...We Answer

Not every answer might comply with everybody's way of seeing things. Then I kindly ask you to hold it with Paul, who said in 1 Corinthians 13 that we now see in part. All of us answering here, stick to the basic faith statements as defined in the Apostle's Creed, yet further to that we know that there are also Biblical topics not related to salvation itself, that different people understand and see differently. So please keep this in mind in case you "stumble" over a certain answer - we would like you to be blessed by the challenge of different aspects!

Answer Set 9

Question: What does the bible define as being convicted? Also, is there a difference in being convicted and being convinced about the scriptures?

Answer from Polly: There is a great difference. You may be convinced that there is a God but you must be drawn by the Father (John 6:43-47), convicted by the Holy Spirit (John 16:8) and saved by Jesus Christ (Acts 4:12) to belong to God (John 8:42-47). You may be convinced the Scripture is true but you will not understand the reason you must be born again to enter the Kingdom of Heaven (John 3:3-8) until you are convicted. You may be convinced there is a God but you must be convicted to call on His name to be saved (Romans 10:13). Only after conviction will your mind be opened to understand the Scripture (Luke 24:45) and you will be convinced of the truth in Romans 8:38-39. Even the demons are convinced there is a God (James 2:19) but they are not saved and will spend eternity in the lake of fire with the devil (Matthew 25:41).

Question: What is a remedy for hopelessness and despondency?

Answer from Polly: God! When you are downcast, put your hope in God (Psalm 42:5-6); when you are weary and burdened God will give you rest (Matthew 11:28); think of Jesus on the Cross for you and do not grow weary and lose heart (Hebrews 12:2-3); God has overcome all the troubles you will have in this world (John 16:33); approach the throne of grace and receive mercy and find grace to help you in your time of need (Hebrews 4:16); delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart (Psalm 37:4); the Lord is your strength and your shield (Psalm 28:7); Jesus said, 'surely I will be with you always, to the very end of the age' (Matthew 28:20); God heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds (Psalm 147:3); and you can be confident that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion (Philippians 1:6).

Question: What does proverbs 27:6 really mean? I prayed to God to help show me the answer to some of my problems and he showed me this verse, but what can it really mean in my life?

Answer from Polly: I do not know the circumstances of God bringing you to this verse so I will give you three meanings.

• An enemy, one who hates, may seem to be a friend by his many kisses and a true friend, one who loves, may seem to be an enemy by the wounds he inflicts (probably inner hurts that come from being rebuked or criticized). Yet, ironically, the rebukes may actually be more genuine expressions of friendship (Proverbs 27:6).
  

If a brother sins against you, go and show him his fault (Matthew 18:15-17).


'If an enemy were insulting me, I could endure it; if a foe were raising himself against me, I could hide from him. But it is you, a man like myself, my companion, my close friend, with whom I once enjoyed sweet fellowship as we walked with the throne at the house of God' (Psalm 55:12-14).

Question: What does Jeremiah 8,8 mean? ''How can you say, 'We are wise, for we have the law of the LORD,' when actually the lying pen of the scribes has handled it falsely? Does this mean the bible is lying or is this a lie which is though in the bible so therefore the bible is lying?

Answer from Polly: Please be careful how you speak of God's Word which is flawless, like silver refined in a furnace of clay, purified seven times (Psalm 12:6), will never pass away (Mark 13:31), is the true Word inspired by God (2 Timothy 3:16) and God does not lie (Numbers 23:19-20).

It is Satan that is the father of lies and those who follow him instead of God are drawn into his desires and prophesy the devil's lies (John 8:44-45). Jeremiah reminded God that the false prophets were contradicting his message. God answered by explaining that the messages of these false prophets were lies because He had not appointed those men to be prophets. Their messages were delusions of their own minds, not from God, and God would judge them for their lies by destroying both the false prophets and those who listened to them (Jeremiah 14:13-18, 8:8-9, Revelation 22:18-19, Revelation 20:10). Do not be wise in your own eyes (Proverbs 3:7, 1 Corinthians 3:18-20).

Question: What is the name of the eastern sea and of the western sea ? Zechariah 14:8, "On that day living water will flow out from Jerusalem, half to the eastern sea and half to the western sea, in summer and in winter."

Answer from Polly: The Living Water is a perennial (everlasting) spring of water (Revelation 7:17) as opposed to rainwater. The Eastern Sea is the Dead Sea and the Western Sea is the Mediterranean. This year-round provision (in summer and in winter - verse 8) apparently will promote unsurpassed fertility throughout the land (Isaiah 27:6, 35:1-7, Amos 9:13-14).

Question: Why does it say in Joshua 1:5 that God will never leave us or forsake us but then in II Chronicles 15:2 it says that if you seek him you will find him but if you forsake him, he will forsake you?????

Answer from Polly: God was talking directly to Joshua as he faced the tremendous task of conquering Canaan, the Promised Land, and needed a fresh Word of encouragement. God had commanded Joshua to conquer Canaan and accompanied the command with a promise, 'I will not abandon you or walk out on my promise that you will have victory'. The Bible is filled with 'ifs' and God's promises ARE conditional. In 2 Chronicles 15, the people and most of the kings were worshiping idols. King Asa, who was destroying the idols, turned to the Lord in urgent prayer and was granted victories in battles. A prophet challenged Asa to remain true to the Lord so that he could continue to enjoy God's blessings. In other words, keep turning to the Lord in prayer and following His ways and guidance and He will always lead you in the right direction. Turn away from Him and you are on your own. 'Return to me, declares the Lord Almighty, and I will return to you' (Zechariah 1:3).