Has Jesus Given Every Christian Authority to Perform Miracles?

We sang a song in our church that says every Christian has the authority to perform miracles.

Is this true that is one of the questions will be answering on today's addition of core Christianity hi this is Bill Meyer along with pastor Adm. 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 right now with your question. At 833 the core that's 1-833-843-2673.

You can also email us with your question at questions at core, Christianity.com. You can post your question on our Facebook or Instagram account. First up today.

A good news story to share with you a survivor of a Nazi concentration camp now living in London will have a zoom meeting next week with the children of the American G.I. who liberated her and gave her a small gift of hope. Lily Ebert, who is now 90 survived the Holocaust and routinely spoke about her experiences at Auschwitz, but she had never shown the German banknote that was given to her by a Jewish-American soldier, which featured messages of kindness when her 16-year-old great-grandson wanted to document her experiences during World War II. She decided to share those inspirational messages on the banknote and that led to a viral post and now a scheduled virtual meeting with the soldiers family wow is not a beautiful story room that is a beautiful story and you know zoom wasn't even a thing. I feel like prior to the coronavirus to meet at least I hi didn't know what it was analogous to being used for.

Also to cool stuff like this. I think that's absolutely wonderful bringing people together in a new way which is really awesome. Let's get to our first question of the day a call we received at 833, the court question shall only white space changed all someone.

Thanks for the person looks for opportunities to make Obama look great a blessing.

Thank you for that question. And yeah, you know, it's a good question because people do raise these kinds of objections and have heard it said before, well in the book of Leviticus, he condemns the eating of shellfish and it also condemns homosexuality. Oaxacan Christians are against homosexuality. But you guys.

You know, still enjoyed shellfish and yet do you know like your shrimp and your crab legs and all that stuff.

So isn't that a contradiction or an inconsistency well that command was in particular part of the old covenant and the laws that were given in the book of Leviticus, and especially the book of acts you see that those food laws. Those dietary restrictions have been set aside, but the text that you referring to is Leviticus chapter 11 verses nine and 10. Let me just read what that says these you may eat of all that are in the waters. Everything in the waters that has fins and scales, whether in the seas or in the rivers. You may eat anything in the seas of the rivers that does not have fins and scales of the swarming creatures in the waters of the living creatures that are in the waters is detestable to you, you shall regard them as detestable. You shall not eat any of their flesh, and you shall detest their carcasses have several different kinds of clean and unclean laws throughout the book of Leviticus. Why is it that shellfish are condemned. So look, I'm having a first right. This does seem kind of odd, but what you need understand about the clean and unclean laws in the book of Leviticus is is they put people in a position to where they could approach God, they were necessarily about sin, although uncleanness was a picture of sin.

There were about life and death. For example if somebody was sick or if a person had a discharge of blood. They were unable to enter into the presence of the Lord because they were technically ceremonially unclean. While loss of blood is the picture of the loss of life, you weren't supposed to touch a dead carcass or anything like that because death was a picture of falling away from God in these animals.

In particular, these sea creatures, you know these crustaceans.

They feed on the carcasses of other animals and so I think one of the reasons that in the Old Testament under the old covenant, God forbade his people from eating them is because of that close relationship with death and the people of God who were approaching God, the source of all life have to be in a state of life, if you will clean this is.

I think that's one of the reasons why you have these laws in the Old Testament is there giving us this vivid illustration of life and death clean and unclean.

Being able to approach God who is the source of all life.

The one from whom we receive life and being in the state of death, sickness, disease, and its really I think a vivid picture. It also was one of the ways some of these laws that Israel as a nation was distinguished from their pagan neighbors. They were called to be set apart, called to be holy. Now, of course, under the new covenant and again I said you see this specifically in the book of acts. These dietary restrictions have been set aside.

You also see this in the book of Galatians, so they were for a time for the people of God for a period of time, but now those restrictions have been set aside God is welcoming the nations into his covenant family.

This is so important it's it's a reference to the Gentile inclusion that you see in different places of the New Testament, and so I think when you have these laws and Leviticus related to. In particular, but with your question. You know, not eating shellfish is not that God hates shellfish because there don't taste good or something like that mean they taste great to know if you like them Bill but I happen to like shellfish, but the issue is life-and-death in these animals. In particular, feed on, lived on the carcasses of other animals and so I think that's one of the reasons why God forbade his people from eating them under the old covenant we were going to have grilled shrimp tonight Israel but you just turn my stomach with that description there so I think I'm going to ask if I do have a question though, for you know as as you mentioned, this atheist family members trying to use this to trip her up.

You often do here on the topic of homosexuality. People say well enough, those Old Testament laws are no longer valid. And why would the law against homosexuality. Be still valid.

So how do we help someone understand that some of the Old Testament laws are very valid today, even under the new covenant yet bill that is in excellent question I asked you wrote an article of record, Christianity.com called why you don't have to obey all the rules in the Bible. Kind of a catchy title that it sort of meant to be provocative because we get this question.

You know, okay, how can you follow those those laws related homosexuality better describing places like Leviticus of their also repeated in places like Romans chapter 1 and in other places of the New Testament, but you don't follow these food laws well we have to distinguish bill between the different kinds of law that we find in Scripture you have moral law.

For example, summarized in places like Exodus 21 through 17 that the 10 Commandments everybody has a sense of right and wrong sort of moral law written on our hearts, but you also have civil laws that were a part of Israel's existence under the old covenant as this political body while the church is not a political body in the same way is Israel was in the Old Testament, so those laws were a part of Israel as a political body. Now that you know that the the church and the state are separate now that God's covenant people is not the nation of Israel the same since that was under the old covenant we don't have those civil laws binding the church. Same thing with the ceremonial laws, there were all sorts of laws given in places like Leviticus to talk about how God was supposed to be worshiped under the old covenant we sacrifice animals today in the church.

Why, because those ceremonial laws have been fulfilled in Jesus and sometimes people don't understand these distinctions they can make arguments against the church against Christianity as they look, you guys are being consistent will no not at all. We just have to understand the Bible in its context, and when we do.

It makes perfect sense why we eat shellfish and we don't abide by those old covenant laws those rules and regulations anymore. And yet we also embrace the moral law that's given to us in Scripture related to things like human sexuality great explanation think you're drill. This is core Christianity and would love to hear from you.

If you have a question for us.

Here's the number it's 833 the core that's 1-833-843-2673. You can also email us at questions at core, Christianity.com. Megan emailed us and she says what do we do when we find a book where the author claims to have a grasp of Christianity, but only seems to be confusing the truth in one book I'm reading. The author says between the crucifixion and the later readjustment of messianic expectations occurred. The extraordinary event of the resurrection is the author denying Christ resurrection with the words later readjustment. I know this is an unusual question, but I really just want to be able to understand hey Megan, thanks for that question yeah I mean is it's really hard to say just on the basis of that one sentence I I'm not sure I'd have to look at the context of the quote a little bit more and and even hear about who this author is the question you asked, does raise a bigger question. I think that all of us can relate to and that's how do we handle books that may be disagree with what we believe should we read them as Christians and I think that the answer is yes to me.

I guess it depends on who I'm talking to. If I'm talking to a newer Christian who is just learning about the Lord and probably knocking a rep recommend you know bunch of books by the new atheists or something like that. I want them to be established in sound doctrine in the basics of the Christian faith so that they can grow in their knowledge of Jesus I recommend some of the Christian Classics. Maybe St. Augustine's confessions are mere Christianity which we talked about a ton on this program or even core Christianity. The book written by Prof. Michael Horton used to be on on the program with me all the time. JI Packer spoke knowing diving. These are really good books that really help to ground you in the core doctrines of the Christian faith. But I don't think we need to be afraid of reading stuff by people who don't agree with us 100%.

I think with everything you read, you have to be Berea and so that's what I would say Megan is as you're reading this book whatever it is that it could be that this author is confusing some things about the Christian faith. And that's why it's so important for all of us to know the word well so that when we read stuff that contradict God's word were able to choose a meet and spit out the bones.

It doesn't mean that there isn't some may be good insights in that book, but it means that you have to be discerning boy that something we really need today's Christians is discernment in the way we get that hemming one by the grace of the Holy Spirit to student knowing Scripture knowing the word of God, knowing good theology you as a believer in Jesus Christ should engage your mind, study know the word so that you can discern the truth from that which is not true.

I think about the Parisians right in acts 17 there described that these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica, this is acts 17 verse 11, they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so Megan, that's the approach you want to have Betsy put we all want to have with whatever books were reading her pastors were listening to receive the word with eagerness and examine everything on the basis of the Scriptures do the same thing with me. I mean, is this word talking about the Christian faith, answering questions about the Bible search the Scriptures. Let's dig in together so that we can all grow in the grace and the knowledge of Jesus Christ.

Good word, this is core Christianity by Bill Meyer with pastor Adm. Sanchez and we often let you know about different offers we have for you and today we want to tell you about a great Bible study. I mean talk about digging into the word right, it's our excellent Bible study on the Gospel of John, available on our website.

The 10 week study and it's a great way to learn about the life and ministry of Jesus with a group of friends by yourself. We been getting a lot of great feedback from people who are using the study. Right now it's available as a PDF download or you can request a physical copy is even leaders guide if you want to go through it with a Bible study group at your church or something like that. So head over to core Christianity.com/offers to get your copy of our new Bible study on the Gospel of John. We can also call us for any of our offers at 833-843-2673. That's 833 the core, you might want to mention this resource to your pastor or your small group leader as they plan their next study.

It's excellent content are, let's get to another question that came in at 833, the court, I might order and how to locate your whole heart and how do you really do that.

How do you seek him with your whole heart and how do you know your understanding in Iowa you have a wonderful day, hi Robin, thanks for that question in one of what a practical question and one that I think it's important for each one of us to think about. I sometimes imagine that when we talk about seeking God with all of our heart we we think it primarily has to do with our emotions, our feelings and so we think look.

I still feel it when there are times I really feel like seeking the Lord and and I had this passionate desire to draw near to God, and there are times where my heart just doesn't really seem to be in it and I don't know how to control that. And so in those moments, especially how can I seek God with all of my heart.

The heart isn't just about our feelings. You know whether or not you have the feelings are not because the fact of the matter is, is in the Christian life there going to be a lot of times we don't feel like seeking God and that doesn't mean that were spiritually defective, or there's something wrong with us as believers is just the reality of the world that we live in and were still battling with the flesh every single day. Paul talked about that in Galatians chapter 5, and so I think part of seeking God with all of our heart. Looks like the will choosing deciding to say God I'm going to set my affection upon you has nothing to do with how I feel.

It's what I'm committed to. I'm committed to you Lord of you to think about a marriage as well. It it in marriage. There are no seasons of great excitement and joy in all the fields you think of the honeymoon stage for your first marriages different seasons throughout the marriage, but there are other times where you don't have all those exciting fireworks and yet you still committed to each other. You're still choosing to love and that's actually a wonderful thing that's not a bad thing. That's actually were a lot of the feelings come from us as we choose to walk in a manner that is pleasing to the Lord to sacrifice for one another and to pursue one another, even when it is hard even when the feelings aren't there.

That's where the feelings actually come from. And so I think part of seeking God with all of our heart is saying God I'm going to pursue you. I'm gonna seek you.

Whether I feel like it or not the mind of the understanding is also a part of this Robin you asked you how can I trust God, I was just talking to my son about this earlier this week. How do we grow in trust.

Well, faith is a gift, but it comes through the word of God. Romans chapter 10 says faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of Christ both write the word of God is as were hearing the word of God by the power of the Holy Spirit creates faith in our heart but also as we come to know who God is more and more through his word. I think we come to trust him more. If you think that God is cool you're going to have a hard time trusting him. Won't you, but if you recognize that God is the good father who sent his son to die for your sins doesn't want to withhold any good thing from you will think you begin to trust him because you know Robin that he has your best interest in mind. So I think seeking God with all of our choosing to pursue the Lord were using our will to save God I'm going to seek you, whether I feel like it or not, and were growing in our understanding of who God is through his Word so that we can trust him.

And so that we will trust him. We use our mind. I mentioned earlier, the importance of studying God's word, studying theology, we sometimes will pick that the head and the heart against each other, but really they go together.

It's as our our mind is being stimulated by the truth of God's word that it begins to seep into our hearts and we are transformed as we set our eyes on the Lord on Jesus. He transforms us another reality is Robin, this is what you're talking about. Also, is what it looks like to fulfill God's light seeking God loving God with all of our heart, mind, soul and strength. Let me just say sister if you feel like you fall short of that will join the club. None of us seeks God and love God perfectly were called to this is what God calls us to put all of us fall short.

And yet there's grace.

That's what the gospel is all about that, even though we fall short of seeking God like we should loving God like we should, and boy were grieved that we don't love him like we should, God sought us and loved us perfectly and paid for our sins. All those times we fail to seek him like we should, so that in love we might pursue him.

Thanks for your question Robin. I hope that's helpful for you. Well thank you drill for payment picture for us just a beautiful picture of God's redemption in his free gift of grace for everyone of us. This is core Christianity and here's a question we received by email at questions at core, Christianity.com it comes from Mark and he says has Jesus given each and every Christian authority in the sense of doing miracles. The context is a verse from a song my church saying this past week. It said when I open up my mouth miracles start breaking out.

I have the authority Jesus has given me. What do you think yeah I think this is exactly why we need to have discernment. As I said earlier because you get this kind of thing and in Christian music and and were singing these things right. It is so interesting because the way you worship God, we often think that our worship is just shaped by our theology.

So what we believe determines how were to worship God that that's true but it's also the case that the way you worship God begins to shape your beliefs and so if you're singing things like this right like when I open up my mouth miracles start breaking out. I have the authority Jesus is given me life if you believe that if that's the theology that you're embracing through the way that you're worshiping God you're going to feel very discouraged when you open your mouth and miracles don't start breaking out that I don't even know what that would look like, but no, I think the sad reality is.

A lot of Christians have been duped into thinking that the Christian life looks like you should be totally victorious. You know, working miracles and be just as exciting, vibrant relationship with Jesus. But the fact of the matter is following Jesus deals a lot more ordinary than any of that. It's growing together with real people under the ministry of the word, receiving what we call the means of grace. The preaching of the word communion. The Lord's supper baptism, the sort of ordinary things as we commit to them. We begin to grow and mature in the faith and and it's it's slow it may not be as exciting, but that's where true discipleship is taking place and I've seen so many believers burn out because they're trying to grab hold of this extraordinary you know miraculous powerful Christian life and they just feel like I can do it. I can't it's not happening there discouraged, so look, I think the song might be trying to refer to in Luke chapter 10, where Jesus sends out the 72 and he says to them whenever you enter a town and they receive.

You eat what is set before you heal the sick in and say to them the kingdom of God has come near to you easy have the sense in which Jesus is giving the 72 their authority to work miracles have to read the Bible in its context. We can just take these promises that were given to the 72 for example and apply them to ourselves as they will look I have the power and the authority to heal the sick, just not how it works. That's not what Jesus gave us authority to do. We don't work miracles. Mark, Jesus, God is the miracle worker and he's free to do that whenever he wants. And however he wants. But here's what he's given us is given us his word. He's given us his body family of believers to grow together with in the faith. I think that's where we need to focus if you're searching for miracles. If you're trying to live the extraordinary spirit filled powerful Christian life with. That's only cannot that's only in the last so long you're going to get tired. You're gonna realize I don't have the the spiritual vitality to keep this going because that is not what the ordinary Christian life was supposed to look like and sometimes in our music and in the preaching that we hear were told that that is what were supposed to pursue and then we quickly get discouraged and realize that we were not experiencing the things that we've been promised and then the sad reality is Marcus.

People will even abandon the faith because they'll feel like they've been lied to and the reality is, sometimes they have been lied to the Christian life looks like, growing in the grace and the knowledge of Jesus through the word of Jesus with the people of Jesus.

There are exciting moan moments and then there's a lot of really wonderful things that happen in the context of being a part of a local church and studying the word of God together and praying for each other and having Christian community, but the fact of the matter is it's not always going to feel like your on this emotional high. So we shouldn't expect that and so look at. It's been interesting because I feel like on this program today, in particular with been talking a lot about discernment about what it looks like took to follow the Lord to seek God with all of our heart and our mind.

And I think for whatever reason, Christians today have really tried to set aside the mind and decided it is all the heart just need to feel Jesus loved Jesus what we have to argue about theology and this that and the other while the fact of the matter is we need to know theology so that we don't get burned out in the Christian life so that were not expecting the Christian life to be me speaking and miracles coming out of my mouth and feeling like boy that is not happening.

I might be a terrible Christian. The reason people believe that is because they have bad theology brothers and sisters. You need to know the word God wants you to know the word so that you might know him and worship him and that's we want to do on this program is help you know the word. 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