Ask a Bible Teacher

Repenting On Behalf Of Our Nation

Published: March 25, 2024
Q

May I ask you to help me understand something? I follow several prayer groups praying for our nation. They all include the phrase, “Repent on behalf of our nation.” May I ask how we repent on behalf of another or for that matter a nation? I do pray that the Holy Spirit will do His work and convict the citizens of this nation of our sins. But, apart from that, I don’t understand how we can repent for our nation. Seems to me that is an individual responsibility.


The Perfect Healing

Published: March 25, 2024
Q

My friend’s very elderly mother lost her husband last year and has now being diagnosed with lymphoma in her face. I mentioned this to my pastor and he led our congregation in prayers for her speedy recovery from this dreadful condition. It was all could do not to leap out of my seat and protest that none of her family wants her to recover. She is 86 years old and worn out with grief from caring for and then losing her lifelong partner. Recovery from this disease will only leave her waiting for another disease to take her, because, after all, no amount of prayer is going to turn the clock back and make her life span indefinite.

Is it wrong to pray for someone to die quickly from a condition, to pray that they don’t have to suffer the horrors of chemotherapy pushed upon them by ‘wellmeaning’ doctors? Are we required always to pray for people to recover from possibly terminal disease even if it means they will be left deformed and crippled? It seems so illogical – almost contrary. Why is it that even really solid Christians still seem to think that dying is the worst thing that can happen to a person, when it seems to me to be the start of REAL life?

Please put me straight before I say something and upset someone!!


The Dangers Of Dispensationalism

Published: March 22, 2024
Q

I have been visiting your site for some time now and have thoroughly enjoyed it. Recently I received an email from the Reformation Book Store. They were advertising a book on the dangers of dispensationalism. It says that this belief causes confusion about how to pray for our Nation and the world because we believe the Bible predicts what will happen and there is nothing we can do about it, so why pray? I have to admit that I feel confused about this too. When we read that “there will be perilous times” why should we pray for wise leaders? What do you say about this subject?


Is God For Us Or For Himself?

Published: March 22, 2024
Q

I recently read an article, which was called “Is God for us or for Himself?” The author concluded that God mainly and ultimately is for Himself. He holds His own glory in the highest regard and evangelical Christians deceive themselves with the notion that they are the apple of His eye so to speak. Everything that God did and all that Jesus went through was solely for His own glory that is the dearest to Him. We delude ourselves to think otherwise.


What Manner Of Healing?

Published: March 22, 2024
Q

A woman at our church, who was the leader of the Prayer Ministry, was diagnosed with a terminally ill disease. She requested prayer from her family, friends and church members to pray for her healing. She believed the many scriptures that tell us God is the Healer.

Many people were indeed praying for and standing on the scripture/promises of God’s word for healing. But many were praying that God would take her home. If all who were praying for her were born again believers, how does God answer the prayers of all those who were praying for the same woman in different ways?


Is Anointing With Oil Proper?

Published: March 21, 2024
Q

There are a lot of pastors who dip their finger in some holy oil and then lay hands on people. This oil is sold and advertised on TV. The Bible says we have to pray and heal the sick in the name of Jesus only. When the use of oil is questioned, these pastors answer by saying in the book of James 5:14 we are instructed to lay hands on the sick and anoint them with oil. Is this verse being applied correctly? Does the usage of oil in this verse have supernatural effect or medicinal effect?


Three Men Named James

Published: March 21, 2024
Q

Was Jesus’ half-brother, James, one of the original 12 apostles? Paul mentions James in Galatians 1 as being an established apostle early on in Paul’s ministry; but which James is he in the list of the original 12 if indeed he was one of them?


More On OSAS And Unanswered Prayer

Published: March 21, 2024
Q

Here’s another follow-up to “OSAS And Unanswered Prayer.”

You listed four things that you believe can prevent believers from being delivered from their afflictions, putting a very fine point on the issue:

1. Lack of faith, 2. Unconfessed sins, 3. Subconscious feelings that we deserve to be afflicted, 4. Secret desire to remain where we are.

My questions are these:

1. If we have a subconscious feeling that we deserve to be afflicted, does God hold this against us? (if so, why?). Your answer seems to imply this.

2. If we are held responsible for things of which we are not conscious, how do we recognize this and “repent” of it?

This is a very serious set of questions for me as I am very introspective, know I cannot fully understand what’s going on inside me, so it would seem that I am doomed to a life of (mostly) unanswered prayer.


Curses On Buildings Or Land

Published: March 20, 2024
Q

Thank you for this opportunity to ask you questions, I value your wisdom.

My question is: There is a teaching that on some buildings and land there are curses because of the activities that have been carried out on the site, and these must be lifted by ‘spiritual warfare’ type prayer (applying the blood of Jesus etc). What is the Biblical position on this for New Covenant believers? Thank you.


Does God Hear The Sinner’s Prayer?

Published: March 20, 2024
Q

If the Bible says in John 9:31 that Gods does not hear sinners then where does it say that He hears our prayer for forgiveness and acceptance of Jesus as Lord and Savior?