Answers for Beginners and Teachers

By Ladonna Spencer

Answers for Beginners and Teachers is filled with interesting Bible scriptures and the authors comments on them. Ladonna shares her personal experiences, Gods audible voice, spiritual dreams, and visions, how she was healed of cancer, and two out-of-body experiences.

Teachers can use this book as a guide for Bible-study groups and sermons. Or it can be read through like a book.

It is written for new Christians and others who are thirsting for Gods Word. Expect to have your memory refreshed on the deeper things of God and find answers to questions you may have that are similar to those the author had for many years.

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: Mar 16, 2017
• ISBN: 9781512773613

Ladonna Spencer

Ladonna Spencer became a Christian at eight years old. She has an exhorter motivational gift that drives her to uplift Christians with scriptures, and her personal experiences. She is an ordained non-Denominational Minister of Christian literature. An out-of-body-experience gave Ladonna the determination to tell her Heavenly Father the words Jesus told him, “I have glorified you on earth; I have finished the work you gave me to do.” (John 17:4)

Book preview

1

STUDY GOD’S WORD EARNESTLY

Isn’t it fantastic that we can get saved and become children of the Most High God without knowing all the technical or spiritual answers in his Word? When you study the Bible you will receive wonderful promises from God, spiritual revelation, and knowledge because his Word is alive, powerful, and supernaturally natural. Jesus is the Word in John 1:1 and in John 1:14.

For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires (Hebrews 4:12 NLT).

The Holy Spirit gives us the ability to rightly divide God’s Word and to understand its spiritual meaning because we have the mind of Christ. "‘Who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct him?’ But we have the mind of Christ" (1 Corinthians 2:16 NKJV, emphasis added). This is another difficult scripture for us to understand. I think it means that when we have the Holy Spirit dwelling inside our spirits, we then begin to think more like Christ, as the Holy Spirit reminds us what Jesus taught.

Give full attention to all the words in scripture because they may contain a special meaning just for you. Every word could reveal a significant meaning, command, or law that can make the difference in whether or not we can have and do the things God has promised us in the Bible.

Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth (2 Timothy 2:15 KJV).

If you have a difficult time understanding the King James Version of the Bible that uses Old English words like thee, thou, and ye instead of you, then please look up the scriptures in a version that uses more modern language. A multiple-translation Bible can be used for a clearer understanding of some scriptures; a Greek dictionary of the New Testament and a Hebrew dictionary of the Old Testament also can be helpful. My most valuable help in studying the Bible and understanding it has been the Holy Spirit—and then an exhaustive concordance.

Let the Word drop into your spirit and come alive. We need to study God’s Word, not read it like a newspaper. Some people who read the Bible as a literary document never receive salvation or knowledge from spiritual revelation. Many people don’t realize the Bible was written by Jews, for Jews, and about Jews and that the Gentile Christians are adopted Jews. Knowing this will help you to better understand the Bible.

Jesus said that we will know the truth, and the truth will make us free; Jesus is the truth. In John 8:32 and 14:6, he said he is the truth.

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, But fools despise wisdom and instruction (Proverbs 1:7 NKJV). Notice that fools despise wisdom and instruction. The flip side of despise is love, so let us fear God and love wisdom and instruction. Then we will begin to know knowledge and grow in wisdom.

Christians are destroyed because they lack biblical knowledge on how to live the abundant life that Jesus came to give us; they also lack knowledge about how to stop attacks from the devil (Hosea 4:6). You will not receive enough knowledge by listening to a sermon once a week and letting your clergyman do your entire Bible reading for you. Please read the Bible yourself. The more you read and grow as a Christian, the more you will understand God’s Word. Your spirit will begin to bear witness to the truth of the Word and its spiritual meaning; then you will be able to recognize when you are not hearing the true Word of God.

Now it is time for you to get out your favorite study Bible so you can look up scriptures as you read through this book. If you have more than one version, use each of them to see whether they all have the same meaning in different words. You may even find a deeper spiritual meaning of various scriptures.

If they bring no condemnation and only peace, love, God’s promises to you, and glory to him, then glean the good spiritual meaning and let the rest fall away. If you are serious about getting to know the scriptures, then you need an exhaustive concordance. It will enable you to find where the scriptures are located throughout the entire Bible. I grew up reading the King James Version of the Bible, and we also used it in Bible college. Thus, I have its concordance because the scriptures are more familiar and easier for me to find.

2

EXAMPLES OF WHY PRAYERS AND PROPHECIES DON’T MANIFEST

Some may find God’s timing is a serious faith-stopper. Sometimes I remind God how important time is to us, as if he didn’t know. He does come through at the last minute if a prayer is truly in need of being answered quickly and if it is in agreement with what is in the Bible, which is God’s will. Make a mental note of what I just said—the Bible is God’s will.

When I hear people say if it’s God’s will, then I say to them, If it is in the Bible, it is God’s will. If you know the Bible, there is no need to say that because you will know whether or not your request is his will. Maybe they should say, If it is written in the Bible, my prayer will be answered. If you continue trusting in the Lord’s words and delighting yourself in him, you will see your heart’s desires come true—but some may take years.

God may not always answer when we want and expect him to. If a ten-year-old boy asks his parents for a car to drive, are they going to give it to him? No! Sometimes what we are praying for takes years before we can handle it. God is already in the process of answering our prayers by running years ahead of us, preparing people, places, and things that may not exist right now. Don’t give up; God is busy answering your prayers, and they will come to pass in his perfect timing. Keep on knowing that you know it will be done, even if it may seem impossible.

Sometimes we ask for things that are bad for us or that could cause us to sin. If so, don’t expect these prayers to be answered—you have asked amiss. Other times we don’t even ask God; we just expect that he knows what we want or need. He does know, but he wants us to invite him to go to work on our requests. Prayer moves the hand of God. When your prayers are not answered, it could be because you haven’t asked or because you asked amiss (James 4:2–3).

Then there are a few times when someone will bombard God with so many faith-filled prayers that he goes ahead and gives it to them—only to have them come to the realization it was horribly wrong for them.

He who covers his sins will not prosper, But whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy (Proverbs 28:13 NKJV). When you read this scripture, did you ask yourself, Do I have sin that I am covering up? Learn to recognize your sins. Yes, Christians still sin from time to time. Have you been praying for more money or for a job, yet you are still waiting? Then look within yourself to see if you have any hidden sins. If you confess and forsake them, then you will have mercy.

Many Christians don’t even believe that their not thinking about God’s special requests and not doing them can stop their prayers, prophesies, and promises from manifesting. For example, focus on the words if, abide, and ask in the following scripture: If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you (John 15:7 NKJV).

If you have a habit of reading through the Bible in a hurry and remembering only the promise parts, like ask and it shall be done for you, don’t be surprised if you don’t get what you asked for. Often Christians will completely ignore the part that says if you abide in me and my words abide in you. When their prayers are not answered, they wonder why not. Many promises in the Bible require you to do something first, such as forgive, cast out bitterness, love, obey, submit, do, wait, stand, and thank. A couple of huge things like unforgiveness and bitterness will definitely prevent a miracle, a prophecy, or a prayer from manifesting.

Two prophecies that were given to me took twenty-four years to manifest. Then, in August 2014, after thirty-two years, a third one came true. I never gave up trusting the Lord, and they really did happen. Now I know why the first two took God so long: I had to attend Bible school and read the Bible through several times. When I was ready, the Holy Spirit used me to write two Christian books for children; that answered the first prophecy. The second prophecy came true long after I bought a computer with which I could write books. I also had to become sensitive to the voice of the Holy Spirit and not hesitate to do what he asks me to do.

First, I had to wait until I knew God’s Word. Second, I had to wait for the invention of home computers. And third, I had to learn how to obey his voice. The thirty-two-year prophecy happened when it was the best time for us to receive it and be able to handle it—and it was also when it was needed most. Many times during those years of trusting God and waiting, I thought that right now it is needed most, but looking back, it really wasn’t. God’s timing is perfect.

I have also noticed some Christians saying, God’s promises are for other Christians, not for me. Wrong! I think this is one of the most insulting things Christians can do to God; they don’t believe what the Bible says. Not trusting in what God says in the Bible not only insults him, but it calls him a liar, and breaks his heart; which can also leave your prayers and promises unfulfilled.

3

GOD IS NOT A LIAR

Do you know when you don’t believe what is written in the Bible it is like calling God a liar? God is never a liar; he is always the truth. The devil is the father of all lies and should never be trusted. Sometimes it takes God a while before we see him do what he says he will do, but in his own time it will be done.

God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good? (Numbers 23:19 KJV).

In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began (Titus 1:2 KJV).

That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie (Hebrews 6:18 KJV).

4

BABES IN CHRIST

Isn’t it strange that some Christians live an entire lifetime and never try to find the answers and promises that are waiting for them in the Bible? The Bible calls them babes. And I know some people who have been Christians forty years and are still babes in Christ because they seldom read their Bibles. This is what the New Living Translation Bible says about them:

You have been believers so long now that you ought to be teaching others. Instead, you need someone to teach you again the basic things about God’s word. You are like babies who need milk and cannot eat solid food. For someone who lives on milk is still an infant and doesn’t know how to do what is right (Hebrews 5:12–13 NLT).

We all start out as babies on the milk of the Word (the basics), but we should pray every day and study the Bible. You won’t grow up in the Lord if you rely only on what a preacher says on Sunday morning. Preachers are human too, and there are many ministers who are leading people astray with their own ideas and agendas. Read God’s Word and find out for yourself what the truth is.

Just like babies, first we learn to crawl and then walk before we are mature enough to run with the Word (understand the spiritual meat of the Word). When we attend church on a regular basis and join a Bible study group, we will grow up fast. Also read 1 Peter 2:2; 1 Corinthians 3:2; and Hebrews 5:13–14. All of these scriptures speak about being fed on milk and not solid food because they are still babes.

5

THE BIBLE IS FROM GOD AND IS HIS HOLY SPIRIT-INSPIRED WORD

If you study 2 Timothy 3:16–17; 2 Peter 1:21; and Matthew 24:35, you will see that the entire Bible was given to holy men, moved by the Holy Spirit, and inspired by God, and his Word will never pass away. The Bible teaches us right from wrong and gives us godly wisdom. It also helps us to do what is right and prepares us to live the Christian life of being good to others and spreading the good news. It tells us what we have inherited from God, how to live in the kingdom of heaven here on earth, and how to obtain eternal life with Him.

But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed (Galatians 1:8 NKJV).

Beware of people who have another gospel they say is the correct Bible that you should follow. And beware of denominations that have their own Bible versions that don’t teach what Jesus has said and what the apostles have written. Even well-meaning authors can write misleading books. Don’t be lead astray by their words if they do not line up with the truth in the scriptures or if it is obvious that they have not researched their literature throughout the entire Bible.

Not only was the New Testament written by holy men of God who were moved by the Holy Spirit, but the Gospels were written by men who knew Jesus personally. They said they saw him with their own eyes, they walked with him, and they touched him (1 John 1:1–3). 1 John 4:14 says they saw him, and they also testified that the Father sent his Son to be the Savior of the world.

Their gospel is the one to believe, not other stories written hundreds of years later by people who never knew him personally or spiritually. That goes for all books, teachings, and prophecy; all must be proved true with the Bible. The God who created the universe made sure his Word (the Bible) has been preserved and passed down through generations. Everything God wants us to know about him and how we should live can be found in the pages of the Bible. Some say the translations are not accurate, but I say the spiritual meaning of the Bible is accurate. God is not ignorant; he moved holy men to write what he wants us to have.

6

THE BIBLE IS THE WILL OF GOD

The Bible is Jesus’s last will and testament. We must read his will—the Old and the New Testaments—to see what we have inherited and how to receive our inheritance. Jesus is our testator who died for us and left us his Word. The Bible is God’s will. Hebrews 9:16–17 talks about the death of the testator putting the will into effect.

How many times have you heard someone say, If it’s God’s will? Or I just don’t know what God’s will is about this or that. There is no need to say that if you know the Bible or if you have a Bible concordance; you can look up what his will is. The Bible is God’s will,