Topical Studies Power Point Show
Scripture Reading: Psalm 111
February 2003
Intro.
1. When we ask Bible questions we are seeking the knowledge & understanding of Almighty God – not the knowledge & wisdom of man - cf. Job 38:1-4.
2. We are humbled by the breadth of God’s wisdom & stand in awe of His great power – Psa. 111:2-4, 10.
#1 – How does the Bible answer the question, “Why do bad things happen to good people?” (or, vice-versa: “Why do good things happen to bad people?”)
1. This question has been pondered by men for ages – Job 21:7.
2. Fact: Such does happen & is an unfulfilling part of life on earth (“vanity”) - Eccl. 8:14. Why?
· Reasons revealed in the Bible include:
1. The vanity & uncertainty of all earthly things – Eccl. 8:14.
a. Cf. Poverty, sickness, and disgrace, and other calamities of life upon righteous men (Job, Lazarus of Lk. 16:19, Jesus) – cf. Heb. 11:35-38.
b. Wealth, honor, power upon wicked & evil men (Pharaoh, the rich man of Lk. 16:19).
2. Time and chance happen to everyone – Eccl. 9:1-2, 11. (Calamities & blessings)
3. One of the consequences of sin in the world – Gen. 3:14-15, 19 (death, disease, calamity, pain, suffering…).
a. Suffering does not mean the sufferer is suffering because of his/her own sins:
1) Righteous man suffers in his righteousness – Job 4:7 (1:8).
2) Sinners suffer in their sin - Lk. 13:1-5.
b. Becomes an opportunity for faith in God & His works – Jno. 9:1-1-5.
c. Message to learn: Repent! Better to suffer for doing good than evil (1 Pet. 3:17; 4:14-16).
4. Satan is active in the world – Job 1:7.
a. Seeks opportunities to discourage, dishearten, destroy – 1 Pet. 5:8.
b. Uses present trials to do so – Matt. 24:7-13.
5. Evil people will do harm to the innocent – 2 Tim. 3:13.
-The effects of sin are all around us, & good people will be affected – cf. Psa. 51:5; Eccl. 7:29.
· What we should do in light of this:
1. Enjoy life as a gift from God – Eccl. 8:15.
2. Accept that all of your questions will not be answered in this life – Eccl. 9:16-17. (Requires faith & humility).
3. Remember God in the face of life’s trials – Eccl. 12:1, 6-7.
4. Do not envy the unrighteous – Psa. 73:1-3 (Job 21:7-16; Psa. 37).
a. Because their end is demise & destruction! (73:18-20)
b. Because God is good to the pure in heart! (73:1)
c. Continue with God…live by faith…eternal glory! (73:21-28)
#2 – Since God hears the prayers of the righteous (“the prayer of the righteous man avails much”) then does someone (friend/family) in a denominational or “unsound church” who prays for you do any good?
1. While we cannot render judgment on the validity of all prayers (and have not been called upon by the Lord to do so), we can understand and apply God’s word & His judgment concerning acceptable & powerful prayer. (Judge a righteous judgment - Jno. 7:24)
2. Key to understanding the power of answered prayer lies, in part, in who has the privilege of coming before God in prayer.
a. The righteous person – Jas. 5:16.
b. God’s children – Matt. 7:11 (6:9).
c. The person of true faith – Jas. 1:2, 5-6.
d. Christians (those who hold fast the confession of Christ) – Heb. 4:14 (3:1; 10:23), 15-16.
3. Illus: Lost person may eat the emblems of the Lord’s Supper but it does not constitute communion with Christ!
4. If denominationalists are saved in Christ & the children of God, then their prayers will avail. But…
a. They accommodate & endorse division - 1 Cor. 1:10 (Jno. 17:20-21).
b. They have not been baptized into Christ - Gal. 3:26-27.
c. They are not of the “one body” of Christ – Eph. 4:4 (Acts 2:41, 47).
d. Offer vain worship to God – Jno. 4:23-24.
e. They are lost & in need of salvation! What will “avail” in their lives is contact with the blood of Christ, not personal prayer to God! (Rom. 6:3; Acts 22:16)
5. What do you do when the lost say they are praying for you? Say “thank you”, & seek an opportunity to teach them the gospel.
#3 – Why and how did the dinosaurs become extinct? In the Bible it says Noah brought two of all living things into the ark (Gen. 6:19-20; 7:8-9). Did Noah forget them (they are now extinct)?
1. No, Noah did not forget them – Noah fully obeyed God – Gen. 6:22; 7:2-5.
2. Options:
a. Either they became extinct before or after the flood.
b. Generally, creationists believe their extinction is tied, in part, to the flood.
1) Pre-flood world was very different from post-flood world. (cf. effects of flood, Gen. 7:19)
2) Flood could have dramatically impacted their ability to survive.
3) Perhaps dinosaurs survived for a time after the flood & eventually became extinct.
3. When did dinosaurs live?
a. Those who believe the historical accuracy of the Bible believe dinosaurs were created on the 5tth &/or 6th day of the creation week – Gen. 1:20, 24.
b. Evolutionists advocate they evolved roughly 200 million years ago & became extinct 65-70 million years ago.
4. Some ask, why doesn’t the Bible mention dinosaurs?
a. Does not cast doubt on their creation or existence, since many organisms are not mentioned there (cats, kangaroos, bacteria).
b. Word “dinosaur” was invented until 1841 (Bible translated much earlier). Cf. Gen. 2:19
c. Job 40:15-24 (giant mammal) & 41:1-34 (large sea-creature) may refer to such creatures.
5. Could dinosaurs have fit on the ark? Yes.
a. Size of ark (Gen. 6:15-17): Little more than 100,000 sq. feet of cargo space (522 standard railroad stock cars – about 125,000 sheep).
b. Some suggest there were about 20,000 species on earth at time of the flood (from 40,000-140,000 animals).
c. Remember: Noah was not even commanded to take animals of every “species” but of every “kind.” A biblical kind is not necessarily the same as the biologists’ “species”. “Kind” could be a much broader classification (cf. cows).
6. God created man, & dinosaurs stood with him! - Gen. 2:19; Job 40:15
a. No doubt, Adam stood in awe of them as we do!
b. The same God who created these awesome giants also created us…Stand in awe of God! Psa. 33:8-9
Conclusion
1. We are compelled to reverence God for His great works of truth, justice & redemption – Psa. 111:7-10
2. Reverence & obey God now! (Eccl. 12:13)