Bible Discussion Thread

Good Morning Faith Family,

I haven't written in a while and wanted to first see how everyone is doing. It's important to me to not only check up on my brothers and sisters but also to see if they need anything I am a message away or a phone call or even a text (I dont know if that's allowed). I've come across somethings that I believe the Lord is leading me to understand more and that's 1. His love 2. His purpose in my life. I want to always go forth in the power of his might but I know I am lacking in a lot of areas and need guidance which I do ask of him but I want to be filled more with his spirit. The urgency and fervency is there. I sometimes get the urge to go out on the corners of street and wave the sign and proclaim the gospel but lately I've been seeing that I need to get more into his word so he can strengthen me with knowledge, wisdom, love and guidance on how to speak. I would like to know your honest input on what I am going through. I love Jesus and want everyone to know but sometimes in my head I want to do the things that I feel like I should but don't know if it's his will if that makes sense. I want to be strengthened by his word but also understand which I love talking to him. I wanted just to reach out with y'all because I believe we all are strengthened because we should be one in spirit as Jesus stated we should be.

Thank you

Brother Arnold. You have received encouragement from English Sacha about drawing closer to the Lord, which will then be expressed in & through your life. I will take that thought further applying it to the burden on your heart to be serving the Lord in some manner.

Any work we do in His Name must be covered in much prayer & study of the Word; for in this way, we will hear from the Lord, we will sense being moved by His Spirit, & we will be emboldened & empowered to serve. Ministries can vary in style & being out there in the front in public can be for many, very intimidating. Often folk will say, 'I won't go to serve unless the Lord takes me out', so they wait ignoring any Divine compulsion as they have not been physically dropped into the 'work'.

Rather, I see it as firstly, being found busy in the Lord's business (taking up opportunities to share with others personally; serving in the Fellowship; taking or participating in Bible studies; engaging in community service using it as a platform to make Jesus known; etc.). As your desires to serve begin to release in such manner, the Lord can lead you with opportunities out there in the public. Of course, if you already have a competent leader in the Fellowship, he may well take out a group to witness their faith on the street or door-to-door. But if you're going it alone, you could hand out Gospel Tracts (sometimes it's cheaper to write up your own, have a printer prepare a plate(s) for them & have them printed - it might work out to a cent or two each, if printing very large quantities, rather than buying already prepared ones from the Christian bookshop). Hand them out & be prepared to engage in conversation. Sometimes, this is better & more acceptable than holding up a signboard or preaching, as public perceptions have changed over time. Most won't give you the time of day or think of you as a madman, so it's very important to know the Spirit's leading & enabling to carry out the work. Every blessing, Arnold.

Brother Chris,

I thank you for your kind and honest words. I will admit I want to do so much but I have to stop sometimes to pray and understand his word. I know the Lord isn't going to lead me empty handed and the last thing he's going to do is not equip me with the sword of the spirit. I don't have much brothers and sisters in Christ so I lack in a lot of areas regarding encouragement from others, prayer groups, Bible studies etc. I have two jobs and although it's Very stressful I can't lie. But I know God has me here for a purpose I just need to study a lot harder. I went back to Matthew so I can learn more about the birth, death and resurrection. I want to be strong in the word. I want to be grounded but I know it all comes within time based on his will and me trusting him and his plan for my life. I had an idea a year ago in making business cards English on one side and Spanish on the other side and just passing them out. Right now finances have been at all time low and honestly I have no idea how I am doing but it's not me it's Christ in me. Everytime I'm on here it's a feeling of excitement and encouragement because even though I don't know y'all it's like I've suffered with you and you with me in all walks of a Christian life. Whether the end drawing nigh gets closer there is one thing you mentioned out of it all is PRAY ! There's days where I feel very overwhelmed and days where I say God why me why do I have a heart like this why oh why. He's lead me this far and has shown me he won't fail nor will he forsake.

Thank you

Thank you brother for sharing what you did - I'm sure that you have also been a great encouragement for us to seek the Lord with all of our being, to please Him in every area of our lives, & to make His Love known to all who give us an ear.

There is one aspect of reading the whole Bible & therefore gaining a working knowledge of its contents and another aspect of knowing all the intracacies of biblical Truth. I don't believe that on this side of Heaven, anyone can claim such knowledge, for often that runs very deep & we are not privy to all the circumstances, the people & the background in those accounts. Indeed, we need to always grow in the knowledge of the Word, but that takes time & shouldn't be an excuse to prohibit us from reaching out to others.

You have a very genuine love for the Lord & to share that love with others. Your testimony, your full belief in the Truth of the Gospel & the power therein ( Romans 1:16), & a readiness to speak with people where they're at in their lives, offering them the hope that you also have in Christ, is all you need. God's Spirit in you will surely delight to use you, for this is the very reason for His Coming ( John 16:8): to speak forth the Good News to those sitting in darkness ( Luke 1:79) - that you might be His mouthpiece to declare the Glory of God & of His Son & shine His Light. Yes, there will be testing times (Satan does not appreciate his dark evil domain being infused with God's Light), but "greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world" ( 1 John 4:4). Do you believe that brother? Then you can trust Him for not only that power to witness, but to minister to your family needs, job situation, rejection by others, & so on. Faith is indeed the victory that overcomes the world ( 1 John 5:4) & the Spirit in you knows this & will honour His Presence & His Word - that you will lack nothing & remain fearless in your walk in Christ. I leave this great Benediction with you - in Hebrews 13:20,21. Every blessing.

I'll be honest with you on something. My day today was not that great. My baby son is sick my daughter being bullied at school and wife being unequally yoked is still a concern. I felt today as if everything was just hitting me at once you know ? But I know he saved me for a purpose and that's to be a light that shines in the darkness. It means alot to me to always rely on you fine folks because I learn everytime. It's a beautiful thing to have a relationship with Jesus and the brothers to be strengthened in all aspects. I know as much as my prayer life will increase much more things will happen in my life. I want to go out but maybe sometimes it's better to gain more knowledge so we can be a better witness. I'll telll you one thing. Best joy of my life is to witness to the teenage crowd at McDonald's which is my second job. From 530-9Pm I am there. It meant a lot when one girl told me to pray for her yesterday and then another boy coming to me and expressing his problems. I conveyed once of the best part of my days was to go to work with them and talk to them when I can. The Lord is working in my life I know he is but I still have a lot to go but I know he's not going to leave me. Thank you everyone may God be with you always

2Corinthans12:9

I was sorry to read that brother Arnold, but life's concerns happen to us all & in our case as believers, the Lord enables us to see the situation correctly & also gives us wisdom to deal with it. Your son, no doubt will recover & your daughter being bullied can be taken up with her teacher or principal. Your wife undoubtedly sees the difference in you & even though she may look at it negatively, how you treat her (even over & above what she expects) will certainly test her thoughts & feelings.

Your Lord & Saviour must certainly come first in your life - in everything you say and do. And your family come next, even before you can ever think of evangelizing others. They are the family God has given you & has given you to them. They are special & priceless in God's Eyes & I know they are to you also. Even if your wife may be at odds with you in various areas of your marriage or faith (& we all face this to some extent), she must never lose sight of the fact of your unflinching devotion, support & trust that you have for her. She must know you as her devoted husband and one who can rely on that special bond of love from you because of that special bond you have with your Lord. Your life, your wise counsel & care you give your family from the Lord, will speak volumes to them more than any coercion to be saved. Saved, they must be, but according to your witness, the Spirit of the Lord can work & will work through your life.

You have a great ministry right there at MacDonalds - not many jobs allow for such special interaction between employees. And these folk can approach you knowing they'll get a listening ear & practical help. I assume you're not at the front counter when it would be difficult to take orders & share in personal matters. Soak your family, your working life & your contacts in much prayer - and watch for the answers in the Providence of God. Just sharing the above as a reassurance that you are being used of the Lord.

As I'm sitting here drinking my coffee and eating breakfast I come to this comment and get so happy and the feeling of joy sets in my heart. I'll admit I haven't been there to much for my wife and family even though they've seen a change in me but God is working in me to have more wisdom in doing the things I need to do for my family which is give them time and love and a lot of patience with them. Even at times when I feel faced with difficulties in my own marriage that's when I have to ask Save my marriage oh Lord ! I love this woman so much and have not been the best husband but I know that trusting in God and understanding he ordained and sanctified this marriage is the key to making it work. I know it will get better within time. Finances will get better.

I've mentioned to her about speaking to the counselor, principle, teacher someone to address these concerns about the bullying so hopefully we can. I was bullied and I don't wish that upon anyone (mentally) it's draining and some kids can't get out of it but by the grace of God I was.

I'm in the counter at McDonald's most of the time and we'll I've been giving the opportunity just to give the seeds out to customers/employees. Maybe not full entire conversations but I've been learning when to open my mouth and when not to. There's times where I feel like I am a complete failure but I know that's when I have to seek him more.

Prayer means alot to me. Loving my God means the world to me. He's shown me his goodness and I try to reflect that upon others so they can to see the light of Jesus and one day ask where my hope relies on and well it's on Jesus !

Brother Chris, Sacha, and others that have dealt with all these trials and have been such an encouragement to me. Like I said I don't have to many friends nor brothers and sisters but I know my family is the family of our Living and Loving God and one day we will tell our stories to one another how we all overcame it.

Many Blessings

Brother Arnoldo. Don't be concerned - you stand out as a beacon for the Lord, both at your workplace & at home. The exercises of your heart, your concern for others, & acts of love, speak much more than many Christians demonstrate in their lives. Your wife must see the deep love you have for her. Whether working tirelessly in two jobs for your family's welfare (even for the pathetic hourly rates you have in the U.S.), being attentive to the family's needs & giving wise counsel to direct them, or even in putting your wife & children way before anything else, is the God-ordained way of showing & giving Christian love & care.

We can all fall short of being the perfect spouse, but we learn, & we have Divine help to do better - and then we can just look at Jesus' Life on Earth & how He spoke to & dealt with both friends/disciples & those who hated Him. His Godly Love, compassion, & relating to people's real needs attracted Him to many. But those who hated hearing God's Truth, hated Him. To live that Christ-like life, can only be done by His Own Spirit within us - and the same Spirit Who works through us will also prepare the receiver of that act of love, to know that it doesn't come from man, but as a blessing from God. When your family sees even those 'small miracles' happen, they might begin to understand. God has a wonderful way to engineer events & touch people's hearts (even the most resistant ones), when the tool in His Hand (YOU) is wholly given over to Him for His use. I know that your prayer is, "Lord here I am, send me, use me". Whether to your family or others at work, you can expect a certain answer from the Lord & you can expect the enabling, with joy, to be used of Him. Keep pressing on brother, in the Grace & Power of the Lord & trust in Him for everything - remember, there's no such thing as obstacles for God - just seeming mountains (in our lives) that He will enable us to climb over. Be encouraged.

Dear "Arnold Benavides Jr". I have some words too u dear friend in Jesus.

When i'll come over this web site ill startet on something new. All glory too Jesus. Soo remember dear friend too think over this word, is intendent too build u up.

Matthew 16.19 And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

John 20.23 Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained.

James 4.7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

God bless u and yours in Jesus Name with peace and happiness.

Dear Arnold , we are strengthened in our faith towards God when we listen to and learn from His Word . How can we ever hope to help any one else come closer to the Throne of Grace if we ourselves are not convinced and totally confident in our own beliefs and understanding of Him and towards Him ? I think of the transfiguration of Christ in front of Peter James and John . What was the purpose of them witnessing this ? It was to strengthen them , to convince them of the Truth pertaining to Jesus Christ the Son of the Only Ever Living God Almighty , the Holy One of Israel . After Jesus's death , ressurection and ascension , these three would play a massive part in spreading the Gospel of the Kingdom . In their lifetimes I think that these three will have suffered enormously , physically , mentally and emotionally . They will have been abused and tortured and rejected so many times by so many people . However , their faith will not have ever been in any real danger , that vision of the transfigured Christ would have remained with them all their lives . It would comfort and strengthen them at every turn in their lives and they would have been able to convince others because of their own conviction . Read and study and pray , do your best to draw closer to God and He will draw closer to you . When others hear and see your conviction in your eyes and your voice and the way you live your life it will help them to want to know more about the awesome things that you know about . You cannot convince others if you yourself are not convinced and able to show your conviction in your manner of life . Read and study and pray . May God make you His for ever .

First and foremost I would like to say thank you for giving me this encouraging and truthful advice. I still have a lot to learn I know and I'll admit but as you stated the important things are praying, studying and living out the life that he wants us to so we can draw others to Christ. I'm tired at times and I'll admit it's taken a toll on me because I want to do so much but it's important to know the word inside and out. I thank everyone for being so kind and straight with me. I have along way to go but this journey is a beautiful one and at the end I will write about it to share with my family because Jesus Christ is forever King

Dear Arnold , I wish I could say that I know the Word inside and out , I have a terrible memory for chapters and verse and I have to double check everything . God is Love . If we keep this Truth in our heart and mind and keep our eyes on the perfect example of Christ , even when our memory for the correct scripture fails , we should be able to get the message across . Don't be too hard on yourself .