Does God test us?

Sincerely,
Number 2 Pencil

Dear Number 2 Pencil,

God tests our hearts by comparing them to His Word.  1 Thess 2:4 says that God tests the hearts of every human being.  God never tempts us with evil (Jas 1:13), but instead, He compares our hearts and lives to His Word (Ps. 105:19).  God tested to see whether Abraham would obey His Word (Gen 22:1-2), and He tested the nation of Israel’s obedience in the wilderness (Deu 8:2-3).  God tests us so that He might reward us according to the lives we have led (Jer 17:10).  James wrote that trials are tests that produce patience… if we are faithful (Jas 1:2-3).  This whole life is a test to see what kind of people we will be.

     Can you divorce a spouse for committing homosexual acts with another person and remarry? If they don't technically commit intercourse because it's not physically possible, is it still adultery?  We are having a big debate on this subject at my church, and I would like some insight please.

Sincerely,
Divided Over Doctrine

Dear Divided Over Doctrine,

Matt 19:9 allows divorce for ‘fornication’.  Jesus never took the time to define what fornication was because the Jewish audience He was talking to had their Old Testament to read and could easily find out what fornication was by reading what the Old Testament said about the subject.  So let’s do what they would do!
Leviticus chapter twenty spends a lot of time talking about sexual immorality.  Sexual acts like laying with another man’s wife (Lev 20:10), incest (Lev 20:17), bestiality (Lev 20:15-16), and homosexual acts (Lev 20:13) all fall under the category of sexually immorality and are fornication.  So, yes, homosexual acts would be divorceable behavior.

What do you do when you are trying to make a difference, and you come across a person who tries to question your faith?  I mean that the person I am referring to has made a lot of satanic-type comments.  What do I do?

Sincerely,
Cat Got My Tongue

Dear Cat Got My Tongue,

It depends on how they are questioning your faith.  If someone has specific and honest questions about your Christianity, God expects you to be ready to give them honest and Biblical answers (1 Pet 3:15).  However, if someone is just trying to provoke you and be argumentative for argument’s sake… the Bible has another answer for that – don’t throw your pearls before swine (Matt 7:6).

Why would you say that angels could aid us, but not the Holy Spirit?  Where are the verses that specifically tell us the Holy Spirit does not act outside of scripture?  Seems like the Holy Spirit doesn't have a role any longer if that is the case, because scripture isn't living, but already written.  Is one third of the Godhead dormant?

Sincerely,
Where Did He Go?

Dear Where Did He Go?,

We here at AYP have never meant to imply that the Holy Spirit wasn’t able to help us – just because the Holy Spirit doesn’t perform visible miracles such as the parting of the Red Sea or the instantaneous healing of the lame, doesn’t mean He isn’t active.  Since the Holy Spirit is God (1 Cor 2:11, Gen 1:2) just as much as Jesus and the Father are, He is capable of being involved in our lives in a variety of ways.  The Holy Spirit’s primary task was to bring the gospel to mankind.  As you mentioned, He is why we have the Bible, and that is how the majority of His impact is made upon mankind.  Here are some examples of things that the Holy Spirit does through the Word:

1. He shows us God’s love for us (Rom 5:5).
2. He teaches us how to be born again (Jhn 3:5).
3. He dwells in our hearts (Rom 8:9) as we allow His words to lead us (Rom 8:14).
4. He bears witness for the saved before men (Rom 8:16).
5. He tells us what is on God’s mind (1 Cor 2:10).

By inspiring the writers of the Bible, testifying of their divine authority by miracles, and preserving their words through all history, the Holy Spirit has made Christ’s sacrifice available to all of mankind.

The Holy Spirit also actively does a few things that don’t directly relate to the Bible.

1. He makes sure our prayers are understood (Rom 8:26).
2. He intercedes for us with God (Rom 8:27).
3. He acts as our guarantee from God of eternal blessings (2 Cor 5:5).  One way to think of this is that God sent Him to be with us- sort of like a downpayment on His promise to spend eternity with us in heaven.
4. He grieves when we sin (Eph 4:30).

There can be no doubt that the Holy Spirit is actively preserving and distributing God’s Word, watching over our lives with providential care, and intimately caring about how you live and where you will spend eternity.

You answered someone who thought they were hearing voices (maybe God's), and you said the Holy Spirit doesn't communicate with us directly since we have the Bible.  Do you think it's possible for our angels to help us, even prompt us to do certain things?

Sincerely,
Buddy System

Dear Buddy System,

The Lord absolutely affects our lives in unseen ways.  Think of Elisha who asked God to open the eyes of his servant so that he could see the myriad of angels that were protecting them (2 Kgs 6:17).  Heb 13:2 says that people have unknowingly entertained angels in their homes.  Providential care from God is unseen… but just as deliberate as miraculous care.  Angels definitely help us (Heb 1:14) and watch over us.  They are sent by God to minister to our needs.