Praying For Favor From The Lord

Nehemiah 1:11- Prayer to “Grant Me Favor"

This Bible Study was inspired by Dave Early's -21 Most Effective Prayers of The Bible

Nehemiah had a burden and went to the Lord continually in prayer.

Nehemiah needed the favor of the Lord to work through his superior (king)  to receive his blessing.

Nehemiah was a faithful cupbearer to the king.  

The Lord, and only the Lord, would have to work through the king to grant permission to be released to for return to return to his home country to minister to and to protect his home country.

Nehemiah did not pray once and stop.  He repeatedly was in petition to God.

Jesus said “keep on asking and it will shall be given  unto you.’ (Matt 7:7)

Nehemiah  needed a the Lord to work through his boss to grant him favor.

1 The words of Nehemiah the son of Hacaliah.

Now it happened in the month Chislev, in the twentieth year, while I was in Susa the capitol, 2 that Hanani, one of my brothers, and some men from Judah came; and I asked them concerning the Jews who had escaped and had survived the captivity, and about Jerusalem. 3 They said to me, “The remnant there in the province who survived the captivity are in great distress and reproach, and the wall of Jerusalem is broken down and its gates are burned with fire.”

4 When I heard these words, I sat down and wept and mourned for days; and I was fasting and praying before the God of heaven. 5 I said, “I beseech You, O Lord God of heaven, the great and awesome God, who preserves the covenant and lovingkindness for those who love Him and keep His commandments, 6  let Your ear now be attentive and Your eyes open to hear the prayer of Your servant which I am praying before You now, day and night, on behalf of the sons of Israel Your servants, confessing the sins of the sons of Israel which we have sinned against You; I and my father’s house have sinned. 7  We have acted very corruptly against You and have not kept the commandments, nor the statutes, nor the ordinances which You commanded Your servant Moses. 8 Remember the word which You commanded Your servant Moses, saying, ‘ If you are unfaithful I will scatter you among the peoples; 9  but if you return to Me and keep My commandments and do them, though those of you who have been scattered were in the most remote part of the heavens, I will gather them from there and will bring them to the place where I have chosen to cause My name to dwell.’ 10  They are Your servants and Your people whom You redeemed by Your great power and by Your strong hand. 11 O Lord, I beseech You, may Your ear be attentive to the prayer of Your servant and the prayer of Your servants who delight to revere Your name, and make Your servant successful today and grant him compassion before this man.”

Now I was the cupbearer to the king.”

God moved the king to grant Nehemiah favor.  

God speaks and moves through prayer, the Holy Spirit, the spoken word and people, even the unsaved.

Can we wait for God to work it through?

Keep asking and listen-

In  2  Samuel 15: 5-14 David listens to an angry peasant man who curses David.

 One day King David, was taunted by a man on the street.  King David was cursed at and had dirt and rocks thrown on him by an old peasant man on a main street of town.  The mighty king was taunted by a commoner.

To the surprise of his security force "The Mighty Men" the king received the bitter message and let the commoner live. 

God even can tell us when we are not in His favor.

Samuel 15: 5-14
"5 When King David came to Bahurim, behold, there came out from there a man of the family of the house of Saul whose name was Shimei, the son of Gera; he came out cursing continually as he came. 6 He threw stones at David and at all the servants of King David; and all the people and all the mighty men were at his right hand and at his left. 7 Thus Shimei said when he cursed, “Get out, get out, you man of bloodshed, and worthless fellow! 8 The Lord has returned upon you all the bloodshed of the house of Saul, in whose place you have reigned; and the Lord has given the kingdom into the hand of your son Absalom. And behold, you are taken in your own evil, for you are a man of bloodshed!”
9 Then Abishai the son of Zeruiah said to the king, “Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? Let me go over now and cut off his head.”10 But the king said, “ What have I to do with you, O sons of Zeruiah? If he curses, and if the Lord has told him, ‘Curse David,’ then who shall say, ‘Why have you done so?’” 11 Then David said to Abishai and to all his servants, “Behold, my son who came out from me seeks my life; how much more now this Benjamite? Let him alone and let him curse, for the Lord has told him. 12 Perhaps the Lord will look on my affliction and return good to me instead of his cursing this day.” 13 So David and his men went on the way; and Shimei went along on the hillside parallel with him and as he went he cursed and cast stones and threw dust at him. 14 The king and all the people who were with him arrived weary and he refreshed himself there."

 Keep asking and LISTEN through the Word, the Spirit and people, even the unsaved.  Make sure this balances with the Word of God which is the wisdom of God.

The Lord must grant us favor or it is a futile task you want tin your heart.

The open door might not or might be meant to go through by the Lord..

Psalm 30:5  “For His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for a lifetime; Weeping may last for the night, But a shout of joy comes in the morning.”

Proverbs 8:34-36 (NASB) “4 “ Blessed is the man who listens to me, Watching daily at my gates, Waiting at my doorposts. 35 “For he who finds me finds life And obtains favor from the Lord. 36 “But he who sins against me injures himself; All those who hate me love death.”

We might be a Cupbearer like Nehemiah or King like David.

We must seek and have the Lord’s favor for real and lasting success.

The Lord speaks through our life experiences.  Are we listening?

The Lord may speak through our superiors at work, or people off the street.

Keep asking and listen.

Do not expect the answer until you receive know the source.  

Psalm 127:1

Prosperity Comes from the LORD. ] A Song of Ascents, of Solomon. Unless the LORD builds the house, They labor in vain who build it; Unless the LORD guards the city, The watchman keeps awake in vain.

Noahide Laws - No Way! We Are Saved by Grace

Question:

What is the Noahide Laws movement and is it biblical?

Answer:

Is this Noahide Law movement biblical?

Better asked – “Is this movement Christian?”

The answer is a firm NO!!!

Why?

We are saved by grace through the atoning work of Jesus Christ.   He died and paid for the sins for all who repent of their sins and turn to God.  Jesus took our sins on the cross.  We receive peace with God, forgiveness of sins, citizenship in heaven, avoid hell and are justified in the eyes of God and are headed into sanctification through the work of Jesus Christ.

The Noahide Law is a wrong extra-biblical way for Jews to achieve salvation and an outreach for Gentiles to receive salvation through law keeping.

The Noahide Law looks to observance rather than receiving grace for salvation.

So what are the Noahide Laws?

7 commandments perceived by how God told Noah and his descendants to live.

There are hundreds of subdivisions of these laws.

You cannot keep them.

The 10 Commandments are simpler and we cannot keep those either.

You can Google Noahide Laws to see the meticulous way they are set forth.

Is the Old Testament Law evil?  No

What is the purpose of the law then?

Galatians 3:23-25 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

“23 But before faith came, we were kept in custody under the law, being shut up to the faith which was later to be revealed. 24 Therefore the Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, so that we may be justified by faith. 25 But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor.”

The law was to prepare us for Jesus Christ.

John 1:17

New American Standard Bible (NASB)

“17 For the Law was given through Moses; grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ.”

                   

                     Reject Legalism

Romans 6:14

New American Standard Bible (NASB)

“14 For sin shall not be master over you, for you are not under law but under grace.”

                    

                     Glory In The Gospel

Ephesians 2:8-10

New American Standard Bible (NASB)

“8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9 not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.”

Reject the “Back to Egypt Movement” and do not seek the slavery of the law.

Glory in the gospel that frees you of bondage of sin and the law.

In the freedom in Christ we receive salvation and freedom to grow in sanctification

  

  

Get Out of Hell Free Card- Jesus and John Wesley say take that card!

Viewing an internet cartoon monopoly card which read Get Out Of Hell Free reminded me of seminary back in the day when I was Candler School of Theology.  The horror expressed by some of my classmates, that it was suggested by the professor if were valid for hell to be used in evangelism during my evangelism class, still surprises me.

Few if any of the United Methodist classmates preparing for ministry liked it when it was presented to them that Jesus and John Wesley were the two most well know preachers who urged folks to avoid hell at all costs.

Wesley had his class members answer affirmatively yes to the question “Do you desire to flee the wrath to come?” before they could attend his Methodist classes for biblical study.

Jesus as we know stressed avoiding hell with great intention-

Mark 9:43New American Standard Bible (NASB)

"43 If your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life crippled, than, having your two hands, to go into hell, into the unquenchable fire,"

Jesus told a vast group of disciples returning from a mission, where they performed demon exorcisms and healing miracles, to be celebrating avoiding hell more than performing signs and wonders.

Luke 10:17-20
^"17 The seventy returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name.” ¹⁸ And He said to them, “I was watching Satan fall from heaven like lightning. ¹⁹ Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing will injure you. ²⁰ Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are recorded in heaven.”

Luke 12:5 (NASB)
"5 But I will warn you whom to fear: fear the One who, after He has killed, has authority to cast into  hell; yes, I tell you, fear Him!"

Hell, a reality Jesus preached and urged His hearers to avoid.

My advice -Go and preach likewise.

THE BIBLICAL TITHE?

THE BIBLICAL TITHE?

QUESTION RECEIVED: Cool, here is the description of our question author -[Male age 31-45 Africa]

 Please help me with the practice of tithing that is taught and practiced in today's churches. my understanding is that this was a practice for the Old Testament Jewish believers and specifically descendants of Jacob, following their father Jacob's covenant with God, before the establishment of this covenant there is no biblical evidence that it was his practice. Abram only tithed once to Melchizedek  and that was spoils from a battle, not his belongings. There is no New Testament evidence for Christians tithing. The Tithing practiced was not of money (though there is evidence that money was already in use by then), only animals and crops were tithed... Please, I trust you for an accurate answer from scriptures, not man's opinions. Thank you in advance and God bless you.

MY ANSWER: 

In the Bible generous giving is done by example (The Lord), commanded by the Lord and praised by Jesus. 

Yes the Old Testament is the Old Covenant based on law and sacrifice.

The New Testament ushers in the Church and brings forth grace and salvation promised in the Old Testament.

In the Old Testament there is the Ceremonial Law, Judicial and Moral Law.

To be brief the New Testament does replace Ceremonial and Judicial Law that covered the food (no pork or shell fish) and legal rulings during the Hebrew 40 year march through the wilderness. 

This was so Moses could command 4 million people on a 40 year trip through the desert.

The Moral Law is the Ten Commandments.

Jesus said none of The (Moral) Law will pass away as long as there is a Heaven or Earth.

Matthew 5:18 English Standard Version (ESV)

“18 For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished.”

I believe this is strong support that the Moral Law is still in effect forever.

Many good Christians would not agree.

I just gave you strong scriptural support from the proceeding quote from Jesus.

The Old Testament also is  Christian Scripture and has authority.

Christians need to stop cutting our Bible in two.

At creation God tithed in principal a day and told us to also do it in the Moral Law (Ten Commandments).

 Genesis 2:1-3 (ESV)

“2 Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. 2 And on the seventh day God finished his work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all his work that he had done. 3 So God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it God rested from all his work that he had done in creation.”

Abraham tithed his increase or profit – not his belongings - as you stated in your question.

Genesis 14:18-20 (ESV)

“18 And Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. (He was priest of God Most High.) 19 And he blessed him and said, “Blessed be Abram by God Most High,

Possessor of heaven and earth; 20 and blessed be God Most High,

 who has delivered your enemies into your hand!” And Abram gave him a tenth of everything.”

Again we go to Genesis but it is Jacob who teaches about the tithe-

Genesis 28: 21 (ESV)

“21  so that I come again to my father's house in peace, then the Lord shall be my God, 22 and this stone, which I have set up for a pillar, shall be God's house. And of all that you give me I will give a full tenth to you.”

Here are two commands from the Lord that I do not believe are negated by the New Testament.

Leviticus 27:30 (ESV)

“30 Every tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land or of the fruit of the trees, is the Lord's; it is holy to the Lord.”

Leviticus 27:32 (ESV)

“32 And every tithe of herds and flocks, every tenth animal of all that pass under the herdsman's staff, shall be holy to the Lord.”

At the end of the Old Testament is perhaps the best known command of tithing that even promises curses to those who do not tithe and blessings to those who tithe who have to be tested to tithe.

Malachi 3:8 (ESV)

“8 Will man rob God? Yet you are robbing me. But you say, ‘How have we robbed you?’ In your tithes and contributions.  9 You are cursed with a curse, for you are robbing me, the whole nation of you. 10  Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need. ”

The New Testament of grace talks more about developing a good attitude of giving rather than declaring a flat out tithe.

2 Corinthians 9:6-8 (ESV)

“6 The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. 7 Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.”

Does God really care what we give in viewing the New Testament?

This following Scripture passage says Jesus sat down and watched who gave and how much they gave. 

Wow!

Mark 12:41-43(ESV)

“41 And he sat down opposite the treasury and watched the people putting money into the offering box. Many rich people put in large sums. 42 And a poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which make a penny. 43 And he called his disciples to him and said to them, “Truly, I say to you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the offering box.”

Here is a question for you.

Did the poor widow that received praise from Jesus tithe and give the expected 10%.

No.

The New Testament records only records the percentage of wealth a person gave.

The poor woman did not tithe.

Jesus watched her give not 10% but 100%!

Brother get liberty and give freely your tithe, or a larger % to support the church in her ministries and missions.

The Old Testament commanded the tithe.

I believe the New Testament is saying give freely and tithe and then feel free to give more.  

God's Special Love For Jews and Us

QUESTION RECEIVED:  (From a American teenage young lady)

Does God love the people of Israel more than he loves the rest of the rest of the world? Can Jews have eternal life without even believing in Jesus? It says a lot of things about God's love for Israel but it only says once about how God loves The world.

MY ANSWER:

Does God have a special love for Israel?  Yes.

God’s gracious love is greater than any human can fully comprehend.

There are two great reasons God chose Israel.

And Jews and Gentiles both benefit in His love because he came to the Jews.

The first reason is to display His glory by choosing a small non-descript people to be his people.

Deuteronomy 7:6–8 English Standard Version (ESV)

“6 “For you are a people holy to the Lord your God. The Lord your God has chosen you to be pa people for his treasured possession, out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth. 7 It was not because you were more in number than any other people that the Lord set his love on you and chose you, for you were the fewest of all peoples, 8 but qit is because the Lord loves you and is keeping the oath that he swore to your fathers, that the Lord has brought you out with a mighty hand and redeemed you from the house of slavery, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.”

A second reason I can tell you of God’s great love for Israel is that Jesus Christ, the Son of God , the salvation of the world, was born into the Hebrew family and lineage. 

Since before the birth of Jesus and after, Satan has railed against God’s chosen people to keep the prophesies of the Messiah from happening.

Jesus knew this as He tells of his Jewish heritage and his mission in His word.

Luke 24:44 (ESV)

“44 Then he said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.”

The Old Testament confirms the Messiah Jesus coming into His day.

Micah 5:2 (ESV)

“2 But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah who are too little to be among the clans of Judah,

from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days.

As the wise men at his birth told, and the sign on the cross proclaimed, Jesus Christ came to be the King of the Jews.

Matthew 15:24 (ESV)

“24 He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”

Jesus Christ came to establish His church. 

He came to the Jews.

Jesus though spoke of and reached out some to the gentiles.

He commissioned Paul and some other Apostles to start the gathering of the gentiles into the church.

All people who are saved, whether Jew or Gentile, are saved by the substitutionary death of Jesus Christ. 

He paid the sin debt to God. 

The saved receive the riches of Christ by forgiveness of sin, they miss the wrath of God, and the eternal punishment for sin in hell and they are declared righteous in the eyes of God and they receive citizenship in heaven.

Romans 10:12 (ESV)

“12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him.”

John 10:14-18 (ESV)

“14  I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, 15  just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd. 17 For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again. 18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father.”

The Father has saved and made a one “New Man” or church out of the formerly identified Jewish and Gentile coverts to Christ.

Ephesians 2:14-16 (ESV)

“14 For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility 15 by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, 16 and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility.”

God’s love for His whole creation is shared throughout the Bible.

Even if you say God said He loves the world once that is enough.

God said He loves the world!

He does not and cannot lie.

John 3:16 (ESV)

 “16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him

 should not perish but have eternal life.”          

Marriage and Taking A Wife (and her family)

QUESTION RECEIVED (From outside the USA, not from my church or a friend) 

I am dating a girl who is extremely close with her family.  Not a bad

thing but she feels the need to submit to them which is fine but she

has expressed the desire for me to submit to her father in certain

things as well.  I struggle with this because he does not have

authority in my life and is a controlling and at times manipulative

person.  I fear that if I begin the process of allowing him to control

my relationship with her that this will carry on when hopefully we

marry.  I am not trying to be arrogant or hard hearted but just really

torn here on what to do.

Do I allow a person to have that kind of control in my

life?

MY ANSWER:

It is well to marry a girl that has respect for her father from a biblically functioning family.

This following verse is interesting.  The man leaves his family.  The woman is not described as leaving hers. 

                                                                                                                                                            Genesis 2:24 (ESV)Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall   become one flesh.

The woman has a lifetime of learning how a family functions from her own family.
This training will not be undone happily in your lifetime.

I cannot tell what you mean by submitting to certain things.  A wife’s father deserves respect.  Unless this contradicts Scripture then why is there a problem?

 Ephesians 6:2 (ESV)

2“Honor your father and mother” (this is the first commandment with a promise),”

She probably is a fine Christian girl.  This is great and a qualification for a future spouse of a Christian.

This does not mean you have to or should marry her.
Her idea of family is planted in her whole life experience.

And guess what?  Her father is in charge of her welfare now and not you.

The father has a permanent role in her life.

So far you are not permanent.

Will you always agree with this man? No.

Do you respect his faith and character and motives?

Do not fool yourself into thinking unchangeable personalities and family patterns
will change because you got married.
You can make your life and the woman’s miserable.

There is sacrifice in marriage. 

Your question is  - Can you live forever with the way things are?

The clincher in knowing my wife was the right one for me was
my wife’s great respect for her family.

As a great elder in my church said once-

“Take a good look at the mother who answers the door when dating .  You are going to be seeing her again in about twenty years if you get married to the daughter.”     

Zombie Apocalypse and Church Attendance

QUESTION RECEIVED:

Can I live a Christian life without going to church?

MY ANSWER:

Yes, you can live a Christian life without going to church.

It would be a poor, crummy insufficient disobedient Christian life.

But yes, you could live a sad Christian life without going to church.

My question is why would you want or think you should try to live a Christian life without going to church?

Are you preparing for the zombie apocalypse?

Seriously, what would be the motivation for not going to church?

Jesus Christ our object of worship went to organized worship with a group of believers.

Luke 4:16 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

“16 And He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up; and as was His custom, He entered the synagogue on the Sabbath, and stood up to read.”

Wow, what if you had missed worship the day Jesus showed up and taught back in the day.

Think about it, our object of worship attended worship while he was on earth dwelling in the flesh.

The command of the Apostle Paul was –  Yes, go to church.

Hebrews 10:23-25 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

“23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; 24 and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, 25 not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.”

Why is there a church?

1.)    The maintenance of corporate (group) worship.

       We together are the body of Christ.  You are not a Christian or part of the body by     

       Yourself.

2.)     The edification of believers, or discipleship, is happening at church.  

You are growing, learning  and on going on in further sanctification (Holiness, becoming more like Jesus) in the church.

3.)     Evangelism.

       You get the privilege ito participate in the sharing of the gospel locally and to the world.

Do you have to go to a building?

No.
You can go to a park, home or any building and join with a church meeting.

But these kind of hang ups on attending church might be a you problem.

Check your heart and motives.

There are plenty of churches in America.
You should be able to find a like minded group of believers.

If the Holy Spirit is prompting you can even help start one.

Check your heart about why you would not want to be in church.

If you have received forgiveness of your sins, peace with God and citizenship in Heaven through the life death burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ why would you not want to be a part of His body?

It is trendy to slam the church.

She is imperfect.

One day she will be without spot or blemish when He returns for his bride.

Love the church, the body of Christ, His bride.

He loves and died for His bride - the church.

You need to love and cherish His bride.
If you are redeemed you are a part of this church, this body this bride..

Question On Ordained Ministry

QUESTION RECEIVED:

My question is what qualifies a person to be ordained as a pastor?

I believe it is in God's eyes not organized religion.  

For 19 years I've studied God's Word extensively, graduated from lay ministry school, successfully completed the Biblical studies program through Liberty University and have studied over 400 books written by Biblical authors.  I'm a devote believer that God's Word is infallible and inerrant.  I reject the allegorical interpretation of scripture.  God's Word is as it's meant to be.  Thank you for telling me your thoughts on this matter.

MY ANSWER:

First if you are in a certain faith tradition or denomination they will have particular ways to ordain and use ministers.  Talk with your pastor.

Here are some orthodox biblical principals concerning ordination and or ministry.

You are not in ministry alone in ministry - if you are you have no ministry.  

In Titus a group of believers appointed elders (overseers/under-shepherds/pastors).

Titus 1:5 (NASB)

“5    For this reason I left you in Crete, that you would set in order what remains and appoint elders in every city as I directed you,”

Humans (the church) are involved but it is through the will of the Holy Spirit that you are called and sent for true gospel ministry.

Acts 20:28 (NASB)

“28 “Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.”

We get the aspiration  for ministry rightfully from the Holy Spirit.

Below is 1 Timothy 3:1.  Read in your Bible from verse 1 through verse 16 to see the qualifications of a set aside by the church minister for service.

1 Timothy 3:1–16 (NASB)

“1   It is a trustworthy statement: if any man aspires to the office of overseer, it is a fine work he desires to do. 2 An overseer, then, must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, prudent, respectable, hospitable, able ...”

You speak of you academic preparation for ministry, which is biblical.  

You have done well.  

Remember, studying the Word is a continual task in life.  

2 Timothy 2:15 (NASB)

“15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth.”

In A practical sense what is you understanding of what your ministry is?

Is it serving as a pastor, teacher, preacher,  evangelist?

 If so see if that matches the church or denomination you are with.

There is an abundance of pastors.

There is also an abundance of need of Christian ministry in this lost world.

You might need to see if you are a candidate for a traditional church.

From experience I can say you cannot force what the Lord has not prepared you for.

But he has prepared you for something.  

Discern His will for a particular ministry.

You might have been prepared to start a Bible study that develops into a stong ministry.

Many churches have started from a Bible study.

Matthew 9:37 (NASB)

“37 Then He said to His disciples, “ The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few.”

Size does not matter.  

Getting people touched by the gospel is what matters.

Zechariah 4:10 (NASB)

“10 For who has despised the day of small things? But these seven will be glad when they see the plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel—these are the eyes of the Lord which range to and fro throughout the earth.”

Relax, the Lord is the author of the gospel’s success.  

We are privileged to participate in the work.

He will not measure the size of your ministry if He is in charge.

You will be judged by Him on the faithfulness of presenting the saving gospel.

I am Praying for you.  

Prayer is what you should be immersed in.

Be excited.  

Look for the opportunities that have never been expected.

You might at the right time need to be ordained and maybe not.

Many a great gospel minister was never ordained.

2 Peter 1:10 (NASB)

10 Therefore, brethren, be all the more diligent to make certain about His calling and choosing you; for as long as you practice these things, you will never stumble;

I will pray this scripture for you.

Ephesians 1:17-19 (NASB)

“17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him. 18 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, 19 and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe. These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might”

The Trouble Jews and Gentiles Have With Jesus -He thinks He is God in the flesh and King and His Father agrees with Him

The Trouble Jews and Gentiles Have With Jesus

-  He thinks He is God in the flesh and King and His Father agrees with Him

What do you think about Jesus?

Sweet humanitarian?

Good moral teacher?

The ultimate display of human ethics in a man?

You may be surprised to know most Jews, Muslims, Buddhist and Hindus and atheist would agree with these descriptions.

Here comes the trouble concerning Jesus to our world.

Jesus describes Himself in Scripture.

The world could not handle this Jesus in his day.

The world cannot handle how He describes Himself in his Word the Bible.  

Stop reading and you can keep your status quo view concerning Jesus Christ.

Keep reading and His Word can save you.

In the last book of the Bible  Jesus, not the sweet little baby in the manger, returns as judge.

Revelation 19:15-17 (NASB)   From His mouth comes a sharp sword, so that with it He may strike down the nations, and He will rule them with a rod of iron; and He treads the wine press of the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty. 16 And on His robe and on His thigh He has a name written, “ KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.”

Concerning being “The King of The Jews” Jesus had no doubt.

Mark 15:1-3  (NASB)  Early in the morning the chief priests with the elders and scribes and the whole Council, immediately held a consultation; and binding Jesus, they led Him away and delivered Him to Pilate. 2 Pilate questioned Him, “Are You the King of the Jews?” And He answered him, “It is as you say.” 3 The chief priests began to accuse Him harshly.

Concerning knowing his identity as God and being part of the Trinity (Father, Son and Holy Spirit) -  Jesus had no doubt.

John 10:30 (NASB)

30“I and the Father are one.”

Jesus preached, yes he was a preacher, His identity as God strong enough to stir violent opposition.

John 10:33 (NASB)

33   The Jews answered Him, “For a good work we do not stone You, but for blasphemy; and because You, being a man, make Yourself out to be God.”

Jesus Christ knew He pre-existed His birth as He is eternal and an infinite deity and He preached that.

John 8:58 (NASB)

58   Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was born, I am.”

Scripture makes a play on words that “The Word’ is Jesus Christ Himself , and that He authored all of Scripture.

John 1:1 (NASB)

1         In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

Jesus was the head of and the object of worship of the early Christian church.

His sacrifice of His life appeased the wrath of God so believers can be viewed as  righteous before A just and holy God.  

1 John 2:2 (NASB)

2      “and He Himself is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world.”

Acts 20:28 (NASB)

28   “Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.

The Apostles who built the church of Christ had no doubt about the divinity of Jesus.

Sorry about that  Da Vinci Code.

2 Peter 1:1 (NASB)

1         Simon Peter, a bond-servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who have received a faith of the same kind as ours, by the righteousness of our God and Savior, Jesus Christ:

The New Testament church looked to the Old Testament to reveal the Messiah.

                     Hebrews 1:8 (NASB)

8      But of the Son He says, “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever, And the righteous scepter is the scepter of His kingdom.

Jesus Christ is the fulfillment of all biblical prophecy.

Revelation 19:10 (NASB)

10   Then I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me, “Do not do that; I am a fellow servant of yours and your brethren who hold the testimony of Jesus; worship God. For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.”

The wise men or magi knew the Messiah by the record of Old testament Scripture.

Matthew 2:11 (NASB)

11   After coming into the house they saw the Child with Mary His mother; and they fell to the ground and worshiped Him. Then, opening their treasures, they presented to Him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

His followers in the New Testament worshipped Him.

Matthew 14:33 (NASB)

33   And those who were in the boat worshiped Him, saying, “You are certainly God’s Son!”

It was revealed that the risen Christ was God to the Disciples.

Matthew 28:9 (NASB)

9      And behold, Jesus met them and greeted them. And they came up and took hold of His feet and worshiped Him.

Luke 24:52 (NASB)

52   And they, after worshiping Him, returned to Jerusalem with great joy,

Jesus is the only hope of the world.

 1 John 2:2 (NASB)

2         “and He Himself is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world.”

                  2 Corinthians 5:21 (NASB)

21   “He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”

My prayer is that you know this Jesus described in His Word the Bible.

Pray to know this King.

He paid the greatest price for you.

Burnt Roasted Pastor Makes A Church Sick

QUESTION RECEIVED:

At my independent Baptist Church the Baptist preacher that took it over got rid of Junior church, Teen church, and Sunday schools, and cut down the bus ministry. This preacher believes it is not biblical. He also says backsliding in unbiblical. He also include sinner's prayer in unbiblical. What is this new preacher trying to do? What kind of doctrine teaching is this?

MY ANSWER TO A LONG QUESTION:

You said a preacher took over your Baptist church?

Baptist are congregational and vote for their pastor.

So no, the pastor did not "take the church over."

The church voted him as their under-shepherd to spiritually lead,

preach, teach and look after the souls of the congregation.

What is "Junior church"?

That term is not in the Bible.

I can only assume "Junior Church" is a youth program.

The same goes for "Teen Church".

There is a movement that is sound in that we need to stop segregating our churches by ages.

Kids need to be around men and women that are Christians.

Kids from broken homes can see Christian families modeled to them.

Is it wrong to have age appropriate groups and outing?  No.

But why would you not want the whole church family in worship together?

Why did the pastor get rid of Sunday School?

I do not know.

You are the member.

Did you ask him?

Why do you not know if you attend regularly and are active in church?

Sometimes Sunday School is called "small groups" or "cell groups".

I can only guess.
You are the member.

Why do you not have a bus ministry?

I do not know.

Having a bus ministry is not mandated in the Bible.

Maybe your church can not afford costly buses.

I do not know.
Have you asked.

You are the member

The term backslider is in the Bible one time.

Proverbs14:14 (KJV) "The backslider in heart shall be filled with his own ways: and a good man shall be satisfied from himself." 

The saved do fall into sin. 

Have you respectfully asked your pastor what he means

by the statement you said he made about backsliding being unbiblical?

Concerning "The Sinner's Prayer" - there are a billion versions of this.

Some prayers are biblical and some are unbiblical.

Have you asked your pastor what he means concerning

a "Sinners Prayer"?

You ask "What is this new preacher trying to do?"

Have you asked him respectfully what he is trying to do?

I am sure he has an answer that you may or may not like.

You have asked "What kind of doctrine teaching is this?"

Doctrine means teaching.

To know what his biblical doctrine you are going to have to ask him like he

is at least a respected human being much less the minister of the gospel

that your church elected to the office of pastor.

Your problem sounds like indigestion.

Burnt roasted pastor will make the whole church sick.

1st Timothy 5:19-22 (KJV)

19 Against an elder receive not an accusation, but before two or three witnesses.

20 Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear.

21 I charge thee before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, and the elect angels, that thou observe these things without preferring one before another, doing nothing by partiality.

22 Lay hands suddenly on no man, neither be partaker of other men's sins: keep thyself pure.

Your church selected him.

Do not treat him like he is your slave.

It could be he is the wrong man for the job.

If so the church is a large part of the problem since they and you voted him in.

He might be the right man.

Ask him as the respected pastor of God's church.
You might be surprised by your lack of understanding
of this man's attempt to fulfill his biblical office.

Act like a Christian gentleman and ask the pastor to explain himself.

Matthew 7:12 (KJV)

"Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets."