OceanSide church of Christ




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QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS (25)

Victor M. Eskew

 

INTRODUCTION

 

A.    Some questions appear to be more important than others.

1.      What must I do to be saved?

2.      Will you marry me?

3.      What career will I chose for myself?

 

B.      Sometimes the importance of a question involves the time when it is asked.

1.      Should I go on a trip?  What if your wife is about to have surgery and your daughter is about to have a baby?

2.      Should I take this medicine?  Given to you by a friend from an unmarked bottle that he says he has had for a couple of years.

 

C.     The questions that you ask on our Q&A night are important questions, at least to the one who is asking the question.  I try to take every question very seriously.

 

I.                   QUESTION #1:  Hitting the Rock vs Striking the Rock

 

A.    Stated:  Why did God tell Moses to hit the rock on one occasion and to speak to the rock on the other occasion in order to bring water out of the rock?

 

B.      Answer:

1.      On two occasions during the wilderness wandering, Israel thirsted and God quenched their thirst by bringing water out of a rock.

a.      Rephidim:  Moses was to strike the rock (Exo. 17:6).

 

Behold, I will stand before thee there upon the rock in Horeb; and thou shalt smite the rock, and there shall come water out of it…

 

b.      Meribah:  Moses was to speak to the rock (Num. 20:8).

 

Take the rod, and gather the assembly together, thou, and Aaron thy brother, and speak unto the rock before their eyes, and it shall give forth his water…

 

2.      We all know that Moses obeyed God on the first occasion and disobeyed on the second.

3.      Why did God change the rules?

a.      God wants men, even leaders, to know that He alone has absolute authority.

b.      God expects men to pay attention to what He desires, even when man does not understand the reason for the command.

c.       Man must honor and reverence God by complying with the commands as God has given them.

4.      I Samuel 15:22-23

 

…Hath God as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord?  Behold to obey is better than sacrifice, and to harken than the fat of rams.  For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as idolatry.  Because thou hast rejected the word of the Lord, he hath also rejected thee from being king.

 

II.                QUESTION #2:  The Holy Spirit

 

A.    Stated:  Does the Holy Spirit speak to us today?

 

B.      Answer:

1.      This is another one of those “yes” and “no” questions.

2.      Let’s start with the answer:  “Yes, the Holy Spirit speaks to us.”  He does this solely through the pages of God’s Word.

a.      The Holy Spirit is the one who revealed the Word of God (I Cor. 2:12-13).

 

Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit which is of God, that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.  Which things also we speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teactheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.

 

b.      NOTE:  Paul said the things that were revealed by the Spirit were spoken, but they were not spoken in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Spirit teacheth.

1)      When Paul spoke by inspiration, it was the Holy Spirit who was speaking.

2)      When Paul wrote by inspiration, it was the Holy Spirit who was speaking.

3)      II Samuel 23:2

 

The Spirit of the Lord spake by me, and his word was in my tongue.

 

c.       The Bible is inspired of God.  When we quote and read from “the Book,” the Holy Spirit is speaking to us.

3.      Now, let’s examine the “no” side of this question.  No, the Holy Spirit does not speak directly to us telling us what to do and what not to do.

a.      The denominational world does not believe this.  They affirm that the Holy Spirit is talking to them on many occasions (Ex., Get Unstuck, Be Unstoppable, Valerie Burton, p. 8).

“My pivotal moment came one day in the shower.  I dragged myself out of bed to go to the office to do work I did not feel like doing, wishing I could write and speak instead.  I got into the shower, and uncontrollably, the tears came.  The cry of my spirit sounded like a first grader who didn’t feel like going to school that day.  “But I don’t feel like going to work!  I don’t want to.” 

            It wasn’t just my emotions, though.  I could sense in my spirit that God was speaking. 

            “It is time to make the leap,” the Holy Spirit nudged.

            “But how will I make it?”  I protested.

            “I’ll show you what to do,” He assured me.  “You’ll be afraid.  You’ll also be okay.” 

 

b.      If the Holy Spirit speaks directly to mankind today:

1)      The Bible is insufficient, but Paul teaches us that the Bible is all-sufficient (II Tim. 3:16-17).

 

All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:  that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.

 

2)      He is a respecter of persons because He speaks to some and not to others, but God is no respecter of persons (Acts 10:34).

 

Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons.

3)      He would correct all of the religious division in the world today.

a)      The religious world says the Bible has many interpretations which lead to division.

b)      Yet, the Bible was revealed by the Spirit of God.  He knows what He meant to say.

c)      If He spoke directly to us, He could tell us exactly what He meant to say.

d)     NOTE:  Unity is tied to the Spirit in Ephesians 4:3.

 

Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

 

4)      He would tell us exactly how a man is supposed to be saved.

a)      “What must I do to be saved?” is answered in various ways in the religious world.

b)      The Spirit knows exactly what a man is supposed to do to be saved.

c)      If the Holy Spirit is speaking directly to man, He could let us all know what process is the correct one.

d)     NOTE:  He would not tell one man one thing and another man another thing.  God is not the author of confusion (I Cor. 14:33).

 

For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.

 

III.             QUESTION #3:  Sunday Night Worship

 

A.    Stated:  Is Sunday evening worship optional or required?  Please explain why or why not.  If a Christian worships in the morning, is he/she required to return to worship again if he/she has already satisfied the “requirement” to worship on the first day of the week?

 

B.      Answer

1.      To worship the highest being in the Universe is a privilege.  I cannot understand why anyone would want to ever miss an opportunity to praise Him (Ps. 29:2).

 

Give unto the Lord the glory due unto his name; worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness.

 

2.      I can’t imagine a Christian who has been redeemed by the precious blood of Christ, saying:

a.      I don’t want to worship God.

b.      I’ve got better things to do than worship God.

c.       One hour of worship is enough for me.

3.      The Bible specifically authorizes the church to come together for worship at least once upon the first day of the week (Acts 20:7).

 

And upon the first day or the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight.

 

4.      If one time is specifically authorized, why is there an evening service?

a.      Privilege:  We CAN worship God more than once.

b.      Gratitude:  We know what God has done in our lives and we want to express our praise more than once.

c.       Fellowship:  Worship is a time when the family of God comes together and has fellowship with each other.  This is a tremendous blessing.

d.      Convenience:  Some were not able to be present on Sunday morning and the evening service gives them an opportunity to worship.

5.      Is a person required to worship on Sunday evening? 

a.      A common sense yes.

1)      The local congregation has been established by God.

2)      He has placed elders over the flock (Acts 20:28; I Pet. 5:2).

3)      They are commanded by God to feed the flock (Acts 20:28; I Pet. 5:2).

4)      If they provide food for us to eat, it is common sense to think that we are required to eat what is provided.

b.      A mature yes

1)      Those who miss every Sunday evening are not usually your mature Christians.

2)      They are not as knowledgeable, nor are they the hard workers within the body of Christ.

3)      They are babes, and the Lord does not want us to remain babes (Heb. 5:12-14).  He want us to grow up (II Pet. 3:18).

c.       A definite yes.

1)      Elders have been delegated authority by God to rule within the local congregation (I Tim. 5:17).

2)      If they command us to be present, we should be present.

 

Parents Over Chidlren                     Government Over Citizens             Elders Over the Flock

12 o’clock curfew                               Age 16:  Driver’s license                    PM worship service

Ephesians 6:4                                     I Peter 2:13                                         Hebrews 13:17

 

3)      Most elders will not command the evening service because they are fearful of being accused of “lording it over the flock” in violation of I Peter 5:3.

6.      What is a person’s reason for refusing to worship at night?

a.      They do only the minimal?

b.      They are selfish?

c.       They are not interested in worship?

d.      Worldly things are more important to them?

e.       They do not like worship?

 

CONCLUSION

 

A.    Stated:  Once a believer in Christ is baptized, if he/she sins, can those sins be forgiven?

 

B.      Answer:  Yes

1.      Confession of sins (I John 1:9).

2.      Repentance and prayer (Acts 8:22-24)

 

C.     Stated:  Does baptism wash away all previous sins no matter how big or small the sin might seem to that person?

 

D.    Answer:  Yes

1.      Acts 22:16

2.      God’s grace is more powerful than any sin man can commit.

3.      Jesus’ blood is strong enough to remove the toughest sinful stain.

4.      Saul of Tarsus (I Tim. 1:13-14).