Pastor Doug: Hello friends, this is Doug Batchelor. How about an amazing fact? His picture is on every $20 bill which is odd when you consider, he hated paper money much preferring real gold and silver currency. Known as Old Hickory by his soldiers, Andrew Jackson was one of America's toughest leaders. In fact, Jackson served two terms as president with a bullet lodged near his heart and a musket ball in his lung from various duels and battles.
On January 30 1835, Andrew Jackson became the first American president to experience an assassination attempt. Richard Lawrence, a mentally disturbed house painter approached Jackson as he left the congressional funeral held on Capitol Hill. And, shot him but as the gun misfired. Lawrence managed to pull out a second loaded pistol and pull the trigger but it also misfired.
At this point, the 67 year old Jackson chased down his attacker, clubbing him several times with his walking cane. In the crowd was a congressman named Davy Crockett who helped intervene and wrestle Lawrence into submission probably saving him from a furious President, Jackson was unharmed. A century later, Smithsonian Institute researchers conducted a study of Lawrence's derringers during the test both guns fired properly on the first try.
It was later determined that the odds of both guns misfiring during the assassination attempt were only one in 125,000. Have you ever wondered how many times you have been providentially preserved by divine intervention? Stay with us friends we're going to learn more as amazing facts brings you this edition of Bible Answers Live.
[PROGRAM INTRODUCTION]
Pastor Doug: Welcome listening friends to a fresh installment of Bible Answers Live. We're thankful you've turned in, for any if this is your first time, this is a live international Interactive Bible study and we're going to delve into the word together, invite you to call in with your Bible questions. It's a free phone call and we do have lines open. That number one more time 800 God says that's 8004637297. Get your pencil ready, 8004637297 brings your Bible question and my name is Doug Batchelor.
Pastor Ross: My name is Jëan Ross, Good evening listening friends and Pastor Doug, it’s good to be live once again. Both of us were gone for the past few weeks but it's good to be back. Let's start with a word of prayer. Dear Father, we thank you that we have this opportunity to study the Bible. And, we want to ask you special blessing upon this program, be with those who are listening wherever they might be. And, we pray for the Holy Spirit to guide our minds as we search the scriptures together in Jesus name, amen.
Pastor Doug: Amen.
Pastor Ross: Pastor that probably-- If we would just sit and recollect or think back over our lives, we could probably come up with a number of instances where we felt as though God had intervened to preserve our life. Even, our listeners I'm sure they have those experiences where you really feel as though, wow, God stepped in and stopped that car from swerving in front of you or preserving your life in some situation. We wonder though, how many of those situations we're unaware of and we won't know until heaven, how the angels have helped to preserve our life.
Pastor Doug: Absolutely, and we've all heard stories about someone who missed the plane and the-
Pastor Ross: Plane crash-
Pastor Doug: -yes. That actually happened to my father. When we get to heaven, we'll learn about a lot of the cases, we don't know anything about now, of close calls we were delivered from. But, everyone knows that there are some pretty marvelous examples where God has intervened and saved us, you wonder. Andrew Jackson was a Christian though he was pretty honorary and had quite a temper at times.
But, he must have thought that an angel had somehow stepped in and preserved him. Because, here's somebody-- He had him point blank, aimed the gun, fired and the thing popped. It misfired and he pulls out another gun and aims it and it pops, at that point Jackson wasn't going to wait for him to pull out a third gun and he went after him.
They didn’t have secret service back then believe it or not, you could get that close to the president. And, of course this was the first assassination attempt but there must have been some angelic protection happening there. And, there's a Psalm that everybody can claim, people worry about the time of trouble in the last days. "There is going to be a time of trouble," Jesus said. Unlike anything we've seen. But, if you're a believer you don't need to worry about that. This is one that will really give you courage; we used to tell our kids to memorize this Psalm.
Psalm 91, I won't read the whole thing but it says in the beginning "He that dwells in the secret place of the most high, will abide under the shadow of the All mighty. I'll say of the Lord, "He is my refuge and my fortress, My God in Him I will trust." Surely, He will deliver you from the snare of the fowler. And, from the perilous pestilence. He'll cover you with his feathers and under his wings you will take refuge. His truth will be your shield and your buckler. You'll not be afraid of the terror by night, nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the pestilence that walks in darkness, nor the destruction that lays wasted at noon day.
A thousand may fall at your side, and 10000 at your right hand but it will not come near you. Only with your eyes will you see and look of the reward of the wicked. Because, you've made the Lord who is my refuge even the most high your dwelling place, no evil will be fall you nor shall any plague come near your dwelling. Because, He'll give his angels charge over you, to keep you in all your ways". Now, this is a wonderful Psalm of promise. As a matter of fact, the devil knows this Psalm because he quoted part of it back to Jesus when he was tempted. But, it’s filled with promises of God's preservation.
Now, in this Psalm is something that is referenced by the Apostle Paul about how we can put on the armor of God which gives us spiritual protection, God's Kevlar. And, we have a book that will talk about how you can have that security and that protection. That will send you for free just by asking or you can read it online.
Pastor Ross: The book is called The armor of God, we'll be able to send this to anyone who calls and ask, our resource line is 8004637297, actually that is our line here to the studio. Our resource line is 8008356747, you can ask for the book The armor of God and we'll send that to you. Again, 8008356747, that is the resource line and the book is called The armor of God. And, as Pastor Doug, you mentioned folks can read it right now online at the amazing facts website just amazingfacts.org, you can read the book for free.
Well, we are ready to go to the phone lines, our first caller is calling from Dallas Texas, we have Caroline listening. Caroline, welcome the program
Caroline: Hello, How are you all?
Pastor Doug: Good, good. Thank you for your call, your question tonight.
Caroline: I just had a question, it was about the last-- It's initially about the second death. But, I was wondering because it’s related to another topic that I've heard you all discussed before and I was just wondering if you all answer it for me.
Pastor Doug: What's your question? We'll do our best.
Caroline: Well, I was thinking of the blaspheming the Holy Spirit-- Once you do it and it's any sin where He doesn't come to you because you've done it. And, He leaves or moves away because you won't stop and if you going, right?
Pastor Doug: Well, blasphemy is of course putting yourself in the place of God or deriding God. Matthew-- Jesus says in Matthew Chapter 12, “All manner of sin and blasphemy will be forgiven, people. But, the blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, there is no forgiveness for that.” And, so everyone is of course really apprehensive. God is merciful, He says, "He forgives all manner of sin and blasphemy." But, there are in Matthew 12:31 says "Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit shall not be forgiven unto men." And, if you want to know what is that. Is that what you're wondering?
Caroline: No, I was just wondering because I thought maybe-- I had it confused because my question was actually with Mark 23:29, it says, "Blasphemy against the Holory Spirit is an eternal sin." I was wondering would an eternal sin require an eternal punishment. Because, with blasphemy, that's an eternal sin and everyone does it or everyone who is not saved or doesn't--
Pastor Doug: Well, let's read that verse that's in Mark chapter three verse 28, "Verily I say-
Caroline: Verse 29.
Pastor Doug:-Well 28 and 29, “Verily, I say unto you, all sins shall be forgiven unto the sons of men and blasphemies where so ever they may blaspheme. But, he who blasphemes against the Holy Ghost never has forgiveness but is in danger of eternal damnation”, now we believe that's true. When a person is lost, they are lost eternally. And, there's no second chance, they’re eternally doomed. And, that's what it's seen there, is that the person who commits the unpardonable sin is beyond forgiveness for ever, eternally. Doesn't say they're roasting in the fire any more or less than the other people who are eternally lost. But, it's eternal separation from God, is the word of the wicked. Is that helping answer what you're asking?
Caroline: Kind of, I was just thinking, what version are you all reading?
Pastor Doug: Right now, the New King James version, is very similar in the King James, what version are you reading?
Caroline: Oh, I was reading the King James--No, I was reading NSV, my bad.
Pastor Doug: Actually, I’ll take it back I was reading the King James Version.
Pastor Ross: But, the point eternal punishment is different from eternal punishing. The punishment for sin, the wages of sin is death that's eternal. So, when the sinner dies, there's no resurrection its eternal. Doesn't mean that he's suffering in hell fires without end, that's a misunderstanding of the subject of what happens to the wicked and the subject of hell fire.
Pastor Doug: We do have a book on that, we’ll be happy to send you and it's a lesson called Is the devil in charge of hell? Clearly, if you will just go to our website and you can either read it for free there or we’ll send it to you, also.
Pastor Ross: The number to call is 8008356747 that is the resource line and you can call and ask for the study guide called Is the devil in charge of hell? We’ll be happy to send it to anyone or you can go to our website that amazing facts put together called hellthtruth.com. The lesson I believe is right there on the website along with a lot of other scripture references and even some sermons dealing with the subject of the destruction of the wicked. We have Kelly listening from Jefferson Missouri, Kelly welcome to the program.
Kelly: Thank you, in Leviticus 15:18 it says that a man and a woman are considered unclean after having sex, I wondered why would a husband and a wife be considered unclean until evening.
Pastor Doug: First of all there's two different kinds of spiritual or uncleanness that are addressed in the writings of Moses. One of them would be just anything where you're-- Any bodily emissions, they said you needed to wash and that was not the thing that would separate you spiritually but they just said you need to wash, until you wash, you’re unclean. And, even mothers tell their kids that when they come in from outside, they say,” don’t come to the table until you go wash up.”
They didn't have running water in all their tents and so they would go and wash and they were unclean until they washed it. That would mean that they were unclean for coming into the congregation of the Lord. Nobody was supposed to come before the Lord or it didn't matter if it was spit any kind of bodily emissions rendered you unclean and you're supposed to wash first, but I appreciate your call and your question.
Pastor Ross: Our next caller is Josiah listening from Texas, Josiah welcome to the program.
Pastor Doug: That's McKinney Texas.
Pastor Ross: Yes.
Josiah: Hi, I have a question basically about when Jesus was talking about the wedding banquet, I'm wondering who is who. Because, when Jesus is saying like, "How can the guest of the bridegroom mourn while he's with them and the time will come when the bridegroom be taken from them, they will fast." Well if we're the guest of the bridegroom and the bride groom is Jesus, who is the bride because it makes it seem like we have some heavenly mother or something?
Pastor Doug: Well, the bride you can actually find mentioned in Revelation, it talks about it being the church as a whole. It says, “Husbands love your wives even as Christ loves the church.” That one actually is in Ephesians, Revelation 21 talks about the New Jerusalem coming down as a bride.
Pastor Ross: Sometimes in scripture you have the bride is symbolized as the kingdom, the New Jerusalem is the capital of the kingdom, that's going to be Christ, that's sometimes described as the bride. And, of course the significance about the kingdom, is not just the streets of gold, it's the citizens of the kingdom, that’s the redeemed. In scripture especially in the parables of Jesus, the believers are liken unto the guests at the wedding.
Christ is the bridegroom and the bride is Christ's kingdom. Jesus comes back the second time as King of kings and Lord of lords. You can also read in Daniel chapter seven where Jesus receives a kingdom also referred to in Revelation chapter 11. In one sense the bride is the church; in a broader sense the bride is the kingdom that Christ receives.
Pastor Doug: We have a study guide that actually deals with the subject of the bride of Christ; we’ll send you for free. I'm sorry you were saying?
Pastor Ross: That's a great lesson.
Josiah: Oh, so basically the guest and the bride you’re saying basically?
Pastor Ross: Well, more accurately the bride would be the kingdom and we would be the citizens of the kingdom, the guests or the citizens of the Kingdom. For example Jesus told a parable in Matthew 22, where there was a wedding banquet and a king arranged a wedding feast for his son, those who came they were the guests at the wedding. And, there was a man without the wedding garment so in that sense the bride would symbolize the kingdom that Christ receives and the guests would be the redeemed.
Pastor Doug: That's often true; the guests are related to the bride.
Pastor Ross: That's right.
Pastor Doug: [laughs] keep it here; we don't want to take the metaphor that Jesus uses too far. He calls himself the sheep shepherd and we're obviously the sheep but it doesn't mean we sheer each other, it's an illustration. Of course there are pastors that fleece the sheep out there. Thank you Josiah, don't forget we do have a study guide that-- It's got the bride of Christ on the cover and it deals completely with this subject about who is the bride of Christ and talks about that wedding feast, we’ll send you a free copy.
Pastor Ross: The number to call is 8008356747, that is the resource line and just ask for the study guide called The bride of Christ. We’ll send it to you or anyone who calls and asks, if you have a bible question, the phone number here to the studio is 8004637297. Again, its 800 God says 4637297 our next caller is Jerry listening from Medford Oregon, Jerry welcome to the program.
Jerry: Thank you Pastors, Ross and Batchelor, my question pertains to Isaiah chapter 65 the last third of that chapter, new heaven and a new earth. This is the one talking about the wolf lying with the lamb and never again will there be an infant who lives a few days-- But, interestingly it says, “He who dies at a hundred will be taught a mere youth, he who fails to reach a hundred will be considered a curse.” Why are people dying at all during this period of time and when is this period of time, it obviously can't be heaven?
Pastor Doug: Well, let me-- This is one of those places where when you go from one language to another it can be confusing, it really is talking about heaven and it says-- Let me read it from the King James version in verse 20 and this is Isaiah 65 verse 20, “There shall no more thence an infant of days, nor an old man that has not filled his days." In other words nobody is dying a premature death, for the child will die a hundred years old.”
Right there, is a part that confuses people, a child dying a hundred years old? The word that is used in Hebrew therefore die can also be translated cease and it's simply saying that a child will not even cease to be a child until it's a hundred. Now, when you look in Genesis, it's amazing because Adam living 930 years, it says that some of the early patriarchs didn't even get married until they were over a hundred.
In other words they grew more slowly and so when you live eternally, kids that die in this life are not raised adults, they are raised as children, they go forth, they grow up and that's by the way Malachi chapter four. But, they do not even cease being children until they are a hundred.
It goes on and says in another place, “For as the days of a tree, so are the days of my people.” You don't give a birthday for trees because they live hundreds of years. Isaiah is using some poetic language here talking about people living forever and when he says a sinner being a hundred years old shall be a curse. In other words even after that a hundred years go by, all sinners are a curse, they don't live anymore, they're gone. It's really not talking about death; it is talking about the new heaven and new earth.
And, he's just using some poetic language there to illustrate, you won’t even be able to measure time the way we do here. Because, even after a hundred years, a child doesn't cease to be a child until it's a hundred as we’ll go forth and grow up, living forever. Does that make sense?
Jerry: Well, I suppose, what you're saying is that the translation--
Pastor Doug: Going from Hebrew to English here can leave you confused, the word their child shall not die can be translated a child shall not cease, meaning cease to be a child until it's a hundred.
Jerry: Okay thank you Pastor Batchelor, nice talking to you.
Pastor Doug: All right, thank you very much. Appreciate your call.
Pastor Ross: Our next caller is calling from Guam. We have Josephat listening from Joy FM. Josephat, welcome to the program.
Josephat: Good afternoon Pastor John, Pastor--
Pastor Doug: Evening.
Josephat: Good evening.
Pastor Doug: Well, maybe afternoon there, but we're glad you're calling.
Josephat: [laughs] yes. Praise the Lord.
Pastor Doug: Your question?
Josephat: Yes. My question is-- I heard that you were talking, when was that, about the tithe or was that tithing.
Pastor Doug: Yes.
Josephat: I used to give one-tenth of my income, weekly income. Put it in the envelope, give it to my church every Sunday, I went to church; I put it on the altar. That's my tithe every, not every, often, always. My question is, is it okay if I, instead of giving to the church, I buy food, clothes, and send it to the people that they build church?
Pastor Doug: Well, you know in, I think it's in Deuteronomy 14; it talks about a tithe that was given to the poor. The typical tithe that you read about in Malachi chapter 3, it says that is to be brought to the storehouse. Whether it was you're tithing food or in whatever your increase is money. In our society, typically its money, it was used then and distributed among those who are preaching the word. So, that they didn't have to work full time because they were out teaching the people and preaching the word.
There was a second tithe, sometimes that people would bring to the feasts. It was used for, they might give it to the poor as a special blessing on the poor. That's really something that's separate. Now, I've been to countries where people have no money. Pastor Ross and I just got back from Jamaica and we met a lot of dear people there. Some of them were very poor, but nobody was hungry because food grows very freely in Jamaica.
People had, and they were just blessing as with lots of very nice food. But, they may not have had money. In some places, they actually bring the rice, and their food, or whatever they have from their farms. They bring it. It's there distributed to those preaching the gospel. I don't know. Hopefully we're answering your question.
Pastor Ross: There are a few verses that talk about this, pastor. You mentioned Deuteronomy. Deuteronomy chapter 26 verses 12, Deuteronomy 26 verses 13 talks about tithe that's been given to the Levites but also to a stranger, to the fatherless, and the widow. We do have a couple of references to that as you mentioning.
Josephat: Okay.
Pastor Doug: I appreciate your call Josephat. I'm sorry. Did we-- Go ahead, you have one more thought?
Josephat: Pastor, what do you prefer me to do? [laughs]
Pastor Doug: Well, it's really what the Lord says, and he says that a tenth of our increase, if your increase is not converted to currency, you bring what you have. If it's currency, you want to bring it before the Lord. If I'm imagining the churches where you live, they have a common spot, bring it.
Pastor Ross: The 10% increase typically goes even in Bible times; it was going to the preacher of the gospel. Now, the offerings would be used to help the needs of people in the community or to help with the needs with the local church. Usually, the tithe was set aside, and even today, the number of denominations the tithe goes towards those who are engaged in full-time gospel preaching to support the missionaries and the pastors, and the Bible workers, those things.
Pastor Doug: Yes.
Pastor Ross: We don't want to neglect that. That's an important work.
Pastor Doug: We also have a study guide that deals specifically with this subject we'll send you for free. It's called In God We Trust. Of course, you're in Guam. Best thing to do is if you can look online. Yes, just download it and you'll have it right there. In God We Trust at amazingfacts.org.
Pastor Ross: Or you can call, if you're in the US, 800-835-6747 and you can ask the study guide called In God We Trust, or read it online at amazingfacts.org. We have time for another call before our break. We have Briana who is listening from Atlanta, Georgia. Briana, welcome to the program.
Briana: Yes, hello. Good afternoon. Well, yes, my question had to deal with spiritual gift. Recently, I have learnt about spiritual gifts, personally mine are evangelism and apostleship. Now, one spiritual gift I was told was speaking in tongues. I was wondering can everyone speak in tongues. Or is that a specific spiritual gift?
Pastor Doug: Well, if you read in first Corinthians chapter 14, it says we're all different part of one body. Paul asks the question. Do all speak in tongues? It’s says, you can go to 1st Corinthians 12:17, but the manifestation of the spirit is given to every man to profit with all. For, to one is given by the spirit the word of wisdom, to another meaning a different one, the word of knowledge by the same spirit to another faith by the same spirit, to another the gifts of healing.
To another working of miracles, to another prophesy, to another discerning of spirits, to another diverse kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. But, all these work for the one purpose. He doesn't say everybody's given any one gift. One of the gifts of the spirit is the gift of tongues. Some people have the gift of tongues, and that's the gift to be able to speak many languages for the purpose of sharing the gospel.
It's not fair really, I think, when a pastor says that if you don't have the gift of tongues, you don't have the Holy Spirit. The Bible doesn't say that you prove you have the Holy Spirit by the gifts of the spirit. The evidence of the Holy Spirit is the fruit of the spirit that you find in Galatians 5, love, joy, peace, so forth.
Pastor Ross: It's also important for us to remember that with all of the gifts of the spirit, Satan also has counterfeits. There's a lot of people today talking about having the gift of tongues, but we need to make sure that we understand what the Bible means when it talks about the gift of tongues. We have a book called Understanding Tongues which gives you a good solid scriptural basis for this gift and how it's used, and how do I know if I have this gift.
I think you'd find that very helpful, Briana. If you call our resource line, we'll send it to you for free or you can just go online. The book is called Understanding Tongues. You can look it up at the Amazing Facts website or call 800-835-6747 and you can ask for the book Understanding Tongues.
Pastor Doug: That really is a very important question today, because there's a lot of churches that they practice a more charismatic form or preaching in tongues that I really find in the Book of Acts. If you look in Acts chapter 2, Acts chapter 10, Acts chapter 19, there's three examples of speaking in tongues in the Bible. In all three of those examples, the disciples or apostles were given the supernatural ability to speak languages they didn't formally know or study for the purpose of preaching the gospel to other people. That's why Jesus said in Mark chapter 16, "You will speak with other tongues."
These Galileans were given the ability to go speak many different languages, and we see an example of that there in Acts chapter 2. Send for that book Understanding Tongues. You're listening to Bible Answers Live.
Pastor Ross: You know, Pastor Doug we're coming up on our break. But, just before we actually take the break, we like to let folks know of some of the resources available to them that Amazing Facts has put together online. One of the great resources for anybody studying the Bible is the biblehistory.com timeline that Amazing Facts has. Did you know, Pastor Doug, that at the birth of Abraham, Noah was still alive?
Pastor Doug: I know that shocks people [laughs]
Pastor Ross: But, when you see it online, you can actually see how the different ages of the patriarchs overlap. This is a great resource, all the way from creation during the time of the patriarchs and the Kings, all the way into New Testament time. You have these different aspects laid out at the biblehistory.com timeline.
Pastor Doug: Right and you'll see when they lived, how long they lived, how their lives overlapped with other lives. You'll see the prophesy fulfillment according to their timelines, and it's just an incredible-- There's nothing like it on the internet. Biblehistory.com. Take a look, pass on the link to your friends. Don't go away. More Bible questions are coming.
[COMMERCIAL BREAK]
Pastor Doug: We’re back listening friends with Bible Answers Live and if you tune in along the way this is a Live Interactive Bible Study. You can call in your questions. Have a couple of lines open toll free number 800-GOD-SAYS. That’s 800-463-7297, 800-463-7297 my name is Doug Batchelor.
Pastor Ross: My name is Jëan Ross, good evening friends. We’re going to go straight back to the phone lines. Our next caller is calling from Ontario, Canada. We have Juliette listening on Joy 1250. Juliette, welcome to the program.
Juliette: Hi, good evening, right? Welcome, thanks for having me in the program.
Pastor Doug: Thank you for calling in and your question tonight?
Juliette: Yes, what I call to ask about how can one witness if you don’t have-- I don’t know how to approach people and talk to them about Christ and the Bible because I have few family members. They’re in and out of church. I have a brother in Atlanta, one in Jamaica and my sister in Toronto, Canada. My mom has been praying that, for several years that they may turn their life to God and surrender. I have been praying, but they are not doing it. My sister will play the games, "Oh, I don’t have-- It’s too cold outside." My brother in Atlanta would say, "Oh, I go a couple of times last week--"
Pastor Doug: You want to know how to witness to your family?
Juliette: Yes.
Pastor Doug: There’s three things you can do to witness to anybody you love you want to try and help. These are people you may just meet or people that you’ve known for many years. Just three things, same three things one is pray for them. Sounds like you’re doing that.
Juliette: Yes.
Pastor Doug: The other thing is if they’re open share information. Now, you might have some Christian books or study guides or you can give them Amazing Facts DVDs. Sometimes people won’t read right away but they might watch something. Then, the third thing is be a good example and really there’s a fourth thing and that fourth thing is be patient because we want people to change right away. Some do have dramatic quick conversions, but most it takes time.
Don’t be discouraged and just continue being faithful and doing these things. If you go to the Amazing Facts website, it’s amazingfacts.org you’ll see that there’s a lot of free Bible study materials you can download, you can send the link to your friends, they can read online. There are videos galore, sermons. We even have some messages on how to witness.
It always helps if you have a little training knowing how to your share your faith and maybe you can find out if in your area some of the churches are offering witnessing program. Amazing facts has a whole weekend that we do where we tell people how to be witnesses. But, I appreciate your call and check out some of those witnessing materials at the Amazing Facts website.
Pastor Ross: Pastor, while talking to Juliette she mentioned she has family in Jamaica and then when she greeted us this evening she said good night. We commented-- We just got back from Jamaica for those of you listening. We always find it interesting when somebody would greet us in the evening here in North America typically say, "Good evening." But, there they say, "Good night."
Pastor Doug: That’s what we say when we’re leaving the house [laughter] at night.
Pastor Ross: Oh, yes, when we put the kids to bed we say good night. [laughs] But, just a wonderful time maybe you want to say something about the-- We had this fantastic weekend rally in Kingston, Jamaica. We want to say hi to all of our friends. We know a number of people are listening from the island and then also at the Northern Caribbean University.
Pastor Doug: And then, yes, they’re airing the program even as we speak and we did a week of prayer there on the campus and it was all delightful, energized, five thousands came to our weekend last week or about six thousand people. I think we were at the national-- Biggest indoor auditorium in the country. I want to send our greetings to the people in Jamaica, Christian there.
Pastor Ross: We have Sheryl listening from Roseville, California. Sheryl, welcome to the program.
Sheryl: All right, how are you?
Pastor Doug: Doing good, thank you for calling.
Sheryl: Yes, I always want to know what the unpardonable sin was and what was blaspheme of the Spirit was?
Pastor Doug: When Jesus says in Matthew 12 and it’s also referenced in the Book of Mark that there-- All men have sinned and blaspheme will be forgiven. That’s the part we should really dwell on. Jesus said all manner of sins will be forgiven. God has forgiven adulterers like David. He’s forgiven people who denied him like Peter. He forgives people who’ve committed murder like Moses. All different sins are forgiven. But, there’s one sin and that’s what troubles people that God doesn’t forgive. And, folks usually trying and conjure up in their minds, what’s the worst thing they can imagine?
Is it infanticide or is it pedophilia? Or what is the sin that God cannot forgive? Actually, the only sin that God can’t forgive is the sin for which we will not repent and that is blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, where we grieve away the Holy Spirit by gradually just saying, no, so often and so long to the Holy Spirit that the volume of the Spirit gets so weak. We get a callous on our spiritual ear and grow deaf. We can’t hear God anymore and we’ve reached the point of no return because he can’t speak to us. We won’t listen.
As a matter of fact I wrote a book on this because there are so many questions. It’s actually a book I think that brings hope and it’s called Beyond Mercy what is the unpardonable sin? How does a person get to that place? Most people who are asking the question have not committed the unpardonable sin, Sheryl. They just want to know, have I gone too far? Did I do it? Is it some words that you utter? It could be one of many things is the straw that breaks the camel’s back, but usually it’s procrastinating, telling God, no, perpetual rebelling so you no longer hear his voice.
Pastor Ross: It’s interesting the wording that you find in, which you there in Matthew, blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. Blasphemy is defined as putting oneself in the place of God. The Holy Spirit is God. Jesus said, in John 16:8, "When He, the Holy Spirit, comes He will convict the world of sin, of righteousness and of judgment." Somebody who commits blasphemy against the Holy Spirit they put themselves in the place of the Holy Spirit and when the Holy Spirit convicts them of sin they say, no, that’s not really sin.
That’s not that big of a deal. We excuse sin and there comes a point when a person experience where they continually are making excuses for sin that sin ceases to appear as sin to them and they stopped asking repentance. That’s the warning. We don’t want to allow sin to become casual to us and our hearts to grow hard towards the speaking of the Holy Spirit.
Pastor Doug: Right, thank you for question, Sheryl, and if you call the resource number or and you could request that book. I don’t think you can read it online yet, but it’s called Beyond Mercy what is the Unpardonable Sin?
Pastor Ross: The number to call is 800-835-6747. You can ask for the book Beyond Mercy. We’ll be happy to send it to anyone who calls and ask. We have Halley listening from Ontario, Canada. Halley, welcome to the program.
Halley: Hi.
Pastor Doug: Your question, tonight.
Halley: My question is-- Would be about Jesus coming back the second time. I read in Revelation that-- It said that He would have a sword coming out of his mouth, could you explain why?
Pastor Doug: Yes, for one thing it tells us that the sword in the Bible is a symbol for the word of God. You can read in Ephesians Chapter 6 the sword of the spirit which is the word of God and in Hebrews Chapter 4. It says that the word of God is quick and powerful and sharper than any two edged sword. Revelation is full of symbols when we see Jesus with a sword in his mouth, of course, it doesn’t mean He’s literally coming.
It would really hurt when He turned around, he’ll be cutting people down. It’s saying that the word of God is in the mouth of Jesus, a lot of symbols in Revelation in these visions. Halley, we actually have the study guide we offer tonight about the Armor of God. You would enjoy that book. It’s got some fun stories in it too. It talks about that sword.
Pastor Ross: Also it refers to Jesus coming and it talks about him coming with the sword or with a sickle that symbolizes something. A sickle which is somewhat like a sword, but it’s used for harvesting wheat or grapes. When Jesus comes the second time, it talks of the harvest of the earth. Christ is coming to gather the righteous.
At the same time the wicked are gathered and destroyed. Jesus comes with a sword in his mouth so to speak. He’s coming in fulfillment to his promise. Jesus promised that He'd come back again and he’s coming back again. And, judgment is to be meted out against the ungodly according to what the word says. There are some of the symbols and what they’re meanings in scripture.
Pastor Doug: Yes, we appreciate that and you could send for that study guide on the Armor of God.
Pastor Ross: The number to call is 800-835-6747. That again is the resource line
and the book tonight that we will sent to anyone for free is called The armor of God. All you'll have to do is just ask for it. You can also read that for free at the amazing facts website amazingfacts.org. If you have a Bible question the number here to the studio is 800-463-7297 again 800 God says that's 463-7297. We have Jeremy listening in Sacramento. Jeremy welcome to the program.
Jeremy: Hi.
Pastor Doug: Hi Jeremy thanks for calling in and your question.
Jeremy: You’re hearing me okay?
Pastor Doug: Yes, loud and clear and what's your question tonight?
Jeremy: How to deal with God’s plan? I’m living on assumption and I believe it that there is a plan or blue print in our life.
Pastor Doug: There is, I think there's the ideal plan of God and then sometimes we take detours.
Jeremy: I feel like I can get my own way and change that plan and then what happens then?
Pastor Doug: Well if you live for yourself and you have that right to do that, then your life is going to just be subject to the battle of providence between God's plan and the devil's plan. Devil’s got a plan too and Jesus said-
Jeremy: How do we align ourselves with God's plan?
Pastor Doug: -excuse me?
Jeremy: How do we align ourselves with God’s plan?
Pastor Doug: Why would we align ourselves with God’s or how?
Jeremy: No, how do we realign ourselves-- I made the decision but I know it wasn't God’s plan, how do we get back in line with that?
Pastor Doug: Well, you start where you're at and you surrender yourself and say, "Lord, I've made some bad decisions." You can't always unwind everything completely but you can surrender where you are and then the Lord can start turning things around in guiding you. And, he can definitely get you back on track it may take a little doing and we make some wrong decisions and you can't always reverse those choices.
David did that, King David he got out of God's will and if you know the story he ended up getting involved in adultery, was indirectly responsible for a friend dying and I guess he was directly responsible-
Pastor Ross: He was.
Pastor Doug: -and he repented of that. And, all the results of his mistake didn't go away but the Holy Spirit came back into his life and God began to guide him from that point on.
Pastor Ross: It's encouraging when you look into the Bible and you see the stories of people in the past. They were people who made mistakes. God's ideal they didn't always follow, the children of Israel it was God's purpose that they would leave Egypt and then go into the Promised Land. But, because of unbelief they ended up taking the detour for 40 years in the wilderness. What's encouraging is that God led them back to the Promised Land.
When we make mistakes and we don't follow God's plan, we can always stop and say Lord please help, there might be consequences pastor Doug said very real consequences as a result of bad choices. But God is willing to Forgive and He's willing to work things out ultimately for our good if we put our trust in Him.
Pastor Doug: Yes, I've seen miracles also where the Lord is taken-- When a person surrenders to God that he's taken some very foreboding circumstances and worked miracles to lessen the impact and work things out. We have a book we can send you on how to know the will of God, Jeremy. And, I just pray for you that-- I encourage you to surrender your life to Jesus and say, "Lord, I don't trust my plan.
Bible tells us in Proverbs there’s a way that seems right to a man but the end there of is a way of death and just our ways get us in trouble. But, if we commit our way unto the Lord, he will direct our paths." I'd encourage you to pray, ask the Lord and anyone out there you just surrender your life to the Lord. He has a plan, He will not force it on you until you invite Him into your heart and then He'll activate that plan. We have a book called How to know or determine the will of God.
Pastor Ross: Will send that to you for free if you just call and ask it's called Determining the will of God. A book written by Pastor Doug, the number to call is 800-835-6747 and ask for the book Determining God's will. You can also read it for free online Determining the will of God, just amazingfacts.org type in the little search bar that will come up on the web page. You can also find it at the Free Library at amazing facts and you can read it there. We have Leonard listening from Boise Idaho, Leonard welcome to the program.
Leonard: Thank you, Doug and Pastor John for taking my question. I was curious about Matthew: 5:17 where Jesus talked about what was fulfilled saying, not that I come to destroy the law but to fulfill it and a lot of people apply that to the 10 commandments. I was wondering if Luke 24:44 goes hand in hand with that text there in 5:17 of Matthew
Pastor Doug: Well, let me go there real quick Luke 24:44 you said?
Leonard: Yes.
Pastor Doug: Well that's where he says, "Yes, and certain of them that were with us went to the tomb is that the one?
Pastor Ross: No, you're looking at Luke:24:44, it says, "These are the words which I have spoken to you while I was still with you that all things must be fulfilled which are written in the Law of Moses and of the prophets and of the Psalms concerning me."
Pastor Doug: Is that the one?
Leonard: Yes.
Pastor Ross: Yes, absolutely, now the word fulfill doesn't mean do away with, it means fill full. When Jesus said, "Do not think I've come to destroy the law on the prophets, I did not come to destroy but fulfill. Let me give you an example in the Bible and you can even go to the same book of Matthew and say how does Jesus, how does this word fit in? When Christ came to John the Baptist and John recognized he was the messiah, Jesus said, "I've come to be baptized."
And, John was mystified by this. He said, "Lord you need to baptize me, why are you coming to be baptized? Because, you're the sinless one and baptism represents cleansing for sin." I'm paraphrasing but then Jesus said to him, "Suffer, it to be so now for thus it becomes us to fulfill all righteousness." Well, the word fulfill the re doesn't mean do away with all righteousness because Jesus didn't come to do away with all righteousness nobody believes that. Neither, did he come to do away with the law he came to fulfill it, live it out in his life and he calls us to fulfill it in our lives.
Leonard: Very good. I was wondering if that where it says He fulfilled in the Law of Moses. And, in Deuteronomy it talks about Moses receiving some instructions from God to make the Book of the Law and put it in a side of the Ark of the Covenant and does that deal with the ordinances?
Pastor Doug: Yes and you can read about this also in Colossians chapter 2, where it talks about that there are certain laws and ordinances and the Sabbath days that were nailed to the cross. And, it’s talking about the ceremonial laws, the 10 commandments were written on stone, God’s finger, spoken by God's voice placed in the golden Ark in the holy of holies. The ceremonial laws were written by the hand of Moses that's called the handwriting of ordinances that was against us in Colossians.
They were placed in a pocket on the outside of the ark; they were of a passing nature. We don't need to sacrifice lambs anymore, we don't, the circumcision Bible is very clear that's not required anymore. And so, there are a number of ceremonial laws and Sabbaths and feast days that were all connected with the sanctuary and its services. When Jesus died on the cross and the veil was rent in the sanctuary, it was telling us that the purpose of the earthly sanctuary and all those types was fulfilled. Jesus was the Lamb of God and so we've got a book on feast days and Sabbaths that deals with that we could also send Leonard for free.
Pastor Ross: Anybody wants to learn more about this, just call our resource line its, 800-835-6747 you can ask the book called Feast days and Sabbaths. We’ll be happy to send that to anybody who calls and asks. Maybe just want one additional thought on that Pastor Doug. In Luke 24:44, where Jesus speaks about the Law of Moses, the prophets and the Psalms. In the Old Testament Scriptures was divided into two parts the one section was known as the law, those are the first five books written by
Moses and then the rest of the Old Testament was known as the prophets or as the testimony. That's why you read the scripture says to the law and to the testimony; they speak not according to this that is the first five books and then the rest of the Old Testament Scriptures. In verse 44, in Luke 24, there is an added category and Jesus refers to that as the Psalms.
Pastor Doug: And, there were quite a few Psalms that very distinctly foretold the coming of Jesus even in Psalm 22, it says, "My God, my God why have you forsaken me? They pierced his hands and his feet and dogs have encompassed me." He describes the scenes of the Cross, the gambling cast lots for my clothing, so a number of the Psalms clearly were fulfilled in the life of Jesus thank you Leonard for your question.
Pastor Ross: We have Ann listening from New York. Ann welcome to the program.
Ann: Yes sir, I can hear you. I have a question in reference to what does the first fruit mean and I read it in Genesis the first fruit is supposed to be given every three years but in some churches I understand that they ask for the first fruits every year. One of the instructions was to giving the first fruit and I'm not quite understanding what it is and what is the blessing behind giving of the first fruits
Pastor Doug: Well, the principle is-- Jesus says, "Seek ye first the kingdom of God." It's a priority principle. And, because they were an agricultural society, in their farms, the first part of any harvest they would bring to the Lord, harvesting sometimes lasted, lasted for weeks when they had fields. But, the first part was set aside and it was brought to the Lord. And, said, "I'm not going to give the leftovers to God, we're going to give the first and the best to God."
And, so the first gleanings, the first harvest-- When it was the animals, the first born of all the sheep and the goats that was consecrated to the Lord whether they actually brought the animal. If it was an unclean animal like your firstborn donkey or horse, they would give a price for that and redeem it. So, it was just a way of saying that God would not get the leftovers in their lives but God got the first. So, we don't keep that law today unless you're a farmer and you're taking up offerings and grain. We keep it now with our tithes and our offerings.
Pastor Ross: You know what else is important, the first fruits. You'd offer that to God back in Bible times and in one sense you are recognizing God's blessings on your field but you're also asking God's blessing on the rest of the harvest that would follow on. So, when we set aside our tithe first, the first of our increase and we give that to the Lord. God will bless the remainder and we've heard it said before Pastor Doug that 90% with God's blessing goes further than 100% without God's blessing.
Pastor Doug: [Laughs] that’s right. Yes, we want together ask, "Do you want 90% that's cursed or-- Rather 90% that's blessed or 100% that's cursed.
Ann: I see.
Pastor Doug: Go ahead Ann does that help you a little?
Ann: Yes, so that means that actually it’s your tithe and offerings, it's not separate. It's not like tithe and offerings and then another first fruit.
Pastor Doug: No, I think it might be exploiting people if a church is telling you to pay tithe which is 10% and an offering which could be anything-
Ann: Right.
Pastor Doug: -and a first fruit on top of that. But, I found either way you can't really out give God. Hey, thank you for your question. We're going to try and squeeze in one more call here while time remains.
Pastor Ross: We have Gloria listening from Atlanta. Gloria, welcome to the program.
Gloria: Thank you very much. The question is--
Pastor Doug: Is that Atlanta, Michigan?
Gloria: Yes sir.
Pastor Doug: Oh good. We almost thought Georgia. I bet that happens to you a lot.
Gloria: Again, I could tell when they took it down they almost wrote down Georgia. I go with Michigan.
Pastor Doug: All right, so it's cold there right now.
Gloria: Oh man, freezing rain all day, yes.
Pastor Doug: [Laughs] And, your question.
Gloria: My question is, I was raised in a strict denomination and was called out from the Lord about 20 years ago, and I'm a singer and I go into different denominations and sing. But, I've been able to stress baptism by immersion because people get to know me and I'm easy going and I'm able to push that instead of the sprinkling. But, what I don't understand and I was listening to a Seventh Day-- Because, I've been listening to your station now probably for four months now.
Pastor Doug: Okay.
Gloria: And, she was touched-- She was on one of your talk shows-- A female talk show host and she said, "Oh yes, my daughter is so excited about getting baptized." And, I told her as soon as I get done in two weeks from travelling, she goes and then will get baptized. And, I see this in the different denominations. Why do people wait to be baptized? Sometimes in little free Methodist they say, "While in the summer time wait, maybe we can get more than one baptism, we'll just all go down to the lake and--
Pastor Doug: All right, Gloria let me jump in. We're going to run out of time before I can get to answer. [crosstalk]
Gloria: Go ahead, quick.
Pastor Doug: There are some things that need to happen before baptism and Jesus says in Matthew chapter 28, "Go, ye therefore, teach all nations and baptize them." So, there's teaching that comes first. So, if a person surrendered their life to the Lord and they want to be baptized, they would come and listen to John the Baptist at the Jordan for a few days and they would repent. They would say, "What do we need to do to be ready?" and He would tell them.
But, most of them understood the basics of the 10 commandments back then. So, a person needs to be taught the basics before they are baptized, kind of like a marriage. You don't want to wait too long and you don't want to rush too fast. It's a lifelong commitment. It's something you might want to invite people to witness and to rejoice with you and you can be an example to them by your baptism so it's good to plan it. Pastor Ross we'll get one closing thought on that?
Pastor Ross: Yes, we have a book, it's called Baptism is it really necessary, and it deals with when's the right time to be baptized.
Pastor Doug: Oh absolutely. Please send for the book Gloria, you will have more to share with your friends as you travel and Lord bless you in your music ministry.
Friends we are just about out of time for this broadcast so bare with me in the last few seconds. Don't change the channel, yet, no, wait. Can you keep us on the air? This is a listener supported station and you know about this part of the program. We need you to help us keep doing what we do. People are being saved because of this program and we appreciate you remembering us. Go to amazingfacts.org, you can donate their online. God bless, we'll study together again next week.
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