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QUESTIONS & ANSWERS (85)

Victor M. Eskew

 

INTRODUCTION

 

A.     There are some questions that are asked in the Bible that cause us to shake our heads in wonder.

1.      Cain:  “Am I my brother’s keeper?” (Gen. 4:9).

2.      Pharaoh:  “Who is the Lord, that I should obey his voice to let Israel go?” (Exo. 5:2).

3.      The apostles:  “Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?” (Acts 1:6).

 

B.     We shake our heads because…

1.      We are not the ones asking the question.

2.      We have more knowledge than those asking the questions did.

3.      We just cannot imagine ourselves asking such questions.

 

C.     Today is our Q&A sermon for the month of April.

1.      These are your questions that you have about the Bible and spiritual things.

2.      Question:  Have you ever heard one of these questions asked, and you shook your head wondering:  “Why did they ask that?”

3.      Perhaps we are not too far removed from Bible times when it comes to our questions and our reactions to those questions.

 

I.                   QUESTION #1:  Head Coverings for Women, 1 Cor. 11:4-16

 

A.     Stated:  Please clarify 1 Corinthians 11:4-16 as it pertains to head coverings for women.

 

B.     Answer:

1.      When writing to the church at Corinth, Paul taught that if a man prays or prophesies his head should be uncovered.  In contrast, if a woman prays or prophesies, her head should be covered (1 Cor. 11:4-5).

 

Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonoureth his head.  But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoureth her head…

 

2.      There are two main questions that arise from this text.

a.       Should women cover their heads today when they come to worship?

b.      What kind of head covering should the woman wear if this is the requirement?

3.      The head covering

a.       Those who advocate for a woman having her head covered usually do so in one of two ways:  a hat of any kind, or, a small doilie.

b.      When the word is studied in its first-century context, it carries the definition “having something hanging down from his head.”

c.       The veils were likened unto the wedding veils of our day.  They would be on top of the head and cover the face.

4.      The situation in the church at Corinth.

a.       Churches of the first century included the following types of converts:  Jewish converts, Gentile converts, and Roman coverts.

b.      NOTE:  Each of them approached God in different ways before their conversion.

 

People                                                 Men wore a covering                          Women wore a covering

 

Jews                                                    Yes                                                      Yes

 

Romans                                               Yes                                                      Yes

 

Greeks                                                 No                                                       No

1)      Jewish and Roman men would have been in violation of Paul’s teaching.

2)      Greek women would have been in violation of Paul’s teaching.

c.       Paul brings order to a confused situation involving a custom of that day that was practiced differently by different groups of people.

d.      Paul appeals to “nature” in 1 Corinthians 11:14-15 to assist in solving the difficulty.

 

Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him?  But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her:  for her hair is given her for a covering.

 

1)      The word “nature” means “by long standing habit or practice.”

a)      Men did not wear long hair.

b)      Women, on the other hand, did.

2)      Apply this concept to the head covering, Paul confirmed that men should be uncovered and women should be covered.

a)      Jewish and Roman men had to change their practices.  Jewish woman did not.

b)      Greek men did not have to change their practices, but the Greek women did.

e.       NOTE:  It was the cultural practices of all these groups that caused the difficulty.  If the culture does not involve a veil at all, then there is no reason to require one.  This is why the head covering is not an issue in our society.

f.        In the church there are two clear concepts to keep in mind.

1)      There must be reverence and respect for God when we approach him.

2)      There must be clear lines drawn between men and women.

 

II.                QUESTION #2:  Growing Weary in Christ’s Service

 

A.     Stated:  Sometimes I grow weary as I seek to serve the Lord.  What are some ways to conquer weariness?

 

B.     Answer:

1.      In the New Testament, the word “weary” is only found three times. 

a.       In two of the verses that use the word, we are exhorted not to grow weary.

1)      Galatians 6:9

 

And let us not be weary in well doing:  for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.

 

2)      2 Thessalonians 3:13

 

But ye, brethren, be not weary in well doing.

 

3)      In these two verses, we learn two big lessons.

a)      It is possible for Christians to grow weary.

b)      Christians have complete control over their weariness for they are commanded not to be weary.

b.      The Greek word that is translated “weary” is also translated “faint” (See Eph. 3:13).

 

Wherefore I desire that ye faint not at my tribulations for you, which is your glory.

 

2.      The Bible commands us not to grow weary, but at times it is difficult to overcome being tired and have a desire to slow down or quit.  In those times, there are some things we can do.

a.       Look unto Jesus (Heb. 12:2-3)

 

Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of God.  For consider him who endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be weary and faint in your minds.

1)      Jesus had to endure.

a)      The Hebrew writer notes that twice in this passage.

1)      He endured the cross.

2)      He endured such contradiction of sinners against Himself.

b)      One of Jesus secrets is revealed.  He could see “the joy that was set before him.”

-          The joy of completing the Father’s will.

-          The joy of redeeming man.

-          The joy of defeating His enemy Satan.

-          The joy of being reunited with His heavenly Father.

2)      We have to do as Jesus did.

a)      We do not deny the negatives.

b)      But, we look beyond the negatives to the positives that lie ahead.

b.      Remember what you have received (2 Cor. 4:1)

 

Therefore, seeing we have received this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not.

 

1)      Paul knew that he had received a ministry, a work to which he was called.

2)      That ministry was given to him by the mercy of God.

a)      Mercy is sometimes translated “loving kindness.”

b)      In the New Testament, the definition of mercy is “compassion.” 

c)       God did not give us that which we deserved.  Instead, he suffered with us and manifested His loving kindness toward us through Jesus Christ (Eph. 2:4, 7).

 

But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us…That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace, in his kindness toward us, through Christ Jesus.

 

3)      If we understand God’s mercy, and if we appreciate our place in His efforts on earth, we will never faint.

a)      We are fortunate.

b)      We are undeserving.

c)       We are favored.

c.       Keep in mind that which is eternal.

1)      In 2 Corinthians 4:8-12, Paul told the church at Corinth, we are troubled, distressed, perplexed, persecuted, and cast down.  “Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus…”

2)      These are the kinds of things that would cause many to grow weary in Christ’s service.

3)      But, they were not distressed.  They were not in despair.  How was such possible?

4)      2 Corinthians 4:16-5:1

 

For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.  For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen:  for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.  For we know that, if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.

 

a)      Paul said:  “We faint not.”  Instead, his inner man was renewed day by day.

b)      He viewed his afflictions as being light

c)       He also saw them as being “but for a moment.”

d)      His faith enabled him to look beyond the temporal to the eternal.  He knew that he would put off this earthly tabernacle and that there was “a building of God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens” awaiting him.

CONCLUSION

 

A.     We have examined two questions this morning.

1.      We saw that Paul had to regulate cultural practices that collided in the church at Corinth.

a.       Men were to pray and prophesy with their heads uncovered.

b.      Women were to pray and prophesy with their heads covered.

2.      The second question involved our growing weary and faint of heart.

a.       Keep Christ before our eyes.

b.      Remember the mercy of God that provided us with our present ministry.

c.       Look at the things the things that are not seen.  All that causes us pain will one day be set aside for a glorious spiritual body that will be eternal in nature.

 

B.     Two verses:

1.      Jeremiah 31:25

 

For I have satiated the weary soul, and I have replenished every sorrowful soul.

 

2.      Isaiah 40:31

 

But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.