Is Satan to Blame for the Problems in the World?

A good friend of mine often says that Satan is the source of the problems we face in life but if Satan can't be everywhere at once. How can we blame him for all our problems. That's just one of the questions will be answering on today's edition of core Christianity hi 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. You can call us right now with your question. At 833, the court, that's 1-833-843-2673. You can also email us with your question at questions at core, Christianity.com and you can record your question at our website.

Core, Christianity.com/radio. Today we have a good news story to share with you.

It's about Tyler Houses.

He is seven years old and he wants his little sister Emily to know he's always with her even if he can't be physically by her side when she's having surgery. Tyler has been worrying about Emily's help since before he can remember. Emily has down syndrome and a heart condition which makes it difficult for her to breathe. She had her first open heart surgery when she was just three months old thinking of his sisters. Many hospital stays. Tyler decided to enter starlight foundations contest to design a hospital gown to be worn at children's hospitals all across the United States. He decided to adorn his design with the motivational words that he and his family always use before Emily's surgeries and those words are brave, courage, love, fighter and survivor and here's the great news Tyler has one national contest so his hospital gown will be in children's hospitals all across the country. Oh that is so cool I love to see a picture of that. It's really beautiful his art, and then those words this just so striking. You can find it online if you just google starlight foundations a hospital gown winter. Later let's get to our first question of the day.

This is the call that came in on 833-843-2673 family California are when you have the Holy Ghost speaking in tongue to receive our father to enter heaven.

Thank hey Sammi think that question know the answer is no. We don't need to speak in tongues in order to be received by the father in heaven. We do need to have the Holy Spirit.

Paul says in first Corinthians that no one can say that Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit, so recognizing by faith who Jesus is, that the work of the Holy Spirit in our hearts, but not everyone who has the Holy Spirit speaks in tongues and that that's a good thing aside the question of our tongues steel for today. But even if if someone holds that view. Paul makes it very clear and in first grade. In chapter 12 and first rate is 12 to 14 is really the primary discussion on the gifts of the Holy Spirit, tongues, prophecy whatnot. U want to go in your thinking about these things but he says in verse 50 is 12 beginning in verse 27 just read a few verses to you as now you are the body of Christ, and individually members of it, and God is appointed in the church, first apostles and prophets, their teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, administrating, and various kinds of tongues are all apostles are all prophets, are all teachers do all work miracles. Do all possess gifts of healing do all speak with tongues. Do all interpret that he says but earnestly desire the higher gifts and I will show you still more excellent way know if he fees asking these root rhetorical questions there later in verse radius 12.

In verses 29, 30 do all speak in tongues and the answer is no. Feminist is not the case. We don't all have the same spiritual gifts.

And that's part of the point is God's gift to each of us uniquely Sammi, I don't have the gift of administrating the system and if I tried to administrating things begin to fall apart and we see that in our church and so we need to delegate that other people to other people who God is gifted in that way you raise. I think a bigger question in a really important question as well and that's what do we need to do to be received by the father will think of it like this is not what you do, it's who you know was just talking to the guys earlier before we started today's program you my dad in Mexico. He owns a circus in Mexico is through a family business. He had all of his brothers my whole life growing up like this is what they've done and I've pretty well known circus in one of the perks of being the son of a guy who owns a pretty well known circus in Mexico is that here where I live in San Diego. If there's ever a circus in town and occasionally there's one little post up you know near your mall in a big parking lot or something like that when I go if I tell them my dad is usually they let me in for free, which is pretty cool. I remember the first time I took my wife being able to do that and for the feeling extra special in us getting in for free and and me saying well you know circus royalty or something like that. I told her, but will in one of the perks.

I guess in anything. As I got in just because of who I know who I'm related to the question for each of us is MIA connected to Jesus am I in Christ and my adopted into the family by faith. That's not what you do Sammi, it's who you know. And Jesus said in John chapter 14 verse six I am the way the truth and the life.

No one comes to the father except through me.

It's not what you do. It's not. I speak in tongues right on, speak in tongues or are I performed all these wonderful works know it's I know Jesus and he knows me by faith.

That's the key. Thanks for your question you drill behind Sammy's question. I can't help but wonder if he's been told by someone or perhaps even a church that if he doesn't speak in tongues. He's either not really a Christian. Or maybe he's at some kind of second-class status because he doesn't speak in tongues. How would you respond to that. Yeah well you're right Bill.

There are churches that do teach that and I think I would go back to that same passage I referenced earlier in first with his chapter 12 Paul says, you know, look do all speak in tongues and the answer is no, God is gifted people in different ways and so when churches say in less you speak in tongues. You're knocking to be received by the father in heaven that are just contradicting what the apostle Paul is saying it's actually taking the attention.

I think off of Christ and his work and onto ourselves and what we do and I think that's a very dangerous thing and so Sammi if that's if that's was going on, I would.

I would go to first printing 12, read that passage and rest in the fact. Like Paul says elsewhere in first Corinthians that you can't even say that Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit. So if Jesus is Lord, if you confess that brother it's because the Spirit of God lives in you and you can rest in the fact that God is at work and you believe in Jesus. That's how we get to the father. This is core Christianity with Pastor Israel Sanchez on Bill Meyer and a drill. We have a question that came in via email from Timothy and this has to do with an Old Testament passage he says in Ezekiel 40 God shows Ezekiel ablation of the temple.

What temple is this. Since the measurements do not fit the temples built under Ezra or Nehemiah or by Herod. Now that there is no need for sacrifice because of Jesus sacrifice on the cross and there will not be a temple in heaven. What is the purpose of this division.

Where does this fit into prophetic history from Ezekiel standpoint yeah really good question. And as you can imagine there are all sorts of different answers that you're going to get depending on who you ask.

I'm in there. There are different systems of theology that read Ezekiel chapter 40 it's really chapters 42, 48, where you have this this description of this this temple.

I mean it's a very vivid description as well. You have all these measurements and whatnot detail about this great end times temple that is built temple of the Lord. Now some people have argued on the basis of this text that there is to be a rebuilt temple, and even that Christians should seek to help bring about this rebuilt temple project.

I disagree. I think what Ezekiel is seeing is the temple that comes down from heaven. In the new creation.

It's it's a symbolic picture of the kingdom of God.

At the end of time know especially the very first couple of verses in Ezekiel chapter 40.

Let me read them.

Ezekiel 40 verses one into an the 25th year of our exile at the beginning of the year on the 10th day of the month and the 14th year after the city was struck down on that very day the hand of the Lord was upon me, and he brought me to the city in visions of God.

He brought me to the land of Israel, and set me down on a very high mountain, on which was the structure like a city to the south. Yet this this temple city that Ezekiel sees it's like to structure this like a city business town, God's town, we might say it's this picture I think of the new creation because when we go to Revelation chapter 21 and this is the final picture of the new creation if we will work God wipes away every tear from our eyes will Revelation chapter 21 verse 10 says this is John speaking another profit. He says he carried me away in the Spirit to a great high mountain and showed me the holy city Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God. Note the parallel there. Ezekiel says God took me to the land of Israel sent me on a very high mountain and I see this structure, like a city to the south and then John says in Revelation 2110 I was carried away in the Spirit to a great high mountain okay will, there's a connection there with Ezekiel chapter 41 and two and he showed me the holy city Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God, and so this vision that Ezekiel has is a picture of the new creation. Revelation chapter 21 the kingdom of God and the people of God dwelling in the heavenly city for all time and again there are some people like us. I do think that this temple is going to be rebuilt as a part of this age. The problem with this and in you, I think, noted Timothy is that over and over again in the New Testament we get this clear command that were not supposed to go back to the temple sacrifices of the old covenant, that those sacrifices were part of the old covenant. Think of for example the book of Hebrews overcoming that that was one of the problems with the Hebrew churches that embrace Jesus and yet they wanted to mix Jesus with the old covenant. They wanted to go back to the sacrifices of the temple and the author. The Hebrew says no way. Don't do that. So Ezekiel's vision is really a vivid picture of God dwelling with his people and it's fulfilled in Revelation 21 what a great explanation of that passage of Scripture drill. Thanks so much. This is core Christianity, where we answer the questions you have about the Christian faith every day and we have an amazing team of people behind us producing the show and people were writing the core articles for our website producing our core Bible studies.

These are resources that are helping you and other believers more fully understand the gospel and also have the confidence to share your faith now as you can imagine, this requires a lot of people to come alongside us to support this important work. We can't do it without your prayers and your financial support MFR were asking you to consider coming alongside us at this time and become a regular supporter with the monthly donation of $25 or more, you can join the inner core and be part of the team that makes this show possible just head over to core Christianity.com/inner core. To learn more or you can give us a call at 833 the court. That's 833-843-2673 to our next question. This was the posted through our website from Kate. Kate says a good friend of mine often says that Satan is the source of all the problems we face in life.

For example, her sister is not a believer is going through divorce and she often says Satan is to blame and he wants to destroy marriages. Another scenario would be when she feels depressed. She will say that the enemy, I would like to better understand what the Bible says about Satan's role in our sufferings, I do believe that Satan and the spiritual forces of evil are at work in the world but if Satan can't be everywhere at once. How can we blame him for all of our problems. What's the meaning of Ephesians 610 through 20 and how can we apply that to our lives as Christians.

Okay yeah is a really good question and I wonder sometimes we as believers want to find someone to blame for all of our problems that the devil is an easy target. You know it's it's all his fault. Sometimes it's our own sinfulness. Sometimes think you mentioned the depression. Some of those things well there really talk about this on the program before their real chemical imbalances and mental health issues that can be contributing factors, and so we want to be careful that we don't just say it's always the devil is always Satan there are two ditches that we can reckon when it comes to talking about Satan in spiritual warfare.

The first ditch is to minimize the whole thing to take an overly rationalistic approach and say that's just a bunch of nonsense. Satan is real. He's just a personification of evil or something like that. The other issue is to focus on the evil one in spiritual warfare so much that we have an unhealthy infatuation with that. We take our eyes off of Jesus. How many Christians does it take to change a lightbulb never heard this 110, one to change it, and nine to pray against the spirit of darkness ahead sometimes in a week. We as Christians kinda have that that mentality a minute silly, but there are some Christian traditions that are trying to cast the devil out of everything you know now that may not be your problem may be your problem is minimizing and that's an issue to.

Like I said people who don't realize that were in this spiritual battle. And that's precisely what Paul is getting at in the passage that you referenced Ephesians chapter 6 verses 10 through 20. I just want to read part of that text Marita verse 18 Paul said finally, be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might.

Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. We do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace in all circumstances take up the shield of faith with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one and take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit which is the word of God, praying at all times in the spirit with all prayer and supplication.

To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints we see Paul took spiritual warfare. Seriously, he says we have to take it seriously, you need to be alert that that's not to say that every bad thing that happens you know is the devil's fault that were blaming Satan and is as you noted, Kate is not omnipresent. The devil is a created being.

We can't blame everything on on Satan, the Prince of darkness.

But the reality is there is a spiritual warfare and so were called to put on the armor of God. And what's so interesting about each of those pieces of armor and Ephesians chapter 6 is their gifts giving given to us by the Lord that righteousness of Jesus Christ faith, the helmet of salvation the belt of truth. These are all things Kate that the Lord gives to you put on put on the gifts that God gives to you and pray. Paul says at all times in all places for all the saints.

Why because we need to keep our eyes fixed on the Lord is like what Jesus told the disciples there in the garden of Gethsemane. Pray that you enter not into temptation. This spirit is willing but the flesh is weak. So we don't want to attribute every bad thing that happens to the evil one, but we also don't want to deny the fact that the evil one is at work in our job is to be clothed in the gifts that God gives to us to put on the salvation that comes to us through Jesus Christ and to pray that God would strengthen us against temptation against the evil one and he promises that he will and that's the good news. That's great news. This is core Christianity with pastor Israel Sanchez and Italy had a call that came in from Vieira in New York. I've been a Christian for many years and have had a lot of time my father passed seven years ago and now my mom's on hallway all it's a difficult client me but I was concerned because the other night I dreamt and I heard you know what speaking to me. When I woke up in his message was that when faith was as the sand. I just didn't know what to make that I kind of look that up in the Bible and I know the Lord speaks about faith and faith should be built on a rock. Anyone who builds a house on sand.

In no lose outhouse shortselling to make it out.

I mean, I trying to honor God. Maybe there are things my attitude is wrong or something that that's not coming off that way to the Lord and that's what I want effects on the client." Christianity to help me to get some insight on this.

I thank you and have a good evening. Thank you for calling this fear. It's good to hear from you. I appreciate your questioning and I'm sorry to hear about your dad and I would like to just take a moment right now to pray for for you and for your mom's use that she's she's ill, gracious father, thank you for Vieira. Thank you Lord that she wants to walk with you to know you that she wants to have a faith that is strong in ally Florida house that's built on the solid rock of Jesus Christ. Would you encourage her Lord would you strengthen her faith which we draw her near to you and would you be with her mother right now, Lord, and these in these difficult days. Would you comfort her, would you grant strength and healing to her body.

I pray Lord Jesus that you would cause the light of your countenance to shine upon her so that she might know you and experience your presence in these days would you be with Vieira. Would you be with her mother, would you comfort them. Would you draw them both closer to you, gracious father I ask this in the name your son Jesus. Amen. Will here.

Let's go to that text to that you're referring to its Matthew chapter 7 number to begin in verse 21.

Listen to what Jesus said not everyone who says to me Lord Lord will enter the kingdom of heaven. But the one who does the will of my father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name and do many mighty works in your name and then I will declare to them, I never knew you depart from me, you workers of lawlessness. Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock and the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock that everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand in the rain fell in the floods came the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell in great was the fall of it of your let me be clear, I'm not a dream interpreter. I don't know why you had that dream could it have been the Lord, trying to tell you something. Maybe I want you to take my my answer is the interpretation of your dream is much as it's my interpretation of this text of Scripture you've brought up in perhaps the Lord has something for you there. In the context of Matthew chapter 7 here, the issue is people who claim to know God, but really don't they say, Lord, Lord, and they even pointed the good deeds that they've done in order to justify their claim and yet Jesus says to these people.

I never knew you depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.

And that's when Jesus goes on to it to describe this idea of the house built on a rocker built on the sand. He says if you know my word but don't do it like someone building their house on the sand and when the waves came crashing down the house which didn't have a good foundation was destroyed a good question.

We should each ask ourselves is, what is the foundation upon which my life is built to see morality and religion isn't enough. The false teachers.

Jesus is referring to here and in Matthew seven that they were externally moral people thought that they were really righteous in assumes like bait. You know, across their teas and authorized to do everything right. At least that's what it looks like and they were extremely religious. They would fast a couple times a week they would go to church or synagogue go to the temple and yet Jesus indicates they had built their houses on the sand so being moral and being religious isn't necessarily going to cut it. The question is do you know the Lord or maybe a better way of putting it is, does the Lord know you I mean what Jesus says to the to the false teachers here in Matthew seven again is I never knew you have your I was just preaching this last week. Galatians chapter 4 verses one through 11 were the apostle Paul is talking to a group of Christians were being tempted to leave behind the church leave behind the Lord there starting to trust in their own works in the works of the law in order to justify them. In Paul's warning that me saying no no no no no and at one point there in that passage in Galatians 41 through 11 he says to them now that you have come to be known by God. How are you turning back in the Bible that were to know speaks of intimacy. Think back to this word that communicates this particular intimate love for building our lives on the solid rock of faith in Jesus Christ, his salvation, what he gives to us. That's what we build our lives on for building on that faith in the Lord and nothing, no wave, no wind, no rain can shake us because you don't keep this Vieira Jesus and even a small amount of faith can lay hold of a strong Jesus. Thanks for listening to core Christianity to request your copy of today's special offer.

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