20 Questions with Mike Winger (Episode 108)

Question Time Stamps for Quick Reference:
0:00 - Intro
1. 0:15 {When Should I NOT Take Communion?} When should a believer NOT take communion? Is finding myself repenting of the same sin over and over and having an ongoing struggle with the same sin a reason not to?
2. 18:56 {Can A False Prophet Glorify God?} My parents sit under a pastor who claims to have a prophecy from God almost weekly. He preaches in Jesus’ name and glorifies God, but his prophecies are always totally wrong or incredibly vague. Can a man who glorifies God also prophesy falsely?
3. 24:09 {Christ & H.S. In Us = Modalism?} At the end of Colossians, it talks about Christ in us, and in Galatians, it talks about the Spirit of His son in our hearts crying out “Abba, Father.” That sounds like the Holy Spirit, but is it Modalism to call Christ in you the Holy Spirit?
4. 27:57 {Animal Sacrifices in Millen. Kingdom?} Why will there be animal sacrifices in the Millennial Kingdom?
5. 35:25 {Should Slaves have Run Away from Masters?} In light of Ephesians 6:5-8 and Colossians 3: 22-23, was it wrong for African slaves to run away from their masters?
6. 42:48 {Do Our Prayers Need to be Specific?} People have been saying with increasing frequency, "Make your prayers specific.” I’m wondering why I keep hearing this lately. Is this biblical?
7. 46:40 {Did Jesus Have a Sin Nature?} Was Jesus the biological son of Mary? If so, how did He not inherit a sin nature?
8. 50:49 {Does Heaven Last for Eternity?} Do we live in Heaven for eternity, or will it be a finite time period (Isaiah 65: 20)?
9. 54:50 {Share Our Burdens?} Galatians 6:2 says to carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ, but verse 5 says that each person should carry their own load. Should we share our burdens or carry our own?
10. 59:13 {Reject the Church = Reject Christianity?} If I reject the Church as an institution, do I automatically reject the Christian faith?
11. 1:02:00 {Committed Relationships as Good as Marriage?} How would you answer claims that “committed sexual relationships” have everything good that a marriage has? What’s the essence of marriage that withstands infertility/impotence/distance, etc.?
12. 1:06:09 {Recovering from Works Based Thinking} I left the Hebrew Israelite movement 3 years ago, and since then, I’ve been struggling with my walk. I know we have God’s grace, but I was so used to doing works that I feel lost now. Any suggestions?
13. 1:11:05 {Laws, Islam & Executing Apostates} Looking at Deuteronomy 13:6-10, is the apostasy law similar to Muslims? And is it inherently immoral for an apostate to be put to death because of their beliefs, according to the Old Testament?
14. 1:16:48 {Was Jesus’ Body Broken For Us?} What are your thoughts on when people say “This is the body of Christ, broken for you.” To me, this is not accurate, as Jesus was not “broken” for us (no bones broken like the Passover lamb).
15. 1:18:54 {Are Non-Believers Always Wrong?{ Some Christians act like non-believers are inherently untrustworthy or dishonest, like they shouldn't be taken seriously. This feels really wrong. Can you please help me find biblical teaching on this?
16. 1:23:01 {Our Bodies during the Millennial Reign} What kind of body will each "group" of people have during the Millennial Reign? I know the previously dead will receive knew bodies, and those that die in God during the Tribulation will get new bodies.
17. 1:24:17 {The “Prize” in Philippians} What is the prize of the upward call" in Philippians 3: 14?
18. 1:27:56 {Raising Children w/Unbelieving Family} Is it wrong that I don’t want to raise my son around my unbelieving family members? They can even be hostile to the faith. I even have a transgender niece, and my wife and I don’t want our son around that.
19. 1:30:49 {Praising the Holy Spirit?} A friend said that Scripture never calls us to praise the Holy Spirit despite numerous worship songs and the Doxology saying otherwise. Is he wrong? Should we only worship the Father and the Son?
20. 1:33:36 {The Bible Harmonized w/Psychology?} How do we harmonize the Bible and psychology? I have some leaders that try to diagnose people’s sin through the lens of psychology and not Scripture (things like compulsive lying, laziness, etc.).

[sarahfaith]

Question Time Stamps for Quick Reference:

0:00 - Intro
1. 0:15 {When Should I NOT Take Communion?} When should a believer NOT take communion? Is finding myself repenting of the same sin over and over and having an ongoing struggle with the same sin a reason not to?
2. 18:56 {Can A False Prophet Glorify God?} My parents sit under a pastor who claims to have a prophecy from God almost weekly. He preaches in Jesus’ name and glorifies God, but his prophecies are always totally wrong or incredibly vague. Can a man who glorifies God also prophesy falsely?
3. 24:09 {Christ & H.S. In Us = Modalism?} At the end of Colossians, it talks about Christ in us, and in Galatians, it talks about the Spirit of His son in our hearts crying out “Abba, Father.” That sounds like the Holy Spirit, but is it Modalism to call Christ in you the Holy Spirit?
4. 27:57 {Animal Sacrifices in Millen. Kingdom?} Why will there be animal sacrifices in the Millennial Kingdom?
5. 35:25 {Should Slaves have Run Away from Masters?} In light of Ephesians 6:5-8 and Colossians 3: 22-23, was it wrong for African slaves to run away from their masters?
6. 42:48 {Do Our Prayers Need to be Specific?} People have been saying with increasing frequency, "Make your prayers specific.” I’m wondering why I keep hearing this lately. Is this biblical?
7. 46:40 {Did Jesus Have a Sin Nature?} Was Jesus the biological son of Mary? If so, how did He not inherit a sin nature?
8. 50:49 {Does Heaven Last for Eternity?} Do we live in Heaven for eternity, or will it be a finite time period (Isaiah 65: 20)?
9. 54:50 {Share Our Burdens?} Galatians 6:2 says to carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ, but verse 5 says that each person should carry their own load. Should we share our burdens or carry our own?
10. 59:13 {Reject the Church = Reject Christianity?} If I reject the Church as an institution, do I automatically reject the Christian faith?
11. 1:02:00 {Committed Relationships as Good as Marriage?} How would you answer claims that “committed sexual relationships” have everything good that a marriage has? What’s the essence of marriage that withstands infertility/impotence/distance, etc.?
12. 1:06:09 {Recovering from Works Based Thinking} I left the Hebrew Israelite movement 3 years ago, and since then, I’ve been struggling with my walk. I know we have God’s grace, but I was so used to doing works that I feel lost now. Any suggestions?
13. 1:11:05 {Laws, Islam & Executing Apostates} Looking at Deuteronomy 13:6-10, is the apostasy law similar to Muslims? And is it inherently immoral for an apostate to be put to death because of their beliefs, according to the Old Testament?
14. 1:16:48 {Was Jesus’ Body Broken For Us?} What are your thoughts on when people say “This is the body of Christ, broken for you.” To me, this is not accurate, as Jesus was not “broken” for us (no bones broken like the Passover lamb).
15. 1:18:54 {Are Non-Believers Always Wrong?{ Some Christians act like non-believers are inherently untrustworthy or dishonest, like they shouldn't be taken seriously. This feels really wrong. Can you please help me find biblical teaching on this?
16. 1:23:01 {Our Bodies during the Millennial Reign} What kind of body will each "group" of people have during the Millennial Reign? I know the previously dead will receive knew bodies, and those that die in God during the Tribulation will get new bodies.
17. 1:24:17 {The “Prize” in Philippians} What is the prize of the upward call" in Philippians 3: 14?
18. 1:27:56 {Raising Children w/Unbelieving Family} Is it wrong that I don’t want to raise my son around my unbelieving family members? They can even be hostile to the faith. I even have a transgender niece, and my wife and I don’t want our son around that.
19. 1:30:49 {Praising the Holy Spirit?} A friend said that Scripture never calls us to praise the Holy Spirit despite numerous worship songs and the Doxology saying otherwise. Is he wrong? Should we only worship the Father and the Son?
20. 1:33:36 {The Bible Harmonized w/Psychology?} How do we harmonize the Bible and psychology? I have some leaders that try to diagnose people’s sin through the lens of psychology and not Scripture (things like compulsive lying, laziness, etc.).

[lauracheever]

That first answer was incredibly powerful. I'm an ex-Mormon, and have frequently felt like taking communion was a self appointed "temple recommend interview." Your reminder that NONE of us come before God based on our righteousness nor do we remain there based on our own efforts was so uplifting. Thank you, Mike.

[P_Newlun]

I know you don't like Catholsism but as a young Catholic I was taught to pray on my way up to receive communion. Lord I am not worthy to receive you, speak but the word and my soul shall be healed.

[revolverguy]

When you say something like;
"we could do a whole study on that"

Just know, we want that study and are waiting patiently.
That is all, thanks

[christistruth]

Thank you for your conversation on communion. I think many of us are taught wrongly about it and therefore feel as the questioner does, that we shouldn’t take communion. It helps to understand the context of the situation in Corinth. I will approach communion now with a joy to be part of the body of Christ, that we’re all celebrating Christ together rather than the sad somberness of the fact that I’ll never be righteous enough. With this understanding, it takes the focus off of me and gets it back on Christ where it’s supposed to be. Praise be to God!

[csmoviles]

I've abstained from partaking in communion on various occasions, deeming myself unworthy. It's been a merciful answer from God. Praise be to God forever and ever🙏💝🙏💝🙏💝🙏💝🙏

[matthewm]

Mike I just want to thank you for your very clear and thoughtful teachings. One example: Few teachers highlight the Bible’s teaching of sin while managing to balance the seriousness of sin without making the listener feel condemned. Whenever I hear you teach on sin, I am once again reminded how serious it is, and how much I need deliverance from it, yet you also never fail to remind me that we are never condemned under Christ and that God always wishes for us to accept his offer of forgiveness.

[lisalisa]

Pastor Mike, thank you so much for your ministry. I rarely catch you live, but listen late on Friday nights while I'm doing art. The combination just calms my soul.
My 17 year old son Reece (he is a believer) sits across the foyer from me playing video games while you're on and just when I think he's not listening due to his headphones, he'll repeat something funny that you've said and laugh. I'm getting so much from your 20 questions, but you're probably also planting seeds in him to grow in Christ just like when I would hear Charles Stanley in the background at my parents house when I was his age. The sound of Pastor Stanley's voice always brings my back home and gives me peace in his teachings as an adult. I wonder if my son will watch you in his adult years and find the same. I hope so. I do know this, he loves your shirts. 🙂
Again, thanks for all you do. I really appreciate you digging into scripture and also telling us when you don't know the answer to something. And I will be praying for you and your family member with the health issue. God bless, Mike.

[highlightning]

Very much appreciate your answer on communion, Brother Mike. I learned from Dr. Gordon Fee (Bible translator and a professor of New Testament studies) that what was going on at the Corinthian church regarding the Lord's supper was that some of them were getting drunk and/or eating all the food. So there was gluttony and drunkenness going on at their love feasts (communion) which, obviously, was greatly dishonoring to the Lord. By "exam yourselves" Paul didn't mean "make sure there isn't any sin in your life" rather he meant (basically) "make sure you're taking the Lord's supper in a worthy manner; not guzzling all the wine and glorking down all the food so that no one else gets anything to eat".

Man, if I had known this as a young believer it would have saved me a cargo ship load of stress. lol The Lord bless the all of yas!

[abloun]

Pastor Mike Winger. Thank you. I really admire your service for Jesus Christ.

[Ilsethomas]

Hello Pastor Mike Winger, thank you for answering my question, even though it was a difficult question. Indeed, I reject the authorities of the Roman Catholic Church because the claims they make deviate from the teachings of the Bible. I have a very difficult time with that and have therefore made very wrong decisions. Yet certain channels have woken me up again to read more biblical texts, among other things. It helped me open my eyes. Greetings from Belgium.

[eclipsesonic]

Thank you so much, Mike for clarifying the issue of Communion and how the Corinthian Christians misused it. I always thought it had to do with them either sinning or being flippant about sin when they took it, but now I understand what was going on, so I really appreciate your insight. May God continue to bless you and your ministry. 🙏🙏

[thelizardreborn]

I appreciate your answer to question 8 (Does Heaven Last for Eternity). I clearly remember the first time this concept sank in for me was while singing Amazing Grace: "When we've been there 10, 000 years... we've no less days to sing your praise then when we first begun".

It's hard to comprehend on this side of heaven. Every day, every MINUTE, that passes is one less that we have before we die, and we can never get it back. There will be no such urgency in heaven.

[timhatzell]

Thank you for this explanation. I have struggled with feeling unworthy of taking communion for 43 years. Communion Sunday was always terrifying for me. I feel so unworthy but I have this excitement for the next communion Sunday!

[christopherlopez]

Every time I watch these Mike Winger QandA videos I tell myself I’d like the video 20 times over if I could. Thank you so much for the work you do in the kingdom and I think God for you Mr. Winger. God bless you and those who seek God’s word and wisdom with Love. May we all, in Jesus name, Glorify God on this side of eternity 🙏🏽

[kaymojil]

So blessed by this channel, thank you Lord

[sheilasmith]

There are so many that teach scripture that do not know scripture. Even fewer teachers that are also wise.
Mike is both knowledgeable and wise.
Thank you, Mike, for the ministry you offer.

[luminia]

Pastor Mike, we are truly blessed by your work for Jesus Christ. I have a very stressful job and I always listen to your videos during my breaks at work. I cannot even begin to put into words how grateful I am for the peace I have found through our Lord by your ministry. I find myself praying more than I ever have before, and I truly feel the peace of God during my chaotic days. My own father is a pastor, and I live far away from him right now. I still talk to him about my studies in the Bible, but while I can't talk to him everyday, I feel like I talk to you too now thanks to these videos. Your approach is similar to his, you pay such close attention to the language just like he does. Thank you for giving yourself so wholly to the Lord so that we all might be blessed by the work you do. May God bless you and your family forever and ever. You and yours are always in my prayers. Thank you so much, I can never thank you enough, and I can never thank God enough for your ministry.

[Notevenone]

Your final comment about the Bible is something I’m experiencing daily. It truly is an amazing collection. Thank you for guiding me to the beauty of the word in my daily life

[GodsGrace]

Wow, Mike Winger! I’m fairly new to you & have just watched questions 1 & 2 (communion & falsely prophesying pastor) & I’m amazed at how you put your finger on what really matters & what is really being said in scripture.. things I never realized after decades of bible, church, etc. God bless & keep you. His hand is undoubtedly upon you.