Question #1:
Hi,
Christ the Lord is risen and it is a wonderful day. Every day is a resurrection
day to abide in the One that gives us eternal life. His resurrection means
immediate blessings for us (Ro 4:25; Eph 1:19;23; 1 Cor 15:58; 2 Cor 4:14) and
future blessings (1 cor 15:42-44).
I wish you all the best this Resurrection Sunday and may our Lord and Savior
Jesus Christ continue to keep and protect you and your loved ones and all the
saints in all things during this time and for all times.
love ya much
Thank you!
Response #1:
Amen!
Our Lord's death for us on the cross is the foundation of the entire plan of God
– just as He is the Rock upon which all is built. We celebrate His birth, but it
is His spiritual death for us that saved us, and His resurrection assures our
life eternal with Him in glorious new bodies forever on that great day of days.
I hope it was a blessed day for you and your family, and that very soon you'll
be able to celebrate it together again. Praying for that.
In Jesus our dear Savior,
Bob L.
Question #2:
Thanks Robert. I often find myself thinking prayers as I am sitting or when I am
walking or in the middle of doing something. Could that be considered prayer. Or
do I need a quiet place and grasp my hands to do it?
What about typing words on a screen? Or do I need to think or whisper my prayer?
Would like your thoughts
Yours Sincerely
Response #2:
We type to communicate with others, but we don't need to do that to communicate with God. All we need to do is say the words in our heart, vocalization not being necessary:
And it happened, as she continued praying before the LORD, that Eli watched her mouth. Now Hannah spoke in her heart; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard.
1st Samuel 1:12-13a NKJV
But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith which we preach).
Romans 10:8 NKJV
Here are some links on prayer for you:
In Jesus our dear Savior,
Bob L.
Question #3:
Hi Bob,
Quick question. As I may have mentioned a while back, with the job and new
schedule, I have spent some time thinking about what my time breakdown ought to
be: where to spend time, and how long.
The ratio of English to Greek and Hebrew is one thing, but I've also simply been
considering how much time to spend in concerted prayer. I know some people are
called to this more than others (we all have our own ministries, after all). On
the other hand, prayer is something for us all.
I would wish to avoid thinking something along the lines of "well, I'm a
teacher, so with all these other responsibilities, I'll leave the prayer for
others." Prayer is for us and for our benefit as well as for the benefit of
those for whom we pray.
I do try to pray throughout the day (when going taking a break during the
workday, over lunch, in the car on my commute, etc.), and really more what I'm
asking about is not this background process of continuously asking God for focus
and strength, but the concerted type of prayer where you go through a list of
some form, the kind of prayer with a bit more decided purpose and structure.
I was thinking that my time in the car is a great time to pray -- it makes the
otherwise less productive time when driving more productive, and I can also
speak out loud in the car without needing to worry about the words carrying (I
find praying out loud to myself helps me not lose my focus and train of thought
as much). Praying on my commute also bookends the workday and helps me clear my
head and transition between work and home.
I just haven't done this much until now, and I'm trying to decide if it's too
much or too little time to dedicate to prayer. I could do other useful things on
my commute as well (listening to scripture, catching up with people on the
phone, audio vocab flashcards for Greek and Hebrew, etc.), but I also don't want
to forgo prayer as if it weren't important.
What do you think? I'm certainly not going to just legalistically pray for the
exact number of minutes you mention (if you suggest a number at all), I'm just
trying to get a feel for what seems reasonable for someone with my spiritual
gifts and apparent ministry calling (which is not particularly prayer-focused,
as it seems to me). 15 minutes? 30 minutes? An hour?
Your brother in Christ,
Response #3:
There's no one set answer to this. Everyone has to come to their own personal
approach with which they feel comfortable. Clearly, more is better than less.
And quality time in prayer is better than after-thought prayer. Making the best
use of our time is an issue, but also accomplishing what we've determined to do
is not unimportant. If I tell someone I'm praying for them or will pray for
them, I try to do so – regularly. We all approach this differently, but having a
personal list where you get to all the prayers you've promised to pray is not a
bad thing. Building good things into one's schedule is also not a bad idea.
That's the only way I've been able to accomplish what needs to be done in my
life.
Once you're married, this will be even more challenging. Putting a time limit on
it is not the way I would do it (as I said, we're all different); getting to
what we have determined to do sometimes is quicker, sometimes slower. As with
reading your Bible, the important thing is to do it.
So this is another instance of where if we're not careful the perfect can become
the enemy of the possible: we should do what we can and try to improve without
letting failure to meet an ideal stop us from doing anything at all.
In Jesus our dear Lord,
Bob L.
Question #4:
Hi Bob,
I hear you loud and clear on not letting the perfect get in the way of the
possible (or the good). This is definitely something I struggle with.
So if not time limits, with prayers we've promised instead dictating (at least
to an extent) how much we pray, how do we determine how big our list gets? For
example, the Ichthys prayer request list is quite long.
I guess I myself haven't promised to pray for all these folks -- not that this
should necessarily stop me from doing so. But, just as an example, I've told our
friend explicitly that I'll be praying for his situation in the aftermath of his
father's passing. So I can definitely count that one as "on my list."
Then there are things like praying for forgiveness for our sins, praying for our
country, our leaders, family members, friends, and so on that have no "promises"
involved. We should still probably pray in all these ways though. Not to mention
the Lord's prayer.
Perhaps a good way of looking at it is {base prayers that we should do
regardless, like praying for our family, the Lord's prayer, etc.} + {the list of
prayers we've personally promised others}? At least as a reasonable starting
point?
Yours in Christ,
Response #4:
Sounds like a great starting point to me!
As you move forward with this, you'll make changes, additions and subtractions,
depending upon what you've promised to do, what it seems good for you to pray
for regularly, and whatever other elements you want to include in your daily
prayer routine.
We are all different and we all do it differently. Doing it – and being
consistent with it – is what is really important.
In Jesus Christ our dear Savior,
Bob L.
Question #5:
Thank you Sir, quite a time but trusting our Lord Jesus I follow your teachings
daily. I have seeing BB 6B Ecclesiology
(downloaded). Am reading some of your email responses on eschatology,
Antichrist, the tribulation et al.
May the Lord open the eyes of our fellows in the Lord on errors of pre-trib
rapture as the time draws closer daily.
Thank you again as it gladdened my heart that you still have me in mind as I
hope to seeing in you on that day even if I may not see you now and here.
SHALOM.
Response #5:
Thank you!
I appreciate your dedication to the Lord and to the truth, my friend.
In Jesus Christ our dear Lord and Savior,
Bob L.
Question #6:
[omitted by request]
Response #6:
It's always great to hear from you, my friend.
As to your questions, first, there is no advantage in speaking prayers out loud
apart from the fact that others can hear you when you do so (and there are
definitely occasions for public, group prayer). But God certainly hears silent
prayer, called in the Bible, "speaking in one's heart" (cf. 1Sam.1:13). No,
demons can't read our minds. But they are clever enough. As I often say, if we
could secretly observe someone for years, we'd have a pretty good idea what they
were thinking. I wouldn't worry about that either. The best approach to
"spiritual warfare" is to operate as if demons didn't even exist. We know that
they do, but they can't lift a finger against us unless the Lord allows it – and
we have God the Holy Spirit indwelling us, after all (1Jn.4:4).
As to what our Lord looked like, I am in agreement with the hesitancy I find in
your email here. The "picture" we have of the Lord should be one of truth, and
not mere appearance. Knowing what He "looked like" then would not be at all
helpful for our spiritual growth. Think how appearances change our perception of
people generally, as when we know someone from email or the phone, and then see
them for the first time, there is often a disconnect. It's better to "know"
someone from their words and deeds – which illuminate their heart – than merely
from their appearance. Our Lord had no "special appearance" during His first
advent (Is.53:2), and after He rose, He was apparently not readily recognized
(as can be seen from a number of the resurrection appearances) . . . and NOW His
appearance is overwhelmingly glorious (cf. Rev.1:12-17).
So I personally have striven for decades to "see Him" as He is in His character
and apart from what He looks like in terms of physical appearance, and I believe
that is the thrust of all the biblical passages which tell us
to focus on Him (see the link). We want to "see Him" as He really is in His
loving, gracious Person, and a physical picture of Him would only detract from
that, I think. I believe that is what Paul is saying when He says, "Even though
we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him thus no longer"
(2Cor.5:16b NKJV). So I for one did NOT see that movie "The Passion of the
Christ", and avoid all such things. Pictures and the like smack of idolatry as
far as I'm concerned, and are not helpful for those who are really trying to
draw close to Him . . . through the truth of the Word (the only way to do it).
So I would rather concentrate on who He is and what He has done for us than what
He looked (or looks) like – and that is in fact the theme and essential content
of all the holy scriptures.
Thanks for sharing Ichthys! But please don't be too disappointed if you don't
get the "response rate" you were hoping for. When I first got excited about the
truth I thought it just a simple matter of presenting others with the same truth
that so thrilled me – but others were generally not thrilled. That has to come
from the individual's own heart.
In Jesus Christ our dear Lord and Savior,
Bob L.
Question #7:
Hi dear professor Luginbill,
First, I hope your health is good and you family and job are well. I do pray
often, but not everyday, I am trying to get in the habit of praying daily. Not
trying to boast, it is really just the one good deed I have right now that I can
see and it is costless and priceless just to take a couple minutes and do.
I once in a while pay attention to the media and I see groups that were held up
as standards and individuals just believing in delusions, and it makes you
realize the enemy could easily get people to follow him even and tattoo
themselves with the 666 mark. (People like you and me who've grown up in a
church might have found it hard to believe due to that it is directly mentioned
in the Bible, even if you didn't quite understand the other stuff). It is a bit
sad. And then the Corona virus is revving up and see just how easily it can all
fall apart.
I really long for us to already be there with the Family, and God, enjoying each
other and His new world. I hope as many as who would be willing, would come to
believe that that day when it is all over happens soon and quickly,
Response #7:
A serious believer who has ANYONE to talk to nowadays who also loves the truth
is blessed indeed.
I'm eager and anxious for the other side too – I think that's the right attitude
for genuine believers to have. And I'm sure that will become much more
pronounced once the Tribulation begins.
By all means keep praying! I think it's wonderful that you are seeing this more
and more as a spiritual weapon you can deploy whenever you see things that are
wrong or irksome or dangerous. That is so much better than what many do, even
most Christians, namely, to just get upset as if nothing can be done.
"And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?"
Luke 18:7-8 NIV
Your friend in Jesus Christ,
Bob L.
Question #8:
And you know how I always complain that I don't know what good works I am to do? Well I realized that if the good works of prayer are opportunities from God (and they are), that is the good works He has for me to do! So I am doing it. Or at least part. Anyway, I really will give you a long break. Working on Greek vocab and that takes time.
Response #8:
Yes indeed! Keep praying!
It would probably appall us all to find out how little actual prayer from
believers who are spiritually mature is currently landing before the throne of
grace.
Yours in Jesus Christ,
Bob L.
Question #9:
Dear Bob:
Please pray that I will have the strength of faith and loyalty to Christ that
will bring me through the Tribulation. May God have me till the end of my life
and may I receive the crown of glory.
That I will overcome all challenges of the coming persecution if it is coming.
That my sinful habits are broken and I am freed to be rich in good works of Gold
and Precious Stones rather than Straw and Wood that would be burnt away on the
last day.
May the majority of my work be Gold and precious stones and not straw and wood.
Yours in Christ
Response #9:
I will do so. But keep in mind that the Spirit of God within you is more
powerful than anything in this world. All you have to do is to say "yes!" to Him
and not "no!" to Him.
In Jesus our dear Savior,
Bob L.
Question #10:
Hi Bob,
Just a couple of quick things.
I hope you don't mind me saying this and please don't take offence but can I ask
in advance to refrain from posting my emails about ___. Thanks Bob.
On another matter, I'm saddened to say that I witnessed a car break in from my
bedroom this morning! I didn't know what to do so I just kept shouting to raise
awareness. I then wrote down what I saw and reported it to the police online. I
tried to phone but it was impossible to get through.
Sadly the man put a brick through a car window of a nurse working locally. He
did it to steal her handbag. I was frozen in shock when I saw it and could only
think to yell "stop thief" repeatedly and rather impotently through the window.
I fear that as the police are less and less visible here in England that crime,
especially opportunistic crime, will rise. I fear that this will also lead to
vigilantism. What should a Christian do when face to face with a crime being
committed?
I know that Americans believe in the right to bear arms. The U.K. does not even
believe in our rights to protect ourself. I think we may be able to use
"reasonable force". Is self defence vengeance though?
Jesus asked us to turn the other cheek. What if someone broke into this house. I
have my elderly parents to think about. I fear that the repercussions are worse
than the virus. The cure is worse than the disease itself. I feel that civil
unrest and societal breakdown is not round the corner but here! This man broke
into a car in a street filled with people in lockdown in broad daylight. 10.30
am this morning!
Only myself and a neighbour saw it and tried to stop it. Ironically a lot of my
relatives and neighbours were busy watching Easter Sunday services being
streamed online when it was happening. The street was deserted.
I want to do the right thing but that has to be the right thing by God.
God bless you Bob.
Hope you are surviving.
In Him,
p.s., Also I want to add... I prayed for that thief that I saw. We are all
sinners and Jesus died for all sins. It is very heartbreaking that a person
could think that was a good thing to do especially in times like this. I've
prayed that this man turns to Jesus and walks away from his ways while there is
still time. We all know how miserable sin is.
Response #10:
I've put those emails in my "skip" file, so no worries there, my friend. I am
concerned about your situation, however, so do take pains to stay safe – and I
do continue to pray for you to find a safe place to "land".
As I've often had occasion to remark, there is a difference between overlooking
offenses that come at the hands of brethren in Christ and submitting to criminal
activity; it is the former we are encouraged to do, but as to the latter our
Lord told the disciples, after all, that they had better start carrying swords
on their journeys after He was no longer around to protect them personally
(Lk.22:36). Here is a pertinent link on that:
"The biblical view of self-defense".
As to the rotten deed you witnessed, it sounds to me as if you did everything
you possibly could do. The Lord doesn't expect an unarmed woman to take on a
violent criminal when it's not absolutely necessary. As to what societies and
political systems do, blessedly, we who are walking with Jesus Christ need not
concern ourselves overly with such things; in fact it can be a trap to get too
upset about things that without a godly perspective can be very upsetting, but
we know that although . . .
The wicked plots against the just,
And gnashes at him with his teeth.
The Lord laughs at him,
For He sees that his day is coming.
Psalm 37:12-13 NKJV
As to prayer, I would never tell someone not to pray about just about anything
that comes into their heart for the salvation and spiritual growth of anyone. I
will notice, however, that those who are so selfish as to do the vile thing you
witnessed are unlikely candidates to turn to the Lord, but the nurse who's
things were damaged and stolen could certainly use your prayers.
In Jesus our dear Lord and Savior,
Bob L.
Question #11:
Hi Bob,
Yes I understand that some people do not want the truth but appealing lies that
allow them to carry on living their lives how they've already chosen to live.
___ says that she hates the expression "born again". How can she hate these
words when they were spoken by Jesus Himself? Is it fear and worry that she
isn't?
Today and yesterday I have been crying about this. I understand what Paul felt
in Romans 9:3. It's deeply painful when it's your own family. People you love
deeply.
I have racked my brains on what to do. I've tried exposing Vatican heresies,
tried to show how worldly they are, how corrupt, how blind and naked they are.
All this does is make ___ cling to it even harder.
I've tried to tell them the Gospel but they say they know it already but it is a
works Gospel. They can't bear to hear that unbelievers are not saved. They
prefer a universalist salvation.
I have been told not to talk about the bible/ religion any more. I have been
told I cause distress and unhappiness. I realise that I have been in the flesh
while I've tried to witness to them. I've not humbled myself to the Holy Spirit.
I haven't acted on the Spirit's promptings and instead gone in feet first with
both guns blazing. I have gone in there like any other immature evangelical
bible thumper and had the obvious and predictable responses.
I have more recently desisted from doing this as I have grown up a little bit
now. I am sometimes drawn into things because ___ still sees my spiritual growth
in Catholic terms I.e. Why don't I become a nun or a Eucharistic minister. Even
when I keep my responses brief "I'm not a Catholic anymore, I'm a Christian" it
stings her and is taken as a rejection and a reproach.
I've done it all the wrong way and now I find myself frustrated and crying about
it.
I feel that the answer is to keep on with my own walk. To grow and mature and
apply the truth to my life. To reflect the true light to them in the months and
years ahead going into our darkest hours here.
I will keep on praying for them and their salvation everyday. I know I can trust
God and I know that in the end, everything will come out for good. I know this
and I know I can rely on this completely. When I think on this, I feel great
peace inside myself.
I don't have control over much in life. I even struggle to control my own
tongue! God IS in control though and because of this I have peace. I am
completely dependent on God for the life I have and the air that I breathe. This
is a huge comfort. God is all around me and He will never leave me or forsake
me.
Psalm 139
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.biblegateway.com/passage/%3fsearch=Psalm%2b139&version=KJV&interface=amp
In Jesus, the Alpha and the Omega,
Response #11:
There is a limit to what we can do about people we love who don't believe – or
who are not nearly as zealous for the truth as we are. In fact, there is a time
for everything as you know (Eccl.3:1-8), so that pressing things at the wrong
time or beyond their time can be counterproductive. But we can always pray. And
we can always trust the Lord that He does hear our prayers and that He is in
fact working things out for good. We should not assume that because we don't
have instantaneous response to our prayers that we will have no response at all.
Human beings that we are, we are not by nature patient (I'm sure not); but we
learn as we grow that God does things at the perfect time, even if that's not
OUR preferred time.
There's plenty of time ahead – and plenty of things that are bound to shake the
most comfortable people out of their spiritual torpor. If they are willing to be
shaken, that is. If not, there's little we can do if they refuse to respond to
the Lord shaking the world. But let's see how that "shakes out" first before we
give up.
Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. He said: “In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared what people thought. And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, ‘Grant me justice against my adversary.’ “For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, ‘Even though I don’t fear God or care what people think, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won’t eventually come and attack me!’ ” And the Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says. And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?”
Luke 18:1-8 NIV
In Jesus our dear Savior.
Bob L.
Question #12:
Hi Bob,
Hope you've had a good day. England lost the rugby world cup final on Saturday
but no worries - the pavers came and finished the job on your street and I'm
still dead chuffed about that!
I have a tiny bit of news from my end of the planet! [omitted] It's not my usual
way of finding work, but I think it's the Lord working it all out in a way that
He knows is best for me at the moment. It's definitely making me trust Him more
because nothing is permanent or set hours. I'll let you know when they call me
for my first day's work with them.
Thanks so much as well, Bob for your prayers for me and my gang. I know this
sounds a bit barmy but sometimes I feel bad because I haven't got any news to
tell you as far as them being more open to the Lord. But then as much as I would
love them all to be saved right NOW, it's out of my control. They have free will
and everything is in the Lord's timing and not mine. Some of it might be for my
benefit as well in the testing of my faith, perseverance and persistence in
prayer. Similar to how you have been praying for your loved ones for many years.
I'm just really grateful to you for your love and patience in praying for them.
Love this week's email postings and I've had a couple of questions answered
through them. I'm still continuing on with 2B.
You and your family will always be in my prayers too!
Your friend in Jesus Christ
Response #12:
So it goes. I watched a little bit of the World Series last week because my
buddy from Houston, is an Astros fan. I held off congratulating him on his teams
success – and a good thing too, because after being up 3-2 they ended up losing
the last two games . . . at home.
Great news on the job front! This really is probably the Lord working it out for
you. I have worried about you strapping on a full time job with no let up.
Better – I would think – to work into that what with all you've got going on.
Good to give those knees a day or two off other than just weekends (which, with
a family, would hardly be "off" working full time).
I do try to be persistent in prayer – that is what we are commanded (Lk.18:1-8).
Just this week I got two great pieces of news about people I've been praying for
for a long time with only silence. One man's granddaughter had disappeared for
years with a meth habit and was feared dead: recently resurfaced, off the drugs,
and married in a stable relationship. Now we pray for complete family
reconciliation and coming back to a close walk with the Lord. Another two
brothers in difficult circumstances fell off the radar screen but came back
strong, passing some very difficult tests. Now we pray for them for health and
spiritual growth.
For this reason, when I could no longer endure it, I sent to know your faith, lest by some means the tempter had tempted you, and our labor might be in vain.
1st Thessalonians 3:5 NKJV
Even Paul had to wait on prayer being answered when it came to people he loved
and cared about. Time drags for us, but the Lord sees the end just as clearly as
the beginning – in fact God has ordained it all. Our part is to stick with our
prayers, demonstrating that we do consider Him faithful . . . which He
absolutely is.
Keeping your family – and you – in my prayers every day, my friend.
In Jesus Christ our dear Lord and Savior,
Bob L.
Question #13:
Hello Bob,
How are you? I hope you are well.
Is it possible to add another prayer request on your site?
My cousin's appendix operation was left too long by the NHS hospital and it
appears to have burst during the operation and so they will probably have to
operate again. They seem to be dawdling over it again (he's been in hospital
over this 15 times now and at one point claimed it was "all in his head!")
I know that burst appendix can be a very serious thing and they don't seem to be
in any immediate rush to do the second operation so he is in our Lord's hands. I
am hoping for the best but because he has been neglected for so long over this I
thought it best to resume witnessing to him again.
I have been trying to be gentle about it. He is very young for his age (late
20s) so I have tried to witness as simply as possible. I have tried to tell him
that it is not about "church" or religion but a relationship with Jesus and that
we can trust Him in whatever we are going through. I have attested that the Lord
can be completely trusted and that He is our strength and He will always carry
us through no matter what is happening to us. I have also told him how much
Jesus loves him and how much I've been helped personally by Jesus. I've told him
that it is like a best friend friendship but unlike the human ones we have it is
one that will never fail or grow weary or bored. Quick to listen and slow to
anger. I hope I planted a seed. I tried to be as gentle and loving as I can.
There seems to be a reluctance from others about my witnessing to him but I get
private messages at the moment to him and he seems receptive.
In Jesus,
Response #13:
I've added the prayer request for him at the top of the list.
I've said a prayer for ___ as well.
Hope to hear good news soon about his health and also coming to the Lord.
In Jesus,
Bob L.
Question #14:
Thanks Bob,
I really appreciate your prayers and your swiftness in reply. I'm not sure how
to navigate around this. Sometimes I am brought in and sometimes I am shut out.
I am walking on eggshells around the situation. It requires kid gloves and a
deftness of touch.
Sometimes I am asked for help and support and sometimes I feel I am stepping on
toes. Things change minute by minute so I entrust it all to the Lord and try to
remember that I am to be a witness to others around this situation too.
Thanks again for your support and kindness my friend.
In Him,
Response #14:
If we're not sure whether or not we're doing too much or too little, we're
probably right in the best possible spot.
Relax and leave it to the Lord. Remember: the Spirit is the One who is doing the
heavy lifting. We are just making ourselves available to Him.
Keeping you and ___ in my prayers.
In Jesus,
Bob L.
Question #15:
Dear Bob:
I found out that one of the men I knew online asked for forgiveness and believed
that Jesus is God.
He has been trying out different prayers:
"I've begun praying recently and I'm unsure on how to do it best. There are
many different prayers listed in different places, in different languages and so
on. I've personally been praying beginning with accepting Jesus Christ as god
and asking for forgiveness. Then I usually ask for strength to deal with some
problem of mine, to resist sin or to be courageous or to keep me focused and
such things. I do not ask directly for anything, but try to think about what I
would need to do in order to achieve what I would have asked for. I could ask to
have the strength to not allow myself to feel threatened by current events
because feeling so makes me angry and aggressive and that leads to hating, which
isn't good. I've seen quite good results so far of this method, but I also feel
like I'm being tested. I will pray and it seem that good things happen, but then
I might regress after seeing such rapid positive progress. For me personally, I
struggle with pride and wrath. Success tends to breed these. In any case, I've
begun praying and I think I am on the right path."
If he asked for the Holy Spirit will he receive it at this point? Or has he
received the Holy Spirit already. I am unsure if he has been born again.
God Bless
Response #15:
No one can really know the heart of another person. But if this individual is
professing acceptance of Jesus Christ and His work (which is the basis for
forgiveness), I don't know what else we would need to know. Note: all believers
have the Holy Spirit (cf. e.g., Rom.8:9b); no need to pray for what we all have
at salvation.
Of course once a person is saved, what is needed then is not more additional
prayers to be saved. Salvation is sure, for all who maintain their faith in
Jesus Christ. What is needed next is spiritual growth. That is what Ichthys is
dedicated to of course. I usually recommend the
Peter series (link) for new believers;
Bible Academy is also an
excellent place to get one's spiritual "feet on the ground".
In Jesus Christ our dear Lord and Savior,
Bob L.
Question #16:
Hi Bob,
I need some clarification. In my prayers, I have a tendency to finish with "In
Jesus' Name, Amen." (An old family tradition.) It doesn't appear in NIV Matthew
6:13, the Lord's prayer which is the example He gives, so it seems almost like
useless words for which the Lord criticized the Pharisees. If I remember right,
I think you wrote that this was an addition.
Also, if the Spirit is indwelling, prayer whether addressed to the Father (which
I do for the most part) or the Lord is transmitted by the Spirit directly to
God. (John 1:1-4) Whether vocalized or not, it's the same. My prayers have a
tendency to be ongoing conversations, sometimes vocal, many times not. No one is
here who couldn't hear either way.
I always keep Matthew 21:22 and James 4:3 in mind and it's a comfort.
Am I thinking straight?
Yours in our Lord Jesus,
Response #16:
There's nothing wrong with this convention. Here are our Lord's own words on the subject:
"And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in My name, I will do it."
John 14:13-14 NKJV
"And in that day you will ask Me nothing. Most assuredly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you. Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full."
John 16:23-24 NKJV
There are many ways to pray. As long as we are praying "in the Spirit", that is, in fellowship with the Lord and praying with good Christian motives (as opposed to Jas.4:3) and in faith (according to Matt.21:22) we can have confidence that our prayers are being heard, regardless of any formulae used. In general, as long as the above stipulations are adhered to, more is better.
Pray continually!
1st Thessalonians 5:17 NIV
Whether we pray silently or out loud, whether we pray to our Lord Jesus Christ or to the Father, whether we do this at set times or at various times, in church or on the prairie, God hears – and God answers the believer's prayer of faith.
"If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it."
John 14:14
In Jesus,
Bob L.
Question #17:
Thank you so much Bob. It is wonderful to have your fellowship, friendship and
teaching.
Maybe for the first time now I am really seeing and understanding the
battlefield that I stand on. I am accepting the spiritual reality that I cannot
see with my fleshly eyes.
I am submitting myself to the Holy Spirit and humbling myself to God's will and
instruction. He is my Father and I want to be His obedient child. I realise that
is why Jesus said we must be like children. Abraham and Moses (among others)
responded as trusting and obedient children to their perfect Father. I too now
am choosing to submit in trust and obedience to my perfect Heavenly Father. I
realise that whenever I am led by my own flesh, I fall and give a victory to the
enemy. When I trust in God, I can grow and strengthen in my faith walk and the
same time I am giving a strong witness to others.
I realise that all good comes from God and I know that He has intervened with
___ and I feel all eyes are upon me for how I respond. I want to only respond in
a way that glorifies God. I want to respond rather than react. At first I really
panicked when this first happened but now I am laying all my fear at Jesus' feet
and instead trusting Him for my deliverance. He will be with me every step of
the way and guide each step that I must follow through the Holy Spirit. Now that
I am giving myself over to the Spirit, I can feel tremendous peace despite all
the arrows and ammo that I am being bombarded with right now.
I realise though that although I am choosing to respond in faith and to trust
God and be patient for my deliverance and to avoid complaining about the fiery
trial I am now in, others around me without faith will not be. I see that they
are trusting in their own flesh but their flesh is failing them and they
exhausted, anguished and bitter. The advice I get from everyone around is highly
contradictory and changes with the wind. I realise it is because they are on the
sand and not on the Rock and so are buffeted around by every breeze and tide.
Instead I am listening to the Holy Spirit and I am also listening to your
ministry. I have submitted to the authority of the Holy Spirit and the authority
of your ministry. Your ministry has been a great help to me, the teaching has
fed me and assisted my slow and gradual maturing faith. I am trying not to take
any of this personally. I think of Job and that the enemy sometimes uses our
loved ones to attack us and shake our faith. By attacking ___, the enemy is
showing that he can destroy him and he hopes to destroy my family through
anguish and exhaustion and to tear my faith away from me.
I will not allow this. Instead I am "doubling down" in faith. I am relying and
seeking Jesus more than ever. Jesus is very precious to me because He knows what
it is to be human, He knows what it is to suffer in the flesh. He knows what it
is like to fight the spiritual battle on earth and to weep when He sees loved
ones suffer. I want to follow Jesus' way through the Holy Spirit.
Sometimes I am not sure when to pray to Jesus and when to pray to our Father? I
pray to God for everything in Jesus' name but am concerned that I am not praying
to Jesus enough and speaking to Him alone. Are there some things / some
times I should speak to Jesus about and other times our Father? Recently I have
been praying to the Father through Jesus' name but I am worried that I may be
giving Jesus' disrespect if I am only doing this.
Someone said that we shouldn't pray to God through Jesus as though Jesus was
merely a postbox that collected mail for God. I guess I am still a little unsure
in these matters. I know that Jesus, the Father and the Spirit are co-equal
despite many people these days fighting against this. I guess I still find some
things hard to understand. I accept them but I can't at times understand how it
all works through the Trinity. Are their ministries different? Do they have
different authority or work to do?
I know that you will cover these things in your
Bible Basics series. I am trying to
keep up with some study but at the moment, it is a slog from sun up to sun down
and I pretty much flop into bed at night. I do watch tv when I eat and I watched
a film last night before bathing and going to bed which I regret now. It would
be better if I spend my free time studying or watching a
Bible Academy video.
I know though that ultimately this will all be for the good.
Thanks again Bob for your friendship and support. You are the only believer I
know who diligently seeks the Word for everything. I rely an awful lot on your
guidance and teaching.
In Jesus, God-Man and our Saviour,
Response #17:
I'm very encouraged by your good words of wisdom and truth, my friend! You are
set on the right course. Be pleased to stay on it and stick with it and all will
be well in the end – even if there are some storms in between (there always
are).
I do pray that these events will be a wake-up call for all concerned. Your own
faith is being tested, but I am confident that it will come out like gold
refined.
(6) In anticipation of this ultimate deliverance, your joy overflows, though at present it may be your lot to suffer for a time through various trials (7) to the end that your faith may be shown to be genuine. This validation of your faith is far more valuable than gold, for gold, though it too is assayed by fire, ultimately perishes. But your faith, when proven genuine in the crucible of life, will result in praise, glory and honor for you at the glorious return of Jesus Christ.
1st Peter 1:6-7
All prayer to God is received when offered by believers. We are told to pray always "in the Spirit", meaning being in fellowship with Him when we pray (not in stubborn refusal to confess sin), but the fact that Jesus tells us we can pray to Him does not mean that we should not or cannot pray to the Father or vice versa. Our prayers are received either way. So I wouldn't concern myself with that issue. Just keep praying! The Spirit sorts it all out in any case.
In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.
Romans 8:26-27 NIV
God is hearing your prayers, my friend! So keep on putting your petitions before
Him. He will bring about your deliverance in good time – even if it requires a
little patience. Therein lies the test.
I promise to keep up the prayer on my end as well.
In Jesus Christ our dear Lord and Savior,
Bob L.
Question #18:
Hello Bob,
How are you? Hope your health and work situation is improving.
Just a really quick question. How should I address my prayers? When I ask for
forgiveness should I ask Jesus or my Father. I know that Jesus is my intercessor
so is it the right approach to pray to Jesus and then to my Father?
For most of the time I have been praying to God directly but recently have been
concerned that this sometimes makes me feel as though I am leaving Jesus out of
it and that has made me unhappy.
I realise that this is just a symptom of the childish nature of my faith, that
is not yet mature. I do wish to grow correctly though and I wish Jesus to know
how much I love and depend upon Him.
In Our Saviour Jesus Christ,
Response #18:
A lot of people have this question. The Trinity are "one" in a way we cannot
even imagine – even though Father, Son and Holy Spirit are three distinct
persons.
Our Lord told us we could ask Him anything (Jn.14:14), so Father and Son are
both "addressable" (see the link).
The Spirit's chosen role is one of staying in the background and empowering, so
for that reason no doubt there is no scripture talking about addressing Him in
prayer. We listen to His "still, small voice" (1Ki.19:10), and therein lies the
power of God.
Keeping you in my prayers, my friend.
In Jesus our dear Savior,
Bob L.
Question #19:
Dear Teacher-
Please pray for my daughter. She has come from college to stay until she returns
for her next semester, and her overall state is a concern to me. She is not
doing particularly well at school, continuing in longstanding focus and
motivation issues. She seems to sift everything through a necessity filter that
leaves out anything that brings her genuine happiness, which seems to be having
a negative affect on her. She is very likely suffering from depression. And, at
the heart of it all, she is not a believer - indeed, she proclaims herself an
atheist, and is not even the least bit interested in spiritual or even
philosophical ideas of any kind. It would be some little comfort to know she was
at least questioning/pondering something - the kind of emptiness I see is
disturbing. To be honest, I had a rather peculiar feeling talking with her last
night and even more reflecting on our conversation - the thought of some kind of
satanic influence/attack/something crossed my mind, but I’m trying to keep my
imagination from running away with me on that count.
Please pray also for me. There is a whole history which I will refrain from
unpacking just now. Suffice it to say that guilt feelings run strong here; some
of my sins of the past have certainly caused her great harm. In faith, I know I
am forgiven and am not responsible for her ultimate standing with God. Still, I
am responsible for what I do now. This is a “moment of reckoning” I have been
anticipating and a test I have been preparing for - to face the consequences of
my actions in her and to convey something of what God has been working in me to
one who has every reason to doubt it. While it is early in her time here yet, I
sensed a faltering in my hesitation to take advantage of a couple of openings in
conversation, as well as awkwardness continuing my daily walk apace, and thought
it best to seek some reinforcements in prayer! (I should note that she
apparently bears me no I’ll will, and we have generally good relations - in a
worldly sense, at least.)
Thank you for being faithful to your ministry! You are ever in my prayers.
You student in Christ Jesus our Lord,
Response #19:
I am praying for your daughter – and you. I would also be happy to place a
prayer request on the Ichthys list.
Young people, as my maternal grandfather used to say, often have a tendency to
"go over fool hill" just to see what's on the other side. Most of them with a
good Christian upbringing eventually come back – I did, at any rate.
In terms of your responsibility, there are no such things as "perfect parents".
And even so, mine were the greatest, and yet I still had a few "wander-years" as
the Germans say. So I wouldn't beat myself up, if I were you. The witness of the
life is powerful, and you are living for Christ NOW. I'm sure the changes
haven't escaped your daughter's ken. Keeping that up is the first, best thing
you can do for her.
As far as reaching out in active witness, that is always a judgment call, and,
in my observation and experience, all the more delicate when it involves family
and close friends who "knew us when". Best thing there is to keep the lines of
communication – and willingness to listen – open, as far as it is in our power
to do so, and wait for good opportunities to place a good word.
A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver.
Proverbs 25:11 NKJV
Wishing you and your family a wonderful Thanksgiving!
In Jesus our dear Savior,
Bob L.
Question #20:
Hi Bob,
Hope your Thanksgiving was good. We ended up in Colorado visiting __'s family.
We stayed for 3 days drove for 4. Almost 2000 miles. We got back late Saturday
night. __ was headed back to college yesterday and broke down just 30 minutes
out. We had to go rescue her. Something went wrong with her car. __'s been
working on figuring it out today.
I don't think I mentioned in my last emails that we pulled ___ from public
school. We have been contemplating it for some time and the whole Covid thing
gave us a good reason. I felt it was good timing. The schools just aren't what
they use to be even in these small towns. The world is changing so fast.
We have been so busy getting settled and working that I haven't spent to much
time or thought on home schooling programs. I thought of you this evening as I
was going through many website's trying to find something. Do you know anyone
that home-schools and uses online courses? Do you personally know of any good
online courses? I'm struggling with what I should do. Someone asked me not so
long ago what I was doing with __'s home-schooling and I kinda joked with them
and said "nothing like most home-schoolers" It's seems like that has been true
for all the home-schoolers I know so I really don't have any good sources to
ask. Not a biggie if you don't know anything.
On another note, __ didn't meet us for Thanksgiving this year. Last year it
worked out great because he lived only 3 hrs from ___'s mom's. [omitted] My
heart sunk. I didn't respond to him about his friend. Just talked a bit about
the town, his dogs and job. I feel he is just trying to get us use to being okay
with it and that it's just going to take time. He talks to us like it's nothing
unusual or wrong. He knows we don't approve but acts like he is ok with our
disapproval. I thought by staying in touch and having some sort of relationship
it would be a good thing but I think he is just using it as a way to try and
talk us into thinking what he is doing is just fine. Every Christmas he usually
comes and sees us but I think this Christmas will be different. I'm usually the
one making the plans and trying to pull it all together to make it work out for
him to fly out every year. I think I might leave it up to him this time. I just
don't know what to do, how can you raise such a good kid and things turn so bad?
It makes me feel all my efforts were for nothing or maybe I didn't do something
right. When he was a teenager I was working and I remember being so busy. I
probably wasn't paying attention enough to all the TV shows and stuff he was
watching on the internet. I wish I could go back to those days. This makes me so
sad. All I guess I can do is have hope, just maybe he will change his mind.
How are you doing with your classes? ___ and ___ are chugging along with their
online classes. They are taking it day by day. Some days are good some are not.
Hope yours are mostly good.
Have a good evening.
Response #20:
Always great to hear from you, my friend. Wow! You guys are real "road
warriors"! I used to be able to drive cross country, but those days are in the
rear view mirror, so to speak (thankfully too).
It's funny, but in praying for your family I have been praying for ___'s
education, so I hope this is an answer. In terms of "how to home school", having
never done it on either end, I'm not the right person to ask. However, you've
probably heard me mention my good friend and seminary colleague Curtis Omo who
runs Bible Academy (link). He
and his wife home-schooled their six kids. I think he would be a good person to
ask about curriculum and scheduling and the like. You can tell him that Bob
Luginbill sent you.
I'm sorry to hear about ___. I've been praying for that as well. I do understand
your dilemma and I think you have outlined the situation perfectly. You've
always had good spiritual common sense and radar too. I want to say two things
first: 1) You are not the only one in this situation. I know a number of good
Christians who are having to deal with this "problem" in regard to their adult
children, and it is certainly not an easy one; 2) Good parents ALWAYS seem to
blame themselves for the mistakes of their kids; bad parents never do – and
sometimes, often times, their kids turn out OK in spite of them. Every parent
can look back and say "if only I'd done this" or "not done that", because good
parents are not perfect and no child is perfect, so that we can all have some
regrets about the way we brought up our kids. But God knows everything and He is
gracious. Just because we are having to suffer through some troubles or angst
concerning our children and their bad decisions does NOT mean that it will go on
forever. It tends to go on longer than we would like. That is a test. As to how
to handle it, I think you are doing things exactly right and also following the
advice I always give, namely, to keep the lines of communication open without at
the same time enabling bad behavior. That can be a thin line to have to tread,
but if anyone can figure it out, you certainly can – with the aid of the Holy
Spirit.
Our Thanksgiving was wonderful – a nice break after a very difficult semester –
harder than advertised because of having to accommodate about half or more of my
students at one point or another for not being able to make it to classes in our
semi-remote semester. Now I'm fairly swamped in all manner of assignments coming
electronically in all different formats piecemeal from about 80 students in 5+
classes. Rounding up the strays who've either missed the deadline or missed some
assignments (four categories here of up to 33 separate files per student over
the course of the semester) has been an exercise I'm not anxious to repeat (so
it's a good thing I haven't made up my syllabi for next semester yet since I
seriously need to rethink things before I do).
I'm glad to hear that ___ and ___ are swimming and not sinking in their own
remote academics! It's been difficult for our students here and almost all of
them have needed some extra encouragement and TLC from time to time. This was a
bad semester to have any unsympathetic professors (and there are plenty of those
out there).
I promise to keep all this in my prayers!
Thanks for yours too, my friend.
In Jesus,
Bob L.
Question #21:
Merry Christmas!
I, too, had a water heater dilemma but only needed to buy a part. The good part
was the flooding of the basement, forcing me to mop the floor.
Blessings to you at Christmas and always,
PS, You may recall that I asked for prayers for my niece (still in the
quagmire).
Response #21:
Hah! Way to find the silver lining!
I am praying for your niece – for deliverance.
Wishing you and yours a merry Christmas too!
In Jesus,
Bob L.
Question #22:
Dear Brother Bob,
Sending holiday cheers from the Philippines...
A Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you and your loved ones, my dear Bible
Teacher!
In our dear Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,
Response #22:
Thank you!
Here's wishing the same to you and yours: Merry Christmas and a blessed 2022!
I'm keeping you and your family in my prayers daily, my friend.
In Jesus,
Bob L.