Kingdom Business:

Apr. 2005 What is kingdom business? Every kingdom has a King, so the best way to describe kingdom business would be to look at the business of the King. So, who is the King? 1 Tim 6:14-15 … our Lord Jesus Christ: Which in his times he shall show, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords So, Jesus is the King. Then you have to ask yourself what was Jesus’ business? Look at what Jesus said that his business is: Luke 19:10 For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost. John 3:17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. So, Jesus’ business is to seek and to save. Then the question becomes….how does he save? Salvation comes through believing in the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus. Rom 10:9, 13 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. (v.13) For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. Jesus’ last command to us before leaving this earth was: Mat 28:19-20 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen. He said to “observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you.” What did he command us to do? John 13:34-35 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another. 1 John 3:23-24 And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment. And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us. Ok, so, looking at those verses I would say that Kingdom Business is telling people that Jesus saves, and teaching them to love one another. That boils kingdom business down to it’s most refined state. But kingdom business would include any activity that would lead to those objectives. Such as, learning/reading your Bible so that you can show people that Jesus is the way of salvation; loving people by providing physical needs; giving an answer for the hope that is within you; etc. Kingdom business is showing people that God loves them and Jesus saves.

  China:

Mar. 2005 Dear Brother in Lord Yahshua, Thank you very much for your ministry.Your approach of teaching is very good.It lets the scripture to speak itself and does not mix with opinions of man.It lets the Holy Ghost to do His own jobs.Your ministry helps clear many issue for Christians with no argumental scripture.Away from scriptural teaching,mix with man's opinions and explaination is the device Satan use to lead Christian astray to the truth and introduce many perverted and division. Recently,a faithful brother said that Yah told him great trouble will happen first in China and later in Taiwan this summer.Many many millions of people will die.It is about infectious disease.The result of the judgement will be far more serious than that happened in Southern Asia.I am very worry about the people in China.Yes,the godless Chinese government is evil,prosecuting Christians.However,there are so many honest,poor and helpless people and hundreds of millions of unreached souls in China.The prayers of righteous avail much.Could you please add China and the poor Chinese in your daily prayer list? This is my last hope to soften the heart of the angry Father and delay the judgement of China. Moreover,if there is vast amount of population die in a country now,I worry it represents the endtime judgement of the whole world starts and judgements reserved for different countries will follow shortly one by one.However,the redemption of Yah's beloved sons and daughters draw nigh.However,I still prefer Yah mercy and gives us a little more time to reach the souls. Thank you very much! In Yahushua a brother in Hong Kong Thank you for viewing the web site and thank you for your kind words of encouragement. I will continue to pray for those in China and I have been praying for them for some time. I have made it a habit to pray for the Christians in China and pray that they will reach as many souls as possible. I'm familiar with some of the persecution they are under due to a publication I receive called The Voice of the Martyrs.   I hope that your letter, posted on this web site will encourage others to pray also. If anyone is interested in learning more about Christians in China, and how many are beaten and killed for sharing their faith in Christ, please visit this web site: www.persecution.com. You will also find articles about Christians in many other countries that are being beaten, imprisoned and killed simply because they are Christians.

   

Mar. 2005 I have a TV show and would like to quote from your website. I was wondering if you could give me your Biblical Credentials (where you studied, for how long, if you have a ministry, phone number, etc), so I can better understand you and your site, and maybe set up a phone interview of some sort. thanks. -Michael Dear Michael; Thank you for your email. It is very encouraging for me to know that folks are using the web site and find it helpful. I spend a good deal of time praying that the Lord will be able to use me to reach others for Jesus. Please feel free to quote anything on my web site. All the verses are from the King James Bible (of course there are no copyright laws on that). My web site started out in book form and I converted it to a web site. For a while I made copies of the book for those that requested it. I charged the cost of printing plus $5.00 which I gave to my favorite missionary. I don’t do that anymore because it costs quit a bit just to have a copy printed… instead, I just direct people to the web site. So, please don’t use the material for monetary gain. The scriptures are from God and they are free to anyone, not for profit. But feel free to quote from the site on your TV show. As for my Biblical credentials, I have none. I do have some college degrees but they are in science related fields, not theology, Biblical studies or history, or anything remotely related (and you can tell from my comments that I’m not a very good writer either). My only credential if you want to call it that, is that I’m a born again Christian who loves the Lord and loves to read and study His Word. After I was saved, people would see me reading my Bible and would ask me “hey, what does the Bible say about…” Sometimes I knew the answer, sometimes I didn’t. And often if I did know the answer, I couldn’t remember the exact reference, I couldn’t open my Bible and show them. So, I started taking notes… lots of them! I had an old notebook that I kept with me and wrote things down under different headings; What Does the Bible Say About…Jesus, Salvation, etc. After years of taking notes, I took my old notebook, and had a book made for family members. The web site came from the book. While I’m flattered that you might want to interview me, I think I will decline. I want people to focus on Jesus and his Word.

  Children - Birth Control:

Mar. 2005 I am doing a paper for school on contraceptives/birth controls and would like to know where in the bible does it talk about the use of contraceptives/birth controls. Returned Student AND… Does the bible say anything about bearing many children? Thanks, Katherine Dear Katherine and Student; Thank you for viewing the web site and thank you for your questions. I have combined your questions because the scriptures that answer them are pretty much the same. I hope you don’t mind. The Bible is pretty clear that children are a blessing from God and parents that have many are very blessed. Here are some verses to look at: Pas 127:3-5 Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward. As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth. Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate. Psa 113:9 He maketh the barren woman to keep house, and to be a joyful mother of children. Praise ye the LORD. Prov 17:6 Children’s children are the crown of old men; and the glory of children are their fathers. 1 Tim 5:14 I will therefore that the younger women marry, bear children, guide the house, give none occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully. I don’t know of any verses in the Bible that speak explicitly about birth control. If you are asking if birth control is right or wrong, I couldn’t answer that for you. Since I couldn’t find any verses that specifically say that it is wrong, I’m guessing that it isn’t a sin. But since the Bible is clear that children are a blessing, why would you want to deny yourself a blessing from God? Many people use birth control for medical reasons and I don’t find anything in the Bible that says that is wrong. A husband and wife considering the use of birth control should be praying about it and seeking God’s will for their lives. That’s the best advice I can give.

  Saints:

Mar. 2005 Hello, Can you tell me does it state anywhere in the Bible that Saints can help through prayer, or why Catholics ask Saints for help when praying? Thanks Caroline Hello Caroline and thank you for your question. First, we should deal with a Biblical interpretation of the word “saints.” The reason I make a distinction is that saints certainly can help you pray and can make a tremendous impact through intercessory prayer. However, the Bible defines saints as believers in Christ who are alive and here on earth. Not people that have been dead for centuries. A saint is someone that has accepted Jesus‘ free gift of salvation and eternal life. That doesn‘t mean that they are perfect, or they never sin, or they have given their last dime to charity. At the beginning of almost all his letters, Paul addresses the believers as saints. Here are some of the examples: Rom 1:1-7 Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God, (Which he had promised afore by his prophets in the holy scriptures,) Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh; And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead: By whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, for his name: Among whom are ye also the called of Jesus Christ: To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Cor 1:2-3 Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours: Grace be unto you, and peace, 2 Cor 1:1-2 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, unto the church of God which is at Corinth, with all the saints which are in all Achaia: 2Grace be to you and peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. Eph 1:1-2 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus: Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. Phil 1:1 Paul and Timotheus, the servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons: Col 1:1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timotheus our brother, To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ which are at Colosse: There are more verses, but you get the idea. When Paul talks of “saints” he is talking about people that are alive and are believers in Christ. So, your question was whether or not saints can help through prayer. The answer would be definitely YES if you are using the Biblical meaning of the word saint. We are told to pray for one another and to hold each other up in prayer. Paul asked believers to pray for him: Rom 15:30-31 Now I beseech you, brethren, for the Lord Jesus Christ’s sake, and for the love of the Spirit, that ye strive together with me in your prayers to God for me; That I may be delivered from them that do not believe in Judaea; and that my service which I have for Jerusalem may be accepted of the saints; And we are told that our prayers will be heard: Jam 5:16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. But, I think what you were really wanting to know is if it is beneficial to pray to dead people that the Catholic church has given the title of saint. To answer that question, I would have to say definitely NO. In the Bible, speaking to the dead is called necromancy and the Lord says it is an abomination. It is comparable to witchcraft. Deu 18:9-12 When thou art come into the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not learn to do after the abominations of those nations. There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch, Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer. For all that do these things are an abomination unto the LORD In fact, King Saul (the first king of Israel) consulted the dead concerning an upcoming battle, and the Lord was so angry, it cost Saul his life (1 Sam 28:11 and 1 Chr 10:13). So, not only is it not helpful to pray to dead people (no matter how saintly they were in this life), that practice is an abomination to the Lord. That would include prayers to Mary as well. I know that there will probably be lots of people that don’t like what I’ve said. But, that is what the Bible says and I won’t make any excuses for telling the truth. I hope this answers your questions.

  Rewards:

Mar. 2005 Some friends say you will be rewarded according to your works, is this so? I think just getting to Heaven is a reward. Thanks. Ruby Dear Ruby; Thanks for your question. Your friends are right. There will be rewards for your work here on earth and I’ll show you some verses that state that. But, you should know that getting to heaven is not a reward. Being allowed to go to heaven is a gift… you can’t earn it by good works, so it can’t be a reward. While we will be rewarded for good works that we do, those good works are NOT what get us into heaven. Titus 3:5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost Eph 2:8-10 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. Notice in the above verse (Eph 2:10) that we are “created in Christ Jesus unto good works.” When we are born again, forgiven of sins, washed and regenerated and renewed by the Holy Ghost (Titus 3:5), we are created a new person, a person created for good works (not by good works). So, the things we do that would be called good works (helping the poor, giving to church, telling others about Jesus), we do because we love Jesus. And Jesus will reward us. Mat 16:27 For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works. 1 Cor 3:8 Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour Eph 6:8 Knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord, whether he be bond or free. Rev 22:12 And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be. I hope that if you have any questions about how to get to heaven, you will either email me or ask a Christian friend. If you are already a Christian, then praise God….I’ll meet you one day in heaven.

  Women Ministers:

Mar. 2005 Dear Sir, My name is Daryl. I am married with 4 children and live in southern England. The past 20 years we have attended a local baptist church and of late our attendance has declined dramatically. Daily we seek God and thank him for our blessings but this does not disguise the fact that we are back- sliding by not meeting with other Christians to praise God every week. For sometime we have felt that there is lack of sincerity with our worship at our church and this may be us, after all we all are guilty at pointing the finger a others. It is all so easy to blame others for the lack of whatever. Recently though one stumbling block will not go away. First we introduced a rule in our church that at least 3 of the deacons must be woman, now we have appointed a young woman minister. We struggle with this. One she’s young, two she’s not a parent and thirdly she a woman. You read certain parts of the bible like 1 timothy 3 and you are sure these are qualifications required, it makes perfect since until you hear the counter argument and then doubt sets in. Exactly what is the truth? I often ask God on a number of subjects, but this question KEEPS US AWAKE AT NIGHT.. What worries us most is that practically the whole church has accepted it as being ok and have adopted lets get on with it, life’s too short attitude. Are my wife and I missing something! After all we are all sinning at sometime or the other ,why single out any individual sin and make a meal of it. We really look forward to your reply. Dear Daryl; Thanks for viewing the web site and taking the time to write. First I will say that when I started this web site, I was surprised to find that the topic that generated the most response was the topic of women ministers. If you go to the web page that addresses this issue (What does the Bible Say About...Women Ministers ) I think that the Bible is extremely clear that God didn’t intend for women to be leaders in the church. However, I have received some very hateful mail from people that believe that it’s ok. People have raised different scriptural arguments trying to convince me that it’s ok to have a woman leading the church and I have answered those arguments in the best way that I can. You might want to go back through the Comments pages and read the comments that have the heading “Women Ministers.” There are quite a few and I don’t want to repeat all of it here again. In the mean time I will just tell you that the Bible is very clear, women are not to be leaders of the church. I have found that generally, churches or denominations that have allowed women pastors, are declining or slowly dying. My opinion is that God will not bless a church that doesn’t follow his Word. If I were in your position, I would move my family to a different church. One that holds the Bible to be the inspired Word of God and follows the scriptures without compromise. No doubt, I will receive countless angry emails about this, but you asked me what I think on the matter…. I think we should allow the Bible to speak for itself, and I think we ought to follow what it says. I hope that helps and God bless you and your family as you continue to grow spiritually.