Results 1 - 7 of 7
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Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Author: K. Samuel Ordered by Date |
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Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
1 | purpose and origin of the Church | Matt 16:13 | K. Samuel | 6617 | ||
The origin of the church stems back to times recorded in the Old Testament scriptures and is further developed and clarified and expanded by the New Testament. It is a designation of an assembly of people called by God into relationship with Him. The word church is a translation of the Greek word transliterated “ekklesia” It is derived from “ek”-out of, and “klesis” a calling (Vines). It then would proper to say the church is an assembly of people called out from the world’s influences and into relationship with God. It is proper to refer to natural Israel in assembly as the church in the Old Testament. Acts 7:38NAS “This is the one who was in the congregation (“ekklesia”, KJV “church”) in the wilderness together with the angel who was speaking to him on Mount Sinai, and who was with our fathers; and he received living oracles to pass on to you. The Septuagint, a Greek translation of the OT, likely known and used by Jesus and his disciples, often used this same term. It was also a term used in the secular Roman world for political assemblies of citizens (Vines). Jesus chose this term to refer to his newly forming church see Mat 16:13-19. Further understanding of the term may be derived from the following scriptures among numerous others: Acts 20:28, 8:3, 11:26, Col 1:25-27, 1 Cor 1:2, 1Cor 10:31, 16:19, 1Tim 3:15 An important key to understanding the church of the NT, is that it is comprised of Spirit/Christ indwelled people brought together under the headship of Jesus, Col 1:25-28 Of this church I was made a minister according to the stewardship from God bestowed on me for your benefit, so that I might fully carry out the preaching of the word of God, that is, the mystery which has been hidden from the past ages and generations, but has now been manifested to His saints, to whom God willed to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. We proclaim Him, admonishing every man and teaching every man with all wisdom, so that we may present every man complete in Christ. |
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2 | Ineffective prayer by believers? | James 5:16 | K. Samuel | 6033 | ||
It appears as if you are directing this only to Steve but I would like to attempt a short comment too. I think you are looking to have response on why prayers are un-answered. If so this is a very sensitive topic and it is much too important to ignore. In advance I ask for the readers patience with me as this is quite dear to my heart as well. I have found that sin in a believer’s life can indeed hinder God from answering prayer. I prefer here to let the Word of God do the talking on these matters so I will only serve primarily as compiler. (Steve, in his response gave us some nice material. To supplement them here are a few more considerations though not at all inclusive.) 1.It is also true that though God hears every prayer, He does not choose to listen to some. Is 1:15-17 “So when you spread out your hands in prayer, I will hide My eyes from you, Yes, even though you multiply prayers, I will not listen. Your hands are covered with blood. “Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean; Remove the evil of your deeds from My sight. Cease to do evil, Learn to do good; Seek justice, Reprove the ruthless; Defend the orphan, Plead for the widow. Jer. 11:14-15a “Therefore do not pray for this people, nor lift up a cry or prayer for them; for I will not listen when they call to Me because of their disaster. “What right has My beloved in My house when she has done many vile deeds? James also has some wisdom to add which is often not appreciated: You do not have because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures. 2. To others He delays a while in His response (God Himself often limits himself to act through predetermined channels and due to His divine laws): Dan 10: 12-13a Then he said to me, “Do not be afraid, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart on understanding this and on humbling yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to your words. 13 “But the prince of the kingdom of Persia was withstanding me for twenty-one days… 3. To others still, they are responded to collectively at a future date. Consider the incense poured upon the altar in Revelation: Rev 5:8 And when He had taken the book, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, having each one a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. Rev 8:3 And another angel came and stood at the altar, holding a golden censer; and much incense was given to him, that he might add it to the prayers of all the saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne. 4 And the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, went up before God out of the angel’s hand. 5 And the angel took the censer; and he filled it with the fire of the altar and threw it to the earth |
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3 | What does it mean to tear one's clothes? | Ezra 9:3 | K. Samuel | 6029 | ||
Oops, I guess I sent two answers for this topic. Please excuse me . I am a rookie at understanding how to use this forum program. I did not think the 1st note got sent. K. Samuel | ||||||
4 | What does it mean to tear one's clothes? | Ezra 9:3 | K. Samuel | 6028 | ||
You have answered your own question quite well by virtue of your included study. I can only suggest that God seems always to desire that we get to the root of the matter. We can analyze the "letter" but let's also seek out the spiritual significance behind the external act. Joel 2:12-13a (NAS) “Yet even now,” declares the LORD, “Return to Me with all your heart, And with fasting, weeping, and mourning; And rend your heart and not your garments.” Let's keep seeking His truth with all our hearts. |
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5 | Is the United States in the Bible? | Dan 7:4 | K. Samuel | 6002 | ||
2 Pet. 1:20-21 NASB But know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one’s own interpretation, for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God. This scripture refers to real “Holy Spirit” of God type prophecy. Many false prophets prophesied as recorded in the scriptures, but that is not the meaning of Peter’s statement. This may be compared to “no man can say Jesus is Lord but by the Holy Ghost”. It is obvious that any speaking person can mouth those words but to say them of a truth (that He is your Lord), that is another matter and the purpose of the writer’s meaning. A Professor of New Testament studies I had in college, used to point out scripture that was in the bible but in his opinion was misinterpreted by a writer of a given scripture. A memorable example is “A voice was heard in Rama, Rachel weeping for her children, and she refused to be comforted because they were no more” This was quoted by Matthew in 2:18, as prophetic of Herod’s slaughter of all the children at the time of Christ’s birth. This was pointed out by our “learned” teacher (a Cambridge scholar), as being an errant interpretation by Matthew. This is because my teacher knew that it originally was said of an historical event, namely the fall of Jerusalem to Nebuchadnezzar at the time of Jeremiah (see Jer 31:15). My teacher failed to comprehend the living aspect of the scripture as it is moved upon by the living God. Believe me, both Jeremiah and Matthew were correct as to the validity of that scriptures use, Rachel is then a “type”, a symbol, of God’s people. In your question text you ask about another symbol, that of “the wings of an eagle” from a scripture in Daniel, the same phrase is used in the book of revelation (12:14). I find it is very interesting to note that the context of both books relates to the “end of times or the age”. I think there is something here that bears further prayer and study. Scripture is written “from faith to faith” and “without faith it is impossible to please God…” I suggest you put any questions you have no answer for “on the shelf” as God is well able to lead you into all truth. Bless you in your seeking! |
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6 | What does it mean to tear one's clothes? | Ezra 9:3 | K. Samuel | 5997 | ||
Regarding the rending of the garments: These external acts speak of intensity of emotion and feeling. All the scriptures no doubt reveal a physical rending/tearing. But, my intent is to get to the meaning behind the acts. It is my conviction that behind our study of the “letter” is the significance of the spirit of the matter. The “spirit” of the acts speak to me of being equated with brokenness, mourning in spirit, and humility (being contrite or poor and needy in spirit/heart). There is no doubt a lot of tradition and meaning to the physical acts but God in the scripture following says “Let’s get to the ‘heart’ of the matter”. Joel 2:12-13a (NAS) “Yet even now,” declares the LORD, “Return to Me with all your heart, And with fasting, weeping, and mourning; And rend your heart and not your garments.” Passion and emotion is a wonderful study but let’s remember that Essau sought for repentance with tears (Heb 12:16), and he did not find it. Being sorry is not enough, grief is not enough. God wants to see us seek in spirit and truth. |
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7 | What is lust of flesh and eys, pride of | 1 John | K. Samuel | 5995 | ||
1 John 2:16 NASB For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world. Dear brother, try this for a simple explanation. Lust- is 1939. "epithuima" ; from 1937; desire, passionate longing, lust: (NASD) The “lust of the flesh” primarily relates to body desires (needs), and also incorporates soulish (mind, will, emotion) urges. The “lust of the eyes” primarily relates to that which you can see with your physical eyes but too, incorporates that which you see with your mind and focus upon. The “boastful pride of life” is also a lust, that of self importance,pride, ego. I understand it as the original sin, in that it is that which caused Lucifer to sin and be cast down as profane (see Is 14:12). It is interesting to look at the Genesis account of the temptation and fall of man and to see within it the same seeds: Gen. 3:6 NASB (italics mine) When the woman saw that the tree was good for food (lust of the flesh), and that it was a delight to the eyes (lust of the eyes), and that the tree was desirable to make one wise (prideful lust) , she took from its fruit and ate; and she gave also to her husband with her, and he ate. |
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