·        What Should We Think About The Shroud Of Turin?

 Well, I can tell you what I think about the Shroud.  I believe with everything in me that it is real.  I believe that God left it as a sign.  Studies have been done and there will always be varying opinions on it.  Conclusive evidence says it is real.  But, there will always, and I mean always, be those who don’t believe.  This is something you can take to the Lord in prayer.  Ask Him to reveal the truth about it to you.  But, never let something of this nature become an idol to you.  Nothing replaces the living Christ, not even the Shroud.

·        Of  The Twelve Original Disciples, Why Did Christ Choose No Females?

I asked God this question years ago, especially since I have been called by God.  I can tell you my take on this and then you decide for yourself.  Men are different than women.  They think differently, feel differently, and they see things in a different way.  First of all, God chose who HE wanted.  They didn’t choose themselves.  He knew what lay ahead of them.  I know that God uses and has used women mightily in the past and will in the future, but there are some things that men are better at than women.  He didn’t choose a woman.  That decision was God’s choice and for reasons known only to Him, we have to be able to accept that.  I think we need to focus instead on our individual gifts and callings and not so much as on why a female wasn’t one of the original twelve.  If you are called to do a mighty work for God, have no fear.  If you are obedient and faithful, when you have passed all of the tests, He will use you.

What Does It Mean To Prophesy?

There are nine gifts of the Spirit (1 Corn. 12:1-12). One of these is to Prophesy. This is a gift that tells of what is to come.  There is a gift of Prophesy and there is an office of a Prophet.  But, I want to talk only about the gift of Prophesy.  There are nine gifts given by the Holy Spirit to each one of us to use as He sees fit.  He might choose to give us one or all; it is up to Him.  We cannot give gifts to ourselves and we cannot make ourselves be something that we are not.  I have had two complete strangers come up to me and prophesy over me, telling me something that the Lord had already put in my spirit.  Usually, prophesy will confirm what you already know to give you the assurance that you are on the right track.  That is called confirmation.  If someone tells you that they have a word for you and you are unsure of it, take it to the Lord and ask Him to confirm it to you.  Don’t believe everything you hear…test the spirits for yourself (1 John 4:1).   If you are walking with Christ and trying to do His will, then prophesying will help keep you or get you on the path that is God-ordained.

Can Mere Man Forgive Sin? 

No one but God can forgive man’s sin…make no mistake about it.  We are all just mere humans who were created by God.  No one, and I mean no one, but God can forgive a man’s sin.  We can lead people to Christ, but we alone do not have the authority to forgive a man’s sin (1 John 1:9); (Mark 2:7, 10). 

What is Communion?

Communion was instituted at Passover by our Lord symbolizing the New Covenant.  It really was out with the old and in with the new.  The bread and wine symbolize His body and His blood that was shed for us on the Cross bringing forth the new way.  Communion itself is not holy.  The elements are not holy.  These should be taken as often as you see fit.  There is no rhyme or reason to this.  He never said to partake of it only on Sunday, only at Passover, only by a particular person.  The key factor in this act is to repent for any unconfessed sin in your heart for anything and I mean anything you are aware of that could come between you and the Lord.  I use it to cleanse my heart before the Lord.  I make certain that my heart is pure before Him as it possibly can be at the moment I come before Him to partake.  He tells us that as often as we do this do this in remembrance of Him. (I Corinthians 11:23-26)