Ask the Pastor

8/17/08

Since God removed His Spirit away from people in the Old Testament, was there no security of the Old Testament believers?

·        King Saul – (1 Samuel 16:14-15)

·        (John 3:7)  You must be born again; not again, and again, and again.

·        (Philippians 1:6)  God gave it, and He will finish it.

·        (1 Corinthians 1:8)  God will keep us strong to the end.

·        (Romans 15:16; Ephesians 1:13-14, 4:30)  We are SEALED by His Holy Spirit.

Praying for Israel to come to Christ as a nation and individually am I binding it or loosing it?

Binding & Loosing  (Matthew 18:18-19)

Spiritual warfare?  God has given us all we need to have victory over the devil.  (Ephesians 6:11-18)  Binding and loosing are not ours against the devil or his demons.  (Jude 9)  It is only God who has the power to bind or loose.

The terms “bind” and “loose” were Jewish idioms indicating that what is announced on earth has already been determined in heaven

To bind meant to forbid, refuse, or prohibit.

To loose meant to permit or allow.

This is talking about church discipline. 

·        Those who are living in sin and repent then are loosed (restored, or permitted or allowed back into the fellowship).

·        Those who are living in sin and do not repent, but continue, then are bound (removed from fellowship).

Praying for Israel to come to Christ as a nation and individually am I binding it or loosing it?

11/16/08

What was the plan of Salvation before Christ died on the cross?  How does it relate to or compare with and how is it different from the New Testament?

By keeping the 10 commandments?  No.

1. Both Old and New Testament salvation comes by grace through faith.  Paul drives home the truth that no one has been or ever will be declared righteous by observing the law.  (Romans 3:20)

2. Paul also points to Abraham to prove that salvation comes through faith and not by works.  (Romans 4:3; Genesis 15:6; Galatians 3:6-9)

3. Just as people today look back in history to Christ’s sacrifice on the cross, so too the people who lived before the time of Christ looked forward to His sacrifice for them.  Each year the Jews celebrated the Passover to keep them focused on the One who was to come to die for their sins.  (1 Corinthians 5:7; Hebrews 11:28, 39-40)

What is the significance of the veil in the temple being torn in two?

(Matthew 27:51)  The veil was 60 feet tall from ceiling to the floor, 4 inches thick.  Only God could have done this.  It signifies that the price was paid completely on the cross, leaving the way to God is now open!  This was in the Holy of Holies which was the place of God’s presence.  (Hebrews 10:14-26)  There was no more need of temples, priests, or sacrifices!  Jesus had finished the work of salvation on the cross.  We have full access to God.

What did Jesus do between dying on the cross and ascended to the Father?  What happened in Heaven during the time He was in Heaven, till He came back for His last days on earth?

The Bible doesn’t specifically say what happened to Jesus immediately after He died on the cross, so there is debate surrounding the answer to the question of where He went and what He did.  I am going to answer based on what I believe scripture tells us.

(Ephesians 4:8-10)  Lazarus and the rich man  (Luke 16:19-31)

(Luke 16:22-23)  Hades has two separate compartments; one was referred to as hell and the people there were in torment, the other side was where Abraham and all the Old Testament believers were.  This is also called Paradise.  Remember the thief who asked Jesus to remember him when He came into His kingdom?  Jesus told him; today you will be with me in Paradise.  (Luke 23:39-43) 

So believers went to Paradise when they died, but that Paradise was not in heaven.  Why didn’t believers go directly to heaven?  God is a holy and cannot be around anything impure or sinful.  We are all born into this world with a sinful nature and we have all sinned and are excluded from God's presence.  Jesus blood covers our sin so that God the Father no longer sees our sin; He only sees the righteousness of Christ.  We obtain salvation through faith by grace, and that is exactly how Abraham obtained his salvation.  His faith was in the future sacrifice and ours is in the past sacrifice.  This is very important.  When the Old Testament believers died they were looking forward to the time when the sacrifice would be made for their sins.

Once that sacrifice was made, when Jesus died and shed His blood, then the Old Testament believers were covered in His blood and now acceptable to God the Father.  So up to that time Paradise had to be somewhere different then heaven.

Then what happened?  (Ephesians 4:8-10)  NIV say’s “He led captives in his train".  “The lower, earthly regions” is where the Jews believed that Hades is, and that’s where we get our belief that hell is down.  Jesus would have descended to Hades, to the good side: Paradise.  Then look at what the passage says, when He ascended He led captives.  Who would the captives be if not the Old Testament believers? They were captives of death, but Jesus defeated death when He was resurrected.  This is where I believe He took Paradise to heaven.  So that is why we have, (2 Corinthians 5:8).

When the 10 tribes split, how come the King of Judah couldn’t hold on to Simeon even though he completely surrounded it?

(Joshua 19:1)  Simeon, because of his conduct (anger) (Genesis 49:7), was under a curse.  As a result, he was really to have no inheritance in the Promised Land, but he did.

Judah shared the inheritance with the outcast brother.  Picture of grace, because in Simeon’s justly doom for wrath was taken by grace.  The curse becoming a blessing!  Simeon was saved by grace, and not because of works.

Simeon and Judah tell the story of the human race and our Lord and His grace.  The whole of the human race is cursed because of sin, but our Heavenly Judah, by His grace and not because of the good things we’ve done, but He has made room for us in His inheritance.  A place in Judah’s inheritance is the greatest position of all!

12/21/08

Why can’t Jews eat pork, catfish, and other bottom feeders?  What’s the different between pigs and chicken?

(Genesis 1:29) gives us the diet that God intended for us.  The original human diet was seeds, grains, nuts, and fruit.  In fact doctors say our digestive systems are geared to this type of diet!  But because of sin things changed.  Meat entered our diet after the flood. After the flood waters had went down, the earth had little vegetation for a while afterwards.  Perhaps Noah had seeds with him and planted these for this first food. But there would’ve been no fruit or nuts for a number of years.  So, the Lord gave this command, (Genesis 9:3-4; Exodus 15:26).  The Israelites had become accustomed to the ways of Egypt and were eating anything that moved.  God wants us to be healthy, and sets out guidelines as to what we should and shouldn’t eat.  (Leviticus 3:17)  No fat or blood!  No McDonalds or vampires!

• Hooved Animals (Leviticus 11:1-3) Cows and goats

All clean animals are cud-chewers—deer, buck, and other game.  They all have a pre-stomach, in which the food is pre-digested.  The bacteria is able to convert all the material into digestible matter.  Only after this food has been thoroughly digested does it enter the real stomach.  They are, therefore, eaters of "primary" material.  All animals that consume secondary material—in other words, animals that eat animals are unclean.

·        Fowl

Birds that have a crop are also clean, since their food is well-digested and doesn’t ferment.  The chicken is listed as clean since it originally ate only seeds.  Today some think that since the average commercially reared chicken is fed on fish meal or carcass meal, (reject material), can no longer be regarded as acceptable.  All the unclean birds which God lists are carnivores.

After sin, some plants died off and others underwent a change.  Some plants were then available for only a fraction of the year instead of the whole year, as before.  So what was a hungry animal to do when his favorite food was not available?  Some adopted a system of hibernation, may have died off, but others simply changed their diet.

When a species of Australian parrot could no longer get his juicy grubs from the roots of plants (something his beak was designed for), he started attacking sheep; ripping open their backs and eating the fat around their kidneys.

The chipmunk traditionally a plant and seed eater has had to become a scavenger—even eating those animals that have been run-over on the roads.

The panda is classified as a carnivore, but it eats mainly bamboo.  If that is not available, it will eat a rat, for example.  On the other hand the koala has a fixed diet of eucalyptus (evergreen tree).  It’s digestive system just cannot handle anything else, but most animals have become quite versatile and eat almost anything to survive.

·        Swine

Now let’s turn to the pig.  Its meat has a very high fat level.  In most pig farms, pigs are fed the worst of foods.  Supposedly on the biggest farms, the largest pigs are fed with non-hatched or rotten eggs and chickens that died from disease. 

Research has found that at the time when pigs leave the farms, 56% of all pork samples are contaminated with salmonella.  When "clean" animals leave the farms, only 15% of the meat is contaminated.  When the pig meat leaves it is 80% contaminated, and when it reaches the butcher, the level of contamination is virtually 100%.  The "clean" animals have only a 40% contamination level by this stage.

·        Marine Animals  (Leviticus 11: 9-10)  

Those that don’t have fins and scales are not edible.  No Crab leg!  No shrimp!

The reason is that the fish that have fins and scales are generally found in the deeper or fast-running waters, and in at least part of their life cycle, they are plant eaters.  Those fish that don’t have fins and scales are either scavengers, or they are pure carnivores.

·        Insects

Eat’em!  Flying, creeping, with jointed legs.  Locust, crickets, grasshoppers…chocolate may help.

·        Pets

"Whatsoever goes upon his paws", (vs.27), such as cats, dogs, rats, mice, and weasels, are unclean.  And praise the Lord ALL reptiles are also unclean.

What is the reason for these laws?  (vs.44-45) 

The laws and guidelines of this chapter and following were not only a test of obedience, and a loving provision for the health and happiness of the people, but they also give a humbling picture of the weakness and corruption of sin.  God said that we are to be holy for He is holy.  The question is why are you doing it.  By keeping a kosher diet does that make you more holy?  My holiness comes only by faith through grace based on Christ and Christ alone.  (1 Corinthians 10:31)  But I do believe that since we are the temple of the Holy Spirit that we need to take care of our temple, and we without a doubt will keep (3 John 2).

Explain Jesus wrestling with Satan (timeline, what did He take from Satan, ect.)?

The first thing Jesus did in his public ministry was to face the real enemy of Israel, the devil.  Jesus was led out into the wilderness to be tempted for 40 days.  We can get a better understanding of Jesus’ temptations when we review the history of Israel.

After escaping the bondage of Egypt, the children of Israel, during their 40 years in the wilderness, failed at three major temptations.

1.     Refusing to trust God for their daily bread.  They complained and blamed Moses for bringing them out from the “comfort” of their bondage in Egypt, (Exodus 16).

2.     Lack of trust to God to provide water for them, (Exodus 17).

3.     The children of Israel broke their faith in God with the worship of the golden calf, (Exodus 32).

Jesus, after 40 days and nights of fasting, was tempted by the devil to trust in Himself rather than in His Father in heaven.  Instead of falling, like the children of Israel, Jesus was triumphant a foretelling of what he would do for the world on the cross: conquer sin and defeat the enemy.

1.     Jesus’ first temptation was in the area of life’s necessities…food…the same area in which the children of Israel showed their lack of trust.  (vs.1-4)  The enemy tests Jesus’ identity by saying, “since you are the Son of God”, and Jesus responded with the word.

2.     In the second temptation, the devil pulls out all stops to get Jesus to worship him.  (vs.5-8)  This corresponds to when Israel worshipped the golden calf in (Exodus 32).  Once again Jesus answers from (Deuteronomy 6:13-14) “It is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve.”

3.     In the third temptation, the devil tries to trip up Jesus by getting him to tempt God.  (vs.9-12)  Psalm 91 says, “He will give his angels charge of you, and on their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone.”  Jesus didn’t have to jump to prove His trust in the Father; He demonstrated it by trusting in God’s word.

Jesus wrestled with Satan through out His ministry, but the ultimate victory came when Jesus died on the Cross and raising the third day!  (1 Corinthians 15:57)  Satan and all his henchmen were defeated at the Cross!  (Colossians 2:14-15)  Satan had the legal right to hold man in captivity, in bondage because of sin.  The triumph was complete and it was all done for us!  We can walk in power and victory due to Jesus!

Since you don’t believe in drinking alcohol how do you reconcile it with the last supper?  They weren’t drinking grape juice.

It is true…no were in the bible does it say that you can not drink, but the Bible does say that drunkenness is forbidden; not be given or addicted to wine.  Paul said in (Ephesians 5:18) to not be drunk with wine, but full of the spirit.  To be full of the Spirit then we must be controlled by the Spirit, but studies show the one drink of alcohol alters your mind.

For those who want to drink will try to make the scripture say what they want it to.  They will say: “What about Jesus turning the water into wine” or “the Lord’s Supper”?  They are assuming that the wine in the Bible is the same that we have today, but that isn’t correct.  The wine of today is defined as “strong drink” in the Bible.  The New Testament wine was basically purified water.  Historians say that it was 20 to 1, basically wine flavored water.  Sometimes the ancient world would go as strong as 50/50, which the scripture considered strong drink.  Anyone who would drink unmixed wine was seen as a Scythian or barbarian.  Even the Greeks thought it was barbarian.

Every Christian adult must decide for their selves whether or not to drink.  A question we must ask ourselves is…while drinking may be permissible, is it beneficial for me to do so?  (1 Corinthians 6:12; Romans 14:21; 1 Corinthians 10:31; Philippians 2:4)

If you want to use Jesus or the Bible as your example for drinking, then why don’t you follow in everything else?  Once again while the Bible doesn’t command total abstinence, it certainly magnifies it.

1/18/09

As a matter of convenience and the state of the economy, cremations instead of traditional burials seem to be on the increase today.  Does the bible have any commentary on this subject?

There is no specific teaching in the Bible about cremation.  There are cremation accounts can be found in the Bible, it was not common or accepted at all for Jews or early believers to be cremated.

Today, traditional Jews are prohibited under the law from practicing cremation.  Eastern Orthodox and some Fundamentalist Christian denominations do not allow cremation.

The word "cremation" is derived from the Latin word "crematus" or "cremare" meaning "to burn up."  During the process of cremation the human remains are placed in a wooden box, and then into a crematorium or furnace.  They are heated to temperatures between 1600-2000 °F until the remains are reduced to bone fragments and ashes.  The bone fragments are then processed in a machine until they resemble coarse sand, light gray in color.

Arguments…

In the Bible cremation took place in unusual circumstances.  In (1 Samuel 31:12-13) the men of Jabesh-Gilead burned the bodies of Saul and his sons in order to prevent desecration of their bodies at the hand of the Philistines.  But their bones were buried.

Cremation isn’t mentioned in the New Testament.  Burial was and is the normal method.  In fact, it was considered a dishonor to the people of Israel not to receive a proper burial.

There is no actual argument against cremation in scripture, but there are Christians who object to cremation.  Their arguments are based on the resurrection.  They assume that if a body has been destroyed by fire, it is impossible for it to be resurrected.  (1 Corinthians 15:35-55; 1 Thessalonians 4:16)

If a Christian does get cremated, this is no problem for God in resurrecting that person’s body from the dead, (1 Corinthians 15:42).

(2 Corinthians 5:1)  It doesn’t matter how our “earthly house, tent” is destroyed; all that matters is that God will raise it from the dead.  Even those who are buried eventually dissolve into dust and bones.

The Picture of Burial

Paul includes burial as an essential part of the gospel itself, (1 Corinthians 15:3-4).  Paul equates baptism with both the burial and resurrection, (Romans 6:4).

Burial symbolizes the promise of the resurrection by anticipating the preservation of the body, (Romans 8:11).

This is a secondary issue.  Yes some Christians are firmly opposed to cremation, while others prefer it based on the reasons we discussed.  How you want to be laid to rest is a personal decision between you and God.

Even though I don’t agree with anything he stands for, how should I pray for Obama?

As President Elect and Mrs. Obama take up residence in the White House this week, they will be reminded of our nation’s godly heritage in many ways.  One reminder goes back to the White House’s first resident, President John Adams who looked to God and consulted the Scriptures frequently.

After his first day in the newly built mansion, he wrote his wife expressing words of prayer for himself and everyone who would follow after him.

I pray Heaven to bestow the best of Blessings on this House and on all that shall hereafter inhabit it. May none but honest and wise Men ever rule under this roof. — John Adams, November 2, 1800

Franklin D. Roosevelt, discovered the words penned by Adams.  In the final year of World War II he had them carved on the stone fireplace of the State Dining Room where they can be seen today.  If you are unsure of anything else to pray during this Inauguration Week, you can pray the words of President John Adams, asking God to keep the president grounded in wisdom, honesty and integrity.

Scripture tells us to pray (1 Timothy 2:1-2)

Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence.

Pray for...

Protection

Keep watch over the Obama family.

“…keep them safe from the evil one.”  (John 17:15)

Wisdom

Grant insight and foresight to the president and his staff.

“But if any of you needs wisdom, you should ask God for it. He is generous and enjoys giving to all people, so he will give you wisdom.”  (James 1:5)

Reverence

Give humility upon our leaders and their office.

“Wisdom begins with respect for the Lord; those who obey his orders have good understanding. He should be praised forever.”  (Psalms 111:10)

Strength

Bless Obama with endurance and stamina.

I pray that the God of peace will give you every good thing you need so you can do what he wants.  (Hebrews 13:20)

How important is a new church to the growth of that church?

Church growth?  (Acts 2:40-47)

1.     Prayer

2.     Worship

3.     Evangelism

4.     Learning

5.     Loving

2/15/09

Where is the U.S. in the end-time prophecy in the Bible?

1.  Since the Bible is silent about America, then America will not be important.  During the times of the Old Testament, China was a great world power, and yet the Bible never mentions China.  Why?  Because the Bible deals with Israel and is only concerned with the neighboring nations or the empire that was ruling her.  Just because the Bible is silent about China did not mean the Chinese Dynasties did not exist.  They existed and were very powerful, and yet there is no mentioned of them.

Remember that Biblical prophecy is concerned with Israel and her surrounding neighbors.

2.  America is Babylon the Great mentioned in (Revelation 18:2).  The Bible predicts her destruction, and so some believe America will be destroyed. Those who have this outlook conclude that the USA is Babylon because it is a world power.  Revelation tells you the location of Babylon, (Revelation 17:9).  Rome was called the city on seven hills.  Babylon is a symbol of Rome, not America.

3.  America loses its superpower status, and cuts breaks from relationship from Israel and becoming part of the European Union.

4.  (Revelation 12:14)  Once the last part of the Tribulation starts with the persecution of the Jews, Israel was given "two wings of a great eagle" to fly into where nourishment and protection was given to her.  Some think that it might be referring to the America since our national symbol is the eagle. Others feel that this refers to God, and He will arrange for protection for the one-third of the Jews who will not be killed by the Antichrist.

There is a possibility that its referring to America since we do have a good relationship with Israel.  If it is us, then that would mean we don’t become part of the European Union that the Antichrist will rule from.  We would continue to hold our "superpower" status and would stay "isolated" out of all these events.

The only reason that America is a world superpower is because of America’s initial Christian foundation, and America’s role in caring for Israel.  As we as a nation continue to push God out of America, what keeps us is our relationship with Israel.  The support for Israel has cost America its reputation in the world and it has made us the target of terrorists. Satan inspires the hatred that people feel toward America, because he hates America for being a friend of Israel and for allowing the gospel to spread throughout the world.  As long as America continues its friendship with Israel, God will bless America!

What is the difference between the Rapture and the 2^nd Coming?  What scriptures go along with each?

The Rapture will occur when Jesus Christ returns for his church.  This is when all true believers in Christ will be taken from the earth by God into heaven.  The Second Coming is when Jesus Christ returns with the church to defeat the antichrist, overthrow evil and then establish His thousand year reign.  Both happen during the end times and both describe a return of Christ, but there are big differences.

1.     Meeting in the Air vs. Returning with Him

·        Rapture – believers meet the Lord in the air.  (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17)

·        Second Coming – believers return with the Lord.  (Revelation 19:14)

2.     Before Tribulation vs. After Tribulation

·        The Rapture will happen before the Tribulation.  (1 Thessalonians 5:9; Revelation 3:10)

·        The Second Coming will happen at the end of the Tribulation.  (Revelation 6-19)

3.     Deliverance vs. Judgment

·        Rapture – believers are taken from the earth by God as an act of deliverance.  (1 Thessalonians 4:13-17; 5:9)

·        Second Coming – unbelievers are removed from the earth by God as an act of judgment.  (Revelation 3:10; 19:11-21)

4.     Hidden vs. Seen by All

·        The Rapture will be an instantaneous, hidden event.  (1 Corinthians 15:50-54)

·        The Second Coming will be seen by everyone.  (Revelation 1:7)

5.     At Any Moment vs. Only After Certain Events

·        The Rapture could happen at any moment.  (1 Corinthians 15:50-54; Titus 2:13; 1 Thessalonians 4:14-18)

·        The Second Coming won't happen until certain events take place.  (2 Thessalonians 2:4; Matthew 24:15-30; Revelation 6-18)

Of course there are conflicting views regarding the Rapture and the Second Coming, but no matter, believers to be watchful and live each day as though Christ's return is coming soon…Be Ready!

What determines who is chosen?  (Romans 8:29-30; Ephesians 1:4-5)

Predestination is a touchy and can be confusing subject.  Predestination is teaching that God predetermined who would go to heaven and who would spend eternity in hell.  Every move you make and everything that
happens to you, good or bad, was predetermined by God.  So is it predestination or free will?  Jesus said that “No one can come to Me, unless the Father who sent Me draws him”.  (John 6:44)  So has God chosen who will be saved or does man have free will?

Romans 8

It’s not the person that is predestined, but the plan.  We are predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son.  Without that “call,” man cannot be saved; many refuse the “call,” (Proverbs 1:24-33).  “and whom He called, these He also justified;” those who responded faithfully to the call are predestined to become like Jesus.

Ephesians 1

(4) Doesn’t refer to the person being chosen, but the purpose for which the person is chosen.  Before the foundation of the world the Creator, in laying His plans for the world, had the purpose of salvation in view.  “That we should be Holy and without blame before Him in Love” is the purpose of the chosen.

(5) Predestinated doesn’t mean the individual being predestinated as to whether he will be saved or lost, but the manner in which one becomes a Child of God.  “By Jesus Christ” means the cross.  It’s based on the sovereignty, but an act based on love and His grace.

God does choose certain people for certain jobs and times, but salvation is open for all…Jew and gentile, man and woman, rich or poor.  The Bible says that God isn’t wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. (2 Peter 3:9)  God predestined that God would send Jesus to die on the cross.  For whoever believes in Him will not perish but have ever lasting life.

3/15/09

Being a disciple for Christ means giving up our lives for Him, on a daily basis.  What is the fruit of our labor?  Is it also ok to enjoy and partake in the fruit of our labor?

When we think of labor we naturally think about the many hours that we put in at our place of work.  The fruit of this labor sets the standards of our lifestyle.  Jesus was more concerned about another kind of fruit.  (John 15:1-11)

The vine is the thick woody part that comes up from the roots. If this was a tree we would call it the trunk.  The vine is the lifeblood to the grapevine.  All the nourishment travels from the roots through the vine and then to the branches. The branches are the offshoots that bear the grapes.  Not all branches will produce fruit.  The branches will have to be pruned.  The branches of a grapevine will produce an abundance of leaves.  With so many leaves, sunlight cannot get to the clusters of grapes and the clusters will not mature. So the branches have to be pruned by cutting off most of the leaves allowing the grapes to grow and mature.  The more you prune the branches the larger the yield of fruit.

God wants us to bear fruit.  He wants to see us leading people to Christ.  He wants to see us helping people.  He wants to see us by our actions showing the light of Christ to others.  If we are not doing this; if we are not producing fruit, God will get our attention and the methods will increase in severity until we begin to produce fruit.
Jesus tells us that every branch that bears fruit God prunes so that it will bear even more fruit.  Many of us produce some fruit, but that isn’t the priority in our lives.  We produce a lot of leaves, but very little fruit.  An abundant growth of leaves represents all those preoccupations and priorities in our lives that, which not wrong, are keeping us from more significant ministry for God.  In pruning God asks to let go of things that keeps you from His kingdom purposes and your ultimate good.  To produce more fruit and to avoid God’s pruning, which is also painful, we need to quit living for ourselves and start living for God.

To produce much fruit we must abide in Christ.  To produce much fruit we must be the one to act.  To abide in Christ means that we must live a life where we are constantly in contact with God.  Abiding is constantly drawing spiritual nourishment from God.  With this endless flow of spiritual nourishment, we will produce an abundant overflowing of fruit, with less effort.  In abiding you seek, long for, thirst, love, hear, and respond to God.

When you produce much fruit, you will find that your life is full of peace, contentment and joy…the fruit of the Spirit!  (Galatians 5:22-23)

Enjoying the Fruit of Your Labor    (Ecclesiastes 5:18-20)

God intends for us to enjoy the life our work affords us.  God’s Word says that it’s good, that it is a blessing from God to eat, drink, and enjoy your work.  God wants us to enjoy the very work we do, to find satisfaction in using our skills and abilities to provide for the basic needs of ourselves and our families.  Enjoying our work means more than satisfaction from using our skills.  Enjoying our work also means enjoying the good things our labor brings us.  God wants us to enjoy life, and that indeed means having most of our needs met plus having a few of the nicer things in life. God’s Word affirms that it’s good to enjoy some material pleasures in life.  There’s nothing wrong with enjoying what your hard work affords you, going out to a nice restaurant, having a comfortable home, taking a vacation, having some beautiful things around, having enjoyable hobbies, maybe even a luxury or two.  God intends for us to enjoy the life our work affords us.

But God wants our lives to be in balance.  Jesus tells a parable about a wealthy farmer who grows more and more and builds bigger and bigger barns to store it all in, and then dies.  Jesus says that working merely for the sake of gain is foolish, (Luke 12:13-21).  At the same time Jesus feasts with his followers and enjoys life so much that he’s accused of being a glutton!  Ecclesiastes speaks of the importance of enjoying the benefit of our work, and at the same time waves us away from the pursuit of wealth for wealth’s sake.  (vs.10-11)  God wants our lives to be in balance.

And God’s wisdom gives us the limit, (vs.19).  Enjoying your work and the benefits it provides you is God’s blessing, but God’s wisdom also counsels us to “accept your lot in life.” Accepting your lot doesn’t mean being indifferent, passive, lazy or putting up with injustice, it means that God wants us to enjoy life within the means our work affords…be content.  I don’t believe God intends for us to go in debt for things that are wants and not needs.  God wants us to enjoy the lifestyle our income can pay for.  Not the lifestyle that credit card companies are only too happy to charge us interest on.  God wants us to enjoy life, but not at the cost of taking on irresponsible debt to do it.

(2 Corinthians 9:6-8)  There’s no magic figure that God wants you to give, you decide that in your heart.  One Biblical standard is called the tithe, giving a percentage of your income, and the benchmark of the tithe is giving 10%.  What Paul is getting at is simply that God wants us to give as cheerfully and generously.  God wants you to enjoy life within the means your work affords and to partner in Jesus’ work through generous, cheerful sharing.

Since homosexual is an issue that is being debated, isn’t it really more of a political issue then a biblical issue?  Just because a marriage license says you married, doesn’t mean that it is recognized by God.

What do the shows ER, Will & Grace, and Desperate Housewives have in common?  They all portray homosexual behavior as a normal and acceptable lifestyle.  TV sitcoms, network news, and our public education system bombard us with the message of tolerance for gays and lesbians.  Many states are debating same-sex marriage initiatives, and since President Obama has already overturned Bush’s Stem Cell Research ban I am sure that the Marriage Amendment, which defines marriage as the union between a man and a woman only, will be changed soon.  What does the Bible say about gay marriage, and how should a Christian respond to this issue?

The question is, who has the right to determine what is good or bad, or what is morally right or wrong in the culture?  Who determines what makes a marriage?

The morals of the majority

Over the years, as society’s beliefs about absolute moral standards have changed concerning abortion and other issues, the laws have changed accordingly.  So while the majority might agree on particular standards and laws today, they can be overturned by the next generation.  What may appear to be absolute for one generation might not be absolute for another.

People are becoming more tolerant, not only of abortion but also of gay marriage.  What is to prevent a majority of society declaring one day that same-sex marriage is permissible?  And then what about polygamy, or even pedophilia?  A shifting morality can be a slippery slope, to the point that one day society might determine that polygamy and sex between adults and children are not wrong, as long as most people believe that they are acceptable.

Without an absolute moral standard, people are free to make up their own morals.  Should we be surprised when some day we allow parents to kill their newborns because there might be a defect in the child?  The majority might be lulled into sympathizing with the anguished parent, and also piously thinking something like: “Who wants to have a child go through life in that kind of condition?”

Does the church have the answer?

The gay marriage issue has been headline news.  When the Episcopal Church and the Pacific Northwest Conference of the United Methodist Church accepted gay clergy, the world looked on as a large denomination legitimized homosexual behavior.  And then church leaders are interviewed on national TV they give answers that actually opens the door to gay marriage!  They say that Jesus never addressed issues like same sex marriage and basically marriage is determined by law or opinion.  The Bible’s authority has been undermined, and it’s no longer understood to be the absolute authority.

America once held a primarily Biblical worldview because the majority of people at least respected the Bible as the authority on morality, but over the past two hundred years the Bible’s authority has been increasingly undermined as much of the church standards have been compromised. When those outside the church saw church leaders rejecting Genesis as literal history, we can understand why they would have quickly lost respect for the entire Bible.  If the church doesn’t even believe this Book to be true, then why should the world build its morality on a imperfect work that modern science supposedly has shown to be inaccurate in its science and history?

The Bible has lost respect in people’s eyes both within and without the church to the extent that the culture as a whole now doesn’t take the Bible’s morality seriously at all. The increasing acceptance of homosexual behavior and gay marriage is a symptom of the loss of biblical authority, and is primarily due to the compromise the church has made with the secular world’s teachings.

Mocking the Bible

In a New Orleans newspaper printed a commentary entitled, “In gay rights debate, Genesis is losing.”  The column correctly stated that God intended marriage to be between one man and one woman.  The writer even quoted, (Genesis 2:24).  The author then, mockingly, wrote, “Ah, Genesis. Heaven and earth created in six days, a serpent that talks and a 600-year-old man building an ark.  Just the guide we need to set rational policy.”  This secular writer recognized that the literal history of Genesis was the basis for the belief that marriage is one man for one woman.  However, by mocking the Genesis account, the writer removed the foundations upon which the institution of marriage stands.  This opens the door to gay marriage or anything else one might determine about marriage.

Are people born to a homosexual lifestyle?

What causes homosexual behavior?  Don’t know.  It isn’t difficult to argue that genetic factors have added up since the beginning of the fall when sin entered the world.  There is a combined factor of personal choice, when a person who is inclined toward a certain behavior can decide whether or not to follow through.  A person’s lifestyle can be influenced by that individual’s genetic makeup or in their up bringing.

Christian behavioral researchers point out that some people can be more genetically inclined to alcoholism, to committing violent acts, etc.  But this doesn’t mean that these actions are to be condoned, they are still sin.  “But that’s not fair!  I was born that way!  God made me like that!”  Don’t blame me, the Bible, or God.  It is a product from the fall.  Blame Adam and Eve. You still choose to sin, because “genetics” doesn’t lead a potential alcoholic to automatically walk into a bar to begin his drinking habit.  So if a “homosexual gene” were found, it doesn’t make this sin natural or normal.  This world suffers from thousands of years of the Curse, and in this fallen, decaying world, all kinds of genetic mistakes have been occurring.  There is right and wrong, and that moral standard comes from God’s Word. 

To justify homosexual marriage, supporters must deconstruct what the Bible teaches on marriage and homosexuality.  They try to transform the sin of homosexuality into a virtue.  (Isaiah 5:20; Proverbs 17:15)

The Bible Allows Homosexual Marriages!?!

·        They deny the literal, final nature of the Bible.

·        They say the Bible is a living document, evolving with our times.

The Bible is constant and settled in heaven, (Psalm 119:89).  It is powerful and able to change lives, (Hebrews 4:12-13).

·        The Bible is full of far from biblical marriages.  Does traditional marriage mean one man and as many wives as you can buy?  God’s will is found, (Genesis 2:18-25).  Man is corrupt…sinful.  The Bible doesn’t condone unholy marriages or unholy conduct in spiritual marriages, (Hebrews 13:4).

·        Jesus didn’t say “not to” have same sex marriages.

What is the answer?

(Judges 17:6)  When there’s no absolute authority to decide right and wrong, everyone has their own opinion as to what they should do.

Jesus did deal directly with the gay marriage issue, (Matthew 19:4–6).  Jesus quoted directly from the book of Genesis, which is the account of the creation of Adam and Eve as the first man and woman…the first marriage.  A literal history that explains the doctrine of marriage as being one man for one woman, so marriage cannot be a man and a man, or a woman and a woman.  (Leviticus 18:22; Romans 1:26–27; 1 Timothy 1:9–10)  And one of the primary reasons for marriage is to produce offspring.  Adam and Eve were told to be fruitful and multiply, but there’s no way a gay marriage can fulfill this command!

The battle against gay marriage will ultimately be lost, like the battle against abortion unless the church and the culture return to the absolute authority of the Word.  Then and only then will there be a true foundation for the correct doctrine of marriage.

4/19/09

Were there people created by God, living on earth before Adam?  Where were they?

There is no biblical evidence for this.  This is a man made theory or concept.  There is an idea that God created a race of humans who lived on the Earth before He created Adam, the first man.  This theory has been promoted by various scholars at various times throughout history.

According to what they call the Gap Theory, an unspecified amount of time passed between (Genesis 1:1-2), during which God created a Pre-Adamic race of men who lived on the Earth until God destroyed them in judgment.  Other extinct creatures, like the dinosaurs are said to have also lived during this time.  Afterwards, the theory goes, God remodeled the Earth in six days.  He created Adam on the sixth day and the rest is history.  Some say that Satan’s fall occurred at some point during the ambiguous gap.

Where they believe the Bible hints to this is in the King James Version, God says to Adam, (Genesis 1:28).  They emphasize on the word “replenish.”  They interpret the text as saying that Adam and Eve were to refill the Earth.  They were to fill it again.  The problem with this view is that, regardless of what it says in English translations, the Hebrew word is male’ and it means to fill or to be full.  The English translators of the King James knew the word meant to fill, and they chose “replenish” because in 17th century Elizabethan English “replenish” meant “to fill”.  Words change meaning over time.  Nearly all modern translations say “fill”.

The problem with the Gap Theory is that it places human mortality before Adam’s sin, but the Bible is clear that death came through Adam’s sin, (1 Corinthians 15:21-22).  The Bible is plain about human mortality before Adam’s sin…there wasn’t any.  Also there are four other reasons…

1.     Adam is called the “first man”, (1 Corinthians 15:45). This is inconsistent with the idea that God created men before Adam.

2.     (Genesis 2:5-8), says plainly that God created the man whom He had formed, and placed in the garden, there were no men on the Earth to cultivate the ground.

3.     God created Eve for Adam because he was alone; there was no one like him around, (Genesis 2:18, 20).

4.     Adam named his wife Eve “because she was the mother of all the living”, (Genesis 3:20).

The list goes on…

How does the EU (European Union) fit into God’s end-time plan?  What does it have to do with the mark of the beast?

Once again there is a lot of man made opinions presented as Bible when it isn’t so.  It comes down to interpretation, but as I have said several times, we may have ideas of how things are going to play out, but only God truly knows.

Some think that Europe will be the heart of the Antichrist system of governmental, economic and religious control.  It will also be at the heart of a false peace process that will initiate the tribulation, which will culminate at Armageddon.

We get an idea from, (Daniel 2).  Daniel interpreted the king's dream of a gigantic metallic statue of a man.  Daniel told Nebuchadnezzar that the statue's head of gold represented the king's kingdom.  The chest and arms of silver represented the second kingdom.  The belly and thighs of bronze represented the third world kingdom.  The fourth world kingdom to come upon the earth would be symbolized by the two legs of iron.  The final world kingdom would be shown as the statue's feet made of iron mixed with clay.

History has proved, and most Bible scholars agree that the first four world kingdoms have come and gone.  Nebuchadnezzar's Babylonian kingdom was the first.  The Medes and Persians the second world empire.  The Greek Empire under Alexander the Great was the third. The Roman Empire, which split into two, with capitals in Rome and Constantinople, was the fourth great world kingdom. This final world kingdom, some believe, is far along in the process of coming together today in the form of the European Union (EU).

Jack Kinsella, writing for The Omega Letter, Prophecy Update, 4/23/03, says: 'The European Union consists of more than 25 European nations today, but there are only ten full members.  The rest are associate members or have observer status.  The ten nations of the Western European Alliance have a distinct and separate status from the remaining associates.'

(Revelation 17) talks about the woman riding on the power and authority of a satanically empowered system headed by ten kings over ten kingdoms.  These things are to occur during the future time just before Christ's return to earth to set up His Kingdom.  Antichrist will understand exactly how to get the most for himself and his world-order elitists who assist him in his drive to enslave the world.

As the European Union grows rapidly toward its full power that will produce a leader of unprecedented authority.  Bible prophecy foretells that seven out of ten 'kings' will back a world leader, who will forcibly rip power from the other three and give it to himself.  The question…is the European Union the prophesied governmental body that will become the ten kingdoms that will provide Antichrist with his beastly power?  One government, one ruler, one money.

Some believe that the fact that the European Union is in prophecy is self-evident because of today's headlines.  But we shouldn’t base our faith on the headlines, but on the Word!  (WWII, 1970’s, 2000, now 12/20/2012; false prophets)

The true importance is this, if the EU is in fact the forming of the beast-kingdom from which Antichrist will come upon the world scene, is that it means Jesus' is coming soon!

Did God stop time for someone?  Where is it in the Bible?

(Joshua 10:1-15)  The Sun stood still!  I found out that this event has been confirmed by State documents of Egypt, China, and Mexico, which recorded this double-day.  It is said that Herodotus, and Lord Kingsborough, in his history of the Mexicans, and the Chinese philosopher Haui-nan-Tzu quoted these records.  The hill of Gibeon, at the moment when Joshua spoke, was behind him to the east, and the sun was setting in front of him to the west.  It was evening, and a continuance of the daylight was needed in order to complete the victory.

(vs.14)  God is a miracle working God!  The Bible opens with miracles, continues with miracles, concludes with miracles, and proclaims them into the eternal future!

(2 Kings 20:8-11)  His healing was given a sign of a backward sundial!  Once again He is a miracle working God!  Going forward or backward is impossible, but going backwards is even more impossible!  This is an event known as long day, which was known over the world of that day.  News spread and many inquired about the God Who could not only stop the rotation of the Earth, but actually make it go backwards for a period of time.  Several centuries’ later, Greek historians informed Alexander the Great that this was one of the great wonders recorded in their scientific books.

5/24/09

What does the Bible say about the security of the believer?  How do I share or debate about “Once saved always saved?

Blot out – Exodus 32:32-33; Revelation 3:5; 12:11

Righteous “shall he die” – Ezekiel 18:24

This is written to the House of Israel and it considers the wicked person who repents and lives right, and then it considers the opposite scenario.  The whole point is this…it’s God's “pleasure” in repentance, and a denial that he has any pleasure in the death of the wicked (33:11).

Dog return to vomit – 2 Peter 2:20-22

This is talking about false prophets and teachers, and some understand these verses to teach that true believers can lose their salvation, but it scripture talks about wolves in sheep clothing…those who appeared to be Christians but then showed by their apostasy and their behavior that they never truly belonged to Christ.  God promises that those who truly know him will never fall away because he will keep them by his grace.  It’s those who do turn back show that their true character is like that of a dog.  They appeared to have been saved, but by returning to the vomit and mire of the world, they demonstrated that they were never truly regenerated.

Ananias & Sapphira – Acts 5:1-11

Peter informed Sapphira of her impending death before it happened; it’s a note of divine judgment!  The text does not give enough information to know if Ananias and Sapphira were “false” believers or if they truly belonged to the Lord despite their sin.  I view this event as God's removal from the young church community of the distrust and disunity provoked by their dishonesty, to God Himself!  It was a time when the Spirit was especially present in the church, blessing it with unity of fellowship and the power of miracles.  That same power brought judgment to those who by their actions denied this unity and power.  This also shows that Satan is no match for the Holy Spirit.

The Golden Verse!  Hebrews 5:11-6:12

The central debate is in (vs.4-5) “enlightened,” “tasted the heavenly gift,” “shared in the Holy Spirit,” “tasted of the goodness of the word of God”.  Are the people once true Christians?

1. Some argue these phrases do describe true Christians, implying that Christians can “fall away” and lose their salvation.  They will say that some who backslide can still return to Christian faith, then saying that it’s only the “truly” hardened cases of apostasy in which it is “impossible . . . to restore them again to repentance”.

2. Others say these people may have participated fully in the Christian world or church, where they experienced enlightened instruction in the Word of God, where they saw public repentance occur, and where the Holy Spirit was at work in powerful ways, when such people do “fall away” it is clear that they are not true Christians because they have not made a true, saving response to the gospel, resulting in genuine faith, love, and perseverance, (vs.9–12).  They are like land that received much rain but bore no good fruit, only “thorns and thistles”, (v. 8).  They may have participated outwardly and they even may have shared in the blessings of Christian fellowship; but, like the seed that fell on rocky ground in the parable of the sower, “they have no root” and they “fall away” when faced with persecution.

3. Another view is that the warnings are addressed to true believers, and are the means that God uses to challenge them to persevere in the faith.

4. A fourth view is that the “falling away” has to do with loss of heavenly rewards.

Saul – 1 Samuel 10:6; 16:4; 18:10

Judas

-         He was the devil – John 6:70

-         Betray Him – John 6:64

Holy Spirit!

-         Sealed – Ephesians 1:13-14; 4:30

-         Permanent members in the body!  1 Corinthians 12:13

God will…

Finish – Philippians 1:6

Protect – John 10:28-29

Keep – 1 Corinthians 1:8; Jude 24

6/21/09

As a Christian & a concerned citizen, how do we find a balance between worry & faith?

Most people are quick to say that it’s natural to worry, and that is true.  Our fleshly instincts are to worry, but what does the Bible say about worry?

Jesus says not to do it because it doesn’t do any good!  (Matthew 6:25-27)  Worry doesn’t solve anything, but actually feeds on something that is actually nothing.  Worry deals with something that we can’t control 99.9% of the time.  Worry is fear based not faith based.  Worry is based on our emotions.  (Matthew 13:22)  Worry blinds eyes to truth.  There was a time when Jesus was with the disciples when he told them that circumstances need not to cause worry!  (Mark 4:35-41)  Jesus also warned not to get weighed down with worry and miss Him, (Luke 21:34).

The Amplified Bible reads, “But take heed to yourselves and be on your guard, lest your hearts be overburdened and depressed (weighed down) with the giddiness and headache and nausea of self-indulgence, drunkenness, and worldly worries and cares pertaining to this life, and that day come upon you suddenly like a trap or a noose;”

Worry is based on sight, but faith…, (2 Corinthians 5:1-7).  Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.  It’s a fight, (1 Timothy 6:12).  Worry is fear based followed by doubt and the Bible says faith can’t work, (James 1:6).  Our faith in Christ will overcome ever worry!  (1 John 5:4)

The line of worry and faith is when worry begins to overcome your faith.  Our faith must remain in Jesus and Him alone!  If God is in control then we know that it will all work out even if it is painful and not what we want.

Jesus tells us not to worry, but we can be concerned about something while at the same time our faith is in Christ knowing that He is the great I am, in control!

It’s about semantics…the word choice.  In Webster’s New World Dictionary the words are defined as…

Worry – to feel or make troubled in mind; feel or make uneasy or anxious.

Concern – to have a relation to; be important to; involve.  Interested or involved.

It’s about total trust, (1 Peter 5:7).  The antidote to worry is just what the Bible says, (Philippians 4:6-7)!

Does Mark 16:16 prove that we must be baptized to be saved?

(Mark 16:16)  Notice the last of the verse; it is unbelief that brings damnation, not a lack of being baptized.  When someone rejects the gospel and refuses to believe it, that is what sends someone to hell.

To answer the question if baptism is necessary for salvation, look at what Paul says in, (1 Corinthians 1:17).  There seems to be a distinction between baptism and the gospel.  It’s believing in the gospel that saves you, (1 Corinthians 15:1-2).

I am not saying that baptism isn’t important.  Baptism is the first act of obedience to God, but our faith in Christ is what saves us, (Acts 16:31; John 3:16).

Baptism is a public profession…an outward showing of an inward happening.  It says I am a believer in Christ and I am identified with His death, burial, and resurrection.  My old life is dead and through Christ I am a new creation.

7/19/09

If God forgives and removes our sins as far as the east is from the west, what will we be judged for at the Last Judgment?

(1 Corinthians 3:10-15)  Judgment for the believer is the event known in the Bible as the Judgment Seat of Christ.  (2 Corinthians 5:10; Romans 14:10)  This is a time when every child of God will stand before the Lord Jesus Christ and give an account of their service to the Lord.

When thinking about this moment you can get a little nervous, because there will be plenty to answer for in that day, but there will be far more for us to look forward to than to fear!  It’s on that day that the fruits of the Christian journey are rewarded.  That day we may hear the Lord Jesus say, "Well done good and faithful servant."

A DAY OF DISCOVERIES (vs.10-13)

Paul describes the Christian life as a building.  The foundation has been laid, but it’s our responsibility to build on that foundation, and it’s our duty to build correctly!  What will be discovered about the saints of God on that day?

Our Methods Will Be Discovered  (vs.10)

Paul tells us that "how" we built on the foundation will pass under the microscope of God in that Day.  When the Lord saved you, He placed you on the foundation of the Lord Jesus Christ.  Since the moment you were saved, you have been building a life.  This life can either be a thing of glory to the Lord, or it can be a thing of disgrace.  When we stand before the Judgment Seat of Christ, we will answer for how we have built our lives.

There are two issues that will NOT be addressed at the Judgment Seat of Christ…

1. Salvation – That was forever taken care of at the moment of conversion. Nothing can ever change the state of the believer's soul.  If a person is saved, they are saved forever!

2. Sin – Sin was taken care of forever at Calvary when the Lord Jesus died, (John 19:30)!  When Jesus died, He died for the ALL sin of the world, (2 Corinthians 5:21). They won’t be mentioned!  Hallelujah, that is enough to shout about!!!

What will be dealt with is the manner that we have lived from the moment of our conversion until the day we died, or were raptured.  It will be about how we used the responsibilities, privileges and opportunities we were given by the Lord.

Jesus has entrusted us with His business and He will require that each of His stewards give an account of their service unto Him when He returns, and we are to be found faithful, (1 Corinthians 4:2).

Our Materials Will Be Discovered  (vs.12)

There are two categories of materials that we use to build our spiritual house.

1. Worthy Materials – Gold, Silver and Precious Stones.  These are precious, valuable, beautiful and hard to come by. These are things that survive and even thrive in the fire.  These are works that the Lord will bless in that day.

2. Worthless Materials – Wood, Hay and Stubble.  These are temporary, ugly, cheap and easy to come by.  Things that are done out of the will of God, done out of a mean spirit, or done out of selfishness.  They are immediately destroyed.

Our Ministry Will Be Discovered  (vs.13)

All of our works will be put to the fire of the Lord’s will judgment to the things we did in this life and they will be made manifest.  Every motive, every work, every secret thought, every self serving motive will be revealed for all to see!

There are some who have all the appearance of having plenty of good works in their life, but behind the things they do is a self serving motive.  There are others who do things, and behind their works is love for the Lord.  You can hide the truth from others, but on that day, there will be no hiding from the truth!  I am sure that many things I have done will be burned up in front of my eyes, I cannot change the yesterdays of my life, but I can do something about the tomorrows, and so can you!

A DAY OF DELIGHTS (vs.14)

The Judgment Seat of Christ will be the moment when all the trials are made worthwhile.  It will literally be our crowning moment!  The things that remain will be the basis for rewards.  Jesus will honor us by giving us rewards for the things we do for Him.

Why is He going to give us crowns?  (Revelation 4:9-11)  We will cast those crowns at His feet to honor Him!

Does the Bible teach that there will be a great End Time revival before the Second Coming of Christ?

Matthew 24 contains Jesus’ teaching on His Second Coming.  He gave us specific signs to look for that would happen before His return.  False prophets and false messiahs, wars, earthquakes, famine, the persecution of God's people, the moral decay of society, a great apostasy, or falling away from true Faith, the rise of the Anti-Christ.

We have always had these things, but Jesus gives us the key to understand these signs when He compares them to a woman in labor, (vs.8).  A woman's labor pains increase in two ways: in intensity and in frequency.  The labor pains become more intense and the contractions come closer and closer together until the very end, when the pain is most agonizing, and the contractions almost continuous, one right after the other, and then the child is born.  Jesus is telling us that the world is going to go through more troubles and disasters, which will increase in frequency and intensity, until the very end, when they are almost unbearable, and nearly continuous, one coming right after the other…then He will return.

Since Israel became a nation once again in 1948, the intensity and frequency of these signs have increased like the birth pains of a woman approaching her time of delivery. While there has been spiritual deception ever since the Garden of Eden, we are warned that spiritual deception will reach its peak in the Last Days.  (Matthew 24:4-5, 11, 24)

(vs.25)  This warning is repeated three times in this chapter showing the seriousness of it.  The nature of this warning is specified…false messiahs and false prophets will arise and show great signs and wonders, and "many" will be deceived.

According to Jesus, this End Time departure from the Truth will be spearheaded by false prophets using signs and wonders to support their false teachings.  The signs and wonders they are able to perform are apparently so impressive that without discernment by the Holy Spirit, even God's elect would be deceived by them. Obviously, something more than mere trickery is involved.  These are empowered by Satan, whom they unwittingly serve in the name of God.

Writing to the Thessalonians, Paul issued a similar warning, (2 Thessalonians 2:3).  Paul tells us that the Last Days will be characterized by apostasy, not revival.  In the Last Days many professing believers will reject the biblical teaching that apostasy is inevitable.  Other scriptures confirm that false signs and wonders will be an integral part of the Last Days apostasy, Jesus said, (Matthew 7:22-23).

They think that their ability to prophesy, cast out demons and perform miracles proves that they belong to Him.  Their signs and wonders are so impressive that the accuracy and truth of their doctrine and the purity of their lives no longer seems to matter.  They are able to mislead others by emphasizing experiences over doctrine…exactly the situation we see today!  Paul gave this warning to Timothy, (2 Timothy 4:3-4).  Sound familiar?

There seems to be more of a trend of going away from sound doctrine, to a religion based largely on personal experiences.  When someone points out bad doctrine, they are told that they are being too critical and should focus on the positive (as if bad doctrine can be swept under the rug, where it won't do any harm. But God's Word says that a little leaven will leaven the whole batch).  They are told it’s enough to confess that Jesus is Lord.  They are told to "judge not", which is misapplied, Jesus didn’t mean that we are to stop using our ability to discern good from evil, sin from holiness, right from wrong, but He meant that we must not act as if we are the final judge.  We aren't to condemn people to hell, thinking that God is finished with them.

(2 Timothy 3:1-8)  Jannes and Jambres were the magicians in Pharaoh's court who, through the power of Satan, duplicated (up to a point) the miracles that God did through Moses.  Paul is saying that the Last Days opposition to the truth would be accompanied by demonstrations of power, though certainly not originating with God. These modern false prophets operate by performing apparent miracles in Jesus’ name, but they are actually empowered by Satan.  In that way, they deceive and lead many astray.  They destroy with false doctrine and false hope from within the Body of Christ.

Jude insists us to fight for the Faith, (Jude 3).  Fight against who?  Not against godless enemies outside the church, but those who are within, (Jude 4)!  "Crept in" can only mean those who are inside the body of Christ.  So the battle is not so much one of faith against unbelief, but rather of true faith against false faith.

Is it possible for wolves in sheep's clothing to creep in and assume positions of leadership?  Paul confirms the words of Jude when he addressed the Ephesian elders, (Acts 20:29-30). The days before the coming of the Jesus would be characterized by Anti-Christ, (2 Thessalonians 2:9-12; 1 Timothy 4:1-2). 

Does the Bible teach that in the Last Days the Church will experience revival?  Grow increasingly in number and power, being faithful and pure?  Taking over more and more of the political and social institutions in society…No!

Revelation gives us the best picture of the Last Days.  Yes, there will be a great harvest of souls during the Great Tribulation.  Yes, it will be a time of salvation for many, but it comes at a very high price.  (Revelation 7) tells of a great multitude, too large to count, from every nation and all tribes and peoples and languages, and will come to a saving faith in Christ during the Great Tribulation.  There will be those who are beheaded because of their testimony about Jesus and their faithfulness to Word of God.  They will not worship the Anti-Christ.

We are to be like the members of the church at Berea, they received the word of God with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily, to see whether these things were so.  We are to love one another, help one another, and reach out to a confused, lost, corrupt and dying world with the Good News of Jesus.  I pray that God would help us remain pure and holy in our faith, take a stand for the Truth, and be found faithful, doing those things He has called us to do when Jesus returns.

8/16/09

Why does a church have to provide so much?  Isn’t Jesus enough?

The church does provide a lot, and the church always will.  We are the hands and feet of Christ.  What is the function of the church?

Evangelism, to seek and share

What did Jesus do?  (Luke 19:10)  What did Jesus command us?  (Matthew 28:19-20)  We are to invest ourselves in reaching people for Christ!  We are to share the gospel, the good news of Jesus Christ!

Discipleship, to nurture

We are to grow in our Christian walk and become more like Jesus.  This wasn’t a new concept for the new testament church, because discipleship was taught in the old testament, (Deuteronomy 31:12).  Learning more about God and His ways will impact our foundation of faith, attitude about God, and make a difference in our actions.

Fellowship

It is the time that we come together.  Fellowship involves having good times together with fun, conversation, and of course…food!  But fellowship is also being there for one another; walking side by side, serving, encouraging and helping.

Ministry, to help

We are here to care for one another.  That’s what we are supposed to do.  We are supposed to help each other.  We are to love within the body and reach out also.  It is said that they won’t care what you know unless they first know how much you care.  We must love people and care about them, BUT the primary purpose of The Church is not a welfare agency.  There is a saying that goes like this. Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day.  Teach a man to fish and you feed him the rest of his life.  We are to give a help up, not out.  We are to help meet others need, and what they need most is Jesus.  Use what God has given you to reach out to others, (1 Peter 4:10).

Worship, to exalt God

The body coming together to worship God, (Hebrews 10:19-25).  Worship is entering the presence of God; we enter the Holy of holies.  Worship is drawing near to God.  Worship is considering one another; provoking one another in the direction of love and good works.  Worship is exercising our faithfulness; faithfulness to God and to each other.

Why do we celebrate the Lord’s Supper only once a month?  The early church and many still celebrate it each time they meet.

The Bible nowhere instructs us how often we should take communion.  Jesus gave no direction or did the apostle Paul.  Luke recorded in Acts, (Acts 2:42-47; 20:7).  The early church observed the Lord’s Supper as a meal, and it was a daily…day by day occurrence.  They had no other support but themselves, and they were daily together.

Centuries prior to the reformation of the church, a number of serious abuses crept into the life of the church, some of which affected the celebration of the Lord's Supper.  They celebrated the supper (in the form of the Mass) whenever it met, but fewer and fewer people were able to partake because it was often only the presiding clergy partook, while the majority of believers watched the ceremony from a distance.  Laypersons who wanted to participate in communion were required to do penance, showing ones self worthy which became an obstacle to regular participation.  As a result, ordinary Christians often received took communion on an annual basis only, the absolute minimum permitted by church authorities.

(1 Corinthians 11:24-26)  This gives all the instructions to observe communion and to understand the significance of what we are doing.  “As often as you do it do this in remembrance of Me”, so the number can be found in…as often.

The amount isn’t important but the why we celebrate communion?  The bread which He broke in half represents His body which was broken on the cross for us.  The cup represents the blood He shed on our behalf, sealing a covenant between Him and us.  Each time we observe communion, we are not only remembering what He did for us, but we are “showing” it as well to all who watch and all who participate.  This is a beautiful and graphic picture of what happened at the cross, what it means, and how it impacts our lives as believers.

Since we take the Lord’s Supper to remember Christ’s death and shed blood, we should take it fairly often.  Some churches have a monthly Lord’s Supper service, others do it bi-monthly, others weekly.  Since the Bible doesn’t give us specific instruction as to frequency, there is some freedom in how often a church should observe the Lord’s Supper.  It should be often enough to renew focus on Christ, without being so often that it become routine.

It’s not the frequency that matters, but the heart attitude of those who participate.  We should partake with reverence, love, and a deep sense of gratitude for the Lord Jesus, who was willing to die on the cross to take upon Himself our sins.

How does Hitler and other bad government rulers figure into Romans 13:1-5?

In Romans 13 we have the clearest statement in all of Scripture concerning the function, the role and the origin of civil government.  In (chapter 12) Paul is urging the Roman Christians to offer themselves wholly to the spiritual worship of God showing the attributes of the true Christian and model civil obedience to distinguish them, being the light.  Even though our focus is in heaven, we still have responsibilities now.  When we obey the governing authorities we are obeying God, because they are "established by God", and if the authority is from God, to resist the authority is to resist God.  The line is when obedience to government is inconsistent with obedience to God.

Although Paul is requiring submission to government, he doesn’t necessarily affirm universal obedience to government.  Both Jesus and Paul prove that obedience to God and at the same time submission to the government may cost the Christian there life.

What about…

·        Peter and the Apostles (Acts 5:29)

·        The Hebrew midwives in (Exodus 1:16-17)

·        Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego disobey King Nebuchadnezzar’s command to bow down before his gold image and it results in their being thrown in the furnace.  (Daniel 3:8-23)

• Daniel was ordered not to pray to any God other than king Darius, he walks into his home, flings open the windows, and begins to pray to the Yahweh.  (Daniel 6:6-16)

We must live our Christianity in every aspect of our lives, including the voting booth, standing for a Biblical Truth or doctrine even when it isn’t popular.  We shouldn’t stop acknowledging sin or quit doing the things God commands despite how the government might react.  There are right and wrongs based on Biblical Truth and not any political party affiliation.  But we must be sure to do so with the proper attitude with humility and love not pride, anger, or arrogance.

We must seek God and figure out which things we are willing to fight for and those which are secondary issues to be put aside and ‘lived with.’  It’s impossible to legislate righteousness because it’s a heart issue, not a political issue.  If we truly desire change in our culture and society, we will give our attention to those activities which can bring this about, leading people to Christ and building them up in their faith toward maturity.

9/20/09

Why did Jesus fold the linen burial cloth?

(John 20:6-7)

This burial cloth or napkin was placed over Jesus’ face before His burial in the tomb.  While the strips of linen were just lying there, the cloth or napkin that covered Jesus’ face was folded up by itself, separated from the grave clothes, the strips of linen.  Why does God take an entire verse to tell us about it?  Is it that important?  Absolutely!  Is it really significant?  Yes!

In order to understand the significance of the folded napkin, you have to understand an aspect of Hebrew tradition of that day.  The folded napkin had to do with a clear message between a Master and his Servant.

When the servant set the dinner table for his master, he made sure that it was exactly the way the master wanted it.  The servant would wait just out of sight until the master had finished eating.  The servant wouldn’t dare touch that table, until the master was finished.

When the master was done eating, he would get up from the table, wipe his fingers, his mouth, and clean his beard, and then wad up that napkin and toss it onto the table.  The servant would then know to clear the table, because the wadded napkin gave the clear message, saying, “I’m done”. BUT if the master got up from the table, and folded his napkin, and laid it beside his plate, the servant would not dare touch the table.  The folded napkin gave the clear message, saying, “I’m not finished yet.  I’m coming back!”

Jesus is giving us a clear message in (John 20:7), saying, I’m not finished yet…I’m coming back”.  Jesus IS Coming Back!

Is there a time to judge and a time not to? “Judge not lest ye be judged”.

To judge or not to judge…that is the question!  The Church is split on this subject, but there are different kinds of judgment in Scripture.

It seems clear, since Jesus Himself said, “Judge not,” (Matthew 7:1), that we cannot “judge.” At first glance it appears that Jesus not only forbids judging others, but that He catches Himself in a glaring contradiction.  (vs.1) seems obvious, “Judge not,” but in (vs.6,15-16), we are to judge.  How do we settle this contradiction?  Do we judge or not?

Judging is Gods job and His Word is His judgment, but He allows us to judge.  This isn’t you or me judging but rather simply acknowledging that "This is what God says."  If God says in the Bible that something is wrong, and a church or certain individual does something contrary to what the Bible says, we are not judging them, but rather it is the Word of God that judges. This is what it means when the Bible says, "Judge with right judgment" (John 7:24).  Judging with right judgment means judging with God's judgment, not with our own.  What’s the Bible say about judging?

Anakrino - To Discern

The Greek word for "judge" is krino.  If you put the prefix ana in front of the word krino, it means "to discern."  (I Corinthians 2:15)  God commands us to anakrino to discern.  We are to judge…discern, based on the spirit, the wisdom of God.

Diakrino - To Decide

(1 Corinthians 6:5)  Another prefix which changes the meaning of krino or judge is "dia." Diakrino means to "render a decision" as to whether something is right or wrong.  Is someone's behavior morally right or wrong? Is it scriptural or unscriptural?  Is it of God, the flesh, or of the devil?  The Holy Spirit through Paul tells us to diakrino.  We are to judge…decide, based on the spirit, the Word of God.

It’s the word of God that helps us to discern and decide.  (Hebrews 4:12)

Krisis – Final Judgement

(Romans 14:10)  There is a kind of judging that we are not called to do.  The Greek word is krisis.  (John 5:22)  The ultimate determination of heaven and hell belongs only to the Lord Jesus Christ (The Word).  We never krisis.

Krites - The Judge of All

We must remember that God is the ultimate Judge of all the earth (Isaiah 33:22; James 4:12), and Jesus, being the Son of God, functions as Judge as well (John 8:16; James 5:9; I Peter 4:5).  Christians are forbidden to judge others when human judgment infringes on God's right as Judge.  (Romans 14:4; 1 Corinthians 4:5; James 4:11-2)

Hupo-Krites - Pharisees

We are also NOT to judge others when it involves intolerance of another's sin at the same time being blind of one's own sin, (Luke 6:37; Romans 2:1).  If we are going to stand up and confront other people about something being wrong, we had better make sure we are not guilty of the same thing!

Here the prefix hupo is added to krites, giving us the English word hypocrites.  This is what Jesus meant in (Matthew 7:1-6).

Does Jesus want us to close our eyes to evil and error?  Absolutely not!  That would be misapplying Jesus' teaching.  He wasn’t commanding blind acceptance but grace toward others.  Since all of us deal with the weakness of the flesh from time to time, we need to stop bothering with the failing of others and start attending to serious issues of our own.  We are sometimes appointed to krites, but we should never, ever hupo-krites.

• Judging Fruit

The Bible tells us that we are called to judge reputed prophets by their fruits, (Matthew 7:16-20).  You would know people and be able to judge them by their fruit.

• Judging Prophecy

We are commanded in the Bible to judge prophecy, (1 Corinthians 14:29; Deuteronomy 18:20-22).  Jesus warned that there would be many false prophets in the last days.  Besides judging their fruit, how can we discern whether or not a prophet is false?  If a prophecy doesn’t come to pass, then the prophet is a false prophet.  Although false prophets are not stoned today, their "ministries" definitely should be.

Remember, we cannot krino (judge) anyone.  The thing that God has said will krino [judge].  We have to anakrino (discern); are things of God, man, or of the devil?  We must diakrino (render a decision) based on whether something is morally right or wrong by biblical standards.

(Deuteronomy 1:16)  We are to "Judge with right judgment" (John 7:24).  In today's society, nobody takes responsibility for their own actions anymore.  How can we expect society to live up to God's standards, when the Church will not even live up to God's standards?

The Church must set the example.  We must be salt and light to a society that has turned its back on God.  Unsaved people are watching the Church, when they see the church as lukewarm, it gives them a license to sin.  We as individuals must take responsibility for our own lives and our own choices. It’s up to the Church to righteously judge according to the Word.  We need REVIVAL!

11/15/09

Which version of the Bible do you use and/or recommend?

The Bible version issue is far more complicated than most people understand.  You can find booklets or pamphlets from a Bible teacher who condemns all versions except his or her favorite.  There is usually an agenda with those booklets.

Unlike some opinions, the original writings of Paul, Moses, Peter, wasn’t the KJV.  They were called "autographs" of Scripture.  The manuscripts are grouped in "families" according to their similarities.  If one Bible translator accurately translated the Greek and Hebrew from one "family" of manuscripts and another Bible translator accurately translated the Greek and Hebrew from another "family," and those families had some minor differences, there would naturally be differences in the English translation.

The KJV was translated from an older family, but one in which very few manuscripts exist.  The NIV was translated from a newer family, but one in which hundreds of manuscripts exist.  This causes a controversy because we judge the soundness of a translation based either on the age of the manuscripts or the number of manuscripts.

Which Bible version do I use?  I study using KJV, NIV, and Amplified.  I used to preach using the KJV or NKJV, but back in May I switched after reading the ESV.  It reads easy and very accurate lines up with NASB.  I read all versions.

What version would I recommend?  The best Bible is the one you read.  It does no good to have the most accurate translation in the world if you don't read it.  We can become legalistic and religious if we aren’t careful.

Some think that the KJV is the divinely inspired as the original, forgetting that all translations are done by imperfect human beings.  I believe that all Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and that He did indeed inspire the original writers.

Usually when I am asked about Bible versions, which is best, which is most accurate, which do I recommend, unfortunately, they have already made up their mind and use the Bible version issue as a kind of test for doctrinal beliefs.

Is it stealing when you see a cat with no collar and on your lawn?  Yes or No

As you see I will answer any question.  I answered this on a one on one basis, as he did give his name.  But in case you are wondering how I answered it…you need to go around your neighborhood to see if you can find the owner.  Because just as you want to keep it, there might be another little boy wanting to find it.  If you try to find the owner and can’t, then I guess you could keep it, but that would be up to your mom and dad.

12/20/09

Since the serpent (the Devil) was talking to Eve, does that mean that it was common occurrence for Adam and Eve to be talking to the animals in the Garden of Eden?

(Genesis 3:1-6)  Interestingly, the serpent or snake speaking to Adam and Eve isn’t the only instance in the Bible where an animal speaks.  The prophet Balaam was rebuked by his donkey which you can read in Numbers 22.  I am sure that we can all agree that in the Garden of Eden, it was Satan who was speaking through the snake, not the snake itself speaking on its own.

So, why didn’t Adam and Eve find it strange that an animal was speaking to them?  There isn’t an exact yes or no answer to this question, because this is total speculation.  Adam and Eve didn’t have the same perspective we do on animals, we don’t expect the animals to talk to us…I think.  Even though we sometimes talk to them like they are going to answer back.  Please animal lovers don’t get mad at me, because I know that they can communicate with us, but animals are incapable of speaking on the same level as humans.  We have to remember that while animals are not capable of speaking, God can do all things, and Satan can do counterfeit feats, including enabling animals to speak.

Maybe it isn’t unreasonable for Adam and Eve to believe that animals were capable of speech.  Maybe this wasn’t the first talking animal Adam and Eve had encountered.  Perhaps God used animals to communicate with Adam and Eve before.  Once again, there are so few details that it is all speculation and presumption.  Also it doesn’t seem crazy for Eve to answer the snake, because the snake was evidently speaking in a language that she understood and asking an intelligible question.  It’s also possible that Adam was nearby and could verify that she was not imagining things.

It wasn’t the serpent speaking that should have alarmed them, but the fact that he was causing them to doubt God’s instructions (vs.1), contradicting God (vs.4), and calling God’s motives into question (vs.5).  That should have been enough to cause both Eve and Adam to stop talking to the serpent.

December 12, 2012…Should we be worried and how should we respond?

Should we be worried?  Absolutely not!  What do I think about 2012 hoopla?  Nothing.  Before you think too much about 2012, think about 7 things…

1.     Over the last 2,000 years, the track record of those who have predicted and/or expected “the end” has been 100% WRONG!!!!

2.     You may damage your own faith in the Bible, when their expectations fail.

3.     If one loses confidence in the prophetic portions of Scripture, biblical prophecy ceases to be a motivation to purity and holy living in daily life.

4.     You can damage the faith of new or immature believers when events fail to materialize.

5.     “Dooms Dayer’s” tend to be sensationalistic, but what did Jesus tell His followers?  (Mark 13:32-37)

6.     It can damage the cause of Christ.  Unbelievers enjoy scorning Christians who have put stock in end-time predictions.  Why give “ammo” to the enemies of Christianity?

7.     It is in God’s hands, and we haven’t been given the details, (Act 1:7)!  It is best to live as if Jesus were coming today, yet prepare for the future as if He were not coming for a long time.

We can use this time to share the gospel as others are searching for answers!

Will we sneeze in heaven?  I know we won’t have colds or allergies, but could the feathers on the angel’s wings tickle our noses?

Very unlikely.  This brings me to a couple of other questions…

First of all, I can deal with a lot of religious traditions that exactly don’t match up with scripture, but angels are a pet peeve of mine!  I don’t know how it started but…angels aren’t:

·        Naked babies!

·        When we die…we don’t become angels!  Clearance will never earn his wings.  Angels are created by God for the purpose of being His messengers.

·        Beautiful women.  Now I’m not hatin’ on the ladies, but all angels given description in the bible are masculine.  Angels are created, and they are not sexual so they don’t have baby angels.  They are neither male nor female.

Another question is…do all angels have wings?  The answer I believe is NO. Scripture indicates that many angels have wings.  You have the Seraphim described in (Isaiah 6:1-5) have wings.  The Cherubim which Ezekiel saw in his vision have wings, (Ezekiel 1:6).  The angels the apostle John saw in his vision have wings, (Revelation 4:8).  But many other Bible verses about angels make no mention of wings, like the angels at the empty toms, (Matthew 28:2-3; Mark 16:4-5; Luke 24:4); and then after Jesus ascension, (Acts 1:10).  There is also, (Hebrews 13:2).  If we unknowingly entertain angels, I think I would remember a big dude with wings!

So what is the conclusion?  Is it possible that all angels have wings…yes, does scripture back that up…no.  To me it doesn’t matter, but what we can 100% determine is that all angels are created by God to serve Him and be His messengers.

And the final question that this question brings up is…if we do sneeze in heaven does God actually do the blessing and excusing?