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QUESTIONS & ANSWERS (58)

Victor M. Eskew

 

INTRODUCTION

 

A.    On Wednesday nights, I usually have a couple of jokes or funny slides to show you.

 

B.      Because this is Q&A Sunday, I thought this slide would be appropriate.

 

 

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C.     I am not inferring that your questions are stupid.  Your questions are usually very unique and challenging.

 

D.    In this lesson, we will address two of your questions.

 

I.                   QUESTION #1:  Temptation

 

A.    Stated:  What are some of the ways out of temptation?

 

B.      Answer:

1.      Temptation involves two things:  our desires and Satan’s enticements (Jms. 1:14)

 

But every man is tempted when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.

 

2.      Temptation is not sin.  If it is, then, Jesus sinned for He was tempted (Matt. 4:1).

 

Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.

 

3.      It is yielding to the enticements of Satan that brings sin (Jms. 1:15).

 

Then lust when it hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin; and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.

 

4.      So, how do we deal with temptation so we do not sin?

a.      First, pray not to be led into temptation (Matt. 6:13).

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

 

1)      As Christians, we are in a constant walk with God.

2)      In our conversations with Him, we ask Him to not allow us to be led into temptation.

3)      Through His providence, He can keep us out of situations wherein we could be tempted.

b.      Second, we should not make provision to fulfill the lusts of the flesh (Rom. 13:14).

 

But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfill the lusts thereof.

 

1)      We all know the things that tempt us the most.

We know the times when we are tempted.

We know who we are around that make temptation harder.

2)      All of the knowledge that we have about our temptations must be used to keep us away from those temptations.

a)      Kids are not allowed to have friends in the house while their parents are not at home.

b)      We do not go to the Bar & Grill with the boys after a ballgame.

c)      Counselors always have open doors or windows through which others can see inside.

d)     Male and female co-workers always go out to lunch in groups not just as a couple.

c.       Third, we develop a deep knowledge of God’s Word and apply it in times of temptation.

1)      Psalm 119:11

 

Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.

 

2)      This is how Jesus disposed of the temptations of Satan in the wilderness (Matt. 4:4, 6, 10).  Three times Jesus said unto the evil one:  “It is written.”

d.      Fourth, look for a way of escape (I Cor. 10:13).

 

There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man:  but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way of escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

 

1)      NOTE:  This is a promise of God.  God cannot lie.  In every temptation, there is a way to escape the temptation if we will seek it.

2)      For Joseph, it was a door out of Potipher’s house (Gen. 39:12)

 

And she caught him by his garment, saying, Lie with me:  and he left his garment in her hand, and fled, and got him out.

 

3)      The way of escape might be not dating a particular person or not taking a certain job or not picking up the telephone to talk to someone.

e.       Fifth, we could find us an accountability partner.

1)      This is a person who cares about us deeply and who manifests the quality of confidentiality.

2)      When temptations are strong, or, when we are by ourselves, we can call this person and he/she can help us through the temptation (Eccl. 4:9; Prov. 27:17).

Two are better than one…

 

II.                QUESTION #2:  Binding and Loosing

 

A.    Stated:  Please explain the following verse in detail:  Matthew 16:19 and Matthew 18:18.

 

B.      Answer:

1.      The two verses:

a.      Matthew 16:19

 

And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven:  and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

 

b.      Matthew 18:18

 

Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

 

2.      In both passages, the words “whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatsoever ye shall loose shall be loosed in heaven” are found.

a.      In Matthew 16:19, these words are addressed to Peter by Jesus Christ.

b.      In Matthew 18:18, the words apply to all of the apostles of Jesus Christ.

3.      Considerations:

a.      In both verses, the subject of delegated authority is being considered.

1)      Jesus was granted “all power in heaven and in earth” (Matt. 28:18).

2)      One with all power can delegate any portion of that authority to whomever he desires.

3)      Thus, the apostles were delegated the authority from Jesus to bind and loose.

a)      They were His chosen ambassadors (Matt. 10:2-4).

b)      They were commissioned to carry out the Lord’s commission after He ascended to the right hand of God (Matt. 28:18-20; Mark 16:15-20; Luke 24:44-49).

c)      Their position required great authority in order for those to whom they were sent to submit to their teachings.

b.      Binding and loosing

1)      Binding involved all things that were unlawful to be done.

2)      Loosing involves all things that were lawful to be done.

3)      The apostles were the ones who would guide and govern the church.  At first, this was done orally.  Ultimately, their words were written down in what is known as the New Testament (Eph. 2:20).

 

And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief cornerstone.

 

4)      Examples:

a)      Acts 15, the council in Jerusalem

-          There was a dispute that arose in the church as to whether Gentiles had to be circumcised and keep the law of Moses (Acts 15:2, 5).

-          Acts 15:3

 

And the apostles and elders came together for to consider this matter.

 

-          After discussion was made about the matter, letters were written and dispersed to the Gentile churches.  In Acts 15:28-29, we find the decision that was made.

 

For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these things; that ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication:  from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well.  Fare ye well.

 

                                                     +  The apostles loosed circumcision from the Gentiles.

                                                     +  The apostles bound abstinence from meats offered idols, blood,

                                                         things strangled, and fornication.

b)      I Corinthians 7, questions regarding marriage

-          I Corinthians 7:1a

 

Now concerning the things whereof ye wrote unto me.

 

-          Some of the questions they asked had been dealt with specifically by the Lord during His earthly ministry (ex., I Cor. 7:10).

 

And unto the married I command, yet not I, but the Lord…

 

-          Some of the questions had to be answered by Paul as an apostle (ex., I Cor. 7:6).

 

But I speak this by permission, and not of commandment.

 

                                                     +  Notice that Paul says he spoke by permission, that is, permission of

                                                         the Lord Jesus Christ.

                                                     +  Paul was binding and loosing by the words that he spoke.

c.       Shall be bound in heaven and shall be loosed in heaven.

1)      The apostles were not the ones “determining” God’s will out of their own minds.

2)      Most will interpret these words as:  “Whatsoever ever thou shalt bind on earth, shall have already been bound in heaven, and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth, shall have already have been bound in heaven.”

3)      The apostles were not determining the will of God, they were declaring the will of God.  They were simply communicating to men what was determined in the mind of God.  It was the Holy Spirit who was revealing these things to them.

a)      Acts 15:28

 

For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us…

 

b)      I Corinthians 7:40b

 

…and I think also that I have the Spirit of God.

 

CONCLUSION

 

A.    Temptation is a storm through which all of us must navigate.  We can overcome the temptations of Satan if we will abide by the principles given to us in Scripture.

 

B.      The apostles were the chosen delegates of Jesus Christ through whom the gospel was communicated to the world.

1.      They were delegated authority to bind and loose upon the earth.

2.      Their decisions were in complete harmony with the will of God because they were speaking by the Spirit of God.

3.      Today, what has been bound and loosed is found in the pages of the New Testament.  It is imperative that you and I continue in these things and these things alone.

a.      John 8:31

 

Then said Jesus unto those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed.

 

b.      II John 9

 

Whosoever abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God.  He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.