Reasons for the Hope

Q: My first question is this; can anybody give what he/she doesn't have? Yes, no or maybe with explanation?

A: No, at least as far as something like unconditional love is concerned. Unconditional love is something that can only come from God. And only by recognizing that can we then share what we have received with others.

For example, most everyone has experienced a moment when they needed change for a dollar. It could have been to make a telephone call at a pay phone, or they may have wanted to purchase something at a vending machine which did not accept paper bills. When looking for change, a person will go on a quest. They may begin with people they already know. They may ask friends who are nearby. People generally don't ask those who they don't know, although it may be a good conversation starter. A cashier at a store would be able to help, but they may require you to purchase something. There may be another person who is also looking for change for a dollar. They may need the change for another purpose, but they are still looking for the same thing. Depending on the environment, their quest may be difficult or easy.

Consider the situation described above. If we have two people who are looking for change for a dollar, and we can just find a way to get them together, then they will be complete. Any person with even the smallest sense of reality should easily be able to recognize that this is an absurd solution. How can two people who are looking for the same thing find it if we just bring them together? If we bring two people together looking for change for a dollar, they still need change for a dollar. Still, this is exactly how many people live their lives when it comes to building relationships with other people. If a man is looking for love, and a woman is looking for love, some how our society has made the irrational conclusion that bringing them together will make them complete. This is a common conflict that exists in virtually all marriages. Both persons seeking to obtain from each other, something neither of them have to give.

The only way to receive the love, acceptance and meaning and purpose to our lives is through recognizing what we already have been given as an inheritance through our faith in Jesus Christ. We have been totally loved, totally accepted, totally forgiven and much more. It is in this realization that we find our meaning and purpose to life as we look for every opportunity to present what we have received for the Lord with the world.

Q: Those called to be pastors and group bible study teachers? What about Christian counselors? What does it mean to be anointed?

A: "Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come." 2 Corinthians 1:21-22

All Christians are anointed. It simply means that we have received the indwelling Holy Spirit, the very life of God and His seal of ownership, guaranteeing our salvation. We are all ministers of the New Covenant. Pastors, teachers and counselors are simply gifts to the Body, but they are not any more "anointed" than you or I.

Q: Are you following Him and are you a fisher of men?A: No, I am not "following" Jesus. Jesus indwells me and "leads" me. There is a difference.

A: "To this end I labor, struggling with all his energy, which so powerfully works in me." Colossians 1:29

"I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me." Galatians 2: 20

As for being a fisher of men, any "fish" I gather is the result of Him working through me and me, simply, bearing His fruit. He gets all the credit.

Q: Lately I have been putting everything else before God. I haven't been praying except to ask for my family's safety whenever I remember. I haven't read my Bible in a while. And worst of all I've been selfishly continuing in a certain sin that I know is wrong, yet I keep making excuses for why it's okay for me. How disgustingly evil am I!! When a certain person is around, I put him before God, and that's why it's so easy for me to do this sin all the time. But when I'm by myself like I am right now, I feel worthless, dirty and like I don't even deserve to pray to or even think about God. I want to repent and turn from my sin completely, but it's almost impossible for me to turn from this certain sin because of the complicated circumstances. That shouldn't be an excuse though! I wish I could go back in time and do things differently but I can't and I feel like I'm destined to be a failure at serving God.

A: There is somebody who struggled with the flesh, like yourself, that may help you.

"I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it." Romans 7: 15-20

The Apostle Paul struggled mightily with the flesh. We all do. The key to experiencing victory over the flesh is by recognizing who you are in Christ. The guilt and condemnation you are experiencing is not coming from God. When He sees you, He sees you as holy, righteous and blameless because of Jesus Christ. If you are struggling with a sin, the only answer is to flee from it. But, keep in mind that when you realize how God sees you then you will begin to ask yourself some questions that will help you overcome your sin.

Is my behavior consistent with who I am in Christ?

What am I expecting to get from this sin that I don't already have in Christ?

You will begin to avoid situations that lead you to the sins you are trying not to commit. Remember, the Christian life is not about trying to avoid sin, but learning to trust God with our everyday lives through dependence on the Holy Spirit. As we learn to do this we will begin to see a decrease in the sins in our life. But, what is even greater is the fact that, even if you do sin, you are not separated from God because of it. The sacrifice of Jesus Christ has taken away your sins from the eyes of God for all eternity. This allows the life that now indwells you to never leave which, in turn, gives you the ability to approach God with confidence in your time of need.

The Apostle Paul, no matter how hard he tried, could not escape the indwelling sin which controlled his flesh. But, what was his answer to dealing with that revelation?

"What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God—through Jesus Christ our Lord!" Romans 7:24-25