Doubt, exorcism, faith, and prayer are topics, today. A “Yahoo! Answers” writer using an ID that my not be shown here (a member since November 09, 2013 on Level 3 with 1,686 points) posted the following:
Christians, can a person pray to God to remove doubt in His existence from their heart?
THE GOLDEN ARROW: Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear. By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh. By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God. But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith. (Hebrews 11: 3-7, KJV)
THE DOUBLE DAGGER: The Scriptures and Perfection? (10/27/2014); Faith Comes By Hearing? (09/03/2014); Perfection and Prayer? (08/27/2014); The “Talking Cross”? (02/13/2014); On Being Merciful (09/01/2013); A Divine Trickster? (09/02/2013); Acknowledging Divinity? (03/30/2013)
Here are a few points that all Christian believers must embrace to avoid error and spiritual confusion:
(1.) Many questions that are posed by those who seek sacred knowledge must be answered by fitting together what seem to be contradicting, separate and unrelated lessons that all are contained within the holy writings. Subtleties (barely visible differences; unseen shifts in focus and meaning) often may be present. For example, when the Apostle Peter saw Jesus walking on the water, and wanted to have that same experience, he declared that, if Jesus would command it, he would be able to approach Jesus by walking on the water. Jesus called Peter, who then left the boat, stood upon the water, and began to take steps. When the waves began to swell, and Peter could no longer see Jesus, he was overwhelmed by fear, he began to sink, and cried out, Lord save me! Immediately Jesus was beside him, grabbed his hand, and assisted Peter back into the boat. He verbally chastised Peter and the others for their lack of faith saying, O ye of little faith. For the prayerful reader, the basis for relationship with divinity comes into view as faith rather than obedience to commandment and law.
(2.) Because all followers of Jesus Christ must be born again and mature through gradual growth and spiritual transformations carried out by divinity through their life experiences upon the earth (we say, rebirth, perfection, sanctification), at some time, most believers also will be challenged by feelings of incompleteness, lack of power, and uncertainty. There are multiple ongoing sacred operations that continue “in the background” and unseen (so to speak) as Christ continually cleanses, refines, and sharpens his chosen ones. Thus, the Bible reports, on one occasion, Jesus was away from the crowd that usually followed him seeking healing. His apostles, who all had done so before, were asked by a boy’s father to cast out a devil (we say, perform an exorcism), and the apostles could not. When Jesus returned, the father pleaded for his help. When asked by the Savior whether he believed Jesus could successfully do the exorcism, the father replied, I believe, help thou mine unbelief. He may have come a long distance in hope of help for his child. Seeing others blessed, he may well have become discouraged when his child could not be improved. Even so, he did not leave and go home after the repeated failures of the apostles. Again, the focus must be seen as faith and the content of the father’s spirit, rather than such finite human tools as intellect, logic, medicine, philosophy, or science. Ones understanding that GOD is and that GOD is able must be as much a part of oneself as their own hand, their foot, or their offspring.
There is far more to be said, correctly understood, and spiritually apprehended. (For example, (3.) On several occasions the apostles observed Jesus maintaining the sacred discipline of prayer. Wanting to be more like Jesus, they asked that he give them more faith. The Savior responded saying, in effect, the problem is not the amount or size of a person’s faith. Where you have faith as small as a grain of mustard seed it is enough. This is true because faith is an aspect of divinity, and is inseparable from other features within the divine makeup such as forgiveness, holiness, joy, love, righteousness, truth, wisdom and wrath against sin.) I trust this fragment will be useful. Be it unto you according to your faith.
THE BLACK PHOENIX
Washington, DC
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