Scripture References, Word & Phrase descriptions: the “Logos Reftagger” scripture links are hover pop-up active, meaning the scripture reference will just pop-up if you hover your cursor over it (don’t click on the link, just hover your cursor over it), when finished reading, hover your cursor off the scripture reference link. If the Reftagger pop-up doesn’t show all the verses, left click on the “More” button in the Reftagger pop-up window and it will take you to the online bible. If RefTagger pop-ups don’t work on your computer, that’s OK, try right clicking the link then open in new tab or window; or if that doesn’t work, you can always use your Bible to look up the verses. Word or Phrase definition links may not have a website that opens.
Prepare yourself for learning the Word of God!
Before we begin, if you are a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ (that is; you have believed [trusted] in Him for His promised gift of eternal life), it is important to prepare yourself to learn God's Word so take a moment to name, cite or acknowledge (confess) your known unconfessed sins privately to God (i.e.; with your thoughts directed only to God the Father).
1 John 1:9 says: "If we confess our sins, He (God) is faithful and just to forgive us our sins (known sins) and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness [unknown or forgotten sins]." NKJV (New King James Version) [italics added]; we call this REBOUND, read the full doctrine as to “why” we need to use 1 John 1:9 to grow spiritually. REBOUND
If you have never personally believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, that He is the Son of God, the promised Messiah, as your Savior (that is, believed in Him for eternal life), the issue for you is not to name your sins; the issue for you is to simply exercise faith alone in Jesus Christ alone for eternal life; when you do, you will instantly receive Eternal Life: John 3:16, 5:24, 6:47, 20:30, 31.
John 6:47 says: "Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me [Jesus Christ] has everlasting life." NKJV [italics added]
Notice again what Jesus said in John 6:47: "…he who believes in Me (Jesus Christ) has everlasting life." It doesn't say, "will have"; it says, "has." Therefore, the very moment you believe in Jesus Christ for His promise of everlasting life, you have it (it's really just that simple; nothing more and nothing less), and it can never be taken away from you (John 10:28-29). Furthermore, the gift (Ephesians 2:8c) of everlasting life (also called eternal life in scripture) is available to every human being; there are absolutely no exceptions.
John 3:14-15, 16, 17, 18, says: "14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15 that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. 16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. 18 He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God." NKJV
Let us now bow our hearts and take a moment to prepare for worship and learning God's Word. If there is any known sin in your life, this is the time to just cite it privately to God the Father with your thoughts directed towards Him. With your head bowed and your eyes closed, you have total privacy in your mind and soul:
Study to show yourself approved to God!
Grace Bible Church
Robert McLaughlin Bible Ministries
The Tree of Life is a weekly teaching summary:
God’s Word is taught Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday
God’s Word is taught Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday
STUDY TITLE:
Seven questions the LORD may ask you.
We noted there were seven questions I wanted to show you. Answering the seven questions can reveal where we are in our relationship with our Lord. The seven questions are found in the following passages.
1. Gen 3:9 (Adam) “Where are you?”
2. Gen 4:9 (Cain) “Where is your brother or fellow believer?”
3. GEN 16:8 (Hagar) Where are you going?”
4, Num 22:9 (Balaam) “Who are these men with you?”
5. 1K1 19:9 (Elijah) “What are you doing here”
6. 2K1 5:25 (Elisha) “Where have you been”
Elisha was the successor to Elijah. He extended Elijah’s ministry in the power of the LORD. Elijah is known as “the prophet of fire.” Elisha, in contrast, is called “the prophet of water.” Elisha did twice as many miracles then Elijah, but Elisha was taught by Elijah.
7, The seventh question is taken from certain passages in the Bible that lead to the principle of: “When you get to where you’re going, where are you going to be”.
Let’s note a few more principles concerning these seven questions. If we are going to truly understand the value of these seven questions, we need to find out who the questions were given to and why they were given and finally, how we can learn and apply the questions to us for our own benefit.
1. The first question is that in Gen 3:9, Then the Lord God called to the man, and said to him, “Where are you?”
This was a question to Adam who really did not know where He and Ishshah were, especially where they were spiritually. The condition that they were in was the result of their personal sin which caused them both, Adam and the woman, to try to hide from the Lord.
Gen 3:6-10, When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was desirable to make one wise, she took from its fruit and ate; and she gave also to her husband with her, and he ate.
Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loin coverings.
And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden.
Then the Lord God called to the man, and said to him, “Where are you?”
And he said, “I heard the sound of Thee in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid myself.”
Our Lord asked this question “Where are you” not because He didn’t know where Adam was, because He did know where they were and He wanted them to rebound and get back in fellowship with the Lord. In fact, our Lord had to teach them how to rebound or how to get back in fellowship with our Lord.
Gen 3:20-21, Now the man called his wife’s name Eve, because she was the mother of all the living. And the Lord God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife, and clothed them.
So, our Lord asked the question, “Where are you” because He wanted Adam to examine himself as to where he was spiritually. That same question is also asked of some of you. “Where are you?” How would you answer that?
Under the first mention principle, the first question that our Lord asked Adam, “Where are you” is a question that the Lord would ask someone who is living in sin and hiding from the Lord.
Are you?
If so, the Lord would want you to consider the answer to the question concerning “where you are” because recognizing where you are spiritually is the beginning of recovery.
Prin: The question “Where are you” is designed the question where are you is designed by our Lord not for us to become introspective but for us to be honest with ourselves and to examine whether or not we are in fellowship with our Lord
2Co 13:5, Test yourselves {to see} if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you unless indeed you fail the test?
If you do not want to “fail the test” then you must increase your daily perception metabolization and application of Bible doctrine. If you do not want to “fail the test” then you must pass the first question on the exam and increase your daily perception of Bible doctrine.
This simply means that if Lord asks you the question “where are you,” which He can ask you from the written pages of the word of God, then you will be able to say that doctrine has been your daily delight – and that is where you are. Notice I said the word daily. Because ever since the invention of writing, there has always been and there still is an attack on the daily intake of Bible doctrine.
We live in a day and age when the kingdom of darkness has all kinds of influence with apostate believers who have a sounding board of some form or another. And I’m not talking about unbelievers but believers being used by Satan to discredit doctrinal teaching and the believer’s commitment to the daily intake of doctrine.
These individuals make it seem like your a fanatic if you take in doctrine daily, or that you are getting puffed up because of too much knowledge. However, what does the scripture say?
In Neh 8:18, a revival was taking place in Israel because of the desire for doctrine from their teacher, Ezra, the priest.
And please notice what it says:
Neh 8:18, And he read from the book of the Law of God daily, from the first day to the last day.
We have also noted that THE LORD JESUS CHRIST made doctrine His delight on a day by day basis as well.
Prov 8:30, Then I [doctrine] was beside Him [THE LORD JESUS CHRIST], as a master workman; and I was daily His delight, rejoicing always before Him,
Doctrine was a daily thing for THE LORD JESUS CHRIST and it should be a daily thing for us. Doctrine also promises blessings to those who listen to it daily in Prov 8:34, Blessed is the man who listens to me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at my doorposts.
The Lord Jesus Christ made it crystal clear that we would need the word of God daily to survive in Matt 4:4 and Luk 9:23.
Luk 9:23, And He was saying to them all, “if anyone wishes to come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.
The Lord Jesus Christ also taught doctrine every day in Luk 19:47. Look at Luk 19:47, And He was teaching daily in the temple; and the chief priests and the scribes and the leading men among the people were trying to destroy Him,
Luk 22:53, our Lord said I was with you daily in the temple,
The early church met daily and they were becoming strong in doctrine and increasing in number.
Acts 16:5, So the churches were being strengthened in the faith, and were increasing in number daily.
So, do not be deceived by individuals who are sent to try and stop your momentum in the PPOG which only comes from your consistent intake of Bible doctrine. You can see why Satan loves to discredit the daily intake of doctrine.
Psa 145:2…Everyday will I bless thee.
Psa 61:8…I will perform my vows or my responsibilities daily.
Psa 72:15…Daily shall He be praised.
Psa 118:164…Seven times a day I will praise Thee because of your righteous judgments.
Psa 1:2… “But his delight [the mature believer] is in the Law of the Lord, and in His law
Isa 8:9…My Lord, I have called daily upon you.
The apostle Paul cease not to warn everyone night and day in Acts 20:31, “Therefore be on the alert, remembering that night and day for a period of three years I did not cease to admonish each one with tears.
Paul tells us in 2Co 4:16 that our inward man the new creature is renewed day by day, 2Co 4:16, Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day.
The early church recognized the importance of this daily commitment also! It’s very sad in our day an age that there is such an attack upon the daily intake of Bible Doctrine. The average Christian church meets once a week to have what they call “Bible Class!” Where did they get that schedule from? Well, I’ll tell you where they didn’t get it from, the Bible. (see 2Ch 8:14; 2Ch 31:16; Ezr 3:4; Jer 7:25)
Do not be deceived by individuals who are sent to try and stop your momentum in the PPOG which only comes from your consistent intake of Bible doctrine. It is the only way that you will ever pass any exam that the Lord may test us with.
2. The second question is asked to a man (Cain) who was jealous, evil, hateful of his brother, but most of all, he committed murder.
In 1Jo 3:10-16, By this the children of God and the children of the devil are obvious: anyone who does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor the one who does not love his brother. For this is the message which you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another; not as Cain, {who} was of the evil one, and slew his brother. And for what reason did he slay him? Because his deeds were evil, and his brother’s were righteous. Do not marvel, brethren, if the world hates you. We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love abides in death. Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer; and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him. We know love by this, that He laid down His life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.
This means that the Lord will ask questions like He asked to Cain after he had murdered his brother, Gen 4:9, the Lord said, “Where is Abel your brother?”
This question was asked by our Lord to an individual who committed the first murder, but He also will ask similar questions to those believers who murder their brothers or sisters with hate.
This means that if you are guilty of murder, physically or spiritually, the Lord will ask you something like He asked Cain which reveals the hatefulness of Cain, our Lord asked Cain, “Where is Abel your brother?”
This is a question our Lord may ask you to reveal whether or not you love or care for your brothers and sisters in Christ.
Gen 4:1-9, Now the man had relations with his wife Eve, and she conceived and gave birth to Cain, and she said, “I have gotten a manchild with the help of the Lord.” And again, she gave birth to his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of flocks, but Cain was a tiller of the ground. So it came about in the course of time that Cain brought an offering to the Lord of the fruit of the ground. And Abel, on his part also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of their fat portions. And the Lord had regard for Abel and for his offering; but for Cain and for his offering He had no regard. So Cain became very angry and his countenance fell. Then the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen? If you do well, will not your countenance be lifted up? And if you do not do well, sin (offering with blood) is crouching at the door; and its desire is for you, but you must master it.” And Cain told Abel his brother. And it came about when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother and killed him. Then the Lord said to Cain, “Where is Abel your brother?” And he said, “I do not know. Am I my brother’s keeper?”
Always remember, Matt 25:40, “And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, {even} the least {of them,} you did it to Me.’
3. The third doctrinal question from the Bible is in Gen 16:8 where our Lord spoke to “Hagar, Sarai’s maid, and He asked where have you come from and where are you going?”
We pick it up again, this time in Gen 16:7, where Hagar has been running away from Sarah after Sarah had been treating her harshly and abusing her both physically and mentally, so, we pick it up now in verse 7.
Gen 16:7-8, Now the angel of the Lord (by the way this is a Theophany of our Lord Jesus Christ who Hagar also recognized Him as God) He found her by a spring of water in the wilderness, by the spring on the way to Shur. And he said, “Hagar, Sarai’s maid, (And here comes the next question–) where have you come from and where are you going?” And she said, “I am fleeing from the presence of my mistress Sarai.”
How would you answer that question? Where have you come from and where are you going?” Sometimes it’s good to remind ourselves where we have come from just like it is good to know where we are going. Actually, this two-fold question is a great measuring stick as to where you are in the spiritual life that God has ordained for you and me — to live in.
Do you have any memories at all of what you use to be, or how you use to think, or what you use to say, and what the Lord delivered us all from?
Now, Hagar was honest when the Lord asked her a question and she said; “I am fleeing from the presence of my mistress Sarai.”
Look what happened back in Gen 16:7-8, Now the angel of the Lord ) found her by a spring of water in the wilderness, by the spring on the way to Shur. And he said, “Hagar, Sarai’s maid, where have you come from and where are you going?” And she said, “I am fleeing from the presence of my mistress Sarai.”
Honesty – the best policy, especially when you are face to face with the Lord through living the spiritual life.
So, in Gen 16:9, because Hagar did not lie but instead admitted the truth we read: Then the angel of the Lord said to her, “Return to your mistress, and submit yourself to her authority.”
Then comes more blessings to the one who was mistreated, thrown out of her tent, but was honest when she was answered the questions that our Lord had.
Gen 16:10-13, Moreover, the angel of the Lord said to her, “I will greatly multiply your descendants so that they shall be too many to count.” The angel of the Lord said to her further, “Behold, you are with child, And you shall bear a son; And you shall call his name Ishmael, Because the Lord has given heed to your affliction. And he will be a wild donkey really a wild ass of a man, His hand will be against everyone, And everyone’s hand will be against him; And he will live to the east of all his brothers.” Then she called the name of the Lord who spoke to her, “Thou art a God who sees”; for she said, “Have I even remained alive here after seeing Him?”
And so, I ask you, do you even know where have you come from and where are you going or are you fleeing away from the calling of God upon your life.
4. The fourth question came from Num 22:9, where God came to Balaam and said, “Who are these men with you?”
The back background to this passage is the fact that Balaam had been hanging around the wrong the wrong people. He was doing so because he had a lust for money, silver, gold, any form of materialism, so he would compromise his biblical principles for the sake of materialistic gains. Therefore, this is a question that our Lord our Lord would ask those of us concerning those individuals that we hang around with.
Do we hang around those who have positive volition, use their time wisely? Or are we with them because of what we can gain through our acquaintances? In Numbers 22, the prophet Balaam was hanging around the wrong people and the Lord came to him and asked him a very important question concerning his friends.
5.The fifth question comes from 1Ki 19:9, Elijah came to a cave and he was depressed and so the Lord said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”
Question: What ARE you doing here? This is a question we all need to answer concerning “What we are doing here?” Why are you here? It’s either doctrine or human viewpoint! The mind of Christ which is Bible doctrine or the thinking of the Cosmic system which is satanic viewpoint.
6. 2K1 5:25 Elisha said to his servant, one whom he depended upon, “Where have you been?”
If I am your pastor, because I am not the pastor for everyone that walks through these doors, but if you consider me to be your pastor-teacher, I would ask you the same question; “Where have you been?”
The sad thing but the good thing is that Elisha’s servant was honest with Elisha when he said, “Your servant went nowhere.” Many of us could say this about ourselves at certain times. We’re going nowhere! Well, if you’re going nowhere what are you going there for? Really, no one can really say that they are going nowhere.
7. And of course, the last question is from me which says; “When you get to where you’re going, where are you going to be?” Do you know where you’re going in life? Where are you going to be when you get to where you’re going?
The following link is to a good news message describing how one can receive eternal life: Ticket to Heaven, it was written for anyone not absolutely certain about their eternal future.
No comments:
Post a Comment