Mark 9:22b

But if You can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.

Mark 9:23,24
Jesus said to him, If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.24 Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!

Matthew 12:30
He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters abroad.

Question
Do we deeply yearn for such faith, or are we eyeing for reasons to remain cynical?

Romans 10:17
So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

Misconceptions About Christianity

Then He said to them all, If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. Luke 9:23
Some would respond, that by denying self, and devoting self to following Christ, then I MUST lay my individuality, all of my anticipations of a good and exciting and fulfilling life to the side.

Misconceptions About Christianity

You do not find in the Bible that by devoting self to Christ one loses their individuality, but you will find that it does teach the forfeiture of selfcenteredness. (Luke 9:23) It does teach that we need to place God first in all things (Matthew 6:33) It does teach that we consider the needs of others as more pressing than our own (Philippians 2:3-4).

Misconceptions About Christianity

You do not find in the Bible that by devoting self to Christ one loses their individuality, but you will find that it does teach the forfeiture of selfcenteredness. (Luke 9:23) It does teach that we need to place God first in all things (Matthew 6:33) It does teach that we consider the needs of others as more pressing than our own (Philippians 2:3-4).

It is not the end of happiness; it is very beginning of it!

1 Peter 3:10,11
For He who would love life and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips from speaking deceit. 11 Let him turn away from evil and do good; Let him seek peace and pursue it.

Philippians 4:11
Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content:

John 10:10
The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.

Inquiring Minds Want To Know

When it comes to the word of God and Gods existence, there are many questions that have filled minds of many throughout time. Questions such as
Why doesnt God stop the suffering that exists? Can one trust the Bible or not? Has the Bible been accurately translated throughout time?

1 Peter 3:15
But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear;

But sanctify the Lord God in your will take their questions hearts, and always be ready to give a and explore the Scriptures defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the search for in you, hope that is as they with meekness and fear;

1 Peterpeople who 3:15 God desires

answers.

Acts 17:11
These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so.

Inquiring Minds Want To Know

While Christians have questions to deal with, those in the alternative camps have conundrums from which theres no logical escape. After studying the other options carefully, seeker after honest seeker comes to the conclusion that it takes more faith to deny Christianity than it does to actually embrace it (Hybels/Mittelberg p. 175).

Inquiring Minds Want To Know

On the subject of suffering, the Scriptures say;
My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. 4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. James 1:2-4

Inquiring Minds Want To Know On the subject of suffering, the Scriptures say; If one takesitGodwhen you His Holy and fall into various My brethren, count all joy trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces & Divine Word its perfect work, that (2 Tim. patience. 4 But let patience have you may be perfect and complete, equation, 3:16,17) out of the lacking nothing. James 1:2-4 he has then formed a far greater conundrum!

Inquiring Minds Want To Know

Ask yourself honestly, Am I putting more energy into seeking to find perplexing questions than in finding answers? At times, intellectual questions about God or the Bible are just smoke screens for ones unwillingness to make some belated alterations in ones morality.

Inquiring Minds Want To Know

When an individual first encounters the Gospel, they spend some time throwing out objections or questions, but the real motivation is an attempt to find someone who will just tell them what they want to hear. Simply put, that individual has a hesitancy to change something in their life.

Matthew 7:21
Not everyone who says to Me, Lord, Lord, shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.

Hebrews 5:9
And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him,

The Not So Good Examples of Professed Believers

Due to the hypocritical example set by some professed Christians, many have digressed from Christianity.
Consider those who say, Well I am better than them and I am not even a Christian, so if they are saved, then obviously I have nothing to worry about. I can relate with such a feeling, but the truth of the matter is that the hypocrisy of some professed Christians did not excuse my sins, nor will it ever!

Ezekiel 18:20
The soul who sins shall die. The son shall not bear the guilt of the father, nor the father bear the guilt of the son. The righteousness of the righteous shall be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon himself.

Revelations 21:8
But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.

The Not So Good Examples of Professed Believers

Do we also secretly enjoy seeing people fail?
I believe at times that we rather revel in the presence of hypocrites because they make us feel secure in our lack of obedience to God. If I can find people who are worse than me then I must be okay Remember: God will not save anyone who is in rebellion. 2 Thessalonians 1:7-9

Spiritual Cynicism
Spiritual Cynicism treks deep in people. Christianity is not just a thing or trend that is just a too good to be true scheme. Christianity does not promise a trouble free life, or all about material gain, instantaneous success, or other impulses that appeal to man.

John 12:48
He who rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has that which judges himthe word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day.

John 17:17 Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.

Conclusion
You matter to God; Does God matter to you? 1 Jn 4:19 ; Luke 19:10 Are you on a great adventure? Useful, and effective vessel in the Lords service? Are there barriers existent in our way that is keeping us from pushing & reaching forward to our full potential that God has given us?