Thank you so much for your site. Your insight and teaching are invaluable to me.

My question regards the concept of that which any two men agree upon will be done in heaven–what if two men agree on one thing and two other men agree on the opposite? Lots of people believe lots of things and most don’t match up, I’ve noticed.

Re: James 5:16. I am wondering how one prays an “effectual fervent” prayer? Does God require a certain level of emotion (fervency) to see prayer answered? How does one motivate oneself to such a level of intensity? Does it apply to certain kinds of prayer or all types?

I am fairly new reading your site and enjoying it tremendously. Have a question that intrigues me. Why did Jesus choose Judas Iscariot to be His disciple? The word tells me that Jesus does nothing unless the Father does, and so I would presume that it had the Father’s okay in choosing Judas as a disciple. Having said that, and that God knows everything about each one of us, past, present and future, why? I know that the Father and Jesus do not make mistakes, so there has to be a good reason for having chosen him. Was it necessary to have him in the position to identify Jesus prior to the crucifixion? Thanks for your thoughts on this.

My sister used to be a very strong Christian. Since getting a divorce she has fallen away from the church and pulled her children out as well. She is also pulling away from the family. I pray for her continually but I wonder if God hears my prayers due to the anger that I have towards her. I am tired of seeing her hurt the family and her children while turning her back on God. How do I pray for her in a way that is glorifying to God when I cannot seem to get control of my anger and hurt towards her?

In response to what you wrote in ‘Satan in our minds‘, I was wondering how Satan has access to our thoughts and deeds if he isn’t omniscient or omnipresent.

In following on from this thought, I have also begun to wonder whether Satan is allowed by God, to be physically in the presence of believers – or whether having ‘Christ within’ prevents him from doing so.

I have a question that a lot of people don’t know how to answer but I’m pretty sure you do, can the devil get into your mind or more precisely put thoughts into your mind? People get the idea that this is possible because of what Christ said.

Luke 4:8 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.

The Bible also records, in the Matthew and Mark gospels, how Jesus rebuked Peter with the same words at his suggestion that Jesus would not be raised from the dead.

Matthew 16:23. But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.

Where in the Bible does it indicate this being possible?

Your response to “Born Again Twice” mentions prayer language, i.e. speaking in tongues. I don’t get this whole tongues thing. I’ve never had a prayer language; and frankly after asking for it many times in an attempt to do all God would have me do, without receiving, I don’t believe it’s for every Christian otherwise God would have given me one. Do you believe every Christian must speak in tongues or have a prayer language?

How do we know that we are saved for sure? I have read and heard of pastors and church workers who confessed that they got saved in the churches where they were ministering. I’ve also heard about others who after doing great things for God openly denied their faith in Him. I know that those who truly trust in Him alone for salvation will be saved and experience His transforming power. I am just not sure anymore about whether my faith is the right kind or not considering my failures and sins. How can we know for sure that we are indeed saved and not just deceiving ourselves?

Your explanation of “Satan the Hinderer” the other day caused me to wonder…how are we to determine whether the false apostles quoted in 2 Cor. 11: 13-15 are simply sincere Christians being deceived by false doctrines, or genuinely evil workmen? Is it our responsibility to even know the difference? How should we handle them, if they arise in our local congregations? Thank you, for your insight.

Can a Christian who has fallen away for 8 years and come back to Christ, still be filled with the Baptism of the Holy Spirit? All of this after repentance and being Water baptized again. Is it necessary to ask for the Baptism of Holy Spirit a second time? I still have my prayer language, etc.