I would like to take this opportunity to answer some of the overwhelming number of questions sent to me by email from various people around the world; brethren and non-brethren alike. So, here we goā¦
Question #1:
Name: Edjakiel
Email: edjakiel@yahoo.com
Bro Eli, I was a catholic before and we used to have a lot of idols and all these images stuck to my mind. But I love to think about God and the Lord Jesus, their majesty and glory. But these images keep getting in my mind, I know this is wrong so I try really hard to get it out of my mind especially when I am praying. What is the best thing to put in my mind when I am praying? Whenever I say the name of the Lord Jesus, these images we used to have get into my mind. What do I do?
Answer:
Dear Edjakiel,
It will take some time before something imprinted in the cortex of the mind may be forgotten. The best thing to do is to look at nothing in the mind. Realizing that God is in eternity, look at eternity. Look at the things which are not seen (Isaiah 57:15; 2 Corinthians 4:18).
ISAIAH 57:15
For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.
2 CORINTHIANS 4:18
While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.
God is invisible. His picture is invisible (Colossians 1:15).
COLOSSIANS 1:15
Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creatureā¦
Anyone who prays to and worships God must worship Him in spirit and in truth (John 4:23-24).
JOHN 4:23-24
23 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshipers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.
24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.
Bro. Eli Soriano
Question #2:
Name: Rose Mae
Email: rmae_4teen@yahoo.com
How can I turn away from pride, money and lust?
Answer:
Dear Rose Mae,
It is good to turn away from pride. 1 John 2:15-16 tells us not to love the world; and pride of life is a part of the world. We do not turn away from money because we need it in doing good (Ecclesiastes 7:12).
1 JOHN 2:15-16
15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
ECCLESIASTES 7:12
For wisdom is a defense, and money is a defense: but the excellency of knowledge is, that wisdom giveth life to them that have it.
What is prohibited in the Bible is the love of money (1 Timothy 6:10-11).
1 TIMOTHY 6:10-11
10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
11 But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.
Money per se is not evil. We need it to give alms; to buy food; and feed the hungry. Money is also used in the propagation of the gospel (2 Corinthians 9:12-13).
2 CORINTHIANS 9:12-13
12 For the administration of this service not only supplieth the want of the saints, but is abundant also by many thanksgivings unto God;
13 While by the experiment of this ministration they glorify God for your professed subjection unto the gospel of Christ, and for your liberal distribution unto them, and unto all menā¦
We do not also turn away from lust. We have it in our being (James 1:14).
JAMES 1:14
But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.
A Christian controls his lusts. He lives in moderation (Titus 2:12; 1 Corinthians 7:3-5).
TITUS 2:12
Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present worldā¦
1 CORINTHIANS 7:3-5
3 Let the husband render unto the wife due benevolence: and likewise also the wife unto the husband.
4 The wife hath not power of her own body, but the husband: and likewise also the husband hath not power of his own body, but the wife.
5 Defraud ye not one the other, except it be with consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again, that satan tempt you not for your incontinency.
It is an excellent thing if the lust of our flesh will totally banish from our being (Ecclesiastes 11:10; 2 Corinthians 7:1).
ECCLESIASTES 11:10
Therefore remove sorrow from thy heart, and put away evil from thy flesh: for childhood and youth are vanity.
2 CORINTHIANS 7:1
Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
Bro. Eli Soriano
Question #3:
Name: Antenedo E. Milloren
Email: coplas@lycos.com
Good day brother Eliā¦I heard from you and read from the bible as well that God the Almighty is a spirit and we have to pray in spiritā¦my question is: how do I know I am praying in spirit when I can always imagine the icons that was introduced to me from the day I can comprehend imagesā¦ I am a catholic, and yes I heard in one of my distant relative who was a āseminarianā but failed to continue and become a priest, that the āmass (misa)ā is tainted with the pagan practicesā¦can you elaborate on this?
Answer:
Dear Antenedo,
(Please refer to my answer on question #1.) What is pagan in the mass of the Catholic Church is the worship of images made by the hands of man (Acts 17:29; Romans 1:21-25).
ACTS 17:29
Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and manās device.
ROMANS 1:21-25
21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,
23 And changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.
24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonor their own bodies between themselves:
25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshiped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.
Bro. Eli Soriano
Question #4:
Name: Antonino N. Geniston
Email: tonygeniston@yahoo.com
Bro. Eli Soriano, I have watched your TV program, I think your understanding of the bible is God-sent to mankind. What do you wish as result of your efforts? For more people to join you? Or for other churches to rectify themselves? What other religion, if any, do you see also as righteous? Thank you for your time in answering this. More Power!
Answer:
Dear Antonio,
My desire is that the prophecy in the Bible be fulfilled (Daniel 12:3-4; 9-10).
DANIEL 12:3-4; 9-10
3 And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars forever and ever.
4 But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.
9 And he said, Go thy way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end.
10 Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand.
It is not my intention that people join me. After all, who am I? I want them to join the church in the Bible: The Church of God (2 Corinthians 1:1).
2 CORINTHIANS 1:1
Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, unto the church of God which is at Corinth, with all the saints which are in all Achaiaā¦
It is the body of Christ (Colossians 1:18).
COLOSSIANS 1:18
And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.
It is where Gentiles like us must be members of (Ephesians 3:6).
EPHESIANS 3:6
That the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospelā¦
It is the only true church (Ephesians 4:4).
EPHESIANS 4:4
There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your callingā¦
It is where Christ reigns. (Colossians 3:15).
COLOSSIANS 3:15
And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.
True righteousness does not have an alternative. Shying away from it means establishing your own righteousness (Romans 10:2-3).
ROMANS 10:2-3
2 For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.
3 For they being ignorant of Godās righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.
What we are commanded is to seek the kingdom and the righteousness of God (Matthew 6:33).
MATTHEW 6:33
But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
It is in the gospel (Romans 1:16-17).
ROMANS 1:16-17
16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written. The just shall live by faith.
It is being taught by the apostles in the true church (1 Timothy 2:7; 1 Corinthians 1:1-2).
1 TIMOTHY 2:7
Whereunto I am ordained a preacher, and an apostle, (I speak the truth in Christ, and lie not a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and verity.
1 CORINTHIANS 1:1-2
1 Paul called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother,
2 Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and oursā¦
Bro. Eli Soriano
Question #5:
Name: Noel T. Arellano
Email: budys143@yahoo.com
Sa matthew 25:1-12. Iyong gabi ay ibig sabihin ba ay panahon ng kasamaaan, kasiyahan, gaya ng panahon ni Noe at abraham? pls. correct me if im wrong. (In Matthew 25:1-12, does the ānightā mean days of wickedness, happiness, like in the days of Noah and Abraham? Please correct me if I am wrong.)
Answer:
Dear Noel,
No. It does not necessarily mean so. Night may imply the time to sleep or to rest (Matthew 13:25).
MATTHEW 13:25
But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way.
It may also denote the time of tribulation where someone may stumble (John 11:10).
JOHN 11:10
But if a man walk in the night, he stumbleth, because there is no light in him.
It may, in the verse that you have given, denote also the unexpected coming of our Lord Jesus Christ (1 Thessalonians 5:2).
1 THESSALONIANS 5:2
For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.
Bro. Eli Soriano
To be continued...
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