Does God Ever Tell Us That We're With The Wrong Person?

Does God ever tell us were in a relationship with the wrong person.

That's just one of the questions will be answering on today's edition of core Christianity this is 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, the court, that's 1-833-843-2673 and you can email us with your question at questions at core, Christianity.com first up today.

A fun story about a pastor who is making a difference in Florida. His name is Bill list so he founded the Florida dream Center and Bill wanted to celebrate his 73rd birthday the same way he did when he was 17, driving an ice cream truck around for a day his daughter rented a truck for him last weekend and he handed out hundreds of ice cream treats for free to kids and adults of all ages. He said the people who receive the treat said they had not seen an ice cream truck in their neighborhood in more than a year.

By the way, the Florida dream Center, which Bill founded helps the homeless and combat human trafficking in Florida. They also give away 25,000 pounds of food every weekend so the guys just doing some great work. Yeah, that sounds like great work.

I would've never thought of you know, here's a way to invite people to church. Why did I get an ice cream truck and just go right ahead. I should but I feel like that could be an effective method. You know San Diego in the summertime we are thinking you get some of those obstacles baby and you just might have a full church on Sunday. We will let you know if I try that's great. Let's go to our first question of the day. This is a call that came in at 833 core morning and I'm calling from Edmond, Oklahoma years old and I have a dear friend years old. They need about Mormon and he believes that she is a Christian now I'm a Christian and we were in a conversation the other day she was talking about the prophet and I googled the prophet 93-year-old.

How do I witness to my friend he believed Jesus try and talk about Jesus cry and how they dear, but I know that Mormonism is the call. My question thank you so much. I have known some wonderful Mormons over the years that I've had the privilege of being able to talk with him about the Lord. One of the challenges when talking to Mormons is that we use a lot of the same words and it sounds like you're catching this already in your conversations with your friend. Use a lot of the same words we mean two different things by those words. Maybe just one example Jesus and Mormonism isn't the only begotten son of the father, like we believe in Christianity.

Jesus spirit brother of Lucifer look, that's a different Jesus and the Jesus that the apostles preached, and this is precisely what the apostle Paul said would happen one of these.

He warned the churches of, for example, listen to what he says in second Corinthians chapter 11 verses three and four.

Right of the credit he says I'm afraid that as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning.

Your thoughts will be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ.

For if someone comes and proclaims another Jesus than the one we proclaimed, or if you receive a different spirit from the one you received, or if you accept a different gospel from the one you accepted to put up with it readily enough. Listen to this balsamic. Some people are going to come and they're going to preach a different Jesus, a different gospel. This is the problem that the Galatians were experiencing. Paul in for there is another gospel. It really wasn't a gospel that was being proclaimed to them and was leading them astray. The reason Mormonism is so deceptive is because it takes words we use in Christianity and subtly redefines them so interesting to me. Vicki's Mormonism started in one sense as a response to what Joseph Smith believed was a great apostasy of the church.

The apostasy dismissed means abandoning the faith. Turning away from the truth. According to Smith, there were no true churches anymore. In the words of one Mormon apologist to I've read he's dead now. A friend of mine was Mormon that I was talking with for a number of years he gave me this book by guy named Hugh Nibley called when the lights went out in the whole argument was that the lights went out in the church that the gospel needed to be restored and that's why God called Joseph Smith. I remember, this is kind of any story. Years ago I was at a church planters conference in Utah and I was with several other pastors and we visited the Mormon Church history Museum. There was this big wall with historical depictions images of the book of acts, you know, preaching taking place in the book of acts big paintings murals and then there were images of Jesus in the Americas. You know, according to Mormonism. Jesus spent some time in the Americas and then there was a big black wall and then after the black wall you had images of the calling of Joseph Smith but essentially what they did was that you raised the entire history of the church. The lights were out. They argued that the wall was black until the gospel was restored. That's what Mormons believe this is especially true of II think you earlier Mormonism and that their argument was Christians are all apostate.

We needed we do separate from them. Ironically, now and you're saying this with your friend. Mormons are trying their best to be considered Christians. It's sort of like this reversal, whereas it used to be the case that they look at the Christian church and said it's apostate. Now it feels like they want to see if the table Mormons are are often wonderful people committed to family and community.

The great friends they have it. Mormon theology is really really dangerous. They preach another gospel. They have another Jesus and that's the scary thing.

The idea that the lights went out that the gospel was completely lost in that Joseph Smith had to restored or something like that goes directly against what Jesus said I am going to build my church and the gates of hell will never prevail against it. So how do you witness to your friend, but I would, you know, show her how the Jesus of Mormonism is different than the Jesus of the Christian faith in the Scriptures and ask her. Maybe she's willing to go through a Bible study with unit to search the Scriptures with you and I want to recommend to you a Bible study that we have over core Christianity is exactly why we created these resources is the Bible study called Jesus is God. Maybe your friend will be willing to sit down and say look let's study the Bible together and see if the Jesus of the Scriptures is the same as the Jesus it's been described in Mormonism and I think that you will find as you dig into what the Mormon church says, and as you dig into what that the old and the New Testament teaches that there are two different Jesus is one of them is the true Christ, the one who saves us when he gives us his grace. The other one is the invention of a man and that's what makes Mormonism so dangerous Vicki. We appreciate so much your concern and your care for your friend. How wonderful that you have this great friendship and you can talk about these things and will be praying that God will lead you through his Holy Spirit on the right things to say in the right passages of Scripture to pointer toward we probably will go to court, Christianity.com and get that resource.

Jesus is God. Later let's go to another question that came in this one from Gabe. He emailed us and he says what does Isaiah mean when he says in Isaiah 64 six that all our righteous acts are as filthy rags yeah let me open up their Isaiah chapter 64 and just read part of this section.

Oh that you would rend the heavens and come down verse one begins the mountains might quake at your presence is when fire kindles brushwood and the fire causes water to boil to make your name known to your adversaries, and that the nations might tremble at your presence when you did awesome things that we did not look for you came down the mountains quake at your presence from of old no one has heard or perceived by the year no one has seen a God. Besides, you asked for those who wait for him to meet him who joyfully works righteousness those who remember you and your ways. Behold, you were angry and we send in our sins, we have been a long time, and shall we be saved.

We have all become like one who is unclean in all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment. We will fade like a leaf in our iniquities, like the wind, take us away. This is really a plea for repentance. A plea for mercy in the context of Jerusalem was in shambles. You see this a little bit later in verses 10 and 11 your holy cities have become a wilderness. Zion has become a wilderness Jerusalem and desolation.

Our holy and beautiful house where our fathers praised you has been burned by fire, and all are pleasant places have become ruins and so you gotta imagine the just the sense of utter desolation, the temple of the Lord had been destroyed the place of worship, the place where our fathers used to praise you has been burned with fire.

Why, because of the sin of the people. It was God's judgment in others. This great contrast.

Here were the prophets, as we all.

That is the covenant people, those who are called to be holy clean. We all have become like one who is unclean and all our righteous deeds are like a filthy garment is crying out to the Lord. Now the Hebrew text. Here is is really a lot more colorful. Isaiah compares the righteous deeds of the people to menstrual rags. That's the language that uses is B's painting a very vivid picture of a picture that makes us uncomfortable. You think this is just how how sin is its not a pretty picture. Now there are a couple of ways to think about this, we could say one that this is Israel and her self-righteousness or idolatry.

She's not seeking after God not honoring the Lord so the prophet in this context says your good works are about his as valuable as filthy rags. That's true. I think we also recognize from this text that even our best works are still tainted with sin of the apostle Paul said in in Romans chapter 7 verse 18.

I know that nothing good dwells in me that is in my flesh.

Why have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out even gave us is born again believers while our works are pleasing to the Lord when they're offered to him in faith and in accordance to God's law. There never perfect. They require the blood of Jesus to sanctify them, and that's exactly what Israel needed when you have this plea for mercy of the prophet Assange got everything that we would be brought before you all are our righteous deeds there like menstrual rags are like filthy rags were not able to come before you. Because of our sin.

We need forgiveness and some of the most vivid prophecies of the sufferings of the Messiah for the sins of the people are found in the book of Isaiah. You think back to that the famous chapter Isaiah chapter 53 that talks about that the suffering servant being punished for our sins carrying our iniquities. Isaiah 52 and 53 so here you have this plea for mercy. Gave him this is what I say. This is bringing out here. He's showing us that our sinful deeds, and in particular the sinful deeds of Israel here that you know it in her idolatry in her apostasy to use that word. We talked about just one question ago inner apostasy can't come before the Lord. She needs forgiveness. And that's what we all need and that's what God provided for us at the cross. Thank you so much for your question is fascinating to look at Isaiah's prophecies and how they all point to Jesus and we talked about that regularly. On this program to understand the Old Testament in its proper context and how it points to our Lord and Savior is just such a such a beautiful thing you know Bill, it really is and this is one of the things he kissed me so much confidence in the Scriptures. Isaiah 40 1609 and 10. God says I am God and there is no other.

I am God and there is none like me, declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times, things that are not yet done that nobody remembers tomorrow.

We don't know what the future holds but God says one of the ways you can know that I'm the true Lord I'm the real. God always idles worthless that they can do anything they can't speak, they can act. I am the God who speaks and who acts in a minute.

Tell you what can happen before it happens and that's what we get over and over again denies that you have right there in Isaiah 64 this plea for mercy, but then you have the hope that the Messiah, the suffering servant is going to come in all those prophecies that are beautifully fulfilled in Jesus should give us confidence that this is indeed the word of God. 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 and April were excited about a really cool offer that we have for our listeners today were continuing to offer one of my favorite books and one of the books it known people asked me what what are those books that you think is a pastor.

Every Christian should read. This is one of them is CS Lewis's book mere Christianity for a limited time and while supplies last. Were offering a copy of mere Christianity for a donation of any amount if you've not read. Mere Christianity. Well here's your opportunity, take advantage of this offer. Head over to core Christianity.com/offers to get your copy of CS Lewis's book mere Christianity. Let me say talking about defending the faith we were just saying you know how important prophecy is and how God reveals to humanity that he is the true Lord through through these prophecies in Scripture. CS Lewis, one of the things he's doing. This book is he's making a case for why we can believe the Christian faith really practically there a lot of questions that are brought before us today as Christians from skeptics from people who don't believe in God. When a why should I believe Christianity that's one of the deed, the things that CS Lewis do so beautifully and in this book as he helps us to have a solid understanding of why it is that the Christian faith is true in mere Christianity for check that out. Would love to have you got a copy of that. Just call us at 833-843-2673 or as a drill mentor and go to core Christianity.com/offers to learn about CS Lewis's mere Christianity will Ashley emailed us and she has an interesting question.

She says why wasn't Joseph Jesus's father at the crucifixion any explanation will be of much help. Thank you yeah Ashley you know that's a really good question is not a lot in Scripture that really directs us one way or another we don't know what happened to him or where he was during that see them and it could have been that he was following at a distance. We know that especially Jesus was carrying the cross.

There were large crowds. There following along one of the some of the women associate with his ministry, his mother's well were not far and so we just don't hear anything specifically about Joseph and all we can do is speculate. So I minute, it's a good question, but it's one of the things that the gospel writers for whatever reason, didn't choose to to touch on and so II want to be careful that I don't try to give too much of an answer there, where they didn't give us any direction. Thank you Ashley 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 us. Our 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, let's go to another call that came in a drill, this one from Jeff in St. Genevieve, Missouri. Doing a Bible. Whatever he was approached by his children. Whenever you gotten drunk and passed out.

But boys examine them covering over their father were not cursed by any means, but their father naked was herself wondering why was it that he was cursed for cannot find answers to the question or should just about know why in Genesis chapter 9 really using text Genesis 9.

Beginning in verse 20. Noah began to be a man of the soil and he planted a vineyard. He drank of the wine and became drunk and lay uncovered in his tent and ham the father of Canaan, saw the nakedness of his father and told his two brothers outside. Then Shem and Japheth took a garment, laid it on both of their shoulders and walk backward and covered the nakedness of their father.

Their faces were turned backward and they did not see their father's nakedness is so then after this you know Noah wakes up and that's when he curses Canaan, the son of ham and so I think it's really straightforward. Another reason that the one is cursed and the others are not is because the one he looks upon his father's nakedness. You know this is, this was a very shameful. This is very shameful thing to do.

The other two bit basic to cover the nakedness of their father and use her to get the sense that you know perhaps ham after he had looked upon his father's nakedness, or went outside and said hey you guys check this out and and it was this shameful thing because Noah's in this this vulnerable state and instead of helping his father am dishonors his father and so the other brothers, you know you do the right thing that they walk in. You know that look on their father's nakedness. They cover him.

They're not cursed now with so interesting here is you kinda have this theme in the book of Genesis. Don't you nakedness needing to be covered.

Can you think of another story in Genesis with hardware that was the case, way back in the garden of Eden when Adam and Eve sin.

They realize that they are naked and they try to cover themselves. But they realize that they can't until the Lord makes garments of skin for them and he closed their nakedness nakedness in the Bible is is a picture of sin and the shame that comes as a result of sin and God needs to cover that in the problem here in Genesis chapter 9 is Noah. His sand he's naked.

He's vulnerable what he needs is the covering and that's precisely what Hamlet doesn't do and just talks about. He looks upon the nakedness and then goes and shares information with his brothers but the brothers seek to clothe their father's nakedness.

That's what they do that we all need. Frankly, because of sin before the Lord were naked in the Lord Jesus Christ clothe us with his righteousness. So you have this theme over and over in the Scriptures and and it's repeated here in Genesis 9 it's right there at the very beginning of the Bible with Adam and Eve's picture of nakedness and needing to be clothed in the problem was and did not clothe his father's nakedness. She just looked upon it when you're listening to core Christianity with pastor Israel Sanchez and later we got a question that came in through our website at core, Christianity.com it's from Ellie whose listing in Canada and she says does God ever tell us where with the wrong person, other than what's written in the Bible over a year ago I walked into a lecture hall and I got the weirdest sense that I was supposed to be with someone I saw in the room, I dismissed the thought immediately I'm happy with my dating partner and I don't want things to change, but the feeling kept coming back so I prayed for wisdom and read the Bible.

Then I prayed for the feeling to go away. Now I just feel stressed.

I can't shake the sense that this isn't the life I'm intended to live, and that I'm with the wrong person. I thought this feeling would go away once the semester is over but it's been over a year does God ever do things like this. Hey thanks Elina David dating can be confusing time. Many people are unsure of what to look for in a spouse in God's word is is clear that as believers we should only pursue relationships with those who are in the faith.

Those who are Christians. And Paul talks about this in first grade.

In chapter 7. So if if this guy that you're dating her boyfriend is in a Christian I say yes you probably should be pursuing a romantic relationship with him and God doesn't ordinarily shine a light from heaven on on the person were supposed to marry. He gives us the freedom and calls us to use wisdom in making our decision to make a decision as I like that you're praying for wisdom. So I think you're on the right track. That's an important thing that it could be that while you want this relationship to work out, you're really just not as interested in your boyfriend as you would like to be that this could be frost but the reasons and this is why think it's important that were looking for the right things in a partner.

Attraction is important family is important, etc. but my main question is does your boyfriend love Jesus does he love Jesus more than he loves you.

Does he love the church and we can't claim to love Jesus. If we don't love his body, and I think the first thing we should look for in someone is someone who is committed to pursuing the Lord faithfully. I remember weird in our premarital counseling. Sitting down with the pastor that we were under at the time he gave us this really wonderful bit of advice and were getting ready to be married and he says atrial Isabel is my wife's name.

You don't know what you can experience in marriage. There are there are difficulties challenges that they can come your way, that you're not anticipating right now is you're all excited and and you got all the feelings that those feelings aren't necessarily always can it be that there's sickness.

There are health issues there sin there.

There are things that you're going to face that you could never anticipate. Here's what you need to know. He said so long as you're committed to Christ and his gospel. You can endure anything you know why this is so important now is because any relationship. The feelings come and go. There are times of great passion, excitement, feelings, and then there are times we just don't feel that way next to me that you aren't still in love, not at all because love is rooted in something far deeper than our feelings guide we just talked about by the offer for today was CS Lewis's book mere Christianity. He talks about this so beautifully in that book in his chapter on Christian marriage. So we have to be careful that we are driven primarily by our feelings, but God's word and in marriage. The covenant we made before God to love one another regardless of how we feel that right now you're not married nor bound to this person and maybe if it doesn't seem right for whatever reason, then you should take a break and I don't know the ins and outs of your relationship, you're not obligated to be with him right now you're not married, but I'll add this if he loves Jesus and he loves the church and he loves you will. That's a pretty special thing. That's what you want to look for in a potential partner. Jesus laid down his life for us for his bride because he loves her marriage is supposed to be. Relationships are supposed to be picture of 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 core when you contact us. Please let us know how you been encouraged by this podcast and be sure to join us next time. As we explore the truth of God's word together