Is going to the doctor a sign of a lack of faith?

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Rosa and her son Jesus

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John Dennison

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David Jones

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Printable Activity: 8 page mini coloring book and full-sized pictures to tell the story of Peter preaching the gospel for the first time to Gentiles - Cornelius and his family.

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Do you consider that there is a deeper significance in the presence of the Lord at His table on the first of the week than when the saints meet for prayer or a Bible reading?

Perhaps it is not quite clear what the questioner means by “a deeper significance.” The Lord’s words, “Where two or three are gathered together in (or unto) My Name, there am I in the midst of them” (Matthew 18:20)," TARGET="_blank">Matthew 18:20), apply primarily to the Prayer Meeting (v. 19). Perhaps the Lord’s presence is often more real to the saints at His table, because they are more occupied with Him there, than with their needs. Besides, there is often more real exercise of soul before going to the Lord’s table, than to the Prayer Meeting or Bible Reading. “Let a man examine himself, and so let him eat.” We get what we go in for. But the prayer eeting and Bible Reading ought not to be neglected, as is too often the case, by the majority of the assembly, or treated lightly even sometimes by those who attend. Surely there would be a greater spirit of prayer poured out and more edification in the Bible Reading if all went in a spirit of soul preparation and waiting upon God.

W.H.

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Does the reference to “the sword” in Psalm 22:20," TARGET="_blank">Psalm 22:20, find its fulfilment in John 19:34" TARGET="_blank">John 19:34 where one of the soldiers with a spear pierced His side? and to what does the expression “dogs” refer?

The words referred to in the Psalm are, “Deliver my soul from the sword!” I cannot think that there is any reference here to the soldier’s spear! For one thing, the Lord did not pray to be delivered from the spear-thrust, for He was already dead, nor could He be said to be delivered from it, seeing it pierced Him, and was necessary for the fulfilment of the prophecy of Zechariah 12:10," TARGET="_blank">Zechariah 12:10, “They shall look upon Me whom they have pierced.” No doubt, this was permitted for a secondary reason, as an ocular demonstration to all of the reality of His death in the outpouring of all His blood. The water coming out visibly after the blood would indicate that the fountain of that life-blood was entirely exhausted: “He poured out his soul unto death” (Isaiah 53:12)." TARGET="_blank">Isaiah 53:12). Then what could the sword be to which reference is made in verse zo, and from which the Lord prayed that His soul might be delivered? It was something terribly real, the pressure of which our Lord felt to His innermost soul. There was only one sword at Calvary, and that was the sword of which Zechariah spake----the sword of Jehovah—”Awake, 0 sword, against my shepherd, and against the man that is my fellow, saith the Lord of Hosts” (Zechariah 13:7)." TARGET="_blank">Zechariah 13:7). This was the sword of Eden that turned every way (Genesis 3" TARGET="_blank">Genesis 3: ), “the sore and great and strong sword” of Isaiah 27:1," TARGET="_blank">Isaiah 27:1, with which “Leviathan, the piercing serpent” will one day be punished—the sword of divine justice meted out against sin, and with which the Holy Victim was smitten, “when He bore our sins in His own body on the tree,” and was treated as the sinner deserved.
As to the second part of the question, the expression “dog” refers, I think, to the Gentile element among those who crucified the Lord. It was they who administered the physical sufferings of the cross. “For dogs have compassed me, they pierced my hands and my feet”—clearly refers to the Roman soldiers, the crucifiers; and then follows v. 18: “They part my garments among them.” The moral sufferings of our Lord at the hand of Israel are depicted in vv. 6-8. But the sword of Jehovah surpassed them all, and it was being brought through that judgment unto the resurrection ground, which constituted the “deliverance from the sword” prayed for in Psalm 22:20." TARGET="_blank">Psalm 22:20.

W.H.

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Could we support the thought of a paid overseer, who “labours in the Word and doctrine,” from 1 Timothy 5:17, 18;" TARGET="_blank">1 Timothy 5:17, 18; 1 Peter 5:2-4" TARGET="_blank">1 Peter 5:2-4? and why the mention of “filthy lucre,” if the pastorate were not a paid office?

The word translated, “honour,” (time) in 1 Timothy 5:17," TARGET="_blank">1 Timothy 5:17, is in forty occurrences, out of fifty, so translated; in eight others, “price”; “sum” in Acts 7:16," TARGET="_blank">Acts 7:16, and in 1 Peter 2:7," TARGET="_blank">1 Peter 2:7, “precious.” It is always, “honour,” in the Epistles to Timothy (see 1 Timothy 1:17;" TARGET="_blank">1 Timothy 1:17; 1 Timothy  6:10, 16; 2 Timothy 2:20, 21)." TARGET="_blank">2 Timothy 2:20, 21). There does not appear any necessity to change the word here: “honour,” “respect,” “consideration,” are quite adequate. However, even if we adopted the sense of monetary payment, it would only be in recognition of spiritual services rendered, not as a fixed salary.

The form of the exhortation seems to preclude the idea of money due, whether the services have been well done or perchance left undone. “Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who LABOUR in the word and doctrine.” The principle that a teacher or evangelist has a right to “live by the gospel” is clearly taught in the Scriptures (see 1 Corinthians 9:7-14)," TARGET="_blank">1 Corinthians 9:7-14), provided he teaches or evangelises.

There is no idea of a “living” or ecclesiastical title or office. Assemblies which utilise their brethren’s gift are quite right to remember these adequately, and not to take too easily for granted that the preacher does not need anything beyond his bare expenses. As for the “Peter” passage, we can see no hint that what the questioner calls “the pastorate” was to be filled by a salaried official.

The elders, in the plural, are addressed here, as in the other passage, nor can we find the idea of the “presiding elder” or of “the pastor” of a church in this or in any other Scripture. Here the exhortation, “not for filthy lucre,” seems to preclude a stated salary. A servant of the Lord truly looking to Him for his support, is not serving for filthy lucre. The man who is receiving so much salary according to an arrangement, is bound, if he is a conscientous man to give a good money’s worth. The only man that I can find in the Scriptures, who agreed to do so much spiritual work (in this case as “a priest”) for so much pay, was Jonathan, the grandson of Moses (though not of the family of Aaron), and his salary was ten shekels of silver per annum, a suit of clothes and his meals (Judges 17:10)." TARGET="_blank">Judges 17:10). He broke the contract, only when a better living was offered him (Judges 18:19)." TARGET="_blank">Judges 18:19).

W.H.

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Will there be regrets in Heaven for believers?

Will Christians who waste their lives feel regret in Heaven for all eternity?   Yes. 

The key passages on the rewards of the believer at the Judgement Seat of Christ is found in 1 Corinthians 3:11-15" TARGET="_blank">1 Corinthians 3:11-15 and in the parables of reward mentioned in Luke 19" TARGET="_blank">Luke 19 and Matthew 25." TARGET="_blank">Matthew 25.

1 Corinthians 3:11-15" TARGET="_blank">1 Corinthians 3:11-15 teaches security for a believer as well as losses that occur when a believer's work is evaluated by God as worthless…

(11) For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.  (12)  Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw--  (13)  each one's work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done.  (14)  If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward.  (15)  If anyone's work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire.

1. The foundation is Christ.  A believer doesn't worry about building his salvation or collecting enough good works in order to enter heaven.
2. The works are judged, not the person.  The believer is not going to pass through fire or suffer torments of hell to purify him.  In the day of reckoning God will look at motives and actions that one has done on the earth and those actions will be put through the fire, not the person himself.
3. The person whose works are shown to be worthless will be saved even though it will be like escaping from a fire with nothing but the bare necessities.

1. The servants are waiting in faith that their master will return.  The kingdom is coming and the master of the house will be calling his servants to account for how they acted while he was away.
2. Each servant was given the same amount of money – one talent.  A talent is a measurement of weight, 125 pounds to be exact.  It was a sizable amount of wealth that he entrusted to each servant.  The equal amount of wealth is similar to the things we all have equally – one life, one reputation, one family, one set of friends etc.
3. Each servant brought different results.  The most diligent earned 10 times the original amount.
4. Each servant received further authority in the Kingdom of God directly proportional to the results of their work.  In the age of the Millennium, Christ will reign over the earth and his saints will reign with him (Revelation 20:4)." TARGET="_blank">Revelation 20:4).  1 Corinthians 6:3" TARGET="_blank">1 Corinthians 6:3 states simply "we will judge angels".  Clearly, we will share the job of ruling with Christ Himself.

5)    The loss of promotion for the final servant left him completely empty in the coming kingdom. We lose what we don't use.  "From the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away." (v.26)  Comparing the phrase in 1 Corinthians 3:15" TARGET="_blank">1 Corinthians 3:15 "He shall suffer loss" with this parable shows that the loss is further work to be done for the Lord.  The cup of cold water will not be forgotten.  Neither will the lazy Christian who wasted his life.

1. The servants in this parable receive different initial amounts.  This shows that some of us have natural advantages such as more money, better parents, special skills or abilities etc. In regards to punishment of the wicked, Christ said "Everyone to whom much was given, of him much will be required, and from him to whom they entrusted much, they will demand the more. " (Luke 12:48)" TARGET="_blank">Luke 12:48)
2. The servants who were pleasing to their master doubled their money.  Each fulfilled his responsibility to what was expected although the actual quantities were different.
3. The final servant is much different in this parable.  His actions proved that he was a "slothful servant", unworthy of even being in the kingdom.  He was cast into outer darkness, words used to describe the fire and abandonment of Hell (see also Matthew 22:13;" TARGET="_blank">Matthew 22:13; Matthew 3:42, 50;" TARGET="_blank">Matthew 3:42, 50; Matthew 24:51)" TARGET="_blank">Matthew 24:51)  The lazy servant did not lose his salvation, but rather, through lack of good works he showed that he never was a true believer.  

2 Corinthians 5:10" TARGET="_blank">2 Corinthians 5:10  For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.

1 Corinthians 3:8" TARGET="_blank">1 Corinthians 3:8  He who plants and he who waters are one, and each will receive his wages according to his labor.

Hebrews 6:10" TARGET="_blank">Hebrews 6:10  For God is not unjust so as to overlook your work and the love that you have shown for his name in serving the saints, as you still do.

Luke 17:9" TARGET="_blank">Luke 17:9 Does he thank the servant because he did what was commanded? (10)  So you also, when you have done all that you were commanded, say, 'We are unworthy servants; we have only done what was our duty.'"

Luke 6:35" TARGET="_blank">Luke 6:35  But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil.

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