Your Comments and Question(s): Dear R. D. - I thank you for your "long" reply to my question.... [You] really took the time to explain, something not too many will do. I have read and noticed these things.... I'm afraid I, as well as many may be caught or snared more than we care to admit though.

My heart has always been to just follow the [Lord] in what he says...but I have veered off the road many times, a lot do to ignorance of the word, a lot due my being naive and innocent...but in the end, all I really want is to just follow and be true to the heart to him. Just this morning, I awoke from a deep sleep...(around 4:30am) muttering the words...."All I want is to do right".... I finally came to and realized what I was saying, and then I just began to cry uncontrollably...this has been going on for at least several months.... I'm not sure why. For the first time in my life, I don't wanna go to services anymore, all I want to do is stay home and read His word… I figure if I do that, perhaps He will speak to me if it isn't too late for me that is.

Sometimes, I think it is....

Man does not have control over anything...all I can do is hope and pray that the [Lord] will see my heart and give me another chance. If He is merciful as the word says, and I believe [He] is...why haven't I [experienced] this mercy yet... I would rather die than just go on living without Him...what's the point anyway???

I need for Him to teach me...although I cannot underestimate a lot of the teaching I have gotten from men... those that teach directly from the word of [God] that is...

Isn't there some benefit in this...doesn't He give some men the ability to teach others His word?

The issue of Tithing that you speak of, is correct as I have asked my Rav these questions, and he has referred me to and explained the clearer meaning of tithing as it related to back in those days and even now, some cannot until the New Temple will be rebuilt.

But as one sister ask me.... If we don't tithe, then how will the bills of the church get paid?

The modern day church is corrupt! The Catholic church is even worst....

Question? Does your site offer high speed internet service?

RJ

My Response(s): Thank you for acknowledging my previous email. I pray that my God and Holy Father in heaven will bless you with the comfort of His Holy Spirit. I ask that you continue in your prayers, and trust God to carry you during your most troublesome times. Yes, most of my responses to emailed questions and comments are in detail, and seek to give you the whole counsel of God with Scripture backup. Concerning remaining faithful, I ask that you remember the men and women of God whom being persecuted by the evil one and his followers sought first God’s strength instead of giving up in their walk of faith. For it is written, "without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him" (Hebrews 11:6 NKJV). Therefore, as followers of Christ we have a point in this present life for God does exist and in the proper time He will fulfill His promises to us. Now, these are what we as true followers of Christ seek and long "for a better country- a heavenly one" prepared by God (Hebrews 11:13-16 NIV). I pray that you will reflect on these things I am saying here, and God will give you insight in this too.

In your comment, "I'm afraid I, as well as many may be caught or snared more than we care to admit though". I think you may have misunderstood my words on those that are "caught" and "snared". While it is true those who rely on the wisdom of this world cannot understand God’s word because they wish to apply human wisdom to the spiritual things of God. As the Holy Spirit says, "the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, ‘He catches the wise in their own craftiness;’ and again, ‘The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile" (1 Corinthians 3:18-20 NKJV). The wise of this world have no fear of God, always wavering in their thoughts because in their heart they do not believe that God is. As it is written, "fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom", and "with humility comes wisdom", and again "anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists" (Proverbs 9:10, 11:2 and Hebrews 11:6 NIV). For it is one thing to do wrong out of our own weakness, but it is a terrible thing to teach others what you know to be wrong while claiming you represent God. As Christ Himself says, "Woe to the world because of the things that cause people to sin! Such things must come, but woe to the man through whom they come!" (Matthew 18:7 NIV).

But to those, whom God has given His Holy Spirit, they understand the spiritual things of God because they have the Spirit of Christ, which searches all things of God. As it is written, "no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God" (1 Corinthians 2:9-12 NKJV). And again, the Holy Spirit ask these questions in Isaiah 28:9 (NKJV) "Whom will he teach knowledge? And whom will he make to understand the message? Those just weaned from milk? Those just drawn from the breasts?" God teaches His word to those who come to Him as babes willing to be taught by His Spirit such as you RJ, and those men whom He has given the ability to teach others.

Jesus in Matthew 11 speaking of the spiritual things from above says, "I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because "You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and have revealed them to babes" (Matthew 11:25 NKJV). And the Spirit again tells us God will teach knowledge to those "just weaned from milk" meaning those who humble themselves as a little child. For it is written, "Let the little children come to Me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it" (Luke 18:16-17 NIV).

Now, you ask, "doesn't He give some men the ability to teach others His word?" Yes, God does give knowledge to some men to teach to others. As the Holy Spirit through the apostle Paul tells us, there must be differences among the followers of Christ because of God giving some this ability to teach. As it is written, "No doubt there have to be differences among you to show which of you have God's approval (1 Corinthians 11:19 NIV). And again it is written, "the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: for to one is given the word of wisdom… to another the word of knowledge… to another prophecy… But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills" (1 Corinthians 12:7-11 NKJV).

Now, you say, "All I want is to do right". This very thing you want to do is what all true followers of Christ want to do also. Yet, we all struggle with this person inside of us, the old man that flesh of sin. For as the apostle Paul confesses being moved by the Spirit of Christ, "I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do" (Romans 7:15 NIV). And again, "What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God – through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God’s law, but in the sinful nature a slave to the law of sin" (Romans 7:24-25 NIV). Yes, Christ will deliver us from this sinful nature. As long as you continue in your heart to serve God and wanting to do God’s will RJ, you are in good company for the men and women of God from ancient times have always struggled in their walk of faith but they persevered until the end, never giving up. There is nothing wrong with you RJ for having godly sorrow, and wanting not to be a slave to your sinful nature because this leads to repentance (2 Corinthians 7:9-11).

You also say that, "all I can do is hope and pray that the Lord will see my heart and give me another chance". As Christians, we do not hope as those without knowledge. We as true followers of Christ Jesus are always looking towards the "blessed hope—the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ" and the "hope of eternal life" (Titus 2:11-14 and 3:7 NIV). And you say, "I would rather die than just go on living without Him... what's the point anyway?" RJ, God has given us His Spirit, and we "did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, ‘Abba, Father’" (Romans 8:15 NKJV). RJ, do not be unaware of the schemes of the evil one, called the god of this world (John 12:31, 14:30, 16:11 and 2 Corinthians 4:4). Do not let your lack of understanding the trials of this present age cause you to give the evil one a foothold (James 1:2-3 and 1 Peter 1:6, 4:12). For God our Holy Father in heaven did not leave us as orphans, but has sent His Holy Spirit into our hearts that we may discern between the spirits (John 14:18, 1 Corinthians 2:14 and 2 Corinthians 1:21-22). "For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. Now it is God who has made us for this very purpose and has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come" (2 Corinthians 5:4-5 NIV). Therefore, I exhort you to "keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer" (Romans 12:11-12 NIV).

And you say, "For the first time in my life, I don't wanna go to services anymore, all I want to do is stay home and read His word... I figure if I do that, perhaps He will speak to me if it isn't too late for me that is". RJ, it is never too late to serve the Lord Jesus Christ (Luke 23:41-43). Yes, there is Scripture saying, "Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching" (Hebrews 10:25 NIV). Again, our Lord Jesus Christ says, "For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them" (Matthew 18:20 NKJV). And there is also Scripture saying, "We believe what people tell us. But we can trust what God says even more, and God is the one who has spoken about his Son" (1 John 5:9 CEV). For the Scripture clearly says, "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" (Romans 15:4 NIV). Therefore, your studying of God’s word is good, and is more important for you than to attend a social party, which most of these worldly churches have during their services. I ask, how many times have someone comment to you about he preached a great sermon, yet they cannot remember what it was about? Now, the Holy Spirit clearly says to the true followers of Christ, "Come out of her, my people, lest you share in her sins, and lest you receive of her plagues" (Revelation 18:4 NKJV). Now, I ask another question, whom then would be "her" in this verse? Is "her" the world or this society? Or is "her" the churches of this world? Yes, the true follower of Christ may attend these churches, but do not be conformed to their ways unless the Holy Scriptures support these doctrines or their ways of doing things.

Now, in asking "If He is merciful as the word says, and I believe it is...why haven't I [experienced] this mercy yet". RJ let us first be grateful to our Holy Father in heaven for all the things He has done for us. Waking us up in the morning, giving us the health we have, giving us ears to hear, eyes to see, and ability to love others, yes there are many more things in this present life where God the Holy Father in heaven has shown us mercy. But above all these things He have given us His Holy Spirit that we may live in the age to come. As it is written, "because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved" (Ephesians 2:4-5 NIV). Yes, again the Spirit tells us the "Lord is very compassionate and merciful" (James 5:11 NKJV). Amen. And praise God for His mercy towards us, and for sustaining this very universe we have life in today (Hebrews 1:3 and Acts 17:27-28).

Therefore, RJ I exhort you to seek the kingdom of God in all that you do. Remembering that the "sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain" (1 Corinthians 15:56-58 NIV). Yes, and God is faithful He will not forget the good you have done as long as your heart is toward Him in the faith of Christ Jesus. I ask you, today have you "suffered so much for the Good News. Surely it was not in vain, was it? Are you now going to just throw it all away? I ask you again, does God give you the Holy Spirit and work miracles among you because you obey the law of Moses? Of course not! It is because you believe the message you heard about Christ" (Galatians 3:4-5 NLT). And again, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ exhorts us to, "not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes will not be hurt at all by the second death" (Revelation 2:10-11 NIV, see also Revelation 2:24-26). Yes, you ask, "I'm not sure why", but I say you, you awaked wanting to do God’s will, because we as true followers of Christ Jesus even in our sleep seek to serve Him for He first loved us (1 John 4:19). I pray that you continue to follow our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, for He who has promised us is faithful (Hebrews 10:23). Again, I pray that we as true followers of Christ will not grow weary in doing the good things of God, for in due time we will reap our reward if we do not give up (Galatians 6:9). Have faith and believe in the Spirit of God that lives in you. Amen. Praise God.

In Christ love,

Ron Davis, servant of Christ