I have a question about the Holy Spirit being given at Pentecost. If the apostles received the Holy Spirit on that day, what did they receive when Jesus breathed on them in John 20:22 before His ascension? I am confused about these two events.

When will the people who believed in Jesus- ( disciples, ones that Jesus did miracles for/to and they believed) be caught up for their first resurrection? Are they part of the Old Testament saints but in the New Testament of scripture? If the church doesn’t begin until Pentecost in Acts 2- and Jesus had died, was resurrected, ascended, and was glorified- I just can’t figure out where those believers that walked with Him during His time would fit in!

Where in the Bible does it say Moses was up the mountain 40 days (I thought it did but cannot find it) The thing I am trying to figure out is that Pentecost is 50 (or 49) from the Passover (?) and signifies when Moses went UP the mountain. So if the Passover is on the last night they were in Egypt and Moses going up Mount Sinai refers to Pentecost – How come it was 3 months (90 days) EX 19:1 – to the very day that they arrived at Mount Sinai and not 50 (49) days ? How does that all tie in?

I believe God gives words to people to encourage and to help and maybe to warn. I just didn’t think he has done so with me, until this last week. I felt the need to pray and write the prayer to an evangelist. It was a specific word for them. I did not receive a reply or comment on my word. It involved healing. Is there any way to confirm that a word was from the Lord, if the other side does not confirm it? Was this a false prophecy and was I listening to the wrong side? Please, any information regarding receiving a word from the Lord would be helpful.

Re: Matt. 9:16-17. I understand the literal meaning of these verses but don’t understand the point Jesus was making in the context of the chapter. Could you shed some light on this please?

1 Corinthians 2:14 says, “But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.” Could you help me to understand this in greater depth? I gather from this verse that unbelievers (those not born again) who do not have the guidance of the holy spirit reject the word of God or simply don’t understand it. Following this trend of thought, is it only believers who can understand the word of God? How then do unbelievers become believers if they cannot understand the things or word of God?

I know you said that you believe all Children under the age of accountability will go in the Rapture, but is it not possible that God, who knows when we are still in the womb whether or not we will accept or reject his gift of salvation through Jesus, would take the children that he knows would have accepted, and leave the ones he knows were going to grow up to reject Jesus, to take all children it would seem very likely that he would be taking children that were going to grow to reject Christ.

As parents of two young children (ages 10 & 7), we are seeking guidance on the best way to introduce our children to communion. Our family does not attend a brick & mortar church weekly. Instead, we choose to worship together each day, so thankful for the gift of salvation that God gave us through His son, Jesus Christ.

In a recent answer (Maximum Trial, Maximum Grace) you wrote, “That doesn’t mean that we’ll be relieved of the consequences of our actions, but that God will make something good come out of it.”

Does that mean what you said a few times in your teachings, that God turns our lost battles into blessings? Does that mean that no matter how bad and huge my losses are, the Lord in His mercy is willing to make them the “beginning” of something so good what is able to richly negate, compensate them?

Thank you for your articles. I appreciate them very much. There is something I would like your opinion on. The church I attend celibrates communion about every two weeks.What I find disturbing is they use normal leavened bread. Doesn’t this indicate a sinful body of Christ which is terrible? Is not this a continuation or fulfillment of Passover and as set up by Christ shouldn’t we at least be using unleavened bread? Please correct me if I am wrong.