Frequently Asked Questions
- What does it mean to "get saved" or be "born again"?
To be saved, or being born again means to have knowingly received Jesus as Lord and Savior of one's life. The bible teaches that if we believe with our hearts and confess before men that Jesus Christ died for our sins, and was raised back to life, that we receive eternal life. We then are made righteous and can begin to live the life that God desires for use to live.
- What is righteousness?
That which is just and fair in God's eyesight.
- What is faith?
In short, faith is confidence in the testimony of another. The Bible lets us know that "without faith, it is impossible to please God." It also states "faith is the substance of things hoped for the evidence of things not seen." 1 Corinthians 5:7 tells us that we are to "walk" (live) by faith.
- What is the tithe (or tithing)?
The tithe refers to the tenth of one's income. We give the tithe as a show of our trust in God to provide for us. Tithing honors the Lord, who is responsible for all of our blessings. Tithing allows the church to fulfill its mission. Tithing is a commandment and not an option. When we tithe, we give God permission to release blessings into our lives. See Malachi 3:10.
- What is praise and worship?
We are commanded by God's word to praise Him (Psalms 150:1). There are several ways of praising and worshipping God, such as the raising of the hands, singing, clapping, shouting in celebration, and dancing. Every individual is to praise God in his or her own way. The only requirement is to do it in sincerity.
- What is laying on of hands?
Laying hands on someone while praying for them means that the person doing the praying identifies with the one being prayed for, and is standing in agreement for the answer to the prayer. James 5:14-16, and Mark 16:18 command us to lay hands on the sick. Laying hands is also a method of transferring the anointing from one person to another. Often, the recipient of the prayer will "fall out" as they are overcome by the healing power or the power of the anointing.
- What is the anointing?
This term refers to God's power that comes through His Spirit. All believers have been endowed with God's Spirit. The anointing is an outward effect of having the Spirit inwardly. The anointing makes it possible to accomplish the will of God, and can vary in its levels, depending on the faith of the believer, their area of gifting, and the will of the Spirit Himself. For example, someone can be anointed to teach God's word, but not be anointed to sing.
- What is anointing oil?
In the bible, oil is representative of the Holy Spirit. James 5:14-16, serves as the basis for the use of oil in prayer and with the laying on of hands. The oil itself has no power, but is merely a representation of the Holy Spirit.
- What is speaking in tongues?
Also referred to as praying in the Spirit, speaking in tongues is a way of communicating with God in a supernatural way that cannot be understood by the natural mind. This is an act that accompanies being filled with the Spirit of God. Mark 16:17 lets us know that speaking in tongues is one of the signs that follow believers of Jesus Christ. There is also the gift of tongues (1 Cor. 12:10), in which the speaker has the ability to speak in a language other than their own (such as someone who naturally speaks English being gifted to speak Chinese). This act is also accompanied by an interpretation.
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