HOW DO YOU KNOW?

                                          HOW DO YOU KNOW?

    One of the most chilling questions a pastor receives is the simple question,
"How do you know?" Usually this comes from an unbeliever, but I have also
received this question from Christians. It's not a matter of knowing the answer,
but a matter of explaining the answer in a way the questioner can understand.
This situation is much like an elementary student or challenged adult asking
about the solution of a complicated advanced math problem. If they don't have
an open mind or very little basic math understanding, you don't have much to
work with in an explanation.

    How do you know about God, Christ, the Holy Spirit, afterlife and anything
pertaining to the spiritual world? If the person does not believe in God or
Christ, nor angels or miracles, where do you start? If they are belligerent about
the subject, it is probably best to discontinue the conversation. The person is
not ready for spiritual information.

     This is the first decision you must make, because you will probably get an
argument from the person which will increase his belligerence. Remember, God
searched quite a while before He found a man who would listen to Him. Not
everyone will be called or chosen, and we must have patience in doing our
charge of spreading the Gospel. 

    A willing listener is a must. I have heard people brag about all the people they
have led to salvation. I don't want to be a doubting Thomas, but I look askance
at these stories and question if the conversion really "took" or was just acceptance
to get rid of the "nut." One way to get rid of an annoying know it all is to fake
acceptance so they shut up. 

    A curious person differs from a willing listener, but both are prospects for
success. Our scriptural instruction comes from Christ, in Matt. 7:7,8. "Ask, and
it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to
you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who
knocks it will be opened."

    Need more assurance? See Rev. 3:20, "Behold, I stand at the door and knock.
If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with
him, and he with Me." We have the essential tools given us. We need to ask, then
seek and find, which will give us the answer. You must follow the guidelines, and
respond to Christ to receive the answer. Christ tells us to knock; if we diligently
seek answers, they will be found. To knock is to address the door of knowledge,
in this situation it is spiritual knowledge.

    You need to be prepared for the experience. Your physical and emotional systems
must be clear and free of doubt. You can't receive if there's static on the line. Receiving
spiritual knowledge is much the same as receiving knowledge in other subjects. You
must work from your manual, the bible, and other books of information. You must not
have any preconceived ideas about possible answers, and you must not follow any
personal inclination to arrive at an answer or solution.
    
    The Holy Spirit will speak to your mind. If you are saved, you will have at least
the presence of the Holy Spirit, even if you are not "spirit filled." Occasionally God
will speak out loud to you, but others nearby will not hear Him. This is very rare,
but still does happen. Unsaved people can also speak to spirits, but unfortunately
these are not Godly spirits. They are Satan's people, and they are very good at what
they do. Satan's people are great imitators.

    There is one factor you must have. You must believe in the Holy Spirit as the
workman for Christ and God in this world. There is only one thing that can prevent
your salvation, and, of course, the answers to your questions. That factor is given
us in Matt. 12:31,32. Many people believe in God, but they are not saved. Some
people have accepted Christ as Savior, and they are saved. But, as the scripture
above states, your blasphemy against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven. Christ
died to cleanse us of sins, but He cannot grant us forgiveness for blasphemy against
the Holy Spirit. Read Matt. 12:31, 32 very carefully. Christ left us the Holy Spirit when
he left the earth, and the Spirit has been the workman since then. If you don't believe
in the Holy Spirit and understand His place in our spiritual life, you will not get any
answers.

    The verses I quoted are known as "The Unpardonable Sin". "Therefore I say to
you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against  the
Spirit will not be forgiven men. Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man,
it will be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it will not be
forgiven him, either in this age or in the age to come." This may be a spiritual
shock to saved people, but you see belief in the Holy Spirit is paramount in any
conversation you desire with God or Christ. The Spirit very well may be the One
to answer your question.

    Don't misunderstand this to say you should pray to the Holy Spirit. You pray to
the Father and Son as directed in scripture. They make the decisions and send your
answers usually through the Workman, the Holy Spirit. You pray to the Father, with
the message or question in the Name of your redeemer, Christ. The Holy Spirit does
the work.

    If you are not saved and/or do not believe in the Trinity--Father, Son and Holy
Spirit--success in your quest for information is doubtful at best. There's no special
formula in how you pray. God speaks and understands all languages and knows
your thoughts. He requires only sincerity and belief. Don't always expect an answer,
because there may be reasons we don't know about that can affect the answer. Be
assured, the answer will come if the necessary conditions are present, even though
it may be delayed.

    There are billions of people in the world, and only a small number are Christians.
That leads us to believe few people will actually hear from God. Satan, on the other 
hand, will be employing more and more demons to answer questions and give directions
to the unsaved. It's easy to see that Christ has to come back to earth to save both
the earth and mankind.

    How do I know? Go to Psalm 23:1-4. "The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He
makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. He 
restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name's sake.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for
You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me." How do I know? I've been
there, and I know I don't walk alone.

Rev. Walbear