© 09 Colin Melbourne
Do Christians believe ghosts are real?
Q: Are there such things as ghosts? I saw a ghost for the first time in my life, but I am a believer, and I know what the Bible says about such things. This wasn’t even someone I knew. Why would I see this? Marvena
A: Certainly, the word ghost is used over a hundred times in the KJV, for example; Gen. 25:8, Then Abraham gave up the ghost, and died… and Mtt. 1:18 where Mary was, found with child of the Holy Ghost.
God’s Spirit is called the Holy Ghost.
From this you can see that ‘ghost’ means spirit.
What the world calls ‘ghosts’ are actually evil spirits; demons manifesting, or seen in a vision.
Mediums and Shamans are proud of their ability to perceive spirits, and many earn a living from such occult abilities, like the Witch of Endor (1 Sam. Ch. 28). But of course they pay an awful price in eternity. Only Christ can set them free from their spiritual bondage.
The Lord may sometimes allow a Christian to perceive an evil spirit when ministering to somebody in bondage, in order to reveal the cause, and then set them free, as in Ac. 16:16-18.
That doesn’t appear to be the case here.
If you’re seeing evil spirits you must have been involved in occult behaviour of some form.
For example, you may be in a cult (RC, SDA, JW, Mormon etc.), or indulge in Tarot, Astrology, Yoga, drug-taking, freemasonry, or some New Age Therapy.
You will require deliverance ministry, so find a genuine Spirit filled Christian fellowship, and ask the leaders to help you break free, they will know what to do.
Today many Christians are spiritually dense like Nicodemus, Israel’s teacher, whom Christ rebuked for being ignorant about spiritual matters. (Jn. Ch.3) Read how the Lord opened the eyes of one such minister, in this excellent book: Deliver Us From Evil.
Why some Christians get cancer
Q: I’m a Christian, why do I have cancer? Phil
A: The commonest reason is unbelief in your redemption. Many Christians are clueless what their redemption includes, so they easily fall prey to Satan.
Does your fellowship preach and practice the healing part of the Gospel of Christ?
It’s not too late. Follow and study the links on this page: How to overcome cancer.
F.F. Bosworth wrote a classic chapter called a ‘Hundred Divine Healing Facts’, that will set you straight regarding the healing you need. Christ the Healer. Get it, read, it, believe it, and be free of all sickness:
Ecumenical Apostasy
Q: I’m confused about your statement that the most common reason Christians get cancer is “unbelief in redemption.” Surely, since we live in a sinful world, we will be subject to suffering, and as Christians we are going to face challenges to our faith. Could you please clarify this point for me? Rebekah
A: Until you believe in your redemption you’ll readily succumb to Satan and sickness.
Get into a Bible believing fellowship, flee from ecumenical apostasy and false-teaching, only then will you grow in Christ and avoid confusion.
Our eternal redemption was prophesied under the Old Covenant, and fulfilled perfectly in Christ for New Covenant believers.
The prophet Isaiah Chapter 53 KJV explicitly foretold what Christ bought for believers, and begins by asking who has believed the report, by which he means you;
Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed?
For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him.
He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.
All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.
The Holy Ghost quotes Isaiah (Esaias) in Mtt. 8:17 KJV thus;
That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses.
And again in 2 Pe. 2:24 KJV He, The Holy Ghost, paraphrases along the same line;
Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.
Read that in the Holy Ghost and you will praise God for His majestic redemption offered freely to whosoever will believe on Christ.
To comprehend Bible redemption it is essential to pay attention to both the word of God and Spirit of God: Understanding only comes by divine revelation direct to the wholehearted believer.
Make-believers, the half-hearted, and nominal “Christians” get nothing from God.
I invite you Rebekah; to examine your relationship with God, and to seek the LORD with all your heart, get a Holy Bible (KJV), believe it, and be released from doubt, sin, sickness, and confusion, by walking with The LORD Jesus Christ.
It’s your choice.
Called to Suffer
You ask about suffering: The suffering New Covenant believers are to endure never includes sickness, our perfect redemption, prophesied by Isaiah, was fulfilled for us by Christ Jesus, Mth. 8:17 KJV;
When the even was come, they brought unto him many that were possessed with devils: and he cast out the spirits with his word, and healed all that were sick: That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses.
He bore our infirmities and diseases so we do not have to bear them: To call His children to bear diseases and infirmities which he has already borne for us, would be perverse in the extreme.
Christ bore your sin, your guilt, your condemnation, your sickness, your infirmity.
What could be a plainer demonstration of God’s will for us?
Christians are indeed called to suffer for the sake of the Gospel; to endure hardships, insults, depravations, accusations, imprisonment, and even martyrdom: Never to suffer illnesses which the Saviour bore to release us from. That is a demonic contradiction of the Gospel of Christ, typical of apostate groups.
This basic Gospel fact is obvious in the Spirit, so ask Him to open your spiritual eyes to perceive the Truth.
Is wearing jewellery sinful?
Q: Is it compulsory to forsake jewellery after being born again?
A: Your use of the term “compulsory” indicates a misunderstanding of basic Christian motivation. We follow the Word and Spirit of God because we love Him, not under compulsion.
We are taught to avoid indulging in worldly snares, and also not to parade ourselves like the world, but rather to be concerned about our walk in the Spirit. 1 Tim. 2:9-10, 1 Tim. Ch.6, 1 Jn. 2:15-17, Mk. 4:19.
However, since you ask specifically about this, that indicates that the Lord may well be convicting you over the matter of adornment with jewellery. So it would be wise for you to heed Him, and steer clear of what will probably be a snare for you sooner or later.
Have you noticed how sinners and religious people adore jewellery, medallions, gold, jade, and stones? They need something to see and feel in which to put their trust: Christians trust in their unseen Lord. 1 Pe. 1:8-9.
If you are serious about following Christ, consider the lesson of Gideon’s ephod, which became a snare to the mighty man and his whole family. Judges Chs. 6-8.
© 09 Colin Melbourne
The header image is of the Milky Way with moonlight on the mountain tops