...We Answer

Not every answer might comply with everybody's way of seeing things. Then I kindly ask you to hold it with Paul, who said in 1 Corinthians 13 that we now see in part. All of us answering here, stick to the basic faith statements as defined in the Apostle's Creed, yet further to that we know that there are also Biblical topics not related to salvation itself, that different people understand and see differently. So please keep this in mind in case you "stumble" over a certain answer - we would like you to be blessed by the challenge of different aspects!

Answer Set 23

Question: Two quick questions: Where in the bible does it command us to serve others? I would love scripture to share with those families in need that we are caring for, praying for. I would love to share with them why scripturally, and where does it talk about giving and you will receive back many more times?

Answer from Polly: Galatians 5:13 tells us to serve one another in love and Luke 6:38 is the one I think you are looking for to show that if you give you will be given. Of course the main reason we serve one another is because Jesus came to serve (Matthew 20:28) and we are to be like Jesus and how can the love of God be in the one who does not share (1 John 3:16-18). Other Scripture include: comfort one another (1 Thessalonians 4:18); build up each other (Romans 15:2); bear burdens (Galatians 6:2); encourage (Hebrews 10:25); be kind and forgive (Ephesians 4:32); accept (Romans 15:7); care for (1 Corinthians 12:25); minister (1 Peter 4:10); show hospitality (1 Peter 4:9); pray (James 5:16); take care of orphans and widows (James 1:27); and the group giving in Acts 2:45, 11:29.

Question: Where and does it say in the New Testament did Jesus say I am not here to take away from but to add to. And I and my Father are one and no one stands beside me.

Answer from Polly: I will get as closely to your wording as possible with the Scripture. “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them” (Matthew 5:17). Or perhaps you are remembering; “If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this Book. And if anyone takes Words away from this Book of prophecy, God will take away from him his share in the Tree of Life and in the Holy City” (Revelation 22:18-19). “I and the Father are One” (John 10:30). “Before me no god was formed, nor will there be one after me. I, even I, am the Lord and apart from me there is no Savior”; “Apart from me there is no God”; “No, there is no other Rock; I know not one”; “I am God and there is none like me. I make known the end from the beginning” (Isaiah 43:10-11, 44:6-8, 46:9-10).

Question: Micah 1:7 (KJV),

"And all the graven images thereof shall be beaten to pieces, and all the hires thereof shall be burned with the fire, and all the idols thereof will I lay desolate: for she gathered it of the hire of an harlot, and they shall return to the hire of an harlot."

The word hire isd used twice but the second one seems to be a different meaning. I have an Expositir's KJV by Jimmy Swagard but it doesn't seem the same as my KJV study bible. Your thoughts?

Answer from Polly: Micah 1:7 King James Version: There were temple prostitutes who earned money from idolaters for services in the temple. The “first hires” in this sense would mean wages. The prostitutes or harlots would in turn give the money they earned to the temple priest for the upkeep and improvement of the temple idols. The “second hire” in this sense would mean gift. God would allow the enemies to destroy the temple and take all that was within it to be used for the same things in the enemies’ temple. The “third hire” in this sense would mean loot or spoils of war. I do not have access to Jimmy Swaggart Version.

Question: I'm confused about this question, in Psalm 103:12 the Word of God says "as far as the east is from the west so far hath He removed our transgressions from us". Psalm 94:11 states, "The LORD knoweth the thoughts of man, that they are vanity." The Word states God removes our sins as far as the east is from the west however, if we remember our sins and the Lord knows our thoughts they still remain known to God because He knows our thoughts. Isaiah 43:25 says the Lord will not remember our sins, yet we do & He knows our thoughts therefore are our sins really not remembered?

Answer from Polly: When you ask forgiveness and repent of a sin then God will and does forgive you. And then He forgets it. However, He does not give you amnesia; you still may remember the sin but you have been forgiven for doing it. God’s thoughts are not your thoughts and His ways are not your ways (Isaiah 55:8) so do not “be wise” in your own eyes (Proverbs 3:7) because wisdom of this world is foolishness in God’s sight (1 Corinthians 3:19). Paul’s advice is to forget what is behind and press toward the goal which is Heaven in Christ Jesus (Philippians 3:13-14). You are worrying too much about whether God is doing things right or not. What He said He will do, He will do (Isaiah 46:11) and you must learn to live by faith; “faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see” (Hebrews 11:1-40).

Question: Why did God take all of those things from Job?

Answer from Polly: God did not take “all those things away from Job”; the devil did! Read the 1st and 2nd chapters of the Book of Job. “Then the Lord said to Satan, ‘have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright; a man who fears God and shuns evil”’ (Job 1:8). God allowed Satan to “test” Job and you will find these tests (coming from Satan and not God), in the 1st two chapters. God trusted Job enough as His servant to know that he would not give in to the schemes and trials of Satan. However, Job did complain (but probably not as much as I would have), but after hearing the speeches from God Himself, he repented and said to God; “Surely I spoke of things I did not understand; things too wonderful for me to know” (Job 42:3).

Question: I'm currently going through the book of 2 Samuel, and listening to pastor Chuck at the same time while reading. Pastor Chuck Smith says that in 2 Samuel chapter 7 that David could not build a house for the Lord because he had too much blood on his hand from being a man of war. Now I've read chapter 7 a bunch of times through and I don't see where it says that in this chapter, unless I'm missing something when I'm reading this chapter. Could you please help with this unless that was just the assumption why David could not build a house for the Lord. Could you please help me with this and give me some clarity. Thank you for your time.

Answer from Polly: Pastor Chuck is not assuming but perhaps quoting from the Chronicles, adding this information to his sermon from 2nd Samuel. David’s preparations for the Temple: “Then he called his son Solomon and charged him to build a house for the Lord, the God of Israel. David said to Solomon: ‘My son, I had it in my heart to build a house for the Name of the Lord my God. But this word of the Lord came to me: ‘You have shed much blood and have fought many wars. You are not to build a house for my Name, because you have shed much blood on the earth in my sight”’ (1 Chronicles 22:6-10).