I have some money available, and I feel that if I ask God to make clear to me the exact amount the pastor needs, that both of us will be spiritually stirred and lifted by it as He will then know that it is God’s plan, and I will know that God heard me, and answered my prayers, and I will be blessed by hearing God’s voice/answer.

I really expect an answer from God, as I want to be a good steward of His money. What if I give and he goes to the Congo and it is not God’s will?  Is it wrong from me to expect a reply from my Father?  I do not want to tell God what to do and how, but want confirmation and peace in Him.

A. By the way you explain the intent of your heart, I feel comfortable in saying that if you feel the Lord leading you to contribute all or part of your pastor’s expenses, you should do it, regardless of whether He tells you the exact cost of the trip or not.  And remember this.  God looks at the intent of each person’s heart in these matters.  As long as you believe you’re being faithful to His leading, He will bless you regardless of the outcome of the trip.

Q. I am a believer.I am eagerly looking forward to meeting the Lord in person,face to face.

Until that day arrives I am curious as to how to grow my relationship with the Lord. It appears that my communication with him is one way,(me talking to, and listening for him). To date, (although I feel that I am listening), I have not heard anything but silence. Effective two way communication seems to be essential in getting to know God. I don”t see there being any substitute. I am asking for help in this matter. I appreciate your time. Thanks.

A. Many years ago, as a new believer, I put the same question to my mentor in the faith.

“Open your Bible, and read till He speaks,” I was told.

I learned that “read till He speaks” means that as you’re reading, you may be prompted to stop and think about something you’ve just read. As you’re thinking, a deeper understanding of the passage, or a personal application that relates to something you’re facing may come into your mind. By that you know He’s spoken. It’s a good way to practice listening for that “still, small voice”.

Q. My question isn’t over anything in scripture or doctrine. I am just searching for a bit of wisdom from you. I have been considering Bible college, however, my rabbi doesn’t feel that is it truly necessary. I trust his opinion but was wondering if you know of any good reasons for or against going to Bible college.

I have written you before asking you about how you knew that this is your calling but you did not answer those emails. I figured because they were not bible questions but personal ones, so I understand. I have asked God to reveal His will for me and I have noticed in the last year how much He has opened my eyes to His truths.

I’m just wondering if Bible college will help me any more then me simply studying like I have been along with the help of men such as yourself and of course the Holy Spirit. God bless you and your family.

A. I didn’t fail to answer your questions on purpose. I try to answer every question I get. I’m sorry you didn’t receive a reply.

I knew I was called to be a Bible teacher in two ways. One, the Lord caused me to be unhappy in every other endeavor I started, and two, people all over the world have told me that I’m a good teacher. I’ve received this as confirmation that the Lord has gifted me in this area.

And this leads to your other question. I have never heard of a Bible College that doesn’t push its particular view of Scripture. One of the great blessings I’ve enjoyed is that I have had the luxury of studying and coming to my own conclusions. I think this helps me to speak with more conviction about the things I believe. I am very reluctant to recommend a Bible College to anyone. It’s as likely to stunt your growth in the word as to stimulate it.

Q. I must say that I agree 110% with you, Jack, about everything you’ve had to say lately about the tithe. I am blessed beyond measure to be able to give to my Church and to other of God’s purposes.

My question is about splitting those gifts up amongst my local Church (lions share), and various other Christian ministries that one might be led to support such as food banks, adopt a child overseas, donations to missionaries, and of course web sites like yours, RaptureReady, RaptureAlert, etc.

Should we give the full 10% tithe to our local Church or can a portion be given with the remainder going towards those other things one might be led to support? If one is giving at least the minimum 10% (and hopefully more should one be able) does it matter to God how we split it up? Say someone sees a great deal on canned goods and is led to buy up cases of food to give to the food bank. Would that be considered acceptable as a part of the tithe too? I’m not trying to get all legalistic with this. After all any giving done with the right motive is really what it’s all about, right? But that is ‘MY logic’ and we are warned not to base our decisions on how we might think or feel about something. I’m seeking to know the right thing in Gods eyes. What does the Bible have to say about all of this, if anything?

Once again thank you for one of the greatest web sites on the Internet. You have a great way of cutting right to the root of tough issues using scripture and I’ve learned much from your ministry. Thank you for your help and I pray that God will bless you beyond measure.

A. There is no clear Biblical instruction concerning the distribution of either your tithe or offerings. Each believer is free to do this as the Lord leads. If you listen carefully the Holy Spirit will prompt you and guide you in your giving just as He does in other areas of your life.

You’ll know you’ve got it right when you experience the joy in your giving that God intended, and when you begin asking Him to increase your resources so that you can increase your giving. It sounds like your approach, the lion’s share of your giving going to your local fellowship and the rest as the Lord leads, is working for you.

Q. Can You tell me what is the significance of number 69 according to bible? What does it denote?. This is because God has asked me to wait for 69 days about an important issue which I have prayed about.

A. While the number 69 seems to carry no Spiritual significance by itself, 6 and 9 do. 6 is the number of man (man was created on day 6) and nine is the number of finality, being the last digit. If this important issue pertains to something that’s human in its nature, such as a job opportunity or major purchase, then you are perhaps being told that it will be finalized in 69 days.

The number 70 signifies perfect spiritual order carried out with all spiritual power and significance. Both spirit (7) and order (10) are greatly emphasized.

Only you know the exact wording of the Lord’s promise to you, but you might want to consider the possibility that the event will take place in 69 days plus the day you were told (69 more days) or 69 days and then the issue will be resolved (on the 70th day).

Q. Hi, I have a friend who watches a lot of TV “preachers” and he was telling me that when you pray, if you state let God’s will be done after you have made a request of God, that will ultimately cancel your prayer. He learned this from one of those televangelists.

Where does this teaching come from?? Aren’t we supposed to pray in God’s will? If it isn’t within God’s will for us, won’t He just say no anyway? He already knows what we need and even what we want before we ask for it.

I don’t think it is a very good idea to try and exert my will over God’s will anyway. He knows the beginning to the end, I believe we should always look to Him for direction, and believe that when we pray, He will give us the best answer which is usually not an answer we always expect since our ways are not His ways and our thoughts are not His thoughts. Thank you.

A. Some believe that God answers our prayers according to our faith and that if you agree to let God’s will be done, it shows you don’t have very much faith that you’ll get what you’re asking for. So in effect, they believe that God says, “Well if you don’t care very much about it, then neither do I,” and forgets about it. This is an incorrect interpretation of passages in the gospels where Jesus says things like, “According to your faith it will be done to you.” (Matt.9:29)

As believers we should know that God’s will for us will always be preferable to our will for ourselves. There are some things where God’s will is already known. For example we wouldn’t ask for salvation, “If it’s your will” because we already know it’s His will. It’s the same with healing. Isaiah 53 promises us that because of His suffering and death we can be healed. This doesn’t mean that we can live forever or that we shouldn’t consult a doctor, but that we can pray for healing in confidence that it’s His will that we be healed.

But when it comes to a new pick-up truck or a better job or a date with the good looking person we’ve just seen, it’s better to remind ourselves (God doesn’t need reminding) that God is working all things together for our good (Romans 8:28), and by asking for His will in a matter, we’re not showing a lack of faith, but a willingness to yield our will in favor of His. Most of the time when we say, “If you’re willing” He replies, “I am willing.”

Q. Thank you so much for answering questions!

My questions is about the feelings of the Holy Spirit. I get a feeling oftentimes, like a warm-goodness kind of thing. It sometimes springs forth and sometimes dies away. I have an idea that it’s the holy Spirit, but I have no idea if it is. I also think it might be faith, but again I’m not
sure.

If you get this type of feeling I would like to know, because it is really frustrating sometimes thinking that it’s what I think it is and having it disappear. It really shoots up when I worship as well, and I think it’s been quoted as being “The love of God.”

This feeling also speaks to me, flaring up when I’m doing something or saying something right, and dying down when it isn’t. Maybe it’s my conscience, but it came when I first believed, not any time before.

I have also never heard the voice of God, and I have no idea why. Or maybe I have heard it and acted on it instinctively. Please help me with my
confusion on this, it has caused me a lot of frustration.

The Lord bless you a thousand times!

A. I think what you’re feeling is a closeness to God. As you describe it, this feeling comes as a response to your actions, like an expression of God’s approval. Many of us have experienced this special feeling of intimacy. It’s a source of great joy and contentment, as well as being very humbling.

Learning to hear the voice of God can take some time because there’s a lot going on in our world. We’re often beset by internal and external distractions that drown out the Lord’s still small voice. Try finding a quiet place where there are no interruptions and then go there the very first thing in the morning before anything else can crowd its way into your mind. Begin reading your Bible, pausing often to reflect on what you’re reading, calming your spirit to listen. In the Psalms many translations include the Hebrew word “selah” at the end of a passage. It means “think about that” and is a good suggestion. Pause when you see it to think about what you’ve read. Also, as you pray try listening as well as talking.

I’ve only heard the audible voice of God a few times in my life, but often I’ve heard Him speak within me, in an inner voice offering correction, direction, and assurance.

Q. I just want to ask you a question. In the article “is it hard to be saved” you said: “Feelings are almost never a good indicator for behavior.” Would you say that the guide of the Holy Spirit comes through feelings as well as other ways? What’s your take on this? Thanks God Bless.

A. As near as I can tell, every time the Lord communicates with one of His people in the Bible, He is said to have spoken with them. In 1 Kings 19 where Elijah sought the Lord, he heard a gentle whisper. When we let our “conscience” be our guide, we listen for an inner voice to direct us. What the Lord tells us may result in feelings of one sort or another, but the feeling is a reaction to a communication, not the communication itself.

One of the skills we develop as believers is learning to listen for the voice of the Lord, and when we do we’ll often hear him tell us to make what we call “contrary to feelings” choices. That’s where He asks to do something we don’t feel like doing, like loving an enemy, or forgiving someone who’s hurt us. No prophet ever said, “I feel like we should …” but “Thus saith the Lord.”

Q. Thanks for your site. I’ve just recently become interested in prophecy, and now I can’t get enough.

I have always felt called to work in the church, so when a position opened up a few years ago through kind of unusual circumstances, I believed that God was directing me to it. It is not at all what I expected. This church teaches some of the most bizarre doctrine I’ve ever heard (it is a mainstream Protestant church). I have tried to chalk the nagging feeling that something is really wrong with their theology up to political differences, but with my recent research on Revelation I’m starting to wonder if it fits the description of the apostate church. Yesterday I found a book here by a highly regarded author in this congregation that literally stated that viewing Christ’s death as atonement for our sins is wrong. He actually said, “I don’t want to serve a God that would kill his own son.”

My job here is in communications, so essentially I am responsible for publicizing the church. It terrifies me to think that I am willfully advertising for this kind of thing and drawing people into it. Yet the feeling that I’m called to be in the church remains. Would God actually want to use me in that capacity? I keep praying about this, but so far I have no answer.

By the way, I’m in no position here to voice my opposition to theological doctrine. The powers that be have a pretty tight grip, and they clearly do not think I have anything worthwhile to say on religious matters. I am also not a member; I attend an evangelical church in a neighboring town.

Any insight you have to offer on this situation would be much appreciated. Thank you for faithfully spreading the Truth to the world.

A. If the book you referenced represents the views of the Church leadership, then it can’t be the place to which God has called you for publicity work. But He may have led you there to voice your objection to this false doctrine. If so He’ll give you words to say and will bring you out of there afterward. And it doesn’t matter if you succeed in changing their direction. What matters is that you’re faithful to your beliefs.

Find out for certain first if your perception of this member’s views are accurate, if the pastor you work for supports them, and if you’re supposed to help publicize them. If so resign. If you can, get some friends from your own congregation to pray with you and for you as you confront this issue.

Q. I consider myself a new believer having only been born again a little over a year ago. I feel a change in my prayer life since then. More than just thinking my prayers to myself before bed where now I physically speak them as well as fast once or twice a week. However, I still can’t honestly say that God clearly speaks to me. I feel that He puts things on my heart or directs me through my thoughts and emotions, but nothing definitive. This causes me to feel doubt from time to time as to whether or not I’m following His will exactly as I should or if I’m missing things or taking liberties that I shouldn’t. Is this just a natural place for me to be as a young believer and something that will intensify over time or am I missing something?

A. The way God is communicating with you is the same way He communicates with all of us. His is the “still small voice” that Elijah heard in 1 Kings 19:12. It’s not His way to shout commands at us, but to nudge us and make gentle suggestions. As long as you stay close to Him He’ll do this. If He thinks you’re taking liberties, He’ll let you know.