"Q & A " Lesson 166

Lesson 166: “Q & A”

Question: A believer has loaned another believer a significant amount of money. Unfortunately it was only a verbal agreement because the first party never imagined that the second party would betray him after so many years of friendship. The second party has now turned the words around and said that the first party “gave” him the money and he does not have to pay it back. The question is how to handle this matter with the person and the matter within the heart due to the heap of pain, rejection and lies that are surrounding this matter. The loaner does not want to be resentful and angry as he knows it is poor for the soul.

Answer: Sometimes Christian debtors completely fail to repay Christian creditors even denying the debt exists. In Romans 13:8, “Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law”, ties the issue of debt directly to the issue of loving one another. It clearly follows that a Christian who does not pay his debt to a fellow Christians is not fulfilling the law. He is hurting his brother and afflicting the Body of Christ. The most common reason for not paying is they don’t think the Christian creditor will do anything about the debt since this is what Scripture teaches (Luke 6:30-34). However, one should never lean on the Word of God to defraud a brother (Lev. 6:1-7); when you make a vow, keep it (Ecc. 5:5) and give everyone what you owe him (Rom. 13:7). If any of you has a dispute with another take it before the saints (1 Cor. 6:1-4 and Matt. 18:15-17). For the creditor, he must forgive (Matt. 6:14, John 20:22-23) so that God will forgive him and the other as well. No matter how you were wronged, all that holding a grudge will do for you is bring about emotional distress, anguish, bitterness, physical illness and a general feeling of unhappiness resulting in spiritual bankruptcy. It is God’s business to judge and avenge (Rom. 12:14, 19). When forgiven, the other person is released (Acts 7:60, John 20:22-23) and God is free to work with the person and you will find release and joy (Matt. 5:44-48, 6:12, 18:21, Mark 11:25, Eph. 4:32). Do not allow your hurt and resentment over this to hinder your prayers (Ps. 66:18, 1 Pet. 2:1-2, and do not give the devil a foothold (2 Cor. 2:10-11, Eph. 4:25-27, 2 Tim. 2:24-26).

Question: Should Christians call Jesus Christ their King or Lord. Is it right to think that the Bible teaches that He is King of the Jews?

Answer: All of the first Christians were Jews. They believed Jesus Christ was the Messiah promised in the Old Testament and were looking for Him to set up His Kingdom on earth. The “Church” was not mentioned in the Old Testament so they were ignorant of God’s plan for the make up and mission of the Church. Paul was called by god to be the Apostle to the Gentiles (Rom. 11:13, 1 Tim. 2:7, 2 Tim:1:11) and clears up this mystery in Ephesians 3:6; “The Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus”. God saved and indwelled in the Gentiles as well as the Jews (Acts 11:18) and sees no differences in Jew and Gentile (Gal. 3:28, Col. 3:11). Christ is King over all who choose to be His subjects (Luke 23:33-43)…meaning it is not mentioned whether this criminal was Jew or Gentile). He is King and sovereign head over His Church (Eph. 1:22, 4:15-16, Col. 1:18, 2:19). His throne is in Heaven and His Kingdom rules over all (Ps. 103:19) and He will reign for ever and ever (Rev. 11:15). God Himself put everything under Christ’s reign (Job 40:11); He has a Kingdom (1 Cor. 15:24-28); He is King over all Nations (Matt. 25:31-40) and the Lord shall be King over all the earth (Zech. 14:4-9). If you are a Christian, regardless of your nationality, He is your King.

Question: What does the Bible say about dysfunctional families?

Answer: The term “dysfunctional family” was probably not invented in Bible days. However there is much said about it. All families after Adam’s rebellion, fail to fully function as God originally designed (Rom. 3:23). Rebecca’s effort to control the family blessings sounds most dysfunctional (Gen. 27) but God intervened in Genesis 32:28. Abraham and his wife Sarah couldn’t wait for the promised child from God and used the maidservant to have Abraham’s child, Ishmael. Later, again, God intervened and sent Sarah and Abraham the promised child, Isaac. Ishmael mocks the new baby and Sarah nags Abraham to “get rid of him and his mother” (Gen. 21:9-10). Abraham passed off his wife as his sister (Gen. 20:1-2) and again God intervened (Gen. 20:6). No family could possibly be more dysfunctional than Lot and his daughters (Gen. 19:30-36). So then, what does the Bible say about dysfunctional families? “Now these things happened as examples to keep us from setting our hearts on evil things as they did” (1 Cor. 10:6). “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come. And this is from God” (2 Cor. 5:17-18). Numbers 23:21 tells us that when God looked at Jacob He saw no iniquity in him. He didn’t see a dysfunctional family but potential. Just as God called David (the most dysfunctional of all) a man after His own heart (Acts 13:22), He calls we all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus (Gal. 3:26). Your old dysfunctional self has been crucified (Gal. 4:20) and we should live to please God and not man (Eph. 6:7).

Question: If someone gives you stolen goods what should you do?

Answer: I think this would come under the “integrity scriptures”. Integrity means treating people fairly and honestly (Lev. 19:35-36, Deut. 25:15, Pro. 16:11-13). The Lord hates lack of integrity (Zech. 8:16-17), He will test and judge your integrity (1 Chron. 29:17, Ps. 7:81), and your character can be corrupted by bad company with lack of integrity (1 Cor. 15:33). Integrity will protect you (Ps. 25:21, Pro. 2:7-8, 10:9, 11:3, 13:6), it is more valuable than riches (Pro. 28:6) and it should set an example (Titus 2:7). One Scripture stands out about Ananias and his wife Sapphira who showed no integrity. Scripture tells us that they did not lie to men but to God and they fell dead (Acts 5:1-11).

Question: What does the Bible say about public prayer?

Answer: In Matthew 5:5-8, Jesus taught not to pray on the street corners JUST to be seen by others. These are pagan prayers and were not condemned because they were made in public but because they were prayed for the wrong reasons. Jesus’ public prayers include; prayer for Lazarus to rise from the dead (John 11:41-42), prayer for children (Matt. 19:13), prayer on the mountain (Luke 9:28-29), prayer when He Himself was baptized (Luke 3:21). Jesus is also in public when He prays for Himself (John 17:1-5), for His disciples (John 17:16-19) and for all believers both then and now (John 17:20-26). Our Lord and Savior was most public when He was dying on the Cross for our sins and in a loud voice He cried; “Father, into your hands I commit my Spirit” (Luke 23:46).

Question: In Exodus 20:4 “You shall not make for yourself any likeness of anything that is in Heaven above or in earth beneath or the water underneath”. Does this apply to Jesus on the Cross as a necklace, etc.?

Answer: The “cross” was an awful instrument of torture and should not be revered or made into an idol. However, the shape of the instrument is not important, rather the FACT of the Crucifixion in which the Son of God gave His life to pay for the sins of all humanity. The “cross shape” was worn for jewelry before the days of Jesus and used in non-Christian religious practices. This does not eliminate its importance to Christians or prohibit its proper use. What would be the sin would be to look superstitiously t the “cross” as an idol and worship its image. Paul preached the meaning of the Cross and not the shape of it (Gal. 2:16-21, 5:11, 6:12-15, 1 Cor. 2:2, 1:23). Exodus 20:4 is referring to image or likeness that takes the place of God in the worship. Unless the “cross” shape becomes the object of worship it is not a sin to wear it or display it on the tops of churches or inside the churches. Jesus used the metaphor of taking up the cross and following Him to represent the sacrifice one makes when leaving the ways of the world and following Jesus (Matt. 10:38), as does Paul in his teachings in Galatians 6:14. Paul is remembering and honoring Jesus for dying on the Cross not worshipping the shape of the “cross”. Although the “cross” is sometimes worn to show Christianity, the real proof should be in the fruits of the Spirit in our lives (Gal. 5:22-25).

Question: My husband and I plan to build in a different state from where we are living now. I have prayed for months and things that need to happen for us to do so are happening. I feel this is God’s will for my life but Mom says we do not know God’s will all the time. How can I show her this is God’s will, an answer to my prayers and will improve my spiritual life in many ways?

Answer: Psalm 127 with its five simple verses was to be sung to the Lord to the married couples in the Jewish community in the Tabernacle. The Psalm has a lot to say to married couples today, conveying to them the Lord’s instructions. Verse 1: Allow the Lord to build your house (also Luke 14:28). Allow the Lord to guard your city (meaning you feel secure where you are moving; also Ps. 62:1-2). Verse 2: Allow the Lord to provide your needs, seeking first the Kingdom of God (Matt. 6:33). Verses 3-5: allow the Lord to fill your quiver (meaning children are a gift from God). “His anointing teaches you about all things….you do not need anyone to teach you”. Romans 12:1-2 tells you that if you do not conform to the pattern of this world you will know God’s will in your life. Jeremiah 31:34 suggests that everyone is capable of hearing God’s voice and the burden for you is not necessarily to convince anyone of anything He says to you.

Question: What does the Bible say about choirs in the church? How can I justify the saying that choirs are to usher in the Spirit during service?

Answer: If you are saved, born again believer in Jesus Christ as your Savior, then YOU usher in the Holy Spirit as He lives in you (Eph. 1:13-14, 1 John 3:24, Eph. 2:22, 1 Cor. 3:16). A praise and worship leader is usually (and preferably) led by the Spirit in choosing songs; a praise leader for God and not for the people (Gal. 1:10). Praise and worship is not just an introduction to the sermon. There will be a spiritual current moving in the lives of believers when the praise and worship is done in God’s will. In 2 Chronicles 20:21-22; “Jehoshaphat appointed men to sing to the Lord and to praise Him for the splendor of His holiness as they went out at the head of the army”. Therefore, God won their battle! In Joshua 6 the Lord ordered that they march around the wall of Jericho blowing trumpets and giving a loud shout and the Lord won that battle for them. The Bible, especially the Psalms, is filled with praises to “get in touch with God”. Since the Holy Spirit is the only one that knows God’s thoughts (1 Cor. 2:10-11), then we should not grieve the Holy Spirit (Eph. 4:30) with disagreements on this matter (Eph. 4:29-32) and do not give the devil a foothold (Eph. 4:27).

Question: What is meant by a time to kill and a time to heal in Ecclesiastes 3:3?

Answer: A time to kill is when the judgments of God are far and wide in a land and lays all to waste. However when He returns in ways of mercy, then it is a time to heal what He has torn (Hosea 6:1-2). Various times in the Old Testament God commanded the Israelites to defend their nation by force of arms. Yet it was with the recognition that peace and healing of the nations was the goal (Ps. 133:1). Also in the New Testament with Paul’s observation that the state “does not bear the sword for nothing” but is “God’s servant and an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer (Rom. 13:1-5).