Bible Q&A - Light City Church

Here are a few of the most common questions people ask.

If you have a question that isn’t answered here, just send us a message. We’d love to answer it!

Is supernatural healing real?

Absolutely!

The Bible speaks very often of miraculous healing through the work of Jesus Christ and through faith in God. Healing is the perfect will of God for not just some, but all who would believe. Supernatural or Divine healing can take place spiritually, emotionally and also physically.

Sometimes we may get discouraged when we don’t see healing manifest immediately, but this is why we are called to a life of faith, trust and patience. Jesus tells us in Mark 11:24,

“Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.”

If someone you know, or you yourself are contending for healing please see our guide called Faith For Supernatural Healing . We would love to pray with you and stand in faith for whatever you are believing for!

Is money evil? Is it wrong for a Christian to be rich?

Money is not evil, and financial prosperity as a Christian is not ‘wrong’.

The Bible clearly distinguishes the principles of money and wealth. In fact, Jesus spoke more about the topic of money than anything else in regards to the Kingston of God. Jesus understood that money and the love of money would have control over our actions and responses to the world we operate in.

Throughout the old and new testament, scriptures are clear to point out the love of money and wealth will become a slave master, driving us away from faith and further away from God. In 1 Timothy 6:10 it states,

“… for the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many.”

Paul was not saying the money is the root of all evil, but rather was exhorting Timothy to stay on guard where the cares of this world (riches, money and gain) are concerned.

Is God in control of everything that happens to me?

Within reason, yes and no.

God most certainly controls aspects of our lives should we yield to His guidance and instruction. To understand the power of free will we must first understand the nature of God. He is all knowing, all powerful and totally in control. In His sovereign nature, God has the power to create and do anything that pleases Him (Daniel 5:21).

When He created humanity (Genesis 1:27) He gave the ability to choose Him, also known as free will. From the very beginning of time, God has given us the freedom to choose within the constraints of who we are and the circumstances we find ourselves in. God can do whatever he wants but because He will not go against His own nature, we will always have the option to choose what we want in life.

Is it ever God’s will for me to be sick?

No!

God wants you well! God’s perfect will is that ALL would be healed, blessed, prosperous and in complete wholeness.

Healing is under the covenant blessing between God and Jesus Christ, and because of the gift of salvation, we are covered completely! The same redemptive power that saved us is the same power that healed us!

When we understand the nature of God we know that He doesn’t change, and His word never returns void of power.

To better understand God’s will concerning healing, we can look to Jesus. Jesus healed ALL who came to Him and never once turned anyone away. He never made anyone sick to “teach them something”. Through the word, we can see that healing is always available to all who will believe.

How do I pick what church to go to?

Picking the right church is one of the most important choices a Christian can make.

The bible is very clear about the importance of joining together in both edification, worship and for the purpose of learning the word of God so that we can personally, and as a body, come closer in our relationship with God.

When joining a new church you should have some questions outlined to reference and consider.
For instance:

Does this church teach primarily out of the bible?
Is God active and present?
Does the style of teaching suite your style of learning?
Are fellowship and prayer of primary importance?
What elements of worship are presented?

Before you step foot into a building, take the time to list the things that you want to learn and also grow in. This way you will be able to narrow down any options based on the criteria you deemed fit!

If Jesus was looking for a church, we believe He would consider:

biblical teaching
fellowship
prayer to be in the top criteria!

What is a tithe? And why does God ask me for my money?

According to the bible, a tithe means a tenth or ten percent of your income.

Tithing is a way of teaching us that God must be our first priority. It is a direct action of the heart and demonstrates your trust in God as your source.
Does God need your money? No. God does not ask for money because He needs your money but rather has asked for a tithe as a demonstration of both relationship and obedience.

When we trust God as our source for all things, which include finances, we should then have no reluctance to give to God a tenth of what is already His. God is the source of all of our wealth and owns all of the money in the world, and so when we give our tithes it is simply an outward demonstration of partnership with Heaven.

Why should Christians get water baptized?

Water baptism is an outward demonstration of the internal commitment that one makes when accepting Jesus as Lord and Saviour.

In Matthew 28:18-20, Jesus clearly commands us to be baptized.

“And Jesus came and said to them, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit’.”

Water baptism is a symbol of dying to our ‘old self’, or old nature with Christ and rising up as a new creature.

Which translation of the bible should I read?

When choosing a Bible translation that best suits your style of learning, it is best to consider the variations in translation.

Did you know that there are over 495 different translations of the Biblical text? Thankfully these can be categorized into three main sections:

literal
paraphrase
dynamic

1. Literal translations, or word for word, are excellent when it comes to accurately bringing the words of the original documents to the English language. Examples of literal translations include:

(NASB) New American Standard Bible
(ESV) English Standard Version
(RSV) Revised Standard Version
(KJV) King James Version
(NKJV) New King James Version
(NRSV) New Revised Standard Version

2. Paraphrase translations can be great for those new to the Bible or who just want something a little more natural to read. The idea of a paraphrase is not to take the Biblical text and translate it word for word. Rather, it is to take entire thoughts and translate them in such a way as to get the idea across.
Examples of paraphrase translations are:

(Message) Eugene Peterson’s The Message
(LB) Living Bible

3. Dynamic translations try to find a middle ground between paraphrased and word-for-word. These style translations are generally both accurate and easy to understand. Examples of dynamic translations include:

(NET) New English Translation
(NIV) New International Version
(NLT) New Living Translation
(CEV) Contemporary English Version
(NCV) New Century Version

Scriptures to reference:
Romans 15:4 | 11 Timothy 2:15 | 11 Timothy 3:15,16 | 11 Peter 1:20 | 11 Peter 3:16

What does it mean to “lay hands” on someone?

Laying hands on someone is a biblical action/phrase often used in Christianity to depict the act of prayer & impartation through the means of physically laying your hands on a person.

It is important to note that ‘laying on of hands’ is not the only way to impart a message or word from God but just one of the many ways God can touch someone. Jesus certainly laid His hands on many of those He healed; however, He also healed without laying His hands on people. In fact, there were times when He was nowhere in the vicinity of those He healed. Matthew 8:8 is a great example and describes Jesus healing the servant of the centurion without going near the centurion’s house.

Scriptures to reference:
Matthew 8:8 | 1 Timothy 5:22 | Acts 19:4-6 | Acts 10:44-46 | Mark 16:18

What does it mean to “confess” the word?

Confessing the word of God is one of the most powerful tools a believer can use in their life of Christianity.

To ‘confess’ means to make known, to declare or to speak in regards to. The power of confession lies within the words that we speak. Words reveal what we truly believe. Jesus said, “For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of. For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words, you will be condemned” (Matthew 12:34, 37).

That is why it is so important to say what God has said. We do this not so others can hear us, but so that our soul will receive instruction on what to believe and agree with instead of the symptoms in your body, situations in your life and fear-based thinking and talking you hear from others around you. We encourage you to ‘call things that are not as though they are’ and speak against every situation that does not align with the kingdom of Heaven.

I tithe every week but I feel like nothing is changing in my finances. What am I doing wrong?

Our first question is, what is your confession?

Confessing the word of God is one of the most powerful tools a believer can use in their life of Christianity! Tithing is the first half of partnering with God in the aspect of finances, however, what you say is just as important. If you need some help shaping your confession see our Prosperity Confession and declare it daily.

What is communion and why do Christians do it?

Communion is an outward demonstration of a celebration of the story of Jesus, how He gave Himself completely to give us a better life, a new start, and a fresh relationship with God.

It’s not about a ritual to revere, but a person to worship. Jesus is less concerned about the method of celebrating communion and more concerned that we celebrate it.

The early Church celebrated Jesus by taking communion, sometimes every day. They saw that every time they gathered around a table to eat and drink, it was a chance to recognize Jesus and thank God for all He’s done.

Jesus started the tradition of communion and He instructed His followers to use bread and wine to remember the sacrifice He was going to make when He died for our sins on the cross (1 Corinthians 11:23-26).

Jesus called Himself “the bread of life,” which means that we’re nourished by Him, we survive because of Him, and He satisfies us when everything else leaves us empty.

Scriptures to reference:
John 6:48-51 | 1 Corinthians 11:23-26 | John 6:35 | 1 Peter 3:18 | Acts 2:42-46

Does God make bad things happen in my life to teach me a lesson?

God will never cause you to fail just to teach you a lesson, but He does use all things in our lives as an opportunity to guide us.

The truth is, we can’t know all the reasons why God lets bad things happen. We live in a world that is marred by sin, so difficulties and disappointments are bound to cross our path. Nevertheless, if you ask God for discernment, you can begin to understand why He allowed something to occur. You can also discover how God can redeem the situation and bring benefits to your life as a result of suffering.

Unless you accept God’s grace to deal with suffering, inevitably you will become bitter. However, if you choose to trust God to bring about His purposes through the suffering, you can avoid the trap of bitterness and grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord. As the Lord gives you the grace to respond to each circumstance as Jesus would respond, you will develop Godly character.

The Bible tells us that even the Son of God learned obedience through what He suffered (Hebrews 5:8)! If you feel overwhelmed with the situation that you are facing then ask the Lord some questions:

Could I learn patience as a result of this circumstance?
How can I learn obedience as a result of this situation?
Could this suffering motivate me to express gratefulness for things I’ve previously taken for granted?
Can I develop more compassion for others because of this experience?

I tried to forgive someone, but the feelings of unforgiveness keep coming back. What do I do?

The bible is very clear regarding forgiveness. It tells us to forgive those who will trespass against us, to turn the other cheek if warranted, to love our enemies, and to do good to those who will deliberately hurt us. That doesn’t mean that the emotions we sometimes face aren’t real to us. If you find that these feelings of unforgiveness will simply not go away, don’t ignore it!

We encourage you to make a plan toward inner healing in any area that seems unresolved. Start by holding your thoughts accountable. Do not allow yourself to dwell and recite recurring feelings, rather speak what God says. If you still feel it is unresolved, consider talking it out with a church leader and even a medical professional.

How can I get free from addiction?

Addiction is defined as an unhealthy relationship between a person and a mind-altering substance or experience that renders that person unable to quit.

The first step is to recognize that you have a problem! We tend to deny that anything is wrong. Often, in fact, we’re terrified of giving it up. But until we acknowledge the problem, we won’t truly be able to break into freedom.

One of your most powerful tools for conquering an addiction is to work with an accountability partner. This is someone who will hold you to your word and help you walk out the process of freeing your mind, soul and body from the cycles of addiction. We recommend seeing our Momentum Centre for further steps to victory! Jesus promised us that there is nothing we can not win in His name.

Scriptures to reference:
1 Corinthians 6:12 | Colossians 2:15 | Luke 4:18-21, 36 | Galatians 5:1, 13 | John 1:9

Why doesn’t God seem to answer my prayers?

God created us and knows infinitely more than we know. He knows what is best for us, and what would not be good for us.

If you have children, when they were very small, sometimes they asked for things that would not be good for them, or would harm them. For good reasons sometimes parents do not always give their children what they ask for when they ask for it. God is a good parent that knows what to give His children and when. He is a God of love, and He is interested in every detail of our lives. He hears our prayers and answers every sincere prayer that comes from a right heart.

We must not expect that every answer will be “yes” since we don’t always ask what is best for us. Sometimes His answer is “No’ and sometimes it is “wait.” We need to end each prayer with, “not my will but Your will.” Even if we are sincerely doing God’s will, and to the best of our ability, following His will for us, He may see that it is best for us not for Him to say “yes” at this time. We must continue trusting Him, regardless of His answer at the moment.

One of the reasons we feel our prayers are not being answered is because we stop praying! In 1 Thessalonians 5:17, Paul says it best, “pray without ceasing.” Paul is more direct in Philippians 4:6, “In everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” So above all else, keep thanking in prayer and holding onto the hope that is found in the bible.

Scriptures to reference:
Matthew 6:12 | Ephesians 4:32 | Philippians 4:6 | 1 Thessalonians 5:17 | 1 John 5:14

Do my words really matter?

Absolutely!

Proverbs says that ‘life and death are in the power of the tongue’. Your words essentially create your future because what you say with your mouth reveals what you truly believe in your heart. Jesus said, “For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of. For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words, you will be condemned” (Matthew 12:34, 37). That is why it is so important to say what God has said!

There is power in positive confession, but more so in confessing what God says about everything in your life. It is not a lie to say “I am rich” even if in the natural sense, you are not. Why? Because the Bible promises us that we can have what we say when we believe in faith according to His riches and glory!

We encourage you to start declaring the word of God over everything in your life and hold fast to your hope.

Is there any point in reading the Old Testament?

There are many reasons to study the Old Testament.

For one, the Old Testament lays the foundation for the teachings and events found in the New Testament.

The Bible is a progressive revelation. If you skip the first half of any good book and try to finish it, you will have a hard time understanding the characters, the plot, and the ending. In the same way, the New Testament is only completely understood when we see its foundation of the events, characters, laws, sacrificial system, covenants, and promises of the Old Testament.

The Old Testament allows us to learn how to love and serve God, and it reveals more about God’s character. It shows through repeatedly-fulfilled prophecy why the Bible is unique among holy books—it alone is able to demonstrate that it is what it claims to be: the inspired Word of God.

In short, if you have not yet ventured into the pages of the Old Testament, you are missing much that God has available for you.

Does the Bible tell me what I should eat?

When we look at both the Old Testament and the New Testament we find that the bible does, in fact, cover our nutritional guidelines.

Kosher literally means “fit” or “approved” and is followed primarily by Jews and some Christians. The guidelines are the same as above and stated in Leviticus 11:1-47. In orthodox Jewish cultured the only time you don’t need to follow kosher guidelines are if it’s necessary to eat something non-kosher to “save a life”.

In the New Covenant of grace, the Bible is far more concerned with how much we eat than what foods Christians eat. Physical appetites are an analogy of our ability to control ourselves. If we are unable to control our eating habits, we are probably also unable to control other habits such as those of the mind (lust, covetousness, unrighteous hatred/anger) and unable to keep our mouths from gossip or strife.

As Christians, we are not to let our appetites control us; rather, we are to control them.

Scriptures to reference:
Mark 7:14-23 | Romans 14:21 | 1 Corinthians 6:13 | 1 Corinthians 8:8 | 1 Timothy 4:4-5