QandA: Good Stewardship, Fishers of Men, Backsliding, God’s Forgiveness, Feeling Salvation

Nearly all the general questions of life this world has to ask are answered on this website. I know that sounds arrogant and facetious, but if you consider that the world’s questions are relatively few, just asked in sundry ways, it will make more sense. The Word of God found in the majority-text just simply has all the answers, and they are the answers. Since the beginning of time, Satan has harnessed the world’s best carnal minds to attempt to refute the answers found in the Word of God. They have failed time after miserable time. At GodSaidManSaid, we assert that the Holy Scriptures are true and righteous altogether. Challengers are encouraged to put forth their strong reasons, but there is not a strong man among them. The Word of God is the answer.

The following e-mail came from T.M. concerning a particular radio station on which we’re presently advertising. For your information, GodSaidManSaid purchases airspace all over America and just recently launched an advertising effort in Australia. One of Australia’s most popular shock jocks who is networked across that continent, including New Zealand, interviewed GodSaidManSaid on the air. If you would like to listen to the interview, click on to "Sydney, Australia Radio Interview." T.M.’s message is as follows:

I love your website. The concept of bringing God’s truth to the world is what God intended for Jesus and His disciples.

However, I have a deep problem with the means we use to accomplish our (God’s) goals.

Recently, you began advertising (supporting) Clear Channel Radio, AM 570 WKBN, in Boardman, Ohio. I would hope, if we are going to be good stewards of God’s Word, and the intent of your website is to be a good steward, then you should not support Satan. Having listened to, and talked with, the DJs at WKBN radio, I’ve found they are of the world and far from being believers. As Jesus said in John 8:44 (NIV), "You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desire. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks in his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies."

I believe the purpose of your website is to spread the truth. But to do so on a station that is clearly owned by Satan—why? Isn’t it in itself hypocritical?

Dear T.M., an Australian Christian organization asked us what our intentions are for Australia. We told them we were just fishing. GodSaidManSaid fishes for souls and to fish, you have to go where the fish are.

In the summer of 2004, we became a serious point of conversation on the Howard Stern Show. Mr. Stern was discussing the kind of advertisers that were airing on his show. It was reported to us that Stern physically clicked onto this website and reviewed 10 GodSaidManSaid subjects, actually agreeing with seven of them. This website did not purchase syndicated space on the Howard Stern Show, but we did advertise on a Dallas, Texas, station that carried Mr. Stern’s program. We required part of our mix to be aired during his show. His audience was vastly larger than the rest of the day’s programming. Remember, we are fishing and sometimes we go to the very gates of hell. We appreciated Mr. Stern’s attention. Many souls tuned into GodSaidManSaid as a result of his attention and were powerfully affected by the Word of God. It is our prayer that God would reveal the beauty of salvation unto Howard Stern, that he would take stock of his life, and turn his heart to Jesus Christ, the King of the Jews.

Another example of soul-fishing, radio-style, is the following e-mail among many that came as a result of the interview with the Australian shock jock mentioned earlier:

God bless you more and more. You freed my heart.

For first time last night, I was listening to Stan’s program on radio 2UE. I heard him speak with the brother who did the commercial. I loved him because he was speaking about the Lord Jesus. I went to the website. I read and listened. I filled my heart with God’s Word. I am very happy now that I found you. I became Jesus’ daughter.

He called me from the darkness, saved me, and freed me from this evil prison. He gave me eternal life, peace, and happiness. I was born Muslim and I’m 40 years old. I see Him. Many times He did miracles—miracles with me. He turned me to His light and my four children. Glory, glory to His name. I am telling everyone His Holy Spirit is with me.

Hallelujah!

If you listen to the interview in Australia, you’ll hear the radio host questioning the worth of advertising GodSaidManSaid on the airwaves. If he only knew! Keep in mind that one blood-bought soul is worth more than the aggregate wealth of all the earth and even the universe.

T.M., you are probably unaware that a radio station’s worth, in regard to the advertising rates it is able to command, is established by its audience. As a part of that audience, you are enriching that radio station. That same principle works for television and the movie theater as well. Consider this, T.M.: when you frequent the supermarket, you are enriching an establishment that prospers by the sale of cigarettes, alcoholic beverages, lewd magazines, horoscopes, and more. When you read a magazine or newspaper, you are enriching a publication that thrives because of many untoward thoughts and the promotion of much unrighteousness. You drive a vehicle purchased from a particular manufacturer who uses much of its profits to underwrite a myriad of evils, from the sponsorship of lurid programming on TV and radio, to the support of wicked organizations, and more. T.M., using your yardstick, it appears that your actions are hypocritical, but I realize that you make those comments because you have not thoroughly thought this out. In most of the above examples I Corinthians 5:9-11 applies:

9 I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators:

10 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.

11 But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat.

We are required to be in the world, but not of the world. Finally, T.M., your Scripture verse in the e-mail we received was from the N.I.V. When you get a moment, please click onto the following messages on this site and send us your response.

Brian’s Disagreements

Disappointed and Critical

God Said Answers K.L.

King James Version, Apocrypha, Septuagint, Canon

Pastor A.J. Contends With King James

Pastor T. and the KJV

Which Bible?

May the face of the Lord shine upon you and your house with light and truth.

The following e-mail was sent by Dan:

I have a question. When I first accepted Christ, the urge to smoke was completely taken away. I have since returned to that nasty habit and was wondering if I have the right to ask Christ to free me from smoking again. Is that crucifying Christ again for a sin He forgave years earlier? Thank you.

Dear Brother Dan, smoking is an addictive bondage from which the Lord delivered you in the past, and He certainly can do it again. This problem is definitely not the concept recorded in Hebrews 6 that refers to crucifying the Son of God afresh. I John 2:1-2is more appropriate:

1 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:

2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.

Then Galatians 6:1-2:

1 Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.

2 Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.

Smoking damages the body, which is the temple of God. It should not be done. I Corinthians 3:16- 17:

16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?

17 If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.

Smoking is not the only culprit, of course. Once a habit or deed is known to defile your body, you should turn from it. Physical culprits that defile the body follow the full gambit, from drugs and alcohol to additives, certain foods, and gluttony. The passage from I Corinthians cited above, of course, refers to spiritual and physical defilement. Brother Dan, may God’s face shine upon you, your house, and all you put your hand to.

The following e-mail was sent to [email protected] by Amanda:

Thank you so much for this wonderful website. I have had so many questions about the Bible as I don’t understand a lot of what I read. But now many of them are answered.

I just said the sinner’s prayer. Although I grew up in church and have been saved before, I have backslid. I now know I am once again in the Lamb’s Book of Life and it is a wonderful feeling.

If this e-mail reaches someone who can answer this question, I would love to know the answer.

Will God ever stop forgiving us—even if we keep messing up? If bad thoughts enter our mind (for me, a curse word will flash through my brain, or I will think badly of people), will we be judged for that? I don’t try to think these things; they just happen.

Once again, I appreciate your hard work on this website.

Dear Sister Amanda, welcome home! It’s so good to have you back. Much of your question is answered above in our response to Brother Dan. The notion of thoughts or curse words or bad feelings about an individual is another issue. Just as on the physical plane, we cannot create or destroy matter, it must be known that on spiritual plane, we also cannot create or destroy, but we do participate in this arena. Any thought that might jump between your ears has been offered up to billions before you. The thought or inclination is not new, nor is it yours. Thoughts are either sourced in Christ or Satan. It is important to remember that you are not the creator of good or evil thoughts. But when you entertain the thought, you become a participant. II Corinthians 10:3-5:

3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:

4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)

5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

A believer in Christ Jesus has the power over, and must control the ground between, his ears. It’s helpful to think of your mind as a single-barrel shotgun with the thought being the shell. You can change the shell (thought) at will. Philippians 4:8 demonstrates this principle. It reads:

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

Fix your mind on good thoughts and simply reject the evil ones. You will surely succeed. May the face of our God shine upon you and all you do.

The following question was sent by Brother D.P.:

I have asked Jesus to come into my life and lead me through life. But, I don’t feel any different. How do you know?

Glorious and eternal congratulations, D.P.! Welcome to the Commonwealth of Israel. Welcome to the family of God. D.P., feelings are not an indicator to certify our salvation, although sooner or later they will come. The Apostle Paul and Brother Silas said to their jailer in Acts 16:31:

And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.

Believe is the key word. You have believed upon the Lord Jesus Christ. The following passage, Romans 10:6-9, reads:

6 But the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise, Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down from above:)

7 Or, Who shall descend into the deep? (that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead.)

8 But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;

9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

D.P., tell someone that you’ve repented of your sins and have given your heart to Christ. Satan’s chains on you will break. You must begin this process by confessing this to yourself. D.P., follow me in the following confession. Repeat it after me, then tell it to someone else.

I am born-again. Jesus Christ is my Lord and Savior. All my sins have been washed away by his blood. I am a new creature. I am a child of God.

The Word of God records the following in Romans 8:15-16:

15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.

16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:

D.P., it’s not feelings. Purchase a King James Version of the Bible and read it daily. Seek a church that follows the whole Word of God and attend several times a week. Be sure to follow Jesus Christ in water baptism by immersion. Also, click onto "Holy Ghost (Part One)" and follow this five-part series. Press in and you surely will not fail. May the face of the Lord lighten your darkness. Psalms 18:28:

For thou wilt light my candle: the LORD my God will enlighten my darkness.

References:

Authorized King James Version

• Go Further With Christ
• Email To a Friend
• Comments or Questions?