Matthew713.com

Providing additional resources for The Narrow Path Ministries | "Showing how to think, not what to think - about the Bible."

  Navigate Go to The Narrow Path Ministry Login Sign Up Contact Matthew713 About



Topic: Trials (Tests)
Episode Topic Audio

2024-04-10 		God's Limits on Our Suffering: Why am I so often told that God "never gives people more than they can bear," when hospitals and cemeteries are full of those who would disagree? [1 Corinthians 10:13, 2 Corinthians 1:8-9, Psalm 1:3, Psalm 61:2-4, 1 Peter 5:7].

2024-02-15 		Book of Job: Who authored the Book of Job? What was the purpose of all the suffering of Job? [Psalm 34:7, Job 1:9-11, 2 Corinthians 12:7].

2024-01-26 		Tribulation & Perseverance: Do you think that those who give up their faith in persecution and tribulation are the "great falling away." [2 Thessalonians 2:3].

2024-01-22 		Converted Muslim Struggling with Sin: Converted Muslim: How long will I be punished for the way I treated my wife that has now ended in divorce? I continue to sin, but I hate it, and I am suffering. How do I come back to the Lord? Rec: Topical lectures - "Making Sense Out of Suffering." [Job 1:21].

2023-12-18 		Tests & Temptations: Can you clarify what scripture says about the necessity of tests and temptation, and yet we are to avoid temptation? [Galatians 6:1, Luke 18:1, Romans 13:14, Job 31:1]
Hedging One's Bets (about God's Existence): Isn't the familiar saying, "I would rather live my life as if there is a God ..." less than desirable as it is allowing for doubt in one's faith?
Steve misspoke. Don't use this call.

2023-10-02 		God Created a Liar: How can God create a being that can lie, if God Himself cannot lie? [John 8:44, Hebrews 6:18].
Hell-Contradiction of God: Is it a contradiction of God's love to create hell to be a place of eternal conscious torment? Rec: topical lectures on Three Views of Hell or Steve's book on Hell.


2023-09-28 		Satan's Thievery: How do we make Satan pay us back for all he has stolen from us? [Proverbs 6:30-31].
Khasarian Jews Have you heard of Khasarian Jews (Khazars)?


2023-09-18 		Lucifer-Created Good or Evil?: Was Lucifer created good or created evil? [Isaiah 7:12, Ezekiel 28:16].
Missing Verses: Why are some verses missing in some translations, such as Matthew 17:21?


2023-09-14 		"Wood, Hay & Stubble": Could you explain this passage about "wood, hay, and stubble?" What is the "fire?" Who is "every man?" [1 Corinthians 3:1-15, Acts 18-19, 1 Peter 2:5, Ephesians 2:21-22].
Trial or Judgment Symbolized by Fire: So, "fire" could symbolize either trials or final judgment? [1 Corinthians 3:1-15, 1 Peter 4:12-19].

2023-09-11 		"Evil Spirit" from the Lord: Could you expound on the "evil (distressing) spirit" from the Lord on Saul and David's playing driving it away? [1 Samuel 16:14, 1 Samuel 16:23, 1 Kings 22:21-23, Judges 9:23].

2023-09-05 		God "Testing" or "Tempting": Though you said that God tempts people, James says He does not. Can you clarify? [James 1:13, Genesis 33:1, Luke 4:1, Matthew 6:13]

2023-09-01 		Divorced Father Fears for Children: Why doesn't God answer my prayers for protection for my children, who are under some dangerous influences from my ex-wife? [Matthew 6:32].

2023-08-25 		Near-Death Experiences: What do you think of near-death experiences? Reference to "Case for Heaven" by Lee Strobel?
Christians Suffering Illness: Why do Christians suffer illness like unbelievers do?


2023-08-22 		Temptation & Testing: Why did Jesus pray, "Lead us not into temptation," if God does not tempt us? [Matthew 6:13, James 1:13, Matthew 4:1].

2023-06-21 		Satan's Creation: Why did God create Satan? [Hebrews 2:10, Romans 8:29].

2023-06-05 		Sinlessness in the New Earth: Why would I not sin in the New Earth? Will I still have free will? What will keep me from sinning in there?



2023-04-24 		Why Test if God is Omniscient?: If God already knows the outcome, why does He have to test people-like when He tested Abraham? [Genesis 18:20].

2023-04-21 		Satan's Origins: Could you comment on the verse about "Satan fell like lightning?" [Isaiah 45:7, Luke 10:18, Revelation 12:7-9, Luke 10:18].

2023-03-29 		God Telling People to Marry-Ending Up Misserable: If two people were sure that God told them to marry each other, is it possible that God would actually tell two people to marry each other, if they end up miserable and divorced? [Job 5:7].

2023-03-16 		Difficulties with Parts of Scripture: Caller shares concern over the difficult parts of the Old Testament? [Genesis 22, John 6:6].

2023-02-23 		Islam, Koran & Allah: Is God, the Father, the same as the Muslim's Allah? [Acts 17:23-31, John 10:30].
Life as a Test: It doesn't sit well with me to think this life is a test? Is it? [2 Timothy 2:12].

2023-02-01 		Satan's Character & Role: Is it possible that Satan is not really only evil but more like a "prosecuting attornery" that God actually created for testing? [Revelation 12:9, Job 1-2, Zechariah 3:1-5, Isaiah 14, Ezekiel 28].
Avoiding Temptation: What is the point of avoiding temptation and prayer to avoid them, if this is all part of the plan. [Luke 18:7, James 1:15, Luke 11:2-4, Matthew 5:9-13].
Skeptics Doubting the Reliability: How do you answer a skeptic that complains that there is something wrong with the teacher when everyone in Christianity has a differing opinion? [Proverbs 25:2].

2023-01-27 		Tree of the Knowledge of Good & Evil: Isn't it good for people to know the difference between good & evil?
Adam & Eve's Free Will: Did Adam & Eve have free will? [Genesis 1:26-27].

2022-11-14 		Discouragment in Prayer vs Hardness of Heart: If someone is struggling because of the discouragement in their failures in reoccuring sin, therefore finding it hard to pray, is their heart becoming hardened? [Luke 18:1-8, Daniel 10:10-14, Psalm 103:13-14, Hebrews 4:14-16, Revelation 12:12, Matthew 4:11, Luke 4:13, Matthew 26:41].

2022-11-02 		Satan Released at the End of the Millennium: Why does Satan get released again after the millennium? [Revelation 20:9-11, Colossians 2:15, Hebrews 2:14, 2 Thessalonians 2:8, Matthew 13:48].

2022-10-26 		Chastening or Satan: How does one know when God is chastening rather than Satan attacking us?



2022-09-29 		God Created Satan: Why did God create Satan and evil? How do we justify that? [John 12:31, Revelation 12:10, Hebrews 2:8].

2022-08-12 		Building the Church & Works Tried by Fire: Regarding building with wood, hay & stubble, and works tried by fire, are we not all God's fellow workers? [I Corinthians 3:5-15, I Corinthians 4:6].

2022-08-03 		Satan's Origins: Where did Satan come from? [Isaiah 14:12, Proverbs 16:4, Genesis 1:26-28].

2022-07-27 		Testing Prophets & Teachers: How do you determine if someone is actually speaking of the Spirit? How do I discern this? [I Corinthians 14:29, Deuteronomy 18:21-22, I John 4:1].

2022-07-21 		Ex-Homosexual & Ex-Transgender; Dealing with the Temptation: Ex-homosexual & ex-transgender: When I am tempted by the wrong sex, is it demonic? [Matthew 19:12]. Lectures recommended.
The "Offspring" of Satan in Genesis: Could you explain what is meant by the "offspring" when the offspring of the serpent was cursed? [Genesis 3:15, Revelation 12:9, John 8:44, I John 3:10].

2022-07-04 		Fleeces before God: Would you share your personal story of putting fleeces before God about about the girl who you would marry?
Demonic Forces at Work: What other forces, other than demonic forces, could have been at work in the experience of all your fleeces set before God?

2022-06-16 		Purgatory: Catholic caller defends the doctrine of purgatory. [I Corinthians 3:15-17, Hebrews 12:11, Hebrews 12:5-9, I Corinthians 1-4].

2022-05-20 		Free Will in the Afterlife: Do you believe that we will have free will in the afterlife, and if so, what would keep us from sinning?
Slavery: Did God allow people to take slaves after they conquered other nations?

2022-05-18 		Good & Evil in Eden: Because there was a Tree of Knowledge of Good & Evil, does that mean evil was already in the garden? [Genesis 1:31, Genesis 3:1].
Satan's Origins: Do you lean toward the view that Satan was created by God or He was a fallen angel?


2022-05-10 		Satan Hates Christians: Does Satan hate Christians? [John 8:44, Job 1-2].
Satan as a Tester: Didn't you say that Satan was created as a tempter?
Satan Thrown into the Lake of Fire: If Satan was created to be a tester, then why would God throw Him in the Lake of Fire? Would this be against the character of God? Revelation 20:15].

2022-04-15 		Giving Thanks for Everything: What are you thoughts and process on "giving thanks for everything"? [I Thessalonians 5:16-18, Job 113:2, 2 Corinthians 4:16-18, Romans 8:22-23, Romans 5:2].

2022-03-09 		God's Sovereignty & Importance of Prayer: Why is prayer so important if we are to rest in our faith, believe in His sovereignty, and He is going to work everything out His way anyway? [James 4:2-3].

2022-03-04 		Jesus' Legal Proceedings & Evidence of His Resurrection: Considering the Jews who remarked that Pilate should not let Jesus go at His trial, how does that parallel to the idea that we must find evidence to substantiate Jesus' resurrection? [John 19:12, I Corinthians 15:6].

2022-03-02 		God Planned for Mankind (Adam) to Sin: What do you think of the premise that God planned for mankind (Adam) to sin, so He could demonstrate His grace? [2 Peter 3:9, Ezekiel 33:11, Ezekiel 18:23].

2022-02-15 		Life is a Test: Is it possible that life is basically a continual test to see if we will obey God, or choose to go our own way each and every day? [Psalm 84:11].

2022-02-15 		Tree of the Knowledge of Good & Evil: Why would God, knowing that Adam & Eve would sin, place the temptation of the Tree of Knowledge in the Garden?

2022-02-02 		Old Testament Hebrew Poetic Language: Did Job's friends and the prophets actually speak in poetic form, or where they just recast in poetry when the story is told?
God Uses the Devil: Does God actually use the devil to accomplish His will at times? [Acts 2:23].

2022-01-04 		God's Abuse & Manipulation: How can I respond to my daughter who claims that God is manipulative and abusive as in the example of Abraham being told to kill Isaac? (Even though it seems to end at the break, Steve continues to coomment after break regarding this call.)

2021-12-28 		Government's Role: Would you agree that the government should not be allowed to become preeminent? [Romans 13:1-4, John 19:11].
Refined as Silver: What is the difference between being refined as silver and being tried by affliction? [Isaiah 48:9-11, I Peter 1:7].

2021-12-15 		Curses & Hexes: Is there such a thing as curses or hexes? [Proverbs 26:2].

2021-12-15 		God Testing Our Faith: Did God allow me to get sick as a test of my faith? [James 5:11, Psalms 34:7, 1 Corinthians 10:13].



2021-12-03 		Symbolism of Fire: What does the "fire" in the scripture about "wood, hay and stubble", represent in I Corinthians 3? [I Corinthians 3:15].

2021-11-18 		Dinosaurs & the Flood: Were there dinosaurs and did the flood wipe them out?
Leading & Testing the Holy Spirit: How does one recognize the leading of the spirit, or testing the spirit?


2021-10-29 		Satan's Origins: Was Satan a musician and a good angel that fell? What does it mean that he was "a murderer from the beginning"? [John 8:44, I John 3:8, Isaiah 14:12, Ezekiel 28:12].
Satan Created as He is, Rather Than a Fallen Angel: If God created Satan as he is, from the beginning, would that cause a biblical problem?

2021-10-28 		Christian Felt Unsuppported by Friends: Caller relates story of a time of torment and how he feels that he was being attacked by demons when his friends claimed that perhaps he was not being obedient. [2 Corinthians 12].
Friends Accuse a Christian of Sin in Life: Caller is frustrated when things weren't going well for him, friends claimed that perhaps he might have secret sin. [2 Corinthians 12:7-10].

2021-10-27 		Praying Psalms: Is it acceptable to pray the Psalms? [Acts 4:25-26, Colossians 3:16, Ephesians 5:19, James 5:13].
Paralleling the Psalms to One's Own Life: Can one parallel their own struggles in life and work to those very real and dangerous struggles David was experiencing in the Psalms? [Romans 8:26].

2021-10-22 		Sickness in Believers: Why would God let people get sick? Is there some purpose or meaning to it? [2 Corinthians 12:9, James 1:2-4, I Peter 1:7, Romans 5:5].

2021-10-19 		Why God Created Satan: Why did God create Satan?

2021-09-24 		Eating Flesh (Eucharist)-Test to Thin the Crowd: Was Jesus intentionally testing the crowd and making it difficult to grasp the concept of the eucharist by focusing on "eating flesh"? [John 6:63-68, Matthew 19:21, Luke 14:25, 2 Timothy 2, Titus 2:14, I Corinthians 6:20, 2 Corinthians 13:5].

2021-08-30 		Source of Job's Trials: Were the tests that fell on Job come from God, Job, or Satan? [Job 2:3, Job 23:10].

2021-08-30 		Predisposed to Sin: Why did God make us predisposed to sin?
Earthquakes, Hurricanes, Children as Tests: Are all the earthquakes and hurricanes, and subsequent lootings, just God testing us? [3 John 1:4].

2021-08-17 		Why God Allows Suffering: How do I help my wife understand why God let's such suffering exist in this world?

2021-08-11 		Test vs Temptation: Does God test us? [Genesis 22:1, James 1:13, Matthew 6:13, Job].

2021-07-26 		Free-will in Heaven: Will we have free-will in heaven, while in our glorified bodies, and if not, then would we really have free-will-and if so, then what would the choices between? [I Corinthians 13:11-12].
Remembering Sin in the Afterlife: Will we have any memory of what sin we were saved from when we are living in glorified bodies in the afterlife?

2021-07-23 		God's Promises for Us: How do you know if and when God's promises are for us? Recommended Topical Lectures; "Word of Faith" & "Making Sense of Suffering". [2 Corinthians 1:20, Hebrews 8:6, Ephesians 1:4-6, James 5:14].

2021-06-25 		Gift of "Discernment": Could you help me understand the gift of "Discernment"? Does it have to do with discerning demons? [I Corinthians 12, I Thessalonians 5:21].

2021-06-22 		Trials & Suffering: Should a Christian be concerned if they are NOT suffering any significant trials? [John 21:22-23, Acts 14:22].

2021-06-15 		New Earth Sinners: What is going to keep people from sinning on the new earth, and why would He not do that from the beginning?

2021-06-09 		Living the Christian Life: Is it possible to live the Christian life? [Romans 8:5].
The Problem of Evil: Can you recommend your teaching that deals with the problem of evil? Lecture recommended: "Making Sense of Suffering".
Going Through Storms in Life: What of the saying, "If you are not going through a storm, you are either going into one or coming out of one"?

2021-05-13 		Sinlessness in Heaven-Why Not Sin Free Here: If sin doesn't exist in heaven, how will God bring us to a state of sinlessness? If this could be achieved, why didn't He do that to begin with? [Romans 7:24-25, Galatians 5:17].

2021-04-28 		Why Didn't God Create us Better?: Why didn't God create us with stronger desires to do good and more self-control?

2021-04-13 		Seven Churches Warning to Us: Do churches today face the same warnings as did the seven churches in Revelation?
Wealth & Riches Cause for Concern: Regarding the church of Laodicea's warning about them being wealthy and comfortable, how do we relate to that? [I Timothy 6:6-11, Matthew 13:1-9, Revelation 3:14-22].

2021-04-06 		God Trusted Job: Did God trust Job? [Job 1-2].

2021-03-31 		Making Difficult Commitments and Promises: How do you know what to make a commitment to, so that one won't eventually break it and sin?, as in the temptation of something like pornography?

2021-03-25 		Temptation of Christ: Why would Satan try to tempt Jesus?

2021-03-17 		The Devil Made Me Do it: Does the Devil make us sin, or are we simply tempted by the Devil to sin?

2021-03-08 		Jesus' Temptation: Was Jesus' temptation physical or visionary one? Where would one draw the line determining this? [Matthew 4:1-11].

2021-02-24 		Lead Us Not Into Temptation: Could you talk about "Lead us not into Temptation"? [James, Luke 4, Matthew 6:13, Luke 22:40].

2021-02-08 		Suffering in Trials: Can you give me some scripture to help me through the suffering of these really devastating past few years ? Recommended lecture: "Making Sense of Suffering." [Job, Psalms].
Going to Bible College (Seminary): Should I go to Bible college (Seminary) if I want to learn more about the Bible? [Psalm 119:99].

2020-12-22 		Scriptural Reassurance in Time of Crisis: Can you give me some scriptural reassurance during this terrible time of loss and broken family in my life? [Psalms].

2020-12-22 		The Name Jeshua or (Yeshua): What do you make of those who think that Jeshua (Yeshua, Jesus) means Zeus?
The Importance of Pronouncing Jesus: Is the idea that God can't hear you, unless you know the proper pronunciation of Jesus (Jeshua) total nonsense?
Sin Not Always Repulsive: Why is it that sometimes I find certain sins repulsive and other times not so? [Proverbs 4:23, I John 1:9]].

2020-12-16 		Satan's Purpose: If Satan was a created being, and not a fallen angel, then why was he created? [James 1:12-18].

2020-12-04 		God's Knowledge Limited: Since God tests us, is His knowledge limited in some way, so that He doesn't know the outcome of the test?



2020-11-18 		Examine Ourselves: Could you talk about the verse that requires we examine ourselves to see if we are in the faith? [2 Corinthians 13:5, Matthew 7:21-23, I John 3:24, I John 4:13, I Corinthians 13].

2020-11-18 		Prophets Today: Are there prophets today as there were in the Old Testament, and would teaching be the same thing? [Hebrews 1:1. 1 Corinthians 14:29, I Corinthians 12:28, Ephesians 4:11].
God Unleashed the Devil on Job: Did God unleash the Devil on Job? [Revelation 2:10, 2 Timothy 2:12, Luke 4:1].

2020-11-13 		Pornographic Temptation & Prayer Challenge: I am suffering extra temptation when I am praying against the whole realm of pornography, how should I react against these attacks? [James 5:16, Matthew 18:20, Ephesians 6:12]

2020-11-11 		Leaving the Homosexual Lifestyle: Caller comments on previous caller and how we all must suffer various things. He shares his own struggle with leaving behind the homosexual lifestyle.

2020-11-11 		Angry About Sickness & Pain: At what point is my anger about my sickness and pain sin? [Job 1:21, 2 Corinthians 12:9].
Praying for Death: Since I am in chronic pain, is it wrong to pray for my own early death, or can I neglect it and hope for death? [I Corinthians 3:16, I Corinthians 5:19, 2 Corinthians 6:16, I Peter 4:19, I Peter 5:10, 2 Corinthians 12:9, 2 Corinthians 4:16].

2020-11-05 		Stirring up One's Church to Go Out and Disciple: How would you go about stirring up interest in your church to go out and disciple others?
Suffering for the Christian: Why does God allow us to go through trials and sufferings as He does? [Job 2:10].

2020-11-05 		When Hardship Can't Be for Good: I am having a hard time understanding how my current circumstances can ever turn out for good? Can you help? [Romans 8:28].

2020-11-04 		Minister's Doubt when He Doesn't Hear From God: What would you say to someone who is in ministry, who is struggling with their faith, to the point of disbelieving, because he is not hearing from God? [Isaiah 50:10, Job 13:15].

2020-11-04 		Bible Reliability Questioned by Atheist: A long-time Atheist friend of mine has challenged the reliability of the Bible because it has been translated so many times. How would you respond to him?
Testing Prophets Today: Since someone prophesied that Trump would win this election, should we test those that give prophecies? If so, how would you go about testing it before it evidences itself?

2020-11-04 		Conversion's Elation Expected to Last: As a former Mormon, as I moved away from religion, I have found in my new trust in Christ, a notable difference to the better. Should I expect this high to continue indefinitely? [I Peter 5:8-10].

2020-11-03 		Jesus Capable of Sin: Could Jesus have sinned if He had chosen to? [Hebrews 4:15, Matthew 26:53].

2020-11-03 		Freedom Eroded-Confidence in God: To what degree does knowing about "the kingdom of God" console you when our liberties are being eroded at such an unprecedented pace?

2020-11-02 		Abortion: Caller comments on the horrible act of abortion and current political issues:
Sick Family May be Cursd: What do you think about someone telling a family suffering sickness, is under some kind of curse? [I Peter 4:12].

2020-10-27 		God Hiding From Us: Why does God hide from us? Is it to humble us? [Isaiah 50:10].

2020-10-22 		Human or God-man Jesus: Was there no human man that was Jesus, but only a God man that became Jesus, as William Lane Craig stated?
Jesus or God Tempted: If Jesus was God how could He have been tempted, if God cannot be tempted? [Matthew 4:1-11, Hebrew 4:15].

2020-10-02 		Suffering Guilt, Temptation, and Failure to Follow Christ in Reality: Could you help me understand the concept of "dying to myself & Christ living in me" when I don't really do or obey as I should. [Galatians 2:20].

2020-09-16 		God Should Not Repent: What does it mean that God is not a man that He should repent? [Number 23:19].
Dead to Sin: What does it mean that we should be "dead to sin"? [Romans 6:11, Romans 5:16-21 ].

2020-08-26 		Steve Gregg's New Book on the Kingdom: When is your new book coming out and will it deal with Dispensational views?
Jesus Didn't Inherit Mary's : How could Jesus not inherit Mary's sinful human nature, since she was just human? [Genesis 3, Psalm 51:5, Romans 5:12, Romans 8:4, Galatians 5:16].

2020-08-25 		The Name, Israel: Could you flesh out the name "Israel", and what does it means to strive with God, and then prevail? [Genesis 32:28].

2020-08-17 		Did Satan fall from heaven: Did Satan fall from heaven to become the devil? [Genesis 6, Isaiah 14, Ezekiel 28].
Giants in Genesis: Who were the giants or Nephilim in Genesis? [Genesis 6].

2020-08-07 		Wood, Hay, and Stubble: Would you comment on the meaning of the verses about building on wood, hay and stubble? [1 Corinthians 3:14-15, 1 Corinthians 1-4, Malachi 3, I Peter 2:5, I Peter 1:7, Matthew 10:22, Revelation 2:10, I Thessalonians 3:3-4].

2020-07-16 		Homosexuals Can't Help It: Did you say that you think that some gay people can't necessarily help how they are tempted.

2020-07-15 		Satan Taking Up Residency in Christian Lives: Could you tell me what the Bible says about Satan taking up residency in the minds and lives of Christians? [Hebrews 4:15, Matthew 4:1-11, Matthew 16:23, Genesis 3:6].

2020-07-08 		Why Did God Create the Evil Realm: If God is so good and all-powerful, why would He create a evil realm, its consequences, and competition for righteousness?



2020-07-01 		Damage from My Pastor Father-Losing Faith: How do I handle the brokenness of my pastor father who has also damaged my faith?

2020-06-25 		Job's Awareness of Satan: What did Job know about Satan and the meaning of his suffering? [Job].
Concern About Satan: Should we be concerned about what Satan is planning and doing? [Job].

2020-06-15 		Book of Job: Could you help me with the implications of the story of Job? Does God have to give permission to Satan to inflict us? [Job, Psalm 34:7, Psalm 91:11-12, Romans 8:28, I Peter 1:7].

2020-06-10 		Christians Devoured by the Devil: Does the verse about the devil being like a lion seeking to devour us, how does this apply to Christians? [I Peter 5:8].
Thoughts from the Devil: Can the devil actually put thoughts into your heads? [Matthew 16:23].
Jesus Seeing the Devil: Did Jesus actually see the devil when he was tempted in the wilderness?

2020-06-02 		Kingdom of God & Bethel Movement: Could you share your view of what exactly what the "Kingdom of God" is and how it compares to Bill Johnson & the Bethel Movement (NAR, New Apostolic Reformation) view of it is? [2 Corinthians, Job, 1 Peter].

2020-05-12 		Born Again & Sinlessness: I don't seem to understand what it means to be born again, because the Bible says you won't sin. Can you help me know how to accomplish this? [I John 3:9].
Confessing Your Sins to One Another: Every time we sin we are supposed to confess to our brother, so so I have to go do that all that time? [James 5:16].
Christ in Me Should not Allow Sin in Me: If I have Christ in me, how can I still sin? Am I not to overcome the devil? It is really hard! [Galatians 5:17, Philippians 3, I John 1:9, Ephesians 1:7, Matthew 23, Matthew 11:29, Matthew 26:41].

2020-05-11 		The Chosen of God, the Elect: Why do you believe that we are not chosen as the elect by the Holy Spirit?
A Sovereign God That Allows Evil in the World: If God is sovereign, why does He allow so much evil in the world?

2020-05-11 		Suffering in the World: Why does God permit evil, specifically, suffering in the world? [Philippians 4, I Peter 5, Matthew 6, Matthew 8:26].

2020-05-08 		God's Intention in Creation: Can you clarify your position that God did not intend for this creation to be corrupted and people to fall? [Genesis].
God Omniscience Questioned in the Creation: If God is omniscient, why then would He go forward with the creation, knowing that it would be corrupted and He would have to wipe everyone out?
Sin in Heaven & No Free Will: Would it not follow that the only way there will be no sin is in heaven, is if our free will is taken from us?

2020-05-06 		Using Social Media: Should Christians use social media to respond to political and social issues?
Christians Facing Difficult & Challenging Times: What should Christians, who are facing difficult times and low prospects for employment, be thinking and doing according to scripture? [2 Thessalonians 3:10].

2020-04-13 		Kingdom of God: Could you elaborate Jesus' statement in Luke 16, about the kingdom of God, pressing into it, and the fulfillment of the law? [Luke 16:16-17, Matthew 11:12, 19:23, 16:24, 5:17].
Absent Military Family Member: Can you encourage me as I struggle with my wife's absence in the military?


2020-04-06 		God Withdrawing From Hezekiah: Could the event of God withdrawing from Hezekiah be applied to us and related to the tests we go through? [2 Chronicles 32:31].

2020-04-02 		Book of Job: Would you share your thoughts about the critical comments of Job's friends, including, Elihu, in the book of Job? [Job 42].
A Bet Between God & Satan in Job: Isn't it a bit ridiculous to think the story of Job is really only about a bet between Job and Satan? [Job].

2020-04-01 		Test & Temptation in the Lord's Prayer: Is the word used in the Lord's Prayer for "temptation" the same as "test"? [Matthew 6:9-13].
Lord's Prayer -Thy Kingdom Come: What does it mean in the Lord's Prayer, "thy kingdom come"? [Matthew 6:9-13, 12:28, 16:24-26, Exodus 19:6, Daniel 2:44, Mark 1:15, Luke 17:21, 9:23, Colossians 1:13].

2020-03-30 		Church Leaders - Not Exhibiting Love: What do you think about a worship leader in our church who indicates he just doesn't like some people and avoids them? [I John 4:7-8, John 13:34, Romans 8:9, I Corinthians 13].
Mean Christians Sharpen Us: Could it be that unloving or mean people are there to sharpen us, like the scripture says? [Proverbs 27:17].

2020-03-23 		God Communicating Through Coronavirus: Do you think that God is trying to get something across to us using the Coronavirus? If so, what?

2020-03-18 		Lead Us Not Into Temptation: In the Lord's prayer, we are informed that God leads us into temptation. That is not what God should do, right? [Matthew 6:13, 4:1, Luke 4:1].

2020-02-18 		Tree of Good & Evil: Why did God not want Adam & Eve to eat of the "Tree of Good & Evil", since knowing good and evil clearly would be beneficial? [Genesis 2:15-17].
Tree of Knowledge Death Penalty: Why would death be the penalty for Adam & Eve Eating of the Tree of Knowledge?

2020-01-15 		Why the Serpent in the Garden: If God is all knowing and all loving, why would he put the serpent in the garden, knowing that Adam & Eve would fail?

2019-11-18 		Trials & Suffering: Caller shares thoughts about suffering and trials being part of God's pruning us? [John 15].
Dinosaurs & Death: How could death come into the world through Adam & Eve if dinosaurs lived longer ago and death existed before that? [Romans 5, I Corinthians 15].


2019-11-05 		Kept from Hour of Trial: Would you comment on the verse about being "kept from hour of trial"? [Revelation 3:10, 2 Thessalonians 2, John 17:15, Luke 2:1, Colossians 1:6].

2019-08-30 		God Protecting Us: Do you think that God protects us when He doesn't want us to be tempted or tested, like the hedge put around Job?
The Lord's Prayer: In the Lord's Prayer, is the "us" talking about myself and the Holy Spirit?


2019-08-09 		God Creator of Sin, Evil & Temptation: If God created everything, then did he also create evil, sin and temptation? [James 1, Deuteronomy 13:1-3].

2019-07-17 		Satan in the Garden of Eden: Why was Satan allowed to be in the Garden of Eden, if the garden was "very good"? It seems like a set-up to fail. [Genesis 3], 2 Timothy 2:12, Revelation 5:10].

2019-07-16 		God's test for Job: Can you explain the conversation and test in the book of Job between God and the devil? [Job 2:3].

2019-06-21 		Lost Retirement Investment: Do you have any advice for one who has lost most of their savings for retirement, through no fault of their own? [Matthew 6:19-20].

2019-06-03 		Testing the Lord: Should I be sharing my testimony, if I was perhaps "testing the Lord", when the Lord answered my challenge? [Matthew 16:4, Luke 4:9].

2019-04-26 		Testing & Jesus' Temptation: What would you say is the ultimate temptation?

2019-03-26 		Adam & Eve's Banishment: If Jesus said, “its not what goes into a man that defiles a man” [Matthew 15: 11, 17-20], why were Adam & Eve banned from the garden for eating? Considering the test in the garden.[Genesis 2].

2019-03-08 		Temptation: Is it true that God will always deliver people from their temptations [I Corinthians 10:13]?

2019-02-14 		Tempted by Satan or the Flesh: What percentages are we tempted by Satan verses how much we are tempted by our flesh?

2019-02-11 		Personality Tests: What does steve think of taking personality tests?

2019-01-23 		Sinless Perfection or Entire Sanctification: Would you talk about the doctrine of "sinless perfection" (or "entire sanctification), and why is it a heresy? [Galatians 5:17-25, I Corinthians 10:13].

2019-01-15 		Satan's Influence: If only God can read our minds, than how does Satan gain access to influence and tempt us?

2018-12-07 		Testing: There's a lot of testing on this side of glory, but why are some people tested way more that others?

2018-11-16 		God Testing us: If God knows everything, then why would He need to test us?

2018-10-29 		Pornography: I've been struggling with fear & purity because I keep continuing with the temptation of pornography

2018-10-15 		Facing Temptation: What does it mean to face temptation? Jesus faced it, but how did He overcome it?

2018-08-28 		Satan the Tempter: If Satan is a tester/tempter & a deceiver, how do those two things not contradict one another?
Best Format of Bible, Paper or Electronic: Reading a Physical paper Bible over an electronic device, which is better?

2018-08-28 		Origins of Satan: Why would God create Satan if He knew what chaos he would do on earth?

2018-06-20 		Jesus' Temptation: Caller thinks Jesus wasn't really tempted like we would be....but just tempted.

2018-06-14 		Tree of Knowledge of Good & Evil: Why not know the knowledge of good and evil in the first place so God could've prevented all of this?
Fall & the rest of Creation: Why did all the rest of creation have to fall & be corrupted as a result as Adam & Eve's sin? [Gen 3:17, Romans 6:23]

2018-05-10 		Resist not Evil, Resist Satan: Can you please explain to me these contrasting Scriptures about Resisting? [Matthew 5:39, James 4:17, 5:8-9]

2018-04-20 		Jesus Being Tempted: Was Jesus really tempted? Can we be tempted w/out sinning?

2018-01-30 		Trial & Suffering Sanctioned by God: Did God create evil, trials & suffering in our lives? [Isaiah 45:7]

2018-01-09 		Satan's Origins: Was Satan a fallen angel who had free will or was he always the devil? [Isaiah 14:12-16, Ezekiel 28:12-19, John 8:44, 1 John 3:8]
The Tester: If God made Satan the way he is, then He created evil, so how can that be? Also, if God created him to be a "tester", then why is he going to be punished for something he was designed to do?

2017-12-27 		Satan an Angel: Was Satan an angel? Satan argued with God about Job, Jesus saw him falling out of heaven, so can you just explain about Satan?

2017-11-17 		Falling in Eternity: What if I can't go the distance in the next life, in the new heaven & earth, since we are required to be good SO long; for eternity?

2017-11-01 		God Leading People into Temptation: Did God cause Jesus to be tempted? James says that God does tempt us, but then in the Lord's Prayer it we are supposed to say, "lead us NOT into temptation", praying to God saying that. How do you reconcile these verses? [James 1:13, Matthew 6:13]

2017-10-30 		Satan Oppression or Just Bad Luck: How do we know when it's Satan attacking us or it's just bad luck, & is it important to know the difference between the 2?

2017-09-27 		God Not being able to be Tempted: Why does it say that God can't be tempted, but Jesus was tempted, can you clear up this conflict?

2017-09-18 		Tithing: What is your view about tithing, especially when they bring up Malachi 3?

2017-08-31 		Context of Scripture & Cherry Picking: What can you say about people saying you are are just saying take the Bible in Context so they can skillfully cherry pick from the Bible, but not really taking it in context? Exegesis over proof-texting.
Once Saved, Always Saved: So you say people can lose their salvation? What about people who go through a rough period of time, & go out & perform willful sin? Are they lost during that period of time?

2017-07-31 		Prosperity & Blessing in OT, Suffering & Persecution in NT: In the Old Testament there seems to be an emphasis that if you live a righteous life, you will prosper, be blessed, but in the New Testament, just the opposite seems to be true, that we'll be suffering more than being blessed.

2017-07-13 		Jesus' Temptation: God says He tempts no man, but the Jesus had to go through the temptation, so how do these reconcile w/ each other? [James 1:13]

2017-07-11 		Satan Being Omnipresent: How can people be pestered by satan at the same time on the earth if he's not omnipresent?

2017-06-09 		Adam & Eve continuing to eat from the Tree of Life-Part II: Why didn't just forgive Adam & Even in the garden, & Steve shares Willy Wonka movie analogy, (followup, 6/6, last Q)



2017-06-06 		Adam & Eve continuing to eat from the Tree of Life: after adam & eve sinned, they were banished from eating the tree of life, why weren't they just forgiven so they could continue?

2017-04-25 		Being Tempted by the Devil: Is there any evidence in Scripture that the devil can put thoughts into our mind?te
Gospel in a Nutshell: How would you phrase what the gospel is n a nutshell?
Gifts of the Spirit: So even if i don't have the gift of mercy, am i not supposed to still show mercy?

2017-03-24 		Overcoming Trials: Can you give me some verses that will encourage me w/ the trials that I've been going through the last 3 months?

2017-03-13 		Adam & Eve Sinning: Did God know that Adam or Eve were going to sin?

2017-03-08 		God Disciplines those He Loves: God chastens those that He loves, so is that why He allows suffering & trials? [Hebrews 12]

2017-01-18 		Temptation: Wanting to have obedience to Jesus, but being tempted to do wrong.

2017-01-18 		God testing Israel with their enemies: God will NOT drive Israel's enemies that they might be tested, & He won't because He wants them to learn about war. [Judges 3]

2016-09-23 		Satan's Reason for Being: What was Satan's purpose of? What was his role? His origins? Did God create evil? [John 8:44]

2016-09-20 		Jesus only Sinless Person Born: Was Jesus the only sinless Person born? What about infants who don't know they are sinning even though they are? What about "age of accountability"? [Romans 3:23, Hebrews 4:15]

2016-06-28 		Testing Spirits: What does it mean to test the spirits, & how are we supposed do that? [1 John 4:1]

2016-05-09 		Tree of Knowledge of Good & Evil: Why was there a tree to tempt Adam & Eve in the garden in the first place?



2016-02-26 		Spiritual Attacks or God's Testing: I'm trying to differentiate between having spiritual attacks from the devil or is God orchestrating testing?

2016-02-22 		Testing the Spirits: Can you explain what John meant by "testing the spirits"? [1 John 4:1, 1 Corinthians 14:29, 1 Thessalonians 5:20-21, Deuteronomy 13:1-4]

2016-02-03 		A Show Dedicated to Unbelievers: Whatever happened to one day per week for just non-Christians & atheists calling into your show?
God Testing Abraham with Isaac: Unbelievers want to know how God telling Abraham to sacrifice Isaac was a moral test? (Steve's connection gets interrupted but he is able to finish answer.)
Doing things wrong ignorantly: Will God judge us if we are doing things ignorantly?

2015-12-02 		Theomatics: What do you think of the principle/theory of Theomatics?
Peace & be not Troubled: What is John 14:27 talking about? [John 14:27]

2015-10-14 		The Existence of the Devil & Evil: If Christ is all knowing, why did He create the Devil & evil?

2015-09-11 		Tree of "Wisdom" (Knowledge of Good & Evil): Why did God put the Tree of "Wisdom" (he meant knowledge of good & evil) if He didn't want them to partake of it? For tempting? Testing? Was Adam an atheist?

2015-09-03 		Satan a Fallen Angel or the Tempter: If Satan was created at the Tempter, we'd have to attribute evil to God because Satan would have no culpability? Why would God judge Satan? You couldn't really say Satan was evil then.

2015-07-27 		"Lead us not into Temptation": Jesus was led into the wilderness to be tempted, so is this saying that God leads US to the Devil as well? [Matthew 4:1]

2015-04-21 		Open Theism: Are there just some things that God does not know? Such as, Why the Tree of Knowledge if He knew Adam & Eve were going to eat it? Why the Abraham & Isaac test? [Genesis 3:4-7]

2015-02-05 		Lake of Fire & the Devil & Angels: If God just made the Devil as a "tester" as Steve surmises, why would God then punish him for doing what he was created for?

2015-01-13 		Attacked from the Enemy (Satan): How would you describe being attacked by the enemy (the devil)?

2014-11-06 		Rejoicing in Temptation/Tests: Should we be embracing what we are struggling w/ life, having temptations? We should just be rejoicing in them? [James 1]

2014-10-31 		Appreciate of Steve Gregg: Caller is appreciative of Steve Gregg.
Trials that caller had: Caller says how he's been much better after going a period of suffering.

2014-08-01 		God Testing us - or not: Why in some places of the Bible does it say that God tests us, but in James it says God does NOT tempt us? Is it 2 different things? [James 1:13-18, Luke 4:1]

2014-07-24 		Prayers an Abomination: I heard a preacher recently say that if we have any sin in our heart, God will not answer us. Is that true? [Psalms 66:18, Proverbs 28:9]
The Perfect Christian: Some people seem to have a wrong idea of what being a Christian is. It doesn't mean you are PERFECT at all times.
Satan tempting: Does Satan try to get us to think we are the only ones going through a sin/temptation & that it's okay to succumb to it? [1 Peter 5:8-9]

2014-07-22 		Character Test: God tests us, & we need to pass the tests & Fear the Lord. [1 Corinthians 10:13]

2014-05-19 		Devil a Fallen Angel: If the Devil is not a Fallen Angel, then God must've had some purpose in creating him? What is the difference between temptation & testing?

2014-04-09 		Casting Satan to Earth: Why did God cast Satan to planet Earth right where human beings were going to be?

2014-03-31 		Satan: How could God be mad at Satan in the Garden of Eden for tempting Eve if He created Satan to be the tester? [Genesis 3]

2013-10-30 		Origin of Satan: If God didn't want Adam & Eve to fail, then why would He make a permanent "tester" by giving them Satan?

2013-09-19 		Job's Children: Why did God let Job lose his children? Listener thinks that sounds very mean of God.

2013-09-18 		God's Foreknowledge but Testing us: God tests us, that's true, but God knows what the outcome is going to be. God wants us to pass, but Satan wants us to fail.

2013-09-17 		Angels Being Tested: You say we are supposed to be tested, but were the angels ever tested when they fell?

2013-09-17 		Satan as a Tester: What if Satan was completely submissive to God? [2 Samuel 24, 1 Chronicles 21, Deuteronomy 13:1-3, James 4:7-8]

2013-08-29 		Abraham's Test with Issac: Why did God have Abraham go through with the test of whether he'd sacrifice his son or not since He already knew what he'd do? [Genesis 22:1-19, Genesis 3:8-9, Genesis 4:9, Genesis 18:20-21]

2013-06-21 		Job's Wife followup: Caller defends Job's wife's actions.

2013-06-21 		Pets in Heaven: Will we see our pets in Heaven?
Job's Wife: Job's wife didn't seem to accept the tribulation, suffering & calamity that had suddenly happened.

2013-05-30 		God Allowing Suffering: Could you expand on why God allows suffering and allow some bad people to live long lives, while others die so young-especially for skeptic?

2013-05-20 		"Count the Cost" & "Total Surrender": Why would someone want to "count the cost" when they are in "total surrender?" Why does one's personal testimony often neglect the trials of surrender and spiritual warfare? [Luke 14:28-31].
Blasphemy of the Holy Spirit: Why is blasphemy (speaking) against the Holy Spirit an unforgivable sin? [Matthew 12:31].

2013-05-07 		What are We to Buy?: What are we being told to buy in Revelation 3? [Revelation 3:17, I Peter 1:7].

2013-04-26 		The Power of the Occult: Why does God empower the occult? [2 Thessalonians 2:9-10, Luke 17:1].

2013-01-22 		Accusing of the Brethren: Satan can falsely accuse you in the court of law.

2013-01-16 		The Lord's Prayer - Lead Us Not into Temptation: "Lead us not into temptation", what did Jesus mean by this, God not leading us into Temptation?

2012-01-06 		A Bipolar Minister: Can a spirit-filled minister be "bipolar?" [1 Corinthians 2:16].
Back to Matthew713.com