Ask The Pastor
August 2007


Finnis Dake says in his commentary that a fast is not a fast if you fast and drink juice. What do you think?

All you have to do is look to the Bible for your answer. Daniel fasted for a period of time once where it says that he “ate no pleasant bread.” If he fasted, yet still ate something, we can fast with juice and get results. Remember, all commentary is opinion, but the words of the Bible are the words of the Lord.

If the Holy Spirit helps you discern that a non-Christian's problems are caused by demons, how do you deal with this? How can you get them to understand and come to the Lord for help?

As with all things that are beyond our ability to discern in the natural, I would pray for wisdom and allow God to bring the time. In other words, don’t get ahead of God. Let Him prepare the soil of the heart and give you the words to say at the moment He says to speak. Follow His leading, and let Him be in charge of the conversation, but don’t try to “help Him” or you may make it worse.

If someone who is in authority over you in the church has caused hurt in your life, but God hasn't released you from leaving that church, how do you find healing and still face that person every week? And how do you continue to view that person in the eyes of God as a true godly leader when they acted in ways unbefitting of a Christian?

First of all, being “released” from a church is a far cry from God’s will. Why would you even consider such a thing unless you were not being fed God’s Word there? Don’t be so quick to leave based on offense.

Second, you find healing by forgiving, and by not being offended. When someone does something that causes hurt in our lives, we have no control over what they did, but we do have control over our reaction. Choose to remain unoffended, and to forgive by faith as Paul did in II Corinthians 2:10.

Third, remember that no one is perfect. Maybe this person had a bad day, or was under attack by the devil and circumstances. Maybe someone in his/her family was sick or his/her family was being persecuted. These aren’t excuses for bad behavior, but they do affect us.

Fourth, I would encourage you to approach the person in the pattern established in the Bible and discuss the issue with him/her privately. When you do this, do it in love and strive for unity.

After this, if it is not resolved go to the individual in your church who is over this person, or to your pastor, and discuss it them. Let God lead you by their wisdom.

Finally, don’t run from the human parts of Christians, or you’ll be running constantly. Grow even in times of disappointment, and refuse to let the disappointment cause you to become stagnate. People are people wherever you go, so there will never be a place where you can escape the frailties of human flesh altogether.

I had a knee replacement 6 months ago, and I am still on crutches. Should I continue trusting in God for healing to be able to walk?

Absolutely yes. We fight the fight of faith, and sometimes it takes time, but we never give up on the Word of God.