Hot Topics


1- Dietary Help through Healing Foods of the Bible,
the Scriptures and your diet


2- Awareness of what is happening in the unseen world of evil spirits.


1- Dietary Help through Healing Foods of the Bible, the Scriptures and your diet

Apples
Song of Solomon 2:5
Strengthen me with raisins, refresh me with apples, for I am faint with love.

Barley
Deuteronomy 8:7-9
For the LORD your God is bringing you into a good land--a land with streams and pools of water, with springs flowing in the valleys and hills; 8) a land with wheat and barley, vines and fig trees, pomegranates, olive oil and honey; 9) a land where bread will not be scarce and you will lack nothing; a land where the rocks are iron and you can dig copper out of the hills.

Beans
Ezekiel 4:9
"Take wheat and barley, beans and lentils, millet and spelt; put them in a storage jar and use them to make bread for yourself. You are to eat it during the 390 days you lie on your side."
2 Samuel 17:28-29
brought bedding and bowls and articles of pottery. They also brought wheat and barley, flour and roasted grain, beans and lentils, 29) honey and curds, sheep, and cheese from cows' milk for David and his people to eat. For they said, "The people have become hungry and tired and thirsty in the desert."

Bread
Ezekiel 4:9
"Take wheat and barley, beans and lentils, millet and spelt; put them in a storage jar and use them to make bread for yourself. You are to eat it during the 390 days you lie on your side.

Dairy
Isaiah 7:15, 22
He will eat curds and honey when he knows enough to reject the wrong and choose the right. 22) And because of the abundance of the milk they give, he will have curds to eat. All who remain in the land will eat curds and honey.
Proverbs 27:27
You will have plenty of goats' milk to feed you and your family and to nourish your servant girls.

Figs
1 Samuel 30:11-12
They found an Egyptian in a field and brought him to David. They gave him water to drink and food to eat-- 12) part of a cake of pressed figs and two cakes of raisins. He ate and was revived, for he had not eaten any food or drunk any water for three days and three nights.

Fish
Leviticus 11:9-12
Of all the creatures living in the water of the seas and the streams, you may eat any that have fins and scales. 10) But all creatures in the seas or streams that do not have fins and scales--whether among all the swarming things or among all the other living creatures in the water--you are to detest. 11) And since you are to detest them, you must not eat their meat and you must detest their carcasses. 12) Anything living in the water that does not have fins and scales is to be detestable to you.
Deuteronomy 14:9
Of all the creatures living in the water, you may eat any that has fins and scales.
Luke 24:42-43
They gave him a piece of broiled fish, 43) and he took it and ate it in their presence.

Fruit
Ezekiel 47:12
Fruit trees of all kinds will grow on both banks of the river. Their leaves will not wither, nor will their fruit fail. Every month they will bear, because the water from the sanctuary flows to them. Their fruit will serve for food and their leaves for healing."
Deuteronomy 8:7
For the LORD your God is bringing you into a good land--a land with streams and pools of water, with springs flowing in the valleys and hills; 8) a land with wheat and barley, vines and fig trees, pomegranates, olive oil and honey; 9) a land where bread will not be scarce and you will lack nothing; a land where the rocks are iron and you can dig copper out of the hills.
Song of Solomon 2:5
Strengthen me with raisins, refresh me with apples, for I am faint with love.

Garlic
Numbers 11:5
We remember the fish we ate in Egypt at no cost--also the cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions and garlic.

Grains
Ezekiel 4:9
"Take wheat and barley, beans and lentils, millet and spelt; put them in a storage jar and use them to make bread for yourself. You are to eat it during the 390 days you lie on your side.

Grapes
Numbers 13:23
When they reached the Valley of Eshcol,[1] they cut off a branch bearing a single cluster of grapes. Two of them carried it on a pole between them, along with some pomegranates and figs.
Genesis 9:20
Noah, a man of the soil, proceeded to plant a vineyard.
1 Timothy 5:23
Stop drinking only water, and use a little wine because of your stomach and your frequent illnesses.
1 Kings 21:2
Ahab said to Naboth, "Let me have your vineyard to use for a vegetable garden, since it is close to my palace. In exchange I will give you a better vineyard or, if you prefer, I will pay you whatever it is worth."

Herbs
Numbers 11:7 -9
The manna was like coriander seed and looked like resin. 8) The people went around gathering it, and then ground it in a handmill or crushed it in a mortar. They cooked it in a pot or made it into cakes. And it tasted like something made with olive oil. 9) When the dew settled on the camp at night, the manna also came down.
Psalm 51:7
Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
John 19:29-30
A jar of wine vinegar was there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant, and lifted it to Jesus' lips. 30) When he had received the drink, Jesus said, "It is finished." With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

Honey
1 Samuel 14:27
But Jonathan had not heard that his father had bound the people with the oath, so he reached out the end of the staff that was in his hand and dipped it into the honeycomb. He raised his hand to his mouth, and his eyes brightened.
2 Samuel 17:29
honey and curds, sheep, and cheese from cows' milk for David and his people to eat. For they said, "The people have become hungry and tired and thirsty in the desert."
Genesis 43:11
Then their father Israel said to them, "If it must be, then do this: Put some of the best products of the land in your bags and take them down to the man as a gift--a little balm and a little honey, some spices and myrrh, some pistachio nuts and almonds.

Meat
Genesis 9:3
Everything that lives and moves will be food for you. Just as I gave you the green plants, I now give you everything.
Leviticus 72:227
The LORD said to Moses, 23) "Say to the Israelites: `Do not eat any of the fat of cattle, sheep or goats. 24) The fat of an animal found dead or torn by wild animals may be used for any other purpose, but you must not eat it. 25) Anyone who eats the fat of an animal from which an offering by fire may be[1] made to the LORD must be cut off from his people. 26) And wherever you live, you must not eat the blood of any bird or animal. 27) If anyone eats blood, that person must be cut off from his people.'"
Leviticus 317
"`This is a lasting ordinance for the generations to come, wherever you live: You must not eat any fat or any blood.'"

Melon
Numbers 11:5
We remember the fish we ate in Egypt at no cost--also the cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions and garlic.
Isaiah 1:8
The Daughter of Zion is left like a shelter in a vineyard, like a hut in a field of melons, like a city under siege.

Milk
Exodus 3:8
So I have come down to rescue them from the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land into a good and spacious land, a land flowing with milk and honey--the home of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites.
Isaiah 7:22
And because of the abundance of the milk they give, he will have curds to eat. All who remain in the land will eat curds and honey.
2 Samuel 17:29
honey and curds, sheep, and cheese from cows' milk for David and his people to eat. For they said, "The people have become hungry and tired and thirsty in the desert."

Nuts
Genesis 43:11
Then their father Israel said to them, "If it must be, then do this: Put some of the best products of the land in your bags and take them down to the man as a gift--a little balm and a little honey, some spices and myrrh, some pistachio nuts and almonds.

Olives
James 5:14
Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord.
2 Kings 18:32
until I come and take you to a land like your own, a land of grain and new wine, a land of bread and vineyards, a land of olive trees and honey. Choose life and not death! "Do not listen to Hezekiah, for he is misleading you when he says, `The LORD will deliver us.'

Onions
Numbers 11:5
We remember the fish we ate in Egypt at no cost--also the cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions and garlic.

Pomegranates
Deuteronomy 8:8
a land with wheat and barley, vines and fig trees, pomegranates, olive oil and honey;

Spices
Matthew 23:23
"Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices--mint, dill and cummin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law--justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former.
Luke 11:42
"Woe to you Pharisees, because you give God a tenth of your mint, rue and all other kinds of garden herbs, but you neglect justice and the love of God. You should have practiced the latter without leaving the former undone.

Vegetables
Daniel 1:12-17
"Please test your servants for ten days: Give us nothing but vegetables to eat and water to drink. 13) Then compare our appearance with that of the young men who eat the royal food, and treat your servants in accordance with what you see." 14 ) So he agreed to this and tested them for ten days. 15) At the end of the ten days they looked healthier and better nourished than any of the young men who ate the royal food. 16) So the guard took away their choice food and the wine they were to drink and gave them vegetables instead. 17) To these four young men God gave knowledge and understanding of all kinds of literature and learning. And Daniel could understand visions and dreams of all kinds.
Numbers 11:5
We remember the fish we ate in Egypt at no cost--also the cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions and garlic.
Ezekiel 4:9
"Take wheat and barley, beans and lentils, millet and spelt; put them in a storage jar and use them to make bread for yourself. You are to eat it during the 390 days you lie on your side.
Genesis 1:11
Then God said, "Let the land produce vegetation: seed-bearing plants and trees on the land that bear fruit with seed in it, according to their various kinds." And it was so.
Genesis 1:29
Then God said, "I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food.

Wheat
Jeremiah 41:8
But ten of them said to Ishmael, "Don't kill us! We have wheat and barley, oil and honey, hidden in a field." So he let them alone and did not kill them with the others.
Ezekiel 4:9
"Take wheat and barley, beans and lentils, millet and spelt; put them in a storage jar and use them to make bread for yourself. You are to eat it during the 390 days you lie on your side.

Yogurt (curds)
2 Samuel 17:28-29
brought bedding and bowls and articles of pottery. They also brought wheat and barley, flour and roasted grain, beans and lentils, 29) honey and curds, sheep, and cheese from cows' milk for David and his people to eat. For they said, "The people have become hungry and tired and thirsty in the desert."

Benefits of Honey & Cinnamon
'The benefits of Honey and Cinnamon' …I was quite excited when I read all about it … made it my goal to share this info with as many people as possible, so today I want to share this with you … most of this info is easily available on the net but scattered, here is simplified and all together so you can pick what's best for you, and try it and as is all natural products it won't harm you.

Lets start with the benefits of HONEY …
The benefits of honey don't just stop at satisfying the palate; honey offers incredible antiseptic, antioxidant and cleansing properties for our body and health, hot beauty and skin care tips for ladies, and amazing healing properties as a head-to-toe remedy, from eye conjunctivitis to athlete foot. Its powerful healing attributes have long been used thousands of years ago and known to promote healing for cuts, cure ailments and diseases, and correct health disorders for generations after generations.

And now CINNAMON… Did you know that a teaspoon of cinnamon has 5 times the calcium as a teaspoon of milk? And that's just the beginning. Scientists are uncovering a lot of potential in this common spice, including the ability to help stabilize blood sugar and reduce insulin resistance. Who would have thought that plain old cinnamon could be so good for you? In traditional medicine, cinnamon has been used for digestive ailments such as indigestion, gas and bloating, stomach upset, and diarrhea. It has a mild anti-inflammatory effect. It also slows the spoiling of food (which is probably related to why it was used as an embalming agent in ancient Egypt), and has anti-fungal properties as well. Researchers even found that sniffing cinnamon resulted in improved brain function -- subjects did better on memory and attention tasks when taking whiffs of cinnamon as opposed to other odors or no odor. However, the potential health benefits of cinnamon that have received the most attention have to do with its effects on blood glucose and cholesterol.

Experts across the world have researched the effects of honey and cinnamon on the human body. They have discovered several uses and applications that help to cure common discomforts and diseases.

ASTHMA:
If you suffer with asthma, then you can find the best cure with honey and cinnamon. These both are considered to be a very effective method to help cure asthma. Gently grind the pinch of comb honey, as it provokes your immune system because of the little quantity of pollen. During the extreme moment, you can chew or grind for about 20 minutes of the honey tops at least 5 to 6 times a day. Asthma sufferers will greatly be benefited by this practice and they can get relief from asthma. Take one teaspoon of honey and a half tea spoon of cinnamon powder. Mix them significantly prior to your consumption. This will be the best treatment to get a complete cure for your asthma problem.

ARTHRITIS:
Take one part honey to two parts of Luke warm water and add a small teaspoon of cinnamon powder, make a paste and massage it on the itching part of the body. It is noticed that the pain recedes within a minute or two. Or for arthritis patients daily morning and night take one cup of hot water with two spoons of honey and one small teaspoon of cinnamon powder. If drunk regularly even chronic arthritis can be cured.
In a recent research done at the Copenhagen University. It was found that when the doctors treated their patients with a mixture of one tablespoon Honey and half teaspoon cinnamon powder before breakfast, they found that within a week out of the 200 people so treated practically 73 patients were totally relieved of pain and within a month, mostly all the patients who could not walk or move around because of arthritis started walking without pain.

BAD BREATH:
People of South America, first thing in the morning gargle with one teaspoon of honey and cinnamon powder mixed in hot water. So their breath stays fresh throughout the day.

BLADDER INFECTIONS:
Take two tablespoons of cinnamon powder and one teaspoon of honey in a glass of Luke warm water and drink it. It destroys the germs of the bladder.

CANCER:
Recent research in Japan and Australia has revealed that advanced cancer of the stomach and bones have been cured successfully. Patients suffering from these kinds of cancer should daily take one tablespoon of honey with one teaspoon of cinnamon powder for one month 3 times a day.

CHOLESTEROL:
Two tablespoons of honey and three teaspoons of cinnamon powder mixed in 16 ounces of tea water if given to a cholesterol patient; it reduces the level of cholesterol in the body by 10% within2 hours. As mentioned for arthritic patients, if taken 3 times a day any chronic cholesterol cured. As per the information received in the said journal, pure honey taken with food daily relieves complains of cholesterol.

COLDS:
Those suffering from common or severe colds should take one tablespoon Luke warm honey with 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon powder daily for 3 days. This process will cure most chronic cough, cold and clear the sinuses.

FATIGUE:
Recent studies have shown that the sugar content of honey is more helpful than detrimental to the body strength. Senior citizens who take honey and cinnamon powder in equal parts are more alert and flexible. Research says that half tablespoon honey taken in one glass of water and sprinkled with cinnamon powder, taken daily after brushing and in the afternoon at about 3:00 p.m. when the vitality of the body starts decreasing, it Increases your body vitality within a week.

GAS:
According to the studies done in India & Japan, it is revealed that if honey is taken with cinnamon powder the stomach is relieved of gas.

HAIR LOSS:
Those suffering from hair loss or baldness may apply a paste of hot olive oil, one tablespoon or honey, one teaspoon cinnamon powder before bath and keep it for approx. 15 min. and then wash the hair. It was found very effective even if kept for 5 min. also.

HEARING LOSS:
Daily morning and night honey and cinnamon powder taken in equal parts restores hearing.

HEART DISEASES:
Make a paste of honey and cinnamon powder, apply on bread or chapatti instead of jelly and jam and eat it regularly for breakfast. It reduces the cholesterol in the arteries and saves the patient from heart attack. Also those who have already had an attack, if they do this process daily, are kept miles away from the next attack, Regular use of the above process relieves loss of breath and strengthens the heart beat. In America and Canada, various nursing homes have treated patients successfully and have found that due to the increasing age the arteries and veins, which lose their flexibility and get clogged, are revitalized.

IMMUNE SYSTEM:
Daily use of honey and cinnamon powder strengthens the immune system and protects the body from bacteria and viral attacks. Scientists have found that honey has various vitamins and iron in large amounts. Constants use of honey strengthens the white blood corpuscles to fight bacteria and viral diseases.

INDIGESTION:
Cinnamon powder sprinkled on two tablespoons of honey taken before food, relieves acidity and digests the heaviest of meals.

INFERTILITY:
Since ancient times, it is commonly known, that the use of honey strengthens the
semen of men. If impotent men regularly take two tablespoon of honey before sleeping, their problem will be solved. In China, Japan and Far-East countries, women who do not conceive and to strengthen the uterus have been taking cinnamon powder for centuries. Women who cannot conceive may take a pinch of cinnamon powder in half teaspoon of honey and apply it on the gums frequently throughout the day, so that it slowly mixes with the saliva and enters the body.

INFLUENZA:
A Scientist in Spain has proved that honey contains a natural ingredient, which kills the influenza germs and saves the patient from flu.

LONGEVITY:
Tea made with honey and cinnamon powder, when taken regularly arrests the ravages of old age. Take 4 spoons of honey 1 spoon of cinnamon powder and 3 cups of water and boil to make like tea. Drink 1/4 cup, Three to four times daily. It keeps the skin fresh and soft and arrests old age. Life spans also increases and even if a person is 100 years old. Starts being able to perform the chores of a 20 years old.

PIMPLES:
Three tablespoons of honey and one teaspoon of cinnamon powder paste. Apply this paste on the pimples before sleeping and wash it next morning with warm water. If done daily for two weeks. It removes pimples from the roots.

SKIN INFECTIONS:
Applying honey and cinnamon powder in equal parts on the affected parts cures Eczema, Ringworm and all types of skin infections.

TOOTHACHE:

Make a paste of one teaspoon of cinnamon powder and five teaspoons of honey and apply on the aching tooth. This may be done 3 times a day daily till such time that the tooth has stopped aching

UPSET STOMACH:
Honey taken with cinnamon powder cures stomach-ache and also clears stomach ulcers from the root. GAS: According to the studies done in India & Japan, it is revealed that if honey is taken with cinnamon powder the stomach is relieved of gas.

WEIGHT LOSS:
The recipe for this miraculous weight loss aid is very simple. Combine 1 teaspoon honey with one-half teaspoon cinnamon powder and boil in one cup of water. After the mixture has boiled, filter it into another cup. Divide the mixture into two half-cup quantities to be consumed one-half hour before breakfast and one-half hour before going to sleep at night. If taken regularly it reduces the weight of even the most obese person. Also drinking of this mixture regularly does not allow the fat to accumulate in the body even though the person may eat a high calorie diet.


FASTING
One day a week on water and unsweetened fruit juice and vegetable juice, will not only cleanse your whole body but will also give you a sharp mind and keener memory.

LOSE IT OR WE LOSE YOU!
If your pants are feeling a bit tight around the waistline, take note: Belly bulge can be deadly for older adults, even those who aren't overweight or obese by other measures. One of the largest studies to examine the dangers of abdominal fat suggests men and women with the biggest waistlines have twice the risk of dying over a decade compared to those with the smallest or no tummies. Surprisingly, bigger waists carry a greater risk of death even for people whose weight is "normal" by the body mass index, or BMI, a standard measure based on weight and height.
"Even if you haven't had a noticeable weight gain, if you notice your waist size increasing that's an important sign," said lead author Eric Jacobs of the American Cancer Society, which funded the study. "It's time to eat better and start exercising more. "Other research has linked waist size to dementia, heart disease, asthma and breast cancer. Bulging bellies are a problem for most Americans older than 50. It's estimated that more than half of older men and more than 70 per cent of older women have bigger waistlines than recommended. And it's a growing problem: Average waistlines have expanded by about one inch per decade since the 1960s.
To check your girth, wrap a tape measure around your waist at the navel. Play fair. To suck in your bulge is cheating yourself.

Men should have a waist circumference no larger than 40 inches.

For women, the limit is 35 inches.

The new study, appearing in Monday's Archives of Internal Medicine, is the first to analyze waist size and deaths for people in three BMI categories: normal, overweight and obese. In all three groups, waist size was linked to higher risk. About two per cent of people in the study had normal BMI numbers but larger than recommended waists. Jacobs said the risk increased progressively with increasing waist size, even at waist sizes well below what might be considered too large.
The study used data from more than 100,000 people who were followed from 1997 to 2006. Nearly 15,000 people died during that time. The researchers crunched numbers on waist circumference, height and weight to draw conclusions about who was more likely to die. Study participants measured their own waists, so some honest mistakes and wishful fudging could have been included, the authors acknowledged.
Four extra inches around the waist increased the risk of dying from between 15 per cent to 25 per cent. Oddly, the strongest link - 25 per cent - was in women with normal BMI. People with bigger waists had a higher risk of death from causes including respiratory illnesses, heart disease and cancer.
The study was observational, a less rigorous approach that means the deaths could have been caused by factors other than waist size. But the researchers did take into account other risk factors for poor health, such as smoking and alcohol use. Some older adults gain belly fat while they lose muscle mass, Jacobs said, so while they may not be getting heavier, they're changing shape - and that's taking a toll. A tape measure, or a belt that doesn't buckle the way it used to, "may tell you things your scale doesn't," Jacobs said.
Fat stored behind the abdominal wall may be more harmful than fat stored on the hips and thighs. Some scientists believe belly fat secretes proteins and hormones that contribute to inflammation, interfere with how the body processes insulin and raise cholesterol levels. But Dr. Samuel Klein, an obesity expert at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, is skeptical about that theory. Removing belly fat surgically doesn't lead to health improvements. That may mean it's simply a stand-in for some other culprit that is causing both belly fat and poor health. Klein wasn't involved in the new research.
Klein said the new study, while showing a link between waist size and mortality, doesn't pinpoint exactly how much belly fat is dangerous for normal, overweight and obese people. The 40-inch for men and 35-inch for women cutoff points are irrelevant for many people, he said. What can be done to fight belly fat? It's the same advice as for losing weight. Eat fewer calories and burn more through walking, bicycling and other aerobic exercise. "Sit-ups are useless," Klein said
.


______________________________________


Heart attack info NEW ASPIRIN/ Serious stuff, no joke!!

Just a reminder to all: purchase a box, keep one in your car, pocketbook, wallet, bedside, etc.

IMPORTANT READ......


Something that we can do to help ourselves. Nice to know.
Bayer is making crystal aspirin to dissolve under the tongue. They work much faster than the tablets.

Why keep aspirin by your bedside?
About Heart Attacks

There are other symptoms of an heart attack besides the pain on the left arm.
One must also be aware of an intense pain on the chin, as well as nausea and lots of sweating, however these symptoms may also occur less frequently.
Note: There may be NO pain in the chest during a heart attack.. The majority of people (about 60%) who had a heart attack during their sleep, did not wake up. However, if it occurs, the chest pain may wake you up from your deep sleep.

If that happens, immediately dissolve two aspirins in your mouth and swallow them with a bit of water.
Afterwards:
CALL 911
- say "heart attack!"
- say that you have taken 2 aspirins..
- phone a neighbor or a family member who lives very close by
- take a seat on a chair or sofa near the front door, and wait for their arrival and...

~ DO NOT lie down ~

A Cardiologist has stated that, if each person, after receiving this e-mail, sends it to 10 people, probably one life can be saved!

I have already shared the information- - What about you?

Do forward this message; it may save lives!


God's Dominion

TEXT:  Zec 9:10 ,
Ps 72: 1-8                                                                        
 INTRO:  Most Canadians probably know the motto, but they might not know it comes from Psalm 72. It’s a psalm that was likely part of the coronation liturgy of ancient Israel. It’s a prayer for each new king in David’s dynasty, expressing all the hopes and dreams of the people of Israel with each successive king.
May he judge your people with righteousness, and your poor with justice.
May the mountains yield prosperity for the people, and the hills, in righteousness. May he defend the cause of the poor of the people, give deliverance to the needy, and crush the oppressor. May he live while the sun endures, and as long as the moon, throughout all generations. May he be like rain that falls on the mown grass, like showers that water the earth.
In his days may righteousness flourish and peace abound, until the moon is no more. May he have dominion from sea to sea, and from the River to the ends of the earth… (Ps 72:1-8)                                                                      t’s quite the prayer, whether for ancient Israel or for twenty-first century Canada. In fact, ancient Israel and modern Canada have a few things in common: both relatively young nations in their eras, both small nations in the shadow of giants, both with big dreams for a glorious future.

While most Canadians might know our nation’s motto, and some might know its biblical origins, I suspect very few are aware that it also comes up in a later biblical book, in a much different setting. the book is Zechariah, and in Zechariah’s day things were not at all like they used to be. Israel has been divided and conquered, their grand hopes for the future crushed. The people have been cast into exile, and a few have just recently returned from that exile to re-build Jerusalem’s walls and temple.

In many ways this ragged band of Jewish returnees felt much like many Christians feel in Canada today: the glory days are behind us, the days of a sanctuary bursting at the seams, bustling with worshipers and filled with choirs. Like the old-timers in Zechariah’s day who remembered the original temple of Solomon, Today may we again remember the old days, and cry out for a new day of Gods outpouring grace again. Ezra 3:12.  Let us pray again the words of  the prophet, that his dominion shall be from Sea to Sea.  Zechariah 9:10.



____________________________

Question: "Is a believer supposed to be able to feel the Holy Spirit?"

Answer: While certain ministries of the Holy Spirit may involve a feeling, such as conviction of sin, comfort, and empowerment, Scripture does not instruct us to base our relationship with the Holy Spirit on how or what we feel. Every born-again believer has the indwelling Holy Spirit. Jesus told us that when the Comforter has come He will be with us and in us. "And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever-the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you" (John 14:16-17). In other words, Jesus is sending one like Himself to be with us and in us.

We know the Holy Spirit is with us because God's Word tells us that it is so. Every born-again believer is indwelt by the Holy Spirit, but not every believer is controlled by the Holy Spirit, and there is a distinct difference. When we step out in our flesh, we are not under the control of the Holy Spirit even though we are still indwelt by Him. The apostle Paul comments on this truth, and he uses an illustration that helps us to understand. "Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit" (Ephesians 5:18). Many people read this verse and interpret it to mean that the apostle Paul is speaking against wine. However, the context of this passage is the walk and the warfare of the Spirit-filled believer. Therefore, there is something more here than just a warning about drinking too much wine.

When people are drunk with too much wine, they exhibit certain characteristics: they become clumsy, their speech is slurred, and their judgment is impaired. The apostle Paul sets up a comparison here. Just as there are certain characteristics that identify someone who is controlled by too much wine, there should also be certain characteristics that identify someone who is controlled by the Holy Spirit. We read in Galatians 5:22-24 about the "fruit" of the Spirit. This is the Holy Spirit's fruit, and it is exhibited by the born-again believer who is under His control.

The verb tense in Ephesians 5:18 indicates a continual process of "being filled" by the Holy Spirit. Since it is an exhortation, it follows that it is also possible to not be filled or controlled by the Spirit. The rest of Ephesians 5 gives us the characteristics of a Spirit-filled believer. "Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ" (Ephesians 5:19-21).

We are not filled with the Spirit because we feel we are, but because this is the privilege and possession of the Christian. Being filled or controlled by the Spirit is the result of walking in obedience to the Lord. This is a gift of grace and not an emotional feeling. Emotions can and will deceive us, and we can work ourselves up into an emotional frenzy that is purely from the flesh and not of the Holy Spirit. "So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature … Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit" (Galatians 5:16, 25).

Having said that, we cannot deny that there are times when we can be overwhelmed by the presence and the power of the Spirit, and this is often an emotional experience. When that happens, it is a joy like no other. King David "danced with all his might" (2 Samuel 6:14) when they brought up the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem. Experiencing joy by the Spirit is the understanding that as children of God we are being blessed by His grace. So, absolutely, the ministries of the Holy Spirit can involve our feelings and emotions. At the same time, we are not to base the assurance of our possession of the Holy Spirit on how we feel.

GOD'S "PHONE" NUMBER

Hello God, I called tonight
To talk a little while
I need a friend who'll listen
To my anxiety and trial.

You see, I can't quite make it
Through a day just on my own...
I need your love to guide me,
So I'll never feel alone.

I want to ask you please to keep,
My family safe and sound.
Come and fill their lives with confidence
For whatever fate they're bound.

Give me faith, dear God, to face
Each hour throughout the day,
And not to worry over things
I can't change in any way.

I thank you God, for being home
And listening to my call,
For giving me such good advice
When I stumble and fall.. !!!!!!!

Your number, God, is the only one
That answers every time.
I never get a busy signal,
Never had to pay a dime.

So thank you, God, for listening
To my troubles and my sorrow.
Good night, God, I love You, too,
And I'll call again tomorrow!

P.S. Please bless all my friends and family too.

  

 


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