How Should Christians Respond to Demon Possession?

Or all of the Old Testament storms really about Jesus.

That's just one of the questions will be answering on today's addition of core Christianity by Bill Meyer along with Pastor Adrian Sanchez and this is the radio program where we answer your questions about the Bible and the Christian life every day. You can call us right now with your question. At 833.core that's 1-833-843-2673 course you can email us with your question at questions at core, Christianity.com first step today we have a good news story to share with you. It's about a man named Bill Hamish who owns the Hannah's bakery and coffee shop in the small town of Redwing, Minnesota. Bill felt bad for the 200 graduating seniors that his town's high school when their commencement ceremony was canceled due to the COBIT 19 pandemic so he decided that the thing to do was to make each of the graduates of free cake to layer around 7 inch cake decorated with their school colors purple and white well word quickly spread outside Redwing to neighboring Minnesota towns and across the river to towns in Wisconsin and pretty soon Bill was fielding calls from private donors area businesses and school districts wanting to buy cakes for their high school graduates bill is only charging for labor and ingredients is not making a profit on the cakes before this call came from Blooming Prairie, a town about an hour's drive away its bakery burned down back in January.

So now Bill has taken orders for 800 graduation cake and he says he's about halfway through medical, that is cooling and you know Bill, this will probably tell you little bit about me, but I think I would take that cake over a graduation ceremony at midnight that you get everybody but I have is a soft spot in my heart for cake and so it's great I love it will stick to our first question of the day and this one comes from Lou who emailed us all the way from Vincennes that Italy he says hi.

I trust this note finds you and your families well and safe from the virus.

My question is regarding second Samuel 21 verses 1 to 14. This passage is always perplexed me. It appears that David allows seven of Saul's errors to be put to death by the Gibeonites for revenge in order to answer prayer on behalf of the land. Am I reading this correctly. Is there a deeper meaning that I'm missing a Lou God bless you and I hope that your well in Italy.

Thank you for reaching out to us what a passage to think through and to begin the program with II want to read the text because I'm guessing that this is a story in the Bible that a lot of our listeners are unfamiliar with.

So I'm in a read second Samuel chapter 21 beginning in verse one it says now there was a famine in the days of David for three years. Year after year, and David sought the face of the Lord and the Lord said there is blood guilt on the house of Saul, because he put the Gibeonites to death to the king called the Gibeonites and spoke to them. Now the Gibeonites were not of the people of Israel but of the remnant of the Amorites, although the people of Israel had sworn to spare them. Saul had sought to strike them down in his zeal for the people of Israel and Judah.

David said of the Gibeonites. What shall I do for you and how shall I make atonement that you may bless the heritage of the Lord, the Gibeonites said to him, it is not a matter of silver or gold between us and Saul or his house. Neither is it for us to put any man to death in Israel that he said what you say that I shall do for you. They said to the king.

The man who consumed us and plan to destroy us so that we would have no place in all the territory of Israel. Let seven of his sons be given to us so that we may hang them before the Lord at DBO of Saul, the chosen of the Lord and the king said I will give them the king spared my finish at the son of Saul son Jonathan because of the oath of the Lord, that was between them. Between David and Jonathan, the son of Saul, the king took the two sons of wrist, the daughter of Iowa, whom she bore to Saul are moaning and within the shaft and the five sons of Mayor of the daughter of Saul, whom she bore to atrial, the son of Boris Alai, the met holy site and he gave them into the hands of the Gibeonites and they hang them on the mountain before the Lord and the seven of them perished together and they were put to death in the first days of the harvest at the beginning of the barley harvest and as the story continues as you know Lou the Lord brings an end to the famine sort of an interesting text and one I might say that I've thought a lot about because this is where my name comes from. You have atrial, the son of Boris Alai, the holy site who were not told very much of. But the pre-tragic character in the Bible. His children are hangs before the presence of the Lord. We got understand about this text is the background back in the book of Joshua. When the children of Israel were entering into the promised land, Joshua made a covenant with the Gibeonites in Joshua chapter 9 that they would not be harmed that the children of Israel would not kill them if I can verse 20 it says this we will do to them. Let them live last wrath be upon us because of the oath that we swore to them.

So there was a deal between the people of God in the Gibeonites a covenant.

This is a really important point to make, and the reason there was this problem in Israel.

Now that David is experienced is because Saul, the king of Israel had gone back on that oath on that covenant and he sought to put the Gibeonites to death. The harmed them. He broke the word of the Lord and the promise that was made between Joshua and the Gibeonites.

And so there's this atonement that needs to be made that there are a few I think lessons here that this passage of Scripture. This Old Testament text of Scripture teaches us one sin can keep God's blessing from us. Now you know that it's really difficult to sort of unpack this but one of the things that you clearly see in this passage is this is famine on the land. Because of this broken covenant. Because of this sin that we have to be careful because you know not every bad thing that happens to us in our lives is a direct result of our personal sin. We have to be careful that we also don't accuse others you know who or who were sick or suffering that they must be in some sort of sin.

But the reality is that sometimes that is the case and that's what we see here sin The people of God from experiencing the blessing of God. And here's the other point I think it's really important here. Lou sin has to be paid for. You think of that old principle that we find in in the Scriptures and eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. It's called the lex talionis. It is this principle of retributive justice numbers chapter 35 verse 33 says you shall not pollute the land in which you live for blood pollutes the land and no atonement can be made for the land for the blood that is shed in it except by the blood of the one who shut it will that's exactly what's happening here in second Samuel chapter 21 verses 1 to 14 is atonement is being made.

There's just restitution that's happening doesn't make a lot of sense to us. But in that society not culture the sort of principle and I for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. This retributive justice. That's what brought back. Essentially, the blessing of God. The justice needed to be done to get this picture of how sin can keep blessing from the people of God and the fact that sin must be paid for and I think ultimately Lou.

These principles are at the heart of the very gospel the breaking of God's covenant requires restitution, atonement in each and every one of us have broken God's covenant will that's why God sent his son into the world to bear the penalty of our sins to die in our place to hang on the tree. So in one sense, the principles that we see here Lou point us forward to the gospel of Jesus Christ and the forgiveness that we experience there always interesting Israel how so many of these passages when we really get behind them. They do point to Jesus and what he has done for each one of us and that we don't and we can't pay the penalty for our own sin. It was paid for by the perfect lamb Jesus Christ.

It's just such a beautiful picture.

Amen. Yet it's not always know that Jesus is under every rock of the Old Testament that anything just these principles that the principle of covenant. The principle of justice.

The principle of the need for atonement that we see everywhere throughout the pages of the Bible. They do that they point us forward to the gospel and what God was can do for us in Jesus. And so you're right on all Scripture is pointing us to that great reality. This is core Christianity with pastor Adm. Sanchez and if you have a question for us.

Our number is 833 the core that's 1-833-843-2673, and April.

We have a question from Damien calling from Topeka, Kansas: how would you have us a great question. Then we know that there really is a spiritual battle that we are in. As Christians we never want to downplay that. I think that there are two great problems today in the church related to spiritual warfare is one is we can just serve focus on it so much that our eyes are fixed on Satan.

We think that every bad thing that happens as a result of the devil. When I fall into sin if the devil when I'm sick. It's the devil. When I stub my toe. You know it's one of the devils minions as I think that we can become so infatuated with that that that becomes unhealthy, but the other problem you see in a lot of Christian traditions is we just sort of live as if there isn't this spiritual battle that's happening all around us and were not vigilant like the apostle Paul calls us to be prayerful engaging and growing in the truth of God's word. But, you know, wielding the sword of the Spirit and so we have to be careful. One that were not giving Satan so much attention that our eyes are taken off of Jesus, but to that were also not living is though we really are in a spiritual war is taking place and we are enlisted as soldiers in that battle by Jesus Christ.

But here's what you need to know when Satan attacks you. If you're a believer in Jesus Christ, washed in the blood. It cannot affect your salvation, three passages of Scripture that make this absolutely clear first John chapter 5 verse 18 we know that everyone who is been born of God. It does not keep on sinning, but he who was born of God protects him and the evil one does not touch him.

Okay, there's one now the second one I would go to John chapter 10 verses 27 through 28 Jesus said my sheep here my voice and I know them and they follow me and I give them eternal life, they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.

What promised we have there both given to us by John I one right there in first John 518. This promised that those who are born of God are protected by Jesus Christ, and the evil one does not touch them. And then in John 10 Jesus himself saying no one will snatch my sheep out of my hand.

I think also what the apostle Paul said in Romans chapter 8 verses 38 to 39. He says I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord's to look the devil is minions they can't separate you from the love of God and they can't take you out of the hands of God. I think that that's so important.

What can they do they don't have claim on you. If you're in Christ they can steal your salvation.

I think that they can rob us of our joy, the joy that we have in the Lord, the devil is at work seeking to deceive us, so that were blinded to the truth of God's word.

He can tempt us to sin.

And these things are are are devastating in the lives of believers. They can keep us from fixing our eyes on Jesus from having hope from having the joy, the confidence that we ought to have as Christians is I think it's important to recognize that while the devil cannot steal our salvation. He does so often steal our joy and that's what we need to know God's word and walk in the spirit.

As Paul says in the book of Galatians and pray with our eyes fixed on Jesus, so that when the devil and his minions do attack us or bring false interpretations of Scripture are where temptations are way we can respond to them the same way that Jesus responded in his temptation in the wilderness with the truth of God's word. Thank you for your question brother but praise the Lord blesses you. I'm so glad you mentioned that passage in Romans. It's so important for us to remember that nothing, nothing can separate us from the love of Christ.

What an incredible promise. This is core Christianity with Bill Meyer and pastor Adm. Sanchez and Indra.

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You can also call us for that. At 833-843-2673 would love to hear from you again that number is 833 the core well if you got a question for us. We would love to hear from you can email us. You can repost your question on our Facebook page or Instagram. Kevin wrote to us, and he said how should we interpret the Psalms. I heard someone say that all the Psalms are about Jesus and not just the messianic ones. Isn't that overdoing it. Some of the Psalm speak of sin and envy in fleshly problems. I heard Martin Luther had interpreted Psalm one as thinking of Christ as the blessed man back in 1513 but when it came back to the book. Decades later he changed his mind and interpreted it literally. Thanks so much for your thoughts, Kevin, thank you for your question. You know I love the book of Psalms is so funny it's it's the first book I ever read. As a Christian foot of an odd book to choose to read three to most people start in the Gospel of John, or something like that but for whatever reason I started reading to the Psalms and and I haven't put the Psalms down since I love the Psalms in the question that you asked is a really good one. Are all the Psalms ultimately about Jesus Christ that you mentioned, you know some people say will certainly the messianic Psalms are and if you know what a messianic Psalm is is so Psalms that are specifically quoted in the New Testament related to Jesus Christ you think of Psalm 22 right were Jesus is on the cross. He says my God, my God, why have you forsaken me.

He's quoting from Psalm 22, or other Psalms like Psalm 110 the Psalms that specifically are referred to in the New Testament as prophecies, pointing us to Jesus Christ was easy for us to say. Yeah those ones are about Jesus. But what about as you say, Kevin someone or Psalm 88 that the greatest lament of all Scripture or the many other Psalms. Hate all the Psalms that we have. Do they all point to Jesus.

I would say yes they do and think of what Jesus said in Luke chapter 24. It's one of my favorite scenes in the Gospels is walking with two of his disciples on the road to Emmaus and he says to them. This is verse 24.

These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you that everything written about me in the law of Moses and the prophets, and the Psalms must be fulfilled now. It's so interesting about that statement that Jesus makes there is what he's actually doing is he's taking each of the major divisions of the Old Testament, the law, the Torah, the writings, the prophets, the Psalms you think of the wisdom literature is taking each of the major divisions of the Old Testament. He sang it all points to me that we were just talking about this with with I believe it was the first question how all Scripture in one way or another is leading us to Jesus. The first two Psalm Psalms wanted to they set up assaulter. It had the theme of the blessed life through the reign of God's king God is can establish his king Psalm to that theme is carried out throughout the whole book of Psalms with some of that. The low points in the Psalter where the psalmist are really crying out to God, wondering what God is doing in the world today a really your question is a broader interpretive question though the Bible is about Jesus.

But how do we get to Jesus from particular passages of Scripture to great question Kevin. I would say there are two things that we have to keep in mind one. One interpret all Scripture in its context.

We want to recognize the original audience.

The original reference we might, we might say you know you look at Psalm 22 you think about the plight of the particular psalmist that he is going to be attacked by his enemies.

You also want to see how from that context, were led to Jesus. This can happen in several ways. Sometimes Jesus is clearly and specifically, prophesied about. Sometimes it's seeing that Jesus is the truly blessed man of the Psalms are the ultimate lament or he lamented with us. Psalm 22. The beautiful thing about the Psalms is that they help us to express our emotions to God in a way that is honest and biblical and they bring us close to Jesus because Jesus is the ultimate referent. He's the one that the psalmist is ultimately always leading us to one way or another whether it's by pointing us to the forgiveness that we receive the free forgiveness you think of a song like Psalm 51 ridiculous crying out in repentance. Whether it's that the promise of the blessed man who is perfectly righteous right there, all pointing us to Jesus. So we want to understand them in their original context as these praises by the people of God were songs of worship, prayers of lament, but then we want them from that original context to lead us to the ultimate referent to Jesus Christ, the true worshiper. The ultimate lament or the one who the Psalms are meant to lead us to and I think that's what Jesus says very clearly in Luke 24 you're listening to core Christianity with Pastor Israel Sanchez and you're welcome to call us anytime with your question 833-843-2673. That's 833. The core let's go to another call right now.

I let a lot of your thoughts on something and dotting me a couple years now I am on medication to battle on anxiety issues that I have and getting and cast them constantly having her really not. Apparently, and I know that pharmacy comes from the word pharmacopeia which means witchcraft and I know that we are forbidden in God's word to date with witchcraft and villas kind of had burden on my spirit about being on medication that would help and I physically cannot function at what are your thoughts on that. Dear Kristin, you don't need to be burdened by that the root relation between the Greek word Pharma can our English word pharmacy where you get anxiety medicine. The Greek word Pharma care was especially associated with magic spells and sorcery in the use of particular substances like drugs for the casting of those spells.

The word appears in in places like Galatians chapter 5 verse 20 it's that list of the works of the flesh, that the apostle Paul gives beginning and in verse 19 he said the works of the flesh are evident, sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, Pharma chaos, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions he says and he goes on to say, I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. Now look as if you went to the psychic medium to help you deal with your anxiety, and he cast a spell on you and gave you some potion that he had whipped up to try to do away with your anxiety think there'd be some correlation they are because that's essentially what was happening in the ancient world, and this was magic.

It was sorcery it was using these substances in the context of these pagan rituals Kristin, you're getting medicine for a very real medical issue we've we've said this before but I think it needs to be restated in if you had a broken leg and you went to the doctor to get your leg set again put in a cast.

No one would think twice about it. Or if you had the flu and you went to get some medicine you know. No biggie.

We don't realize how devastating mental health issues are in so many Christian churches. We too often we tell people to just pray and read their Bibles, and those things are are great and I hope you do pray and read the Scriptures, Kristin, but we would never tell someone with a broken leg to pray and read their Bible more we tell them to go to the doctor we would make them feel bad or like a weaker Christian because they did so you need to feel bad and you don't need to be concerned really is. It's a misunderstanding it's a sort of root fallacy where we take the word Pharma cams that will visible get the word pharmacy from therefore you know it's wrong to go to the pharmacy today just two different things that are being spoken about so it's a misunderstanding to misunderstanding of the Greek text and how it's being applied today and to its we need to do a better job in the church today, recognizing that look there are legitimate causes for getting medicinal help menu. Think of the mental health issues today and I hope that these medications do help and you don't need to feel guilty for taking them. If I can Chris let me just pray for you, gracious father in heaven.

I left Kristin up to you and I do ask Lord, that you would bring your grace, not knowing what what the situation is what I pray for your healing. I do pray Lord that the medications that she takes would be helpful for her that they would help her Lord live a more full life and a life that honors you.

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