As you're well aware,
00:00:01.60\00:00:02.93
we're living in
unprecedented times.
00:00:02.96\00:00:05.53
Join us now for
Today special program.
00:00:05.57\00:00:07.74
I want to spend my life
00:00:12.64\00:00:18.11
Mending broken people
00:00:18.15\00:00:23.35
I want to spend my life
00:00:23.39\00:00:29.16
Removing pain
00:00:29.19\00:00:34.13
Lord, let my words
00:00:34.20\00:00:39.53
Heal a heart that hurts
00:00:39.57\00:00:44.47
I want to spend my life
00:00:44.51\00:00:50.18
Mending broken people
00:00:50.21\00:00:55.28
I want to spend my life
00:00:55.32\00:01:00.96
Mending broken people
00:01:01.02\00:01:04.39
Hello, I'm Shelley Quinn
00:01:15.24\00:01:16.57
and we welcome you
00:01:16.60\00:01:17.94
to 3ABN Today Bible Q and A
00:01:17.97\00:01:23.58
every Monday night,
00:01:23.61\00:01:24.95
or every Monday we
are taking this time
00:01:24.98\00:01:28.32
and dedicating it
to your questions.
00:01:28.35\00:01:32.85
We're getting Bible questions
from all over the world.
00:01:32.89\00:01:36.59
And if you would like to
submit some questions for us
00:01:36.62\00:01:40.03
to do on future programs,
00:01:40.06\00:01:42.03
you can go to
00:01:42.06\00:01:43.67
BibleQA@3abn.org.
00:01:43.70\00:01:49.87
BibleQA@3abn.org.
00:01:49.90\00:01:54.01
Or you can text
us your questions
00:01:54.08\00:01:56.75
at (618) 228-3975.
00:01:56.78\00:02:02.72
(618) 228-3975.
00:02:02.75\00:02:06.72
And we'd be delighted to
try to get to your question.
00:02:06.76\00:02:10.56
Now, here's the thing.
00:02:10.59\00:02:12.19
We've got some
of these questions,
00:02:12.23\00:02:13.93
we're trying to
do these rapid fire.
00:02:13.96\00:02:16.43
Boy, you all are
sending in some questions
00:02:16.46\00:02:18.20
we could preach
for a couple of hours.
00:02:18.23\00:02:22.77
But before we begin today,
00:02:22.80\00:02:25.07
Jay, you want to have
an opening prayer for us?
00:02:25.11\00:02:27.58
Absolutely.
00:02:27.61\00:02:28.94
Dear Heavenly
Father, as we open Your Word,
00:02:28.98\00:02:32.51
we just ask for the
guidance of the Holy Spirit,
00:02:32.55\00:02:35.08
guide our conversation,
be with the viewers as well.
00:02:35.12\00:02:39.22
And help a decision
to be made for you today.
00:02:39.25\00:02:42.16
In Jesus' name we pray, amen.
00:02:42.19\00:02:43.83
Amen.
00:02:43.86\00:02:45.19
And I guess I'll
have to introduce you guys
00:02:45.23\00:02:46.80
just in case
somebody hasn't been watching.
00:02:46.83\00:02:49.70
Jason Bradley, we're so
glad that you're here today.
00:02:49.73\00:02:52.97
And Pastor Ryan Day,
00:02:53.00\00:02:54.54
and my pastor,
Pastor John Lomacang.
00:02:54.57\00:02:57.57
These are Bible students
and they're ready to go.
00:02:57.61\00:03:02.51
John, we're going
to begin with you.
00:03:02.54\00:03:05.35
This question is
coming from Vanessa.
00:03:05.38\00:03:07.72
She said,
00:03:07.75\00:03:09.08
"Recently, I heard
a preacher say that
00:03:09.12\00:03:11.52
all are God's children,
00:03:11.55\00:03:13.29
and was not pleased
with that statement."
00:03:13.32\00:03:15.59
They said,
00:03:15.62\00:03:16.96
"We are all created by God,
00:03:17.03\00:03:18.36
but only those who
obey Him are His children.
00:03:18.39\00:03:21.90
So I'm asking when I
obey, am I His child?
00:03:21.93\00:03:26.47
And if I fail, am I not?"
00:03:26.50\00:03:30.04
Well, the Lord,
00:03:30.07\00:03:32.11
I think that what the
pastor was probably saying,
00:03:32.14\00:03:34.44
and I'm not
trying to defend him.
00:03:34.48\00:03:36.58
When he says we
are all God's children
00:03:36.61\00:03:38.21
by creation.
00:03:38.25\00:03:40.05
We are all God's children.
00:03:40.08\00:03:41.85
But when sin entered the world,
it broke that relationship.
00:03:41.88\00:03:45.72
And then there became
two categorical groups
00:03:45.75\00:03:47.82
that exists ever since then,
00:03:47.86\00:03:49.59
those who are
obedient to God's requirements
00:03:49.62\00:03:51.66
and those who are disobedient
or at some cases recalcitrant.
00:03:51.69\00:03:54.86
They just determined not to be.
00:03:54.93\00:03:57.40
And Jesus addressed
that group in John 8:44.
00:03:57.43\00:04:01.54
When he was speaking
to the religious leaders,
00:04:01.57\00:04:02.94
He said,
00:04:02.97\00:04:04.31
"You are of your
father, the devil."
00:04:04.37\00:04:07.24
So in that context,
00:04:07.28\00:04:08.84
when a person is recalcitrant,
00:04:08.88\00:04:10.21
he's determined not
to follow God's will,
00:04:10.25\00:04:12.48
he does not identify with Him.
00:04:12.51\00:04:14.18
He made it clear,
00:04:14.22\00:04:15.55
you are of your
father, the devil,
00:04:15.58\00:04:16.92
and the desires of
your father you want to do.
00:04:16.95\00:04:19.29
So we look at the world today.
00:04:19.32\00:04:20.66
And we see people
doing some hideous things.
00:04:20.72\00:04:22.79
That's not
identified by any means
00:04:22.82\00:04:24.66
with the character of God.
00:04:24.69\00:04:26.36
But I think what
he means by this is,
00:04:26.39\00:04:28.36
and I mean to
say the other part,
00:04:28.40\00:04:30.50
do we become His
children when we obey?
00:04:30.53\00:04:32.60
And do we cease
to be His children
00:04:32.63\00:04:33.97
when we disobey?
00:04:34.00\00:04:35.34
No, not any more than
00:04:35.37\00:04:36.71
you cease to be the
mother of your child
00:04:36.74\00:04:38.07
when they disobey
00:04:38.11\00:04:39.44
and you become the
mother when they obey.
00:04:39.47\00:04:41.54
There's something called grace.
00:04:41.58\00:04:43.28
The Bible makes it
very clear in 1 John 2:1.
00:04:43.31\00:04:46.21
"My little children,
these things are right to you
00:04:46.25\00:04:48.25
that you may not sin.
00:04:48.28\00:04:50.25
But if anyone sins
00:04:50.32\00:04:52.09
we have an
advocate with the Father,
00:04:52.12\00:04:54.02
Jesus Christ, the righteous."
00:04:54.09\00:04:55.82
We are commissioned by Christ
00:04:55.86\00:04:58.03
and encouraged to take
hold of His grace and strength
00:04:58.06\00:05:00.40
and not to sin.
00:05:00.43\00:05:01.80
But when we do sin,
He doesn't cast us away.
00:05:01.83\00:05:04.13
He says, "But I
am your advocate."
00:05:04.20\00:05:06.23
And the Bible says,
00:05:06.27\00:05:07.60
"Beloved, we are the
children of God now."
00:05:07.67\00:05:09.60
And finally Proverbs 24:16,
00:05:09.64\00:05:13.54
"A righteous man
may fall seven times
00:05:13.58\00:05:15.41
and rise again,
00:05:15.44\00:05:16.81
but the wicked
shall fall by calamity."
00:05:16.85\00:05:20.28
So we don't cease
to be God's children
00:05:20.35\00:05:21.95
in our growth patterns,
00:05:21.98\00:05:23.92
because we fail along the way.
00:05:23.95\00:05:25.49
He continues to
accept us as we repent,
00:05:25.52\00:05:28.19
and continue to mold us
and shape us into His image.
00:05:28.22\00:05:30.96
Amen, thank you for that answer.
00:05:30.99\00:05:33.50
All right.
00:05:33.53\00:05:34.83
Pastor Ryan,
00:05:34.86\00:05:36.20
we're going to go to you
00:05:36.23\00:05:37.57
this question
is directed to you.
00:05:37.60\00:05:40.34
"In a previous program,
00:05:40.37\00:05:41.80
you made it sound like
00:05:41.84\00:05:43.20
hellfire would
be over in one day.
00:05:43.24\00:05:45.87
I just like to point out
Great Controversy, page 673,
00:05:45.91\00:05:49.98
where it says, some
will suffer many days.
00:05:50.01\00:05:52.88
Can you please explain further?"
00:05:52.91\00:05:55.85
And this question
comes from Rachel.
00:05:55.88\00:05:57.59
Absolutely.
00:05:57.62\00:05:58.95
And I appreciate
Rachel for sending this in.
00:05:58.99\00:06:01.56
Because this particular quote,
00:06:01.59\00:06:03.73
I have read through
the Great Controversy,
00:06:03.76\00:06:05.33
as well as the
thousands and thousands
00:06:05.36\00:06:08.56
of other pages in quotes,
00:06:08.60\00:06:10.13
you know that
00:06:10.17\00:06:11.50
you can't really read all
of Ellen White's writings,
00:06:11.53\00:06:13.10
but I've read so much
and this particular quote,
00:06:13.13\00:06:15.60
just kind of
slipped past my radar.
00:06:15.64\00:06:18.34
That taken in consideration,
00:06:18.37\00:06:19.71
I'm going to come back
00:06:19.74\00:06:21.08
and say
something in just a moment
00:06:21.11\00:06:22.44
about this quote
from Ellen White,
00:06:22.48\00:06:23.85
but just want to
make it clear that
00:06:23.88\00:06:25.21
where I was getting that,
00:06:25.25\00:06:26.58
from that day, that
single day perspective
00:06:26.61\00:06:28.82
was there was
about five or six texts
00:06:28.85\00:06:30.89
that I had referenced,
00:06:30.92\00:06:32.25
that it talks
about the judgment of God
00:06:32.29\00:06:34.59
coming down on us in a day,
00:06:34.66\00:06:36.86
the wrath of the
Lord coming in a day,
00:06:36.89\00:06:38.59
that they will be
burned up in a day.
00:06:38.63\00:06:40.50
And some of those texts
were Job 21:30, 2 Peter 2:9,
00:06:40.53\00:06:44.33
Malachi 4:1-3.
00:06:44.37\00:06:46.37
And so I was
taking that very literal.
00:06:46.40\00:06:49.14
But that being said,
00:06:49.17\00:06:50.97
this particular question
brought me back to a point
00:06:51.01\00:06:53.31
where I had to go
back to the drawing board,
00:06:53.34\00:06:55.21
and ask the question
that I missed something.
00:06:55.24\00:06:57.65
And we came
together and the Bible says,
00:06:57.71\00:06:59.81
"Let us all reason together."
00:06:59.85\00:07:01.25
So I've got Pastor
Lomacang, Pastor Dinzey,
00:07:01.28\00:07:03.18
many of the
panel members together,
00:07:03.22\00:07:04.59
and we talked through this.
00:07:04.62\00:07:05.95
And, you know, I am not,
I'm not too proud to say that
00:07:05.99\00:07:09.66
I have reconsidered this.
00:07:09.69\00:07:11.23
And I can see very clearly
00:07:11.26\00:07:12.83
that if you take a scope
00:07:12.86\00:07:14.20
of multiple texts
throughout the Bible,
00:07:14.20\00:07:16.50
you can see very clearly
that while yes, it is possible
00:07:16.53\00:07:19.77
that very much
God could bring down
00:07:19.80\00:07:21.67
all of that judgment on
someone within a 24-hour period.
00:07:21.70\00:07:25.44
It's also very much possible
00:07:25.47\00:07:26.98
based on the concept
that God is a God of justice,
00:07:27.01\00:07:29.58
that that
justice can extend past
00:07:29.61\00:07:31.95
a 24-hour
literal period of time.
00:07:31.98\00:07:34.82
Now the Bible, I want
to make this very clear,
00:07:34.85\00:07:36.45
the Bible does
not explicitly say
00:07:36.48\00:07:38.79
how long that time
period is going to be.
00:07:38.82\00:07:41.32
Even Mrs. White says many days,
00:07:41.36\00:07:43.36
she doesn't give a
specific time period,
00:07:43.39\00:07:45.26
however many days that
is, we don't really know.
00:07:45.29\00:07:47.76
But I will state
after reconfiguring
00:07:47.76\00:07:49.86
and looking through
a few of these texts,
00:07:49.90\00:07:52.33
we have to recognize
that God is a God of justice.
00:07:52.37\00:07:54.84
And yes, the Bible does say that
00:07:54.87\00:07:56.20
each and every one
of us will be rewarded,
00:07:56.24\00:07:57.94
or we will receive a
reward according to our works,
00:07:57.97\00:08:00.34
according to our deeds.
00:08:00.38\00:08:01.78
And so you know,
00:08:01.81\00:08:03.14
Pastor Lomacang
brought this to my attention.
00:08:03.18\00:08:04.51
It's very live,
00:08:04.55\00:08:05.88
very, very much
clearer to think that,
00:08:05.91\00:08:07.82
you know, Hitler for
all of the horrible deeds
00:08:07.88\00:08:09.78
that he has done
00:08:09.82\00:08:11.15
compared to someone who
may not have been repentant
00:08:11.19\00:08:13.25
according to a sin or
two that they committed
00:08:13.29\00:08:15.89
is that justice
that they would receive
00:08:15.92\00:08:17.63
the same duration of
punishment, of course not.
00:08:17.69\00:08:20.86
And so we have to
just simply allow the Bible
00:08:20.90\00:08:23.23
to say what it says,
00:08:23.26\00:08:24.60
while it does
say in these texts,
00:08:24.63\00:08:26.03
that it comes within a day,
00:08:26.07\00:08:27.47
it is not very
clear for myself or anyone
00:08:27.50\00:08:29.77
for that matter to say,
00:08:29.80\00:08:31.14
and to put God's
judgment in a box
00:08:31.17\00:08:32.61
and say that it's
within this 24-hour period,
00:08:32.64\00:08:35.14
or it's this many days.
00:08:35.18\00:08:36.75
The Bible does
not explicitly say,
00:08:36.78\00:08:38.65
and so we're going to
say this very clearly,
00:08:38.68\00:08:40.55
God is a just God.
00:08:40.58\00:08:42.18
He is a loving God,
He is a passionate God.
00:08:42.22\00:08:44.42
And He loves each
and every one of us.
00:08:44.45\00:08:45.89
And He will give
the just judgment
00:08:45.92\00:08:47.69
according to
however long He sees fit,
00:08:47.72\00:08:50.09
whether it is
within 24 literal hours
00:08:50.13\00:08:53.93
or if it is beyond that.
00:08:53.96\00:08:55.26
And I just want to
leave it at that for now,
00:08:55.30\00:08:57.47
because I don't want
to add too much into this.
00:08:57.50\00:08:59.57
We want to make it clear
00:08:59.60\00:09:01.00
that the overall point
of this is not to just,
00:09:01.04\00:09:03.41
not to make a
big deal out of this
00:09:03.44\00:09:05.24
because it's not
a salvation issue
00:09:05.27\00:09:07.41
one way or the other.
00:09:07.44\00:09:08.78
But we want to stick
00:09:08.81\00:09:10.15
to the whole
scope of the matter,
00:09:10.18\00:09:11.51
which is we know for sure
00:09:11.55\00:09:12.88
that God does not allow
00:09:12.91\00:09:14.25
according to His
grace and His love
00:09:14.28\00:09:15.62
for people to burn for
ceaseless ages to come,
00:09:15.65\00:09:18.15
that He is a just God
that these fires will burn out,
00:09:18.22\00:09:20.79
they will consume the wicked,
00:09:20.82\00:09:22.22
and it will come to an end,
00:09:22.26\00:09:24.06
according to His perfect timing.
00:09:24.09\00:09:25.59
Amen.
00:09:25.63\00:09:26.96
Thank you so much for that.
00:09:27.00\00:09:29.06
And now, Jason,
00:09:29.10\00:09:31.37
I want to call
you, Jay if that's okay.
00:09:31.40\00:09:32.87
You can.
00:09:32.90\00:09:34.24
Your first question.
00:09:34.27\00:09:35.60
"If God is powerful,
00:09:35.64\00:09:38.64
the creator of heaven and earth,
00:09:38.67\00:09:40.81
what's stopping Him
00:09:40.88\00:09:42.21
from paralyzing the
devil's efficiency?"
00:09:42.24\00:09:46.08
And this comes
00:09:46.11\00:09:47.45
I hope I'm
pronouncing your name right,
00:09:47.52\00:09:49.35
from Agrai.
00:09:49.38\00:09:50.89
Okay.
00:09:50.92\00:09:52.25
Well, first off, thank
you for your question, Agrai.
00:09:52.29\00:09:55.09
I'd like to start by saying that
00:09:55.12\00:09:56.46
God is definitely
00:09:56.49\00:09:57.83
the powerful
creator of heaven and earth.
00:09:57.86\00:10:01.86
Having said that, let's
begin in the Book of Job
00:10:01.90\00:10:04.63
and examine the conversation
between God and Satan.
00:10:04.67\00:10:08.40
And Job 1:10-12,
00:10:08.44\00:10:12.41
"Have you not made
a hedge around him,
00:10:12.44\00:10:15.21
around his household
00:10:15.24\00:10:16.75
and around all that
he has on every side?
00:10:16.78\00:10:20.22
You have blessed
the work of his hands
00:10:20.25\00:10:22.55
and his possessions
have increased in the land.
00:10:22.58\00:10:25.52
But now stretch out your
hand and touch all that he has,
00:10:25.55\00:10:29.06
and He will surely
curse you to your face."
00:10:29.09\00:10:31.89
And the Lord said to Satan,
00:10:31.93\00:10:33.26
'Behold, all that he
has is in your power,
00:10:33.29\00:10:37.00
only do not lay a
hand on his person.'"
00:10:37.03\00:10:40.57
Now notice that
00:10:40.60\00:10:41.94
He's stopping,
He's drawing the line,
00:10:41.97\00:10:45.37
He's drawing the line there.
00:10:45.41\00:10:47.24
"Do not lay a
hand on his person."
00:10:47.31\00:10:48.78
So Satan went out from
the presence of the Lord.
00:10:48.81\00:10:51.18
And if you've never
read the Book of Job,
00:10:51.21\00:10:53.11
I definitely
encourage you to read that book,
00:10:53.15\00:10:57.12
as it's a powerful one.
00:10:57.15\00:10:59.32
But then consider
1 John 3:8 that says,
00:10:59.35\00:11:02.76
"He who sins is of the devil,
00:11:02.79\00:11:04.93
for the devil has
sinned from the beginning.
00:11:04.99\00:11:07.23
For this purpose, the
Son of God was manifested,
00:11:07.30\00:11:10.00
that He might destroy
the works of the devil."
00:11:10.03\00:11:13.90
We have to remember that
00:11:13.97\00:11:15.30
sin was never
God's ideal for mankind.
00:11:15.34\00:11:19.04
All the bad things
00:11:19.07\00:11:20.41
that are taking
place in our world
00:11:20.44\00:11:21.78
are a result of sin,
00:11:21.81\00:11:24.11
and God doesn't
force us to worship Him.
00:11:24.18\00:11:27.28
If He got rid of the
devil, as soon as He sinned,
00:11:27.35\00:11:30.55
God's character
would be in question.
00:11:30.59\00:11:33.02
We wouldn't have any
idea how bad sin truly was.
00:11:33.05\00:11:38.06
And we really
wouldn't have free will.
00:11:38.09\00:11:40.40
And God is a God of free will.
00:11:40.43\00:11:41.90
He allows us to choose
00:11:41.93\00:11:43.26
whether or not
we're going to serve Him.
00:11:43.30\00:11:45.70
Despite everything that
we're facing on this earth,
00:11:45.73\00:11:48.27
I find great hope
in Revelation 21:4.
00:11:48.30\00:11:51.94
And it says,
00:11:51.97\00:11:53.31
"And God will wipe away
every tear from their eyes,
00:11:53.34\00:11:56.24
there shall be no more
death, nor sorrow, nor crying,
00:11:56.28\00:11:59.55
there shall be no more pain,
00:11:59.58\00:12:01.38
for the former
things have passed away."
00:12:01.42\00:12:04.72
Amen.
00:12:04.75\00:12:06.09
Jay, thank you so much.
00:12:06.12\00:12:07.49
So you at home are
seeing some of the examples
00:12:07.52\00:12:10.63
of the types of
questions we're getting.
00:12:10.66\00:12:12.86
And we want to encourage you,
00:12:12.89\00:12:15.26
because we're
doing this for you.
00:12:15.30\00:12:16.73
Send your questions
to BibleQA@3abn.org.
00:12:16.77\00:12:23.67
That's how you can
email us, BibleQA@3abn.org.
00:12:23.71\00:12:29.01
Or you can text us
00:12:29.04\00:12:31.25
at (618) 228-3975.
00:12:31.28\00:12:37.49
And we look
forward to your questions.
00:12:37.52\00:12:39.62
All right, John,
00:12:39.65\00:12:40.99
this is an
interesting one is wearing,
00:12:41.06\00:12:44.46
no name,
00:12:44.53\00:12:45.96
"Is wearing a mask
00:12:45.99\00:12:48.50
conforming to the
mark of the beast?"
00:12:48.53\00:12:51.13
The answer is unequivocally
00:12:51.17\00:12:53.87
absolutely without
any reservation or doubt,
00:12:53.90\00:12:57.77
from the depths of my
soul from my feet to my head,
00:12:57.81\00:13:01.31
no, absolutely not.
00:13:01.38\00:13:03.78
What has happened
00:13:03.81\00:13:05.15
in this
political rhetoric society
00:13:05.18\00:13:07.82
that we're now existing
in, at least in America,
00:13:07.85\00:13:10.49
is the mask has taken on
so many different meanings
00:13:10.52\00:13:14.79
that people are saying
00:13:14.86\00:13:16.19
if they're
forcing us to wear a mask,
00:13:16.22\00:13:18.66
is this just the
genesis of us being forced
00:13:18.69\00:13:22.53
to receive the
mark of the beast?
00:13:22.56\00:13:23.90
That's where they're
trying to build a bridge.
00:13:23.93\00:13:25.90
And the answer is no.
00:13:25.93\00:13:27.60
Other people might say,
00:13:27.64\00:13:28.97
well, there seems to
be an intolerance to me
00:13:29.00\00:13:31.84
not wanting to wear a mask.
00:13:31.87\00:13:33.88
There seems to
be a continual push
00:13:33.91\00:13:35.58
that I must wear a mask.
00:13:35.61\00:13:37.51
Are they testing my
allegiance to see whether or not
00:13:37.55\00:13:40.05
I will succumb to
the powers that be?
00:13:40.08\00:13:42.12
I can't answer that
question either way.
00:13:42.15\00:13:44.15
But based on your
question, the answer is no.
00:13:44.19\00:13:46.59
It is not the mark of the beast.
00:13:46.62\00:13:48.52
The mark of the
beast is a religious issue
00:13:48.56\00:13:52.26
based on religious
intolerance and persecution.
00:13:52.29\00:13:55.46
The mask is based
on a medical ordinance,
00:13:55.50\00:13:58.97
simply put.
00:13:59.00\00:14:00.40
Simply put and
beautifully stated.
00:14:00.44\00:14:02.04
Thank you.
00:14:02.07\00:14:03.41
I'm going to jump back
to you, Jason, on this one
00:14:03.44\00:14:05.91
because it kind
of these questions
00:14:05.94\00:14:08.08
go hand in hand, if you will.
00:14:08.14\00:14:10.48
"Can taking the COVID
vaccine affect my faith
00:14:10.51\00:14:14.38
or is taking or not
taking the COVID vaccine
00:14:14.42\00:14:19.15
a matter of faith."
00:14:19.19\00:14:20.52
And this is Rovestry in Canada?
00:14:20.56\00:14:23.32
Okay.
00:14:23.36\00:14:24.69
Well, before I
answer this question,
00:14:24.73\00:14:26.66
I just want to put
this disclaimer out.
00:14:26.70\00:14:28.43
I am not a doctor, nor
do I profess to be one.
00:14:28.46\00:14:32.03
So I think that
00:14:32.07\00:14:33.40
you should consult
your primary care physician
00:14:33.44\00:14:36.20
as to whether or not
00:14:36.24\00:14:37.57
you should take
the COVID vaccine.
00:14:37.64\00:14:38.97
I'm not going to
tell you either way.
00:14:39.01\00:14:41.61
But I will say that
00:14:41.64\00:14:43.41
the COVID vaccine is
00:14:43.45\00:14:45.31
whether you get it
or whether you don't,
00:14:45.35\00:14:47.45
it's not a matter of faith.
00:14:47.48\00:14:49.88
It's not
indicative of a lack of faith
00:14:49.92\00:14:53.05
or a surplus of
faith or any of that.
00:14:53.09\00:14:56.76
God has blessed
us with the intellect
00:14:56.79\00:14:58.86
to go seek the help
that we need from doctors
00:14:58.89\00:15:02.16
who he's blessed
with the resources
00:15:02.20\00:15:04.20
and the knowledge to treat us.
00:15:04.23\00:15:06.37
Now with anything,
00:15:06.40\00:15:07.77
we should always take everything
00:15:07.80\00:15:09.24
in prayer to the Lord.
00:15:09.27\00:15:10.61
So even when we
go in for surgery,
00:15:10.64\00:15:12.57
we pray and ask God to
guide the physician's hands,
00:15:12.61\00:15:16.38
or the guide the surgeon's hands
00:15:16.41\00:15:18.18
and come up with the
best treatment plan for us.
00:15:18.21\00:15:21.65
So with everything
00:15:21.68\00:15:23.02
we should pray and
ask God for His guidance,
00:15:23.05\00:15:26.09
but that is not a lack
of faith if you get it,
00:15:26.12\00:15:29.66
and it's not a lack
of faith if you don't.
00:15:29.69\00:15:31.69
If you break your arm
and you go to the doctor,
00:15:31.76\00:15:34.60
you're going to get
your arm set back in place,
00:15:34.63\00:15:37.47
that doesn't mean
that you lack faith.
00:15:37.50\00:15:39.13
Amen. Well spoken.
00:15:39.17\00:15:40.70
All right.
00:15:40.74\00:15:42.07
Now kind of turning back
to a Bible question, Ryan.
00:15:42.10\00:15:46.54
"Why is the study of
Daniel so very important, "
00:15:46.57\00:15:52.45
and this is from Rustan.
00:15:52.48\00:15:54.02
Thank you.
00:15:54.05\00:15:56.58
Because your life depends on it.
00:15:56.62\00:15:59.65
It's a matter of
life and death literally.
00:15:59.69\00:16:03.22
Let's be reminded
for 2 Peter Chapter 2,
00:16:03.26\00:16:05.93
excuse me, 2 Peter 1:19-21.
00:16:05.96\00:16:09.90
This is what the
Bible says about prophecy.
00:16:09.93\00:16:11.87
And Daniel is a prophetic book.
00:16:11.90\00:16:14.34
And so notice what
verse 19 through 21 says
00:16:14.37\00:16:16.47
of 2 Peter Chapter 1.
00:16:16.50\00:16:17.84
It says,
00:16:17.91\00:16:19.24
"And so we have a
prophetic word confirmed,
00:16:19.27\00:16:20.78
which you do well
to heed as a light
00:16:20.81\00:16:23.48
that shines in a dark
place until the day dawns,
00:16:23.51\00:16:26.08
and the morning star
rises in your hearts,
00:16:26.11\00:16:28.42
knowing this first,
00:16:28.45\00:16:29.78
that no prophecy of Scripture
00:16:29.82\00:16:31.19
is of any
private interpretation,
00:16:31.22\00:16:33.05
for prophecy never
came by the will of man,
00:16:33.09\00:16:35.59
but holy men of God
spoke as they were moved
00:16:35.62\00:16:38.43
by the Holy Spirit."
00:16:38.46\00:16:39.79
So this is a message from
God in the Book of Daniel,
00:16:39.83\00:16:42.70
straight from the Holy Spirit.
00:16:42.73\00:16:44.07
And so how important it is,
00:16:44.10\00:16:45.80
is it for us to
know and to study
00:16:45.83\00:16:48.10
and understand
the Book of Daniel?
00:16:48.14\00:16:49.47
It is extremely important.
00:16:49.50\00:16:51.17
Even Jesus
Himself in Matthew 24.
00:16:51.21\00:16:53.31
In His day, some 500-600
years after Daniel's book
00:16:53.34\00:16:57.31
had been written
and put out there
00:16:57.35\00:16:59.05
for people to
read those scrolls,
00:16:59.08\00:17:00.82
Jesus is referring His disciples
00:17:00.85\00:17:03.35
back to the study of Daniel
00:17:03.39\00:17:05.19
so that they will be
aware of the signs of the times
00:17:05.22\00:17:07.32
that they were living in.
00:17:07.36\00:17:08.69
And, you know, not to mention
00:17:08.76\00:17:10.49
how in the world
we're going to understand
00:17:10.53\00:17:12.26
the great prophetic
00:17:12.29\00:17:13.63
end time
apocalyptic Book of Revelation,
00:17:13.66\00:17:16.13
if we have not
first studied responsibly
00:17:16.16\00:17:18.67
the Book of Daniel.
00:17:18.70\00:17:20.04
For instance, Revelation 13:1-2,
00:17:20.07\00:17:22.07
when you read about
00:17:22.10\00:17:23.44
this beast rising
up out of the sea,
00:17:23.47\00:17:24.97
how in the world would you
know what a beast represents
00:17:25.01\00:17:26.74
if you haven't
first studied Daniel?
00:17:26.78\00:17:28.38
It talks about
horns in this chapter.
00:17:28.44\00:17:30.01
How would you know
what a horn represents
00:17:30.05\00:17:31.81
if you haven't first
studied the Book of Daniel?
00:17:31.85\00:17:34.15
And he goes on to talk
about this beast comprised of,
00:17:34.18\00:17:36.65
you know, a bear
and a mouth of a lion
00:17:36.69\00:17:39.42
and the body of a leopard,
00:17:39.45\00:17:40.92
you wouldn't know what
any of those things meant
00:17:40.96\00:17:42.46
have you not first
studied the Book of Daniel.
00:17:42.49\00:17:44.99
So how important is it?
00:17:45.03\00:17:46.36
It is crucially important
00:17:46.39\00:17:47.73
because much of the
great prophecies of Revelation
00:17:47.76\00:17:50.60
depends on your
knowledge and responsible study
00:17:50.63\00:17:53.40
of the great
prophetic Book of Daniel.
00:17:53.44\00:17:54.97
So study, study, study,
00:17:55.00\00:17:57.07
come to show yourself approved
00:17:57.11\00:17:58.57
asking the Lord to
give you understanding.
00:17:58.64\00:18:01.18
Thank you so much.
00:18:01.21\00:18:02.61
All right, John.
00:18:02.64\00:18:04.71
Does a person have to...
00:18:04.75\00:18:06.25
This is from
Julie in South Dakota.
00:18:06.28\00:18:08.78
Julie, thank you
for your question.
00:18:08.82\00:18:10.79
"Does a person have to be
100% surrendered in the light
00:18:10.82\00:18:16.36
that has been
given to him or her
00:18:16.39\00:18:19.93
in order to be saved?"
00:18:19.96\00:18:22.03
Okay, I love the question.
00:18:22.06\00:18:23.40
Let me make it very clear.
00:18:23.43\00:18:25.33
Following light
that you've been given
00:18:25.40\00:18:27.44
is not the means of
salvation, Jesus Christ is.
00:18:27.47\00:18:31.44
That's the first
and foremost thing,
00:18:31.47\00:18:33.07
because there are people
00:18:33.11\00:18:34.44
that have become
intellectual sinners.
00:18:34.51\00:18:37.28
They have a lot
of understanding,
00:18:37.31\00:18:38.68
they have 28 fundamentals.
00:18:38.71\00:18:40.05
And, you know,
we know Ryan knows,
00:18:40.08\00:18:41.65
as he do a lot of
evangelism and preaching.
00:18:41.68\00:18:44.15
There's some people
that could argue very well
00:18:44.19\00:18:46.25
the doctrines of the Bible,
00:18:46.29\00:18:47.62
and they can maybe
back you into the corner,
00:18:47.66\00:18:49.86
but they don't know Jesus.
00:18:49.89\00:18:51.66
So first and foremost,
00:18:51.69\00:18:53.03
salvation is based on
00:18:53.06\00:18:54.36
not an
intellectual understanding,
00:18:54.40\00:18:55.73
but a heart surrender.
00:18:55.76\00:18:57.10
Having said that,
when you surrender,
00:18:57.13\00:18:59.93
I'm married,
00:19:00.04\00:19:01.40
my wife and I don't
have a 50-50 relationship,
00:19:01.44\00:19:03.64
it's a 100%-100%.
00:19:03.67\00:19:05.04
That's right.
00:19:05.07\00:19:06.41
And I've said to
somebody in counseling once,
00:19:06.44\00:19:07.78
if you think that 50-50 is
going to work in a marriage,
00:19:07.81\00:19:09.64
you don't know woman
and you don't know men.
00:19:09.68\00:19:12.98
If you think that 50%
in relationship with Christ
00:19:13.01\00:19:15.45
is going to work,
00:19:15.48\00:19:17.02
you don't know Christ
and you don't know math.
00:19:17.05\00:19:19.22
He said in Matthew 16:24.
00:19:19.25\00:19:22.82
Matthew 16:24,
00:19:22.86\00:19:24.19
"If anyone
desires to come after Me,
00:19:24.23\00:19:26.86
let him deny himself
00:19:26.90\00:19:28.70
and take up his
cross and follow Me."
00:19:28.73\00:19:31.07
And by the way, He
says in Luke 14:33,
00:19:31.10\00:19:34.00
"So likewise,
00:19:34.04\00:19:35.77
whoever of you
does not forsake all
00:19:35.80\00:19:39.04
that he has
cannot be My disciple."
00:19:39.07\00:19:42.08
If God has given
you understanding,
00:19:42.11\00:19:43.78
100% dedication,
00:19:43.81\00:19:46.28
100% investment in the
bank brings 100% interest.
00:19:46.31\00:19:50.79
Absolutely.
00:19:50.82\00:19:52.19
I just praise God
that the light that we have
00:19:52.22\00:19:55.26
glows brighter and
brighter with each passing day.
00:19:55.29\00:19:58.53
Good point.
00:19:58.56\00:19:59.89
This is a fun one, Jay.
00:19:59.93\00:20:02.86
Since fish are water creatures,
this is Irene in Tennessee.
00:20:02.90\00:20:07.84
"Since fish are water creatures,
00:20:07.90\00:20:10.21
did all the fish
die in the flood waters
00:20:10.24\00:20:13.54
since they were
outside of the ark?
00:20:13.58\00:20:16.31
If not, how
were they preserved?"
00:20:16.34\00:20:20.55
Okay, excellent question.
00:20:20.58\00:20:22.62
There is no thus saith
00:20:22.65\00:20:25.19
the Lord on this
particular subject,
00:20:25.25\00:20:27.69
but I believe that
00:20:27.72\00:20:29.06
we will be able to
deduce from scripture
00:20:29.09\00:20:32.63
that fish were preserved.
00:20:32.66\00:20:34.30
Genesis 7:20-24.
00:20:34.30\00:20:39.73
"The waters
prevailed 15 cubits upward
00:20:39.77\00:20:43.20
and the mountains were covered,
00:20:43.24\00:20:45.17
and all flesh died
that moved on the earth."
00:20:45.24\00:20:48.88
Okay, notice that all flesh died
00:20:48.91\00:20:51.41
that moved on the earth.
00:20:51.48\00:20:53.01
"Birds and cattle and beasts,
00:20:53.05\00:20:55.25
and every creeping thing
that creeps on the earth."
00:20:55.28\00:20:58.35
Okay, so fish swim,
00:20:58.42\00:21:00.32
"And every man,
all in whose nostrils,"
00:21:00.36\00:21:03.83
okay, fish have gills,
00:21:03.86\00:21:06.39
"was the breath of
the spirit of life,
00:21:06.43\00:21:09.56
all that was on
the dry land died."
00:21:09.60\00:21:13.44
Fish are in the water.
00:21:13.47\00:21:15.80
"So he destroyed
all living things
00:21:15.84\00:21:18.14
which were on the
face of the ground.
00:21:18.17\00:21:21.08
So on the face of the
grounds, both man and cattle,
00:21:21.11\00:21:26.41
creeping thing
and bird of the air,
00:21:26.45\00:21:29.78
they were
destroyed from the earth.
00:21:29.82\00:21:32.22
Only Noah and those who
were with him in the ark
00:21:32.25\00:21:35.19
remained alive,
00:21:35.22\00:21:36.56
and the waters prevailed
on the earth 150 days."
00:21:36.59\00:21:41.03
So the other thing
to consider is that
00:21:41.06\00:21:43.63
people ate fish,
00:21:43.67\00:21:45.00
like after and
there was no place
00:21:45.07\00:21:47.50
that I've seen
in the Word of God
00:21:47.54\00:21:49.34
that says that
fish were recreated.
00:21:49.37\00:21:51.91
So there were still fish
after, we still have fish today.
00:21:51.94\00:21:55.28
And so I think
00:21:55.31\00:21:56.91
fish were just swimming
just fine throughout the flood.
00:21:56.95\00:21:59.61
Good deduction. I
thought that was good.
00:21:59.65\00:22:02.55
All right.
00:22:02.58\00:22:03.92
This next question
kind of breaks my heart.
00:22:03.95\00:22:08.19
Lovanna, we love you.
00:22:08.22\00:22:12.43
My mother suffered
with this, Lovanna, is Ryan,
00:22:12.46\00:22:17.33
we're going to
let you answer this.
00:22:17.37\00:22:18.70
She says,
00:22:18.77\00:22:20.10
"I am currently
admitted in the hospital
00:22:20.14\00:22:22.04
diagnosed with bipolar disorder.
00:22:22.07\00:22:24.57
It's been a real struggle for me
00:22:24.61\00:22:26.94
to act right
00:22:26.98\00:22:28.58
in the circumstances
I have been placed.
00:22:28.61\00:22:31.25
And my mental health
00:22:31.28\00:22:32.61
and with my
mental health issues.
00:22:32.65\00:22:35.15
How does one keep the hope
00:22:35.22\00:22:37.92
in the darkest
moments of their life?"
00:22:37.99\00:22:40.36
There is hope.
00:22:40.39\00:22:42.26
Absolutely.
00:22:42.29\00:22:43.63
You know, it's,
this is very tough,
00:22:43.66\00:22:45.83
because there's
so many different,
00:22:45.86\00:22:49.90
very strange and
interesting scenarios
00:22:49.93\00:22:52.77
that people have to go through
00:22:52.80\00:22:54.14
and that they
have to experience.
00:22:54.17\00:22:55.50
And it's not always easy
from one person to the next.
00:22:55.54\00:22:57.37
You just say,
00:22:57.41\00:22:58.77
"Oh, you know, just
hang in there and go on,
00:22:58.81\00:23:00.28
everything's going to be okay."
00:23:00.31\00:23:02.11
But nonetheless,
00:23:02.18\00:23:03.51
in the darkest
moments of anyone's life,
00:23:03.55\00:23:05.55
no matter what
they are going through,
00:23:05.58\00:23:07.52
the one thing
that we can rely on
00:23:07.55\00:23:09.98
is God's Word.
00:23:10.02\00:23:11.35
The promises of God's Word.
00:23:11.39\00:23:13.25
And, you know, as I
was reading this question,
00:23:13.29\00:23:16.32
Lovanna, I
thought of Isaiah 41:10,
00:23:16.36\00:23:20.23
which says,
00:23:20.26\00:23:21.56
"Fear not for I'm with you,
00:23:21.60\00:23:23.40
be not dismayed
for I am your God,
00:23:23.43\00:23:26.23
I will strengthen
you, yes, I will help you,
00:23:26.27\00:23:29.77
I will uphold
you with the right,
00:23:29.80\00:23:31.67
with my righteous right hand."
00:23:31.71\00:23:33.91
There is an array
of beautiful promises
00:23:33.94\00:23:35.54
in God's Word
00:23:35.58\00:23:36.91
that no matter what
we are going through,
00:23:36.95\00:23:38.51
no matter what
we are experiencing,
00:23:38.55\00:23:40.08
God says, I'm there with you,
00:23:40.12\00:23:41.88
that you may have to
walk through the fire,
00:23:41.92\00:23:43.62
but I'm there with you.
00:23:43.65\00:23:44.99
You may have to deal
with whatever anxiety,
00:23:45.05\00:23:47.39
depression, mental
illness or whatever it is
00:23:47.42\00:23:49.99
that you're dealing
with at that moment.
00:23:50.03\00:23:51.39
But God promises that
00:23:51.43\00:23:52.76
not only will he
walk through that with you
00:23:52.79\00:23:55.03
and get you through that,
00:23:55.06\00:23:56.40
but He promises
that on the other side,
00:23:56.43\00:23:58.10
whenever that may be,
00:23:58.13\00:23:59.47
He will deliver you from that
if you remain hopeful in Him
00:23:59.50\00:24:02.70
and place your faith in Him.
00:24:02.74\00:24:04.24
I think of Jeremiah 29:11-13,
00:24:04.27\00:24:07.58
which promises that God
has a plan for your life.
00:24:07.61\00:24:10.28
And it was never God's plan
00:24:10.31\00:24:11.75
for you to have to
go through the troubles
00:24:11.81\00:24:13.75
and whoever's
watching this right now,
00:24:13.78\00:24:15.62
whatever difficulties,
trials, tribulations, ailments,
00:24:15.68\00:24:19.29
or whatever you're dealing with.
00:24:19.32\00:24:20.66
It was never God's plan for
you to have to go through this.
00:24:20.69\00:24:23.46
It's the enemy's fault.
00:24:23.49\00:24:24.99
And he should be the one
to get the fist shaken at.
00:24:25.03\00:24:27.50
But God wants
to see you through.
00:24:27.56\00:24:29.56
Philippians 1:6 promises us
00:24:29.60\00:24:31.80
that He who has
begun a good work in us
00:24:31.83\00:24:34.07
will complete it until
the day of Jesus Christ.
00:24:34.10\00:24:37.04
All of these promises together.
00:24:37.07\00:24:38.54
All I'm saying is
dwell on those promises.
00:24:38.57\00:24:40.74
Believe in the Word of God,
00:24:40.78\00:24:42.11
believe that when Christ says
00:24:42.14\00:24:43.78
that He will see you through
00:24:43.81\00:24:45.28
and that He will
be there through it.
00:24:45.31\00:24:46.68
Yes, sometimes we
have to endure things
00:24:46.72\00:24:48.45
for the building of our faith,
00:24:48.48\00:24:50.02
for the building
of our character.
00:24:50.05\00:24:51.39
I'm thinking of James Chapter 1.
00:24:51.42\00:24:53.02
It says that
00:24:53.05\00:24:54.39
sometimes we have to go through
00:24:54.42\00:24:55.76
these tribulation and
trials to build patience,
00:24:55.79\00:24:57.29
and to build our faith in God.
00:24:57.33\00:24:58.79
And for whatever reason,
00:24:58.86\00:25:00.26
God will allow
us to go through it.
00:25:00.30\00:25:01.60
But He will not allow
us to go past the point
00:25:01.66\00:25:03.93
that we can't bear.
00:25:03.97\00:25:05.30
Don't lose your hope in Christ.
00:25:05.33\00:25:06.87
Keep pressing
forward and know that
00:25:06.90\00:25:08.27
no matter what dark
cloud hovers over your life,
00:25:08.30\00:25:11.31
Jesus is in that cloud.
00:25:11.34\00:25:13.01
And He is there with
you to see you through,
00:25:13.04\00:25:15.01
if only you will believe.
00:25:15.04\00:25:16.38
Amen.
00:25:16.41\00:25:17.75
And, Lovanna, I
just want to add this,
00:25:17.78\00:25:19.31
do not allow the
stigma to take away your hope.
00:25:19.35\00:25:24.32
You know, if
you were a diabetic,
00:25:24.35\00:25:27.36
that's a chemical
imbalance, you need insulin.
00:25:27.39\00:25:30.19
Well, bipolar mood disorder
is a chemical imbalance.
00:25:30.23\00:25:34.30
It's usually because of
the lithium in our bodies
00:25:34.30\00:25:36.80
and the minerals.
00:25:36.83\00:25:38.17
So this is something
just stay on your medication,
00:25:38.20\00:25:41.64
don't be embarrassed by it,
00:25:41.67\00:25:43.41
and know that God
has a plan for your life.
00:25:43.44\00:25:45.74
All right, that's good.
00:25:45.81\00:25:48.38
Now let's see, John.
00:25:48.41\00:25:52.35
"Is the purpose of
speaking in tongues,
00:25:52.38\00:25:56.38
if the purpose of
speaking in tongues
00:25:56.42\00:25:58.52
is to hear the
gospel in your own language.
00:25:58.59\00:26:01.66
Why were tongues
given to the disciples
00:26:01.72\00:26:04.89
in Ephesus in Acts 19?
00:26:04.93\00:26:07.13
That comes from Sida for you.
00:26:07.20\00:26:08.70
Wonderful. Acts 19:6-7.
00:26:08.73\00:26:11.40
And I think that's
what you're referring to
00:26:11.43\00:26:12.77
and the Bible says,
00:26:12.80\00:26:14.14
"When Paul had
laid hands on them,
00:26:14.17\00:26:16.64
the Holy Spirit came upon them,
00:26:16.67\00:26:18.41
and they spoke with
tongues and prophesied.
00:26:18.44\00:26:20.98
Now the men were
about 12 in all."
00:26:21.01\00:26:24.28
I think that a thorough
study or a more detailed study
00:26:24.31\00:26:27.45
of the book of Ephesus
00:26:27.48\00:26:28.82
or the city of
Ephesus at that time
00:26:28.85\00:26:31.15
would really be enlightening.
00:26:31.19\00:26:32.95
And I decided to do that
in light of this question.
00:26:32.99\00:26:35.49
And I've discovered that
as Jerusalem was to the Jews,
00:26:35.56\00:26:39.69
Ephesus was to the Gentiles.
00:26:39.73\00:26:42.76
Ephesus was a city
where the God called Artemis,
00:26:42.80\00:26:47.40
also known as
Diana was worshiped.
00:26:47.44\00:26:49.67
It was a center of
commerce for the Gentiles.
00:26:49.70\00:26:53.38
The Lord decided,
00:26:53.41\00:26:55.38
He filled the
disciples to proclaim the gospel
00:26:55.44\00:26:58.91
on the day of
Pentecost in Jerusalem,
00:26:58.95\00:27:00.88
the center for the Jews,
00:27:00.92\00:27:02.98
and where Diana was
worshipped in Ephesus,
00:27:03.02\00:27:05.02
the center for the Gentiles,
00:27:05.09\00:27:07.06
people from all
Gentile backgrounds
00:27:07.09\00:27:10.63
commerced that city.
00:27:10.66\00:27:12.33
He ignited the lives of 12 men
00:27:12.36\00:27:14.36
to communicate in the
languages of the people
00:27:14.36\00:27:17.10
through the amazing gospel
00:27:17.13\00:27:19.67
that they would
only have access to
00:27:19.70\00:27:21.60
as they came to worship Diana,
00:27:21.64\00:27:23.77
and the evidence
of that is verse 20.
00:27:23.81\00:27:26.21
So the word of
the Lord grew mightily
00:27:26.24\00:27:29.48
and prevailed.
00:27:29.51\00:27:31.25
So the Lord ignited men in
the center of pagan worship
00:27:31.28\00:27:34.42
for the Gentiles,
00:27:34.45\00:27:35.78
as He ignited the
apostles on the day of Pentecost
00:27:35.82\00:27:38.55
in the center for the Jews.
00:27:38.59\00:27:40.19
Amen. Well, that's good.
00:27:40.22\00:27:41.82
Amen. Thank you.
00:27:41.86\00:27:43.36
That was good question.
00:27:43.39\00:27:45.49
This comes from
Bruce in North Carolina.
00:27:45.53\00:27:48.46
And, Jay, we're going
to let you answer this.
00:27:48.53\00:27:52.00
He says,
00:27:52.03\00:27:53.50
"Ever since I was re-baptized,
00:27:53.54\00:27:56.54
I've lost my job became anemic
and have a hole in my eardrum.
00:27:56.57\00:28:01.04
Why is God letting all
this bad luck happen to me?"
00:28:01.08\00:28:07.55
Bruce, first, I
just want to say that
00:28:07.58\00:28:08.98
I'm sorry to hear that
00:28:09.02\00:28:10.42
you've had such
a rough experience.
00:28:10.45\00:28:12.55
But I have to say that
00:28:12.59\00:28:15.32
it's not uncommon that
00:28:15.36\00:28:16.69
that this type of thing happens
00:28:16.73\00:28:18.26
and so we're
going to get into that.
00:28:18.29\00:28:20.13
Anytime we make a
decision to serve the Lord,
00:28:20.16\00:28:22.33
the devil gets angry
and wants to attack us.
00:28:22.36\00:28:25.10
Now consider the
following scriptures.
00:28:25.13\00:28:27.60
1 Peter 5:8-10 says,
00:28:27.64\00:28:30.94
"Be sober, be vigilant
00:28:30.97\00:28:32.44
because your adversary the devil
00:28:32.47\00:28:35.51
walks about like a roaring
lion seeking whom he may devour.
00:28:35.54\00:28:40.22
Resist him
steadfast in the faith,
00:28:40.25\00:28:42.65
knowing that the same sufferings
00:28:42.68\00:28:45.12
are experienced
by your brotherhood
00:28:45.15\00:28:46.99
in the world.
00:28:47.02\00:28:48.69
But may the God of all grace
00:28:48.72\00:28:51.46
who called us to
His eternal glory
00:28:51.49\00:28:53.60
by Christ Jesus,
00:28:53.63\00:28:55.30
after you have suffered a while,
00:28:55.33\00:28:57.33
perfect, establish,
strengthen and settle you."
00:28:57.37\00:29:01.70
James 1:2-4,
00:29:01.74\00:29:05.34
"My brethren counted all joy
00:29:05.37\00:29:07.21
when you fall
into various trials,
00:29:07.24\00:29:09.24
knowing that the
testing of your faith
00:29:09.31\00:29:11.88
produces patience,
00:29:11.91\00:29:13.75
but let patience
have its perfect work
00:29:13.78\00:29:16.25
that you may be perfect
and complete, lacking nothing."
00:29:16.28\00:29:20.72
Also, Bruce, keep in
mind who we're wrestling with.
00:29:20.76\00:29:24.63
If you look at Ephesians
6:12, the Word of God says this,
00:29:24.66\00:29:28.73
"For we do not wrestle
against flesh and blood
00:29:28.80\00:29:31.43
but against
principalities, against powers,
00:29:31.47\00:29:33.70
against the rulers of
the darkness of this age,
00:29:33.74\00:29:36.91
against spiritual
hosts of wickedness
00:29:36.94\00:29:39.51
in the heavenly places."
00:29:39.54\00:29:41.11
And so even though
00:29:41.14\00:29:42.48
you are facing
these tough trials,
00:29:42.51\00:29:45.05
God is standing with you
through the midst of them.
00:29:45.08\00:29:49.05
Just continue to
persevere in faith,
00:29:49.12\00:29:51.52
stay steadfast in
your walk with Him,
00:29:51.55\00:29:54.22
and continue to give
these burdens to the Lord.
00:29:54.26\00:29:57.53
He's there with you.
00:29:57.56\00:29:58.93
Think about the
three Hebrew boys
00:29:58.96\00:30:00.86
who stood in the fiery furnace.
00:30:00.90\00:30:03.57
Jesus stood with them in
the midst of their trial.
00:30:03.60\00:30:06.33
And He's standing with you now.
00:30:06.37\00:30:07.77
Amen.
00:30:07.80\00:30:09.14
Thank you there, Jay.
00:30:09.20\00:30:10.91
All right. This is
a question from DJ.
00:30:10.94\00:30:13.54
Ryan, and let's
give this one to you.
00:30:13.58\00:30:16.11
Does Ash Wednesday and
Purim have a biblical basis?
00:30:16.14\00:30:23.02
Well, the simple answer is no.
00:30:23.05\00:30:26.82
Neither one of
these particular practices
00:30:26.86\00:30:29.56
or celebrations are
mentioned in Scripture.
00:30:29.59\00:30:32.59
Now, of course, Purim is a,
00:30:32.63\00:30:35.53
it's a Jewish celebration
00:30:35.56\00:30:37.03
based on the real actual story
00:30:37.07\00:30:39.10
that we find in
the Book of Esther
00:30:39.13\00:30:40.84
in which, obviously,
00:30:40.87\00:30:42.20
the children of
Israel were saved
00:30:42.27\00:30:43.71
from the hands and
the destructive plans
00:30:43.74\00:30:46.78
and dark plans of Haman
00:30:46.81\00:30:48.44
to wipe out all of
the children of Israel.
00:30:48.51\00:30:50.78
And so the Jewish nation has,
00:30:50.81\00:30:52.51
they celebrate
Purim in commemoration,
00:30:52.58\00:30:54.62
and in
celebration of that redemption
00:30:54.65\00:30:58.32
that was brought to them,
00:30:58.35\00:30:59.69
but that particular celebration
00:30:59.72\00:31:02.36
is not found in
Scripture anywhere.
00:31:02.39\00:31:04.29
We can find
obviously the story of this
00:31:04.33\00:31:06.53
in the Book of
Esther, but that's not found.
00:31:06.56\00:31:08.40
Ash Wednesday,
00:31:08.43\00:31:09.76
that also is not
mentioned in Scripture.
00:31:09.80\00:31:12.50
Now the concept
behind Ash Wednesday,
00:31:12.53\00:31:14.77
those who don't know
what Ash Wednesday is,
00:31:14.80\00:31:16.57
it's basically marks
00:31:16.60\00:31:17.94
the beginning of
what is called Lent.
00:31:17.97\00:31:19.54
And so basically Lent
is this extended period
00:31:19.57\00:31:22.24
in which not all
Christian denominations
00:31:22.31\00:31:25.08
but some, such
as Catholics, Aether
00:31:25.11\00:31:27.12
Norse, Orthodox, Lutherans,
Methodists and Anglicans
00:31:27.15\00:31:31.12
all have this 40 day period
00:31:31.15\00:31:32.95
in which they give up
something for the Lord
00:31:32.99\00:31:35.49
or they have a time
00:31:35.52\00:31:36.86
in which they
surrender something to God.
00:31:36.89\00:31:38.66
Now, the concept of that
00:31:38.69\00:31:40.33
giving up and
surrendering for the Lord
00:31:40.36\00:31:42.00
absolutely is
found in Scripture.
00:31:42.03\00:31:44.07
But the 40 days of
Lent or the Ash Wednesday,
00:31:44.10\00:31:47.20
that marks the
beginning of this,
00:31:47.24\00:31:48.94
of this time period
in which you kind of,
00:31:48.97\00:31:51.01
you know, you give this up,
00:31:51.04\00:31:52.84
or you purge
your soul for the Lord
00:31:52.87\00:31:54.81
that is specifically
not mentioned in Scripture.
00:31:54.84\00:31:57.18
And we do know that
some of these practices
00:31:57.21\00:31:59.15
do have kind of
a pagan background.
00:31:59.18\00:32:01.88
And we want to be careful
00:32:01.92\00:32:03.32
not to just adopt any
little thing in our life.
00:32:03.35\00:32:06.39
So to answer this question
very directly, very simply, no,
00:32:06.42\00:32:09.39
these particular
practices and celebrations
00:32:09.42\00:32:11.43
are not found in Scripture.
00:32:11.46\00:32:13.19
Giving up something
for the Lord is great.
00:32:13.23\00:32:15.40
Absolutely, we should.
00:32:15.43\00:32:16.77
But you know, what,
00:32:16.80\00:32:18.13
if we have to do it for 40 days,
00:32:18.17\00:32:19.50
we probably should be rethinking
00:32:19.53\00:32:20.87
and praying through
00:32:20.90\00:32:22.24
because more than likely,
00:32:22.27\00:32:23.61
that's something we need
to be giving up permanent
00:32:23.64\00:32:24.97
for the Lord.
00:32:25.01\00:32:26.34
So we'll just leave
it at that. That's good.
00:32:26.37\00:32:29.08
All right, I'm going
to come back to you, Jay.
00:32:29.11\00:32:32.05
"When man was
created on the sixth day,
00:32:32.08\00:32:34.98
was he in a
spiritual or flesh body?
00:32:35.02\00:32:37.22
If so, was Adam who
was formed from the ground
00:32:37.25\00:32:40.26
and in the Garden of Eden,
00:32:40.29\00:32:41.66
a spiritual body till he sinned,
00:32:41.69\00:32:44.66
and then became flesh?
00:32:44.69\00:32:46.29
Looking for scripture to
understand if there is any."
00:32:46.33\00:32:50.30
And this is from
Sherry in Pennsylvania.
00:32:50.33\00:32:53.03
Well, yes, Sherry,
there is definitely scripture
00:32:53.07\00:32:56.57
that will provide
you with the answers
00:32:56.60\00:32:58.44
that you are seeking.
00:32:58.47\00:33:00.11
The simple answer is
Adam was in a flesh body.
00:33:00.14\00:33:04.01
So let's prove it.
00:33:04.05\00:33:05.38
Genesis 2:7,
00:33:05.45\00:33:08.42
"And the Lord God formed
man of the dust of the ground,
00:33:08.45\00:33:11.85
so He formed man of
the dust of the ground
00:33:11.89\00:33:14.99
and breathed into his
nostrils the breath of life,
00:33:15.02\00:33:19.36
and man became a living being."
00:33:19.43\00:33:21.80
Genesis 2:21-24,
00:33:21.83\00:33:26.60
"And the Lord God caused
the deep sleep to fall on Adam,
00:33:26.63\00:33:31.07
and he slept,
00:33:31.11\00:33:32.47
and He took one of his ribs."
00:33:32.51\00:33:35.24
So notice he has ribs
00:33:35.28\00:33:36.61
and closed up the
flesh in its place.
00:33:36.64\00:33:41.15
"Then the rib
00:33:41.18\00:33:42.52
which the Lord
God had taken from man
00:33:42.58\00:33:44.32
He made into a woman, and
He brought her to the man."
00:33:44.35\00:33:48.06
Well, that's the best
sleep ever right there.
00:33:48.09\00:33:50.43
And Adam said,
00:33:50.46\00:33:52.29
"This is now bone of my
bones and flesh of my flesh,
00:33:52.33\00:33:57.10
she shall be called woman
00:33:57.13\00:33:58.70
because she was
taken out of man.
00:33:58.73\00:34:01.57
Therefore, a man shall
leave his father and mother
00:34:01.60\00:34:05.04
and be joined to his wife
00:34:05.07\00:34:06.41
and they shall
become one flesh."
00:34:06.44\00:34:09.14
So Adam and Eve
00:34:09.18\00:34:10.95
were both flesh and
bone prior to entering,
00:34:10.98\00:34:15.82
prior to sin entering the world.
00:34:15.88\00:34:17.75
Amen.
00:34:17.79\00:34:19.15
Okay, you guys are doing great.
00:34:19.19\00:34:20.99
Pastor John?
00:34:21.02\00:34:22.62
Okay.
00:34:22.66\00:34:23.99
This is a good one.
00:34:24.03\00:34:25.36
This is from
Kathy in Connecticut.
00:34:25.39\00:34:27.60
Kathy, thank you
for your question.
00:34:27.66\00:34:29.86
She says,
00:34:29.90\00:34:31.23
"I know the spirit,
00:34:31.27\00:34:33.00
the witch of Endor
called up was an evil spirit.
00:34:33.03\00:34:36.87
I just always wondered
how the devil knew exactly
00:34:36.91\00:34:40.38
what would happen
to Saul the next day.
00:34:40.41\00:34:42.84
Did God have the
devil speak those words?"
00:34:42.91\00:34:46.31
Well, Kathy, the answer is
God doesn't unite with evil
00:34:46.35\00:34:49.92
to accomplish His purpose.
00:34:49.95\00:34:51.82
When this experience occurred,
00:34:51.85\00:34:53.25
and we find this in
1 Samuel Chapter 28.
00:34:53.29\00:34:55.69
Saul had already been...
00:34:55.72\00:34:58.03
Saul had already
turned away from the Lord
00:34:58.06\00:35:00.13
and the Spirit
of the Lord left him
00:35:00.16\00:35:02.36
and he didn't even know it.
00:35:02.40\00:35:04.00
And therefore,
00:35:04.03\00:35:05.37
he went ahead and
participated in a practice
00:35:05.40\00:35:08.97
that he himself had
forbade in his own kingdom.
00:35:09.00\00:35:12.24
You find in 1
Samuel 28:9 and 10.
00:35:12.27\00:35:16.61
This is where Saul
even stepped over the bounds
00:35:16.64\00:35:19.08
because when the witch
of Endor recognized him,
00:35:19.11\00:35:22.95
she said,
00:35:22.98\00:35:24.32
"Wait a minute, you
know what Saul has said
00:35:24.35\00:35:27.29
concerning the witches
and how they are banned
00:35:27.32\00:35:29.49
and how they can be killed."
00:35:29.52\00:35:31.63
And then Saul said in verse 10,
00:35:31.66\00:35:34.40
"Saul swore to her by the Lord."
00:35:34.46\00:35:37.20
He included God in
His rebellion against God.
00:35:37.23\00:35:42.97
He used God's name to
give authorization to evil.
00:35:43.04\00:35:47.21
He says,
00:35:47.24\00:35:48.58
"As the Lord lives,
00:35:48.61\00:35:49.94
no punishment
shall come upon you
00:35:49.98\00:35:51.78
for this thing."
00:35:51.81\00:35:53.65
The Lord did not
participate with Saul
00:35:53.68\00:35:56.69
or with the witch of Endor
or brought up actual Samuel.
00:35:56.72\00:36:00.62
Here's one of the reasons why.
00:36:00.66\00:36:01.99
And let's go to Leviticus 20:6.
00:36:02.02\00:36:04.86
What happened here
was a familiar spirit.
00:36:04.89\00:36:07.50
Why familiar?
00:36:07.56\00:36:08.90
Because the devil knows
what Samuel looked like.
00:36:08.93\00:36:11.27
And the devil allowed
in his rebellious moment.
00:36:11.30\00:36:14.64
This today is
called seance soothsayers.
00:36:14.67\00:36:17.74
But I'm going to give
you a passage very quickly.
00:36:17.77\00:36:19.64
Leviticus 20:6,
00:36:19.71\00:36:21.14
God's attitude
about familiar spirits.
00:36:21.18\00:36:23.35
"The person who turns to mediums
00:36:23.38\00:36:24.75
and familiar spirits
00:36:24.78\00:36:26.15
to prostitute himself with them,
00:36:26.18\00:36:28.08
I will set my face
against that person
00:36:28.12\00:36:30.32
and cut him off
from his people."
00:36:30.35\00:36:32.52
The Lord does not
participate in evil
00:36:32.59\00:36:34.56
to accomplish good.
00:36:34.59\00:36:35.96
And finally, Isaiah 8:19-20.
00:36:35.99\00:36:38.76
We know verse 20,
00:36:38.79\00:36:40.13
but the context of it
is the very same thing.
00:36:40.16\00:36:42.80
Verse 19 of Isaiah 8,
00:36:42.86\00:36:44.30
"And when they say to you
00:36:44.33\00:36:45.83
seek those who are
mediums and wizards
00:36:45.87\00:36:48.44
who whisper and mutter."
00:36:48.47\00:36:50.04
That's exactly
what the devil did,
00:36:50.07\00:36:51.74
brought up a fake Saul,
00:36:51.77\00:36:53.41
which was a familiar evil spirit
00:36:53.44\00:36:55.28
that looked like Saul.
00:36:55.31\00:36:56.71
Because remember, he
didn't see him, he said it.
00:36:56.75\00:36:59.21
He said, "Tell me what you see."
00:36:59.25\00:37:01.08
And she said, "It looks like."
00:37:01.12\00:37:03.12
"Should not
people seek their God?
00:37:03.15\00:37:05.29
Should they seek the
dead on behalf of the living?"
00:37:05.32\00:37:08.36
That's exactly
what Saul was doing
00:37:08.39\00:37:10.09
through the witch of Endor.
00:37:10.13\00:37:11.46
And that's where
this context come from,
00:37:11.49\00:37:13.23
to the law and to the testimony
00:37:13.26\00:37:14.56
if they do not speak
according to this word.
00:37:14.60\00:37:17.07
It is because there
is no light in them.
00:37:17.10\00:37:19.13
God did not participate.
00:37:19.17\00:37:20.50
And there was no light or union
00:37:20.54\00:37:22.64
between God and Satan
00:37:22.70\00:37:24.77
to participate in
the activity of Saul.
00:37:24.81\00:37:27.08
Amen and amen.
00:37:27.11\00:37:28.84
All right, Ryan.
00:37:28.88\00:37:31.68
This is from JC or Jayce.
00:37:31.71\00:37:35.68
"Is it okay to
cook on the Sabbath
00:37:35.72\00:37:37.82
for personal consumption?
00:37:37.85\00:37:40.99
How about doing charitable works
00:37:41.02\00:37:44.46
on the Sabbath?"
00:37:44.49\00:37:45.83
Okay. All right.
00:37:45.89\00:37:47.23
So let's just
address the charitable works
00:37:47.23\00:37:49.33
just for a moment.
00:37:49.36\00:37:50.70
Obviously, Jesus
Himself said in Matthew 12:12,
00:37:50.73\00:37:54.84
of how much more value
than is a man than a sheep,
00:37:54.87\00:37:57.81
talking about the
situation that He was dealing
00:37:57.84\00:38:00.38
with the Pharisees at that time.
00:38:00.41\00:38:01.74
He says, "Therefore,
00:38:01.78\00:38:03.11
it is lawful to do
good on the Sabbath."
00:38:03.18\00:38:05.11
What's better to do
good on the Sabbath, right?
00:38:05.15\00:38:07.25
But here's we
have to be careful,
00:38:07.28\00:38:09.32
you know, those
spontaneous unavoidable,
00:38:09.38\00:38:11.79
unplanned actions
00:38:11.82\00:38:13.15
that may cause
us to have to labor
00:38:13.19\00:38:14.86
or do something
good for someone else?
00:38:14.89\00:38:16.26
Absolutely.
00:38:16.32\00:38:17.66
Jesus says it's good,
it's better to do good.
00:38:17.69\00:38:19.43
Well, we want to be
careful as those deeds,
00:38:19.49\00:38:21.10
those charitable deeds
that we might plan to do
00:38:21.13\00:38:23.67
that may require
heavy, laborious activity
00:38:23.70\00:38:26.53
that we can do on the
other six days of the week.
00:38:26.60\00:38:28.87
We want to make sure that
we plan that out carefully
00:38:28.90\00:38:31.07
and not try to violate
or desecrate the holiness
00:38:31.11\00:38:34.51
or the sacredness
of that day of rest,
00:38:34.54\00:38:36.44
by putting our events
and our works on that day
00:38:36.51\00:38:39.31
that we could do on another day.
00:38:39.38\00:38:40.72
So be careful with that,
00:38:40.75\00:38:42.08
as far as the
cooking on the Sabbath,
00:38:42.12\00:38:43.59
and this is, this
is where you know,
00:38:43.62\00:38:45.19
anybody can look this
up, and of my own knowledge
00:38:45.22\00:38:47.79
and you guys can
correct me if I'm wrong,
00:38:47.82\00:38:49.32
of my knowledge,
00:38:49.39\00:38:50.73
the only reference in the Bible,
00:38:50.76\00:38:52.59
Exodus 16,
00:38:52.66\00:38:54.13
is where we find
00:38:54.20\00:38:55.50
God giving instruction
to the children of Israel
00:38:55.53\00:38:57.27
on how to cook their food,
00:38:57.30\00:38:59.90
the day before the seventh day.
00:38:59.93\00:39:01.67
So on the sixth
day, He says to them,
00:39:01.70\00:39:04.34
"Tomorrow is the Sabbath day
00:39:04.37\00:39:05.71
of rest the Holy Day of the Lord
00:39:05.74\00:39:07.08
bake what you will bake today
and boil what you will boil
00:39:07.11\00:39:08.94
and lay up for
yourselves all the remains
00:39:08.98\00:39:10.65
that will be
kept until morning."
00:39:10.68\00:39:12.21
And so people will use that text
00:39:12.25\00:39:13.58
and say you're
supposed to cook everything
00:39:13.62\00:39:15.22
the day before
00:39:15.25\00:39:16.58
and do no
cooking on the Sabbath.
00:39:16.65\00:39:17.99
Because if you
do, you're sinning.
00:39:18.02\00:39:19.35
Well, you have to
also take in consideration
00:39:19.39\00:39:21.29
the times that
we're talking about.
00:39:21.32\00:39:23.22
Heavy activity
was definitely used
00:39:23.29\00:39:26.59
and exploited.
00:39:26.66\00:39:27.96
Back in these days,
00:39:28.00\00:39:29.33
there was not good
cooking technology,
00:39:29.36\00:39:30.70
there was a lots of heavy labor
that went into these things,
00:39:30.73\00:39:33.07
even all the way
back to the 1800s
00:39:33.10\00:39:34.50
in Ellen White's day,
00:39:34.54\00:39:35.87
where she has a dozen
quotes where she says,
00:39:35.94\00:39:37.57
you know, do all your cooking
00:39:37.61\00:39:39.11
as much preparation as
you can on the sixth day.
00:39:39.14\00:39:41.61
And the principle there
is, is that we want to rest,
00:39:41.64\00:39:44.25
we want to use the
Sabbath as the day of holiness
00:39:44.28\00:39:46.95
to be with our family,
to be with our friends,
00:39:46.98\00:39:48.95
and some people they
will pull out all stops
00:39:48.98\00:39:51.59
to prepare a meal
that just is labor.
00:39:51.62\00:39:53.79
It's heavy, heavy labor.
00:39:53.82\00:39:55.42
Now I don't
think in and of itself
00:39:55.46\00:39:56.89
that it's wrong
to heat something up,
00:39:56.93\00:39:58.76
to warm
something up on the Sabbath
00:39:58.79\00:40:00.76
because we have
great technology these days
00:40:00.80\00:40:03.37
in the ovens and the countertops
00:40:03.40\00:40:05.23
and the things that we use
and the cookers that we use
00:40:05.27\00:40:07.40
that does not require
00:40:07.44\00:40:08.77
a lot of heavy,
laborious activity.
00:40:08.80\00:40:10.51
So we got to use good judgment,
00:40:10.54\00:40:13.01
don't make it
such a dogmatic issue.
00:40:13.07\00:40:15.54
And when you know when I pop
some popcorn in the microwave,
00:40:15.58\00:40:18.08
oh, we've broken the Sabbath.
00:40:18.11\00:40:20.48
You know, use some sense here.
00:40:20.52\00:40:22.42
Make it a day of joy.
00:40:22.48\00:40:23.82
Make it a time, but do as
much preparation as you can
00:40:23.85\00:40:26.45
on the sixth day, if possible.
00:40:26.49\00:40:28.62
Yeah, you know what
ladies ought to be very happy.
00:40:28.66\00:40:31.79
We can precook and
just warm up on the Sabbath
00:40:31.83\00:40:36.13
because it, I
remember my first Sabbath,
00:40:36.16\00:40:38.87
it was like, I don't
even have to do the dishes.
00:40:38.90\00:40:42.04
I was so excited.
00:40:42.07\00:40:43.67
All right.
00:40:43.71\00:40:45.04
We are through
with assigned questions.
00:40:45.07\00:40:48.21
We've got some bonus
questions, if you will.
00:40:48.24\00:40:50.75
And I wanted to give
you another opportunity.
00:40:50.78\00:40:53.78
This program is
specifically for you.
00:40:53.82\00:40:56.38
We want to answer
your Bible questions
00:40:56.45\00:40:59.25
and you can send
them to us by email,
00:40:59.32\00:41:02.69
by mailing it to 3ABN,
00:41:02.76\00:41:05.76
excuse me,
00:41:05.79\00:41:07.96
start that one
over to emailing it
00:41:07.96\00:41:10.83
to BibleQA@3abn.org.
00:41:10.87\00:41:16.84
That's BibleQA@3abn.org
00:41:16.87\00:41:21.04
or you can call us, text us,
00:41:21.08\00:41:24.21
wake up here in a minute,
00:41:24.25\00:41:25.65
(618) 228-3975.
00:41:25.68\00:41:31.55
(618) 228-3975,
00:41:31.59\00:41:34.76
text your questions
00:41:34.79\00:41:36.12
and we'll be sure to get to them
00:41:36.19\00:41:37.99
on another program.
00:41:38.03\00:41:39.39
All right. We've got a
few extra questions here.
00:41:39.46\00:41:42.83
This one's interesting.
00:41:42.90\00:41:46.17
Catherine from Seattle, says,
00:41:46.20\00:41:48.77
"I heard a prominent pastor
00:41:48.80\00:41:51.27
being interviewed on a TV show.
00:41:51.31\00:41:53.61
The host asked him
about the gender of God.
00:41:53.64\00:41:57.31
His response was
God is gender neutral.
00:41:57.35\00:42:01.22
He's neither male nor female.
00:42:01.25\00:42:03.45
He also said Jesus
is a created being.
00:42:03.49\00:42:07.46
I don't know if
he's reading the Bible.
00:42:07.49\00:42:09.89
I've lost much sleep over this.
00:42:09.92\00:42:12.16
Can you please speak on this?"
00:42:12.19\00:42:16.80
Well, if we go to Genesis 1:26,
00:42:16.83\00:42:19.90
I think we could start there.
00:42:19.97\00:42:21.84
In Genesis Chapter 1,
00:42:21.87\00:42:23.24
and if you have your
Bibles go there with me,
00:42:23.27\00:42:24.61
I'm going to go
ahead and just turn to this
00:42:24.64\00:42:25.97
because this is the
creation of humanity
00:42:26.01\00:42:28.91
and we begin to see clearly
00:42:28.94\00:42:30.28
how God delineated
this should be done.
00:42:30.31\00:42:32.75
Genesis 1:26,
and the Bible says,
00:42:32.78\00:42:35.32
"Then God said,
00:42:35.35\00:42:36.72
'Let us make man in our image,
00:42:36.75\00:42:39.52
according to our
likeness, let them,"
00:42:39.59\00:42:44.29
He obviously was not
referring to just one person.
00:42:44.33\00:42:47.40
Watch, He's going
to go and make it clear
00:42:47.40\00:42:48.83
in the next verse to come.
00:42:48.86\00:42:50.40
"Let them have dominion
over the fish of the sea,
00:42:50.43\00:42:52.17
over the birds of
the air, over the cattle,
00:42:52.20\00:42:54.30
over all the earth,
00:42:54.34\00:42:55.67
and over every creeping
thing that creeps on the earth."
00:42:55.70\00:42:58.31
And look at verse 27.
00:42:58.34\00:42:59.87
"So God created
man in His own image,
00:42:59.91\00:43:03.58
in the image of God,
00:43:03.61\00:43:05.38
He created him,
00:43:05.41\00:43:07.08
male and female,
00:43:07.12\00:43:09.35
He created them."
00:43:09.42\00:43:11.69
Now, so what we're seeing here
beautifully in the passage is
00:43:11.72\00:43:15.52
from God came
the creation of woman
00:43:15.56\00:43:18.86
and the creation of man.
00:43:18.89\00:43:20.36
God's plan was, but now
let's look at how He did this.
00:43:20.40\00:43:23.26
He created Adam first.
00:43:23.30\00:43:25.40
And then from
Adam, He took the rib
00:43:25.43\00:43:26.77
and then He formed Eve.
00:43:26.84\00:43:28.24
And as, I think in
one of the programs
00:43:28.27\00:43:29.94
we talked about,
00:43:30.01\00:43:31.34
and now from this point,
00:43:31.37\00:43:32.71
you are born of my
bone and flesh of my flesh.
00:43:32.74\00:43:35.54
But the question
is about God's gender.
00:43:35.58\00:43:38.05
The Bible
continually refers to God.
00:43:38.08\00:43:40.55
And He said, and God
said, and He said, and God said,
00:43:40.58\00:43:44.99
the ideology
that God is a female
00:43:45.02\00:43:46.86
comes from Eastern
mysticism and Eastern religions.
00:43:46.89\00:43:50.03
And so they say,
Mother God and Father God,
00:43:50.06\00:43:52.43
which you have no scriptures
00:43:52.46\00:43:53.80
on which to base
the gender of God
00:43:53.83\00:43:55.70
in the context of the female.
00:43:55.73\00:43:57.57
But here's the other thing
you have to be very careful of,
00:43:57.60\00:43:59.90
God is holy and the
Bible says, God is a spirit.
00:43:59.93\00:44:04.07
Let us not try to
nail down the gender of God
00:44:04.11\00:44:07.11
because it has nothing to
do with the issue of salvation.
00:44:07.14\00:44:10.71
Amen.
00:44:10.75\00:44:12.08
The knowledge He revealed
to us as the Bible says,
00:44:12.11\00:44:14.02
that belongs to us,
00:44:14.05\00:44:15.38
but the secret
things belong to the Lord.
00:44:15.42\00:44:18.09
And this is not something
00:44:18.12\00:44:19.45
that the Bible
ever makes even allusion
00:44:19.49\00:44:21.86
that God is female.
00:44:21.89\00:44:23.22
Amen. Absolutely.
00:44:23.26\00:44:24.59
And I just want to add to
that beautiful explanation
00:44:24.63\00:44:26.59
that pastor gave.
00:44:26.63\00:44:27.96
And we got to be
careful with this
00:44:27.96\00:44:29.33
because someone that's even,
00:44:29.36\00:44:30.70
that's even trying
to allude to the fact
00:44:30.73\00:44:32.27
that somehow God
is gender neutral
00:44:32.30\00:44:33.97
or that He's that God is
a makeup of male and female,
00:44:34.00\00:44:36.87
this is just a new age
ideology of trying to use this
00:44:36.91\00:44:40.14
to push the
agenda that we see today
00:44:40.18\00:44:42.01
of this whole LGBTQ
transgender and all that stuff
00:44:42.04\00:44:46.18
that we see happening today.
00:44:46.21\00:44:47.75
Now, I just want to
be very clear about this,
00:44:47.78\00:44:49.85
that, you know, we
want to respect all people,
00:44:49.88\00:44:53.12
but we have to call
sin by its right name,
00:44:53.15\00:44:55.36
and we have to make clear
what the Bible actually says.
00:44:55.39\00:44:58.29
And so, as pastor
brought out very clearly
00:44:58.33\00:45:00.60
there's thousands
of references to God,
00:45:00.63\00:45:03.10
both Father, Son and
Spirit in using the pronoun He,
00:45:03.16\00:45:07.07
He said this, He did that.
00:45:07.10\00:45:09.34
And so, and also
addressing this question here,
00:45:09.37\00:45:12.04
I think it
mentions here also that
00:45:12.07\00:45:13.64
He also said Jesus
as a created being,
00:45:13.68\00:45:16.85
you know, that's very dangerous,
00:45:16.91\00:45:18.48
because there's so many texts
00:45:18.51\00:45:19.88
of which I don't
have time to share.
00:45:19.91\00:45:21.55
But just looking at
the very first words
00:45:21.58\00:45:23.59
of John Chapter 1,
00:45:23.65\00:45:24.99
speaking of Christ,
00:45:25.02\00:45:26.35
"In the beginning was the Word,
00:45:26.39\00:45:27.72
and the Word was with
God, and the Word was God."
00:45:27.76\00:45:30.09
Notice the very
first word of verse 2,
00:45:30.13\00:45:32.69
"He was in the
beginning with God,
00:45:32.76\00:45:35.96
all things were
made through Him.
00:45:36.00\00:45:38.00
And without Him,
nothing was made,
00:45:38.03\00:45:39.97
that was made."
00:45:40.00\00:45:41.34
Speaking of Jesus Christ,
00:45:41.37\00:45:42.94
referring to Him as a Him, a He,
00:45:42.97\00:45:45.01
and Jesus has been
from the beginning,
00:45:45.04\00:45:46.54
the very first
chapter of Revelation
00:45:46.61\00:45:48.81
and the very last
chapter of Revelation
00:45:48.84\00:45:50.95
refers to Christ as
the Alpha, the Omega,
00:45:50.98\00:45:53.72
the beginning, and the end,
00:45:53.75\00:45:55.18
He has no end,
He always has been.
00:45:55.22\00:45:57.65
And so for anyone
to try to suggest that
00:45:57.69\00:45:59.79
Jesus Christ is a creative being
00:45:59.82\00:46:01.52
has not studied
their Bible properly,
00:46:01.56\00:46:03.73
and probably needs to go
back to the drawing board
00:46:03.76\00:46:06.13
and do a responsible
study of the Word of God.
00:46:06.16\00:46:08.26
Amen.
00:46:08.30\00:46:09.63
Philippians 2:53,
00:46:09.70\00:46:11.03
we think of when Christ as God,
00:46:11.07\00:46:15.14
the person, I
shouldn't even say,
00:46:15.17\00:46:17.24
God came down
00:46:17.27\00:46:18.94
to become the
person of Jesus Christ.
00:46:18.97\00:46:21.44
I think people get thrown
off because the word begotten,
00:46:21.48\00:46:25.81
and that is a covenant term.
00:46:25.85\00:46:29.82
God used it of Exodus, he said,
00:46:29.85\00:46:33.49
"I have begotten you."
00:46:33.52\00:46:35.62
Jesus is not created. Yes.
00:46:35.66\00:46:38.26
And that word means
00:46:38.29\00:46:39.83
that is a term of preeminence
above all, in through all
00:46:39.86\00:46:44.27
and in all,
00:46:44.30\00:46:45.73
but just really going
back to the dual nature of God.
00:46:45.77\00:46:49.74
This is a paganistic view.
00:46:49.80\00:46:51.87
I did a series
not many years ago,
00:46:51.91\00:46:53.88
I mean too many years ago
called The Unclean Spirits.
00:46:53.91\00:46:58.51
And I talked about Baphomet,
00:46:58.55\00:47:00.28
which is a male,
female god figure
00:47:00.32\00:47:03.05
in the occult world,
00:47:03.08\00:47:04.69
it's a male with female breasts.
00:47:04.72\00:47:08.22
And you find at the
feet of this evil image,
00:47:08.26\00:47:11.39
man is on one side,
00:47:11.43\00:47:12.76
and woman is on
the other chained,
00:47:12.79\00:47:14.36
and in the
philosophy of the pagan world,
00:47:14.40\00:47:16.56
they blend the genders together.
00:47:16.60\00:47:18.70
This is where
this whole ideology
00:47:18.73\00:47:20.14
of Mother God and
Father God comes from.
00:47:20.17\00:47:23.00
But in the pagan world,
when they talk about God,
00:47:23.04\00:47:26.04
they're not talking about
the sinless beautiful God,
00:47:26.07\00:47:29.04
they're talking
about this dark god,
00:47:29.08\00:47:30.81
this god called Baphomet,
00:47:30.85\00:47:32.51
which is an evil force
00:47:32.55\00:47:34.12
that has nothing to do
with divinity or righteousness.
00:47:34.15\00:47:36.48
And it's
interesting that you say that
00:47:36.52\00:47:38.05
because that Baphomet
00:47:38.09\00:47:39.42
that pastor was
referencing this,
00:47:39.45\00:47:40.79
this amalgamative
beast of male and female,
00:47:40.82\00:47:44.09
actually is the official symbol,
00:47:44.13\00:47:46.19
it's the official
being to represent Satanism
00:47:46.23\00:47:49.93
in the Church of Satan.
00:47:49.96\00:47:51.30
I'm from Arkansas.
00:47:51.33\00:47:52.67
And it's interesting that
00:47:52.70\00:47:54.04
right there in
Arkansas in the capital,
00:47:54.07\00:47:55.40
there was a copy of
the Ten Commandments
00:47:55.44\00:47:56.77
where the Church of
Satan didn't like that
00:47:56.81\00:47:58.14
there was a copy
00:47:58.17\00:47:59.51
of the Ten
Commandments on display.
00:47:59.54\00:48:00.94
So what do they put up
next to that Ten Commandments?
00:48:00.98\00:48:03.65
A statue of Baphomet.
00:48:03.68\00:48:05.65
And so
absolutely, pastor's right,
00:48:05.68\00:48:07.38
it's an agenda of
the devil himself.
00:48:07.42\00:48:09.68
And another text back
to the Christ question.
00:48:09.72\00:48:12.49
You know, I
love this right here.
00:48:12.52\00:48:13.86
John 17:5,
00:48:13.89\00:48:15.22
when Jesus was praying
in the Garden of Gethsemane,
00:48:15.26\00:48:17.46
he said, these
words was just beautiful.
00:48:17.49\00:48:18.96
Jesus Himself, He said,
00:48:18.99\00:48:20.33
"Oh, now, O Father,
00:48:20.40\00:48:21.70
glorify Me
together with Yourself
00:48:21.73\00:48:23.47
with the glory,
which I had with you
00:48:23.53\00:48:25.83
before the world was."
00:48:25.87\00:48:27.94
Even Jesus Himself recognize
that before the world ever was,
00:48:27.97\00:48:31.37
He was there with the
Father, He always has been.
00:48:31.41\00:48:34.24
Amen and amen.
00:48:34.28\00:48:35.61
As you just
mentioned about the Baphomet
00:48:35.64\00:48:37.11
and all of that stuff,
00:48:37.15\00:48:38.48
we need to be careful
about what vegan restaurants
00:48:38.51\00:48:40.85
would go check out,
I went to a website,
00:48:40.88\00:48:42.95
and I saw the
Baphomet on the menu,
00:48:42.98\00:48:46.12
so check the ownership
00:48:46.15\00:48:47.49
and find out
where you're dining.
00:48:47.52\00:48:50.49
That's scary.
00:48:50.53\00:48:51.86
That's a great point, Jay,
00:48:51.89\00:48:53.23
because people think
veganism is a point of evidence
00:48:53.26\00:48:55.93
of a sign of salvation.
00:48:55.96\00:48:57.43
You find Satanists
00:48:57.47\00:48:58.80
sometimes more
vegans than some of us are.
00:48:58.83\00:49:01.57
And they use
that to be the catch.
00:49:01.60\00:49:04.07
Anyway, good point.
00:49:04.11\00:49:05.44
I don't think we've got time
00:49:05.47\00:49:06.84
to get into
another question here.
00:49:06.88\00:49:08.21
But does anyone
have a little something
00:49:08.24\00:49:10.85
that they wanted
to add to their day?
00:49:10.88\00:49:15.08
Absolutely.
00:49:15.12\00:49:16.45
Yeah, I guess I'll go
ahead and start us off here,
00:49:16.48\00:49:18.19
you know, back to the question
00:49:18.22\00:49:19.55
that I got in
reference to Lovanna.
00:49:19.59\00:49:23.02
As she's just been
on my heart, in my mind,
00:49:23.09\00:49:24.69
and she's pouring
her heart out here
00:49:24.73\00:49:26.46
asking about how
she can remain hopeful
00:49:26.49\00:49:29.30
during this dark
time in her life.
00:49:29.33\00:49:31.33
You know, I was thinking
of, you know, oftentimes,
00:49:31.37\00:49:34.50
when we're
dealing with something,
00:49:34.54\00:49:35.87
it seems like
we're the only ones
00:49:35.90\00:49:37.24
having to go through.
00:49:37.27\00:49:38.61
And Lovanna was the one
with suffering from bipolar.
00:49:38.64\00:49:40.01
Bipolar,
00:49:40.04\00:49:41.38
and she's in the
hospital and says,
00:49:41.41\00:49:42.74
"I've been really in
this dark portion of my life.
00:49:42.78\00:49:44.25
How do I look
forward through this
00:49:44.28\00:49:46.55
in a hopeful perspective,"
00:49:46.58\00:49:47.92
and, you know, oftentimes,
00:49:47.95\00:49:50.02
even in I have experienced
dark times in my life,
00:49:50.05\00:49:52.59
and it's very easy for
us to get locked in on this,
00:49:52.62\00:49:55.82
you know, it's almost feels like
00:49:55.86\00:49:57.53
we're the only one right,
00:49:57.56\00:49:58.89
it almost feels like
we were the only ones
00:49:58.93\00:50:00.43
and that's a
real feeling to have.
00:50:00.46\00:50:02.00
It's a real thing to go through.
00:50:02.03\00:50:03.57
And I know that
that's very real.
00:50:03.60\00:50:05.47
But you know, I also sometimes
00:50:05.50\00:50:07.57
I think about some
of the Bible characters
00:50:07.60\00:50:10.21
and what they went through.
00:50:10.24\00:50:11.84
I think about Job, and
Joseph, and John the Baptist,
00:50:11.87\00:50:15.91
and you know, Mary and Martha,
00:50:15.94\00:50:17.55
when they sent out
for Christ to respond,
00:50:17.58\00:50:19.91
hey, come heal our brother.
00:50:19.95\00:50:21.28
He's sick.
00:50:21.32\00:50:22.65
And Jesus didn't
come back and heal him.
00:50:22.68\00:50:24.02
And what
happened to him? He died.
00:50:24.05\00:50:25.39
These were very dark,
dark, despairing moments
00:50:25.42\00:50:28.19
for these individuals.
00:50:28.22\00:50:29.56
I can think of John the Baptist,
00:50:29.59\00:50:30.93
when he's lying
there in that prison,
00:50:30.96\00:50:32.29
he just thinking,
00:50:32.33\00:50:33.70
you know, Jesus,
00:50:33.73\00:50:35.03
He's the greatest
of all the prophets,
00:50:35.06\00:50:36.40
the greatest of
all the prophets.
00:50:36.43\00:50:37.77
I had to imagine was
probably they're saying,
00:50:37.80\00:50:39.13
Jesus is going to
show up eventually,
00:50:39.17\00:50:40.50
and bust me out of this jail.
00:50:40.54\00:50:41.87
That was a very dark
despairing moment for him.
00:50:41.90\00:50:43.71
And I could
imagine, in those moments,
00:50:43.77\00:50:45.71
being very real
people that they were,
00:50:45.74\00:50:48.21
I'm sure that they had
those negative thoughts
00:50:48.24\00:50:49.84
of how am I going
to get through this.
00:50:49.91\00:50:51.25
But nonetheless,
00:50:51.28\00:50:52.61
these are
powerful examples of faith,
00:50:52.65\00:50:54.52
people who still held
on to their faith in Jesus,
00:50:54.55\00:50:57.62
their faith in God to know
00:50:57.65\00:50:59.35
that he was going
to see them through,
00:50:59.39\00:51:00.86
so, Lovanna, I just
want to encourage you
00:51:00.89\00:51:02.46
and anyone out there
00:51:02.49\00:51:03.86
who's going through
that dark despairing time
00:51:03.89\00:51:06.03
in their life.
00:51:06.06\00:51:07.40
Hang on, keep holding on.
00:51:07.40\00:51:08.90
Remember Paul says,
00:51:08.93\00:51:10.27
fight the good
fight of faith, right?
00:51:10.33\00:51:11.67
I have fight. I have
fought the good fight.
00:51:11.70\00:51:13.40
I've kept the faith
I've run the course.
00:51:13.44\00:51:15.37
Keep pressing
through because remember,
00:51:15.40\00:51:17.07
those who persevere to
the end shall be saved,
00:51:17.11\00:51:20.54
so keep holding
on to Jesus Christ.
00:51:20.58\00:51:22.91
Lovanna, we will
be praying for you
00:51:22.94\00:51:25.11
and we pray for all
00:51:25.15\00:51:26.98
who find themselves
in a difficult position.
00:51:27.02\00:51:30.05
Just remember that
God is always with you.
00:51:30.09\00:51:32.65
He never leaves
you or forsakes you.
00:51:32.69\00:51:34.46
Now we're going to
go to our news break
00:51:34.49\00:51:36.73
and we'll be right back
with another closing thought.
00:51:36.79\00:51:39.86
If you're enjoying
our 3ABN Bible Q and A,
00:51:39.89\00:51:42.66
then tell your friends.
00:51:42.70\00:51:44.23
Each Monday we'll
bring you a fresh program,
00:51:44.27\00:51:46.67
answering the Bible
questions you send us
00:51:46.70\00:51:48.87
and we'll use God's Holy Word
to shed light on those texts
00:51:48.90\00:51:52.11
that seem
difficult to understand.
00:51:52.14\00:51:54.41
If you would like
your questions answered
00:51:54.44\00:51:56.18
on an upcoming
program, just email them to us.
00:51:56.21\00:51:59.05
Our email address
is BibleQA@3abn.org.
00:51:59.08\00:52:04.05
That's BibleQA@3abn.org.
00:52:04.09\00:52:08.76
You can also
text us your questions
00:52:08.79\00:52:10.69
by sending them
to (618) 228-3975.
00:52:10.73\00:52:15.23
That number again
is (618) 228-3975.
00:52:15.26\00:52:20.27
Be sure to include your
name and where you live,
00:52:20.30\00:52:22.87
and then watch
3ABN Bible Q and A
00:52:22.90\00:52:37.92