Questions and Answers no. 2
Why Do we Answer questions, and what Kind of
Questions should we Answer?
May 20th, 2007
Brian Kocourek, Pastor
Let us
Pray. Dear Father we have come into Thy Presence this morning to seek further
light on the many truths which have been presented to us by Your Prophet
William Branham. Although we recognize that we are not vindicated, yet we do
believe Your Holy Spirit indwells us and that You have given us Your Mind, that
You also gave to Your son Jesus. For You said, “let the mind that was in Christ
be in You. And that Mind in us tells us that all things in which we say, and do
must come forth from Thy Word. Therefore, Father, we come in respect to Your
word, and ask that You might establish us deeper and deeper into Thy Truth, for
Your word is Truth. And You are the
Author and Finisher of Our faith which is based in Thy Word. Comfort us Through Thy Truth, for Thy Word is
Truth. Teach us Thy ways of Lord, and we shall find rest for our souls. Be with
us as we approach Thy Word for the answers that so many people around the world
have on their hearts, and may we find solace in Thy Word. All this we ask in
the Lovely name You gave to your Son Jesus, and in which you have given to us,
Amen.
Now, this morning we are going to begin looking at Questions that have
come to me from you that are here locally and also from other believers from
all over the world. Now, I do not say this as though I am some sort of
authority, but William Branham was the authority in this hour, and He took
everything back to the Bible because He told us that is our absolute. And the
Bible he read from is the same Bible that you have on your lap with you this
morning. So there are no answers that come to us via some super duper
impression, or some supernatural way. Our answers must come from God’s word.
And God is the Word, and therefore, where there are questions concerning Him
and His word, the answers can be found in His word which was written before the
foundations of the world.
Now, just think of that. Any question you have this morning concerning
God and His Word, God Himself already knew you would have that question, even
while you were yet in Him before the foundations of the world.
Now, I have heard people say, “no question is a dumb question, because
people who ask them truly want answers. But that is not Scriptural at all. I
will say this, that where there is a question there has got to be an answer.
Doors in door 65-0206 P:47 Oh,
what does a man knock on a man's door for? He's trying to gain entrance. He's
trying to get in. He's perhaps got something he wants to tell you or talk over
with you. He's got a message for you. And that's the reason people knock at one
another's door. They've got some reason to do it. There cannot be that happen
without some reason. You would not go to a man's house unless there's some
reason to go; if nothing else to visit, take him a message, or some...?...
There's some reason for a man to go knock on another man's door. Wherever there's a question, there has got
to be an answer. There could not be
a question without an answer. So that's what we look for in the Bible,
these questions of the day; the Bible
has the answer. And Christ is that
Answer.
And that is exactly
the way that I am able to come up against a mixed multitude of preachers where
we many have several hundred preachers in one gathering, and you know that some
are just lying in wait to try to trick you with questions that you can not
answer. And in fact knowing that Jesus Christ is the answer to any question
concerning the Godhead, that is how I am able to stand in the face of the
critics and answer their questions just as fast as they can ask them.
This happened in
But God is not mocked, and when we finished the 12 questions they had
given to us before lunch to study, I asked for the pile that had been withheld
from us so we had no time to study them. When the minister brought up that
pile, The Lord was very good to us, and with what seemed like only 5 minutes or
so, I was able to read their questions and given them very explicit Bible
answers and it seemed that God spoke through my mouth as rapid as a machine gun
could fire, and within a mere few minutes the ministers just sat in awe and
became very quiet and they asked no more questions.
And we read in Luke 20: 40 19 And
the chief priests and the scribes the same hour sought to lay hands on him; and
they feared the people: for they perceived that he had spoken this parable
against them. 20 And they watched him, and sent forth spies,
which should feign themselves just men, that they might take hold of his words,
that so they might deliver him unto the power and authority of the governor. 21 And they asked him, saying, Master, we know
that thou sayest and teachest rightly, neither acceptest thou the person of any, but teachest the way of God truly:
22 Is it lawful for us to give tribute unto Caesar, or no? 23 But he perceived their craftiness, and said
unto them, Why tempt ye me? 24 Show me a penny.
Whose image and superscription hath it? They answered and said, Caesar's. 25 And he said unto them, Render
therefore unto Caesar the things which be Caesar's, and unto God the things
which be God's. 26 And they could not take
hold of his words before the people: and they marvelled at his answer, and held
their peace.
And then as we read on we see that the Pharisee also asked questions
trying to trick Jesus into saying something they could use against him. But his
answers were so perfect that we read in verse 40
And after that they durst not ask him
any question at all.
Again we see also this same thing take place in the following Scriptures.
Mark 12:13 And
they send unto him certain of the Pharisees and of the Herodians, to catch him in his words. Notice their motives for being their. to catch him in his words.
And again in Luke 11: 54 Laying wait for him, and seeking to catch something out of his
mouth, that they might accuse him.
And sometimes when they ask you questions and you know their motive is
not right, then you just don’t give them an answer. You don’t have to. And
Jesus Himself didn’t answer every question asked of him. Luke 23: 9 Then
he questioned with him in many words;
but he answered him nothing.
So you see sometimes they will use questions for motives other than to
learn. In fact many times they sit and listen, not to learn but to find an
opening so they can speak their own thoughts.
Church Age Book Chapter 9 - The Laodicean Church Age P:78 John
9:40-41. "And some of the Pharisees which were with Him heard
these words, and said unto Him, Are we blind also? Jesus said unto them, If ye
were blind, ye should have no sin: but now ye say, We see; therefore your sin
remaineth." The attitude of this age is exactly what it
was then. People have it all. They know it all. They cannot be taught. If a
point of truth from the Word comes up and a man tries to explain his view to one
with an opposing view, the listener is not at all listening that he might
learn, but is listening only to refute what is being said. Now I want to
ask a fair question. Can Scripture fight Scripture? Does the Bible contradict
the Bible? Can there be two doctrines of truth in the Word that say the
opposite or oppose the other? NO. IT CANNOT BE SO. Yet how many of God's people have their eyes open to that truth? Not even one percent, as far as I know,
have learned that ALL Scripture is given by God and ALL is profitable for
doctrine, reproof, correction, etc. If all Scripture is thusly given, then
every verse will dovetail if given a chance. But how many believe in
predestination unto election and reprobation unto destruction? Those who don't,
will they listen? No, they will not. Yet both are in the Word, and nothing will
change it. But to learn about it and
reconcile the truth of those doctrines with other truths that seem to oppose,
they will not take the time. But they stop their ears, and gnash with their
teeth, and they lose out. At the end of this age a prophet will come, but they
will be blind to all that he is doing and saying. They are so sure they are
right, and in their blindness they will lose it all.
But as far as a dumb question? If you give a dumb question, you can
expect a dumb answer. In Luke the first chapter we see the story told of two
people in whom the angel Gabriel visited. One was Zacharias a priest and a
righteous man. The other was the young woman Mary. Now, the angel Gabriel came
with good news concerning two births. The first to Gabriel telling him that in
his old age he and his wife would have a child, and what ministry that child
would be called to do. The other visit was to Mary to tell he that she would
conceive and bear a son Who would be the Son of God.
Now, sometimes the motive for the question is more important than the
question itself. Mary asked some questions but her questions were not in a
doubting manner, but in a manner that suggested that she believed but needed help
in understanding her role in all this.
God wrote about Mary in His word is that she didn’t question with doubt
what was said to her, even though she had some questions as to the whys and
wherefores. But she said in conclusion to all she heard, “be it done unto me according to Thy word.” But that wasn’t the case with Zacharias. When
he was told what was to happen, he doubted that it could happen to one who was
as old as he and his wife. Therefore, he
questioned how that could be, and he was struck dumb and could not ask any more
dumb questions. So there are dumb questions and if you ask a dumb question you
just might get a dumb answer. And Zacharias was stricken dumb for asking a dumb
question. So he got a dumb answer.
Luke 1:18 And
Zacharias said unto the angel, Whereby shall I know this? for I am an old man,
and my wife well stricken in years. 19 And the
angel answering said unto him, I am Gabriel, that stand in the presence of God;
and am sent to speak unto thee, and to shew thee these glad tidings.
20 And, behold, thou shalt be dumb, and not able to speak, until
the day that these things shall be performed, because thou believest not my
words, which shall be fulfilled in their season.
Notice he was stricken dumb for asking a dumb question when he should
have know better. And notice that it had to be a preacher, because surely the
dumbest questions I have heard all around the world come from those preachers
who have rejected the Words of God’s vindicated prophet.
Notice what Brother Branham said about this from his sermon called the Unchangeable word
of God 60-0724 P:42 Now, Zacharias, under the shed blood of the
lamb, standing there...And Gabriel came to him and said, " I'm Gabriel,
I’ve come from the Presence of God." And He said, "You're going home.
And your wife will conceive, bear a son; you'll call his name John. He will be
great, and he will turn the hearts of the children of
But notice the difference between him and Mary. From the same sermon
brother Branham said, Unchangeable word of
God 60-0724 P:55 Zacharias stayed right there on the platform,
and the Angel left him. And he was stricken dumb. Now, the Angel said,
"Your cousin, Mary, is already six months, as it is to be with a
mother." And said, "Now, this holy Thing that's born in you, will be
the Son of God." You know what Mary said? I wish we had more Marys here
now. Mary said, "Behold the handsmaid of the Lord. Be it unto me according
to Your Word." Oh, my. She never questioned; she never questioned. And
another thing, she never wait till she felt life. She didn't wait till she was positive.
She didn't wait till she'd seen that something ceased by her.
So there are dumb
question, but I am not saying this to frighten you as though your questions are
dumb. But we are commanded not to answer questions which are meant to gender
strife and contention.
2 Timothy 2: 23 But
foolish and unlearned questions avoid,
knowing that they do gender strifes.
Now, what are foolish and unlearned questions? Well the word foolish was
translated from the Greek word Moros which we get the English word
In English we the word mo·ron is a noun. 1. A moron is a person regarded as very stupid. 2. In Psychology a moron is a person of mild mental
retardation having a mental age of from 7 to 12 years and generally having
communication and social skills enabling some degree of academic or vocational
education. The term belongs to a classification system no longer in use and is
now considered offensive. [From Greek moron, neuter of morosstupid,
meaning foolish]
In Titus
3: 9 Paul says, But
avoid foolish questions, and
genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable
and vain.
So we are told by the Apostle Paul here in 2
Timothy not to waste our time on moronic questions knowing that they
only gender strife.
In 1 Timothy 6: 3-4 we also hear the Apostle Paul tell us to 3 If any man teach otherwise,
and consent not to wholesome words, even the
words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to
the doctrine which is according to godliness; (God-likeness) He is proud,
knowing nothing, but doting about
questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil
surmisings,
So we see there are certain types of people who have a tendency to delve
into discussions that end up provoking strife and envy and railings and
surmisings. Now, what are these words that are attributes or manifestations of
such men and their dumb questions.
Now, let’s read what the Apostle Paul said again and as we read one of
these words that needs further light let’s insert that definition into the
Words of Paul.
1 Timothy
6: 3-4 we also hear the
Apostle Paul tell us to 3 If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to
wholesome words, (now, this
word wholesome was translated from the Greek word hugiaino which means to have
sound health, i.e. to be well (in body); or figuratively to be uncorrupt
concerning true in doctrine: To be in health, be safe and sound, to be whole or
wholesome. 3 If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to
wholesome words,(and what doctrine is healthy?
What words are
healthy? He continues) even the
words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to
the doctrine which is according to godliness; (which is God-likeness. And there is no other
doctrine that speaks of God-likeness but the doctrine of Christ so if any man
teach contrary to the doctrine of Christ or the Words of Jesus) He is proud,
knowing nothing, but doting about
questions and strifes of words,(now, what does it mean to be
doting?
The word doting was
translated from a Greek word which means to be harping about something or to
have a hankering about something, and it speaks literally of having a diseased
appetite. And in so doing they bring about the following.) whereof cometh envy (which is
ill-will and jealousy. And Paul said this kind of mindset also brings), strife(which
is defined as debate, contention and quarreling. But nt only that, but the
atmosphere they created is also filled with), railings (which is evil speaking and
vilification. In other words they use their mouth to cast blame and vilify
others. And they also produce), evil surmisings, which are evil suspicions that
they throw out to try to get you to stop viewing the truth.)
In other words these
men produce nothing but evil gossip to put out scarecrows to keep you from
entering into the truth.
Now, let’s read this verse again with the understanding of the words
which the Apostle Paul is speaking to us.
1 Timothy
6: 3-4 3 If any man teach
otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to
godliness; He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words,
And pride cometh
before a fall. And pride tells the whole
story. These are proud Boasters
Yes, Paul even called them Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful,
proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, Romans 1: 30
And prophecied that they would be this way at the end-time. For
men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful,
unholy, 2 Timothy 3:2
So we must be wise as serpents and harmless as doves, but we must know
this, that all questions have motives, and we must come to an understanding
first of what the motive is before we can honestly answer the questions
presented to us.
In 1 Timothy 1: 4 The
Apostle Paul said, Neither
give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which
minister questions, rather than godly edifying which is in faith: so do.
Now, what are fables? Fables are made up stories with a moral to them.
But William Branham, vindicated prophet of God also called the Oneness and
Trinitarian doctrines fables.
From Questions and answers COD 62-0527 P:88 brother
Branham said, I was laying the cornerstone
that day of the foundation there. It's wrote, laying right there in that
cornerstone now, and said:... “do the work of an evangelist, make full
proof of your ministry. For the time will come when they will not endure sound
doctrine; but after their own lusts shall... heap for themselves together
teachers, having itching ears;... and shall be turned from the truth unto
fables. (That's both oneness and trinity;)
So you see there are certain types of people who can not possess the
truth in their minds. They do not have a mind geared to God and His Word, but
they themselves are geared to the gullibility of them that perish. In fact that
is what Paul also said in 2 Thessalonians 2:10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that
are geared to the gullibility of them who are perishing; this gullibility
caused by the fact that they received
not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
11 And because of this
God sends them a strong deluding
influence that they should believe the lie: 12 That
they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in
unrighteousness.
So we see there are motives in the questions people ask. And we must be
able to discern the motives if we are to answer the questions that are given to
us, even if they be pure legitimate questions concerning an understanding that
perhaps someone is having difficulty in perceiving the answer.
Brother Branham said in his QA on Genesis COD
53-0729 P:1 Now,
if anyone's got any questions that
they want to hand in, why, just push them right on up, let some child bring
them or whatever you want to. Or maybe, if we get through... I got about six
here on one page, and then here, then we got two over there. Now, we want to find out. The reason we do this is to find out what's
on the people's mind, what they're thinking about. See? And that's what makes a good strong church.
You've got to have the times, just like you got to comb the cockleburs out
like, you know, and everything, get all the things out of the way so that you
can move steadily. So now that's the
reason we have question night once in a while, is to find out.
Therefore, on the one hand we ask the people to write down their
questions so we can get a feel for where they are at in their Spiritual
maturity. Just like in School the teacher asks the students questions to see
whether they know the material or not. We call it getting a pulse on where the
people are at. And in the medical profession we check the heart to determine
the health of the individual whereas in the Spiritual we also check the heart
to see where the people are at with their Sovereign God.
Now, sometimes there are other reasons for questions as well. Sometimes
we ask questions to see where the person is standing. Or we ask questions in
order to judge or prove that person before we give them our confidence and
trust. And that is exactly what the Queen of Sheba did when she came to
Solomon.
1 Kings
10: 1-3 And
when the queen of
Finally in closing we will read from 1 Thessalonians
5: 21 Prove
all things; hold fast that which is good. Let us pray…