wonders, and signs which God did through Him in your midst, as you yourselves also know– (23) Him, being delivered by the determined purpose and foreknowledge of God, you have taken by lawless hands, have crucified, and put to death; (24) whom God raised up, having loosed the pains of death, because it was not possible that He should be held by it. (25) For David says concerning Him: ‘I FORESAW THE LORD ALWAYS BEFORE MY FACE, FOR HE IS AT MY RIGHT HAND, THAT I MAY NOT BE SHAKEN. (26) THEREFORE MY HEART REJOICED, AND MY TONGUE WAS GLAD; MOREOVER MY FLESH ALSO WILL REST IN HOPE. (27) FOR YOU WILL NOT LEAVE MY SOUL IN HADES, NOR WILL YOU ALLOW YOUR HOLY ONE TO SEE CORRUPTION.

Matthew 12:38-40 NKJV (38) Then some of the scribes and Pharisees answered, saying, “Teacher, we want to see a sign from You.” (39) But He answered and said to them, “An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, and no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. (40) For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.

It was never God’s will that any human being spend eternity in hell. It was not created for men.

Matthew 25:41 NKJV (41) “Then He will also say to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels:

God does not send anyone to hell. People go because of the decisions that they made in this life.

1 Timothy 2:1-5 NKJV (1) Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, (2) for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. (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,

Question:

What is Heaven like and where is it located?

There are some glimpses of Heaven in the Bible that describe what it is like in all of its beauty and splendor.

Revelation 21:10-27 NLT (10) So he took me in the Spirit to a great, high mountain, and he showed me the holy city, Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God. (11) It shone with the glory of God and sparkled like a precious stone–like jasper as clear as crystal. (12) The city wall was broad and high, with twelve gates guarded by twelve angels. And the names of the twelve tribes of Israel were written on the gates. (13) There were three gates on each side–east, north, south, and west. (14) The wall of the city had twelve foundation stones, and on them were written the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. (15) The angel who talked to me held in his hand a gold measuring stick to measure the city, its gates, and its wall. (16) When he measured it, he found it was a square, as wide as it was long. In fact, its length and width and height were each 1,400 miles. (17) Then he measured the walls and found them to be 216 feet thick (according to the human standard used by the angel). (18) The wall was made of jasper, and the city was pure gold, as clear as glass. (19) The wall of the city was built on foundation stones inlaid with twelve precious stones: the first was jasper, the second sapphire, the third agate, the fourth emerald, (20) the fifth onyx, the sixth carnelian, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, the twelfth amethyst. (21) The twelve gates were made of pearls–each gate from a single pearl! And the main street was pure gold, as clear as glass. (22) I saw no temple in the city, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. (23) And the city has no need of sun or moon, for the glory of God illuminates the city, and the Lamb is its light. (24) The nations will walk in its light, and the kings of the world will enter the city in all their glory. (25) Its gates will never be closed at the end of day because there is no night there. (26) And all the nations will bring their glory and honor into the city. (27) Nothing evil will be allowed to enter, nor anyone who practices shameful idolatry and dishonesty–but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.

We know that Heaven is 1400 miles wide, 1400 miles deep and 1400 miles high.

We know that the scriptures tell us that there are streets made of gold, jewels in the walls, and pearls make up the gates.

We know there is music and singing in Heaven.

Revelation 5:9 NKJV (9) And they sang a new song, saying: “You are worthy to take the scroll, And to open its seals; For You were slain, And have redeemed us to God by Your blood Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation,

Zephaniah 3:17 NKJV (17) The LORD your God in your midst, The Mighty One, will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing.”

We know that there is absolute peace in Heaven.

Matthew 6:10 NKJV (10) Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven.

Isaiah 11:6-9 NKJV (6) “The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, The leopard shall lie down with the young goat, The calf and the young lion and the fatling together; And a little child shall lead them. (7) The cow and the bear shall graze; Their young ones shall lie down together; And the lion shall eat straw like the ox. (8) The nursing child shall play by the cobra’s hole, And the weaned child shall put his hand in the viper’s den. (9) They shall not hurt nor destroy in all My holy mountain, For the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD As the waters cover the sea.

We know that we will eat in Heaven but we will not need to eat to live.

Revelation 19:9 NKJV (9) Then he said to me, “Write: ‘Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!’ ” And he said to me, “These are the true sayings of God.”

How will you find your loved ones when we get to Heaven, especially ones that died long ago? Will they look like they did on earth?

Hebrews 12:1 NKJV (1) Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,

I believe that our loved ones will pursue locating us when we get there because they have been somewhat aware of what has been going on in our lives spiritually here on the earth.

I believe that we will be able to recognize our loved ones that we knew by natural means but also we will recognize each other by supernatural means.

Luke 16:23-24 NKJV (23) And being in torments in Hades, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. (24) “Then he cried and said, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.’

Matthew 17:1-5 NKJV (1) Now after six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother, led them up on a high mountain by themselves; (2) and He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light. (3) And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Him. (4) Then Peter answered and said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here; if You wish, let us make here three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” (5) While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them; and suddenly a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!”

One thing to remember is that once you step over into eternity, a sense of time stops. The Bible says that there is no sun in Heaven but that it is lit by the light that comes out of the face of God. Therefore, we do not need our daily cycles of time.

What is the Unpardonable Sin? 

Mark 3:20-30 NKJV Then the multitude came together again, so that they could not so much as eat bread. (21) But when His own people heard about this, they went out to lay hold of Him, for they said, “He is out of His mind.” (22) And the scribes who came down from Jerusalem said, “He has Beelzebub,” and, “By the ruler of the demons He casts out demons.” (23) So He called them to Himself and said to them in parables: “How can Satan cast out Satan? (24) If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. (25) And if a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand. (26) And if Satan has risen up against himself, and is divided, he cannot stand, but has an end. (27) No one can enter a strong man’s house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man. And then he will plunder his house. (28) “Assuredly, I say to you, all sins will be forgiven the sons of men, and whatever blasphemies they may utter; (29) but he who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is subject to eternal condemnation”– (30) because they said, “He has an unclean spirit.”

Plainly put, the unpardonable sin is to attribute acts of the devil to the Holy Spirit.

Blaspheme – (Greek: blasphemeo) To blaspheme, revile. To hurt the reputation or smite with reports or words, speak evil of, slander, rail

Can you lose your salvation?

Whenever you are looking at particular verses in the Bible, you must always look at the context of what is stated and the environment in which it was said to help you get a clear meaning.

John 9:1-7 NKJV Now as Jesus passed by, He saw a man who was blind from birth. (2) And His disciples asked Him, saying, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” (3) Jesus answered, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but that the works of God should be revealed in him. (4) I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work. (5) As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” (6) When He had said these things, He spat on the ground and made clay with the saliva; and He anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay. (7) And He said to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which is translated, Sent). So he went and washed, and came back seeing.

John 9:22 NKJV His parents said these things because they feared the Jews, for the Jews had agreed already that if anyone confessed that He was Christ, he would be put out of the synagogue.

When someone was put out of the synagogue, it did not mean you needed to find somewhere else to worship. This meant that you were eternally lost and there was no hope for you.

John 9:30-38 NKJV The man answered and said to them, “Why, this is a marvelous thing, that you do not know where He is from; yet He has opened my eyes! (31) Now we know that God does not hear sinners; but if anyone is a worshiper of God and does His will, He hears him. (32) Since the world began it has been unheard of that anyone opened the eyes of one who was born blind. (33) If this Man were not from God, He could do nothing.” (34) They answered and said to him, “You were completely born in sins, and are you teaching us?” And they cast him out. (35) Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and when He had found him, He said to him, “Do you believe in the Son of God?” (36) He answered and said, “Who is He, Lord, that I may believe in Him?” (37) And Jesus said to him, “You have both seen Him and it is He who is talking with you.” (38) Then he said, “Lord, I believe!” And he worshiped Him.

John 10:27-31 NKJV My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. (28) And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. (29) My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand. (30) I and My Father are one.” (31) Then the Jews took up stones again to stone Him.

Jesus makes it very clear that when you are in His Kingdom, no man can step between you and God and take you out of God’s hand.

There is no one else that can tamper with your salvation. Your salvation is between you and God alone and no one else can interfere with that.

Romans 8:33-39 NKJV Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. (34) Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. (35) Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? (36) As it is written: “FOR YOUR SAKE WE ARE KILLED ALL DAY LONG; WE ARE ACCOUNTED AS SHEEP FOR THE SLAUGHTER.” (37) Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. (38) For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, (39) nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Paul says there is no one that can come between you and the Lord and affect God’s love for you.

However, there are a number of Scriptures that talk about believers who fall away.

The two most prominent places in the Word that discuss this are referring to a very mature believer who falls away NOT someone who just recently received Jesus or the brand new Christian.

There is a huge difference between someone who is struggling who does not have a lot of knowledge of God, has not been taught the Word of God and is new in their faith and someone who ought to know better.

Hebrews 6:1 NKJV Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God,

Hebrews 6:1 ERV So we should be finished with the beginning lessons about Christ. We should not have to keep going back to where we started. We began our new life by turning away from the evil we did in the past and by believing in God. That’s when we were taught about baptisms, laying hands on people, the resurrection of those who have died, and the final judgment. Now we need to go forward to more mature teaching.

The whole idea of walking with Christ is to grow towards perfection and to rise above sin and not to stay where you are in your walk with the Lord.

Hebrews 6:1-3 NKJV Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, (2) of the doctrine of baptisms, of laying on of hands, of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. (3) And this we will do if God permits.

There is nowhere in the Bible that teaches us that if you sin as a believer, you lose your salvation.

There is a difference between fellowship and relationship. Your fellowship may be broken because of the sin but your relationship is not broken.

Have you ever had an argument with your spouse or maybe your kid has done something to disobey you as the parent? Your fellowship may be broken at that moment, but your relationship is not.

Naturally speaking, if you stay out of fellowship for a long period of time, you will eventually destroy the relationship.

Hebrews 6:4-5 NKJV For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit, (5) and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come,

These are people who are Born Again, partook of the Holy Spirit, have walked in God’s Word and have even experienced the power of God for you and through you.

Hebrews 6:6 NKJV if they fall away, to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put Him to an open shame.

When these people fall away from God, there is no coming back because they don’t want to come back. They would not repent even if they could.

Why did God cast out the third of the angels that rebelled with Lucifer? Why does that seem harsh? It is because they don’t want to repent and come back. Even if God were to hold His hand out in mercy, they don’t care.

The people that have committed the unpardonable sin don’t care and are not the least bit interested in coming back to God. So if you are thinking that you have gone too far and you are afraid that you have committed the unpardonable sin and are eternally lost, that is a good sign that you have not; simply because you are bothered about it. That is a sign that there is a lot of hope for you.

If a person is troubled about where they are in their relationship with God, it is a good sign that they are not in as bad shape as they think they are.

What are the things that lead to a Christian to walk away from their faith?

Romans 1:20-22 AMPC For ever since the creation of the world His invisible nature and attributes, that is, His eternal power and divinity, have been made intelligible and clearly discernible in and through the things that have been made (His handiworks). So [men] are without excuse [altogether without any defense or justification], [Psa 19:1-4] (21) Because when they knew and recognized Him as God, they did not honor and glorify Him as God or give Him thanks. But instead they became futile and godless in their thinking [with vain imaginings, foolish reasoning, and stupid speculations] and their senseless minds were darkened. (22) Claiming to be wise, they became fools [professing to be smart, they made simpletons of themselves].

• People begin to fall when they quit giving God glory.
• People begin to fall when they are no longer thankful.
• People begin to fall when they become vain in their imaginations.
• People begin to fall when they become full of pride.
• People begin to fall when they profess themselves to be wise.

The thing to remember in all of this is that this is a PROCESS and does not happen OVERNIGHT.

Five things that you can do to keep yourself from falling:

1. Do not forsake coming to church and being an active part.

Usually when people fall, it is because they are isolated and disconnected from their local church.

2. Have a regular time of devotion and prayer and spending time in the Word of God.
3. Continually recall God’s goodness and give Him thanks for His goodness in your life.
4. Examine yourself before God and make corrections as He brings things to your attention.

There is a difference between self-examination and self-condemnation.

Self-examination is to keep you of trouble. When you hear that you are sorry and no good is condemnation.

5. Don’t let pride in your life.

Proverbs 16:18 NKJV Pride goes before destruction, And a haughty spirit before a fall.

When you refuse to become prideful, you will always remain sensitive.

Why do bad things happen to good people?

In attempting to answer any of life’s questions you must first make the Word of God to be your final authority – not your opinion, your experience or the experience of others.

Psalms 119:89 NKJV Forever, O LORD, Your word is settled in heaven.

Then you must establish some things about the character of God.

Malachi 3:6 NKJV “For I am the LORD, I do not change; Therefore you are not consumed, O sons of Jacob.

Psalms 136:1 NKJV Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever.

John 10:10 AMPC The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows).

We must establish that God is good; He is the giver of life and death is not in Him.

Acts 10:38 AMPC How God anointed and consecrated Jesus of Nazareth with the [Holy] Spirit and with strength and ability and power; how He went about doing good and, in particular, curing all who were harassed and oppressed by [the power of] the devil, for God was with Him.

Simply put: God is a good God and the devil is an evil, bad devil.

One of the main reasons that bad things happen to good people is out of simple ignorance of spiritual laws that govern this world and determine the quality of our lives.

Hosea 4:6 NKJV My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge…

Hosea 4:6 MSG My people are ruined because they don’t know what’s right or true…

When you are ignorant of something, you do not know what the right decisions are to make or how to choose God’s way.

When people don’t know what to do, they revert to what they have always done and know what to do.

Deuteronomy 30:19 ERV “Today I am giving you a choice of two ways. And I ask heaven and earth to be witnesses of your choice. You can choose life or death. The first choice will bring a blessing. The other choice will bring a curse. So choose life! Then you and your children will live.

There are two categories of decisions: ones that lead us towards life and blessing or ones that lead us towards death and cursing.

There is an ignorance of how those laws function and the consequences of breaking those laws. The consequences are the same whether the laws are broken out of a willful decision or ignorance.

The way the enemy is able to steal, kill, and destroy in our lives is because we either make poor decisions out of ignorance or he deceives us into making bad decisions through blinding us from the truth of God’s Word.

(Give the example of gravity and walking off the platform.)

One of those laws is the law of sowing and reaping. If you understand how this law operates and you use it according to the Word of God it will work for you to help you.

Ignorance of this law does not stop it from working in your life, it just means that you may not know why certain things are happening.

Why do good things happen to bad people?

• God’s mercy.
• They act on spiritual laws and receive the results without understanding why but only for a matter of time.

We are not able to truly discern what is in someone’s heart; what they are believing or not believing. We can only base our perspective on what we see from the outside. We cannot see if there are any roadblocks to their belief system being able to work or not. Only God knows that.

Deuteronomy 29:29 NKJV “The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but those things which are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law.

Deuteronomy 29:29 MSG GOD, our God, will take care of the hidden things but the revealed things are our business. It’s up to us and our children to attend to all the terms in this Revelation.

1 Samuel 16:7 NKJV But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him. For the LORD does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.”

Most of these questions have to do with what has happened or is happening in the lives of those around us.

The real question is this: where am I in all of this? Are there things in my life that are happening to me that are not the will of God? You can do something about it. You and God can work together to come out of those situations that are working against you.

Isaiah 61:1 AMPC THE SPIRIT of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed and qualified me to preach the Gospel of good tidings to the meek, the poor, and afflicted; He has sent me to bind up and heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the [physical and spiritual] captives and the opening of the prison and of the eyes to those who are bound, [Rom 10:15]

Isaiah 61:7 AMPC Instead of your [former] shame you shall have a twofold recompense; instead of dishonor and reproach [your people] shall rejoice in their portion. Therefore in their land they shall possess double [what they had forfeited]; everlasting joy shall be theirs.

Once we gain knowledge and repent and make changes in our lives, God’s mercy and grace will step in to undo, correct and restore what the enemy was able to take from us even if it was our fault.

Joel 2:25-26 ERV “I, the Lord, sent my army against you. The swarming locusts and the hopping locusts and the destroying locusts and the cutting locusts ate everything you had. But I will pay you back for those years of trouble. (26) Then you will have plenty to eat. You will be full. You will praise the name of the LORD your God. He has done wonderful things for you. My people will never again be ashamed.

Can you lose your salvation?

Whenever you are looking at particular verses in the Bible, you must always look at the context of what is stated and the environment in which it was said to help you get a clear meaning.

John 9:1-7 NKJV Now as Jesus passed by, He saw a man who was blind from birth. (2) And His disciples asked Him, saying, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” (3) Jesus answered, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but that the works of God should be revealed in him. (4) I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work. (5) As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” (6) When He had said these things, He spat on the ground and made clay with the saliva; and He anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay. (7) And He said to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which is translated, Sent). So he went and washed, and came back seeing.

John 9:22 NKJV His parents said these things because they feared the Jews, for the Jews had agreed already that if anyone confessed that He was Christ, he would be put out of the synagogue.

When someone was put out of the synagogue, it did not mean you needed to find somewhere else to worship. This meant that you were eternally lost and there was no hope for you.

John 9:30-38 NKJV The man answered and said to them, “Why, this is a marvelous thing, that you do not know where He is from; yet He has opened my eyes! (31) Now we know that God does not hear sinners; but if anyone is a worshiper of God and does His will, He hears him. (32) Since the world began it has been unheard of that anyone opened the eyes of one who was born blind. (33) If this Man were not from God, He could do nothing.” (34) They answered and said to him, “You were completely born in sins, and are you teaching us?” And they cast him out. (35) Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and when He had found him, He said to him, “Do you believe in the Son of God?” (36) He answered and said, “Who is He, Lord, that I may believe in Him?” (37) And Jesus said to him, “You have both seen Him and it is He who is talking with you.” (38) Then he said, “Lord, I believe!” And he worshiped Him.

John 10:27-31 NKJV My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. (28) And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. (29) My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand. (30) I and My Father are one.” (31) Then the Jews took up stones again to stone Him.

Jesus makes it very clear that when you are in His Kingdom, no man can step between you and God and take you out of God’s hand.

There is no one else that can tamper with your salvation. Your salvation is between you and God alone and no one else can interfere with that.

Romans 8:33-39 NKJV Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. (34) Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. (35) Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? (36) As it is written: “FOR YOUR SAKE WE ARE KILLED ALL DAY LONG; WE ARE ACCOUNTED AS SHEEP FOR THE SLAUGHTER.” (37) Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. (38) For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, (39) nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Paul says there is no one that can come between you and the Lord and affect God’s love for you.

However, there are a number of Scriptures that talk about believers who fall away.

The two most prominent places in the Word that discuss this are referring to a very mature believer who falls away NOT someone who just recently received Jesus or the brand new Christian.

There is a huge difference between someone who is struggling who does not have a lot of knowledge of God, has not been taught the Word of God and is new in their faith and someone who ought to know better.

Hebrews 6:1 NKJV Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God,

Hebrews 6:1 ERV So we should be finished with the beginning lessons about Christ. We should not have to keep going back to where we started. We began our new life by turning away from the evil we did in the past and by believing in God. That’s when we were taught about baptisms, laying hands on people, the resurrection of those who have died, and the final judgment. Now we need to go forward to more mature teaching.

The whole idea of walking with Christ is to grow towards perfection and to rise above sin and not to stay where you are in your walk with the Lord.

Hebrews 6:1-3 NKJV Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, (2) of the doctrine of baptisms, of laying on of hands, of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. (3) And this we will do if God permits.

There is nowhere in the Bible that teaches us that if you sin as a believer, you lose your salvation.

There is a difference between fellowship and relationship. Your fellowship may be broken because of the sin but your relationship is not broken.

Have you ever had an argument with your spouse or maybe your kid has done something to disobey you as the parent? Your fellowship may be broken at that moment, but your relationship is not.

Naturally speaking, if you stay out of fellowship for a long period of time, you will eventually destroy the relationship.

Hebrews 6:4-5 NKJV For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit, (5) and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come,

These are people who are Born Again, partook of the Holy Spirit, have walked in God’s Word and have even experienced the power of God for you and through you.

Hebrews 6:6 NKJV if they fall away, to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put Him to an open shame.

When these people fall away from God, there is no coming back because they don’t want to come back. They would not repent even if they could.

Why did God cast out the third of the angels that rebelled with Lucifer? Why does that seem harsh? It is because they don’t want to repent and come back. Even if God were to hold His hand out in mercy, they don’t care.

The people that have committed the unpardonable sin don’t care and are not the least bit interested in coming back to God. So if you are thinking that you have gone too far and you are afraid that you have committed the unpardonable sin and are eternally lost, that is a good sign that you have not; simply because you are bothered about it. That is a sign that there is a lot of hope for you.

If a person is troubled about where they are in their relationship with God, it is a good sign that they are not in as bad shape as they think they are.

What are the things that lead to a Christian to walk away from their faith?

Romans 1:20-22 AMPC For ever since the creation of the world His invisible nature and attributes, that is, His eternal power and divinity, have been made intelligible and clearly discernible in and through the things that have been made (His handiworks). So [men] are without excuse [altogether without any defense or justification], [Psa 19:1-4] (21) Because when they knew and recognized Him as God, they did not honor and glorify Him as God or give Him thanks. But instead they became futile and godless in their thinking [with vain imaginings, foolish reasoning, and stupid speculations] and their senseless minds were darkened. (22) Claiming to be wise, they became fools [professing to be smart, they made simpletons of themselves].

• People begin to fall when they quit giving God glory.
• People begin to fall when they are no longer thankful.
• People begin to fall when they become vain in their imaginations.
• People begin to fall when they become full of pride.
• People begin to fall when they profess themselves to be wise.

The thing to remember in all of this is that this is a PROCESS and does not happen OVERNIGHT.

Five things that you can do to keep yourself from falling:

1. Do not forsake coming to church and being an active part.

Usually when people fall, it is because they are isolated and disconnected from their local church.

2. Have a regular time of devotion and prayer and spending time in the Word of God.
3. Continually recall God’s goodness and give Him thanks for His goodness in your life.
4. Examine yourself before God and make corrections as He brings things to your attention.

There is a difference between self-examination and self-condemnation.

Self-examination is to keep you of trouble. When you hear that you are sorry and no good is condemnation.

5. Don’t let pride in your life.

Proverbs 16:18 NKJV Pride goes before destruction, And a haughty spirit before a fall.

When you refuse to become prideful, you will always remain sensitive.