{"id":9205,"date":"2024-09-29T22:46:40","date_gmt":"2024-09-30T02:46:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.swanministries.com\/?p=9205"},"modified":"2025-02-08T19:56:01","modified_gmt":"2025-02-09T00:56:01","slug":"coissant-and-chat-around-the-cross-4","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.swanministries.com\/en\/2024\/09\/29\/coissant-and-chat-around-the-cross-4\/","title":{"rendered":"Coissant and Chat around the Cross"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n<h4>Open Talk Service<\/h4>\n<p>Recently, during a rich sharing and exchange worship service, we had the unique opportunity to ask 12 varied questions about faith and spiritual practice. These questions were addressed to Prophet Cyrille Landry Bankol\u00e9, whose enlightening answers provided deep insights into essential subjects of our spiritual journey. Let&#8217;s discover together the valuable insights he shared with us and explore how these teachings can enrich our daily walk of faith.<br><br><\/p>\n<h6>Questions-Answers<\/h6>\n<h12>Click on the question to read the answer.<br><br><\/h12>\n\n\n\n\nThe answer explains that in our Christian life, we should not continually look back or carry the burden of our past. As new creatures in Christ, the old things have passed away, and we must move forward towards the new things that God has prepared for us. The Christian walk is compared to driving a car: the rearview mirror (the past) is used only occasionally to correct some things, but attention should primarily be directed forward. God may lead us to revisit aspects of our past to sever specific ties, but our lives should not be constantly oriented toward the past. Looking back too often can lead to stagnation and spiritual accidents, while God calls us to move forward.\n\n\n\n\n\n\nThe response explains that the old prophet had been corrupted by idolatry in his city, Bethel. God no longer used him because of this corruption, preferring to send a young prophet from another city to deliver His message. The old prophet, feeling rejected, lied to the young prophet, influenced by his pride and jealousy. The young prophet, despite clear instructions from God, was deceived out of respect for the old prophet&#8217;s seniority, thinking that the latter had more experience. This led to his disobedience and death. The account warns against the influence of other prophets and emphasizes the importance of listening directly to the voice of God without being swayed, even by respected figures.\n\n\n\n\n\n\nBarrenness in the Bible often serves as the backdrop for extraordinary miracles. Cases of barrenness prepare for the arrival of children with special destinies. The environment of difficulty allows the miracle to manifest. God has promised that His people would not be barren, and physical barrenness is temporary, often followed by a significant blessing. Examples of women like Hannah, the mother of Samuel, and Elizabeth, the mother of John the Baptist, show that despite mockery and suffering, God intervenes in His time to give children who play exceptional roles in history. Physical barrenness is thus a test of faith and patience, leading to the manifestation of divine glory.\n\n\n\n\n\n\nThe distinctions among the four gospels arise from the diversity of authors and their unique perspectives. Matthew, Mark, and John were disciples of Jesus, while Luke, a doctor, was not a disciple but conducted thorough research by gathering testimonies to write his gospel. John, in particular, was the closest disciple to Jesus, which explains the depth and intimacy of his account. Each gospel reflects the authors&#8217; personal experiences with Jesus, which accounts for the differences in their content and the way they narrate events.\n\n\n\n\n\n\nThe difference lies in the fact that the formula &#8220;in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit&#8221; does not originate from the Bible. According to the pastor, Jesus did not use this formula, and it was developed by Catholics for their religious practice. He emphasizes that, while this prayer can be used, it holds no power against evil forces, like sorcerers. What is truly effective is a sanctified life and fervent prayers, often described as &#8220;fire prayer.&#8221; In summary, the Catholic formula is seen as a human tradition, while the emphasis is placed on personal spiritual power.\n\n\n\n\n\n\nThe pastor emphasizes that the spirit of discretion mentioned in Matthew 6:18 is essential during fasting. He explains that fasting should not be a means of expressing pride or seeking the attention of others. On the contrary, it is important to present oneself neatly and not show outward signs of fasting, such as neglecting one\u2019s appearance. If loved ones notice that one is not eating, it is acceptable to simply say that one is having a special time with God, without going into too much detail. The pastor insists that fasting should remain a matter between the person and God, without seeking to show off to others. The goal is to adopt a sincere and humble heart in this spiritual practice.\n\n\n\n\n\n\nThe pastor explains that the use of sand and sackcloth in the Old Testament is not a universal practice, but rather specific to certain occasions of mourning or humiliation. This represents a fast of humiliation, often observed by figures like David, who rolled in ashes to show his submission to God. This practice aims to express a deep desire for repentance and forgiveness, demonstrating total humility to God. Furthermore, he notes that these gestures can also be used to illustrate great suffering, as in the case of refugees or political prisoners who go on hunger strikes to draw attention to their distress. In summary, these actions are symbolic means of communicating a contrite heart and signaling to God their state of suffering or repentance.\n\n\n\n\n\n\nThe response explores the concept of fasting according to the passage of Isaiah 58:6-12. True fasting, pleasing to God, is not limited to mere food deprivation. Instead, it involves turning away from wickedness, freeing the oppressed, sharing with those who are hungry, and welcoming the homeless. The pastor emphasizes that many people can fast physically while continuing to lead lives of disobedience and injustice, rendering their fast ineffective. True fasting is thus linked to obedience to God\u2019s commandments and a sincere commitment to others. If a person fasts but acts contrary to divine precepts, their fast is not accepted by God. In conclusion, fasting should be an act of authentic devotion and inner transformation, manifesting in concrete actions of love and justice towards others.\n\n\n\n\n\n\nTo discern the voice of God in one\u2019s life, it is essential to know the Word of God, as it is the foundation of divine communication. The voice of God can be recognized through several elements, notably the fact that it never deviates from His Word. If a person does not know the Scriptures, they risk misinterpreting God\u2019s messages, as illustrated by an anecdote where a sister interpreted a snake in a dream as something negative when it symbolized redemption through Christ.\nThe pastor emphasizes that God always communicates in accordance with His Word, and to clearly distinguish His voice, it is crucial to develop a deep knowledge of Scripture. Additionally, it is recommended to surround oneself with prayerful people and to imitate them, as the spirit of those who pray can influence and uplift those around them. Thus, it is important to be spiritually aligned with those who seek God to avoid losing spiritual direction in life choices.\n\n\n\n\n\n\nThe response highlights several aspects of Jonah&#8217;s character. First, it notes that Jonah is a man before being a prophet, which explains his fear of going to Nineveh, a city he considered dangerous. The pastor compares Jonah\u2019s situation to that of someone sent to preach in a conflict zone, like Gaza, to illustrate the legitimate fear Jonah felt regarding his mission. Despite his initial refusal, he eventually obeys God, but not without resistance and reluctance.\nWhen he realizes the consequences of his flight, Jonah shows a sensitive heart by acknowledging his wrongdoing and accepting to be thrown overboard to save the crew of the ship on which he had escaped. This demonstrates his sense of responsibility and connection with God. The pastor concludes that, even in desperate situations, God watches over those He has called and protects them until they fulfill their mission. He affirms that Jonah, though in danger, could not die before completing what God had assigned to him.\nFinally, the pastor insists that even in difficult moments, God uses supernatural means, like a fish (which he likens to an angel), to protect Jonah and bring him back to his mission. He encourages people not to flee from their divine calling, as God always intervenes to support those who seek to obey Him.\n\n\n\n\n\n\nThe pastor emphasizes that if a child prays more than their parents, they risk taking a position of spiritual authority within the family, thus becoming &#8220;the father&#8221; or &#8220;the mother&#8221; to their parents. The child, by receiving revelations and developing divine wisdom, could begin to guide their parents in spiritual decisions. If this occurs, the parents must recognize their responsibility and restore their role as heads of the family. It is essential for parents to set boundaries and objectives to lead their household rather than allowing the child to become the leader. The pastor insists that it is crucial for parents to reclaim their authority and lead their family with the wisdom and strength that God gives them.\n\n\n\n\n\n\nThe pastor explains that all children, without exception, born to at least one parent who has given their life to the Lord, are closer to God than those born to non-Christian parents. According to the Bible, this means that heaven is open to them. He emphasizes that even an unconscious child, like one who died at the age of four, is welcomed into heaven if born to a Christian parent. The spiritual status of the parents is crucial, as it influences the spiritual destiny of their children. Thus, even if a child does not personally know the Lord, a spiritual connection can exist, as illustrated by the vision where the child is closer to their Christian uncle than to their own father. This spiritual dynamic explains why the child can communicate their well-being after death, indicating that they are indeed in heaven.\n\n\n\n\n<p><br>We hope that the answers provided by Prophet Cyrille Landry Bankol\u00e9 have been as enriching for you as they have been for us. This exchange worship has clarified many important questions and deepened our spiritual understanding.<\/p>\n<p><br>We are delighted to announce that we will resume this worship format in three months. This is a precious opportunity to continue exploring together the truths of faith and to grow in our relationship with God.<\/p>\n<p><br>Stay tuned for more inspiration, sharing, and spiritual learning. Together, we move forward on our journey of faith, guided by the light of truth and divine wisdom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Open Talk Service<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":9137,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"pagelayer_contact_templates":[],"_pagelayer_content":"","_surecart_dashboard_logo_width":"180px","_surecart_dashboard_show_logo":true,"_surecart_dashboard_navigation_orders":true,"_surecart_dashboard_navigation_invoices":true,"_surecart_dashboard_navigation_subscriptions":true,"_surecart_dashboard_navigation_downloads":true,"_surecart_dashboard_navigation_billing":true,"_surecart_dashboard_navigation_account":true,"footnotes":""},"categories":[32,27,25],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-9205","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-ministry","category-teaching","category-winners-celebration"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.swanministries.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9205","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.swanministries.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.swanministries.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.swanministries.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.swanministries.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=9205"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.swanministries.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9205\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.swanministries.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/9137"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.swanministries.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9205"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.swanministries.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=9205"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.swanministries.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=9205"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}