Question Time Stamps for Quick Reference: 0:00 - Intro 1. 0:04 {My Fault if Someone’s Not Saved?} I know God is in control, but since prayer and fasting makes a difference, is it my fault if someone is not saved because I didn’t pray or fast enough for them? I feel responsible when I eat or forget to pray. 2. 9:31 {About the 2 Witnesses / Rapture?} It seems like the 2 witnesses in Zechariah 4 and Revelation 11 are like two peoples instead of individuals, as Romans 11: 17-21 speaks of olive trees/branches being Jews/Gentiles. If so, would the rapture be the "calling up" of them? 3. 17:01 {Does Romans Teach Works for Salvation?} Does Romans 6: 22 preach salvation by works? John Piper claims that this verse suggests that at final salvation, our works coming from sanctification result in eternal life. 4. 24:30 {Does God Grant People Faith? / Calvinism} How would you interpret the end of Matthew 11 in a non-Calvinist way, since it seems at a quick read to me that God grants people faith? 5. 29:55 {Thinking Biblically about Trends} There is a trend in many young male Christians where they are wearing earrings, painting nails, fixing eyebrows, and putting on makeup. Help me think biblically about this, as it's a bit shocking. 6. 35:04 {Advice for being a Godly Man} I just turned 18 today, and for the past few months, I've been struggling with the transition into adulthood. Got any advice for someone trying to become the man God wants them to be? 7. 39:22 {Does Blindness Cover Sin?} In John 9: 41, Jesus says, "If you were blind, you would not be guilty of sin..." What does it mean to be "blind" in this context? Does this blindness also cover sin? 8. 45:43 {Discerning Extrabiblical Prophecies} When should extrabiblical prophecy be accepted or rejected? I don’t know how to discern or “test the spirits,” and I don’t want to be overly dismissive, even if the claims seem astonishing. 9. 51:34 {About Submission in Marriage} If a husband's rule over his wife was a curse of the fall, why is it taught as God-ordained in the New Testament? Aren't husbands and wives called to submit to each other under the New Covenant? 10. 54:18 {Right and Wrong Public Worship/Prayer} In Matthew 6:5, Jesus says not to pray like people in public who try to get attention. Would that include praying and worshiping in church? 11. 58:18 {Interpreting the Psalms} In Psalm 2: 12, What does the psalmist mean by this verse in its non-messianic context? 12. 1:02:23 {Judging & Correcting Non-Believers} Are we supposed to judge those outside of the Church, and do we have any right to control/direct what they do (Romans 1: 32; 1 Corinthians 5: 12)? 13. 1:06:30 {Theological Differences while Dating} I've just discovered my long-term girlfriend does not believe homosexuality is a sin, and I'm really struggling with anxiety regarding this. Is it wrong to break up over this, and how should I approach this? 14. 1:09:04 {How Does the HS Guide Us?} I'm a new born-again Christian and I'd like to know, how does the Holy Spirit guide us? 15. 1:12:34 {Resources for Seniors} Are there any good sources for ministering to seniors you can recommend? 16. 1:13:07 {Is Sheol/Hades the Same as Hell?} Are the biblical references to Sheol/Hades necessarily Hell? Some Christian traditions have it as the underworld, with Hell only being something after the resurrection. 17. 1:15:45 {Abortion OK - Babies will Go to Heaven?} What would you say to a vicar who says that abortion isn't the biggest issue or problem for God as the babies will end up in Heaven anyway? 18. 1:20:58 {Did Jesus Come to Abolish the Law?} Why does Paul say in Ephesians 2: 15 “…by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances…” when Jesus said that He did not come to abolish the law in Matthew 5: 17? 19. 1:27:14 {Book of Ecclesiastes - Enjoying Life?} When the teacher in Ecclesiastes says to enjoy life, in the context of the book, is it being said like "Enjoy it 'cause it is a gift from God," or "Enjoy your lot since everything is meaningless”? 20. 1:29:02 {Could Only God Atone for our Sins?} What role did the divinity of Christ play in His ability to atone for the sins of the world? i.e., could Adam, before the fall, have chosen to die for the sins of all (hypothetically)?
I'm 70 and love your teachings, I have been a Christian since 12 years old but am learning still. You are on point in everything you teach. God has sent you as a gift for many in perfect timing, His timing
If that's really how you feel about Mike, then you need to pray for him in earnest that he can withstand the egotism and power-mongering that comes with knowing people feel about him as you do. A humble leader is almost a thing of the past in American Christianity. How he handled Ravi's failings was a debacle.
@@correctchristian4255 do you expect him to be perfect? He’s not less Christian because of his views on that. This is why people fail because they look at people instead of looking to Jesus! At the end of the day, He has the final say so. Make sure you are searching yourself before you come for others in authority/pastors and teachers.
Mike, your answer to being a man had me in tears. My husband works 90 hrs+/week and still gives to me and our kids. At times I can feel neglected but I am learning to appreciate the incredible man I have by my side. Also, I am sorry you did not have men in your life growing up. You have become quite the God loving and God honoring man. Thank you for your teachings.
Thank you Paula James. I have never heard anyone in my life that had a husband that works 90 hours a week, such as my husband, it’s just the people in my life ask me why he works so much, and it kinda gets under my skin at times. We’ve been married over 25 years and he’s pretty much always been this way. I never had anyone who can relate with me on this. I wrestle with the neglectful feelings as well. But thank you for sharing.
Yeah I love it too. My fiancee got punched today at work. Long story short, he took it and didn't even argue with the guy while his coworkers went bonkers over the incident. They were angry for hours. Finally they asked my dude how he was so chill. He replied "it didn't hurt but also and more importantly, I'm a Christian and this day is a blessing from God. Nothing is going to change my attitude about that fact, not even someone trying their best". And the guy he was talking to went "what? I'm a Christian too but I wouldn't let someone get away with that." My dude didn't know his coworker was a Christian so he said "what? I didn't know you were Christian, you smoke, drink, curse, and look at women all day. I would have never guessed you're a Christian" I really hope that man is restless in bed tonight thinking about how he's representing the God of the universe.
Absolutely Love this Ministry! Love ❤️ the Long Videos, we are hungry for the word. Stop apologizing for the length, can’t get enough. You are blessing many with your words….Blessings to your Ministry….
That’s awesome - I find people don’t click on the longer vids- they just don’t have the attention span, so finding Mikes stuff has been a real blessing - I like the deep dives and thoughtful commentary
Yes! I agree 💯! I wish I had more time, but tend to listen while folding laundry or doing dishes or any moment I can squeeze in to bolster my own Bible study time. ❤️
Mike, for not having much manly influence in your life, you have become a considerable man of God. It's evident to me that God Himself took over that mentoring role. Thanks for helping us think biblically.
"If male is not good and female is not good and if they are trying to be different from each other then we're losing something important" this was very fruitful for me. Having grown in this world where my peers are trying to break these stereotypes and trying to find a biblical aspect to these situations. This is good for me to think about. Thank you!!
I think our prayers do matter. However the person we are praying for still has a choice to make. God deals with us all, and we choose to accept him or to turn him away. But, God’s time is not our time, my Great Grandmother went to her grave praying for a family member to come to Jesus. It didn’t happen in her lifetime, but it still happened. I truly believe that prayer can change things.
Hey I was there and overtime God can give you clarity and peace when you’re evangelizing to most people that you see! Well we all work out our salvation with fear and trembling, (Philippians 2:12-13)it’s OK to feel that way !keep seeking the Lord and keep serving the Lord more importantly in ministry doing the great commission, commit evangelism one on one to people , every Christians supposed to do that! Acts 14: 22 we must go to many hardships to inherit the kingdom of God!
Hey Mike, thanks for mentioning your personal experience during the Advice for being a Godly Man about how, as a young man, I shouldn't see other men as other competition but as encouragements and blessings to my own growth in my manhood because it is true in my life too. I can relate to that. I had a tough time living a roommate who seemed to understand school and managing life much better than me and I envied it. I chose to isolate myself from him and for me to be depressed all the time. Instead of working hard, I was stuck in my own despair. I believe I should have acknowledged my feelings of incompetence and weakness and sought advice and help from my roommate and others. I regret those years a lot, but knowing this now, I will try to be more mindful of this. Thanks again.
That first question... thank you for whoever asked that. Thank you. So much. This has been my struggle for the past 2 years. It hurts. So much. God bless you and your walk with Christ.
Keep working your salvation out with fear and trembling For its God who works to act and will according to his purpose! Philippians 2:12-13 Die to self daily luke 9:23 Believe it or not I went through that and God will give you clarity and more peace especially the more you do the great commission and you’re trying to reach out to people and opening your mouth! Satan wants to stop that but if you don’t let him, then you’ll start getting more peace!
I always enjoy your lessons Pastor Mike. Your Biblical knowledge, wisdom and insights are a great help to me. You have helped me to really dig more into scripture and seek to understand more! Thank you!
Thank you Jesus! I've been saved for a few yrs & have ALOT of testimony, but I just recently learned about election from a fundamental cessationist, & have been in a major funk ever since. Thank you for the reminder: "I don't NEED to know the answer to that question rn, just trust in God". The Holy Spirit actually laid that on my heart when I was a new convert, I just realized how often I need to be reminded.
Your channel is definitely my favorite. I feel smarter, more in tune with God and just more joyful every time I listen to you answer questions from a Biblical perspective. Thank you for sharing your gifts with us! ❤️🙏🏼🎸💒✝️
I've been listening to this a little each night during my Bible study. Such a truly amazing and encouraging resource. A continuous well like this is just lovely.
The answer to the first question scared me a little bit. I struggle so much to keep up a consistent prayer life, even though Im very worried about my lost loved ones. I understand there are many factors God uses to bring people to Christ but I still worry about it.
No person is lost from salvation (no matter what YOU do) because God makes sure of that. See John 17:12. It says no person is lost except the son of perdition.
Mike just letting you know I watch all the ads on your channel so you can get paid. Love ya Mike, your helping real souls, real people. God bless in Christs mighty name.
Thanks for answering my VERY IMPORTANT question about your acoustic pickup! It's also heartening to see that you keep playing, as being a husband, father, pastor and teacher must take most of your time; when I used to teach guitar, in addition to having two kids and working full time and participating in worship ministry and other musical pursuits, I told my students often that if I hadn't practiced fanatically as a young person, I'd never be able to play at all with all the demands on my time!
YESSS. I’ve been waiting to hear Mike teach on women’s role in the church. Can’t wait to hear this video. I hope it’s a super long and well researched one. :)
Isaiah has that messianic parallel feeling through so much of it, ..every time I’ve gone through it, it renews my sense of God’s awesome magnitude. Side note, I believe it is the only book found in total among the Dead Sea scrolls
I love your definition of manly, absolutely spot on. I’m behind on my Q and As so I’m a little late to the party, but, I appreciate your ministry and look forward to these every Friday!
Spiritual paranoia is also known as scrupulosity, a form of clinical OCD where religious activities become compulsions, one struggles with unwanted blasphemous, doubting, and terrifying thoughts that are not yours (so they are mostly afflictions if not entirely afflictions), and the Christian with scrupulosity becomes forgetful of God’s grace. I know, that’s what I go through every day, and yet it is through this I learned more of God’s grace. Specific famous cases in history include John Bunyan and Martin Luther.
I used to and still do deal with these issues a lot but one of the things that helped me get over those thoughts was truly understanding that we are saved by God and his grace alone and then also being very upfront and honest when praying because he knows everything that we deal with and that those thoughts are not really ours.
Do ypj know any way to get. Over tje fear of not praying enough,and causing someone not to be saved ? I feel like because of my past laziness over the years, i might have already cost someone their salvation. Prayer is exausting because I always pray out of panic. I want to relax and pray out of love for God and others.
@@catfish1616 I understand that fear. I've been there myself. Make sure to see if what I tell you is Biblical. Regarding prayer we are instructed to pray always, and still a simple, short prayer consistent every day to God is enough. The heart is what matters, and He takes in simple less than 20 word prayers filled with faith and genuine desire to pray well than twenty hours of just vain repetition. Remember that God understands your weaknesses and that He knows your desire to pray with more calm. And yet Jesus walked on the water, and thus He can hear you in the midst of many storms. I would say that you should repent of not going out there to tell people the Gospel. It is a grave sin to not tell the Gospel to the people God gave you. And you already know that. However, do not condemn yourself. Be rebuked, not self-hating. We can take a good, healthy mourning of our sins and turn it into a blindfold that keeps us from seeing God's kindness in His rebuke to us, as rebukes are meant to make us repent, which in turn is to become joyous in truth again. If you truly have faith that Jesus is Christ and that He rose from the dead, that He is God and that God is a Holy Triune Creator, and if you are concerned whether or not you're really Christian or are loving God wholeheartedly, that, I think, personally, means you are His, and He will never leave nor forsake you. There is NO condemnation for those in Christ Jesus. Also you're concerned "what if". That is an endless spiral of constant hypothetical ideas. We don't have the final say in the salvation of others, even though we still must give them the Gospel. Ultimately, it's between that individual and God. Unless you're teaching actual serious heresy that denies the essentials of the faith that anyone must believe to be saved like the Incarnation, the Trinity, that God is love, the cross and resurrection, the atonement, the need of salvation because of our sin, then I think you should remember that God can use a five word sermon that Jonah preached that is rather bare and doesn't even talk of God and saved a whole nation from destruction (of course, don't be like Jonah). It is a good sign that you are concerned, because it means the Holy Spirit is convicting you and is calling you to be restored with God, to be reminded of His righteousness and to rest in His love. The blood of Christ covers and restores you from ALL sins. The key to true repentance is to see that God is beautiful, that His kindness, as Paul wrote, leads people to repentance. We learn to love God through knowing and living in His love for you. The love of one's neighbor stems from the cross. I don't know if you have scrupulosity, but if you think you have a mental illness then I recommend seeking affordable help. God might reveal His compassion and understanding there, that He knows your frame. It might take you time or overnight. Perhaps you had a traumatic experience when it comes to human relationships that transferred over to your prayer life, and it's time to ask God to heal you. It takes time, and it's taking me time. God is right there, near you, and ready to hold you in His arms. Focus on the pierced hands of Christ than on your hands folded improperly, for prayer is not rooted in your perfection.
Q14 - When you are following the Spirit and His fruit is flowing through you- Your spirit is informed when to follow Holy Spirit into God’s will. We are His vessel (2 Tim 2:21) and Psalm 23 reveals how He guides us and His goodness and love follows us all of our days. This was made so real to me when I began to pray Romans 12:2 and asked for Him to lead me into His way everlasting.
I can’t believe that God would leave something as imperative as a persons salvation in the forgetful, untrustworthy hands of humans who may or may not remember to pray for their salvation.
Thank you so much for your answer about public prayer. I am in a season of pruning. One of the things I’ve been concerned about is that I have a gift in public prayer but struggle with prayer alone and have been praying that I would not be like the hypocrites and only pray well with others but not on my own. This answer gave me encouragement and clarity. Btw my individual prayer life is growing immensely! Praise God!!
"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied." Matthew 5:6 Follow the perfect example of Jesus and let us have a hunger and thirst to do right. And let us not find our identity and satisfaction in our works but in the righteousness of Christ that has been placed on us through faith. Praise God for that righteousness that we could never earn on our own doing. Let us be reminded to give thanks for this and so much more in all circumstances. Hopefully this helped and encouraged you today. God bless you!
Mike's definition of real manliness is almost exactly the same as the moral of the 6th Rocky move, "“It's not about how hard you hit. It's about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward. How much you can take and keep moving forward.” I love that movie and love that line. Anyways, God bless you Mike!
Ephesians 2:5 -6 👑 "even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,"
Was just watching a sermon by Steve Lawson this morning. He said only Christ could be the sacrificial substitute for our sin because he is fully God and fully man. Because he is the mediator between God and man. So he must be fully God to represent God to man and fully man to represent man to God. Mediators are meant to be impartial. This is what came to my mind when Mike was thinking about possible answers to the question regarding what role the divinity of Jesus played/whether Adam could have e qualified before the fall. Anyway the sermon was amazing, it's titled "Christ Our Substitute" on the Ligonier Ministries UA-cam channel. Lawson explains it better than I can! Thank you Mike, your ministry is such a blessing to me and my mom ❤.
THANKYOU FOR YOUR BIBLICAL KNOWLEDGE AND GUIDANCE IT HELPS ME TO KNOW HOW TO RESPOND TO AND HUMBLY COME TO THE ALTAR I REALLY THINK WE ALL JUST WANT TO PLEASE THE LORD BUT NEED A CLEAR PATH TO DO SO I KNOW IT HELPS ME TREMENDOUSLY AS A HUMAN MAN...I HAVE MANY MANY MANY FLAWS ....PRAISE JESUS FOR DYING FOR MY SINS...
Romans 6:19-22 was explained to me in drug & alcohol rehab thusly; As addicts we would walk 10 miles in freezing rain to get dope but we won't walk across the street to go to church or a AA meeting.
God bless you and your ministry Pastor Mike and I just wanted to say that your answer at 29:55 was extremely helpful to me. I, as a man, don't have any desire to put on makeup or anything of that sort, but I've always felt off put by Christians who condemn say, men who paint their nails, offhand, without any regard to their intent behind it. Since I always figured, if they aren't trying to be like a woman, then I can't find a moral objection to it. However, I also believe that if painted nails signals that a man is trying to be feminine in a culture, then a man shouldn't do it. But I always struggled with how to convey my stance on this, and you put it expertly. So for that, thank you so much and praise God. I will be sure to use your answer in the future when the topic comes up.
Q3 - sometimes I think we make the “answers” more complicated. If a child can understand faith, and a prisoner can be set free, then the answers are simpler than we make them. God is so good.
In response to #20, it's logical that since God is the one who is sinned against, it's God who can choose to pay the price for the sinner. If you steal $100 from me, I can forgive your debt, but no one else can forgive you for me.
Please play the guitar for us more often! 🤣 just that little bit at the end was very beautiful! ❤️ also I really enjoy these q&a videos and look forward to them every week because they are very edifying! I pray to have your wisdom some day when tackling some of these hard questions!
He has a Playlist on this channel you should check out, if you haven't!!!! He plays worship songs, sings, and I think he wrote most of the songs, if not all. It is great!!!!
It's funny that I decided to watch this video because I realize that I need to just focus more on God and His Good Grace because I've been feeling depressed about how overwhelming and hard some things in the Bible are for me to understand and have been feeling doubts about if I'm good enough.
Lovely Q&A as usual, Bro. Mike. I've been hearing these same topics being brought up lately. I usually just tell people to watch your videos. I hope God gives me the grace to know when and when not to push back against questions that are clearly intended to sound snarky. Lol. We're doing well here in TN and still praying for you and your ministry! Keep up the great work and I can't wait to get to see your "women in ministry" study. Until next week! In His Love -Melissa
Today (this week? This year?) I have felt overwhelmed by some big what-ifs. Thanks for sharing your thoughts & Psalm 131, Mike. Words to treasure and meditate on.
Once again sooo great!!! Please play a whole song next time!! I thought your men wearing nail polish answer was so wise. Unexpectedly kind toward what confusion they might be experiencing. But a friend of ours just dresses wierd because thats Hollywood and thats the style right now. No confusion. God bless.
Q 3: Surely 1 Cor 3 has something to add to the explanation of faith and works (after remembering Rom 10:9 and 13). Some believers’ works will be destroyed in the fire, yet, although those believers will suffer loss, they shall be saved.
Thanks Mike for your answer at 30:00, I have earrings and I can assure you it’s not because I do it to be feminine. I in fact just think they’re a cool accessory, like How I would wear a favorite baseball hat - I appreciate your openness to culture and to see the point of view and context to things. I love your videos and watch many a week and also use BibleThinker very often. If I were the person who asked I wouldn’t be so scared, especially about earrings. Me and my friends have them and we definitely don’t do it to be feminine and I’d say a big majority is the same way. I see it can still be a shock for people in the church as my grand parents don’t like them. The thing is, I have a very personal and close relationship with the Lord and read my Bible and pray everyday. It literally does not interfere with a personal relationship with God, so I never understand the “stigma” and scare behind men having them. 🤷🏻♂️
@@peterfox7663 I agree and disagree. The fact that they are viewed as a woman’s accessory is purely cultural and not specifically biblical. There are cultures where earrings (depending on the style) aren’t feminine at all.
For Robert: Rev 11:10 And they that dwell upon the earth shall rejoice over them, and make merry, and shall send gifts one to another; because these two prophets tormented them that dwelt on the earth.
Mike regarding #8 discerning extra biblical prophecies. This is an important subject for Christian’s given all the self proclaimed prophets who populate the internet. I think it deserved a more nuanced answer . You kept on saying test the prophesy . If by prophesy you are referring to a message from God that is more difficult to test as it tends to be subjective. If by prophesy you are referring to foretelling and revealing the future that has more objectivity . What immediately comes to mind is the Trump prophesy given by well known self proclaimed prophets and prophetesses . The prophesy was “ thus said the lord” , Trump would win the 2020 presidential election and serve back to back terms as president. This was specific and time sensitive. The test was easy to apply, “ did it come to pass?” The answer is no ; unless you are living in the alternative reality known as MAGA Land ,where Trump is still president. The only good thing that can be said about Covid and the Trump prophesy is that they exposed the self proclaimed prophets
Pastor Mike, I have a Mormon family, l feel so grieved and burdened about their salvation. I have written letters trying to explain lovingly why l left their church. I have tried to speak to them. They won't hear one word. I feel helpless. I am afraid now that l am a coward but l don't know how to break through the pride and deception that holds them . l fear for my soul as well as theirs. 😥💔🔥🙏 praying for them every day...
Keep in mind, their salvation isn’t up to you. If you’ve preached the gospel to them, you’ve been faithful. It’s their responsibility to repent and believe. Keep praying that God will work in their lives, but don’t feel burdened to be their savior, just be faithful to your calling.
@@levifox2818 Thank you Levi , for these comforting words. Brought tears to my eyes. I am head injured, and it is difficult to reason through all of this. 💔😢 Blessings to you is Christ Jesus.😊🔥❤ l hope you have a beautiful day.
I used to not like to pray for my food while eating with others (my family and friends). I felt like it just became something I did to be seen and it became a routine. I do pray for the food before eating but I keep it short. Still not sure how to examine this Christian culture.
Q13: This one hits kind of close to home, but in my case she broke up with me because I did think homosexuality was a sin--though thankfully this came up early in the relationship. But my question would be *why* she doesn't believe it to be sin. Is it because she doesn't believe the Bible is the ultimate authority in matters of faith and morals? If that's the case, I don't believe the relationship would (or should) be salvageable--while she may be a Christian in the most narrow sense possible, that's such a fundamental difference in authorities that it's near-certain to lead to other major issues. Is it because she doesn't know what the Bible has to say on the subject (OT and NT, and its positive teaching on sexuality, which is that it's limited to marriage, which is a relationship between a biological man and a biological woman)? This situation may be salvageable.
@@larevival4074 I've been happily married to someone else for the last 13 years, so I think it's safe to say I'm generally over it. But I don't think I need to conclude that she is (or was) a fake; she could instead have been misinformed or simply ignorant of the Bible's teaching on the subject--neither is a good thing, but it isn't grounds to throw her out of the kingdom.
Wouldn't the answer to first question be: God is sovereign. We do not have the power to change God's plan. We will have to repent of our sins and have remorse over the choices we make. But, we can change God's plan ultimately and we can rest in that.
Q8: I'm generally cessationist (edit: specifically, I believe that prophecy in the sense of receiving direct revelation from God has ceased with the death of John, the last of the apostles), so the question is pretty easy for me. But even leaving that aside, the biblical standard for a prophet is 100% accuracy. See Deut. 18:21-22: "21 And if you say in your heart, ‘How may we know the word that the Lord has not spoken?’- 22 when a prophet speaks in the name of the Lord, if the word does not come to pass or come true, that is a word that the Lord has not spoken; the prophet has spoken it presumptuously. You need not be afraid of him." So research the so-called prophet and see if he (or she) has ever made a "prophecy" that did not come true. If so, you can know for certain, with full assurance of the Bible, that that person is a false prophet.
@@markohakkola5180 ...and he knew perfectly well, even if he didn't say it (which we don't know one way or the other), that this was at least an implicit condition on the prophecy. He even says as much to God in 4:2. And the response of the Ninevites to his message--and, for that matter, the fact that he preached (and was sent to preach) it at all--suggests that he did say it. His likely message was, "unless you repent, you will be destroyed in 40 days." What indeed would have been the purpose of sending him to preach this message, if there were no possibility of the Ninevites avoiding that fate? And on what basis would the Ninevites have hoped to avoid that fate by repenting, unless they had been told so?
Hi Pastor Mike, any chance you’d do a video with Pastor Costi Hinn? I think a video where you both discuss your differences in secondary matters like Calvinism or Spiritual Gifts would make an edifying video for believers on all sides of theological camps. 😊 Btw, i appreciate both of your content and thanks for all that you do, Pastor Mike.
Do the great commission Not the great omission! evangelize 101 the People as much as possible! Then you’re obeying Jesus and he draws nearer to you and the peace that comes with it!
@@jjphank God did what I found. He didn't do it to be not seen. He showed this to me first and now I'm showing the world. I thought it was important to Him for me to show others. Seems to be.
@@downyourtube that’s great when God does miracles in our lives! Nothing new under the sun so there’s no secret knowledge everything is displayed in the old and New Testament!
Maybe God decided long ago that He would do that thing you prayed for only if you prayed for it. It doesn’t require God changing His mind to say that prayer impacts things other then my attitude. The Bible seems to abundantly attest to that truth as well.
For #4 I would say he chooses who will except Him. We can’t choose Him unless He causes us to choose Him because we are dead in our sins and trespasses. Dead people can’t choose anything.
Thank you, Mike, for asking people to stop bashing a bible translation (NIV in this case) with unwarranted and unhelpful criticism. (Calling it the Not Inspired Version.) No translation is perfect.
An answer to question 18: Even if the word "abolish" is the correct rendering in each verses, I would say.. "Christ came to fulfill the Law, not to abolish it. However, having fulfilled the Law, He has "abolished" or "rendered it inoperative" for us, because He Himself has fulfilled it to the full". I hope that makes sense!
Sanctification is a “renewal of the mind” to be ready to live with Christ and have the mind of Christ in order to be used by Christ to “ judge angels”, for example.
@@peterfox7663 I disagree with both the original post and your response. God created prayer for a reason-he pre-planned the ends _and_ the means. The elect are saved _because_ people prayed for them and evangelized them, but that was never out of God’s sovereign control, as if our prayers could add to his power or wisdom. To clarify, there’s a very real sense in which one of God’s elect would not be saved if no one preached (how can they believe what they have not heard?), but their salvation is certain since God is sovereign over the means of each person’s salvation as well as the result. Or think about a murder. God could’ve prevented it, but he chose not to. He was sovereign over the end (death) and the means (that murder), but that doesn’t mean the human interaction wasn’t meaningful.
@@levifox2818 The means are irrelevant when it's all been determined by God. Besides, the people aren't "elected" to salvation. God "not stopping" something is not possible in Calvinism - that would mean something outside of God determined they would attempt a murder.
@@peterfox7663 I completely disagree, the means of Jesus’ crucifixion were meaningful and preplanned: “… for truly in this city there were gathered together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, to do whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take place. And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness, while you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus” (Acts 4:27-30). “But Joseph said to them, “Do not fear, for am I in the place of God? As for you, you meant evil against me [by selling him into slavery], but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today” (Genesis 50:19-20).
Regarding Steve Grant’s question: Wouldn’t it make more sense to gently attempt to teach her from the bible on homosexuality and let her know that God loves even the homosexual, but hates the act, rather than ending a relationship. I guess it depends on how much you love her and how much you are willing to do to try to help her understand God’s word. I hope things work out.
@Mike Winger Would this be the correct terminology? Works do not get you into heaven, but no works can keep you out. For it is by faith through Grace that we are saved by Christ Jesus. Matthew 21: 28-32 Matthew 25:14-30 Ephesians 2:8-9
Ephesians 2:10 we’re saved for good works, Not from good works! Works is all Jesus is looking at on judgment day- look at Revelation two and three ,that’s all he’s talking about to the seven churches! Faith without works is dead! And we are justified by works not by faith only James 2:24 says! The best way to say it is faith alone saves but a faith that saves is not alone! To be Jesus disciple you have to die to self daily, that means you’re not gonna be doing what you wanna do but what goes leads you to do Luke 9:23 Problem is Christians doing put into practice what they read ,so start witnessing to people one on one! if you can’t do that get involved in ministries to make you stronger to do that but that’s called the great commission -every Christian is supposed to witness one on one to people, The opposite of that is a great omission, not obeying Jesus!
I agree, I think why Mike Winger rejects election is because he assumes humans have no involvement in sovereign election which is untrue. Christians share the gospel and pray which is a part of God's salvific plan. God always uses humans as means. If no one shared the gospel, no one would be saved.
Question Time Stamps for Quick Reference:
0:00 - Intro
1. 0:04 {My Fault if Someone’s Not Saved?} I know God is in control, but since prayer and fasting makes a difference, is it my fault if someone is not saved because I didn’t pray or fast enough for them? I feel responsible when I eat or forget to pray.
2. 9:31 {About the 2 Witnesses / Rapture?} It seems like the 2 witnesses in Zechariah 4 and Revelation 11 are like two peoples instead of individuals, as Romans 11: 17-21 speaks of olive trees/branches being Jews/Gentiles. If so, would the rapture be the "calling up" of them?
3. 17:01 {Does Romans Teach Works for Salvation?} Does Romans 6: 22 preach salvation by works? John Piper claims that this verse suggests that at final salvation, our works coming from sanctification result in eternal life.
4. 24:30 {Does God Grant People Faith? / Calvinism} How would you interpret the end of Matthew 11 in a non-Calvinist way, since it seems at a quick read to me that God grants people faith?
5. 29:55 {Thinking Biblically about Trends} There is a trend in many young male Christians where they are wearing earrings, painting nails, fixing eyebrows, and putting on makeup. Help me think biblically about this, as it's a bit shocking.
6. 35:04 {Advice for being a Godly Man} I just turned 18 today, and for the past few months, I've been struggling with the transition into adulthood. Got any advice for someone trying to become the man God wants them to be?
7. 39:22 {Does Blindness Cover Sin?} In John 9: 41, Jesus says, "If you were blind, you would not be guilty of sin..." What does it mean to be "blind" in this context? Does this blindness also cover sin?
8. 45:43 {Discerning Extrabiblical Prophecies} When should extrabiblical prophecy be accepted or rejected? I don’t know how to discern or “test the spirits,” and I don’t want to be overly dismissive, even if the claims seem astonishing.
9. 51:34 {About Submission in Marriage} If a husband's rule over his wife was a curse of the fall, why is it taught as God-ordained in the New Testament? Aren't husbands and wives called to submit to each other under the New Covenant?
10. 54:18 {Right and Wrong Public Worship/Prayer} In Matthew 6:5, Jesus says not to pray like people in public who try to get attention. Would that include praying and worshiping in church?
11. 58:18 {Interpreting the Psalms} In Psalm 2: 12, What does the psalmist mean by this verse in its non-messianic context?
12. 1:02:23 {Judging & Correcting Non-Believers} Are we supposed to judge those outside of the Church, and do we have any right to control/direct what they do (Romans 1: 32; 1 Corinthians 5: 12)?
13. 1:06:30 {Theological Differences while Dating} I've just discovered my long-term girlfriend does not believe homosexuality is a sin, and I'm really struggling with anxiety regarding this. Is it wrong to break up over this, and how should I approach this?
14. 1:09:04 {How Does the HS Guide Us?} I'm a new born-again Christian and I'd like to know, how does the Holy Spirit guide us?
15. 1:12:34 {Resources for Seniors} Are there any good sources for ministering to seniors you can recommend?
16. 1:13:07 {Is Sheol/Hades the Same as Hell?} Are the biblical references to Sheol/Hades necessarily Hell? Some Christian traditions have it as the underworld, with Hell only being something after the resurrection.
17. 1:15:45 {Abortion OK - Babies will Go to Heaven?} What would you say to a vicar who says that abortion isn't the biggest issue or problem for God as the babies will end up in Heaven anyway?
18. 1:20:58 {Did Jesus Come to Abolish the Law?} Why does Paul say in Ephesians 2: 15 “…by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances…” when Jesus said that He did not come to abolish the law in Matthew 5: 17?
19. 1:27:14 {Book of Ecclesiastes - Enjoying Life?} When the teacher in Ecclesiastes says to enjoy life, in the context of the book, is it being said like "Enjoy it 'cause it is a gift from God," or "Enjoy your lot since everything is meaningless”?
20. 1:29:02 {Could Only God Atone for our Sins?} What role did the divinity of Christ play in His ability to atone for the sins of the world? i.e., could Adam, before the fall, have chosen to die for the sins of all (hypothetically)?
Thanks
Thank you as always!!
3) Mike do a video on how to be a disciple, not just about religious cults.
Thanks Sara
Prophecy from any N.A.R. prophet is immediately suspect. Even if they get it right their agenda is anti-Truth of Christ.
I'm 70 and love your teachings, I have been a Christian since 12 years old but am learning still. You are on point in everything you teach. God has sent you as a gift for many in perfect timing, His timing
If that's really how you feel about Mike, then you need to pray for him in earnest that he can withstand the egotism and power-mongering that comes with knowing people feel about him as you do. A humble leader is almost a thing of the past in American Christianity. How he handled Ravi's failings was a debacle.
@@correctchristian4255 do you expect him to be perfect? He’s not less Christian because of his views on that. This is why people fail because they look at people instead of looking to Jesus! At the end of the day, He has the final say so. Make sure you are searching yourself before you come for others in authority/pastors and teachers.
That is so good - we’re told to be teachable no matter what our age… bless you!!
Mike, your answer to being a man had me in tears. My husband works 90 hrs+/week and still gives to me and our kids. At times I can feel neglected but I am learning to appreciate the incredible man I have by my side. Also, I am sorry you did not have men in your life growing up. You have become quite the God loving and God honoring man. Thank you for your teachings.
Thank you Paula James. I have never heard anyone in my life that had a husband that works 90 hours a week, such as my husband, it’s just the people in my life ask me why he works so much, and it kinda gets under my skin at times. We’ve been married over 25 years and he’s pretty much always been this way. I never had anyone who can relate with me on this. I wrestle with the neglectful feelings as well. But thank you for sharing.
Thanks for your work! God bless you.
"Manly isn't a guy who can throw a punch; manly is a guy who can take a punch." I'm quoting that.
Yeah I love it too. My fiancee got punched today at work. Long story short, he took it and didn't even argue with the guy while his coworkers went bonkers over the incident. They were angry for hours. Finally they asked my dude how he was so chill. He replied "it didn't hurt but also and more importantly, I'm a Christian and this day is a blessing from God. Nothing is going to change my attitude about that fact, not even someone trying their best". And the guy he was talking to went "what? I'm a Christian too but I wouldn't let someone get away with that." My dude didn't know his coworker was a Christian so he said "what? I didn't know you were Christian, you smoke, drink, curse, and look at women all day. I would have never guessed you're a Christian"
I really hope that man is restless in bed tonight thinking about how he's representing the God of the universe.
Definitely: wow!! Mike is like a Truth Machine Gun!!
Absolutely Love this Ministry! Love ❤️ the Long Videos, we are hungry for the word. Stop apologizing for the length, can’t get enough. You are blessing many with your words….Blessings to your Ministry….
I agree. I’d rather it be more in-depth than not. I love your biblical stand point. We don’t have many who give the biblical reasoning! Thank you
That’s awesome - I find people don’t click on the longer vids- they just don’t have the attention span, so finding Mikes stuff has been a real blessing - I like the deep dives and thoughtful commentary
Yes! I agree 💯! I wish I had more time, but tend to listen while folding laundry or doing dishes or any moment I can squeeze in to bolster my own Bible study time. ❤️
Mike should begin and end each show playing his guitar.
This has my FULL approval. 😅
Agree. I would go for it.👍
YES!! 🔥🔥
Yes❣️ Intro and exit music ❣️🎶🎼🎵🎤🎸
Facts
I definitely feel like at times I can be spiritually paranoid! I have to pray & chill & give everything to the Lord.
Mike, for not having much manly influence in your life, you have become a considerable man of God. It's evident to me that God Himself took over that mentoring role. Thanks for helping us think biblically.
Appreciate how you never charge money for your content, you are a shining example of Christianity imo.
Thanks
"If male is not good and female is not good and if they are trying to be different from each other then we're losing something important" this was very fruitful for me. Having grown in this world where my peers are trying to break these stereotypes and trying to find a biblical aspect to these situations. This is good for me to think about. Thank you!!
I think our prayers do matter. However the person we are praying for still has a choice to make. God deals with us all, and we choose to accept him or to turn him away. But, God’s time is not our time, my Great Grandmother went to her grave praying for a family member to come to Jesus. It didn’t happen in her lifetime, but it still happened. I truly believe that prayer can change things.
I do feel similar to the first person sometimes, please pray for me to not be so hard on myself for 'failing' in such ways.
Hey I was there and overtime God can give you clarity and peace when you’re evangelizing to most people that you see! Well we all work out our salvation with fear and trembling, (Philippians 2:12-13)it’s OK to feel that way !keep seeking the Lord and keep serving the Lord more importantly in ministry doing the great commission, commit evangelism one on one to people , every Christians supposed to do that!
Acts 14: 22 we must go to many hardships to inherit the kingdom of God!
Loved the answer to this question. Teaches me about letting go in general of the things only God can do. We get to just focus on being faithful
Bless you Makeeda… the closer we come to Christ, the more we realise how little we are like him, and how much we need him
Hey Mike, thanks for mentioning your personal experience during the Advice for being a Godly Man about how, as a young man, I shouldn't see other men as other competition but as encouragements and blessings to my own growth in my manhood because it is true in my life too. I can relate to that. I had a tough time living a roommate who seemed to understand school and managing life much better than me and I envied it. I chose to isolate myself from him and for me to be depressed all the time. Instead of working hard, I was stuck in my own despair. I believe I should have acknowledged my feelings of incompetence and weakness and sought advice and help from my roommate and others. I regret those years a lot, but knowing this now, I will try to be more mindful of this. Thanks again.
That first question... thank you for whoever asked that. Thank you. So much. This has been my struggle for the past 2 years. It hurts. So much. God bless you and your walk with Christ.
Keep working your salvation out with fear and trembling For its God who works to act and will according to his purpose! Philippians 2:12-13
Die to self daily luke 9:23
Believe it or not I went through that and God will give you clarity and more peace especially the more you do the great commission and you’re trying to reach out to people and opening your mouth! Satan wants to stop that but if you don’t let him, then you’ll start getting more peace!
Amen to that… I’m the only Christian in my house… I worry about this question myself
I always enjoy your lessons Pastor Mike. Your Biblical knowledge, wisdom and insights are a great help to me. You have helped me to really dig more into scripture and seek to understand more! Thank you!
46:49 Ephesians 5:20 give thanks for all things
Thank you Jesus! I've been saved for a few yrs & have ALOT of testimony, but I just recently learned about election from a fundamental cessationist,
& have been in a major funk ever since.
Thank you for the reminder:
"I don't NEED to know the answer to that question rn, just trust in God". The Holy Spirit actually laid that on my heart when I was a new convert, I just realized how often I need to be reminded.
** Mike reading literally every question **
Mike: "this really deserves a longer answer but..."
Haha
Your channel is definitely my favorite. I feel smarter, more in tune with God and just more joyful every time I listen to you answer questions from a Biblical perspective. Thank you for sharing your gifts with us! ❤️🙏🏼🎸💒✝️
I've been listening to this a little each night during my Bible study. Such a truly amazing and encouraging resource. A continuous well like this is just lovely.
Mike you are too precious ❤
So exciting to hear my question read aloud on my first time asking. Keep up the good work Pastor Winger!
That FIRST QUESTION definitely deserves its own full video!! It would be such a blessing to many!!!🙏❤️🙏
The answer to the first question scared me a little bit. I struggle so much to keep up a consistent prayer life, even though Im very worried about my lost loved ones. I understand there are many factors God uses to bring people to Christ but I still worry about it.
Yes, I completely agree!!
@@shareyah8 do you have any way to deal with these worries so your not totally overwhelmed by them ?
Yeah for sure - i'd appreciate a fuller dive into that one :)
Thank you Mike. So many times I tune in and find the references I need for what is going on in my life. God bless you.
No person is lost from salvation (no matter what YOU do) because God makes sure of that. See John 17:12. It says no person is lost except the son of perdition.
Mike just letting you know I watch all the ads on your channel so you can get paid. Love ya Mike, your helping real souls, real people. God bless in Christs mighty name.
My parents die without know Jesus.
Because I didnot share Jesus with them.
And that really hit me.
And I do pray for them but they're still not saved.
Thanks for answering my VERY IMPORTANT question about your acoustic pickup! It's also heartening to see that you keep playing, as being a husband, father, pastor and teacher must take most of your time; when I used to teach guitar, in addition to having two kids and working full time and participating in worship ministry and other musical pursuits, I told my students often that if I hadn't practiced fanatically as a young person, I'd never be able to play at all with all the demands on my time!
You playing the guitar at the end was the cherry on top!
YESSS. I’ve been waiting to hear Mike teach on women’s role in the church. Can’t wait to hear this video. I hope it’s a super long and well researched one. :)
Isaiah has that messianic parallel feeling through so much of it, ..every time I’ve gone through it, it renews my sense of God’s awesome magnitude. Side note, I believe it is the only book found in total among the Dead Sea scrolls
I love your definition of manly, absolutely spot on. I’m behind on my Q and As so I’m a little late to the party, but, I appreciate your ministry and look forward to these every Friday!
Spiritual paranoia is also known as scrupulosity, a form of clinical OCD where religious activities become compulsions, one struggles with unwanted blasphemous, doubting, and terrifying thoughts that are not yours (so they are mostly afflictions if not entirely afflictions), and the Christian with scrupulosity becomes forgetful of God’s grace. I know, that’s what I go through every day, and yet it is through this I learned more of God’s grace. Specific famous cases in history include John Bunyan and Martin Luther.
I used to and still do deal with these issues a lot but one of the things that helped me get over those thoughts was truly understanding that we are saved by God and his grace alone and then also being very upfront and honest when praying because he knows everything that we deal with and that those thoughts are not really ours.
Do ypj know any way to get. Over tje fear of not praying enough,and causing someone not to be saved ? I feel like because of my past laziness over the years, i might have already cost someone their salvation. Prayer is exausting because I always pray out of panic. I want to relax and pray out of love for God and others.
@@catfish1616 I understand that fear. I've been there myself. Make sure to see if what I tell you is Biblical.
Regarding prayer we are instructed to pray always, and still a simple, short prayer consistent every day to God is enough. The heart is what matters, and He takes in simple less than 20 word prayers filled with faith and genuine desire to pray well than twenty hours of just vain repetition.
Remember that God understands your weaknesses and that He knows your desire to pray with more calm. And yet Jesus walked on the water, and thus He can hear you in the midst of many storms.
I would say that you should repent of not going out there to tell people the Gospel. It is a grave sin to not tell the Gospel to the people God gave you. And you already know that.
However, do not condemn yourself. Be rebuked, not self-hating. We can take a good, healthy mourning of our sins and turn it into a blindfold that keeps us from seeing God's kindness in His rebuke to us, as rebukes are meant to make us repent, which in turn is to become joyous in truth again.
If you truly have faith that Jesus is Christ and that He rose from the dead, that He is God and that God is a Holy Triune Creator, and if you are concerned whether or not you're really Christian or are loving God wholeheartedly, that, I think, personally, means you are His, and He will never leave nor forsake you. There is NO condemnation for those in Christ Jesus.
Also you're concerned "what if". That is an endless spiral of constant hypothetical ideas. We don't have the final say in the salvation of others, even though we still must give them the Gospel. Ultimately, it's between that individual and God. Unless you're teaching actual serious heresy that denies the essentials of the faith that anyone must believe to be saved like the Incarnation, the Trinity, that God is love, the cross and resurrection, the atonement, the need of salvation because of our sin, then I think you should remember that God can use a five word sermon that Jonah preached that is rather bare and doesn't even talk of God and saved a whole nation from destruction (of course, don't be like Jonah).
It is a good sign that you are concerned, because it means the Holy Spirit is convicting you and is calling you to be restored with God, to be reminded of His righteousness and to rest in His love. The blood of Christ covers and restores you from ALL sins. The key to true repentance is to see that God is beautiful, that His kindness, as Paul wrote, leads people to repentance. We learn to love God through knowing and living in His love for you. The love of one's neighbor stems from the cross.
I don't know if you have scrupulosity, but if you think you have a mental illness then I recommend seeking affordable help. God might reveal His compassion and understanding there, that He knows your frame. It might take you time or overnight. Perhaps you had a traumatic experience when it comes to human relationships that transferred over to your prayer life, and it's time to ask God to heal you. It takes time, and it's taking me time.
God is right there, near you, and ready to hold you in His arms. Focus on the pierced hands of Christ than on your hands folded improperly, for prayer is not rooted in your perfection.
@@Jangwoofilms thank you ! That really helps !
Mike, thank you so much for this teaching! God bless you brother and may your ministry continue to reach people of all faiths to lead them to Jesus! 🙏
Q14 - When you are following the Spirit and His fruit is flowing through you- Your spirit is informed when to follow Holy Spirit into God’s will. We are His vessel (2 Tim 2:21) and Psalm 23 reveals how He guides us and His goodness and love follows us all of our days. This was made so real to me when I began to pray Romans 12:2 and asked for Him to lead me into His way everlasting.
I can’t believe that God would leave something as imperative as a persons salvation in the forgetful, untrustworthy hands of humans who may or may not remember to pray for their salvation.
Thank you so much for your answer about public prayer. I am in a season of pruning. One of the things I’ve been concerned about is that I have a gift in public prayer but struggle with prayer alone and have been praying that I would not be like the hypocrites and only pray well with others but not on my own. This answer gave me encouragement and clarity. Btw my individual prayer life is growing immensely! Praise God!!
"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied." Matthew 5:6
Follow the perfect example of Jesus and let us have a hunger and thirst to do right. And let us not find our identity and satisfaction in our works but in the righteousness of Christ that has been placed on us through faith. Praise God for that righteousness that we could never earn on our own doing. Let us be reminded to give thanks for this and so much more in all circumstances. Hopefully this helped and encouraged you today. God bless you!
New to your videos-but loving them so far! Thank you for this valuable ministry!
Please play your guitar for us sometime. Pretty please. Thank you for all your biblical help to us. God Bless You Pastor Mike!
Mike's definition of real manliness is almost exactly the same as the moral of the 6th Rocky move, "“It's not about how hard you hit. It's about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward. How much you can take and keep moving forward.” I love that movie and love that line.
Anyways, God bless you Mike!
Ephesians 2:5 -6 👑
"even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,"
Thanks so much Mike!
Was just watching a sermon by Steve Lawson this morning. He said only Christ could be the sacrificial substitute for our sin because he is fully God and fully man. Because he is the mediator between God and man. So he must be fully God to represent God to man and fully man to represent man to God. Mediators are meant to be impartial. This is what came to my mind when Mike was thinking about possible answers to the question regarding what role the divinity of Jesus played/whether Adam could have e qualified before the fall. Anyway the sermon was amazing, it's titled "Christ Our Substitute"
on the Ligonier Ministries UA-cam channel. Lawson explains it better than I can! Thank you Mike, your ministry is such a blessing to me and my mom ❤.
I love how your face lit up when reading question 14. It’s always a joyous occasion when someone is adopted into the family of God.
Thank you Mike. I needed to hear the answer to Q: #1 today. Go bless your ministry.🙏
THANKYOU FOR YOUR BIBLICAL KNOWLEDGE AND GUIDANCE IT HELPS ME TO KNOW HOW TO RESPOND TO AND HUMBLY COME TO THE ALTAR I REALLY THINK WE ALL JUST WANT TO PLEASE THE LORD BUT NEED A CLEAR PATH TO DO SO I KNOW IT HELPS ME TREMENDOUSLY AS A HUMAN MAN...I HAVE MANY MANY MANY FLAWS ....PRAISE JESUS FOR DYING FOR MY SINS...
Romans 6:19-22 was explained to me in drug & alcohol rehab thusly; As addicts we would walk 10 miles in freezing rain to get dope but we won't walk across the street to go to church or a AA meeting.
Man, Edward that just NAILS it for me!! So good!!
@@ChristopherDolby He changed me & I love Him!
God bless you and your ministry Pastor Mike and I just wanted to say that your answer at 29:55 was extremely helpful to me. I, as a man, don't have any desire to put on makeup or anything of that sort, but I've always felt off put by Christians who condemn say, men who paint their nails, offhand, without any regard to their intent behind it. Since I always figured, if they aren't trying to be like a woman, then I can't find a moral objection to it. However, I also believe that if painted nails signals that a man is trying to be feminine in a culture, then a man shouldn't do it.
But I always struggled with how to convey my stance on this, and you put it expertly. So for that, thank you so much and praise God. I will be sure to use your answer in the future when the topic comes up.
Wonderful. Thank you.
God bless!💜✝️💜
Q3 - sometimes I think we make the “answers” more complicated. If a child can understand faith, and a prisoner can be set free, then the answers are simpler than we make them. God is so good.
In response to #20, it's logical that since God is the one who is sinned against, it's God who can choose to pay the price for the sinner. If you steal $100 from me, I can forgive your debt, but no one else can forgive you for me.
10 min into this and am benefited by excellent perspective and info!
Love you pastor mike
Your time and efforts are appreciated
Please play the guitar for us more often! 🤣 just that little bit at the end was very beautiful! ❤️ also I really enjoy these q&a videos and look forward to them every week because they are very edifying! I pray to have your wisdom some day when tackling some of these hard questions!
He has a Playlist on this channel you should check out, if you haven't!!!! He plays worship songs, sings, and I think he wrote most of the songs, if not all. It is great!!!!
@@melz3671 oh wow I didn’t know that ! Thank you ! ❤️
@@kyairamarbury you are very welcome! They are great songs!!!!
Live in Palm Desert would love to come...2yrs to late :)
It's funny that I decided to watch this video because I realize that I need to just focus more on God and His Good Grace because I've been feeling depressed about how overwhelming and hard some things in the Bible are for me to understand and have been feeling doubts about if I'm good enough.
Thanks especiality for the first question! I struggled as well so very often with this !
Lovely Q&A as usual, Bro. Mike. I've been hearing these same topics being brought up lately. I usually just tell people to watch your videos. I hope God gives me the grace to know when and when not to push back against questions that are clearly intended to sound snarky. Lol. We're doing well here in TN and still praying for you and your ministry! Keep up the great work and I can't wait to get to see your "women in ministry" study. Until next week!
In His Love
-Melissa
Today (this week? This year?) I have felt overwhelmed by some big what-ifs. Thanks for sharing your thoughts & Psalm 131, Mike. Words to treasure and meditate on.
Thank you
Question #6 was answered beautifully! Thank you Pastor Mike!! May God bless you and your ministry! How has your sleep been?
Once again sooo great!!! Please play a whole song next time!! I thought your men wearing nail polish answer was so wise. Unexpectedly kind toward what confusion they might be experiencing. But a friend of ours just dresses wierd because thats Hollywood and thats the style right now. No confusion. God bless.
Q 3: Surely 1 Cor 3 has something to add to the explanation of faith and works (after remembering Rom 10:9 and 13). Some believers’ works will be destroyed in the fire, yet, although those believers will suffer loss, they shall be saved.
Thanks Mike for your answer at 30:00, I have earrings and I can assure you it’s not because I do it to be feminine. I in fact just think they’re a cool accessory, like How I would wear a favorite baseball hat - I appreciate your openness to culture and to see the point of view and context to things. I love your videos and watch many a week and also use BibleThinker very often. If I were the person who asked I wouldn’t be so scared, especially about earrings. Me and my friends have them and we definitely don’t do it to be feminine and I’d say a big majority is the same way. I see it can still be a shock for people in the church as my grand parents don’t like them. The thing is, I have a very personal and close relationship with the Lord and read my Bible and pray everyday. It literally does not interfere with a personal relationship with God, so I never understand the “stigma” and scare behind men having them. 🤷🏻♂️
To address the last line of your statement regarding stigma bluntly, because they are a woman's accessory
@@peterfox7663
I agree and disagree. The fact that they are viewed as a woman’s accessory is purely cultural and not specifically biblical. There are cultures where earrings (depending on the style) aren’t feminine at all.
@@levifox2818 Yes that's what was also said in the video - it's cultural
Greatly appreciate your channel and Ministry
For Robert: Rev 11:10 And they that dwell upon the earth shall rejoice over them, and make merry, and shall send gifts one to another; because these two prophets tormented them that dwelt on the earth.
Mike regarding #8 discerning extra biblical prophecies. This is an important subject for Christian’s given all the self proclaimed prophets who populate the internet. I think it deserved a more nuanced answer . You kept on saying test the prophesy . If by prophesy you are referring to a message from God that is more difficult to test as it tends to be subjective. If by prophesy you are referring to foretelling and revealing the future that has more objectivity .
What immediately comes to mind is the Trump prophesy given by well known self proclaimed prophets and prophetesses .
The prophesy was “ thus said the lord” , Trump would win the 2020 presidential election and serve back to back terms as president. This was specific and time sensitive. The test was easy to apply, “ did it come to pass?” The answer is no ; unless you are living in the alternative reality known as MAGA Land ,where Trump is still president.
The only good thing that can be said about Covid and the Trump prophesy is that they exposed the self proclaimed prophets
I love this channel
I believe we sew seeds but God does the work in their hearts . I commented before listening to Mike so I may a distorted view.
Thanks for these!
A great q&a, thank you Mike!
Good teaching as always
Pastor Mike, I have a Mormon family, l feel so grieved and burdened about their salvation. I have written letters trying to explain lovingly why l left their church. I have tried to speak to them. They won't hear one word. I feel helpless. I am afraid now that l am a coward but l don't know how to break through the pride and deception that holds them . l fear for my soul as well as theirs. 😥💔🔥🙏 praying for them every day...
Keep in mind, their salvation isn’t up to you. If you’ve preached the gospel to them, you’ve been faithful. It’s their responsibility to repent and believe. Keep praying that God will work in their lives, but don’t feel burdened to be their savior, just be faithful to your calling.
@@levifox2818 Thank you Levi , for these comforting words. Brought tears to my eyes. I am head injured, and it is difficult to reason through all of this. 💔😢 Blessings to you is Christ Jesus.😊🔥❤ l hope you have a beautiful day.
Thank you so very much 😊👍🙏!
Thank you Mike, for introducing me to this Palm 🙂
I used to not like to pray for my food while eating with others (my family and friends). I felt like it just became something I did to be seen and it became a routine. I do pray for the food before eating but I keep it short. Still not sure how to examine this Christian culture.
Please pray for this vicar, question 17 🙏😪
Our dependence for salvation for others should be Jesus Christ, not on our prayers. All glory goes to him.
Q13: This one hits kind of close to home, but in my case she broke up with me because I did think homosexuality was a sin--though thankfully this came up early in the relationship. But my question would be *why* she doesn't believe it to be sin. Is it because she doesn't believe the Bible is the ultimate authority in matters of faith and morals? If that's the case, I don't believe the relationship would (or should) be salvageable--while she may be a Christian in the most narrow sense possible, that's such a fundamental difference in authorities that it's near-certain to lead to other major issues. Is it because she doesn't know what the Bible has to say on the subject (OT and NT, and its positive teaching on sexuality, which is that it's limited to marriage, which is a relationship between a biological man and a biological woman)? This situation may be salvageable.
Sounds like she is a fake Christian. Be glad she’s out of your life!
@@larevival4074 I've been happily married to someone else for the last 13 years, so I think it's safe to say I'm generally over it. But I don't think I need to conclude that she is (or was) a fake; she could instead have been misinformed or simply ignorant of the Bible's teaching on the subject--neither is a good thing, but it isn't grounds to throw her out of the kingdom.
This is wonderful!
Regarding praying in public, i think we all know what are true intentions are.
Wouldn't the answer to first question be: God is sovereign. We do not have the power to change God's plan. We will have to repent of our sins and have remorse over the choices we make. But, we can change God's plan ultimately and we can rest in that.
Q8: I'm generally cessationist (edit: specifically, I believe that prophecy in the sense of receiving direct revelation from God has ceased with the death of John, the last of the apostles), so the question is pretty easy for me. But even leaving that aside, the biblical standard for a prophet is 100% accuracy. See Deut. 18:21-22: "21 And if you say in your heart, ‘How may we know the word that the Lord has not spoken?’- 22 when a prophet speaks in the name of the Lord, if the word does not come to pass or come true, that is a word that the Lord has not spoken; the prophet has spoken it presumptuously. You need not be afraid of him." So research the so-called prophet and see if he (or she) has ever made a "prophecy" that did not come true. If so, you can know for certain, with full assurance of the Bible, that that person is a false prophet.
What about the prophet jonah? Nineveh repented and so the prophecy against them did not come to pass. But it would have!
@@markohakkola5180 ...and he knew perfectly well, even if he didn't say it (which we don't know one way or the other), that this was at least an implicit condition on the prophecy. He even says as much to God in 4:2. And the response of the Ninevites to his message--and, for that matter, the fact that he preached (and was sent to preach) it at all--suggests that he did say it. His likely message was, "unless you repent, you will be destroyed in 40 days." What indeed would have been the purpose of sending him to preach this message, if there were no possibility of the Ninevites avoiding that fate? And on what basis would the Ninevites have hoped to avoid that fate by repenting, unless they had been told so?
Hi Pastor Mike, any chance you’d do a video with Pastor Costi Hinn? I think a video where you both discuss your differences in secondary matters like Calvinism or Spiritual Gifts would make an edifying video for believers on all sides of theological camps. 😊 Btw, i appreciate both of your content and thanks for all that you do, Pastor Mike.
Pastor Mike, nice to meet you. I plead with you from the bottom of my heart to come see what God showed me (I'm begging you).
Do the great commission Not the great omission! evangelize 101 the People as much as possible!
Then you’re obeying Jesus and he draws nearer to you and the peace that comes with it!
@@jjphank God did what I found. He didn't do it to be not seen. He showed this to me first and now I'm showing the world. I thought it was important to Him for me to show others. Seems to be.
@@downyourtube that’s great when God does miracles in our lives!
Nothing new under the sun so there’s no secret knowledge everything is displayed in the old and New Testament!
@@jjphank God made it. I believe it. It tells Creations Story and its good enough for me regardless what you say or think about it.
@@downyourtube everything you need is in the bible 🙂 There’s no special revelation
Is Christ not enough? 💕🙏
Ok but “not inspired version” is amazingly funny 😂😂😂
if God doesn’t change, then prayer cannot change Gods mind. It is for us
Maybe God decided long ago that He would do that thing you prayed for only if you prayed for it. It doesn’t require God changing His mind to say that prayer impacts things other then my attitude. The Bible seems to abundantly attest to that truth as well.
For #4 I would say he chooses who will except Him. We can’t choose Him unless He causes us to choose Him because we are dead in our sins and trespasses. Dead people can’t choose anything.
Thank you, Mike, for asking people to stop bashing a bible translation (NIV in this case) with unwarranted and unhelpful criticism. (Calling it the Not Inspired Version.)
No translation is perfect.
An answer to question 18:
Even if the word "abolish" is the correct rendering in each verses, I would say.. "Christ came to fulfill the Law, not to abolish it. However, having fulfilled the Law, He has "abolished" or "rendered it inoperative" for us, because He Himself has fulfilled it to the full".
I hope that makes sense!
Sanctification is a “renewal of the mind” to be ready to live with Christ and have the mind of Christ in order to be used by Christ to “ judge angels”, for example.
I firmly believe those that are elect will be saved ragardless one way or another. Prayer doesn't change God's will.
Yes, prayer is rather pointless when one considers the tenets of Calvinism
@@peterfox7663
I disagree with both the original post and your response. God created prayer for a reason-he pre-planned the ends _and_ the means. The elect are saved _because_ people prayed for them and evangelized them, but that was never out of God’s sovereign control, as if our prayers could add to his power or wisdom.
To clarify, there’s a very real sense in which one of God’s elect would not be saved if no one preached (how can they believe what they have not heard?), but their salvation is certain since God is sovereign over the means of each person’s salvation as well as the result.
Or think about a murder. God could’ve prevented it, but he chose not to. He was sovereign over the end (death) and the means (that murder), but that doesn’t mean the human interaction wasn’t meaningful.
@@levifox2818 The means are irrelevant when it's all been determined by God. Besides, the people aren't "elected" to salvation.
God "not stopping" something is not possible in Calvinism - that would mean something outside of God determined they would attempt a murder.
@@peterfox7663
I completely disagree, the means of Jesus’ crucifixion were meaningful and preplanned:
“… for truly in this city there were gathered together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, to do whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take place. And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness, while you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus” (Acts 4:27-30).
“But Joseph said to them, “Do not fear, for am I in the place of God? As for you, you meant evil against me [by selling him into slavery], but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today” (Genesis 50:19-20).
They are responsible.
Regarding Steve Grant’s question: Wouldn’t it make more sense to gently attempt to teach her from the bible on homosexuality and let her know that God loves even the homosexual, but hates the act, rather than ending a relationship. I guess it depends on how much you love her and how much you are willing to do to try to help her understand God’s word. I hope things work out.
@Mike Winger Would this be the correct terminology? Works do not get you into heaven, but no works can keep you out. For it is by faith through Grace that we are saved by Christ Jesus.
Matthew 21: 28-32
Matthew 25:14-30
Ephesians 2:8-9
Ephesians 2:10 we’re saved for good works, Not from good works!
Works is all Jesus is looking at on judgment day- look at Revelation two and three ,that’s all he’s talking about to the seven churches!
Faith without works is dead!
And we are justified by works not by faith only James 2:24 says!
The best way to say it is faith alone saves but a faith that saves is not alone!
To be Jesus disciple you have to die to self daily, that means you’re not gonna be doing what you wanna do but what goes leads you to do Luke 9:23
Problem is Christians doing put into practice what they read ,so start witnessing to people one on one! if you can’t do that get involved in ministries to make you stronger to do that but that’s called the great commission -every Christian is supposed to witness one on one to people, The opposite of that is a great omission, not obeying Jesus!
I think Romans 9 gives us a perfect example on God’s sovereign election.
I agree, I think why Mike Winger rejects election is because he assumes humans have no involvement in sovereign election which is untrue. Christians share the gospel and pray which is a part of God's salvific plan. God always uses humans as means. If no one shared the gospel, no one would be saved.
The doctrine of election goes back to the Old Testament