(dramatic orchestral music)
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- [Announcer] It is the
best-selling book in history.
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No volume ever written has
been more loved and quoted.
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And its words, sometimes simple
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and sometimes mysterious,
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should always be
studied carefully.
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It is the
Bible, the Word of God.
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Welcome to "Bible Answers Live,"
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providing accurate
and practical answers
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to all your Bible questions.
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This broadcast is a
previously recorded episode.
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To receive any of
the Bible resources
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mentioned in this
broadcast, call 800-835-6747.
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Once again, that's 800-835-6747.
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Now here's your host from
Amazing Facts International,
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Pastor Jean Ross.
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- Hello friends, how
about an amazing fact?
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Well, if it isn't well
known that bats fly using sonar.
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They emit high frequency sounds
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which the human ear cannot hear.
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These returning echoes of sound
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places sound print
pictures in their minds.
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Using this technique,
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a bat can catch a
tiny, fast-flying insect.
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The calls of the
bat are very loud,
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so loud, in fact,
that if we could hear them,
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they would hurt our ears.
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But wait, if it is
necessary for the bat
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to make such a loud sound
in order to have its echo back
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from a distant object,
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how can the bat possibly
hear the echo with its ears,
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in the midst of
all of the racket
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that it's making with its mouth?
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And to make matters worse,
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the bat's ears are so sensitive
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that just a few of its
screams would quickly deafen it.
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That is, except
for a tiny muscle
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in the middle ear of the bat.
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It is attached to
one of three tiny bones,
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which transmit the
vibrations of the eardrum
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to the tubular
organ in the skull,
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that converts them to
nerve signals sent to the brain.
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Just as each scream is on
the verge of being emitted,
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this muscle
instantly pulls back that bone
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so that it does
not transmit sound
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from the outer
ear to the inner ear.
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The eardrum is
momentarily disconnected.
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Then, after the scream is ended,
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the muscle relaxes and the
bone moves back into place,
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and the faint echo of
the sound can be heard.
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The faster these
sounds are emitted,
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the more up-to-date information
the bat will receive.
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The faster these
sounds, of course, is necessary
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if the bat is trying to fly
through the curves of a cave
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or flying amongst
the branches of a forest.
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Some bats can send up to
200 quick screams a second,
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meaning that this
back and forth motion
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of the tiny
bones in the bat's ear
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moves more than
200 times a second.
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And it's always
in perfect alignment,
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and sending out
these super short screams.
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Now friends, did
you know that the Bible
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speaks of people
who, like the bats,
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are hearing, but do not
hear, spiritually speaking.
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In Matthew 13:13, Jesus said,
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"Therefore I speak
to them in parables,
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because seeing they do not see,
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and hearing they do not hear."
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Like the bat,
these people are able
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to disconnect
their spiritual ear
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from hearing the
promptings of the Holy Spirit.
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It's like the person who
continually hits the snooze
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button on their alarm clock
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until he conditions himself
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not to wake up
when the alarm rings.
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If a person keeps
disregarding the promptings
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of the Holy
Spirit, the day will come
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when that person will no
longer hear the Holy Spirit
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speaking to his heart
through his conscience.
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That is what the Bible refers to
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as the unpardonable sin,
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all the sin
against the Holy Spirit.
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Matthew 12:31 says,
"Therefore I say unto you,
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all manner of sin and blasphemy
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shall be forgiven them.
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But the blasphemy
against the Holy Ghost
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shall not be forgiven them."
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No, because they've disconnected
their spiritual ears,
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so to speak, from
hearing the Holy Spirit.
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Friends, we have a study guide.
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It's called "No Turning Back."
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We get
questions that people ask.
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"What is the unpardonable sin?"
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Some folks might
even be wondering
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if they've committed
the unpardonable sin.
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Well, our study guide
will answer these questions.
00:04:07.81\00:04:10.88
It's called "No Turning Back,"
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and if you'd like to receive it,
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all you'll need to do is
call the number 800-835-6747.
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You can ask for
offer number 146,
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and we'll be happy to send that
00:04:21.06\00:04:22.06
to anyone who calls and asks.
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That number
again is 800-835-6747.
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Ask for the study
guide, "No Turning Back,"
00:04:29.96\00:04:32.50
and we'll be happy
to get it in the mail,
00:04:32.50\00:04:34.40
and send it out to you.
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This is a live, interactive,
international Bible study.
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Pastor Doug
Batchelor is out this evening.
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Maybe you have Bible questions.
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Maybe there's a
passage of Scripture
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that you've come across
in your Bible reading plan,
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if you started a Bible
reading plan for this year,
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and you're wondering about
what that verse might mean.
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Well, give us a call.
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The number to call here to
the studio is 800-463-7297.
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But before we get
to the phone lines,
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we always like to
begin with a word of prayer.
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Of course, the
Bible is God's book.
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So we need the Holy
Spirit to understand it.
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So let's pray.
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Dear Father, we thank
You that we once again
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have this opportunity to
open up Your Word and study,
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and Father, we ask a
blessing on this program.
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There are people
who are watching,
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people who are
listening across the country,
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and even in some other
countries around the world,
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and Lord, together
lead us into a clearer
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and a full
understanding of Bible truth.
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For we ask this
in Jesus' name, amen.
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We're gonna go
to the phone lines.
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Our first caller
this evening is John,
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listening in North Carolina.
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John, welcome to the program.
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- [John] Good
evening, Pastor Ross.
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- Good evening.
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- [John] The Law of God
existed before man's creation,
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and is eternal,
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but the Fourth Commandment seems
to be exclusively connected
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with the creation of this world.
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The last verse of the
Fourth Commandment says,
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Exodus 20:11, "For in six days,
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the Lord made Heaven and Earth,
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the sea and all that in them is,
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and rested the seventh day.
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Wherefore the Lord blessed the
Sabbath day and hallowed it."
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My question is this.
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If the Law of God is eternal,
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and I've always
believed it to be eternal
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from my study myself,
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seems like the Fourth
Commandment was instituted
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during the
creation of the world.
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I'm wondering, if the
Law of God is eternal,
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and the Sabbath was
instituted during the Creation,
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is there a contradiction there,
or am I missing something?
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I just wanted to know you
your guys' thoughts on that.
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- Okay, great question.
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Thank you, John.
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Yes, I agree with you.
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The Law of God,
The Ten Commandments,
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define what righteousness
is and what sin is.
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Sin is the
transgression of the Law.
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Now, in order for there to
be sin, there needs to be a law.
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And we know that
Satan sinned in Heaven,
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and then this sin, this
rebellion started here on Earth
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when Adam and Eve gave
in to Satan's temptation.
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So the Law must have
existed before Creation.
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The principle that we
find in the Fourth Commandment,
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which is the
Sabbath commandment, says,
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"Remember the
Sabbath day to keep it holy.
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Six days, you are to
labor and do all your work,
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but the seventh is the
Sabbath of the Lord thy God."
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And then it says,
verse 11, "For in six days,"
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this is Exodus
20:11, "For in six days,
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the Lord made the
heavens and the Earth, the sea,
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and all that's in them.
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And He rested
on the seventh day.
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Therefore the Lord blessed the
Sabbath day and hallowed it."
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So the Sabbath is
a continual reminder
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that God is our Creator.
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Now, it relates in a
special sense to humanity.
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I mean, we're the ones
that were created on this Earth.
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We were created on
the sixth day of Creation,
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and the Sabbath is
a continual reminder
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that God is our Creator.
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But not only are
we created beings,
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but angels are created beings.
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All intelligent life is created.
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And the principle that we
find in the Fourth Commandment,
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that of remembering our Creator
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and worshiping Him and
setting aside a time to do so,
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I think that principle is
true throughout the universe.
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Now, I don't know
whether they keep the same day,
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the seventh day, the
way we do as a memorial,
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but I'm sure
there is the recognition
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of a certain time
throughout the universe
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where all created
beings acknowledge
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that God is the Creator,
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a special time that has
been set aside for worship.
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Now we know from the Bible
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that the seventh day
Sabbath will continue
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even after the
Earth has been recreated.
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In Revelation
chapter 21, you read
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about a new
Heavens and a new Earth.
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Isaiah says, "From
one Sabbath to another,
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all will come and
worship before God."
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So the little Earth
becomes, if you like,
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the center of the universe,
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because the new
Jerusalem comes down,
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and this is gonna be
God's dwelling place.
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And the seventh day
Sabbath will still be kept
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in the Earth made new.
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So yes, the
principle of worshiping God
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on a certain time,
I think is relevant.
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And that's true
for all created beings.
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Does that help, John?
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- [John] Yes, thank
you so much, Pastor Ross.
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I appreciate it.
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- All right,
thanks for your call.
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We appreciate it.
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Next caller that
we have is Charles,
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listening from, let's see.
00:08:46.19\00:08:48.36
Well, no, Charles is in Florida.
00:08:48.36\00:08:50.23
Charles, welcome to the program.
00:08:50.23\00:08:51.89
- [Charles] Hey,
Pastor Ross, how are you?
00:08:52.93\00:08:54.20
- Doing well, thank you.
00:08:54.20\00:08:55.96
- [Charles] Is it possible
00:08:55.96\00:08:57.07
that the God is
somewhere located,
00:08:57.07\00:09:00.70
somewhere through
the Nebula of Orion?
00:09:00.70\00:09:03.27
In the Bible three times.
00:09:03.27\00:09:05.54
Isn't that possibly a hint
00:09:05.54\00:09:07.31
that that's where He resides,
is somewhere through there?
00:09:07.31\00:09:10.65
- Well, that's a good question.
00:09:10.65\00:09:11.98
You know, the Bible
doesn't clearly say that Heaven
00:09:11.98\00:09:13.85
or the dwelling place
of God is there in Orion,
00:09:13.85\00:09:17.95
but we do know it's
mentioned three times,
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as you mentioned, in Scripture.
00:09:20.66\00:09:22.12
We do know that
Orion is to the east.
00:09:22.12\00:09:24.53
You can see both the
constellation of Orion,
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sometimes referred
to as Orion's Belt,
00:09:26.93\00:09:29.30
the star constellation.
00:09:29.30\00:09:32.00
You can see it both in
the Northern Hemisphere
00:09:32.00\00:09:33.80
and the Southern Hemisphere.
00:09:33.80\00:09:35.14
Now, some of the
stars you can only see
00:09:35.14\00:09:36.74
in the Southern Hemisphere,
like the Southern Cross.
00:09:36.74\00:09:38.77
And of course, the
Big Dipper you can see
00:09:38.77\00:09:41.18
in the Northern Hemisphere.
00:09:41.18\00:09:42.28
You don't see that in
the Southern Hemisphere,
00:09:42.28\00:09:43.88
but Orion is close
enough to the Equator
00:09:43.88\00:09:46.21
that it can be seen
both from the Southern
00:09:46.21\00:09:48.32
and the Northern Hemisphere,
00:09:48.32\00:09:49.52
and it's to the east.
00:09:49.52\00:09:51.22
We know in the
Bible that deliverance
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symbolically
comes from the east.
00:09:52.29\00:09:55.56
East is the sign of deliverance,
00:09:55.56\00:09:58.19
or the dwelling place of God.
00:09:58.19\00:10:00.13
For example,
deliverance for the Jews,
00:10:00.13\00:10:02.40
when they were in
Babylonian captivity,
00:10:02.40\00:10:03.93
came from the east.
00:10:03.93\00:10:05.10
We had the Medo-Persians came
00:10:05.10\00:10:07.40
and conquered the Babylonians,
00:10:07.40\00:10:08.77
and the Jews were allowed to
go back and rebuild Jerusalem.
00:10:08.77\00:10:12.74
Jesus, speaking of
His second coming, says,
00:10:12.74\00:10:15.08
"As lightning that flashes
from the east, even to the west,
00:10:15.08\00:10:18.68
so also shall the
coming of the Son of Man be."
00:10:18.68\00:10:21.22
In Revelation chapter seven,
00:10:21.22\00:10:22.65
an angel is seen
coming from the east,
00:10:22.65\00:10:24.62
having the seal
of the living God,
00:10:24.62\00:10:26.12
and he placed it upon the
forehead of those of God's
00:10:26.12\00:10:30.39
people. So the east seems to
be the direction of deliverance.
00:10:30.39\00:10:32.99
It could very well be
the direction of Heaven.
00:10:32.99\00:10:34.93
And yes, Orion is in
that easterly direction.
00:10:34.93\00:10:39.07
So yes, there are a
number of Bible scholars
00:10:39.07\00:10:41.67
that think that Orion,
00:10:41.67\00:10:42.74
or at least near Orion,
00:10:42.74\00:10:44.17
would be where the
dwelling place of God is,
00:10:44.17\00:10:47.74
known today as Heaven.
00:10:47.74\00:10:48.91
We'd refer to it as Heaven.
00:10:48.91\00:10:50.71
Does that help, Charles?
00:10:50.71\00:10:52.68
- [Charles]
Absolutely, absolutely,
00:10:52.68\00:10:53.65
I've always wondered about that.
00:10:53.65\00:10:56.45
- Yes, I think
you're on track there.
00:10:56.45\00:10:58.72
That seems like there is
something special about Orion,
00:10:58.72\00:11:01.52
as being close to the
dwelling place of God.
00:11:01.52\00:11:04.13
All right, thanks
again for your call.
00:11:04.13\00:11:05.26
Our next caller
that we have is Emmanuel,
00:11:05.26\00:11:07.86
calling from Ghana, Africa.
00:11:07.86\00:11:09.20
Emmanuel,
welcome to the program.
00:11:09.20\00:11:10.90
- [Emmanuel]
Thank you, Pastor Ross.
00:11:12.23\00:11:14.84
I hope Pastor
Doug is now around.
00:11:14.84\00:11:16.94
- Yeah, Pastor
Doug is out today.
00:11:16.94\00:11:18.64
He's out of town,
but he's doing well.
00:11:18.64\00:11:20.24
So he'll be back next week.
00:11:20.24\00:11:21.74
- [Emmanuel] Okay,
my greetings to him.
00:11:22.84\00:11:24.88
Well, my question
is in Matthew 23:23.
00:11:24.88\00:11:27.78
- Okay.
00:11:29.58\00:11:30.72
- [Emmanuel] Jesus
was rebuking the Pharisees
00:11:30.72\00:11:34.12
concerning tithes, so
I wanted to know that,
00:11:34.12\00:11:37.93
did Jesus try to
abolish tithing at all?
00:11:37.93\00:11:41.30
- [Jean] Okay, let me read-
00:11:42.20\00:11:43.50
- [Emmanuel] Or
was he promoting tithe?
00:11:43.50\00:11:44.77
- Yes, let me read
the verse for those
00:11:44.77\00:11:46.37
who might not have
their Bibles in front of them.
00:11:46.37\00:11:48.00
Matthew 23:23, these
are the words of Jesus.
00:11:48.00\00:11:51.67
"Woe to you scribes and
Pharisees, you hypocrites!
00:11:51.67\00:11:54.71
For you pay tithe of
mint and anise and cumin."
00:11:54.71\00:11:58.38
These are little
spices and herbs.
00:11:58.38\00:12:00.28
"And you have neglected the
weightier matters of the Law,
00:12:00.28\00:12:02.98
justice and mercy and faith.
00:12:02.98\00:12:05.02
These, you ought to have done
00:12:05.02\00:12:06.86
without leaving
the others undone."
00:12:06.86\00:12:09.02
So here we find Jesus
referring to the scribes
00:12:09.02\00:12:12.06
and the Pharisees being
so meticulous in their tithe
00:12:12.06\00:12:15.16
paying, even on
their herb garden,
00:12:15.16\00:12:17.10
and yet they were leaving out
00:12:17.10\00:12:18.43
the more important
matters of the Law,
00:12:18.43\00:12:20.27
that being
justice, mercy and faith.
00:12:20.27\00:12:23.37
Jesus says you
should be paying your tithe.
00:12:23.37\00:12:25.71
He says, "These
you ought to have done,
00:12:25.71\00:12:28.41
but not leave out the
others, the weightier matters."
00:12:28.41\00:12:32.01
So when it comes
to the Christian, yes,
00:12:32.01\00:12:33.55
tithing is a Biblical principle.
00:12:33.55\00:12:35.45
We find it in the Old Testament.
00:12:35.45\00:12:37.49
Abraham is referred to as
giving a tithe to Melchizedek.
00:12:37.49\00:12:41.09
And of course, this is
long time before Moses.
00:12:41.09\00:12:44.56
And the principle of tithing,
00:12:44.56\00:12:45.99
we also find even
in the New Testament,
00:12:45.99\00:12:48.00
where the early
Christians were giving
00:12:48.00\00:12:51.17
more than just a 10th to
support the work of the Lord.
00:12:51.17\00:12:54.70
So faithful tithes and offerings
00:12:54.70\00:12:56.24
is found throughout Scripture.
00:12:56.24\00:12:57.51
Jesus is not
doing away with tithe,
00:12:57.51\00:12:59.71
but rather He says,
"Tithe is important,
00:12:59.71\00:13:01.48
but there are
more important things,
00:13:01.48\00:13:03.31
that being justice
and mercy and faith."
00:13:03.31\00:13:05.95
Those are the things God
also wants us to remember.
00:13:05.95\00:13:08.72
Does that help, Emmanuel?
00:13:08.72\00:13:10.05
- [Emmanuel] Yes,
Pastor Ross, okay, thank you.
00:13:11.35\00:13:14.16
- All right,
thanks for your call.
00:13:14.16\00:13:15.19
We appreciate it.
00:13:15.19\00:13:16.29
You know, we do
have a study guide
00:13:16.29\00:13:17.53
that talks about the
Christian and their finances,
00:13:17.53\00:13:20.76
or tithing and offerings.
00:13:20.76\00:13:22.26
What does the
Bible say about it?
00:13:22.26\00:13:23.47
It's called "In God We Trust."
00:13:23.47\00:13:25.37
It's one of the
Amazing Facts study guides.
00:13:25.37\00:13:27.40
We'll be happy to
send this to anyone
00:13:27.40\00:13:29.00
who just calls and asks.
00:13:29.00\00:13:30.47
The number to
call is 800-835-6747.
00:13:30.47\00:13:34.28
And again, you can just
ask for the study guide.
00:13:34.28\00:13:36.48
It's called "In God We Trust."
00:13:36.48\00:13:38.55
We'll be happy to send it out.
00:13:38.55\00:13:40.15
We've got Martha
listening in California.
00:13:40.15\00:13:42.28
Martha, welcome to the program.
00:13:42.28\00:13:43.92
- [Martha] Hi,
thank you, Pastor Ross.
00:13:45.29\00:13:46.99
Now, I know that the Bible
does not contradict itself.
00:13:46.99\00:13:52.06
And so I've run
up against something.
00:13:54.56\00:13:57.77
I'm either missing something,
00:13:57.77\00:13:59.77
or I'm
misunderstanding something.
00:13:59.77\00:14:03.27
In, let me see.
00:14:04.37\00:14:07.18
In Ezekiel 18:20,
00:14:07.18\00:14:09.91
and in Deuteronomy 24:16,
00:14:09.91\00:14:13.21
it talks about how the
father will not be punished
00:14:13.21\00:14:17.65
for the sins of the son.
00:14:17.65\00:14:19.39
The son will not be punished
for the sins of the father.
00:14:19.39\00:14:24.46
And then in the
1 Samuel 28:18-19,
00:14:25.56\00:14:29.43
this apparition, shall we say,
00:14:30.23\00:14:32.80
that the Witch of
Endor has called up for Saul,
00:14:32.80\00:14:37.51
is telling Saul that
the Lord is angry with him
00:14:37.51\00:14:42.58
because he didn't
do away with Amalek
00:14:43.68\00:14:46.88
and follow the other
directions and stuff.
00:14:48.12\00:14:50.99
And it says, "Moreover, the
Lord will also deliver Israel
00:14:50.99\00:14:55.62
with thee, into the
hand of the Philistines.
00:14:55.62\00:14:58.13
And tomorrow shalt thou
and thy sons be with Me.
00:14:58.13\00:15:02.20
The Lord also shall
deliver the host of Israel
00:15:02.20\00:15:07.27
into the hands
of the Philistines."
00:15:08.40\00:15:10.54
So I had thought
that Jonathan was,
00:15:10.54\00:15:15.14
you know, a
good man or whatever.
00:15:19.55\00:15:21.82
Yes, he was. - I
don't know anything
00:15:21.82\00:15:23.72
about the other sons,
00:15:23.72\00:15:25.05
but I'm wondering why, or
could you explain this for me?
00:15:25.05\00:15:29.52
- Sure,
absolutely, now it's true.
00:15:29.52\00:15:31.49
There is a Biblical principle
that the son is not to bear
00:15:31.49\00:15:35.00
the punishment
of the father's sin.
00:15:35.00\00:15:37.10
However, sometimes
there are consequences
00:15:37.10\00:15:40.07
that children do bear because
of the sins of their parents.
00:15:40.07\00:15:43.34
And of course
that's even true today.
00:15:43.34\00:15:45.81
A lot of children go
through difficult childhoods
00:15:45.81\00:15:50.08
because of some
abuse from a parent.
00:15:50.08\00:15:53.35
Well, back in Bible times,
00:15:53.35\00:15:54.75
you have Saul, who's the king.
00:15:54.75\00:15:56.22
And he had pretty
much hardened his heart
00:15:56.22\00:15:58.12
against the Holy Spirit,
00:15:58.12\00:15:59.82
and the Holy
Spirit that left him.
00:15:59.82\00:16:02.02
And he was
plagued by an evil spirit.
00:16:02.02\00:16:04.46
There is this
battle to take place,
00:16:04.46\00:16:06.26
and Saul was gonna
lead his army into battle.
00:16:06.26\00:16:09.26
Well, the sons of
Saul wanted to be faithful,
00:16:09.26\00:16:12.43
not only to their father,
00:16:12.43\00:16:14.14
but also to the
nation of Israel.
00:16:14.14\00:16:16.34
And part of their
responsibilities as being
00:16:17.91\00:16:19.87
princes, as the
sons of the king,
00:16:19.87\00:16:21.88
was to accompany
their father into battle.
00:16:21.88\00:16:25.15
Now, the reason they
were slain in the battle,
00:16:25.15\00:16:27.28
wasn't because of
any sin they had done,
00:16:27.28\00:16:30.22
but there were many
good people in Bible times
00:16:30.22\00:16:32.52
that were killed in battles.
00:16:32.52\00:16:33.99
But in this case
you have Jonathan,
00:16:35.09\00:16:36.86
who is a very good man
00:16:36.86\00:16:37.93
who stood by the
side of his father,
00:16:37.93\00:16:40.73
willing to go to battle,
00:16:40.73\00:16:42.70
even knowing that
there is a very good chance
00:16:42.70\00:16:45.50
that he might die in battle.
00:16:45.50\00:16:48.64
Yet he stood faithful.
00:16:48.64\00:16:50.21
It was not only for his father,
00:16:50.21\00:16:51.34
but for the
Jewish nation as a whole,
00:16:51.34\00:16:53.51
to encourage the Jewish people.
00:16:53.51\00:16:55.44
And for his God,
he believed in God.
00:16:55.44\00:16:57.68
And he believed
that God was directing.
00:16:57.68\00:17:00.08
Even though Saul
had hardened his heart
00:17:00.08\00:17:03.65
against the Spirit of God,
00:17:03.65\00:17:04.75
he was still the
king at the time.
00:17:04.75\00:17:06.96
And so Jonathan
was willing to do
00:17:06.96\00:17:08.56
what his father was
asking him to do, in that sense.
00:17:08.56\00:17:11.73
So it was not a
judgment because of his sin
00:17:11.73\00:17:14.20
that Jonathan died in battle.
00:17:14.20\00:17:16.10
For Saul, yes, absolutely,
00:17:16.10\00:17:17.73
but not for Jonathan.
00:17:17.73\00:17:19.13
- [Martha] Right,
okay, well that helps a lot.
00:17:19.13\00:17:22.10
Thank you, Pastor Ross.
00:17:22.10\00:17:23.30
I really appreciate it.
00:17:23.30\00:17:25.04
- All right, thanks
for your call, Martha.
00:17:25.04\00:17:26.68
Next caller
that we have is Jess,
00:17:26.68\00:17:27.54
listening in Washington.
00:17:27.54\00:17:30.08
Jess, welcome to the program.
00:17:30.08\00:17:31.58
- [Jess] Hello, Pastor Ross.
00:17:32.91\00:17:34.48
- Hello.
00:17:34.48\00:17:35.38
- [Jess] I have a question.
00:17:36.38\00:17:37.45
It might seem
silly, but I read this
00:17:37.45\00:17:40.36
and it really struck me.
00:17:40.36\00:17:41.56
So I'm gonna read it.
00:17:41.56\00:17:42.69
It's when Moses
came to the burning bush,
00:17:42.69\00:17:46.90
and the Lord said to him,
00:17:46.90\00:17:50.87
"Take those shoes
from off thy feet,
00:17:50.87\00:17:52.90
whereon the place
thou standest is holy."
00:17:52.90\00:17:55.64
And, but over here in Joshua,
00:17:56.91\00:18:00.24
Joshua chapter five, angel of,
00:18:01.04\00:18:03.95
captain of the
host approached him,
00:18:03.95\00:18:06.01
and he tells him to take
his shoe from off his foot.
00:18:06.01\00:18:10.95
It doesn't say
shoes from off his feet.
00:18:10.95\00:18:12.92
- Yes. - It says
"shoe off your foot,
00:18:12.92\00:18:15.96
whereon thou standest is holy."
00:18:15.96\00:18:17.93
And I was just
gonna ask the question,
00:18:17.93\00:18:19.86
maybe Joshua might
have lost one of his feet,
00:18:19.86\00:18:22.06
one battle or something?
00:18:22.06\00:18:24.07
- No, we have no record of
00:18:24.07\00:18:25.17
Joshua had lost
a foot in battle.
00:18:25.17\00:18:27.67
I just think
that the phrase there,
00:18:27.67\00:18:30.04
whether it's talking
about your foot or your feet,
00:18:30.04\00:18:34.14
the principle there is
the removing of your shoes
00:18:34.14\00:18:37.35
or the coverings of
your feet, your sandals.
00:18:37.35\00:18:40.55
And that was a
custom back in Bible times,
00:18:40.55\00:18:42.88
to show respect and reverence.
00:18:42.88\00:18:45.59
Now, the reason
God said to Moses,
00:18:45.59\00:18:47.02
take the sandals off your feet,
00:18:47.02\00:18:48.09
for you're
standing on holy ground,"
00:18:48.09\00:18:50.49
it's because the
presence of God was there.
00:18:50.49\00:18:52.56
The Great I Am, God
was in the burning bush.
00:18:52.56\00:18:55.73
This angel that met Joshua
00:18:55.73\00:18:57.77
wasn't an angelic being as
you think of angels in Heaven,
00:18:57.77\00:19:00.67
but the word angel simply
means messenger of the Lord.
00:19:00.67\00:19:04.17
And in this case,
the reason the angel,
00:19:04.17\00:19:06.21
or the messenger, says,
"Take the sandal off your feet,
00:19:06.21\00:19:09.64
because the place where you
are standing is holy ground,"
00:19:09.64\00:19:13.01
it's referring to the fact
00:19:13.01\00:19:14.35
that this was actually
Joshua meeting the Lord.
00:19:14.35\00:19:18.12
And for that reason,
00:19:18.12\00:19:19.22
he was to remove his
sandals from his feet.
00:19:19.22\00:19:21.82
Don't worry about the
plural and the singular.
00:19:21.82\00:19:24.09
It doesn't mean that
Joshua was hopping on one foot.
00:19:24.09\00:19:26.93
It's just the
way that it's worded
00:19:26.93\00:19:28.50
there in the English,
00:19:28.50\00:19:30.60
from the
translation, from the Hebrew.
00:19:30.60\00:19:32.20
But no, Joshua had both feet,
00:19:32.20\00:19:34.34
because he was a
"mighty man of valor,"
00:19:34.34\00:19:36.24
and he led the army in battle.
00:19:36.24\00:19:38.51
- [Jess] Okay.
00:19:40.74\00:19:41.98
- Yeah, good
observation there in your study.
00:19:41.98\00:19:45.01
- [Jess] Mentions over
here in Deuteronomy 11:24,
00:19:46.35\00:19:48.72
also that when Moses was
addressing the people, he said,
00:19:48.72\00:19:52.42
"Every place whereon
the soles of your feet
00:19:52.42\00:19:54.42
shall tread shall be yours."
00:19:54.42\00:19:56.42
- Yes, yep- - Okay, it's just
00:19:56.42\00:19:59.63
a question I had.
00:19:59.63\00:20:01.50
- Yeah, no, that's
a great little point.
00:20:01.50\00:20:03.00
I've never
noticed that, but yes,
00:20:03.00\00:20:04.33
don't worry about the
singular and plural there.
00:20:04.33\00:20:06.03
It's just
meaning the same thing,
00:20:06.03\00:20:08.10
of when they were to
enter into the presence of God,
00:20:08.10\00:20:11.87
they were to remove their shoes.
00:20:11.87\00:20:13.71
You know, that custom is
still in the Middle East.
00:20:13.71\00:20:15.61
I've traveled to
India a number of times.
00:20:15.61\00:20:17.55
And as a sign of respect,
00:20:17.55\00:20:18.81
when people
enter into the church,
00:20:18.81\00:20:20.62
into a place of worship,
00:20:20.62\00:20:22.42
they remove their
shoes from their feet.
00:20:22.42\00:20:24.59
And to go into the
main entry of a church,
00:20:24.59\00:20:27.22
I guess it's true
even of the temples there,
00:20:27.22\00:20:29.76
there's usually a pile
of shoes placed to the side
00:20:29.76\00:20:32.66
and the people go in.
00:20:32.66\00:20:33.83
They remove their shoe
00:20:33.83\00:20:35.06
as a sign of
respect and reverence.
00:20:35.06\00:20:36.93
So that was the custom,
00:20:36.93\00:20:38.43
even in Bible
times in the Middle East.
00:20:38.43\00:20:40.77
Thanks for your call.
00:20:40.77\00:20:42.30
We got, let's see, Michael
is listening from Michigan.
00:20:42.30\00:20:44.27
Michael, welcome to the program.
00:20:44.27\00:20:45.84
- [Michael] Hi, Pastor Ross.
00:20:47.01\00:20:48.81
Thanks for taking my call.
00:20:48.81\00:20:49.88
- Sure.
00:20:49.88\00:20:51.15
- [Michael] My
question is about Daniel 6:26.
00:20:51.15\00:20:54.52
- Yes.
00:20:54.52\00:20:55.32
- [Michael] Is the
King Darius making a decree
00:20:56.52\00:20:58.79
that all men
tremble and fear God,
00:20:58.79\00:21:00.96
His kingdom and His dominion,
00:21:00.96\00:21:02.52
or is he saying that
God's kingdom and dominion
00:21:02.52\00:21:05.73
will last until the
end, without being destroyed?
00:21:05.73\00:21:09.13
And also, do you see
that these two kingdoms
00:21:09.13\00:21:12.00
of Daniel 6:26
are contemporaneous?
00:21:12.00\00:21:15.17
- All right, well let's take
00:21:15.97\00:21:17.07
the first part
of the question is,
00:21:17.07\00:21:18.21
so when we have King Darius
00:21:18.21\00:21:20.54
or Darius writing this decree,
00:21:20.54\00:21:22.58
this is after Daniel is
rescued from the lions' den,
00:21:22.58\00:21:25.71
as you read about
there in Daniel chapter six.
00:21:25.71\00:21:28.12
The king is amazed
because the God of Daniel,
00:21:28.12\00:21:31.05
which he knew about,
00:21:31.05\00:21:32.15
the God of
Daniel was able to shut
00:21:32.15\00:21:33.72
the mouths of the lions.
00:21:33.72\00:21:35.29
Daniel came out unscathed.
00:21:35.29\00:21:37.76
We know the lions were hungry,
00:21:37.76\00:21:38.86
because those who had
plotted against Daniel,
00:21:38.86\00:21:40.83
they were thrown
in the lions' den.
00:21:40.83\00:21:42.33
And it says they were
devoured and torn to pieces
00:21:42.33\00:21:44.10
before they even hit the ground.
00:21:44.10\00:21:45.17
So it was a miracle.
00:21:45.17\00:21:46.80
God was taking care of
His faithful servant, Daniel.
00:21:46.80\00:21:50.11
The king acknowledged that.
00:21:50.11\00:21:51.31
And so he made
a decree and says,
00:21:51.31\00:21:53.54
"To every people, nation,
language that dwell on the
00:21:53.54\00:21:56.34
Earth." Of course at
the time, Darius was king
00:21:56.34\00:21:58.81
of what they
considered the world,
00:21:58.81\00:22:02.02
at least the known areas.
00:22:02.02\00:22:03.99
And he says, "I make a decree
00:22:03.99\00:22:05.22
that every
dominion of my kingdom,
00:22:05.22\00:22:06.82
men must tremble in fear
before the God of Daniel.'
00:22:06.82\00:22:09.49
In other words, they need
to respect the God of Daniel,
00:22:09.49\00:22:12.66
the Hebrew God, "for
He is the living God,
00:22:12.66\00:22:15.50
the Steadfast Forever.
00:22:15.50\00:22:16.63
His kingdom is one
that shall not be destroyed.
00:22:16.63\00:22:19.67
His dominion
shall endure forever."
00:22:19.67\00:22:21.50
So here Darius even acknowledges
that the Kingdom of God
00:22:21.50\00:22:24.81
is the true eternal kingdom.
00:22:24.81\00:22:26.81
So Daniel must have
explained something to him.
00:22:26.81\00:22:29.48
Remember, in Daniel chapter two,
00:22:29.48\00:22:31.35
Nebuchadnezzar had a dream
00:22:31.35\00:22:32.98
of these various
kingdoms coming and going.
00:22:32.98\00:22:35.75
And it's very possible
that Daniel told Darius
00:22:35.75\00:22:38.92
about what had
happened to Nebuchadnezzar,
00:22:38.92\00:22:41.42
and that the rise of
Medo-Persia was a fulfillment
00:22:41.42\00:22:44.56
of that dream that
was given in Daniel 2.
00:22:44.56\00:22:47.23
And then ultimately in Daniel 2,
00:22:47.23\00:22:49.30
you have the stone
that strikes the image,
00:22:49.30\00:22:51.77
and then it grows
into a great mountain,
00:22:51.77\00:22:53.77
fills the whole Earth.
00:22:53.77\00:22:55.27
And that symbolizes the eternal
kingdom that is established
00:22:55.27\00:22:58.71
after the second
coming of Christ.
00:22:58.71\00:23:00.64
So Darius understood this
based on what Daniel had said.
00:23:00.64\00:23:03.88
And that's why he said,
00:23:03.88\00:23:05.08
"the God of the Hebrew"
00:23:05.08\00:23:06.45
or Daniel's, "God, His kingdom
is an everlasting kingdom."
00:23:06.45\00:23:10.25
Does that help, Michael?
00:23:11.09\00:23:12.99
- [Michael] Well, I'm wondering
00:23:12.99\00:23:15.26
if this "kingdom is of God" here
00:23:15.26\00:23:18.29
is the same one
00:23:18.29\00:23:19.59
that was brought to
Nebuchadnezzar's attention
00:23:19.59\00:23:24.13
in Daniel 2:44. -
Yes, yes, I believe it is,
00:23:24.13\00:23:27.17
'cause Daniel must
have told Darius about that,
00:23:27.17\00:23:29.67
and the fulfillment of Daniel 2,
00:23:29.67\00:23:33.41
at least the second
empire or second kingdom,
00:23:33.41\00:23:36.08
was Medo-Persia.
00:23:36.08\00:23:37.38
Darius is king
of the Persians now.
00:23:37.38\00:23:39.81
It was really a
fulfillment of that prophecy
00:23:39.81\00:23:42.02
that had been
given, so after Persia
00:23:42.02\00:23:44.32
was to come Greece and then Rome
00:23:44.32\00:23:46.12
and then Western
Europe as we have it now,
00:23:46.12\00:23:48.56
and then finally the
second coming of Christ.
00:23:48.56\00:23:51.19
And so Darius was aware of that.
00:23:51.19\00:23:53.09
And that's why he said,
00:23:53.09\00:23:54.20
"This God's
kingdom will last forever,
00:23:54.20\00:23:56.26
speaking of Daniel's God.
00:23:56.26\00:23:58.30
- [Michael]
Yeah, sounds like to me
00:23:58.30\00:23:59.93
that this kingdom
that he's speaking of
00:23:59.93\00:24:02.60
is currently contemporaneous
with His kingdom.
00:24:02.60\00:24:07.68
- Yes, well, it's true too.
00:24:08.48\00:24:10.68
There are two parts
to the Kingdom of God
00:24:10.68\00:24:12.38
or the Kingdom of Heaven.
00:24:12.38\00:24:13.68
You know, when Jesus
started his ministry, He said,
00:24:13.68\00:24:15.45
"Repent, for the
Kingdom of Heaven is at hand."
00:24:15.45\00:24:17.32
John the Baptist said,
00:24:17.32\00:24:18.42
"Repent, for the
Kingdom of Heaven is at hand."
00:24:18.42\00:24:20.32
There are two phases
to the Kingdom of God.
00:24:20.32\00:24:22.32
There is what we
call the Kingdom of Grace
00:24:22.32\00:24:24.93
and the Kingdom of Glory.
00:24:24.93\00:24:26.66
So the Kingdom of
Grace is for anyone
00:24:26.66\00:24:29.30
who receives
Jesus as their Savior.
00:24:29.30\00:24:31.60
They become citizens
of the Kingdom of Grace.
00:24:31.60\00:24:34.44
If Christ is ruling in
your heart, in your life,
00:24:34.44\00:24:36.97
you're a citizen of
the Kingdom of Grace.
00:24:36.97\00:24:39.37
The Kingdom of Grace continues
00:24:39.37\00:24:41.11
up until the
second coming of Christ.
00:24:41.11\00:24:43.71
And then we have the
establishment of the Kingdom of
00:24:43.71\00:24:46.95
Glory, when Jesus comes as
King of kings and Lord of lords.
00:24:46.95\00:24:50.32
So yes, is there a
Kingdom of Heaven now?
00:24:50.32\00:24:53.39
Absolutely, we call
that the Kingdom of Grace.
00:24:53.39\00:24:56.19
The Kingdom of Grace
will eventually give way
00:24:56.19\00:24:58.69
to the Kingdom
of Glory that occurs
00:24:58.69\00:25:01.00
at the second coming of Christ.
00:25:01.00\00:25:02.70
And of course, we read
that in Revelation chapter 19,
00:25:02.70\00:25:05.03
where we have a
picture of Jesus.
00:25:05.03\00:25:07.40
Symbolically, Christ is
described in Revelation 19
00:25:07.40\00:25:10.11
as coming on a white horse.
00:25:10.11\00:25:12.17
Of course, kings and emperors
00:25:12.17\00:25:14.44
would often ride on
white horses, being victorious.
00:25:14.44\00:25:17.45
Here Jesus described as coming
00:25:17.45\00:25:19.21
and there is a name
written on His thigh,
00:25:19.21\00:25:21.68
which says "King of
kings and Lord of lords."
00:25:21.68\00:25:24.09
So Jesus is coming victorious
00:25:24.09\00:25:25.75
to establish a
kingdom that lasts forever.
00:25:25.75\00:25:29.42
That kingdom was also
alluded to in Daniel chapter two
00:25:29.42\00:25:32.26
by the stone that
struck the image upon its feet.
00:25:32.26\00:25:35.00
So that's really
what's being referred to
00:25:35.00\00:25:36.63
there in that passage.
00:25:36.63\00:25:37.43
Does that make sense, Michael?
00:25:37.43\00:25:40.04
- [Michael] Oh,
yeah, kind of. (laughs)
00:25:41.74\00:25:43.54
- So yes, there
are two kingdoms,
00:25:43.54\00:25:46.14
the Kingdom of Grace
and the Kingdom of Glory.
00:25:46.14\00:25:48.81
- [Michael] I'm
wondering if the kingdom of 2:44
00:25:48.81\00:25:51.51
is contemporaneous
with Nebuchadnezzar.
00:25:51.51\00:25:55.02
- Meaning the Kingdom of
Heaven at that same time?
00:25:55.02\00:25:58.15
- [Michael] Yeah.
00:25:58.15\00:25:59.25
- Yes, the Kingdom of
Heaven has always been.
00:25:59.25\00:26:01.26
There's always been
the Kingdom of Heaven, and-
00:26:01.26\00:26:03.99
- [Michael] The one
that was super established.
00:26:03.99\00:26:06.39
- Yes, and that was established,
00:26:06.39\00:26:08.13
probably
established at the promise
00:26:08.13\00:26:09.56
that was made way
back in the Garden of Eden,
00:26:09.56\00:26:12.23
about the seed of the woman
00:26:12.23\00:26:13.34
that would bruise
the serpent's head.
00:26:13.34\00:26:15.50
The Kingdom of Grace was
established way back then
00:26:15.50\00:26:17.97
and pointed to Jesus.
00:26:17.97\00:26:20.48
And then when Christ came,
00:26:20.48\00:26:21.84
he announced the arrival
of that Kingdom of Grace.
00:26:21.84\00:26:24.41
And of course at
the second coming
00:26:24.41\00:26:25.45
you have the Kingdom of Glory.
00:26:25.45\00:26:28.42
Great question, enjoy the
studies of the Book of Daniel.
00:26:28.42\00:26:30.92
There's so many
wonderful things there.
00:26:30.92\00:26:32.19
And you know, these prophecies
that we find in Daniel
00:26:32.19\00:26:34.22
really point to us,
00:26:34.22\00:26:36.39
the trustworthiness
of the Scriptures.
00:26:36.39\00:26:38.23
The Bible is inspired
00:26:38.23\00:26:39.49
because what was said
in Old Testament times,
00:26:39.49\00:26:41.80
we find a fulfillment.
00:26:41.80\00:26:43.57
Well friends, we're up
halfway through our program.
00:26:43.57\00:26:45.97
We're just taking a short
break and we'll be right back.
00:26:45.97\00:26:48.70
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00:26:48.70\00:26:52.31
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00:26:52.31\00:26:54.51
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Deep within the
pages of the Bible,
00:26:59.58\00:27:02.55
stories of great heroes,
00:27:02.55\00:27:05.29
heroes of great deeds,
00:27:05.29\00:27:07.16
great love, and great sacrifice.
00:27:08.49\00:27:12.46
But behind them is another hero,
00:27:13.26\00:27:16.73
hidden in plain
sight, amid the shadows.
00:27:16.73\00:27:19.83
He was there from the beginning,
00:27:21.34\00:27:23.54
and He'll be
there until the end.
00:27:24.71\00:27:28.48
Discover the
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woven throughout the
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Get your copy today
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00:27:44.86\00:27:49.56
or visit afbookstore.com.
00:27:50.37\00:27:51.77
Once again, to purchase
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00:27:51.77\00:27:54.54
call 800-538-7275.
00:27:54.54\00:27:57.77
- [Doug] Every day, we
make hundreds of decisions.
00:27:59.67\00:28:02.24
Sometimes these
choices are mundane.
00:28:02.24\00:28:04.78
What will you
have for breakfast,
00:28:04.78\00:28:06.21
or what will you wear for work?
00:28:06.21\00:28:07.92
But sometimes, these decisions
can have an eternal impact,
00:28:07.92\00:28:12.19
like when you
set up an estate plan
00:28:12.19\00:28:14.39
that supports God's work.
00:28:14.39\00:28:15.86
We need to move
quickly, friends,
00:28:17.29\00:28:19.06
to ensure as
many souls as possible
00:28:19.06\00:28:21.56
have the opportunity to
make decisions for Christ.
00:28:21.56\00:28:24.63
And when you choose to
include your evangelism values
00:28:24.63\00:28:27.47
in your estate plan today,
00:28:27.47\00:28:28.84
Amazing Facts can do even
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00:28:28.84\00:28:32.87
through your
faithful stewardship.
00:28:32.87\00:28:34.81
I'd like to offer
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00:28:34.81\00:28:37.51
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which is a tremendous resource,
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telling about life
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00:28:41.02\00:28:43.22
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00:28:54.56\00:28:56.60
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00:28:56.60\00:28:59.03
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00:29:00.70\00:29:02.70
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00:29:02.70\00:29:05.34
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00:29:05.34\00:29:06.94
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00:29:06.94\00:29:11.05
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00:29:12.81\00:29:15.22
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00:29:15.22\00:29:17.15
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00:29:19.69\00:29:22.82
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00:29:22.82\00:29:25.29
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00:29:27.93\00:29:31.57
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00:29:33.64\00:29:37.04
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00:29:39.54\00:29:44.61
Now, let's rejoin our hosts
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00:29:45.98\00:29:49.75
- Hello friends, welcome back.
00:29:51.09\00:29:52.22
This is pastor Jean Ross.
00:29:52.22\00:29:53.46
Pastor Doug is out this evening,
00:29:53.46\00:29:54.96
but you've joined
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00:30:04.47\00:30:05.80
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00:30:05.80\00:30:08.24
I know we have a number of
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00:30:08.24\00:30:10.51
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00:30:10.51\00:30:11.81
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00:30:11.81\00:30:13.21
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00:30:13.21\00:30:15.91
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00:30:15.91\00:30:18.98
We have the next 30 minutes,
00:30:18.98\00:30:20.68
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00:30:20.68\00:30:23.02
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00:30:23.02\00:30:24.65
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00:30:24.65\00:30:29.22
That again is 800-463-7297.
00:30:30.46\00:30:34.13
That'll bring your
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00:30:34.13\00:30:36.70
We're gonna try to answer
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00:30:36.70\00:30:38.70
in the next half an hour.
00:30:38.70\00:30:40.20
So we're gonna start by
going to Steve in Michigan.
00:30:40.20\00:30:42.30
Steve, welcome to the program.
00:30:42.30\00:30:44.54
- [Steve] I have a
question when it concerns
00:30:44.54\00:30:47.21
what the Bible says
about people judging people.
00:30:47.21\00:30:51.48
The first entry is Matthew 7:1,
00:30:51.48\00:30:54.92
actually, verses
after where it says,
00:30:54.92\00:30:57.02
"Judge less ye be judged."
00:30:57.02\00:30:59.65
And it goes on to talk about
00:30:59.65\00:31:01.49
"removing the
plank out of your own eye
00:31:01.49\00:31:03.73
before you remove the splinter
out of your brother's eye."
00:31:03.73\00:31:07.66
And there's another
passage also in John 7:24,
00:31:07.66\00:31:12.20
where it talks at
the end of that verse,
00:31:12.20\00:31:13.84
it says, "Judge correctly."
00:31:13.84\00:31:16.10
Could you kinda give the context
00:31:16.10\00:31:17.94
of both of those entries,
00:31:17.94\00:31:19.37
and how to
reconcile those two verses?
00:31:19.37\00:31:24.45
- Yeah,
absolutely, great question.
00:31:25.51\00:31:26.85
First of all, just for those
00:31:26.85\00:31:28.38
who might not have
their Bibles in front of them,
00:31:28.38\00:31:30.52
they might be driving their
car, listening on the radio.
00:31:30.52\00:31:32.55
The verse you're referring
to there is Matthew 7:1,
00:31:32.55\00:31:35.92
where Jesus says, "Judge
not, that you be not judged."
00:31:35.92\00:31:39.43
Now, I think next to John 3:16,
00:31:39.43\00:31:41.60
this is probably one of
the most well-known verses
00:31:41.60\00:31:43.90
out there in the world.
00:31:43.90\00:31:45.13
People are often
willing to say, "Judge not,"
00:31:45.13\00:31:47.67
because, you know, they
might be doing something
00:31:47.67\00:31:49.64
that they know is not right.
00:31:49.64\00:31:52.04
Jesus goes on in verse two.
00:31:52.04\00:31:53.48
He says, "For with
whatever judgment you judge,
00:31:53.48\00:31:55.51
you will be judged, and
whatever measure you use,
00:31:55.51\00:31:57.95
it'll be measured back to you."
00:31:57.95\00:31:59.78
So Christ says, "Do not judge,"
00:31:59.78\00:32:01.22
but then later on, you bring
out in Matthew chapter seven,
00:32:01.22\00:32:04.52
the same chapter, here
Jesus says that we are to
00:32:04.52\00:32:08.72
"judge wisely or rightly."
00:32:08.72\00:32:11.63
And you also find in verse 15,
00:32:11.63\00:32:14.10
Jesus says
"Beware of false prophets,
00:32:14.10\00:32:16.26
who come to you
in sheep's clothing,
00:32:16.26\00:32:17.60
but inwardly
are ravenous wolves.
00:32:17.60\00:32:19.50
You will know
them by their fruits."
00:32:19.50\00:32:22.74
So on the one hand,
we are not to judge,
00:32:22.74\00:32:24.64
but on the other hand,
00:32:24.64\00:32:25.44
we're to consider the fruits
00:32:25.44\00:32:27.84
that a person might produce
in their life, their actions.
00:32:27.84\00:32:31.15
And we need to
determine whether they are true
00:32:31.15\00:32:32.98
or whether they are false.
00:32:32.98\00:32:34.45
So here's the point
we wanna bear in mind.
00:32:34.45\00:32:37.19
We do not know the
motive of the heart.
00:32:37.19\00:32:39.75
Only God knows the heart.
00:32:39.75\00:32:41.26
And when it comes to us judging
00:32:41.26\00:32:42.82
why someone might do something,
00:32:42.82\00:32:45.13
or judging their
heart or their motive,
00:32:45.13\00:32:47.96
we can't do that.
00:32:47.96\00:32:49.26
Only God knows the heart.
00:32:49.26\00:32:51.27
He knows the reason,
but that doesn't mean
00:32:51.27\00:32:53.54
that God has not revealed
to us what is right and wrong.
00:32:53.54\00:32:57.77
We should be able to know,
00:32:57.77\00:32:59.34
or at least to discern if
somebody's doing something
00:32:59.34\00:33:02.64
that is contrary
to the will of God
00:33:02.64\00:33:04.18
or contrary to the Word of God,
00:33:04.18\00:33:05.35
or if in the church,
00:33:05.35\00:33:07.28
someone might be preaching that
00:33:07.28\00:33:09.32
which is contrary
to the Word of God.
00:33:09.32\00:33:11.69
We need to be able to
distinguish and in a sense
00:33:11.69\00:33:14.89
judge, between the actions or
the life versus the profession,
00:33:14.89\00:33:19.96
but that's different
from judging the motive
00:33:21.00\00:33:22.26
or judging whether
somebody is saved or lost.
00:33:22.26\00:33:25.40
That's only
something that God can do.
00:33:25.40\00:33:27.57
We don't know the heart.
00:33:27.57\00:33:28.80
Only God knows the heart,
00:33:28.80\00:33:29.90
but we should be able
to tell by the actions,
00:33:29.90\00:33:32.41
whether someone is genuine
or whether they're counterfeit.
00:33:32.41\00:33:35.34
Does that help, Steve?
00:33:35.34\00:33:37.15
- [Steve] Well, yes,
now the part where it says,
00:33:38.28\00:33:40.42
in John 7:24,
00:33:40.42\00:33:44.45
it says, "Judge correctly."
00:33:44.45\00:33:46.22
Does that basically pertain
00:33:46.22\00:33:47.79
to counseling the person also?
00:33:47.79\00:33:50.36
- Yes, that can
involve counseling the person.
00:33:50.36\00:33:52.29
"Judge correctly" can also
involve, in the context here,
00:33:52.29\00:33:55.56
Jesus is talking about false
teachers or false prophets,
00:33:55.56\00:33:58.80
those who are claiming to
be the followers of Christ,
00:33:58.80\00:34:02.30
but they are
teaching or preaching error,
00:34:02.30\00:34:05.31
and they're misleading people.
00:34:05.31\00:34:06.68
And the Bible says,
"Judge correctly, be careful."
00:34:06.68\00:34:10.88
Not every church is
necessarily the true church.
00:34:10.88\00:34:13.98
Not every preacher or teacher
00:34:13.98\00:34:15.58
is necessarily
preaching the truth,
00:34:15.58\00:34:18.25
and we need to have
spiritual discernment.
00:34:18.25\00:34:20.16
So in that sense,
there is a judging,
00:34:20.16\00:34:22.12
but it's not judging the motive.
00:34:22.12\00:34:23.89
We don't know the motive,
00:34:23.89\00:34:25.23
but we should be able to
judge the words and the actions
00:34:25.23\00:34:27.76
to know if it's right or wrong.
00:34:27.76\00:34:29.36
- [Steve] Okay,
well thank you very much.
00:34:30.50\00:34:32.33
- All right, great.
00:34:32.33\00:34:33.17
Appreciate your call.
00:34:33.17\00:34:34.54
Next call that we have is
Eric, calling from Georgia.
00:34:34.54\00:34:36.97
Eric, welcome to the program.
00:34:36.97\00:34:38.47
- [Eric] Yes, my question is,
00:34:39.61\00:34:41.94
I have a
question is 1 Timothy 2:9.
00:34:43.08\00:34:46.41
- Okay.
00:34:46.41\00:34:47.28
- [Eric] What
he says over there.
00:34:47.28\00:34:48.38
- All right, let
me read it for those
00:34:48.38\00:34:50.25
who might not have
their Bibles in front of them.
00:34:50.25\00:34:52.45
Timothy is
writing to the church,
00:34:52.45\00:34:53.96
and he says, "In
like manner also,
00:34:53.96\00:34:55.52
that women adorn
themselves in modest apparel
00:34:55.52\00:34:57.86
with propriety and moderation,
00:34:57.86\00:35:00.33
not with braided hair or gold
or pearls or costly clothing,
00:35:00.33\00:35:05.00
but that which is proper
for women professing godliness
00:35:05.00\00:35:08.30
with good works."
00:35:08.30\00:35:10.24
So your question on this verse?
00:35:10.24\00:35:12.81
- [Eric] Is it good for women?
00:35:12.81\00:35:15.94
So does it mean that
women shouldn't wear,
00:35:17.05\00:35:19.55
getting their hair
braids and you know,
00:35:19.55\00:35:22.15
wearing gold necklace and
pearls and stuff like that,
00:35:22.15\00:35:26.69
which is not good for women or?
00:35:26.69\00:35:29.29
- Okay, well, you
raise a good question.
00:35:29.29\00:35:31.66
The Bible is
clear that Christians,
00:35:31.66\00:35:33.56
both men and women,
00:35:33.56\00:35:35.00
need to look
different from the world.
00:35:35.00\00:35:37.20
They need to dress modestly.
00:35:37.20\00:35:39.17
That doesn't mean that
they have to wear clothes
00:35:39.17\00:35:41.17
that is too big or
old-fashioned or out of style.
00:35:41.17\00:35:46.24
But within our culture,
we want to dress modestly,
00:35:47.61\00:35:50.71
and also not allow the outward
adorning to be prevalent,
00:35:53.28\00:35:58.09
meaning the
wearing of gold and silver
00:35:58.09\00:36:01.16
and jewels and costly array.
00:36:01.16\00:36:05.16
Now, when it says
the braiding of the hair,
00:36:05.16\00:36:06.93
back in Bible times,
00:36:06.93\00:36:08.26
what the women would do is
they would actually weave in
00:36:08.26\00:36:11.10
bits of jewelry into
their braids, into their hair.
00:36:11.10\00:36:15.10
There's nothing wrong in a
woman holding back her hair
00:36:15.10\00:36:18.17
or braiding her hair
for practical purposes,
00:36:18.17\00:36:20.98
to keep it out of her
face, if she's working,
00:36:20.98\00:36:22.91
or whatever the case might be.
00:36:22.91\00:36:23.91
There's nothing wrong with that.
00:36:23.91\00:36:25.41
But the braiding of the
hair that's referred to here
00:36:25.41\00:36:27.58
was a type of
braiding of adornment,
00:36:27.58\00:36:30.52
or gold, or silver, or
the jewels in their hair.
00:36:30.52\00:36:34.69
And that's specifically
what is being referred to
00:36:34.69\00:36:36.73
here in 1 Timothy 2:9.
00:36:36.73\00:36:38.89
So yes, the
principle that we find there
00:36:38.89\00:36:40.70
is that both for
Christian women and for men,
00:36:40.70\00:36:43.50
we need to dress
modestly and not be bedecked
00:36:43.50\00:36:47.37
with gold and silver and jewels,
00:36:47.37\00:36:49.94
but rather allow, as the
Bible says in the next verse,
00:36:49.94\00:36:53.11
"those professing godliness
00:36:54.14\00:36:56.44
allow the
Spirit to come through,
00:36:56.44\00:36:58.78
and may a person not be
attracted to outward adorning."
00:36:58.78\00:37:01.88
So that's the principle.
00:37:01.88\00:37:03.18
You know, we do have a
book that talks about this.
00:37:03.18\00:37:05.92
It's something that you
don't hear a whole lot about,
00:37:05.92\00:37:07.89
especially in
modern churches today,
00:37:07.89\00:37:10.06
but the Bible hasn't changed
on these Christian standards.
00:37:10.06\00:37:13.70
We have a book called
"Jewelry, How Much is Too Much?"
00:37:13.70\00:37:17.33
And it deals with
these Bible principles.
00:37:17.33\00:37:19.40
We'll be happy to send this out
00:37:19.40\00:37:20.64
to anyone who calls and asks.
00:37:20.64\00:37:22.17
The number to
call is 800-835-6747.
00:37:22.17\00:37:26.27
And again, you can ask
for the book that's called
00:37:26.27\00:37:27.68
"Jewelry, How Much is Too Much?"
00:37:27.68\00:37:30.25
And it'll give you some
good Bible principles there.
00:37:30.25\00:37:32.91
Next caller that we have is
May, listening in Washington.
00:37:32.91\00:37:35.18
May, welcome to the program.
00:37:35.18\00:37:36.65
- [May] I just wanted
to ask about Genesis 9:25.
00:37:38.02\00:37:43.09
- Okay.
00:37:44.93\00:37:45.96
- [May] We see
here that Noah was,
00:37:45.96\00:37:49.76
I guess he was drunk
or he was pretty wasted
00:37:49.76\00:37:54.40
from wine that he drank
and he curses his grandson,
00:37:54.40\00:37:59.47
but not the son that,
00:38:00.84\00:38:02.84
not Ham that saw him naked.
00:38:02.84\00:38:05.61
- Yes, yeah, let me
explain that a little bit,
00:38:05.61\00:38:09.22
why Canaan was cursed.
00:38:09.22\00:38:10.62
Well, you know, back
at the time, you have Ham.
00:38:10.62\00:38:14.49
Shem, Ham, and Japheth
are the three sons of Noah.
00:38:14.49\00:38:17.53
After the flood Noah
builds, or grows a vineyard.
00:38:17.53\00:38:20.73
And he makes wine and he
drinks it and he's drunk.
00:38:20.73\00:38:24.40
And Ham comes in
and mocks his father,
00:38:24.40\00:38:27.57
and tells his brothers.
00:38:27.57\00:38:29.04
So Shem and Japheth,
they cover the father
00:38:29.04\00:38:32.81
and they show respect.
00:38:32.81\00:38:34.41
They honor the
father, whereas Ham doesn't.
00:38:34.41\00:38:37.08
And after Noah
sort of comes around,
00:38:37.08\00:38:39.48
he realizes what Ham
had done in mocking him.
00:38:39.48\00:38:43.49
And he makes a prophecy.
00:38:43.49\00:38:45.22
He makes a statement.
00:38:45.22\00:38:46.52
And the statement is that
because Ham and his son Canaan,
00:38:46.52\00:38:50.89
and his
descendants, lacked respect,
00:38:50.89\00:38:54.20
and they disobeyed
the commandment that says,
00:38:54.20\00:38:56.30
"Honor your
mother and your father,"
00:38:56.30\00:38:58.20
judgments would follow.
00:38:58.20\00:39:00.24
It doesn't mean
that Canaan per se,
00:39:00.24\00:39:02.94
even though you probably knew
00:39:02.94\00:39:05.04
what had
happened with his father,
00:39:05.04\00:39:07.04
he shared the same attributes
00:39:07.04\00:39:09.01
or the same rebellion that
Ham manifests towards Noah.
00:39:09.01\00:39:13.72
That was also something
00:39:13.72\00:39:14.82
that Canaan had also
harbored in his heart.
00:39:14.82\00:39:17.95
And that's why the
curse comes against Canaan
00:39:17.95\00:39:21.16
and anyone that holds
to that rebellious spirit,
00:39:21.16\00:39:24.46
no matter what the ancestry is.
00:39:24.46\00:39:27.36
Those who refuse to
keep God's commandments,
00:39:27.36\00:39:29.40
those who refuse to
honor their parents, yeah,
00:39:29.40\00:39:32.00
they're bringing
upon themselves judgment.
00:39:32.00\00:39:34.94
The promise that we
have of that commandment
00:39:34.94\00:39:37.77
that says "Honor your
mother and your father,
00:39:37.77\00:39:39.21
that your days
might be long in the land
00:39:39.21\00:39:41.61
that the Lord
thy God gives you,"
00:39:41.61\00:39:43.18
there's practical
benefits and blessings
00:39:43.18\00:39:45.81
to those who honor their
parents here on the Earth.
00:39:45.81\00:39:48.22
And that's the principle
00:39:48.22\00:39:49.25
that's being
emphasized there in Genesis.
00:39:49.25\00:39:51.32
Does that help?
- Oh, wow, thanks.
00:39:52.59\00:39:53.86
That makes more sense now, yeah.
00:39:53.86\00:39:55.72
'Cause I'm actually
starting to read the Bible.
00:39:55.72\00:39:57.79
- Good, well, it's
a good time to do so.
00:39:57.79\00:39:59.53
- [May] Right, right. (laughs)
00:39:59.53\00:40:00.83
- All right, well,
thanks for your call, May.
00:40:00.83\00:40:03.33
We appreciate it. -
Well, thank you so much.
00:40:03.33\00:40:04.83
- All right, bye-bye.
- Have a good one, bye.
00:40:04.83\00:40:08.10
- Next caller that we
have is Danny in Arizona.
00:40:08.10\00:40:10.97
Danny, welcome to the program.
00:40:10.97\00:40:12.81
- [Danny] Good
evening, Pastor Ross.
00:40:12.81\00:40:14.18
My question was, 'cause we
know that He cast down Satan
00:40:14.18\00:40:18.21
and then he deceived the
world and stuff like that.
00:40:18.21\00:40:21.42
Did God have to create humans
00:40:21.42\00:40:25.89
in order to fulfill the justice
00:40:25.89\00:40:29.96
of getting rid
of Satan in the end?
00:40:29.96\00:40:32.96
- No, I, you know, first of all,
00:40:32.96\00:40:34.40
we know that sin is not
something that God is wanting.
00:40:34.40\00:40:38.80
Sin is contrary to Him.
00:40:38.80\00:40:40.70
God is a God of love.
00:40:40.70\00:40:41.54
The Bible is very clear,
00:40:41.54\00:40:42.50
that God is a God of love.
00:40:42.50\00:40:43.77
He doesn't want any of
His creatures to suffer.
00:40:43.77\00:40:46.61
Sin, suffering, and
death is clearly the results
00:40:46.61\00:40:51.11
of Satan's rebellion.
00:40:51.11\00:40:52.31
It comes from
disobedience to God.
00:40:52.31\00:40:54.62
When somebody
disobeys God, in essence,
00:40:54.62\00:40:56.92
they are separating themselves
from the source of happiness,
00:40:56.92\00:41:00.26
from the source of life.
00:41:00.26\00:41:02.09
And if you're separating
yourself from happiness
00:41:02.09\00:41:04.59
and the source of life
and the source of peace,
00:41:04.59\00:41:07.66
you can end up with unhappiness,
00:41:07.66\00:41:09.43
and you end up with sorrow
00:41:09.43\00:41:10.57
and you can end up with death.
00:41:10.57\00:41:12.10
So that's just the
natural consequences
00:41:12.10\00:41:13.90
of being separated from God.
00:41:13.90\00:41:15.54
Now, God also can only,
00:41:15.54\00:41:18.11
because He's a God of love,
00:41:18.11\00:41:19.37
He can only accept the
worship of intelligent beings
00:41:19.37\00:41:22.58
when those
beings do so willingly.
00:41:22.58\00:41:26.92
God can't accept worship
00:41:26.92\00:41:28.38
that is not freely
and willingly given.
00:41:28.38\00:41:30.75
Thus freedom is
highly esteemed in Heaven.
00:41:30.75\00:41:34.56
God gives all
intelligent beings freedom.
00:41:34.56\00:41:37.69
Now we have freedom.
00:41:37.69\00:41:38.93
We can choose to serve Him.
00:41:38.93\00:41:40.40
We can choose not to serve Him.
00:41:40.40\00:41:42.20
The angels have
that same freedom.
00:41:42.20\00:41:44.17
They could choose to obey God
00:41:44.17\00:41:45.60
or they could
choose to disobey God.
00:41:45.60\00:41:48.17
Now there are
consequences to disobeying God,
00:41:48.17\00:41:50.41
because if you're
separating yourself from God,
00:41:50.41\00:41:52.31
as I mentioned, there is
sorrow and suffering and death.
00:41:52.31\00:41:55.24
Adam and Eve, they were
given those same opportunities.
00:41:55.24\00:41:59.05
They could have
chosen to stay loyal to God,
00:41:59.05\00:42:02.15
but unfortunately they
listened to the lies of Satan
00:42:02.15\00:42:05.35
and they chose a
different master.
00:42:05.35\00:42:07.66
And when they
listened to the devil,
00:42:07.66\00:42:09.42
sorrow and
suffering and death came,
00:42:09.42\00:42:11.53
but the amazing
part of the story
00:42:11.53\00:42:13.06
is that God did not
abandon Adam and Eve,
00:42:13.06\00:42:15.50
even though He told
them and He warned them.
00:42:15.50\00:42:18.17
And when they
sinned, He came and He said,
00:42:19.27\00:42:20.37
"You know, I'm gonna
make a way of escape.
00:42:20.37\00:42:22.44
I am gonna bear your sins,
00:42:22.44\00:42:25.37
and I'm gonna
die in your place."
00:42:25.37\00:42:26.68
Jesus was promised to come,
00:42:26.68\00:42:28.98
and so that we can be forgiven,
00:42:28.98\00:42:30.38
so that we can live forever.
00:42:30.38\00:42:31.78
So despite sin, God has got a
plan of redemption to save us.
00:42:31.78\00:42:36.42
And that's another
revelation of His love.
00:42:36.42\00:42:38.85
- [Danny]
Understood, okay, awesome.
00:42:39.85\00:42:41.39
Well, thank you
very much, Pastor.
00:42:41.39\00:42:42.22
- Yeah, great question.
00:42:42.22\00:42:43.12
Thank you, Danny.
00:42:43.12\00:42:43.79
Thanks for calling.
00:42:43.79\00:42:44.89
Next caller that we have is Roy,
00:42:44.89\00:42:46.33
listening from New York.
00:42:46.33\00:42:48.10
Roy, welcome to the program.
00:42:48.10\00:42:49.56
- [Roy] Good evening, Pastor.
00:42:50.83\00:42:51.87
And how are you?
00:42:51.87\00:42:53.13
- Doing well,
thank you, and yourself?
00:42:53.13\00:42:54.24
- [Roy] Praise the
Lord, I'm doing good.
00:42:55.47\00:42:57.24
I'm doing good.
00:42:57.24\00:42:58.81
- And your question tonight?
00:42:58.81\00:43:00.18
- [Roy] Okay,
yeah, my question is from
00:43:00.18\00:43:03.31
1 Timothy chapter four.
00:43:03.31\00:43:05.11
I know finally
that God's Word is true
00:43:08.22\00:43:10.89
and that it does
not contradict itself.
00:43:10.89\00:43:13.46
I'm reading from
verses three and four.
00:43:13.46\00:43:16.39
It says, "Forbidding to marry,
00:43:16.39\00:43:20.56
and commanding to
abstain from meats,
00:43:20.56\00:43:23.06
which God had
created to be received
00:43:23.06\00:43:26.50
with thanksgiving
of them which believe
00:43:26.50\00:43:29.60
and know the truth."
00:43:29.60\00:43:30.67
Verse four says, "For
every creature of God is good,
00:43:32.01\00:43:34.68
and nothing to be refused
00:43:34.68\00:43:36.68
if it be received
with thanksgiving."
00:43:36.68\00:43:39.48
Now this is a verse
that many people use
00:43:39.48\00:43:44.32
to support their argument
00:43:44.32\00:43:45.85
that everything was
created for us to eat.
00:43:45.85\00:43:49.09
And I know that can't be true,
00:43:49.09\00:43:51.29
especially when I
consider Leviticus, Chapter 11.
00:43:51.29\00:43:54.93
- [Jean] Yes.
00:43:54.93\00:43:55.80
- [Roy] So I'm asking
00:43:55.80\00:43:57.13
if you can explain
that for us, please.
00:43:57.13\00:43:58.10
- Sure, we'd be happy to.
00:43:58.10\00:43:59.33
Let me give you
the context of this.
00:43:59.33\00:44:00.50
If you look in verse one,
00:44:00.50\00:44:01.80
it says, this is
Paul writing, and he says,
00:44:01.80\00:44:03.84
"The Spirit expressly
says that in the latter times,"
00:44:03.84\00:44:06.41
meaning the times of the end,
00:44:06.41\00:44:08.11
which we're living in,
00:44:08.11\00:44:09.24
"there will be those
who depart from the faith."
00:44:09.24\00:44:11.48
And then he gives us
some identifying marks
00:44:11.48\00:44:14.42
of those who
depart from the faith.
00:44:14.42\00:44:16.89
It says, "They
speak lies in hypocrisy.
00:44:16.89\00:44:18.65
They have their
conscience seared
00:44:18.65\00:44:20.49
with a hot iron.
00:44:20.49\00:44:21.56
They forbid to marry.
00:44:21.56\00:44:23.09
They command to
abstain from certain foods
00:44:23.09\00:44:25.59
that God has created to be
received with thanksgiving."
00:44:25.59\00:44:28.46
So he's talking about a
religious movement in the last
00:44:28.46\00:44:31.57
days, where
part of the teachings
00:44:31.57\00:44:32.63
of the doctrines of
this movement says that,
00:44:32.63\00:44:34.67
"Well, if you are part of
the clergy, you can't marry.
00:44:34.67\00:44:38.74
And there are certain days
00:44:38.74\00:44:40.01
when you can't
eat certain foods."
00:44:40.01\00:44:42.61
Now it's not saying
here that unclean foods
00:44:42.61\00:44:46.05
are good to eat,
00:44:46.05\00:44:46.85
because you look in verse four.
00:44:46.85\00:44:47.85
It says, "Every
creature of God is good,
00:44:47.85\00:44:50.32
nothing to be refused
00:44:50.32\00:44:51.42
if it is received
with thanksgiving."
00:44:51.42\00:44:53.42
But the very next
verse says, in verse five,
00:44:53.42\00:44:55.79
"For it is sanctified by
the Word of God and prayer."
00:44:55.79\00:44:59.19
The word
sanctified means set apart.
00:44:59.19\00:45:02.60
So does the
Word of God set apart
00:45:02.60\00:45:04.97
certain foods that you can eat,
00:45:04.97\00:45:08.10
meaning certain meats,
00:45:08.10\00:45:09.84
and certain meats
that you can't eat?
00:45:09.84\00:45:13.07
Yes, it does.
00:45:13.07\00:45:14.44
There are clean meats
and there are unclean meats.
00:45:14.44\00:45:17.75
The clean meats,
yes, they can be received.
00:45:17.75\00:45:20.45
There was this religious
movement that was saying,
00:45:20.45\00:45:23.18
"There's certain clean foods
00:45:23.18\00:45:24.69
or certain clean
meats you can't eat."
00:45:24.69\00:45:26.39
And that's really what
Paul is addressing here.
00:45:26.39\00:45:28.49
Verse five clearly tells
us that it must be sanctified
00:45:28.49\00:45:32.16
by the Word of God,
00:45:32.16\00:45:33.29
meaning it has to be
set apart by the Word of God
00:45:33.29\00:45:35.30
in order to be acceptable,
in order for it to be good.
00:45:35.30\00:45:38.73
So we can't
leave out verse five.
00:45:38.73\00:45:40.40
It gives context to verse four.
00:45:40.40\00:45:42.90
- [Roy] Okay,
yeah, praise the Lord.
00:45:42.90\00:45:44.61
Thank you very much, Pastor.
00:45:44.61\00:45:45.94
- Oh, you're welcome.
00:45:45.94\00:45:46.98
Thanks for
calling, appreciate it.
00:45:46.98\00:45:48.84
Next caller that we
have is calling from,
00:45:48.84\00:45:51.51
Azael from North Carolina.
00:45:52.41\00:45:54.22
Azael, welcome to the program.
00:45:54.22\00:45:55.78
- [Azael] Hey, Pastor Ross.
00:45:57.75\00:45:58.55
Thank you for taking my call.
00:45:58.55\00:45:59.62
- You're welcome.
00:45:59.62\00:46:00.59
- Yes, I just had a question.
00:46:02.12\00:46:03.96
So I'd like to go out
and do, how do you say it,
00:46:03.96\00:46:08.93
spread the Gospel,
00:46:09.76\00:46:10.87
and then I've
come across this year
00:46:10.87\00:46:11.97
that believe that
"We're gonna continue sinning
00:46:11.97\00:46:14.90
until Jesus comes."
00:46:14.90\00:46:16.44
Okay, so how can
I respond to that?
00:46:16.44\00:46:19.07
Like how can I, what
would be the answer for that?
00:46:19.07\00:46:24.15
- Well, I think
it's true that yes,
00:46:25.21\00:46:26.82
we live in a
world where there is sin
00:46:26.82\00:46:28.82
and there are victories to gain.
00:46:28.82\00:46:30.85
And I don't think you
can ever get to the point
00:46:30.85\00:46:34.56
where you think that somehow
you are free from temptation.
00:46:34.56\00:46:37.19
As long as we
live in this world,
00:46:37.19\00:46:38.33
we are gonna be tempted,
00:46:38.33\00:46:39.39
and there's always
the potential for sin.
00:46:39.39\00:46:41.33
But that doesn't mean that
we have to be bound by sin,
00:46:41.33\00:46:44.27
meaning we don't
have to be controlled
00:46:44.27\00:46:46.03
by sinful propensities
or selfish, sinful desires.
00:46:46.03\00:46:51.11
The Bible says, Jesus
says, "If the Son sets you free,
00:46:52.47\00:46:54.61
you shall be free indeed."
00:46:54.61\00:46:57.28
Now that's a promise.
00:46:57.28\00:46:58.61
We all struggle with sin.
00:46:58.61\00:47:00.18
We're all selfish by nature.
00:47:00.18\00:47:02.45
And we have this flesh.
00:47:02.45\00:47:05.22
Paul speaks about the
"carnal nature," and yes,
00:47:05.22\00:47:08.82
we need to fight
against that carnal nature.
00:47:08.82\00:47:11.03
In our own strength, it is
impossible for us to overcome.
00:47:11.03\00:47:14.23
"But with God," the Bible says,
00:47:14.23\00:47:15.83
"all things are possible."
00:47:15.83\00:47:17.47
And you know, in my
ministry, in my experience,
00:47:17.47\00:47:19.53
I have met people who have
gained incredible victories
00:47:19.53\00:47:23.37
by God's grace in their life,
00:47:23.37\00:47:25.34
people who have gained victory
over alcohol, tobacco, drugs,
00:47:25.34\00:47:29.91
over bad relationships,
over stealing or cursing.
00:47:29.91\00:47:34.75
You just name any of
the Ten Commandments.
00:47:34.75\00:47:37.32
I can point to examples of
people who God has delivered.
00:47:37.32\00:47:41.32
They've been
empowered by the Spirit of God.
00:47:41.32\00:47:43.16
They have
overcome, that's good news.
00:47:43.16\00:47:46.13
So we don't have to
be in bondage to sin.
00:47:46.13\00:47:48.40
Christ is able to set us free.
00:47:48.40\00:47:49.80
So we wanna encourage people.
00:47:49.80\00:47:51.17
Not only does the Gospel
tell us that we can be forgiven,
00:47:51.17\00:47:53.94
but the Gospel also
gives us the power to obey.
00:47:53.94\00:47:57.91
And that comes by faith.
00:47:57.91\00:47:59.24
The Bible says, "The
just shall live by faith."
00:47:59.24\00:48:01.64
And so if we can encourage
people to look to Jesus
00:48:01.64\00:48:03.98
as not only the
One who forgives,
00:48:03.98\00:48:05.48
but the One who
empowers and sustains,
00:48:05.48\00:48:08.82
they will be able
to grow spiritually
00:48:08.82\00:48:10.89
and actually in their own
experience, experience victory.
00:48:10.89\00:48:14.72
And that really is
inspiring for every person.
00:48:14.72\00:48:17.13
That's what God
wants us to have,
00:48:17.13\00:48:18.43
and that is to have victory.
00:48:18.43\00:48:19.96
Does that make sense, Azael?
00:48:19.96\00:48:23.00
- [Azael] Thank you,
Pastor, appreciate it.
00:48:23.00\00:48:25.30
- You know, we do have a book.
00:48:25.30\00:48:26.67
It's called, "Is It Possible
to Live Without Sinning?"
00:48:26.67\00:48:28.70
And we'll be happy to send
it to anyone who calls and asks.
00:48:28.70\00:48:31.64
The number is
simply 800-835-6747.
00:48:31.64\00:48:35.94
Ask for the book called,
00:48:35.94\00:48:37.01
"Is It Possible to
Live Without Sinning?"
00:48:37.01\00:48:39.15
Don't be afraid of the title.
00:48:39.15\00:48:40.95
Yes, you can be
victorious, friends.
00:48:40.95\00:48:43.92
The Bible doesn't
want you to be bound
00:48:43.92\00:48:45.82
by sinful, you
know, chained to sin.
00:48:45.82\00:48:50.03
No, Jesus can set us free.
00:48:50.03\00:48:51.69
Doesn't mean we'll
never sin or make a mistake,
00:48:51.69\00:48:54.13
but we don't have to be
controlled by these habitual
00:48:54.13\00:48:57.80
sins. All right, John
is calling from Georgia.
00:48:57.80\00:48:59.63
John, welcome to the program.
00:48:59.63\00:49:01.17
- [John] How you doing, pastor?
00:49:02.54\00:49:03.37
- Doing well, thanks.
00:49:03.37\00:49:04.61
- [John] Oh, yes, sir.
00:49:06.14\00:49:07.24
My question was,
what is the significance
00:49:07.24\00:49:11.11
of fasting when we pray?
00:49:11.11\00:49:13.42
How does God view fasting?
00:49:13.42\00:49:15.42
What does it do
00:49:15.42\00:49:17.52
to open up that
connection with the Father?
00:49:17.52\00:49:20.69
- Okay, what is the importance,
00:49:20.69\00:49:22.42
the significance of fasting?
00:49:22.42\00:49:24.19
You know, what
fasting does is sets aside
00:49:24.19\00:49:27.03
just something that
all of us experience,
00:49:27.03\00:49:29.26
that is hunger.
00:49:29.26\00:49:30.10
And we all need food,
00:49:30.10\00:49:32.03
but it's when we set that
aside for a period of time.
00:49:32.03\00:49:34.87
In essence, we are
focusing our attention
00:49:34.87\00:49:37.01
away from ourselves, saying,
00:49:37.01\00:49:38.71
"Lord, there is
something more important,
00:49:38.71\00:49:41.74
my relationship with You,
00:49:41.74\00:49:43.31
having You hear my prayer.
00:49:44.31\00:49:46.72
I'm trusting in You
to answer my prayer.
00:49:46.72\00:49:48.92
It is so
important that I do that
00:49:48.92\00:49:51.55
which is pleasing to You,
00:49:51.55\00:49:52.65
that I'm willing
to set aside my food.
00:49:52.65\00:49:54.92
I'm willing to fast."
00:49:54.92\00:49:56.66
It's not that we
win merit with God,
00:49:56.66\00:49:58.76
because God is a God of love.
00:49:58.76\00:50:00.23
We can't earn His favor,
00:50:00.23\00:50:02.76
but when we set aside
food and we go into fasting,
00:50:02.76\00:50:05.57
and it's
different types of fasting.
00:50:05.57\00:50:07.44
Sometimes fasting
might be just setting aside
00:50:07.44\00:50:09.57
a certain food that
you might particularly like
00:50:09.57\00:50:13.41
and might not be
bad in and of itself,
00:50:13.41\00:50:14.94
but you set it aside and say,
00:50:14.94\00:50:16.31
"I'm going to
fast for a week or so
00:50:16.31\00:50:17.85
and not eat this dessert,"
00:50:17.85\00:50:19.51
or whatever the food might be.
00:50:19.51\00:50:21.82
"I'm gonna focus on prayer
00:50:21.82\00:50:23.59
and I'm gonna earnestly
seek God through prayer."
00:50:23.59\00:50:28.16
And it's acknowledging
that God is more important
00:50:28.16\00:50:31.43
than even our physical needs.
00:50:31.43\00:50:33.13
In the Bible, we see
examples of people who fasted,
00:50:33.13\00:50:36.00
and they were faithful
even to the point of death,
00:50:36.00\00:50:38.07
saying, "Lord,
I would rather die
00:50:38.07\00:50:39.83
than knowingly disobey You."
00:50:39.83\00:50:41.27
They valued that
relationship so much.
00:50:41.27\00:50:43.97
Daniel prayed three times a day.
00:50:43.97\00:50:45.71
He opened the
windows and he prayed,
00:50:45.71\00:50:47.11
even though he knew
there was a death decree
00:50:47.11\00:50:48.68
for anyone who would
pray to the God of Heaven,
00:50:48.68\00:50:51.08
but he valued that
communication with God
00:50:51.08\00:50:53.88
even more than his life.
00:50:53.88\00:50:56.62
So that's the principle
that we see there in fasting,
00:50:56.62\00:50:59.02
where we set something aside,
00:50:59.02\00:51:00.59
where we're saying,
00:51:00.59\00:51:01.39
"Lord, I'm coming to You.
00:51:01.39\00:51:02.76
You're more important
than even my physical needs."
00:51:02.76\00:51:05.76
Does that help,
John? - Okay. yes, sir.
00:51:07.60\00:51:10.17
Is there a time
limit that God requires
00:51:10.17\00:51:13.17
of us to fast? - No,
no, usually what happens
00:51:13.17\00:51:16.40
is you decide, and you know,
00:51:16.40\00:51:17.47
it might just be
skipping two meals,
00:51:17.47\00:51:20.48
or a meal, or one or two days.
00:51:20.48\00:51:23.11
There are
different types of fasts.
00:51:23.11\00:51:24.58
Depends upon the circumstances
00:51:24.58\00:51:26.48
and the urgency of the prayer.
00:51:26.48\00:51:28.45
If it is
something really important
00:51:29.55\00:51:31.65
and you're pleading with
the Lord, you need an answer,
00:51:31.65\00:51:35.02
you might want to
fast a little bit longer.
00:51:35.02\00:51:36.66
But those are things
00:51:36.66\00:51:37.99
that you allow the Holy
Spirit to really convict you of.
00:51:37.99\00:51:40.73
And some people just make
it a part of their routine.
00:51:40.73\00:51:43.10
Once a week they'll fast,
00:51:43.10\00:51:44.73
skip a couple of meals,
00:51:44.73\00:51:46.03
or maybe fast
for one day and say,
00:51:46.03\00:51:48.14
"I'm gonna set aside this day
00:51:48.14\00:51:50.41
to turn my
attention to the Lord,
00:51:50.41\00:51:52.21
and to seek His
presence in prayer."
00:51:52.21\00:51:54.51
And that's a good thing.
00:51:54.51\00:51:56.01
That's something
that will benefit us
00:51:56.01\00:51:58.45
not only physically.
00:51:58.45\00:51:59.68
Now, maybe not
everyone can fast.
00:51:59.68\00:52:00.68
You might have low blood sugar
00:52:00.68\00:52:01.75
or a diabetic or
something like that.
00:52:01.75\00:52:03.49
But for most people
skipping a few meals
00:52:03.49\00:52:06.29
is probably a good thing.
00:52:06.29\00:52:08.02
So there's physical benefits,
00:52:08.02\00:52:09.36
but of course also spiritual,
00:52:09.36\00:52:10.79
when we set our focus upon God.
00:52:10.79\00:52:13.23
All right, well,
thanks again, John,
00:52:13.23\00:52:14.56
for your call, good question.
00:52:14.56\00:52:15.86
The next caller that we
have is Robert in Washington.
00:52:15.86\00:52:18.73
Robert, welcome to the program.
00:52:18.73\00:52:20.34
- [Robert] Yay, I'm the
last caller, I guess, huh?
00:52:21.70\00:52:23.04
- You might be, yes.
00:52:23.04\00:52:24.77
And your question tonight?
00:52:24.77\00:52:26.14
- [Robert] Acts 17:28.
00:52:27.24\00:52:29.14
There's this one religion
00:52:31.38\00:52:32.85
that believes that we were alive
00:52:32.85\00:52:37.72
before we were born kinda thing.
00:52:37.72\00:52:39.55
And they were telling
me about this one verse
00:52:39.55\00:52:42.82
that "In Him, we live
and move and have our being,
00:52:42.82\00:52:46.46
as the poet has said."
00:52:46.46\00:52:49.33
- Yes.
00:52:49.33\00:52:50.43
What is he talking about there?
00:52:52.27\00:52:54.20
Yeah, absolutely.
00:52:54.20\00:52:55.40
- [Robert] Can a
person use that verse
00:52:55.40\00:52:58.54
to say that we
were before we were?
00:52:58.54\00:53:01.64
- No, I don't think so.
00:53:01.64\00:53:02.74
I mean, the
verse is pretty clear.
00:53:02.74\00:53:04.45
It's just stating that in Him,
00:53:04.45\00:53:05.75
we live and move
and have our being,
00:53:05.75\00:53:08.05
meaning that God is
the One that sustains us
00:53:08.05\00:53:10.32
and gives us life.
00:53:10.32\00:53:11.39
Let me give a context.
00:53:11.39\00:53:12.49
Here we have
Paul, and he's talking
00:53:12.49\00:53:14.09
to a group of philosophers,
00:53:14.09\00:53:16.83
and they're very superstitious.
00:53:16.83\00:53:18.99
They had multiple
gods that they'd worship,
00:53:18.99\00:53:21.83
and there was a
shrine to the unknown God.
00:53:21.83\00:53:26.90
So they felt as though
they needed to create the shrine
00:53:28.30\00:53:29.67
to a god that they didn't
know, less they offend him.
00:53:29.67\00:53:32.91
And Paul uses this as an
opportunity to present the
00:53:32.91\00:53:36.54
Gospel. And so he
starts on a common ground.
00:53:36.54\00:53:38.31
He says, "Well, I've
come to make known unto you,
00:53:38.31\00:53:40.15
this unknown God that you have.
00:53:40.15\00:53:42.72
And he begins to talk
about the God of Heaven,
00:53:42.72\00:53:44.42
the One that created all things.
00:53:44.42\00:53:45.82
And then he even
quotes from their wise men,
00:53:45.82\00:53:49.32
one of their poets.
00:53:49.32\00:53:51.19
And he says, and
he quotes the phrase,
00:53:51.19\00:53:53.66
"For in Him we live and
move and have our being."
00:53:53.66\00:53:55.93
Well, that's true
with reference to God,
00:53:55.93\00:53:58.63
and he's building that bridge.
00:53:58.63\00:54:00.14
He's making that connection,
00:54:00.14\00:54:01.74
but this is not
talking about the people
00:54:01.74\00:54:03.54
living before they were born.
00:54:03.54\00:54:05.14
It's just simply
stating the reality
00:54:05.14\00:54:06.88
that our life is
because God has given it to us,
00:54:06.88\00:54:10.58
and He sustains us.
00:54:10.58\00:54:11.65
In Him, we live, we
move, we have our being.
00:54:11.65\00:54:13.98
We would not be if
it was not for Him.
00:54:13.98\00:54:16.95
So I don't think
you can use this verse
00:54:16.95\00:54:18.52
to support predestined,
00:54:18.52\00:54:20.26
some sort of
preexistence before being born,
00:54:20.26\00:54:24.33
or even reincarnation
after a person dies.
00:54:24.33\00:54:27.36
That's not what this
verse is referring to.
00:54:27.36\00:54:28.93
It's just stating the reality.
00:54:28.93\00:54:30.93
So I think that's
pretty clear from the context.
00:54:30.93\00:54:33.20
- [Robert] We are
his offspring, though.
00:54:33.20\00:54:34.60
- Yes, He made us.
00:54:34.60\00:54:35.80
We are created.
00:54:35.80\00:54:37.07
If God did not create
us, we wouldn't be here.
00:54:37.07\00:54:40.11
The Bible sometimes refers
to us as the children of God,
00:54:40.11\00:54:43.48
or the sons or daughters of God.
00:54:43.48\00:54:45.38
- [Robert] So "His offspring"
isn't necessarily mean
00:54:46.65\00:54:48.58
that we were not created.
00:54:48.58\00:54:53.02
We were created, not
the other way around.
00:54:53.02\00:54:55.26
- Yeah, it's just
stating that we were created,
00:54:55.26\00:54:57.59
and we owe our existence to God,
00:54:57.59\00:54:59.46
because He made us.
00:54:59.46\00:55:00.70
All things come from Him.
00:55:00.70\00:55:02.03
Friends, we're coming to
the end of our radio program,
00:55:02.03\00:55:04.43
but we will be back for
some more Bible questions.
00:55:04.43\00:55:08.30
(dramatic orchestral music)
00:55:08.30\00:55:10.74
- [Announcer] Thank you for
listening to today's broadcast.
00:55:10.74\00:55:13.34
We hope you understand your
Bible even better than before.
00:55:13.34\00:55:16.98
"Bible Answers Live" is produced
00:55:16.98\00:55:18.88
by Amazing Facts, International,
00:55:18.88\00:55:21.18
a faith-based ministry located
in Granite Bay, California.
00:55:21.18\00:55:25.42
- Hello, friends, welcome back.
00:55:27.26\00:55:28.39
We have just two minutes left,
00:55:28.39\00:55:30.16
and we're gonna try and
take some of the questions
00:55:30.16\00:55:32.03
that came in via the internet.
00:55:32.03\00:55:34.30
Some of the email
questions that you have sent in,
00:55:34.30\00:55:37.30
we like to, in
the next two minutes,
00:55:37.30\00:55:38.97
to try and see how many
questions we can answer.
00:55:38.97\00:55:40.94
So here we go.
00:55:40.94\00:55:42.00
I'm gonna just read
through these questions,
00:55:42.00\00:55:43.00
give you an answer.
00:55:43.00\00:55:43.84
The first question is,
00:55:43.84\00:55:44.94
"What Bible
version do you recommend?"
00:55:44.94\00:55:47.04
Well, first of all, there
are two different categories.
00:55:47.04\00:55:49.98
You have a paraphrase,
00:55:49.98\00:55:52.61
and then you have a translation.
00:55:52.61\00:55:54.38
A paraphrase would be somebody
taking maybe an English Bible
00:55:54.38\00:55:57.82
and then writing the verses
in a more contemporary English
00:55:57.82\00:56:02.29
or whatever
language it might be.
00:56:02.29\00:56:04.39
But it's not
necessarily a direct translation
00:56:04.39\00:56:07.13
from the original languages,
00:56:07.13\00:56:08.53
which would be Hebrew and Greek.
00:56:08.53\00:56:10.20
There's a little bit of Aramaic
00:56:10.20\00:56:11.50
that you find also
there in the Book of Daniel.
00:56:11.50\00:56:14.27
A translation is actually going
to the original manuscripts
00:56:14.27\00:56:18.27
or the copies of the
original manuscripts,
00:56:18.27\00:56:20.24
and then translating from that.
00:56:20.24\00:56:22.41
So when it comes to Bible study,
00:56:22.41\00:56:24.21
especially deep Bible study,
00:56:24.21\00:56:25.71
you wanna make sure that you
have a trustworthy translation.
00:56:25.71\00:56:28.65
I like to use the King James,
00:56:28.65\00:56:30.02
the New King James, New
American Standard version.
00:56:30.02\00:56:33.22
And there are a number of
good translations out there.
00:56:33.22\00:56:36.12
Just remember that the
Bible wasn't written in English.
00:56:36.12\00:56:38.16
It was written
in Hebrew and Greek.
00:56:38.16\00:56:39.46
And so if you wanna really get
00:56:39.46\00:56:40.76
to a deeper meaning of the Word,
00:56:40.76\00:56:42.63
find a good concordance,
00:56:42.63\00:56:44.70
and you can look up the
original words there as well,
00:56:44.70\00:56:47.40
and what they mean.
00:56:47.40\00:56:48.47
Another question
that came, and it says,
00:56:48.47\00:56:49.80
"When I pray, am I supposed
to pray to God or Jesus,
00:56:49.80\00:56:54.04
or do I pray to both of them?"
00:56:54.04\00:56:55.88
Well, Jesus gave
an example of prayer.
00:56:55.88\00:56:57.71
He said, "When you pray, say,
00:56:57.71\00:56:58.78
"Our Father,
which art in Heaven,
00:56:58.78\00:57:00.78
hallowed be Thy name."
00:57:00.78\00:57:02.32
So we are to direct our
prayers to our Heavenly Father,
00:57:02.32\00:57:05.62
but we pray in
the name of Jesus.
00:57:05.62\00:57:08.22
That's why when
we end our prayer,
00:57:08.22\00:57:09.46
we say, "In Jesus' name."
00:57:09.46\00:57:11.03
It's through His merits that
make our prayers acceptable.
00:57:11.03\00:57:14.10
We know the Holy
Spirit also intercedes
00:57:14.10\00:57:16.33
and actually brings to our mind
00:57:16.33\00:57:17.80
the very things
that we need to pray for.
00:57:17.80\00:57:20.07
So we direct our
prayers to God the Father
00:57:20.07\00:57:22.47
in the name of Jesus.
00:57:22.47\00:57:23.57
And we are
praying for the guidance
00:57:23.57\00:57:25.17
and the leading
of the Holy Spirit.
00:57:25.17\00:57:27.31
Another question
that somebody has is,
00:57:27.31\00:57:28.74
"When is the time of trouble,
00:57:28.74\00:57:30.25
and how do we prepare for it?"
00:57:30.25\00:57:32.31
Well, the Bible
speaks of a time of trouble.
00:57:32.31\00:57:34.22
It'll be worse than
there has ever been,
00:57:34.22\00:57:36.82
since the beginning of time.
00:57:36.82\00:57:38.02
You read that in Daniel 12:1.
00:57:38.02\00:57:40.52
Well, that's
talking about a time period,
00:57:40.52\00:57:41.82
and the seven last
plagues will be poured out,
00:57:41.82\00:57:44.03
and that's after
probation closes.
00:57:44.03\00:57:46.43
How do we prepare for that?
00:57:46.43\00:57:47.76
Well, I think we prepare by
setting our heart towards God,
00:57:47.76\00:57:51.30
that full
surrender of self to Jesus.
00:57:51.30\00:57:54.10
And we do that every day.
00:57:54.10\00:57:55.44
We have to come to God
and ask Him to cleanse us,
00:57:55.44\00:57:57.51
ask for forgiveness.
00:57:57.51\00:57:59.04
We need not fear
because the Bible promises us
00:57:59.04\00:58:01.38
that if we are Christ,
when that time of trouble comes,
00:58:01.38\00:58:04.25
He will keep us secure and safe.
00:58:04.25\00:58:06.38
He will protect us,
so we can trust in Him.
00:58:06.38\00:58:09.78
We need not fear.
00:58:09.78\00:58:10.85
Friends, thank
you for joining us
00:58:10.85\00:58:11.99
for "Bible Answers Live."
00:58:11.99\00:58:13.19
Look forward to
seeing you next week.
00:58:13.19\00:58:15.32
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00:58:15.32\00:58:17.49
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"Bible Answers Live,"
00:58:17.49\00:58:19.39
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