OceanSide church of Christ

 Previous Return to Sermons Next  Click to download Audio

QUESTIONS & ANSWERS (44)

Victor M. Eskew

 

INTRODUCTION

 

A.    Questions & Answers nights involve questions that can be asked for several reasons.

1.      To truly learn

2.      To clear up difficulties

3.      To teach others

4.      To stump the preacher

5.      To stir up controversy

6.      To steer the pulpit

 

B.      The first two are the best reasons for asking questions on Q&A Night. 

1.      These are personal reasons for asking questions. 

2.      They are directed primarily at self.

3.      There are no hidden agendas in the questions.

 

C.     Tonight, we are going to be involved in answering your questions.  We will consider three questions in this lesson.

 

I.                   QUESTION #1:  Judging Others

 

A.    Question:  When we say things good about others when those things are not true, is that judging?

 

B.      Answer:

1.      How we view others has always intrigued me.

a.      One can view a person as a good man.

b.      Another can view that same person as a bad man.

2.      There are many things that influence our view of another person.

a.      Our upbringing and training in our homes (Ex., our prejudices esp.)

b.      Our interactions with the individual (Ex., buying a car from a used car salesman)

c.       Our relationship to a person who tells us about someone else (Ex., a friend has a bad experience with someone and tells us about it).

d.      Our ideologies and agendas (Ex., religion, politics, even sports)

e.       What we see and hear on TV, radio, computer, etc.

3.      The reality is that regardless of how we view a person, we all make judgments about others.

a.      There are two main criteria for judgments.

1)      Do not judge with hypocritical judgments (Matt. 7:1-3)

 

Judge not, that ye be not judged.  For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged:  and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.  And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?

 

2)      Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment (John 7:24).

 

Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.

 

b.      The second one is not always easy.

1)      We do not have all the facts on a person.

2)      Because of our relationship with the person, we are willing to overlook some of the faults of the person that other will not.

3)      NOTE:  These things can put strains on good relationships.  When two friends seek another person through different lenses, this can cause their relationship to have problems.

 

II.                QUESTION #2:  The Holy Spirit’s Throne

 

A.    Stated:  God the Father sits on His throne in heaven (Rev. 4:2).  Jesus is on His right hand (Heb. 1:3; Acts 2:30; Heb. 1:8).  Why do we not read of the Holy Spirit’s having a throne?

 

B.      Answer:  There are two answers we can give.

1.      First, each member of the Godhead has His unique position that he fills.

a.      God the Father is the ultimate King and Ruler.

b.      After Jesus’ resurrection, God exalted Jesus to be the King over the kingdom, the church (Matt. 28:18; I Cor. 15:25; I Tim. 6:15).

c.       After the resurrection of the dead and judgment, the kingdom will be delivered back to the Father (I Cor. 15:25, 28).

 

Then cometh the end, when he shall deliver up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power…And when all things shall be subdued unto him then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him.

 

d.      The position of the Holy Spirit is that of a revelator.  He does not occupy the position of a king, therefore, He does not sit on a throne.

2.      Second, the Holy Spirit does have a throne (Rev. 4:5).

 

And out of the throne proceedeth lightnings and thunderings and voices:  and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God.

 

a.      Seven is a perfect number.  “The seven Spirits of God” represent the perfection of the Holy Spirit.

b.      Note that He is right there in the midst of this throne scene. 

c.       This is not surprising because He is just as much God as is the Father and the Son (See Acts 5:3-4).

 

III.             QUESTION #3:  Led of the Spirit

 

A.    Stated:  Are we led by the Holy Spirit?  If so, how is this done?

 

B.      Answer: 

1.      The Bible plainly teaches that Christians are led of the Spirit.

a.      Romans 8:14

 

For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.

 

b.      Galatians 5:18

 

But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.

 

 

2.      The question is really:  “How are we led of the Spirit?”

a.      If we did not have the Bible today, no one would be led by the Spirit.  We would sit around wondering hopelessly what God wants us to do.

b.      When we follow the teachings of the Bible, we are being led of the Spirit.  Why do we say this?  Because it is the Holy Spirit who revealed the Bible unto us.

1)      II Samuel 23:2

 

The Spirit of the Lord spake by me, and his word was in my tongue.

 

2)      II Peter 1:21

 

For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man, but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

 

3.      An additional comment

a.      We have individuals in and out of the church who believe that the Holy Spirit dwells in them literally and personally.

b.      They quote various passages that teach the Spirit’s indwelling (Rom. 8:11).

 

But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.

 

c.       They tell us that this passage does not say that the Spirit dwells through the Word in the Christian.  It simply says that the Spirit dwells in the Christ.  Therefore, He must dwell literally and personally within us.

d.      They, however, are not consistent in their interpretation of the Scriptures.

1)      We have just seen that the Bible teaches we are led of the Spirit. 

a)      The text does not say the Spirit lead us through the Word, but that is what they would claim.

b)      Why is it that the Word can be involved in leading the Christian, but it cannot be included in the Spirit’s indwelling within a Christian?

2)      In another text, we are commanded:  “…but be filled with the Spirit” (Eph. 5:18). 

a)      If I ask those who believe in a personal indwelling what this means, they say that we are filled with the Spirit when we are filled with the Word of God.

b)      Why can the Word be included in being filled with Spirit and not be included in the indwelling of the Spirit?

e.       To be consistent, they must affirm the literal, personal effect of the Spirit wherever the Holy Spirit is mentioned. 

1)      Many of the denominations have no trouble doing this.

2)      Our brethren who believe in a literal indwelling, however, will not.

 

CONCLUSION

 

A.    We have examined three questions. 

1.      One involved the subject of judging others.

2.      The last two dealt with the Holy Spirit.

 

B.      We noted that we are to be led by the Spirit.

1.      The Spirit, through the Word, can lead us to salvation.

2.      All we need to say is:  “Where He leads, I will follow!”