Is God In Control or Is the World Subject to the Evil One?

If God is in control of everything. Why does the Bible say the whole world is in the power of the evil one. That's just one of the questions will be answering on today's edition of core Christianity this is Bill Meyer along with Pastor Israel Sanchez and this is the radio program where we answer your questions about the Bible and the Christian life every day and you can call us with your question right now, here's the phone number 833. The core that's 1-833-843-2673 and you can email us with your question at questions at core, Christianity.com without we start off today with an encouraging story. It's about a high school senior from Buffalo, New York named Antonio Gwen Junior when Antonio saw the damage from the writing that took place in his study, he grabbed a broom, bought some trash bags and started cleaning the streets by himself. He started at two in the morning and he didn't stop cleaning for the next 10 hours. Well, when a group of neighbors arrived later in the morning to start clearing the damage they found that Antonio had already done most of the work for them and when word spread of how he had single-handedly took action is community responded and they responded big time.

Matt blocks saw Antonio story on the news and he's a car collector, he decided to give Antonio his prized 2004 red Mustang convertible and local businessman Bob Raichlen heard about that and he decided to extend a year of free auto insurance coverage through his insurance agency variety.

We just have to say well done Antonio and enjoy your your Mustang convertible. Yeah driving style. That's another great story Bill later let's get to our first question of the day and we received this email from Jeremy he says what's the purpose of meeting as the body of Christ because Corbett 19 has restricted our fellowship. There was a discussion this week.

Among some of the men in my church who question why we would even attend the service if we couldn't fellowship with others in that vein, some articulated that the sole purpose of our meeting on Sunday was for fellowship.

The word, and the sacraments were not included in the discussion. I'd like to have a biblical source for the understanding and the purpose of meeting as a church body. Jeremy, this is something that a lot of people today in American Christianity are confused about because I think that like your friend, you know, they assume that the primary reason we gather together as Christians is just for fellowship. It's primarily about what I am doing what were doing and the fact of the matter is because I can have fellowship all over the place and at any time.

It doesn't make the church unique I can go fellowship with other believers on Tuesday morning for coffee or on Thursday night for pizza. You know what's what's the big deal.

Why gather together on Sunday morning was more than just fellowship and you asked for Bible verse I would go to acts chapter 2, verse 42, which describes the fellowship of the early church says they devoted themselves to the apostles teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers and came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles and all who believed were together and had all things in common is an early description of the Christian church but you know what they were devoted to.

They were devoted to the apostles teaching that is doctrine, the faith that has once for all been delivered to the saints, and it's so important that we are in church under the ministry of the word so that we can be nourished by that apostolic doctrine from a pastor who's been called and ordained Paul says in first Timothy chapter 3 and in Titus chapter 1 he gives us and those in the text of Scripture.

The qualifications for pastors for teachers. James says in James chapter 3, verse one. Don't let many of you become teachers, knowing that you'll receive a stricter judgment. So there's a sense in the New Testament that we have these people with been called by God to preach the apostles doctrine for us and for being built up in the faith for our nourishment and Paul unpacks this also in Ephesians chapter 4 so you have solid teaching and you also have the fellowship and the breaking of bread or a better translation might be the breaking of the bread because in the Greek text, there is that the definite article before that word bread is.

This is the bread is probably referring to the Lord's supper there there gathered together to participate in these gifts to receive these gifts that God is given to his people and then you also have the prayers there.

So when we gather together the focus is on what we call the elements of worship.

This is what makes a worship service.

A worship service for hearing God's word were praying together were singing were taking a collection for the needs of the people of God and for the needs of those who are suffering were part taking of the Lord's supper baptism. These these ordinances that Jesus gave to the church. This is what worship is about and this is what makes a worship service. A worship service is not just about fellow shipping with each of them and that's a wonderful piece of what takes place when we come together as as the church, but it's not everything, let me just say the scriptures in the Old Testament and in the New Testament when when they talk about what's happening when the people of God gather together for worship.

It's always depicted as the meeting between heaven and earth. And just think about that for a second. Is that how we view church when we gather together as Christians, do we view it as the meeting of heaven and earth under the old covenant you think about the temple tabernacle is well known, the people would come together was this picture of the heavenly temple where God dwelt amid everything that that the temple depicted was meant to point our eyes to God who is enthroned in the heavens under the new covenant. The author, the Hebrew says in Hebrews chapter 12 that were coming before the heavenly Jerusalem worship to be heaven breaking in on us and I think we have that view of worship only it's not something that we can do sort of leave behind or neglected something that we long for. And we know that we need because it's a gift that God is giving to us and so I think it's really important Jeremy that we recover the biblical view of worship. We've lost it. So downplayed the significance of worship.

The significance of hearing the preached word. The significance of here of receiving the gifts that God gives to us that people feel like they don't need worship anymore. I can get those things and not me. I can podcast sermons I can listen to core Christianity, which is great but it is not gathering together with God's people for worship and so we want to emphasize the significance. The importance of what's happening when we come together as a church and and I think we can have a high enough view of that. Now I know that that's been hindered as of late because of coping. 19. I know that every church in pastors group of elders is really thinking hard right now about reopening and what that looks like how we can continue to worship the Lord in a safe manner and I think that's good that's wise that's prudent, but we don't want to downplay the importance of what's happening when we do come together. God calls us to worship.

We want to listen to his call.

There will be interesting Israel just to see what happens in coming months as churches start to meet again. Some people will probably be nervous about coming into a church building again and they may choose to continue to stream or watch services online, but there is something missing. We we as a family we sat down and watched our church service this past Sunday, and although we love the worship music. It was great teaching. There was just that element that was missing about being together is the body of Christ.

Yeah, you're totally right and you're also right that people are going to have you. No differences of opinion on this week have been having worship services back in our space now for a couple of weeks doing everything in line with what the CDC is requested an end with the state of California has requested requested mental it's a lot of extra work by it's just so wonderful to be with the people of God were also still continuing to provide the online option for older members of our congregation who were not wanting to come because they feel that it would put them at risk for those who know our immune system compromise. I think we we want to be sensitive to the people of God into each other and to the needs of the congregation and so I think that that's a great route to go is as things open up. You know what we try to be as safe as we can, but also providing options for those who are still unable to gather together and afraid of gathering right now. Your listing to core Christianity with pastor Israel Sanchez and would love to get your question. Here's the phone number to call is 833-843-2673. By the way, you can also record your question for Sutter website.

If you go to core Christianity.com/radio just look for a little microphone on the right side of the page. Click on that and you can record your question is a question that came in from Christian in St. Louis, Missouri O colony regard words of the old military to follow. I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord, and so forth so induced first came that one of the great and dreadful day of the great Drupal that is when dues comes back with wrath so I couldn't be John the Baptist who is slighted. Do you believe the outcome yet our view of the upper come.

Thank you. Yeah so the case of the first text you mention Malachi chapter 4 verses five and six mistreated again. Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and awesome day of the Lord comes and he will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children in the hearts of the children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the land with the decree of utter destruction back in Malachi just the previous chapter, the beginning of chapter 3 we read behold, I send my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me. Now who does that sound like the messenger who is preparing the way before the Lord with nobody continues to say.

And the Lord, whom you seek, will suddenly come to his temple, and the messenger of the covenant, whom you delight, behold, he is coming, says the Lord of hosts will throughout the Old Testament you have this promise. The promise of this coming messenger who's going to prepare the way of the Lord. I think of Isaiah chapter 40 as well so you have it there in the minor prophets, but you also have it in Isaiah chapter 40.

This is typically the text also that the people will go to when referring to John the Baptist, comfort, comfort my people, says your God speak tenderly to Jerusalem and cried to her that her warfare is ended, that her iniquity is pardoned that she has received from the Lord's hand double for all her sins.

A voice cries in the wilderness, prepare the way of the Lord make straight in the desert a highway for our God is there some really I think is fascinating things about this year one.

This messenger who whose coming is preparing a way for God, the Lord is coming to his temple that you imagine in the Old Testament, the people probably thought that is what this is is you save the for the final judgment. This is that the restoration of all things. They probably weren't anticipating the incarnation of the son of God, Jesus Christ himself coming to the temple of the Lord and cleansing it. But that's exactly what happened and Jesus says in Matthew chapter 11 verses 13 to 15. All the prophets and the law prophesied until John. And if you are willing to accept it. He is Elijah who is to come. He who has ears to hear, let him hear the voice these promises these prophecies in Malachi in Isaiah chapter 40 referring to this messenger who is coming. Jesus is and I didn't want to listen to Jesus. He's got the perfect interpretation. The divinely inspired interpretation of the Scriptures. He inspired the scriptures, Jesus says we talking about John the Baptist here little bit later in Matthew Matthew 1710 through 13. The disciples asked Jesus why did the scribes say that Elijah must come first.

Jesus answered Elijah. It does come and he will restore all things. But I tell you that Elijah has already come and they did not recognize him, but did to him whatever they please, so also the Son of Man will certainly suffer at their hands than the disciples understood that he was speaking to them of John the Baptist. Now I think one of the reasons why it sounds like you have. This question is because you so will the day of the Lord. That's you know the final judgment. When God pours out his wrath.

How can John the Baptist be Elijah that has not yet happened. Will we have to understand, especially when you're reading prophetic literature and that the theme of the day of the Lord comes up over and over again, in particular in the minor prophets Hosea Joel Amos Obadiah Jonah Micah Nahum Habakkuk Zephaniah Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi, you want to memorize those the 12 minor prophets, the day the Lord comes up over and over again as a theme therein and it is it's this end times judgment that God brings about, but what's so interesting is that in one sense in Jesus Christ and his death and resurrection. That day has already begun the new creation is already beginning to break in on us on this present evil age meet the Jews who believed in the resurrection they also didn't envision that the resurrection was gonna happen. You know, first with one individual, namely Jesus. And then later, all the rest of the people of God. But that's how it happened the day.

In one sense is already started and yet were waiting for. Looking forward to that. The full and final consummation. The last judgment, the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come in so I think that might be white why there's a little bit of confusion. It's this it's what we sometimes referred to as the already and not yet already the kingdom of God is here breaking in on us. But there's a not yet aspect to the kingdom as well. That future finalized consummation of God's kingdom and I think we just want to take Jesus's words here to Hardeman. He makes it very clear the Elijah that's prophesied in Malachi 4 in Isaiah chapter 40 that the one who is coming to prepare the way of the Lord. That's John the Baptist you know it. We often talk about the importance of interpreting Scripture correctly. And when there are passages that are unclear to us looking to the words of Jesus himself can always aluminate may be a more confusing passage because he is God, and it when he tells us something we need to listen and I'm glad you brought that up bill because one of the things we want to do on this broadcast is not just digging into the Scriptures together but help people understand how to interpret the Scriptures for themselves so that is there reading through the Bible they are able to. The pieces together as well and one of the primary interpretive keys that you need to know is that we interpret the less clear passages of Scripture with the more clear ones we want to let the clear passages illuminate for us those ones that are not as clear to us and really the only infallible interpreter of the Scripture is the Scripture itself and often times the Bible gives us the interpretation like here. This is a great example of that Jesus telling us who Elijah was weak, take his word for it because he knows he's God. So there it is. I appreciate you bringing that up. Bill your listing to core Christianity with pastor Israel Sanchez and Pedro want to tell our listeners about a really cool offer that we have for them today.

Yet talk about digging into the Scriptures. It's art excellent Bible study on the Gospel of John is available on our website. The 10 week study and it's a great way to learn about the life and ministry of Jesus.

You can do this with a group of friends or even on your own. We've been getting great feedback from people who are using the study. Right now it's available as a PDF download. You can request or you can get a physical copy is also a leaders guide that's available if you want to lead a group of people through this study on the Gospel of John to core Christianity.com/offers to get your copy of our new Bible study, the gospel of John. By the way, this could make a great resource to send to your pastor or your small group leader as they are planning their next study and you can call us for that.

At 833-843-2673 and you can always email us if you have a question at questions at core, Christianity.com speaking to that we have an email from Eric and he says, as Christians, is it appropriate for us to pray the imprecatory Psalms. How does this square with praying for the salvation of those who mean to do us harm, or who have done harm.

I'm thinking about those who slander Christians and who push for abortion or other things that do great harm to society as a whole and the things are heartbreaking. Eric and devastating as you say, to society, and should, I think creating the people of God.

This righteous indignation, you know, anger is not a bad thing. It's what we do with that anger. Are we led to sin. We shouldn't be led to sin. The Bible says be angry and do not sin, but I think that anger when we see people taking advantage of when we see injustice when we hear about the countless lives that are destroyed through things like abortion, God, we cry out to the Lord and sometimes we cry out, as I said with anger, not sinful anger but a righteous and holy anger now you're asking a really good question and I think that some people are probably unfamiliar with that phrase. The imprecatory Psalms. So let me just define those those Psalms are the Psalms where the psalmist is calling down curses on his enemies. Think about Psalm 55 verse 15.

Let death take my enemies by surprise. Let them go down alive to the grave or Psalm 69 verse 28. May they be blotted out of the book of life and not be listed with the righteous or Psalm 137 verse nine how blessed will be the one who seizes your infants and dashes them against the rocks that verse right there is probably the most, if not one of the most controversy oh versus in all of the Psalter there imprecatory prayers.

The psalmist in his anger because of the injustice because of the sin because of the ways in which they've been sinned against by the nations of the world there crying out for God to judge these people. Now, should we pray like that, as Christians, I mean it makes sense. Under the old covenant and in the context of the land of Canaan. You know, Israel was to purge the land because the land was supposed to be this new Eden. Perfect your right now under the new covenant. The repeated command for us as Christians is to pray for our enemies not against them. This is what Jesus did on the cross is also what Stephen did when he was being stoned to death in acts chapter 7, he was praying for God's mercy for God's salvation to be poured out on the very people who were persecuting him and putting him to death. I think of that story in Luke chapter 9 verses 52 through 55 Jesus sent messengers ahead of him who went and entered a village of the Samaritans to make preparations for him, but the people did not receive him, because his face was set toward Jerusalem. And when his disciples James and John thought they said, Lord, do you want us to tell fire to come down from heaven and consume them. Jesus turned and rebuked them. If you think you know James and John. There were probably no feeling like a boy were zealous for the Lord was zealous for Jesus this kingdom. These people are rejecting our message that rejecting our Lord. Do you want us to call down fire Jesus. Jesus is now is not the time he rebukes them, and I think that that's indicative of the fact that right now as believers under the new covenant we are called not to call down fire on people on our enemies but to call down the Lord's mercy. Thanks for that. Israel you're listening to core Christianity and we would love to hear your question at 833-843-2673, and April. Here's a question that we received from Jerry in California God.

First John 519, the whole world power. One color to create. Thank you. Here's the first thing we need to establish because of the work of Jesus Christ on the cross, Satan has been disarmed, bound and cast out Colossians chapter 2 says God disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame by triumphing over them in Jesus. He's been bound. Jesus gives this parable and in Mark chapter 3 verse 27 where he talks about finding a strong man. He says no one can enter the strong man's house and plunder his goods unless he first binds the strong man and then he may plunder his house. Jesus is saying I have bound Satan, so that I can plunder his kingdom. He's been cast out Jesus said in John chapter 12 verses 31 and following. Now is the judgment of this world now will the ruler of this world be cast out. And I when I am lifted up, will draw all people to myself this disarming, binding and casting out-of-state is not in reference to his abilities still work in the world. It's obvious that he does right. First John 519, the verse that you read, but he only does it in accordance with what he has been allowed by God member Joe chapter 1 Satan had to get permission from the Lord to do any of his evil deeds in the world. God is in complete control of the devil, he's sovereign.

He's the king he's the Lord and we can't forget that.

So even though Satan has been disarmed, bound and cast out, he still allowed to work in the world today why we don't always know why God has his own sovereign purposes, but God is in control and God is in a because all things to work together for the good of those who love him and are called according to his purpose. Vanessa hope you have in the gospel. Thanks for listening to core Christianity to request your copy of today's special offer. Visit us@corechristianity.com and click on offers in the menu bar or call us at 1-833-843-2673 that's a 33, the court when you contact us.

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