[infamous]

Originally Posted by loarevalo

Infamous, have you received your answer?

Yes I have loarevalo and I know in whom I believe. Unfortunately the truth revealed to me will not convince anyone else unless their heart is open to it.

James 1:5 says: "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him."

Originally Posted by loarevalo

By what way do we understand the answer God would give us? If our desire is to know God, and know of the authenticity of the Bible, for example, how do we recognize the answer if we don't believe yet, but only have a desire to believe?

Understand, I have no patent answers to that question. The desire to believe is where everyone must start. If you truly desire to know Gods will, you must first accept a surrender to it before God will reveal it to you. Why would God answer your questions if he already knows that you will reject the answer when it comes. You must first surender to his will.

Originally Posted by loarevalo

Infamous, if you have received the answer, please describe it.

The answer I've received was Gods answer to me and it may be impossible for me to explain it to anyone else. If you care to listen to a few of my experiences with the Lord, I think it would be best to carry on this conversation in the private message page. Let me know if this would interest you.

Yes, this would interest me. I understand. Our spiritual experiences are sacred, they must be kept special - lest we throw pearls to the pigs.

[infamous]

Originally Posted by loarevalo

Yes, this would interest me. I understand. Our spiritual experiences are sacred, they must be kept special - lest we throw pearls to the pigs.

If you already know how to use the private messge board, send me a PM with some of your questions and I'll do my best to answer them as best I know how. If you haven't used the PM board yet, click onto Members List and find my forum name. Click onto my forum name and it will take you to the page where you will be able to send me a PM. I'll be looking for your response.

[dduckwessel]

Originally Posted by loarevalo

Yes, this would interest me. I understand. Our spiritual experiences are sacred, they must be kept special - lest we throw pearls to the pigs.

Do you know what the 'pearl' represents in the parable about the pearl of great price?

[dduckwessel]

Originally Posted by infamous

Yes I have loarevalo and I know in whom I believe. Unfortunately the truth revealed to me will not convince anyone else unless their heart is open to it.

James 1:5 says: "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him."

Can you explain to me what 'wisdom' is?

[infamous]

Originally Posted by dduckwessel

Can you explain to me what 'wisdom' is?

I may not be wise enough to give you a defination but, what I can do is show you an example. "He that is without sin amoung you, let him first cast the stone at her". St John 8:7..........

[dduckwessel]

Originally Posted by infamous

I may not be wise enough to give you a defination but, what I can do is show you an example. "He that is without sin amoung you, let him first cast the stone at her". St John 8:7..........

infamous, how come Christians always throw back this very scripture verse when they don't have an answer for something?

I am not being condescending by the way - but that verse is really intended to make me back off, but really if you can't 'explain' it then you don't really 'know' it - but it is extremely important we 'know' what we believe, don't you think?

I am merely trying to show Christians that they spout off doctrine without really knowing in their heads what they really believe!

[dduckwessel]

Originally Posted by niviene

God's plan can be changed by praying? How does that work? What if two people are praying for opposite things? How does God then decide who "wins"? How does God decide which prayers to answer; or which prayers cannot be answered, or seem to not be answered? This doesn't make any sense at all, and in fact is even more confusing to me than any other aspect of the Christian religion! God is omniscient, so isn't everything then already determined? Oh, this is not helping me become a believer.

Only the prayers which are 'God's will' does he answer, you have to be lined up with His mind. You can 'change God's mind' if he has not set it in stone - and only the Bible is set in stone. I would think that would comfort you - to know that you could argue with God (but only if you are 'genuinely' seeking an answer from Him) and He would listen?

[infamous]

Originally Posted by dduckwessel

infamous, how come Christians always throw back this very scripture verse when they don't have an answer for something?

Because this is a good example of someone using great wisdom.

Originally Posted by dduckwessel

I am not being condescending by the way - but that verse is really intended to make me back off,

Not so dduckwessel; I have no intention of making you back off. If I weren't interested in carrying on this conversation with you, I would simply take my interest somewhere else.

Originally Posted by dduckwessel

but really if you can't 'explain' it then you don't really 'know' it

I believe I gave you a good example of wisdom dduckwessel, if the example isn't sufficient for you then maybe you'r the one that's having difficulty understanding?

Originally Posted by dduckwessel

- but it is extremely important we 'know' what we believe, don't you think?

Absolutely, I agree, and I do know what I believe. What do you believe dduckwessel?

Originally Posted by dduckwessel

I am merely trying to show Christians that they spout off doctrine without really knowing in their heads what they really believe!

Just because you can't understand why a Christain has faith doesn't mean they don't know what they believe. It only means, you can't understand.

[dduckwessel]

Originally Posted by infamous

Because this is a good example of someone using great wisdom.

This is 'not' an example infamous - it seems to me as though you are skirting the issue.
Can you tell me in one short sentence (off the top of your head) what wisdom really is?

Just because you can't understand why a Christain has faith doesn't mean they don't know what they believe. It only means, you can't understand.

Biblical faith is based on 'understanding' - I understand therefore I believe!