Question Time Stamps for Quick Reference: 0:00 - Intro 1. 0:40 {The Bible Doesn’t Exist?} Can you please respond to Abraham Piper’s claim that the Bible doesn’t even exist? 2. 12:03 {Jesus’ Deity in Scripture} In Luke 4:9-12, Satan uses the term "Son of God" yet Jesus responds with Deuteronomy 6: 16. Is this a possible claim that Christ is God, similarly to how He takes God's names for Himself? 3. 20:52 {Lack of Works = No Heaven?} Why do we only talk about what will get you into Heaven (faith or works or both)? The Bible seems to teach that only faith can get you in, but lack of works can keep you out. Any thoughts? 4. 24:01 {Are Sinful Desires Sinful?} James 1: 15 speaks about your desire giving birth to sin, but if you have an evil desire, isn’t that already sin? 5. 37:48 {Are Natural Disasters from God?} We recently had a tornado touch down here in upstate New York. How does one explain to a non-believer that the tornado was not from God? Was it man-made? 6. 45:40 {Does Hebrews 1 Prove Cessationism?} Is Hebrews 1:1 supportive of the idea that there are no prophets since the 1st century as God only speaks from Jesus Christ? 7. 54:14 {Does Blas. of the Spirit Debunk Calvinism?} Is the fact that we can commit Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit proof that Calvinism is false? 8. 58:58 {Jesus & the Samaritan Woman} Was Jesus pointing out the sin of the Samaritan woman, or was He letting her know He understood her circumstances, considering women had little control over their marital status? 9. 1:09:34 {Modalism & Oneness - Truly Saved?} Are people who believe in Modalism or Oneness doctrines truly saved? Should I allow my kids to participate in events at churches that believe in Modalism? 10. 1:15:44 {Receiving the Holy Spirit} When does a Christian receive the Holy Spirit? The apostles, it seems, received the Holy Spirit twice (John 20: 22, Acts 2:1-4). Others had different experiences (Acts 8: 14-17, 11: 15, 19:1-6). BONUS Q! 1:24:01 What language do you think we will speak in Heaven?
I only have 4 questions. How did Jesus go from earth to heaven? Where do we need Jehovah, why should we worship him? Why is there no verse in the Bible about sharing inheritance? Are the three gods partners with each other or are they independent of each other?
@@necmettinmutlu306 God the father, Jesus the Son, and the Holy Spirit are three distinct persons, yet also one God. As for how He can do this, He's God, He literally makes the rules.
I cried a little bit during this; I wish I was at a place where I could sincerely call myself a christian but I'm not. You've been such a great help to me so far, but I'm afraid I'll never get out from under the yoke of sin. I hope someone out there prays for me, and I will try to be a true christian, but I wouldn't be here without you pastor Mike. Thank you so much
You don't defeat sin, Jesus already did on the cross. You have to believe you have forgiveness and God's unmerited grace has been given to you. That's what believeing on Jesus means. Seek God's approval and justification of you, and stop trusting in your own ability to control yourself (your own rightesouness). Stand on the unconditional love and umerited favor of God's grace that is given FREELY to anyone who asks for it.
I prayed for you too. You can come to Jesus just as you are, He doesn't expect you to "clean yourself up first", just trust in Him, His death and resurrection is what saves us, and you just choose to trust in Him. Then He will give you His Spirit to dwell in you, He will change your heart, and give you power against sin. But still your salvation isn't based on your victory, but on Christ's. Keep seeking God, He will answer you.
I pray for Abraham that the Lord will bring him to saving knowledge and give him wisdom, John Piper has been such a blessing in my life, may the Lord redeem his child 🙏🏾
Though Abraham Piper is his own person, as Pr. Mike says, yet I feel that he is a traitor to his father. Could he not just have disbelieved without shouting it out to the whole world? Shame on him.
But according to John Piper, the hard deterministic Calvinist, God determined his son to reject Christ. So unfortunately there's nothing to be sad about if you hold to John Piper's Theology. In fact, if you do, you should rejoice because God is glorified in the condemnation of Abraham Piper.
@Christos_Kurios My brother that's a very sad oversimplification and implication to assert towards other Jesus followers who affirm God's sovereignly saving sinners.
Mike Winger is probably my favourite non-calvinist to listen to on soteriology, he's always respectful and thought provoking (even though I would tend to disagree). Great vid, keep doing the Lord's work brother!
@@Samuel_C_Nutt same here 1000 percent ! God led me to him right in the nic time! I was very much ready to denounce life in hopeless dismay but Mike and some of you here were used lovingly to reel me back in to the true fold of life..
Yeah Calvinism is the fastest way to shipwreck your faith. It seems biblical. It is a false teaching spoken against by Peter in 2 Peter chapter 3. I am so relieved that God led me to the truth and out of that teaching. Here is the truth. There is no darkness in God. He is FULLY and entirely good. Which means that He can not have created the evil, nor caused it to come to pass. But that directly contradicts Ephesians 1, John chapter 6 and Romans 8? Hold on there. It doesn't. What about works? Is accepting the Grace of God a work? If someone hands you a gift and you choose to take it. Is that not a work? Take a good honest hard look at some of these verses\chapters that are super easy to get a predeterministic mindset from. What you find is that predeterminism is not only Gnostic. Not a teaching found within any Jewish synagogue or old testament writings. But it actually is very much exactly like the teaching of the Muslims. Alla is very similar to the Calvin God. In that A. False Grace. He determines you believe you are saved. Then when you die He says no. You aren't. I.E. he is a wonderful trickster. Wheras Sura 6 speaks of Alla being the best trickster\deceiver B. Then you have predeterminism. Alla has to predetermine everything and humans have no say. No free will. There is no grace given. You are either saved or damned and no amount of hearing the truth will save you because you are so hardened. C. Calvin's god has evil. He determines evil things to happen for his glory. Alla has similar things he does. First. He determines that this group of individuals live in a region and fish for food. Then he determines the fish don't come out. Then when the Jews Fish on the Lords day, when he determines the fish do come out, he damns the Jewish people to be monkeys. For his glory. I mean... Evil, deceiver, puppet master. Wake up. The description of God through the OT and the New is the exact opposite. Jesus said you will know them by their fruits. Augustine taught Manacheism in the last 15 years of his life. Manacheism is gnosticism. Within that 15 years he slandered and brought an innocent man, palageus to a court room under the threat of heresy. (The court found him innocent of the charges each time... He tried to have a man killed.. And palageus is still a bad word and a doctrine that is not taught by palageus. Read his works. Test whether Augustine lied) Calvin murdered another person. Premeditately he hunted this individual, and wrote to the catholic church to get this man BURNED at the stake. Look at his letter. He murdered Michael Servetus. Now. I ask you. The fruit of these men. Was the doctrine of TULIP. Will you follow man, or God. Look into this doctrine. You are very VERY misguided. And trapped in an evil cult that has infiltrated the church from the beginning and teaches a different gospel. Wake up.
Amen!!!! I'm surrounded by Calvinists and I love them but want to let them know I'm a way they will actually hear because this crap is scary.. It's not the Gospel at all. Thank you Lord for giving me decerment to see this please help me apologeticly@@katherine5861
@@katherine5861 Nice essay. I hope you forgive me for responding in length as well, but answers are often longer than questions. Having said that, I want to recognize that soteriology is largely a secondary issue (although you seem to disagree) as long as we all affirm it is by grace through faith (which it seems we both do), so please forgive me if I fail to respond with love and grace. 1. Your comment about 2 Peter 3 - This chapter is primarily speaking about eschatology, not soteriology. If you are referencing verse 9, I think it is once again important to recognize Peter's primary purpose in this section of the letter. He is addressing those who deny the second coming and use God's patience as 'evidence' that Christ is not returning. He is speaking about how Christ will not return until all those who will come to faith, have come to faith. 2. God cannot ordain the evil acts of men - Genesis 50 disagrees here. Verse 20 states that '',You (Joseph's brothers) intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives". God's purposes are always good, and His ends are always good, but He often decrees that they come about in less than good ways. Does this detract from His goodness? Certainly not. Imagine an author writing their story; does it indicate evil on the part of an author for them to decide that the villain will do villainous things to drive the story forward? No, in fact, it serves in part to highlight the nature of justice and goodness when said villain receives the due penalty of their error. This analogy is imperfect (as all are), and if anything I believe it undersells the rift between God and His creation. 3. Predeterminism is gnostic - I've heard this alot actually, and it portrays a misunderstanding of both pre-determinism and gnosticism. The gnostics believe that ALL of the physical creation is evil and they paint the creator of the physical realm (the demiurge) as an evil God, out to trap the spirits in the physical realm out of jealousy. This is completely incompatible with any form of christianity (including reformed, or augustinian, or calvinist, whatever you'd like to call it), which states that in the beginning what God made was 'Very Good'. Honestly gnosticism is just, frankly, irrelevant to the discussion. 4. False Grace - Belief that you are saved is not the basis for salvation. Muslims believe they can be right with God, modern orthodox Jews believe they can be right with God. They are both wrong. Salvation is based on faith in the finished work of Christ on the cross, and if you are rejected by the Son on the last day it is because your faith is somewhere else. If someone wrongly believes themselves to be saved, then it is self-deception. God has made it abundantly clear in His word that Christ is the only way. 5. Predeterminism and free-will - This point trades on what it means for the will to be 'free'. Are there hyper-calvinists and cage-stagers that believe free-will to be entirely flase? yes. Are they wrong? Also yes. Our human will is absolutely free to do whatever we most desire. The only problem is that, in our fallen state, our desires inevitably point to sin. If left alone and unregenerate we would never desire God or choose His ways. Paul indicates as much in Romans 3:9-20. 6. God decrees evil for His glory - Yes, he does. I know you brought up Romans 8 already, but read just one chapter ahead to Romans 9; Paul answers this very objection. God is well within His right to create someone, knowing they will sin, for the purpose of displaying His holy wrath and justice, and to contrast and display His goodness and mercy at the same time. Is this sometimes unpalatable to our human sense of 'fairness'? Yes. Does that mean it is untrue? No, especially if it is explicitly clear in the word of God. 7. Augustine's manichean tendencies - Augustine was, for a time, a member of the manichean order. He repented of this and categorically rejected manicheanism, even becoming one of it's fiercest opponents and having a significant hand in it's defeat among the early christians. As regards his interaction with Pelagius it must be noted that Augustine was not alone in his denouncement of the man, it was a consensus of the African bishops at the time. It must also be noted that while Pelagius didn't hold the views commonly attributed to full 'pelagianism' today, he did have unorthodox views on the nature of human sinfulness, essentially denying any lasting effects of the fall on human nature. 8. Calvin and Servetus - Did Calvin have a part to play in the execution of Servetus? Yes, but it is often overemphasised. Calvin and Servetus had been at odds for many years before Servetus' final journey to Geneva, and for most of this Calvin was seeking to convert Servetus through dialogue and argumentation. The only point that I have found in Calvin's letters where he makes a threat against Servetus is one of his letters to Farel where he states that "I shall never permit him to depart alive, provided my authority be of any avail" here he is referencing his intention to hand Servetus over to the civil authorities in Geneva should Servetus come to the city (something Calvin explicitly warned against). It should be recognized that Calvin lived in a time where sacralism was the norm, and blasphemy/heresy crimes were regularly awarded the death penalty. Servetus had already been declared a heretic by those other than Calvin (in fact it was Calvin's biggest detractors that prosecuted Servetus, although Calvin played the part of a witness in the case), and any of the other reformers of his day would likely have done the same. I say all this not to acquit Calvin of guilt (the killing of heretics is a barbaric practice and has rightly been discontinued), but to give some historical context. Will Calvin need to confess his role in the incident on the final day? Yes, he will. But all of us will have much to confess when that glorious day comes. Again, apologies for the lengthy response. God bless, and I look forward to sharing with you in God's kingdom on the final day. *Minor edit: Grammar
3rd time in one video: I’m a calvinists, and I love the answer to question 7 too! Thank you for your kindness towards your calvinists brothers, Pastor Mike. Some of them are not very easy to love😂.
Hi Pastor Caleb, I'm always curious on how hard deterministic Calvinists are? (FYI, I grew up a Calvinist with that belief). Are you as deterministic as Calvin and Augustine were?
I don't know this guy's answer, but I think of it as a hallway. If you are at one end of a hall with no doors to the sides and want to go to the other end then going to that other end is still your choice even if it's the only choice you have. Alternately, do you think it's possible to sin in heaven? Scripture is pretty clear that it isn't right? So at the very least you are quite determinative in some form yourself as is every other Christian. Every person on earth freely does what they want, which is evil. The Bible says every inclination of our hearts is evil all the time. We all happily run down that hall by our own choice. Unless God intervenes and changes our hearts. It's because we are dead in our transgressions. Look how many times the Bible talks about our spiritual state as death, not sickness. Interestingly, many other cultures have no problem with predestination but have problems with the idea God loves and willingly cares for us. We are all products of our culture. In America, as well as some other countries, the idea of individual freedom bleeds into our theology and we treat that idea of freedom as what is most important.
I am glad that you clarified that our temptations aren't aleays demons or the devil either but that it is ourselves, so many Christians I know attribute anything and everything to demons or the devil or demonic activity, not that that never happens because it's clear that it does but the majority of the time, it's ourselves
Can yall please pray for the people of FBC Dallas. The historical sanctuary burned down yesterday. My heart is broken. I was raised and baptized at FBC. I had wonderful solid Bible based teaching there. I have only good memories of my upbringing in Christ because of First Baptist. Thank you for listening. Jennifer in Texas.
@@danielkim672 Thank you so much. I know it was just a building. I know that the Church is the body of Believers. I'm comforted by that. See you in Heaven, my friend.
@Mike Winger, I wholeheartedly agree with your take on modalism. I have friends who are modalists and are very godly and love Jesus, however, I attended some Oneness meetings in prison, and every sermon was about refuting trinitarianism. I think it just depends on the church. Thanks for the video, brother. By the way, my little brother just came back to Christ, and your videos played a big part in that. Keep up the good work!
I have never even heard of modalism until the last few years. I was raised in the UPCI organization a oneness pentecostal church until my mid. 40’s We called ourselves “Jesus only” oneness. When God lead me out of that organization. I wasn’t hurt by the church, I wasn’t offended, I just asked God if all this running around the building was all there was to this Christian life. I prayed that He’d give me wisdom, direction and His perspective. Less than a year later, my eyes were open and He gave me the strength to walk away. Thinking back, there was a song they used to sing. I don’t know who wrote it. But the few lyrics I remember said “I know who Jesus is I don’t know the other two” Hahahaha! Do they even listen to what comes out of their mouths when they read the Bible? Because God and Holy spirit are all throughout the Word. I’m so grateful that His still small voice crashed through my chaos. ❤️
The blasphemy in that lyric is astonishing even for a oneness church. My sister is apart of that belief and would never say that. The sprinting through the building and screeching and stuff though i dont understand at all.
@@kishredbird3599 I was third generation of my family in that organization so all that was normal to me. Looking back, not so much! We would never say there’s no Father or Holy Ghost, but like Mike said, they harp on oneness and how we weren’t “like those other churches”
I ALMOST started going to a church from that organization and the Lord led me away. He had to correct a lot of hyper charismatic ideas I had which is why I wanted to go there and not the Salvation Army. But that’s where God led me and I had to learn a lot of hard lessons and learn to read the Bible for myself
I always love your podcasts. You are thorough and don’t speak too fast. You are well organized. You are easy to listen to and have a nice voice. You enunciate your words well, not stammering. I like how you give the time stamps for each Q&A. I wish you could have your kitty cat (forgot her name) on more, but I think you said one time she’s a little shy being there for the podcast.
Yep. He comes across as insanely bitter. My family isn't Christian but they don't act like this. Reminds me of those "God doesn't exist and I hate Him!" people.
Most of his content is etymology related, which makes that particular video seem like just a tantrum rant. He got completely roasted in the comments and the videos I’ve seen since that one have been back to the old interesting stuff.
Winged Wisdom Mike Winger, wing-a-ling thinker, Heaven-bound with heart sincere. Bible open, truth’s own seeker, Grace and fate in faith appear. Calvin's call and free will’s measure, Mercy, love, in God's embrace. Discernment's light, prophetic treasure, In His word, he finds his place. Facing atheists' hard assertions, Deists' doubts in reason's name. Good and evil's stark diversions, Light and dark in endless flame. Truth and lies in cosmic dance, Hot and cold in faith’s expanse. Teacher’s voice with wisdom strong, Guiding hearts where they belong. Mercy, love, and faith’s desire, Prophecy that lifts us higher. Wing-a-ling, with spirit bright, In the journey, finds the light.
Love ❤ and truth, wisdom now ,Here is a prophecy to live by Read the Bible and do not follow men, pray without ceasing and be obey Jesus Christ so He will ssy well done good and faithful servant. God Bless, stay humble
AI assisted. I heard Mike mention Wing-a-Ling and couldn't resist. Winged Wisdom Mike Winger, wing-a-ling thinker, Heaven-bound with heart sincere. Bible open, truth’s own seeker, Grace and fate in faith appear. Calvin's call and free will’s measure, Mercy, love, in God's embrace. Discernment's light, prophetic treasure, In His word, he finds his place. Facing atheists' hard assertions, Deists' doubts in reason's name. Good and evil's stark diversions, Light and dark in endless flame. Truth and lies in cosmic dance, Hot and cold in faith’s expanse. Teacher’s voice with wisdom strong, Guiding hearts where they belong. Mercy, love, and faith’s desire, Prophecy that lifts us higher. Wing-a-ling, with spirit bright, In the journey, finds the light.
Wow! Again, I believe in a form of cessation, and I endorse 100% of Pastor Mike’s answer to question 6. “Please don’t let it be because of this verse.” AMEN!
Thank you for all your videos Mike!! I found you during the lock downs, you have encouraged me since then. I think it’s safe to say you will never know how much that has meant.. at least on this side of heaven!!
57:46. I'm so glad you talked about this topic! When you read the question I leaned forward and said yes! I'd pondered a lot about these verses and agree 100%! Yes we sin first in our hearts, and then, having harbored the thought enough it will go into action. What a oneness with the Father must Jesus have had in order not ever to sin in his heart! He COULDN'T BARE TO DESIRE WHAT HIS FATHER ABHORRED!!! If you find yourself desiring in your heart you're sinning ( and probably never going to be hearing Mike😂😂), and your heart is already far from the Father's heart. I've experienced it!
I am so glad you mentioned the Bigs thing, I'd never heard of him until the day after the attempt. I couldn't believe how quickly people jumped on the bandwagon with that joker. Looking forward to the video. 😊
When addressing natural disasters like the tornadoes in NY, I think it's good to bring up the fallen nature of creation that occurred when sin entered. We deal with many hardships in life because creation is groaning.
Regarding the tornado question, I think this verse addresses it directly: Amos 3:6 NKJV If a trumpet is blown in a city, will not the people be afraid? If there is calamity in a city, will not the LORD have done it?
Thank you so much for your answer to number 4. Your exact advice, praying when temptation hits, helped me conquer my lust issues. I found I couldn't give in when I was in direct communication with the Lord. I really liked how you explained that yielding to the temptation in our hearts is the birth of sin. That is so helpful as I think about how to fight sin in my life.
Dear Mike, my husband and I love your 20 questions and how you teach us to think Biblically! We are Seventh-day Adventists and I would just like to bring to your attention Hebrews 4, all about Sabbath rest, please let the Holy Spirit guide you. Thank you and thank God for your ministry! Jp 4:35pm
Observing the Sabbath is great, but that is not a 'requirement' in terms of a strict way to observe. Please continue to study Scripture fully and openly. Romans 14:5. Colossians 2:16-17.
Anyone remember the young man who claimed birds don't exist who then then admitted it was a prank just to see how many followers he would get. We must get better at shutting off someone who starts to spew nonsense. Can't give energy to such things.
@@BaconPizzaWaffles I know you weren’t talking to me. But I have 100000% met a few people that genuinely think that birds aren’t real. They do REALLY exist. It’s crazy….
@@LydiajareauI do not believe there is any proposition so absurd, that no human being could believe it. There are numberless absurd propositions that no human beings believe, but they are wholly disbelieved not _because_ they are too absurd. Humans are passing strange.
Hi Mike. Very helpful and thoughtful video. Thank you and bless you. Re. Republican party positions changing on moral topics, welcome to our world of politics in UK! None of our political parties support life or biblical marriage. We have to make very difficult voting choices as Christians in this country. Nothing as clear as you have enjoyed in the past. 🙏🙏🙏
On natural disasters, determinism, i appreciate how you did delve into the issue of fear of God. God set the boundries of the sea, the paths of lightning, if he widthdrew his breath all flesh would die. Fear of the Lord should be true, real fear. Not merely respect one has for father's, who many mock and belittle or ignore. Or for police and law which people now violate and rebel. But for death. Do not fear that which destroys the body, but that which casts you into the outer darkness. To the wailing and gnashing of teeth.
Mike, thank you for covering the topic of “Modalism”, Jesus-Only doctrine, and speaking in tongues. Helpful for many considering the UPCI denomination.
💌 I had ask the Lord about “the one Unpardonable Sin” which is blasphemy of the Holy Spirit, and my discernment went to the direction of a simple answer that the unpardonable Sin is when people deny the Bible I.e the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
I’m a born again Christian. And I’m also an alcoholic. I don’t know what to do with my sin. The bible tells me I won’t inherit the kingdom of heaven. It becomes easy to look upon my works as a means of justification in place of my damning faults.
That verse is a law verse to point us to our need for Jesus. A Christian who truly trusts that Christ's death on the cross has paid for their sins (past & present...100%!) will still go to heaven when they get drunk. But a born-again believer will have the Holy Spirit sanctifying them and helping them to hate that sin. The Spirit will drive them further to the end of themselves to where they will humble themselves enough to seek out recovery.... confess to the world that they are ruled over by alcohol and need help. There is hope for freedom from addiction!
I’m so sorry you have this hard struggle. ❤ When you want a drink, do you pray in the moment or do you keep Jesus out of your mind so that you can have your drink? I’ve experienced freedom from an addiction and for a long time when the desire came on strong I wouldn’t pray in the moment, but I’d just give into it. Prayer truly is the weapon that helped me overcome it and now I’ve been free of the sinful desire for a couple years, praise the Lord! Jesus will give you the grace needed in the moment, if you yield your desire to Him in prayer. Every time the desire comes, pray immediately and ask Him to take the desire from you. “Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” Hebrews 4:14-16 ESV
Do not deny the power of Jesus, not that you are but know this that there is freedom in the name of Jesus! He said “come to me all who are burdened and heavy laden and I will give you rest” He also says that all authority in heaven and earth has been given to Him so in His mighty name you can overcome the addiction but I would advise using the spiritual weapons He has given to us such as James where is says “submit to God, resist the devil and he will flee from you draw near to God and He will draw near to you, be wretched and mourn and weep let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom humble yourself before the Lord and He will exalt you.” This is saying He gives us the strength to overcome we don’t have the ability to but He does and He also says be holy as I am Holy and today when you hear His voice do not harden your heart as they did in the rebellion
1 Corinthians 10:13 There hath no temptation taken hold of you but such as is common to man. But God is faithful; He will not suffer you to be tempted beyond that which ye are able to bear, but with the temptation will also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
Well brother, your saved you accepted Jesus free gift of salvation and just trust and believe fully in him.. Prayer prayer prayer I prayed for years to be rescued from my drug addiction and He did! It was in a way I didn't expect or like but I have my life back sin of drugs still bugs me occasionally but I can't enjoy the high anymore I carefully drink I'm moderation and fully trust God not AA NA it helps some but to me it's a hypocritical cult God deserves 💯 the glory. Much love in Christ
24:01 12-step folks call this acting "in" instead of acting out. It's making a choice to imagine doing something sinful without doing it externally. It's lusting instead of committing adultery. Both acting in and acting out fail to resist temptation. Our Calvinist brothers and sisters deal with this issue from a different theological framework and, thus, come to a different conclusion about temptation and sin.
Which comes first, GTA 6, Half-Life 3, or the fabled Mike Winger Hebrews series? Only God knows... Really though looking forward to it. All your in-between projects have been great too, but there's something special about digging into one particular book and studying it deeply. Keep up the great work 👍
🇹🇹 I'm so looking forward to your breakdown of Brandon Biggs' "prophecy" I told my boys ( I have 2sons) and spoke to them about the stuff that he got wrong, they were like "meh" I had to tell them they need to raise their standard of prophecy, in the old days everything the prophets said was always accurate otherwise they'd be stoned. They ( My sons) go to a church that is very into this type of "prophecy" it's used as a tool not for good
I don't know Abraham Piper or his situation, but I honestly wonder why he feels this urge to be at war with his family. I can't imagine the heartache he is causing for his parents and his brothers and sisters.
35:00 Q4 When I'd been married about 25 years, I saw this guy in the band at church. He got in my head. I never did speak to him, but the sin looked like trying to figure out his name via SM. Then, looking at his SM. I tried to sanitize it by praying for him and his family. But he was taking up space in my head rent free. I think most women don't usually lust in the same way mean do. It's mostly just obsessing. Wondering what the person is like etc. I tried to fight it through making him a bad person in my mind, like imaging him to be shallow or opposite my political beliefs, etc. Then I'd catch myself and try to pull myself together, "None of this matters. We're both married. It's not relevant!!!" But ALL OF THAT. Six years approx of head games needed to be slain 6 years prior. I should have taken every thought captive, fasted and prayed, and slain the dragon. I share all this per chance anyone else is stuck in this cycle. I was the one who thought I'd never be tempted. Thank God we had no personal interaction, but it didn't have to go on like that either.
I appreciate your honesty in sharing and your gained wisdom. ❤ I share this, maybe not for you, but for others reading. My experience is that the fastest way for me to be relieved of a sinful thought is to ask Jesus to take it from me. Something about coming to Him honestly with the desire takes it away from me immediately, at least in the moment. I believe bc in the act of praying to Him about it, I am sincerely choosing to give it up and He provides the grace necessary in the moment. And if the desire comes up again, I can ask Him again. “Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” Hebrews 4:14-16 ESV
@@seaglass.jen86 That passage actually gives the solution that I offered. An important part in receiving mercy is by forgiving others. The line after the Lord's prayer: "14 For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:"
Thank you Jim Kennedy for your reply to Sabbath rest. Jesus did say "if you love me, keep my commandments" The 4th commandment says 6 days you should work but the 7th day rest and keep the 8th day holy.
LOL that you mentioned D Wood for question 6 and in the bonus Q. gave a Star Trek reference 😂😂😂 Praying blessings for you and DW's too. Glad that the two of you can have silly banter as brothers in Christ. 🙂👍🏼🙏
Regarding Q10, I go to a Pentecostal church and their view is that the baptism of the Holy Spirit is something later than salvation. Baptism of Holy Spirit and receiving the Holy Spirit are not the same
Some people have really challenging children. Francis Schaeffer's son, Frank Schaeffer, has been very challenging, although Edith was a saint and handled it with grace. Billy Graham has some challenging children, including Frankllin. I've had a couple of difficult children, but I'm close enough to the situation to know my contributions to the difficulties.
@@RCGWho thanks Franklin has been a successor to his father all my life . I do understand from psychology that people have different personalities. But I know these giants had a heart for God and am surprised they had trouble at home
I feel honored that my question (#3) was picked. However, I still struggle with this question. People always connect faith to works. But pretty much all faithful men and women still sin from time to time. When is it sinning within the faith and when is it a sign of not having enough faith? So if I have one orange on my branches, I automatically have proved to be an orange tree? If I have one of the fruits of the Spirit, then there is my proof of having the Spirit? And what if I don't have the others? Then there is the proof that my faith isn't there? Where do we draw the line? Well, you could say if it is not a habit. When you sin as an exception on the rule. Well, when is it still an exception and when does it become a rule? So again, I do not believe that there is a single work that could help us to get into heaven. You could say that works are simply not a currency for Heaven. But when I read the Bible it seems clear to me that God still holds a certain standard for entering his Kingdom. Would love to hear your thoughts.
I don’t know if you meant mikes or just anyone’s, but I’d like to say I’ve thought about the same thing. I tend to think it’s about what you’re devoted to. Like a “which would I go more out of my way for, God, or sin?” Kind of thing. Which one reigns in your life. Do you walk by the spirit and struggle with the flesh or do you walk in the flesh and struggle with the spirit? I know that’s not very specific, but I’m not sure there is a specific answer. You just have to trust that Jesus sacrifice on the cross was enough to save, and do your best to love Him from there. Not doing sin isn’t about doing what God wants, it’s about loving Him through your actions. “If you love me, you will keep my commandments” John 14:32 And it’s not just most or almost all Christians that sin, it is all of us. No one is without sin except God alone. We will struggle with the flesh until we are free of it. I hope this stuff helps some, but I’m just a kid on the internet. I pray your journey and relationship with God grows and gives healthy fruit all your life.
@@HoldToChrist It absolutely helps. First of all, because it feels like it is ok to wonder about this. People get so agressive nowadays when you so much as brainstorm about the work aspect. The Bible often talks about works being part of faith, and obedience being part of entering the Kingdom. But somehow you are only allowed to use the word faith or you are putting yourself immediately out of the power of Grace.
The problem is there are so many people who are not good students as well as stewards of the scriptures. You are correct in stating the Bible commands/demands the true follower of Christ to obediently perform what Christ commanded. Without that obedience, a person cannot gain eternal life. John 3:36 - the one who does not obey the son shall not see life. We can take one command from Christ that extended to all disciples. Matthew 28:19-20 - GO…make disciples…teach the (next) disciples to obey everything I have commanded you… Now the word “GO,” is not a suggestion. Jesus is commanding his disciples to GO and make more disciples. After making more disciples teach them to observe everything Jesus commands. Well, what did Jesus just command them to do? “GO and make disciples…” This was a perpetual WORK that resulted in continuously making more and more disciples. It was so effective that Paul made this statement: Colossians 1:23 - “…This gospel has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and I, Paul, have become a servant of it” This letter is understood to have been written between 60-62 AD. Paul asserted the gospel had been proclaimed “in all creation under heaven.” To make that statement in less than 30 years after Christ's death, resurrection, and ascension indicates Jesus’ TRUE followers were OBEDIENT diligent hard WORKers for the gospel ministry even while being mercilessly persecuted by Rome, the Sanhedrin, and Jewish religious leaders. Acts 5:40-42 Acts 6:15-7:60 Acts 22:24-30
I feel like a good place to look is the scripture that states it’s by faith alone and not by works so let’s look at that really quick to fully analyze what we have “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” Ephesians 2:8-9 With this we can rip it out of context or we can put it back and see what it really says “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” Ephesians 2:8-10 ESV I would like to point out that with this it still isn’t even in its full context but we are already seeing that Christ Jesus prepares us for good works “among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ-by grace you have been saved- and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” Ephesians 2:3-10 ESV In order to get the full context you would have to read the entire letter to the Ephesians because Paul wrote it as one continuous letter and not as chapters and verses but when you put it into context you can see they were horrible people just as we are because if you commit one sin you are under judgement so we are now free from sin and saved from death and not under the enslavement of sin where before we were in chains to sin now we are free from sin not being sinless but not being controlled by it. I think a fantastic passage to reference is “My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world. And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments. Whoever says “I know him” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him: whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.” 1 John 2:1-6 And with this you can clearly see we are not supposed to sin “but” “if” anyone does then we have an advocate, I highly recommend reading 1 John slowly from chapter 1-5 if the issue of sin and works is one that bothers you. We have no righteousness none at all but if we look to Christ as our righteousness then we become righteous not through works of the law but works of love and obedience. Hope this makes sense love you and may the grace mercy and peace of God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ be with you forever and ever. Amen! (Let it be so)
God has given us a standard of what is good and right and holy. But our faith in God is what allows us to see what is good and right and holy. When we can finally see it through our faith, we can produce it. It’s not as if God is looking for our perfection in not sinning, but perfection in our posture towards the truth, do we love and seek after the truth/Him? Or do we love and seek after anything else (sin)
I more so identify with the idea of modalism, so I’m always pumped when my theology is brought up (even if it’s being disagreed with 😅). I was actually challenged by the fact that Mike said that modalists focus so much energy on proving Oneness. I agree that we should be seeking to know the fullness of His nature as the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, especially since it’s such a complex idea. I’m still looking into the 3-fold identity of God cuz I’ve still got some reservations, but I’m just excited to have serious conversations that actually lead to healthy discussion in brotherly love. Thank you!
Hi Mike! Been watching your content for a while, wanted to say a quick thanks to you and your ministry for the edification it’s brought. By the Holy Spirit’s guiding and with the help of your teaching, I’ve learned to teach with salt and my family is starting to come around to Christ. I do have a question that I feel ill equipped to answer that would be perfect for a good ‘ole Mike Winger deep dive. The Mithras cult. People claim Christianity is based on it, I know that’s sketchy at best, but I’m also sketchy on the details of it. Thank you!
Regarding question 4, sometimes prayer is not the best initial response to temptation. When a temptation enters your mind praying on it may actually cause you to dwell on the temptation. Instead of feeling like you have to pray when temptation hits you just let the temptation roll off your back. Ignore it and let your mind move on to other things. Then you’ll forget the temptation.
Or rebuking the temptation not by dwelling on it saying it needs to go and saying that until it leaves but quoting scriptures like “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me-practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.” Philippians 4:8-9 ESV And this one “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom.” James 4:7-9 ESV Just a thought
Thank you Mike for your ministry. My question to you regarding question 6 is this; Would you say that there is a distinction between the Old Testament office of the Prophet and the New Testament gift of prophecy? For example, Miriam prophesies in the OT, Is she is a prophet in the same sense that Moses, Elijah, and Isaiah… are prophets? I think that was the heart of the issue in this question.
I have the same question. OT prophets vs NT prophesy. I believe in the current gift of prophesy bc it’s spoken of in the NT, but should someone be called a prophet now, as a special title? I lean toward no, but tbh I need to do more biblical digging.
@seaglass.jen86 I was taught that there is the office of a Prophet like Samuel or David. Then there's the gift of prophesy which is encouragement, edification, and comfort rather than predictions and rebukes that Big P Prophets give.
Miriam clearly defined as a prophet. Defining prophet in the Old Testament one could look at it as an office, but it is a person chosen by God through whom God speaks through. There are many prophets that are in the OT that are not well known like Moses, Elijah etc, but there were prophets nonetheless. John the Baptist was the last prophet before Jesus Christ, the final Prophet. THere is no one identified as a 'prophet' in the New Testament. Due to the fact Christians now have a direct relationship with God and that God resides in us directly, there are no need for prophets. THe Holy SPirit works through believers directly to do the will of the Father. There are 2 types of prophecies. Foretelling and Forthtelling. We all as believers do the Forthtelling part everyday in sharing the good news of the Gospel and Scripture. These are the Words of God we are speaking. Foretelling, future prophecy or revelation from God directly, that is the other one. Although the roles are different the qualities will remain the same in the OT and NT on foretelling prophecy. Primary meaning in that if it is direct from God, IT WILL NEVER BE WRONG.
10 there are two experiences of the Holy Spirit: 1) the salvific experience of receiving the Holy Spirit, and 2) the empowering experience of the Holy Spirit in the baptism of the Holy Spirit; empowerment for the purpose of your calling
39:00 I believe God can and does intervene in weather patterns and geological events all the time. If you're a calvinist, you believe He plans every moment. Others believe He steps in when He wants to. It can be judgment, but unless you're a true prophet, I wouldn't make proclamations about individual catastrophes.
Being "tempted by Satan" is like a fisherman/woman casting a baited lure into the water. Acting upon a temptation (sin) is like when the fish takes the bait, condemning itself.
On Modalism, I've always felt its a bit too harsh to call such things "heresy". Because it's really just an inaccurate semantic take on the Trinity. Not a denial of it (nor of the divinity of any of the members of the Trinity). From my perspective, Modalism is as "wrong" as Calvanism or Young Earth Creationism or transubstantiation of the Eucharist, or the supremacy of the King James version of the Bible or people that sprinkle instead of dunk. I don't think fellow believers I disagree with on any of those issues are damned, we just disagree on some (often minor and unimportant) aspect of theology. And calling such things "heresy" is elevating them to the level of "if you believe this you are not a Christian". Which is a bridge too far. Furthermore, I don't believe the human mind is truly capable of fully "understanding" the Trinity any more than we can truly understand the 4th dimension (even though we have the means of explaining it from a theoretical mathematics standpoint) and as such even people that are "correct" in their description of the Trinity really shouldn't be lording it over those that aren't.
Regarding question 4: I find Dante’s explanation of how we love in the Purgatorio to be really interesting in this regard. If we allow something past our human reason and into contact with our soul, our soul may fall in love with it. So we should use our reason and will to guard our souls from being entranced by sinful desires. A really unique way of looking at it I think.
9:36 Brandon Biggs has made several prophecies on behalf of John, as if God was the one speaking that had an actual deadline which we have passed. According to God’s own words when a profit prophesies, and it does not happen, they are not a prophet of God.
Pastor Mike. There aren’t just two sides of the whole temptation issues you are talking about. There is the side that says the temptation appears but not until you entertain that temptation and allow it to lead you does it become a sin. In other words if a single person sees another and there is a desire or attraction that could lead to sin, that isn’t the beginning of that sin. It is the temptation. The moment that man entertains the desire for the other man or woman for that matter, that is the beginning of sin. Just like king David had a moment to not sin and turn away from looking at Bathsheba on that roof top. And just like Jesus says if it is thought and entertained in your mind you have already committed adultery. This was taught to us as singles before marriage but how could it not be the same example for all sin?
For Temptation and James, I would say the Temptation stems from desire, but when that desire creates a seed of action, that then becomes sin. And any following desire action is still sin. I believe intent to act is a requirement.
Here's a follow-up question to number 10: how did the men who had visions of Heaven, such as John, understand what the Heavenly being were saying? Were they speaking in the language John already knew? Was he given the ability to understand the Heavenly language as part of his vision? Or is the language of Heaven one that you naturally have the ability to understand (no learning process needed)?
My own thought on 'What Language will we speak?' in the restored creation, is one we don't now know, but contains all the best ELEMENTS of every language that has EVER been spoken on Earth. Each human tongue has things that it is good at and things that are difficult to express. English has the reputation of being a 'Jack of all Trades, Master of None.' Which in itself IS an advantage, but I've always appreciated how Greek has a superior way of expressing love in a single word, that requires multiple words in English to get the same idea across. (Of course I'm referring to Storge, Agape, Phileo & Eros) There are Eskimo Languages that have dozens of different words for all the various kinds of Snow there is, for example. So, whatever we will be speaking, it will be the clearest, most efficient and most BEAUTIFUL words possible.
Considering the Holy Spirit is omnipresent, the language describing the Holy Spirits location(whether in/on/around, filled, departed, etc.), is more about what that language signifies than it is trying to pin him down in our understanding of time and space.
I'm very much looking forward to your video on Brandon Biggs. He has been on my radar for a year after I saw that when I asked questions like, "But what is the biblical relevance of this message?" and got my questions deleted. It was pure fear mongering and blatant lies ...and I really did not like seeing all the comments praising him and obviously believing him. He really is a dangerous man, and his following has grown at a scary pace over the past year and a half. Thank you for what you do. May God continue to bless and guide you, as you remain faithful to the Truth. ✝️🙏🏼💜💕
What is the biblical relevance to this message is SUCH a good question to ask for any “prophet” or vision. Cause it shows immediately the “truth” behind it. If it isn’t pointing to Jesus and the gospel, it’s false. Thank you for this 😊
It’s funny how people who call themselves Christians are so fearful of the gifts of the spirit. Bible says to test the spirit. It’s sad how Christian Pharisees who think they are doing good are doing that the actual Pharisees did to Jesus. Disturbing. Not every person who calls themselves a prophet is true but don’t throw the baby out with the bath water. When genuine Christians feel the Lord is telling them to share what God is speaking it is Gods mercy that he even offers us this warning heads up. Modern day Christian Pharisees are jealous that they don’t have this gift for some reason when they shouldn’t be they should just hold onto It until the time is fulfilled. Brandon hears from God I believe. I’ve watched him for over a year and his heart seems to be in the right place.
That last question (from a ten year old!?) was really insightful! Personally, I refer back to when the Holy Spirit first fell on Peter. He spoke, and everyone understood him in their own tongue. Thus, I'm of the opinion that in Heaven, it'll be the same. We'll just speak, and be understood.
I can't say I fully agree with Mike about temptation. Was Jesus tempted because there was some evil desire within himself? I'm definitely not saying I have a great answer for it, only that his answer doesn't satisfy me.
Listen again, carefully. That wasnt Mike's answer. When one LINGER'S on the temptation and does not reject it immediately, that's when sin has been birthed is what his conclusion is.
It is good to know there are two different schools of thought on this. I am on the fence between the two. One that Jesus had impulses (or desires) to do wrong but always chose right seemingly backed by, "For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin." And the other school of thought which believes that, because Jesus is God, He never had a desire to sin. I am currently caught between the two beliefs but lean towards the first, hoping this helps you in some way and that God will highlight the true reality as we strive to know Him more and more.
Gosh, on your point about Pentecostalism I always begin to burn internally. I have been born into and raised in Pentecostalist churches and when I was a kid I was outright told (right in front of my grieving parents) that I was going to go to hell when I died because I didn't speak in tongues. The reason they told me that? Because my mom brought me to the pastors because when she asked why I didn't I said it didn't make sense to me. 25 years later and now I'm deep into Scripture and on fire for our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, I've never once spoken in an unknown tongue, and I have a personal crusade to shed light on the Pentecostal churches to show the error in their ways. It brings me a burning fury when I hear churches preach nothing but gifts but not accepting counter questions like a wife hearing someone speak foul of her husband as I should, being in the church who is the bride of Christ. I have been to several Pentecostal churches in my youth and even afterwards and there's ALWAYS some commonality among them: they misuse the gift of tongues in Scripture (they are for the non-believer to hear the Gospel of Christ crucified and resurrected), they tell you that everyone who is saved speaks in tongues and if it's not speaking then it's a prayer language (nowhere in Scripture is there a "prayer language"), and/or they're just micro Benny Hinn/Kenneth Copeland esque ministries looking for tithes and offerings basing their ministry off people "feeling drunk off the Spirit". I have never seen anything outside of those three and not a single one is biblical and will vehemently defend their stance when they quote Paul saying "whether I speak in tongues or men or tongues of angels" when he just very specifically told the church in Corinth to STOP attempting to speak in the tongues of angels and the context in Greek where he says that is equal to "whether you hear me speak in tongues you know or unknown tongues (languages you've never heard before)". I only know this because I've prayed and mourned since I was a child honestly seeking God and not being able to speak these "tongues" my churches told me I should as someone saved. When I sought an answer the verses saying the church should not be speaking them were always standing out to me. Watch me get lambasted in the replies with exactly what I said people would try to defend "tongues" with. And if you can put this much effort in defending your false "tongues", how much effort do you actually (not what you wish you did) put in preaching the Gospel of Christ and Him crucified?
Question 3: Confusion over this issues seems to stem, at least in part, from the way we talk about salvation. If by salvation, we mean being spared eternal separation from God, this does not happen the moment of your confession of faith. That happens the moment you pass from this life into eternity. But if by salvation we mean, we have been adopted by God, and freed from sin then yes, that happens when you confess your faith. In either case, these are finished works from God's point of view. He knows who belongs to him. Something made clear from scripture is that, if we belong to Him, we will bear fruit. "A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit." (Matthew 7:18) Those who belong to Christ are good trees. Those who do not, are diseased trees. Good works are fruit, not root. Thanks Mike!
I honestly hope that we won’t all speak the same language in heaven. As a linguist and a language teacher, I can’t think of anything even remotely as fascinating as languages. While a common language would make sense, I really really hope you’re wrong on this one and that instead of speaking a common language, we’ll be able to learn all languages that have ever existed. That would be so cool.
Languages are awesome for sure but if Adam and Eve had not sinned, there would only be one language. The sins of humans in Babel resulted in the confusion of different languages. There is a good chance the new heavens and new earth, we are back to how God originally intended Eden to be
