Pastor Chris Online Transcripts

Episode 10 :: Question 3 on Blood Donation

2:55 PM | Posted by St. Burnish |

Question 3—Sandra (South Africa): Sir, what does the bible say about blood donation? Is it the right thing to do to save someone’s life?

Answer 3: Yes, it is right. Where necessary, you can donate your blood to save someone’s life; it’s right. The bible says, “Greater love has no man than these that a man should lay down his life for his friends” [John 15:13]. So, it’s part of giving your life, you know, to save someone. So, it’s right. There is nothing wrong with it, but remember, you need medical advice in doing that. So, make sure you get medical or expert advice when you want to engage in blood donation.

[Follow Pastor Chris on Yookos (a social networking/micro-blogging site): http://www.yookos.com/PastorChrisLive]

Labels: Christian living |

Episode 10 :: Question 2 on Savings and Investments for Christians

2:50 PM | Posted by St. Burnish |

Question 2—Joy (Nigeria): Dear Pastor, is it wrong for a Christian to have savings and investments?

Answer 2: No, it’s not wrong for a Christian to have savings and investments. In fact, it is wise but see, you need expert advice to know how to make these investments. Don’t just save, and don’t just have investments. We know what has happened all around us: a lot of people all over the world lost their money, because they invested in the wrong place. So make sure you don’t invest or save in the wrong place. Have good advice on that and also be led by the spirit. We will talk about that a little later. So it says, “Is it wrong for a Christian to have savings and investments?” The answer, I said, is ‘No’! It’s right. Go ahead and do it, but do it with wisdom.

[Follow Pastor Chris on Yookos (a social networking/micro-blogging site): http://www.yookos.com/PastorChrisLive]

Labels: Christian living, prosperity and finances |

Monday, March 21, 2011

Episode 10 :: Question 1 on Worshiping God in Spirit and Truth

12:53 AM | Posted by St. Burnish |

Introduction: Hello! Welcome to today’s program! I will endeavor to answer your questions and I believe that this will be a good blessing to you.

Question 1—Fidelis (USA): How do Christians worship in spirit and in truth?

Answer 1: Well, first, it was Jesus who said that. He said, “God is a Spirit: and those who worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.”[John 4: 24] “For the father seeketh such to worship him” [John 4: 23] In fact, Jesus made it clear to us that it was the father’s desire; he said, “the father seeketh such to worship him,” [John 4: 23] because God is a spirit. So, if you are going to worship God, you are going to have to worship him in spirit and in truth. That’s exactly what Jesus said. Now, to worship God in spirit, you must have the Holy Spirit, because only the Holy Spirit can enable you to worship God in Spirit. Now, before Jesus made that statement people had been worshiping God in several different ways for many, many years. The men and women of the Old Testament did worship God. God actually gave them the forms of worship; he let them know how to do it, including singing. The Levites had singers—special singers. The priests ordered the worship. In spite of all that, Jesus said, this was not God’s desire. He said, “The time is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers…” [John 4:23] He distinguished between the true worshipers and other worshipers. So, they had worshiped but now, he was revealing God’s reality. So, when he says “the true worshipers”, it was not to mean that the others were in falsehood but that he was talking about reality - those who would worship God as God actually desired. It’s like talking about the Old Testament and the laws. The bible says, “The law came by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ,” [John 1:17] which means that Jesus actually brought to us what God’s heart really was. The laws of the Old Testament—the laws of Moses - were righteous laws but they couldn’t produce salvation, and so, Jesus brought salvation; Jesus brought reality. Jesus brought the Father’s heart; Jesus came to reveal to us what God really was like, and so, he said the true worshipers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth. So, you must have the Holy Spirit first.

Episode 9 :: Prayer/Words of Knowledge

8:43 PM | Posted by St. Burnish |

Prayer: I want to pray for you now; I believe it’s God’s will and desire to bless you and to heal you.

Father, in the name of the Lord Jesus, I pray for everyone who is under the influence of this programme right now; I pray for you to touch their sick bodies and make them whole. I command sickness to leave their bodies, that they be healed right now. Be healed in your body, be healed in your bones, be cleansed in your blood, in the name of Jesus. I command that deafness to go in the name of Jesus. Yes, that deafness leaves you in the name of Jesus.

Words of Knowledge: Someone with a growth on the back of your neck, you’re healed in Jesus’ name; you’re healed. Yes, be healed in your heart; be healed. I command the arthritis to leave you, in the name of Jesus, that you be made well, that stomach pain to go, in the name of Jesus. Yes, be healed! I rebuke the fibroids in the name of Jesus; be healed right now by the power of the Holy Ghost, in Jesus mighty name! Now, whatever miracle you’re you expecting from Him, receive that miracle! Be blessed in Jesus name! Amen. God bless you.

[Follow Pastor Chris on Yookos (a social networking/micro-blogging site): http://www.yookos.com/PastorChrisLive]

Labels: Pastor Chris prays for you, words of knowledge |

Monday, January 24, 2011

Episode 9 :: Quick Vote Question on the Practice of Divination

12:56 AM | Posted by St. Burnish |

Quick Vote Question of the Week: We gave you four: one was the baptism for the dead; you didn’t choose that one. The second one was “Was Jesus in heaven before he was born?” The third one was the significance of the Lord’s Prayer, and the fourth one was the practice of Divination and that’s the one you chose. And, I believe that was because of the context. Here is what we are talking about: “There is a story in the Bible when King Saul went to a woman that practiced divination and requested for Samuel to be brought up, though he was dead. Was it really Samuel that was brought up and if so, how, since Samuel was a man of God?”

Answer: Alright, it is very simple! Let’s go over to where the story is in the Bible - 1 Samuel chapter number 28. I am reading to you from verse 7; at this time Samuel, the prophet of God, was dead and Saul didn’t know what to do, because he always heard the Word of God from the prophet Samuel.

From verse 7: “Then said Saul unto his servants, Seek me a woman that hath a familiar spirit, that I may go to her, and enquire of her. And his servants said to him, Behold, there is a woman that hath a familiar spirit at Endor. And Saul disguised himself, and put on other raiment [meaning he took away the kingly raiment and put on some other raiment; that’s why it says other raiment], and he went, and two men with him, and they came to the woman by night: and he said, I pray thee, divine unto me by the familiar spirit, and bring me him up, whom I shall name unto thee. And the woman said unto him, Behold, thou knowest what Saul hath done, how he hath cut off those that have familiar spirits, and the wizards, out of the land: wherefore then layest thou a snare for my life, to cause me to die? And Saul sware to her by the LORD, saying, As the LORD liveth, there shall no punishment happen to thee for this thing. Then said the woman, Whom shall I bring up unto thee? And he said, Bring me up Samuel. And when the woman saw Samuel, she cried with a loud voice [apparently in terror]: and the woman spake to Saul, saying, Why hast thou deceived me? for thou art Saul. And the king said unto her, Be not afraid: for what sawest thou? And the woman said unto Saul, I saw gods ascending out of the earth. And he said unto her, What form is he of? And she said, An old man cometh up; and he is covered with a mantle. And Saul perceived that it was Samuel, and he stooped with his face to the ground and bowed himself. And Samuel said to Saul, Why hast thou disquieted me, to bring me up? And Saul answered, I am sore distressed; for the Philistines make war against me, and God is departed from me, and answereth me no more, neither by prophets, nor by dreams: therefore I have called thee, that thou mayest make known unto me what I shall do. Then said Samuel, Wherefore then dost thou ask of me, seeing the LORD is departed from thee, and is become thine enemy? And the LORD hath done to him, as he spake by me: for the LORD hath rent the kingdom out of thine hand, and given it to thy neighbour, even to David: Because thou obeyedst not the voice of the LORD, nor executedst his fierce wrath upon Amalek, therefore hath the LORD done this thing unto thee this day. Moreover the LORD will also deliver Israel with thee into the hand of the Philistines: and to morrow shalt thou and thy sons be with me: the LORD also shall deliver the host of Israel into the hand of the Philistines. Then Saul fell straightway all along on the earth, and was sore afraid, because of the words of Samuel: and there was no strength in him; for he had eaten no bread all the day, nor all the night. And the woman came unto Saul, and saw that he was sore troubled, and said unto him, Behold, thine handmaid hath obeyed thy voice, and I have put my life in my hand, and have hearkened unto thy words which thou spakest unto me. Now therefore, I pray thee, hearken thou also unto the voice of thine handmaid, and let me set a morsel of bread before thee; and eat, that thou mayest have strength, when thou goest on thy way. But he refused, and said, I will not eat. But his servants, together with the woman, compelled him; and he hearkened unto their voice. So he arose from the earth, and sat upon the bed. ” [1 Samuel 28:7-23]

Episode 9 :: Question 8 on The Christian's Superiority to Angels

12:19 AM | Posted by St. Burnish |

Question 8 - Penn (Cameroon): Pastor, the Bible says in 1 Corinthians 6:3 that we shall judge angels. Which angels is this referring to? Does this mean that the Christian is superior to the angels of God? How be it that Christ said in Matthew 22:30 that at resurrection we are as angels. Does this means that at resurrection we will again drop low to be like angels?

Answer 8: Yes, in 1 Corinthians 6, the bible does say that we shall judge angels, but then, let’s read it: “Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life?” [1 Corinthians 6:3]. So we shall judge angels; what angels? Fallen angels! So, we shall judge the fallen angels and not only angels, we are also even going to judge the world, that’s what the bible says, the world of the ungodly. We are going to judge them; we are going to be seated together with Christ on thrones and we shall judge the world and judge angels that didn’t obey God. Now, the angels that have obeyed God don’t need to be judged; they will just continue their work. They don’t need to be judged; they are not going to be rewarded for anything, so they are going to just continue with the work. So, you said “Does this mean that the Christian is superior to angels of God?” Yes, you have to understand that, superior in the sense of our identity with Christ; remember who we are.

The Bible says that we are “joint-heirs with Christ” [Romans 8:17]. We are joint-heirs with Him, we are sons of God, we are born of the Spirit of God, we are born of Him, we are His children. The angels are His servants, we are His children. The Bible says the servant does not abide in the house forever but the son does. So, when you are born again, as a born-again Christian, a born-again person, you are directly joined with Christ. You are one with Him; the Bible says “But he that is joined to the Lord is one spirit” [1 Corinthians 6:17]. Angels have physical power; they are more powerful than we are, much more powerful; they have supernatural power. But, we have authority - authority in the name of Jesus - and to Him they are subject. They listen to Him; they obey Him, and His name – Jesus - is the greatest name and they listen to Him, and we live in the name of Jesus. So, remember, we are superior to angels, not because of what we have made ourselves or achieved but because of Jesus Christ, what He made of us.

Now, you said “How be it that Christ said, in Matthew 22:30, that at the resurrection we are as angels. Does this mean that at resurrection we will again drop low and to be like angels?” We are not dropping low. You must remember the context of His discussion. Let’s read it, in St Matthew’s Gospel chapter 22 - what you talked about - in verse 30: “For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven.” [Matthew 22:30] So, it’s the context of marriage. He was answering a question on marriage, because they asked him, so they said “a certain man married and died and he didn’t have any children and then his brother took over the lady and the lady became his brother’s wife and that one died and then they didn’t have any children and seven of them had this woman and they all died without children and so in the resurrection, who’s wife will she be? [Matthew 22:23-28]” They were trying to say to Jesus, “Don’t you understand that there is no resurrection?” These were the people who did not believe in the resurrection, and they were trying to taunt Jesus with these things, saying, “look you must be really stupid.” But, Jesus, knowing their thoughts, and being the wisdom that He is, said to them “Oh no, in the resurrection they are as angels - that means without gender; they are neither male nor female.” See? When you come up to God in the resurrection, you don’t live as a man or as a woman. He says we are without gender; we are like God. God is without gender. God is neither male nor female but he has both male and female characteristics, you see, because both characteristics are from God. But, He is neither male nor female, and we will be neither male nor female. That’s what it’s talking about. So, no marriage in heaven! That’s what He’s telling you.

[Follow Pastor Chris on Yookos (a social networking/micro-blogging site): http://www.yookos.com/PastorChrisLive]

Labels: Christian authority |

Friday, January 14, 2011

Episode 9 :: Question 7 on Speaking in New Tongues

11:54 PM | Posted by St. Burnish |

Question 7 - Phil (USA): Pastor, I would like to ask how to speak in new tongues. I’ve been speaking in tongues for years now, and just recently it feels as though the tongues don’t come out as freely as I would want them to. How do I speak in new tongues?

Answer 7: Well, let me quickly distinguish between what you are saying and what Jesus said so we can be on the same page on this. In Mark 16:17, Jesus said these words: “And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;” so I think that what you’re saying means adding more to the tongues, the spiritual tongues - spiritual language - that you’re already speaking, not necessarily what Jesus said here – ‘speaking in new tongues’ - because what Jesus said here was speaking in new tongues aside what you already were speaking - your native language or lingua franca. That’s not what you are talking about from my understanding of what you are saying, because you said “I’ve been speaking in tongues for years now” which means you’ve already been speaking in these new tongues that Jesus meant. So, your terminology here is not in the same usage as when Jesus spoke; so, you’re talking about adding some new tongues to what you already have.

Well, in that case, first, new tongues [additional vocabulary in tongues] will come to you while you are praying, many times while you are praying and you are inspired in prayer and then also when you are listening to the Word of God and you are inspired, these tongues will well up in your spirit. A lot of times, if you would let yourself go, even if you have to speak them under your voice, your spirit will then pick them. But, if you don’t let that come up, you will suppress them and you remain with what you had before. So, when they well up within you while you are listening to the Word of God, speak them. A lot of times, you would notice they are there; you’ve got to speak them. They’re new tongues; you speak them, and apart from that, there are other times of inspiration - you are just in meditation, not necessarily hearing the Word preached or taught or praying. You are just in meditation, and you are listening from within your spirit and these things will well up in you. So, if you let the inspiration of the Holy Spirit work through you, you will have additional tongues.

Then also, remember that there is a gift of diverse kinds of tongues which is given to us; the Bible talks about it in 1 Corinthians 12, and that gift is not necessarily for everyone except you covet (desire) it. See, it’s given to one and as the Spirit chooses; that’s the gift of diverse kinds of tongues. So, that’s different from your prayer language. It’s a ministry of the Spirit in which He manifests Himself in different spiritual languages through us, and He brings forth the Word; He brings forth messages in that way to us.

[Follow Pastor Chris on Yookos (a social networking/micro-blogging site): http://www.yookos.com/PastorChrisLive]

Labels: being filled with the HolySpirit, speaking in tongues, the HolySpirit |

Episode 9 :: Question 6 on Dating (The Right Time to Date)

11:36 PM | Posted by St. Burnish |

Question 6 - William (South Africa): Dear Pastor, thank you for answering our questions online. I’m a first year student; I’d like you to share your views and thoughts on dating. When is it the right time?

Answer 6: The right time is when you become responsible. Now, when your parents are responsible for your education and responsible for everything you do, you are not responsible. So, why go on dating? Dating is really the idea that you are fixing certain times to get to meet someone and know that person, get to learn about that individual and so that’s what it is. So, if you are deciding that “okay I want to do this”, because you don’t just date, you date for a purpose, you are hoping to get married to that person if everything is right. So, during that dating period, you are wanting to find out whether she is alright [or] “is he alright?” So, you would only begin dating when you are responsible, but there is more.

Episode 9 :: Question 5 on the Holy Communion

11:01 PM | Posted by St. Burnish |

Question 5 - Franklin (UK): Is it right to take the Communion when you are not baptized?

Answer 5: They are not dependent on each other, so whether or not you are baptized, you can take the Holy Communion. The Bible doesn’t say that you take the Holy Communion only if you’re baptized. Now, I know that in many churches they will only serve the Communion to those that are referred to as baptized members, and there is nothing wrong with that. The reason they do that is this: to be a real Christian, to be known as a real Christian, the church believes that you should be baptized, because baptism is a sign of your full belief and commitment to the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ; it means that you have fully accepted Him. In fact, many years ago, in the early church, during the persecution, if they came looking for Christians to kill them, if they came looking for them to imprison them and they got to you and asked you if you believe in Jesus and you denied it, they would ask you “Were you baptized?” And, if you said you were baptized, you were guilty.

So, baptism was so important and is still so important. Jesus told us to baptize those who believe in Him, so every Christian who has not been baptized must get the opportunity to be baptized. Go to your Pastor and ask to be baptized. If you would attend a church and they see that you are Christian, they will baptize you, because churches don’t want to baptize non-believers, and that’s why I said many churches believe that if you are a true Christian, you should be baptized, and so they will only serve the Communion to those who have been baptized. And, that is recommendable.

[Follow Pastor Chris on Yookos (a social networking/micro-blogging site): http://www.yookos.com/PastorChrisLive]

Labels: baptism, Doctrines of Christianity |

Episode 9 :: Question 4 on Finding a Spouse

10:46 PM | Posted by St. Burnish |

Question 4- Israel (USA): Dear Pastor Chris, my question is, how do I go about looking for a spouse?

Answer 4: How do you go about looking for a spouse? Well, you go about looking for a spouse by only doing the things that God asked you to do. If you would stay in the track God sent you into and serve God accordingly, everything you need will be in that track - everything you need - including your spouse. So, that’s the way. You don’t really have to go looking, just stay in your track, do the things that God has asked you to do, be in the business that God put you in, in the job that God put you in [everything He asked you], just go about serving the Lord, [and] you’ll meet the right person. Otherwise, you are going to be looking for something from somewhere else.

[Follow Pastor Chris on Yookos (a social networking/micro-blogging site): http://www.yookos.com/PastorChrisLive]

Labels: dating and relationships, marriage |

Episode 9 :: Question 3 on Building a Great Ministry

10:41 PM | Posted by St. Burnish |

Question 3 - Ben (Togo): Dear Pastor Chris, I am a young man getting ready to launch into full time ministry to fulfil the purpose (the vision) the Lord gave me. When the vision is so big and wide with little or no resources at hand to make it happen, how do I go about it? Secondly, what does it take to build the Lord a nation, I mean a great ministry as the Lord has shown it to me?

Answer 3: Well this is very simple, Jesus said [Matthew 4:19] “...Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” So follow Him, follow Him, and we have a message on that; if you can ask for that, we can make it available to you. [To order for the Teaching Titled “Fishers of Men”, please visit Christ Embassy Online Store]. Follow Him! That’s the first principle. And then, secondly, work through the Word; live your life in God’s Word. That means you’ve got to study it; you’ve got to meditate on it, live accordingly. That’s important! So, He says “follow me”. How are you going to follow Him? You follow Him through the Word; you do the Word, and he will make you a fisher of men. And, through God’s Word you can build anything, anything.

[Follow Pastor Chris on Yookos (a social networking/micro-blogging site): http://www.yookos.com/PastorChrisLive]

Labels: Church, God's will and purpose, soul winning/evangelism |