I would rather live my life as if there is a God, and die to find out there isn’t, than live my life as if there isn’t, and die to find out there is!


Wednesday, October 21, 2009

DOES GOD ESTABLISH ALL GOVERNMENTS?

The Bible seems to say that God establishes all governments. Does He establish the bad ones too?

In some cases God allows unjust or even evil leaders to obtain positions of power and leadership. Sometime they even become rulers over nations. That does not mean that God participates in their evil activities. God can, however, use human deeds -- good or evil -- to help accomplish
his greater purposes, which are always good. A Biblical example is His use of evil Babylon to discipline the nation of Judah. He permitted brutal rulers to conquer his people in the hopes that his people would turn again to him. See Habakkuk 1:6

God always wants leaders to govern fairly and justly. Sometimes they don't.

Relevant scripture
Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.
Romans 13:1

Be blessed,
Wayne

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http://www.Capstone-Ministries.org

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Friday, October 16, 2009

WHY DID GOD WIPE OUT ENTIRE CITIES?

If God is a God of mercy and love, why did He find it necessary to wipe out entire cities or populations of people? Why didn't He at least exclude the children? Surely they were innocent of any wrongdoing.

Answer
There are several places in the Old Testament where God opted to kill entire groups of people; men, women, children and in some cases even the animals. (see Deuteronomy 2:34 and 3:6,
Joshua 6:21 and Jeremiah 11:11; 14:11-12; 15:1-2) God takes no pleasure in death (Ezekiel 18:32 and 33:11), but being a just God did what was necessary for the overall good of His perfect plan.

In every case where the people were killed in mass they were steeped in sin, and were worshipping other gods. Clearly God finds this intolerable, and in fact tells us this, and tells us of the consequence. Read Deuteronomy 8:19-20. This verse is pivotal to understanding the nature of God relating to obedience and commitment to Him. It's not like they weren't warned. While God would have preferred that these people repented and turned to Him, they did not and in fact went so far off track that God's judgment became inevitable. They were so degenerate that they were beyond repentance. Prominent among their sins were: idol worship, sexual perversion, and the sacrificial slaughter of infants. Their societies were contaminated at every level. Left alone their degenerate lifestyles and practices would have infected more of God's people. So God dealt with the problem directly and forcefully. As far as the destruction of innocent children is concerned, we cannot know why God included them, but must remember that God's ways are just and He does no wrong (Deuteronomy 32:4). We can rest in the knowledge that it was the right thing to do. Remember, the physical death of a baby is not the same as eternal death. God simply moved these infants from one existence to another, and no doubt far better, existence (Matthew 19:14; Mark 10:14; Luke 18:16).

These children are in heaven with God (Romans 2:12-16). One of the characteristics of us humans is that we try to figure out, with our finite knowledge and ability to understand, why God does what He does . We can not and we will not be able to fully understand
Him, until we dwell with Him in heaven. This is not to say we shouldn't continue to learn about Him and to strive to know Him, but we must understand that He is God and we are not. God's ways are not our ways and God's thoughts are not our thoughts, but as the heavens are higher
than the earth, so are His ways higher than our ways and His thoughts than our thoughts (Isaiah 55:8). We cannot "put him in a box."

Relevant scripture

Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable His judgments and His paths beyond tracing out! (Romans 11:33)


Be blessed,
Wayne

http://www.Capstone-Ministries.org


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Wednesday, October 14, 2009

WHY DOES GOD TEMPT US TO SIN?

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Question:
I struggle to do the right thing, but it seems I often do the wrong thing. Why does God tempt us to sin?


God does not tempt us. That is one of Satan's specialties. God does test us at times, but he does not tempt us. What's the difference? Tempting is trying to get a person to do something wrong. A trial (or test) is a situation in which God gives a person an opportunity
to do something right. God never tries to trip us up, but he does allow tough circumstances to build our character and spiritual maturity. On occasion God may test us by putting us directly into Satan's line of fire. God doesn't test us so that we may fall into sin. He tests
us so that we might be victorious. As far as your struggle to do the right thing, we all struggle there. You are not alone. Even the Apostle Paul faced this struggle. Romans 7:7-25 Make up your mind that you will not be tempted by sin, and then do the best you can. Ask God for forgiveness when you fail.


Relavant Scripture
At once the Spirit sent him out into the desert, and he was in the desert forty days, being tempted by Satan. He was with wild animals, and angels attended him. Mark 1:12,13

Also see: Matthew 4:1-11 & Luke 4:1-13


God bless,
Wayne

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Tuesday, October 6, 2009

The Bible speaks of "fear of God." Should we live in fear or terror of God?

The Bible speaks of "fear of God." Should we live in fear or terror of God?

No, we should not. The fear the Bible is referring to is not the kind of fear that makes us tremble. This fear is actually another word for reverence or worship. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of all knowledge. I think this suggests that if we properly acknowledge God and give Him the worship He deserves we will begin to gain wisdom. We are to approach God with an attitude of humility and awe, not dread and fright. We should fear God in our daily lives, whether relating to money, work, marriage or other issues we face, giving God the honor due Him by obeying His will in each of these areas. A wise person will seek God's perspective on matters before acting. God deserves our fear, but we are not to be afraid of Him.

Relevant Scripture:
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline. Proverbs 1:7

Be blessed,
Wayne

www.Capstone-Ministries.org

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