Ask a Bible Teacher

What Does It Mean To Fear The Lord?

Published: November 29, 2015
Q

My question concerns fearing the Lord. What exactly does that mean ? I have Christian friends that say we should “fear the Lord” or “fear God”. Some go so far as to say, they are afraid of Him, and that we should be afraid of Him. I don’t fear Him, He’s my Father and I’m not afraid of Him. I respect His authority, and I know He’ll correct me when I need it. Should I have a sense of fear ?


More On The Star Of Bethlehem

Published: November 29, 2015
Q

Recently I was thinking about the so called Star of Bethlehem. Do you think it really was a star in the sky that the whole world could see or was it something that only those who knew where to look would have recognized?


More On Mary And Elizabeth

Published: November 29, 2015
Q

Scripture seems to indicate a special relationship between Mary and Elizabeth. Perhaps they were well acquainted with one another, but rather than God saying “your friend Elizabeth” He said “your cousin Elizabeth” to emphasize the the fact that as “children of Israel” they were related.


I Can Earn More. Should I?

Published: November 29, 2015
Q

I can make 2-3 times the money I’m making, but feel like I’m not supposed to be thinking of money or work, but just preparing for the rapture. I have serious health issues, but through God’s grace I get by, having the bare bone basics of food, rent, and shelter. When God said he wanted us to have an abundant life did he mean spiritually or materially?


Were Mary And Elizabeth Related?

Published: November 29, 2015
Q

Luke 1:5 reads; “In the time of Herod king of Judea there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah; his wife Elizabeth was also a descendant of Aaron.” So we see that both Zechariah and Elizabeth were of Levitical lineage, of Aaronic descent, making John the Baptist a full blooded Aaronic priest, and rightfully so. My confusion comes from Luke 1:36, “Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be barren is in her sixth month.” From Mary’s genealogy in Luke 3:23-38 it is apparent that she is of Judean lineage, of Davidic descent. Therefore, Jesus is rightly called the son of David. How can Elizabeth and Mary be related when they come from completely different tribes?


Doing The Word, Not Just Knowing It

Published: November 29, 2015
Q

End times prophecy and the rapture are a very interesting and intriguing study, and the Bible speaks a lot about it, in many cases not giving all the details of future events. And so many good and faithful Spirit filled ministers seem to have their own ideas or translations of them, of course all leading us to eternity with Christ, but with many differences as to end times.

As a curious people, I know we want to know all things and how they will turn out and but just CAN’T know ALL those things. Some of this leads into counter-productive discussions or even arguments, like Titus 3:9 warns us about. Paul also commented about how not all things are profitable, whether they are unlawful doesn’t matter, but are they a waste of time which leads us to argument.

I am not talking about specific things that are fairly clear in the Bible and just need proper interpretation, such as pre-trib rapture, the 70th week and some of the main events of it, etc. But who certain people are or where they come from we can’t always know. We can guess, might even be close, but when human guessing comes into play, it leaves much room for contention, don’t you think?


Doubts About Salvation

Published: November 29, 2015
Q

Thanks so much for this website. Christians really need this opportunity to ask questions and get a response.

I was saved many years ago when I asked Jesus to be my Lord and Savior and believed He died in my place on the Cross. I was so grateful to read the Scriptures and see salvation was faith-based. I notice from time to time I have doubts about my salvation and it really bothers me. Sometimes I think it’s my Catholic upbringing which stressed good works or it’s the Enemy trying to scare me. Your thoughts? Is this normal from time to time?


To Whom Should We Pray?

Published: November 26, 2015
Q

It always has seemed to me that when I pray I find myself addressing the Father more so than Jesus, as if God the Father is kind of the boss, the one even Jesus answers to. I know I’m not thinking about it correctly, but it seems that Jesus himself took a subservient attitude to God. Can you help me have a more clear understanding of this because even after all these years I still struggle with the concept.


A Closer Walk With Thee

Published: November 26, 2015
Q

I really don’t know how to word this question. I accidentally came across your website while searching for facts on a movie. I was surfing around, I came across this website, and maybe there was a reason, who knows.

My question is this. I was raised Catholic but I like the way Christianity goes about preaching the Word of God to its followers better. It makes sense to me the few times I have been to a Christian church and I can apply it to my everyday life easier.

I am 37, married with a beautiful 10 month old son. When I see people or hear of people who are “born again” it seems they all have turning points in their life that helped them establish their commitment to God.

What if you don’t have anything tragic going on in your life? I am happy with my life and my family and would never change a thing, but I have this desperate feeling that I need God in my life in a deeper way and I feel kinda helpless because I don’t know how to accomplish it.

I know that may sound strange, but is it as simple as saying to God that you put your faith in him as your savior and that’s all their is to it? Seems like that is too easy. Not like I am expecting some feeling of self cleansing or something, but after reading all these tragic pivotal moments in people’s lives who have been born again, I wondered what if you don’t have tragedy in your life as a pivotal decision making point?

I cannot explain this in words, but I honestly feel I have an ability to touch people in ways that most people cannot. I have always felt that I am supposed to do something in my life that affects many people in a positive way. I haven’t discovered it yet, but I know the day will come. A part of me feels very connected to God, but another part feels like I am on the outside looking in. What happens to someone that is different when they finally make the commitment to accept the Lord as their Savior? All these people with these pivotal moments in their life, what changes the day after they put their faith in God? How did they do it? Just say it?

Maybe I am looking for something more than is necessary, who knows. This message might not make sense, it is hard to put into words, but if nothing else it helps put my thoughts and feeling in writing. Thanks for giving me that chance.


Two Gardens

Published: November 22, 2015
Q

I seem to have made an observation this evening and just wondered if you believe there is any relationship or credence at all to what I’ve noticed. I was looking up Scripture that contained the words, “Abba Father” and the first search result led me to the time Jesus was in the Garden of Gethsemane praying so very earnestly that if possible he not go to the cross but that His Father’s will be done. Then it occurred to me that the Fall was in the Garden of Eden which is of course why Jesus had to go to the cross.

One garden where man fell and allowed Satan to rule this world, the other garden where Jesus prepared with prayer to become victorious over Satan and redeem man. Is it at all interesting to you that there are two gardens in seemingly direct relationship to one another? And also, should I translate Abba Father as ‘Daddy’? Somehow I just can’t bring myself to think this way.