> Greetings Ray,
>
> I've emailed you before in the past, and I thank you for not only responding
> but also for being so prompt. I also want to thank you for doing what you're
> doing. You're the reason I came to realize that ALL WILL (EVENTUALLY) BE
> SAVED. I guess you're the vessel God used to show that to me. But I have a
> problem Ray, In fact I have many problems but my main problem is myself.
>
> You see, even though I see 'The Truth' of Scripture, and in my heart I
> believe in God and I often get in heated debates with Christians who argue
> that God will 'FAIL AT SAVING THE WORLD' and even though I do nothing but
> quote Scripture with a few of my own words they call me 'sick' and say that
> I 'need help' and that I need to 'get saved, like them' etc... I still
> sometimes have doubt, and I still do some of the nasty things I used to do
> in the past, and when I get angry I could be filthier than a sailor when it
> comes to swearing.
>
> So what is my problem Ray? I want to change, I want to quit smoking
> completely and at least ease up on my drinking but I don't have enough will
> power (...and I know I don't have a 'free will'). So I don't really expect a
> response, I know you're very busy, but if you could pray for me once I'd
> really appreciate it. Since I'm struggling to even go on living. And that's
> not even the tip of the Iceberg. But this has already gotten far too
> lenghty, so I'll stop here.
>
> Thanks in advance,
> S
Dear S:
No, S, you have enough will power, but what you don't have is "faith." Will power is a destroyer of faith. One doesn't need faith if they have the "will power" to do things without faith. I am sure you see what I mean. All the will power in the world will not move a blade of grass if God doesn't want it moved, however, a tiny amount of faith will move a mountain. So the natural question now becomes: HOW do I get this kind of faith?
Actually, you can never "get" it; you can only "receive" it. Don't you just hate it when I talk like this?
But it's the Gospel Truth as they say. Faith to trust God to do His will is a gift from God Himself, and that being the case, I cannot show you a short cut or make God give you that faith (See Eph. 2:
. You must go to the Source, God, and ask Him. When you come to the place that you know for a fact that you will never overcome your sins, you will be in a good position to beg. "Oh that I might have my request; and that God would grant me the thing that I long for!" (Job 6:
. Job called it a "quest," whereas I prefer the word "beg."
B-E-G God to grant you true repentance and victory over your sins and vanity!! And yes, I will pray with you!
God be with you,
Ray
PS In the mean time, don't try to convert others to the truth. Most people don't want to HEAR sermons: they would rather SEE a sermon. Right now, they maybe cannot hear you because of what they see in you.