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Do you think God sometimes wants His children to suffer? Does Love really want the object of Its love to suffer? A pastor I know believes that Jesus was “made perfect” through suffering, and so how much more do we need to be perfected by the same means. I mentioned to him that Jesus was perfect from his birth, God in the flesh from the get-go, and that suffering didn’t “improve” him, since if He were flawed at all, He wouldn’t have qualified as the savior. I told him that the verse he’s referring to is speaking of how Jesus became the perfect sacrifice for sin after suffering the cross. But he insists that God teaches us lessons by inflicting suffering. I told him that God gave us His Word to perfect us and His Spirit to guide us. Am I correct?

What is the comparison and contrast between victorious faith and overcomers faith that we find in the book of Hebrews in chapter 11 and their applications for those who are represented in Hebrews 11 by the two groups of people known as the overcomers and the others?

Re: Romans 8:28-30

We know that in everything God works for good with those who love him, who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew, he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the first-born among many brethren. And those whom he predestined he also called; and those whom he called he also justified; and those whom he justified he also glorified.

Would you please explain this verse in light of other Q&A posts you’ve answered on this site? Thanks!

I am 71 years old, a Christian since age 10. I never asked to be born, I wish I hadn’t been born—having suffered from depression all my life. How can God condemn me or someone like me to hell. I don’t want to live—-I didn’t want to be born– yet here I am living and if I wasn’t a Christian I would be condemned to hell. If I had not had a Christian upbringing, I would commit suicide, but do not believe that is right. I have never understood why someone who doesn’t want to live has to live. I have prayed numerous times at night not to wake up, but I wake up and have to face a new day each day.

I have a question about giving. A couple years ago, my wife and I prayed about an opportunity that would enable us to give more to the Lord. We looked into a small business opportunity that she could run while I maintained my full time job. We prayed about this endeavor and felt the green light to move forward. This was two years ago. Since that time, we haven’t made any money in the business. In church this morning, I felt the Lord tug at my heart and ask me to trust Him with the income from that small business even though it’s not making money. If I do this it will mean there will be some business bills I can’t pay right away. Do you think the Lord is waiting for me to start giving from the business revenue before the business prospers?

I’d like your advice on an issue I’m facing. For most of my life I was involved with occult practices like tarot card reading and spell casting. As a nominal Christian at the time, I saw nothing wrong with this behavior. During that time frame when I was into the occult, I literally developed a talent for writing out of the blue. I became very prolific and often worked on three or four stories at one time. I wasn’t looking to become a writer or anything, it just happened.

Well, just over a year ago the Lord opened my eyes and I realized I had to stop all the tarot card readings and whatnot – it wasn’t pleasing to him. And only then did I notice – I mean, really, truly notice – that many occult and new age opinions, or practices, or just mentions of those things had been featured in some of my stories all along (I can be very dense at times).

So I’m no longer a ‘closet Wiccan’, but I would like to start writing again. But I can’t write anything! I’m not sure if it’s writer’s block or if it’s because demons had given me the ability to write. Or if it’s because I’m scared to open my mind up to imagination in case those pesky demons try to find a way in again. You know, the verse about the demons leaving and coming back with ones that are seven times worse plays a lot in my mind. I’m very frustrated. Any thoughts you have would be quite welcome! Thank you!!

You have been good to answer so many of my questions. I have been involved with a kind man who has been renting a cabin on my land. Of late he has lost his job due to his boss dying. His mental state has been very odd and he seems to have delusions as to some things that happened in the military. How does God want us to deal with this kind of thing?

How do we compare our Christian duty with modern medical psychotherapy structures? Didn’t Jesus heal minds? Why would God put a man in this condition? My friend says he wants to be healed, and he has confessed Christ. Please help me understand.

I have a question on Wheels with eyes in Ezekiel 1:15-21. While I was studying Ezekiel I came across this, and was completely perplexed. I think most of the commentators are too, because the 2 commentaries I’ve read, don’t have anything to say about it really, except that the rims full of eyes symbolize the all seeing nature of God. So, my question is, what are the wheels, what do they symbolize, what significance do they have in the passage?

I have a question about Psalm 33 and Genesis 18. In Psalm 33 it states that God sees all of mankind from Heaven. He is able to view and know every man and woman’s thoughts, feelings, etc. There are a number of other places that say as much as well, this is just the one I remembered the book and chapter for. But in Genesis 18:20-21 He says that He is going down to look at Sodom and Gomorrah to see if the sin and wickedness are as bad as the outcry that has reached Him. My question is, why? Why would He need to go and see in person when He can see from Heaven?

Some say that every time the word believe is used in Scripture it means to continuously believe. They take this to mean if you quit believing, you are not continuously believing, and that one day you will no longer be saved. Can a true Christian really quit believing? I could see that in a human sense something MIGHT happen to make someone quit believing Christ and yet in my very heart I just don’t see how someone who really believes would ever quit.

When a baby stares fixedly at a corner of the room, my mother-in-law always said a tiny infant was looking at his Guardian Angel, whom he could see clearly. Who knows? Wasn’t Elijah’s servant allowed to see the Host of Heaven arrayed for battle?

Of late, and when I remember to do it, I have taken to asking God to send an angel to watch over me when I find I am being distracted in prayer or reading scripture. It seems to work. Placebo effect?

Do all Christians, even adults, have a Guardian Angel? What does scripture say about it? I need all the help I can get.

I have a question regarding forgiveness. Is there a reference in the bible that tells us that we are not to forgive a believer that is backsliding until he/she first repents? What does the Bible say about forgiveness and a backslider? How are we to treat them?

Also, if a member of the church falls deeply into sin, is it to be announced to the whole church that they are in sin, and that they refuse to repent? I have been hearing things like this recently at church and I am not sure that I completely agree with my pastors idea on the subject.

I am pleased to find your website. I have had a question for some time and haven’t found an answer yet. perhaps you can help. I was reading Acts 8 about Simon the Sorcerer becoming a believer & following Philip (v. 13). I believe in the grace of God as our only foundation for salvation; most of the time I understand how I have previously misinterpreted verses. But I do not understand verses 20-24 in the light of unconditional eternal salvation. Either Simon wasn’t a believer or salvation is dependent on confession of individual sins- as in simons case. Please shed light on this for me.

I use many of your topical studies for lessons at one of our state prisons. Right now, I am taking them through the topic study “OSAS The Whole Story”. I understand that all gifts are free, unearned, and cannot be lost. Can I then assume that all prizes, crowns, and rewards are subject to “testing by fire”, as found in 1st Corinthians 3:13-15? Also, are Fellowship and Relationship the same or different?

Your lessons are a Godsend to my Ministry. I praise God for sending you to help the many folks that seek your help.

Thank you for taking time to answer questions and working so hard with your website! I have something I have been wondering about: when you say that the new city of Jerusalem will probably orbit just above the earth, what scriptures can you find to show this point of view? I can remember one about John saying that the city came down from heaven but he never said that it landed on earth. Can you help me find some more please?

We continue to be blessed each day as you share the nourishment of God’s word with us. My latest question has to do with your recent post (Visiting The Iniquity Of The Fathers Upon The Children) where you say “Some even believe the sin nature is passed through the father only, which is why Jesus could have a human mother but not possess a sin nature.” I have never heard this before. Do you believe this? If so what scripture may refer to this belief?

Thanks again for your devotion to the our Lord. My men’s bible study is studying the book of Mark. I sent your link site to our teacher and he is using all your mp3’s to guide him in our studies. We start chapter 14 next week and I’m sorry to say we are a step ahead of your mp3 down loads on this site.

My question is In Mark 14: 25 what did Jesus mean when he said I will not drink again from the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it anew in the kingdom of God?

Re: Exodus 34:5-7. Could you explain what it means about God visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon their children, and upon the children’s children, unto the third and fourth generation?

I was just wondering if the reference to Orion’s belt in the book of Job was actually an illusion to the Greek illustration, or if the Hebrew word(s) translated “Orion’s Belt” actually referred to a strictly Jewish concept of those stars and their arrangement. Thanks for your time!

What does it mean to you that God’s name hasn’t been spoken on Earth for 1700(+) years? Who decided this?

Does God have a name?

My question is this: we have some preachers who preach the Word but the people seem to be starving. If the speaker tries to feed them meat they almost seem to cover their mouths (and ears) and back up. Living by faith is just a phrase to most believers and faith is inversely proportional to the material goods we have, as you have stated. Is this a fulfillment of prophecy or just the natural progression followed by Europe before us?