QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS (91)

Victor M. Eskew

 

INTRODUCTION

 

A.   There are all kinds of questions that can be asked.  Since we have entered into the month of October, let’s ask five questions about Halloween.

1.    What is another name for Halloween?  All Hallows Eve

2.    What is the most popular Halloween candy?  Reece’s Peanut Butter Cups

3.    What are the colors of Halloween?  Black, orange, and purple

4.    How many pounds of candy corn are produced each year?  35 million

5.    How many pounds of chocolate are sold during Halloween week?  90 million

 

B.   Trivia questions are interesting, but Bible questions are much more important.

 

C.   Today is our Q&A Lesson.  We will be answering three questions in this study.

 

I.             QUESTION #1:  The Christian’s Relationship with Non-Christian friends

 

A.   Stated:  What relationship can a Christians have with non-Christian friends?

 

B.   Three points:

1.    As Christians, we live in the world, but we are not part of the world (John 17:14).

 

I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.

 

2.    There are two realities that bring us in contact with those of the world.

a.    We have to live our lives in the world:  work, school, shopping, neighbors, etc.  Paul addresses this in 1 Corinthians 5:9-10.

 

I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators:  yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world.

 

b.    We are called upon to have an influence on the world through our lives and through our teaching (Ex. Jesus, Mark 2:15)

 

And it came to pass, that as Jesus sat at meat in his house, many publicans and sinners sat also together with Jesus and his disciples; for there were many, and they followed him.

 

c.    NOTE:  In the course of these two actions, we will develop relationships, sometimes friendly relationships, with some of these individuals.

3.    There are some things that we must always keep in mind when we have relationships with those who are in the world (1 Cor. 15:33).

 

Be not deceived:  evil communications corrupt good manners.

 

a.    We should never allow them to detract us from our service to God (Matt. 6:33).

 

But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

 

b.    We should never be part of the sins they commit (Rom. 12:2).

 

And be not conformed to this world:  but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God.

 

c.    We should never endorse their false religions (2 Cor. 6:14-16a).

 

Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers:  for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness?  And what communion hath light with darkness?  And what concord hath Christ with Belial?  Or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?  And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols?...

 

II.           QUESTION #2:  Heavenly Portals

 

A.   Stated:  Can you discuss heavenly portals?  What are they?  What is their purpose?

 

B.   Answer:

1.    Individuals find something in Scripture.  Then, they attach a unique name to it.  From there all kinds of teachings emanate from the concept.

2.    The word “portal” is defined as “a door, a gate, or an entrance” (dictionary.com).

3.    NOTE:  The term is not found at all in the KJV of the Bible.

4.    The definition of “heavenly portals.”

a.    “Portals are openings in heaven that reach earth at specific locations in order for there to be angelic activity” (The Portals of Heaven | Divine Restoration Ministries).

b.    “A portal (in layman’s terms) is a doorway or entry point.  According to the Bible, it is a spherical opening of light that offers divine protection though/by which angels and heavenly beings can come and go without demonic interference.  God has designed portals to originate in the third heaven, travel through the second heaven, and open upon the earth” The Portals of Heaven | Divine Restoration Ministries).

c.    “These verses describe portals, or what some people refer to as open windows, of heaven.  There are certain locations on earth, where the veil between the natural realm and the spiritual realm is thinner, as if there is an established opening that allows God’s angelic messengers to pass through unhindered.  Such portals exist over nations, states, cities, and even specific people and their property.  Christians can usually sense when the heavens are open over a certain area.  When you are under a heavenly portal, answers to prayer come quicker, the gifts of the Spirit operate more freely, and the atmosphere is one of peace and rest.  Supernatural occurrences are more frequent, and the interference of the enemy is weak” (Heavenly Portals — A Deeper Word (jimandjanean.com).

d.    Some believe that demonic portals also exist on the earth.

5.    There are many examples of heavenly portals found in the Bible, we are told.

a.    What is known as “Jacob’s ladder” is said to be a portal (Gen. 28:12).

b.    The manna from heaven was delivered through a portal (Ps. 78:23-24).

 

Though he had commanded the clouds from above, and opened the doors of heaven, and had rained down manna upon them to eat, and had given them of the corn of heaven.

 

c.    Elijah was taken up into heaven through a portal (2 Kings 2:11).

d.    At the baptism of Jesus, a heavenly portal was opened (Matt. 3:16-17).

e.    The ascension of Jesus into heaven (Acts 1:10-11).

6.    There are all kinds of things that are said about these heavenly portals.

a.    They can be opened on individual people.

b.    They can be opened on cities.

c.    They can be opened on nations.

7.    Problems with the doctrine of heavenly portals.

a.    They take isolated, miraculous instances from the Bible and attempt to make them common occurrences today.

b.    They attach the word “portal” to things not referred to in that manner by the Scripture.

1)    Jacob saw a dream.

2)    Elijah was carried into heaven in a whirlwind.

3)    Jesus simply ascended into heaven from the mount of Olives.

c.    The teachings about heavenly portals are not well-defined.  Each person puts his own “twist” on what a heavenly portal is and what it is supposed to do.

d.    Heavenly portals involve the supernatural and miraculous.  The age of miracles ceased in the first century with the revelation of God’s complete will to man (1 Cor. 13:8-13).

e.    Heavenly portals often involve that which is subjective.  In other words, they are based upon the feelings and emotions of man.  “Christians can usually sense when the heavens are open in a certain area.”

f.     God does not need a “portal” through which to work.  He can open and shut the heavens anywhere and at any time He so desires.

g.    We do not need some “light” from heaven to shine upon us. 

1)    We have the light of God’s Word to fill our lives (Ps. 119:105).

2)    When we live in harmony with the light of God’s Word, then each one of us reflects the light of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (Matt. 5:14).

 

III.         QUESTION #3:  Having Faithful Children (Tit. 1:6)

 

A.   Stated:  In reference to the qualifications of elders, what exactly does “faithful children” mean in Titus 1:6?  Does it apply to grown children who are no longer living with their parents?

 

B.   Answer:

1.    Titus 1:6

 

If any be blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly.

 

2.    A faithful child is a child who is a faithful Christian.

a.    He has obeyed the gospel of Christ.

b.    He lives the Christian life in harmony with God’s Word.

c.    He is not one who can be accused of riot (Ex., the prodigal son), and he is not unruly, that is, insubordinate or disobedient.

3.    The big question that is usually asked is:  “What if a man’s children are not faithful after they leave his house?”

a.    In the context of Titus 1, there is no discussion about whether the children are in the house or out of the house. 

b.    An argument, however, arises from 1 Timothy 3:4-5, where Paul also presents a list of the qualifications of elders.

 

One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity; (for if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the house of God?)

1)    In these two verses, Paul uses the words “his own house” as part of the qualifications.

2)    An elder can only be responsible for his own house.  If the children have formed another household and they are not faithful, a man does not have the ability to rule another’s house, even if it is the house of his own child.

3)    Therefore, if the children were faithful to the Lord while they were part of his household, then he meets the qualification to become an elder.

4)    NOTE:  If an elder can control his own house, then he has demonstrated that he can control the members of the house of God who meet at a specific location.

c.    Each man must make a decision for himself.

1)    There are some who will not serve as elders if their children are not faithful Christians even though they are out of the home.  (NOTE:  For these individuals, it is a matter of conscience.  They often believe that the test of the faithfulness of a child is not while he/she is in the home, but once the child leaves the home).

2)    There are others who will serve as elders as long as their children were faithful while they were living at home.

 

CONCLUSION

 

A.   We have learned some interesting things in this study.

1.    First, we may have friends who are in the world, but we must be careful not to allow them to influence us to do anything that opposes our Lord Jesus Christ.

2.    Second, we have learned that some people believe in heavenly portals.  My friends, we do not need a physical portal.  We have the portal of prayer which Jesus opened for us (Eph. 2:18; Heb. 10:19-20).  That should be enough.

3.    One of the qualifications of an elder is for him to have faithful children.  If a man wants to be an elder, he must dedicate himself to the task of rearing his children successfully in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

 

B.   In John 8:12, Jesus said:  “I am the light of the world.” 

1.    Jesus is all the light we need.  We do not need a light from some imaginary portal.

2.    As we noted earlier, when we walk in the light of His precious Word, His light is reflected in our lives.

3.    Our walking in the light is essential to our cleansing and our fellowship with Him (1 John 1:7).

 

But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.