Saturday Afternoon Blog with Pastor Williams (September)
Posted on September 4th, 2006 by TADCCBLOG
Pastor Williams will be active on the blog site this Saturday afternoon from 2 to 3pm immediately following the WRJD 1410AM broadcast of “Christian Perspective Today”. Please suggest topics or questions for discussion.
Filed under: Discussion Topics, Live Blog on Saturday
11 Responses to “Saturday Afternoon Blog with Pastor Williams (September)”
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Pastor Williams,
Because God sees our life from beginning to end, Jesus already knew Judas would betray Him. BUT, what if Judas had decided to resist the devil. Someone had to betray Jesus in order for the prophesy to be fulfilled. And if Judas was the appointed person to betray Jesus in order to fulfill prophesy, then he did not have a choice. It just seems that if God “winked” at polegamy, concubines, incestuous unions in the Old Testament, then He would have mercy on Judas. Afterall, Judas filled the role of the betrayer of Jesus. Somebody had to betray Him; it just happened to be Judas. The mere fact that he felt remorse and tried to undo his wrong, shows regret. Was Judas chosen by Jesus to be one of His disciples in order for prophesy to be fulfilled? Again, this would appear that Judas played the “hand dealt to him”. We all as believers have basically counted Judas among the lost,but God’s mercy is without limit; meaning, we might just see Judas in heaven. There are people who commit murder and do not care or give a second thought about the taking of an innocent life. Judas apparently felt so bad, felt that God could not nor would not forgive him. So with the feelings of hopelessness, he committed suicide. Again, Judas played an important role in the subsequent journey of Christ’s ultimate sacrifice at Calvary. Therefore, if Judas was born for the sole purpose of fulfilling prophesy, God surely would have mercy on him. I know that God has mercy on whomever He pleases, and I think He will have mercy on Judas. Scripture records Jesus saying “It would have been better if that man had not been born”. But because he was born, Judas helped the prophesy to be fulfilled. I’m not giving Judas any praise; absolutely none. I’m giving my Heavenly Father all the praise for being so merciful, even to someone like Judas.
Byron,
Matthew 27:3 says Judas repented himself. He did not repent to God. He felt bad about what he did but not bad enough to go to God. Peter had the opportunity to follow Christ Jesus to the Judgement Hall. John followed Christ Jesus to the cross. If Judas’ repentance was to God, he could have easily have followed Christ too. Remember Christ Jesus cried out from the cross, “Father forgive them for they know not what they do.” Judas would have been included if he had asked for forgiveness, but he did not. His sorrow was of the world.
2 Corinthians 7:10 For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death
You can be forgiven when you ask for forgiveness. He did not ask God for forgiveness.
The act of suicide shows a person separated from God. The latter part of the above verse says the sorrow of the world worketh death. Judas’ repentance was the sorrow of the world which lead to his suicide. Also God says that anyone that defiles the temple (our body) God will destroy (1 Corinthinians 3:17). Suicide defiles and destroys the temple.
Suicide is self murder. A muderer shall not inherit the kingdom of God (Galatians 5:19-21). Therefore a person committing suicide is guilty of self murder and therefore must ask for forgiveness in order to be forgiven, as everyone that is saved must do.
Some people refer to Samson and his death as an example of suicide. The question is, did he committ suicide. No. Samson gave his life for his nation. Christ Jesus also gave His life for the world. It is not considered suicide if you give your life to save another person’s life.
The question of God winking at sin (Acts 17:30) pertained to sinners before Christ Jesus came into the world. The 31st verse of the same chapter in Acts states that God appointed the world to be Judged by Christ Jesus. Therefore everyone born since Christ came into the world is commanded to repent unto God.
God’s mercy is solely at His discretion. Romans 9:22 states there are some vessels (people) fitted for destruction. In the 19th verse of the same chapter it says who has resisted the will of God. The implication being that no one has. But yet God has deemed some as dishonourable vessels made that way in order to show God’s glory in the Land. Pharoah of the exodus, Satan, Goliath, etc… These vessels are fitted for destruction as Judas was.
Esau also repented, having traded his birthright for a morsel of meat (Hebrews 12:16,17). He repented with tears but to no avail. The birthright could not be reclaimed. Saul disobeyed God in bringing the accursed thing into the camp and consulting with the witch of Endor. He too repented, but God withdrew His Spirit from him.
There is nothing in the Bible to lead a person to believe that Judas will be in heaven. John 19:11 Jesus answered, Thou couldest have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above: therefore he that delivered me unto thee hath the greater sin.
Jesus still acknowledges Judas’ betrayal of Him as sin. There is no indication of him being forgiven. And if he is not forgiven then it means he is condemned for betraying the only begotten Son of God.
This is why it is so important that we accept Christ Jesus as Lord and Saviour. There is no other guarantee for a person to be saved but that He repent now and accept Christ Jesus as Lord and Saviour.
Pastor Williams,
I observed a documentary about serial killers several days ago on MSNBC new channel. John Wayne Gacy, nortorious for the rapes and murders of 37 young men, was the subject of discussion. Mr. Gacy, for all intent and purpose, appeared as an average sort of guy. He blended in well with society, worked the political circuit, organized charity events, and was very active in his church. He had a wife and lived in a moderately middle- class home. He was also known as the “clown’s clown”, the life of the party. No one knew of his secret life, his affinity for young men. Gacy was eventually caught, convicted and sentenced to death. Prior to his execution, he requested that his brain be examined to see if there was an organic reason for his debauched behaviors. He felt that something had to have been wrong with “the wiring” of his brain. An autopsy was performed on his brain, revealing a normal organ without disease or defect.What say you regarding the belief that serial killers are created, a product of their environment. I think that this might be applicable in a few cases, however; most are “bad seeds”. Satan counterfeits the things of God at every opportune chance. If the Holy Spirit could enter John the Baptist while he was yet in his mother’s womb (and leaped for joy regarding Mary’s Holy Seed), could’nt Satan also enter into an unborn child with an unholy, depraved spirit?
Katherine,
Yes you are right. The following verses speak of a child overtaken by a demon.
Matthew 17:15 Lord, have mercy on my son: for he is lunatick, and sore vexed: for ofttimes he falleth into the fire, and oft into the water.
16 And I brought him to thy disciples, and they could not cure him.
17 Then Jesus answered and said, O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him hither to me.
18 And Jesus rebuked the devil; and he departed out of him: and the child was cured from that very hour.
Satan can enter into a person when Christ is not present in the person’s life. Either through the sins of the father:
Exodus 20:5 Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;
When a person is rejected by God through disobedience and God withdraws His Spirit:
1 Samuel 16:1 ¶ And the LORD said unto Samuel, How long wilt thou mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected him from reigning over Israel?
:14 But the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD troubled him.
Satan seeks people that are not under the covering of God through Christ Jesus His Son;
1 Peter 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
Indeed we as believers do not worry about demon possession. We cast out demons. Demons cannot dwell in the same Temple as Christ Jesus does.
Mark 16:17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;
Jesus the Christ was manifested that He may destroy the works of the devil (I John 3). This is why we need to introduce our children to Christ Jesus as early as possible.
Joshua said as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord. The Philippian jailer asked the Apostles, “What must I do to be saved”. Paul answered, Believe on the Lord Jesus and you and your household shall be saved.
It is important to introduce our children to God at an early age. It is one way to keep the hands of Satan off our children.
Pastor Williams,
(Job1:6 and Job2:1) speak of “A day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came among them”. Who are the sons spoken of in these passages? I know that Satan is a creation of God, but he isn’t considered His son is he? (Job1:7 and Job2:2) speak of “And the Lord said to Satan, “From where do you come?” So Satan answered the Lord and said “From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking back and forth on it.” Does Satan still have the privilege of coming before God to accuse the brethren?
Katherine,
Sons of God and children of God are the same words translated from Hebrew to English. Sons of God are the people who have trusted their life to God.
John 1:12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
1 John 3:1 Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.
1 John 3:2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.
Satan at one time had access to Heaven. This is where he accused the brethen as it says in the Book of Job. That was until Satan was put out of Heaven.
Luke 10:18 And he (JESUS) said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven.
To present yourself before the Lord is simply to come into His prescence through worship or prayer.
1 Samuel 10:19 And ye have this day rejected your God, who himself saved you out of all your adversities and your tribulations; and ye have said unto him, Nay, but set a king over us. Now therefore present yourselves before the LORD by your tribes, and by your thousands.
Therefore while the Sons of God worshipped or prayed, Satan also entered into the Heavens before God.
Satan is never called a son of God. Angels are not called sons of God. Only mankind is referred to as Sons of God as stated in the earlier verses. Some would confuse the passage in Daniel as referring to angels as Son of God. However upon reading the passage closely Daniel 3:25 states that the fourth person LOOKS LIKE the Son of God. It did not say He was the Son of God.
Because Christ Jesus our advocate is now interceding for us in Heaven Satan has no place or right to go there to accuse us.
Revelation 12:10 And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.
Christian Community,
Today is Rosh HaShannah. In Leviticus 23 it is called the Feast of Trumpets. Many Christians believe that the Feasts listed in Leviticus are not applicable to Christians. The Bible states otherwise.
Christ Jesus our Lord celebrated the Feasts. The Apostles celebrated the Feasts. More important two of the most important celebration in Christendom are related to the Feasts.
Communion/Last Supper is recorded as the Feast of Passover in the Gospels. It was during the celebration of Pentecost or the Feast of Weeks that the Holy Spirit descended as a mighty rushing wind in the second chapter of Acts.
Matthew 5:16,17, Christ Jesus our Lord said that He did not come to destroy the Law but to fulfill. The Feasts are contained within the Law and find their fulfillment in Christ Jesus and the Church.
The word Feast as given in Leviticus 23 can be translated as appointed time. Convocation which is what these Feasts are called can be translated as rehearsal.
God wanted Israel at an appointed time each year to rehearse His intervention in the life of man. By rehearsing these events it would help to recognize God’s hand when He moved.
These are the associations with the Feats:
Feast of Weeks: Rapture
Pentecost: Holy Spirit Descending
Unleavened Bread: Preparing for Resurrection of Christ
Day of Atonement: Repentance
Passover: Christ our Passover Lamb
Ingathering: Place with Christ Forever
First Fruit: Christ Resurrection From the Dead
Pastor Williams,
Since Ishmael and Esau are considered the Islamic Forefathers, and having been reared in Hewbrew tradition, is there an Islamic equivalence or semblance to “The Week of Feasts?” I have read that conversion to Islam is rapidly increasing. What is the data/statistics on Islamic conversion to Christianity?
No there is not. The closest thing this year to the celebration of the Feasts given in the Bible is Ramadan.
The month of Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar; the month of fasting; the holiest period for the Islamic faith. There is a fast held from sunrise to sunset that is carried out during the Islamic month of Ramadan. This month can fall at any time during the solar year. This year it just happens to fall during the time of Feast of Trumpets (Rosh HaShannah) and Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur).
Ramadan supposedly commemorates the angel Gabriel given the Koran to Muhammad. This is a false assertion because the Gospels recount the Angel Gabriel coming to Mary, a virgin, and telling her that she shall have a Child that shall be called the Son of the Highest (Luke 1:32). The Koran says that God does not have a Son while the Gospels say that He does and His name is Jesus.
Therefore all that is recorded in the Koran is wrong.
As stated in the previous emails there is no Godly connection to Ishmael or Esau in the Koran. Muhammad and his people were idol worshippers before the Koran and not reared in the Hebrew tradition.
Pastor Williams,
Is there any data/statistics about people of the Islamic faith converting to Christianity?
The growth rate of Islam in Western nations (including the US and Canada) primarily comes through: a high Muslim birth rate and immigration (e.g., Muslims moving to the United States), not from converts (non-Muslims becoming Muslims).
According to United Nations statistics, the Muslim population in the United States grew by 25 percent between 1989 and 1998.
In the book, The Muslims of America, Prof. Yvonne Haddad addresses the main factors in Islam’s growth in the U.S.: “The dramatic growth of the Muslim community in the United States is a recent phenomenon, taking place primarily over the last three decades in response to changes in American immigration laws and the demands of the labor market.”
Again conversion has not been the major factor in Islam’s growth, with two major exceptions. The first is given by Wendy Zoba in a Christianity Today cover story entitled “Islam, U.S.A”: “Islam is gaining most of its U.S. converts in prisons and on university campuses. The majority of American converts to Islam — 85 to 90 percent — are black.”