How Do I Trust the Promise of God From A Place of Need?

Jesus taught us not to worry about what we shall eat, or where yet believers in other countries starve to death because they don't get the food they need how to why reconcile those two things that just one of the questions will be answering on today's addition of core Christianity.

I 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 core that's 1-833-843-2673 and you can email us with your questions at questions at core, Christianity.com you can also post your question on her Facebook page or our Instagram account first step today. A good news story about a couple of garbageman in Florida. Or perhaps we should call them sanitation workers. As you may know trash pickup is considered an essential job during the COBIT 19 pandemic welts all and key on do that job and they've never missed a day of work. Picking up trash in Miami Beach Florida this week they found a surprise when there huge garbage truck rolled down the street into the community of N. Bay Rd., dozens of residents had gotten up early to line the street with signs and balloons. It was all to simply say we love you Jennifer elegant is one of the trash pickup customers on that street and she wanted to show her families appreciation so she organize this surprise.

Thank you.

To honor Saul and key on who she calls extraordinary workers.

Even the mayor of Miami Beach. Don Gilbert showed up to salute them medical story that is a closer body. We have so many essential worship workers that we don't even think about now.

I know I mean for us if we miss a trash day like we forget to take out our trash cans to the side which has happened a couple of times in the last couple of years at its bad news is, so I'm really really grateful for the work that they do this an important job and I think you should take it for granted.

Let's get to our first question of the day. Valentina emailed us and she says I was in a discussion with my friend about our beliefs. According to her.

Women are not able to cut their hair or wear pants. She sent me. Deuteronomy 22 five which talks about women not wearing men's clothes and first Corinthians 11 six which talks about women not cutting their hair, are we supposed to follow these commands as Christians. If not, how do we make sense of these commands in the Bible, yeah, thanks Valentina for your question, I can see why that might be confusing and even some people have said, you know, why don't you follow all the rules in the Bible you you Christians will condemn things like homosexuality.

But you eat shellfish and Leviticus.

Here's where it says you should do that so we really have to understand how how these laws and why these laws were giving it particular point in time. I think it's helpful to distinguish between three different kinds of laws if you will, in the Old Testament you have the civil law that was associated with Israel. Is this political body, you have the ceremonial law, which was really the laws given related to worship under the old covenant, and obviously those laws don't apply anymore today because Jesus came and he fulfilled all of those old covenant types and shadows. The sacrificial system that the temple worship is that we don't worship God with sacrifices anymore.

Although there were all sorts of laws in the Old Testament related to sacrifices, then you also have the moral law is summarized in the 10 Commandments which is binding at all times. Some of these other laws like the civil laws of the Old Testament and and even the ceremonial laws.

What we don't we don't necessarily follow them because were not this political body is the church we don't offer sacrifices in the same way that Israel did they do have these. I think enduring applications are things we can learn from them. Even though were not necessarily applying them. For example, take the text you're referring to in Deuteronomy chapter 22 minutes telling us something about the distinctness between man and woman that there is something fundamentally different, despite the fact that we are equal that were called to be one you think back to the early chapters of Genesis. When God brought Adam and Eve together.

There is also something unique about male and female and that's beautiful.

That's a wonderful thing that we should celebrate a minute a culture that is trying to erase all the distinctions between man and woman are just collapse. Gender altogether or invent new genders, and that's one of the things were sitting around us today. Will Scripture tells us that God made male and female, and he made us unique to to serve each other and to complement one another and so I think that there are principles we can take but the application that your friend is is making there that women can't wear pants because that's men's clothing. I think that that's going too far. I think that she's applying. Maybe her own personal view or her own cultural view on to the text of Scripture not to people today in a way that's not very helpful. And certainly that passage in first 2011 to you. You have I think another text of Scripture that in that day and age in that culture would've made a lot of sense because you had the society where wear head coverings were more of a normal thing and and Paul is talking about this really the questionnaire. It has to do primarily with authority and that I still do the distinctness between man and woman in this structure in the church that the context there is, in particular corporate worship. There are things that we can glean from those text of Scripture. Even though we don't necessarily apply them the same way today look as a pastor I have what's called a ministerial authority.

My only authority as it is the pastors to point people to God's word.

God's word is the ultimate authority I don't get to make up new rules and bind people's consciences with them and I have to be very careful that I don't try to apply my own sort of spin on the Scriptures and then treat that as law for people and it sounds like that's what your friend is doing like she's taking these text of Scripture to sing well you you can't wear pants or you can't dress this way and I just think that that's going too far. You have to be really careful.

We have to be really careful that we let the Scriptures speak for themselves that we understand them in their context and their cultural context as well and I think that when we do, we realize that, you know, this idea that your friend has a unit, women are allowed to cut their hair or wear pants really is not the right application of those texts we talked about this before a drill that in the Old Testament there are several different types of law and sometimes we tend to get the ceremonial laws and the moral laws confused and there even some in our culture. Like for example when it comes to the issue of homosexuality. You mentioned a whole shellfish argument which often comes up.

Well, you know you is reading shellfish. Why are you so opposed to homosexuality could just talk briefly about the different types of law we see in the Old Testament.

Yeah, well, like I said you know what those ceremonial laws related to the worship of Israel under the old covenant. You do have all of these these really specific commands about how God is supposed to be worship through sacrifice through these food laws really that were part of the old covenant system or not under that anymore were under the new covenant, and this is why you know Peter has the vision that he does there on the rooftop of of this sheet of animals coming down in the Lord speaks to him and says rise, Peter kill and eat it. God is saying those old covenant laws those ceremonial laws which cause you to be separated from the Gentile world. Those have been set aside through the cross through the work of Jesus and ended up. Of course I mentioned. Also, those civil laws. No Israel under the old covenant was a political body was the nation mean that the church and the state were one entity. If you will and and so you have these political civil laws that were part of Israel as a body politic as this nation will the churches is not a nation.

In that same way.

It's Catholic with a c meaning it's universal. It's spread out to all the nations of the world it's it's the kingdom of Christ here on earth. And so we don't function the same way Israel did. And it's really important for us to understand that because if we don't, we can get really confused about how to apply some of those text of Scripture like the shellfish one and I for one do I do know about you but I am so grateful that those shellfish laws have been set aside because I like crab legs and shrimp last night for dinner so good for you. Liberty in Christ. There we go. This is core Christianity with faster Israel's edges were making light of this, but it really is an important distinction to understand those different Old Testament laws and how they apply because the moral laws still do apply to was Jesus came that he came to fulfill the law not to abolish it.

So it's important for us to remember there's a question that came in through our phone number at 833 the core that's 1-833-843-2673 my name is Richard I'm from Pennsylvania I you guys every day and I'd like to know what version of the Bible you guys use on your show. Thank you. Hey Richard, thanks for for listening to the program every day. That's encouraging to me, and I hope were an encouragement to you as well.

Also, typically on the program I use the ESV the English standard version. It's the version that I use when I'm preaching I think it's it's a pretty good version in terms of trying to stick to the original Greek and Hebrew text will also being readable and accessible. I think that the SP does a really good job this mainly what I use just in my personal devotions as well.

I also wrote for a while was using the NASB years ago. I think that's going to be a little bit more wooden as a translation. When I first came to the Lord. I use the new King James version. So a lot of the Scripture that I have memorized just the sort of still burned into my mind from those early days of Bible reading is from the new King James version and I appreciate all the different versions of the Bible that we have now often times when someone is first coming to the faith and and they're looking for a Bible and they asked hey can you help me get one. I'll appoint them to the NIV. I think the NIV is really helpful and it's it's really readable and so the ESV is the one that I use Bill do you have a personal preference with regard Bible translation why I have the NIV study Bible because it really helps me to understand the context of different passages and really dig and if if for a listers of never seen that before. The NIV study Bible has huge sections on on each page that refer back to that particular verse and help you to understand it, or then how it cross-references perhaps to a different section of Scripture or the Old Testament but yeah I think the ESV is a is a great version and I'm glad you said in your church. Yeah, thanks for your question Richard you're listening to core Christianity with pastor Israel Sanchez son Bill Meyer would always love to hear from you at 833-843-2673. You can also email us your questions at questions@corechristianity.com and we have a really cool offer that we want to tell you about today. Yes it today. We are sharing a resource over core, Christianity.com called what did God promise did you know that there are promises in Scripture that were given to Jesus, but there are also yours, through faith in Jesus Christ.

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That's 833. The core something else want to tell you about is the special episode of core Christianity on marriage which is coming up on Friday, July 17 getting a lot of questions about marriage. People in conflict in marriage people other going through divorce situations and so we really want to address the biblical view of marriage on that show on the 17th and because of that were inviting you to submit your questions please reach out to us.

We know this is one of the areas where where there are a lot of questions and we want to encourage you in your marriage is to walk with the Lord and and and and ultimately marriage is supposed to be this beautiful picture of the relationship that Christ has with his bride, the church. I know that something that if you're married. It doesn't always come so easily and so we need the grace of the Lord and the wisdom that comes to us from the word of God to know how to have a healthy and godly marriage want to help you with that.

So please send us your questions and make sure you tune in on that day. Here's how to submit your question you can email us at questions at core, Christianity.com. You can post your question through our Instagram or Facebook accounts or you can call us at 833-843-2673.

That's 833 the core and record your question right there on her voicemail to a question that came in through our Instagram account, this one from Kathy she says hello. I've heard the phrase faith is like a muscle, the more we use it the stronger it gets hyper that a lot of the Christian community.

While it sounds like a great analogy.

I just don't see it in the Bible in Romans 12. Three Paul says that God has assigned a measure of faith. Am I missing something or is this in fact incorrect to say things for your time.

Yeah I don't think that you're missing anything, Kathy. I think that your reading the Bible correctly throughout Scripture, faith is described as a gift from God. For by grace you have been saved through faith.

This is Ephesians chapter 2 verse eight and this is not your own doing, it is the gift of God not a result of works, that is your own doing again so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

Another passage of Scripture. I think that highlights this idea that faith is a gift is found in Peter's epistle. In second Peter chapter 1 was know what Peter said Simeon Peter, a servant, and apostle of Jesus Christ to those who have obtained a faith of equal standing with ours by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ may grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord that were obtained. There is a really interesting word.

It's often used in the New Testament to to receive something by lot you think of casting lots, rolling dice, CH is something that you get you have any part in the thing that you got it's it's you obtain by God's gracious will. It's a gift that God gives to us again.

Ephesians chapter 2 verses eight and nine and so faith is not so much.

Kathy something that we are conjuring up within ourselves and you know it we just trying really hard to believe in.

And the more I work at that, the better I get at believing in the more faith that I have no I think actually that that could be really devastating on an individual's fate because the fact of the matter is we don't get faith by trying to have faith by trying to exercise our faith. However that might look. Faith is a gift and it comes to us you know how, through the word of God. Paul says in Romans chapter 10. Faith comes by hearing and hearing the word of Christ.

If you want more faith.

Don't try to have faith meditate on the word of God. Scripture that's how faith is built in our hearts is not by doing something per se. It's by receiving the word in your heart, and as the ward begins to dwell in us richly.

The word of Christ. Our faith is strengthened if you think that this is so important.

It is meditating upon the promises of God. It's knowing who God is.

See, I think the better you know Jesus better. You know his love what he's done for you.

The more you trust them because you realize how good he is. He gave his very life for you and as you know him as you rest in those truth wife faith is stirred up in our hearts created in us by the word of God so that we trust.

If you want faith don't try to believe, receive the word that God gives you rest in it, and see God create faith in your heart by his word and less of the wonderful thing about Scripture and what a great reminder for each and every one of us to be studying the Bible to be in churches that preach the word of God faithfully every that's again what what polyp come back to the text in Romans chapter 10 reasons.

Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of Christ. But how are people in a year unless the preacher sent to them all. If you have a pastor, a preacher who preaches God's word faithfully give thanks to God and give ear to the word because that's how God is creating and stirring faith in your heart. It's as we know who God is and what he's done for us that we trust him more and more. Thank you for that Israel. This is core Christianity and we would love to receive your questions you can email us at questions at core, Christianity.com. Our goal is to answer your questions about the Bible and the Christian life.

We are listener supported. If this program means something to you. We love to have you come alongside as a partner and you can learn more about that@corechristianity.com. This email came in from Nancy and she says Jesus taught us not to worry about what we shall eat, or where Philippians 419 promises that God will supply all our needs. Yet, believers and other countries starve to death because they don't have the food they need. I know the Bible is true.

So there must be something wrong with my understanding. I desire to reconcile things I see with what I believe. So I can be confident in my trust of the Lord. He is certainly able to provide the basics for Christians. Yet it seems like sometimes he doesn't please yeah what what a great question and I can see you know why this might feel like a contradiction because you have that text you referring to in Matthew chapter 6 where Jesus says in verse 25 therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on.

Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing and Lisa's look at the birds of the air, they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they.

Which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his life span and why are you anxious about clothing. Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow, they neither toil nor spin. Yet I tell you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you. Oh you of little faith. Therefore, do not be anxious, saying, what shall we eat or what shall we drink, or what shall we wear for the Gentiles seek after these things in your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these things shall be added to you while you think about these very disciples who were hearing the words of Jesus. There, in the sermon on the Mount and who later in their lives would experience great suffering, even hunger. I think of the apostle Paul in particular. And of course he wasn't there on on that day, but he was a follower of Jesus, and he describes the sufferings that were experienced by the saints by those who called upon the name of the Lord in the book of Romans. In Romans chapter 8 and he's dealing with this very same tension that you're talking about right. It will were experiencing suffering.

I think were tempted to say, God, are you still with me. Have you abandoned me and he says in Romans chapter 8 beginning in verse 31 what shall we say to these things. If God is for us who can be against us.

He who did not spare his own son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things, who shall bring any charge against God's elect is God who justifies. Who is to condemn Christ Jesus is the one who died more than that was raised with the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us, who shall separate us from the love of Christ, get this, here's the list he gives shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness or danger or sword as it is written, for your sake we are being killed all the day long we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered. No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For 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. So, interesting list that he gives there. He says in all these things and what in famine, in nakedness that is not being clothed in persecution in distress.

In all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us and we know he loved us because he went to the cross for us and how do we handle this tension and it's interesting Nancy and in the wisdom literature of the Old Testament you have books like the book of Proverbs, for you have these general principles that are repeated over and over.

You know you do this and good will happen if you do this bad will happen, and it seems really straightforward and it's true remedy for general principles that are indeed true.

But then there are other parts of the wisdom literature that seem to contradict what we read in Proverbs. Think about the story of Job, here's a guy is depicted as a righteous man and yet, everything bad happens in his life, or you think of Ecclesiastes, where the preacher and Ecclesiastes is lamenting the fact you can do all these good things, and everyone dies the same way so you have this tension right you have like these general principles that are given to us, but then you also see in Scripture that is not always so cut and dry that that life happens and that we have to trust God and we have to take each case you thought of uniquely don't say look, I'm not sure why this is happening you think of Job, or you think of Ecclesiastes, but I'm going to trust the Lord.

I think Jesus's words in Matthew chapter 6 are true of any for general principles.

Trust God. He's going to provide with the fact of the matter is this. We as the people of God do experience suffering and the disciples who Jesus is speaking to there on that day. In Matthew chapter 6.

Many of that work and experience suffering, famine, nakedness sword, but you know what Jesus is still provided for them and you still provided for you. It may not always be in the way that we expect them to provide. But you know what he's given above all else, and this is why Paul in Romans, they can say we know that he loves us.

He's given himself bread from heaven for you and for your salvation so that no matter what you experience you can know Jesus loves me how I know my circumstances maybe don't tell me that he doesn't feel like it because of the suffering of experiencing, but I know because of the sufferings he experience for me in all things by more than a conqueror through Jesus.

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 for or call us at 1-833-843-2673 that's a 33, the court 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