Does God Speak to Us in Dreams?

Does God speak to us in dreams today. That's just one of the questions will be answering on today's addition of core Christianity hi 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 core that's 1-833-843-2673. You can also post your question on our Facebook, Instagram or twitter accounts and you can email us with your question at questions@corechristianity.com. Well, if you're a regular core listener.

Here's a bit of a behind the scenes info for you. Normally Adrian, I work in different studios in different cities. He lives in San Diego California I live in Minneapolis but this week we are working together in our studio in San Diego. So last night. April and his wife invited me over for dinner and I got to meet his four kids ages 864 and two I have to tell you drill. You definitely have the cutest kids in the state of California. Now I know that I already knew that Bill's got a wild last night was and it was a lot of fun.

I made some try to always come great is my go to. I also typically when I barbecue will throw some some hot peppers on the grill, which we often went to Bill and he was bold enough to try it � and he took one bite was done man or tell we had ice cream for dessert. Maybe goes on Deborah what was that they know now it was like a red jalapeno.

You know I was hot, but this is this how I like it for the kids cracked up when I ate the pepper and I was like they were all like laughing. I tried to warn you, and I don't know why my wife off. I don't know if it was maybe something you said. That's why she offered it to the left but idealized it was a fun night.

Thank you. One of these things about the evening was when I was getting ready to leave. Three. The kids were in bed, but the youngest who was to a drill had him in his arms and April started singing, holy, holy, holy, and his little guy started to sing along. The adhesive he's going to be a singer.

Maybe we'll see yet the city also has no bedtime. He's that the two-year-old who acts like he's unsettled that he was up with us having a good time as any. These great, let's get to our first call of the day.

Margaret is on the line from Newport Beach, California hi Margaret, welcome the core Christianity. After family atrium yeah will appreciate that and I question Fran the book of Colossians which I have loved all my life but there is one little sliver of part of the first and the first chapter and verse 24 that I've always wondered about the verse says now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my/Paul writing I did my share on behalf of this body, which is the church and filling at that which is lacking in Christ's sections.

How can we Palm eight. Why would he write that there was anything but lacking in Christ's afflictions at me. Margaret, thank you for that question and I think you know one thing that we have to sit at the outset is talk about the apostle Paul here me if anybody clearly emphasizes sufficiency of the work of Jesus Christ for us to put away our sins once and for all. It was him and so is he is he contradicting himself there. What we mean, was there something lacking in the sacrifice of Jesus. I think just on the basis of everything that we having in his writings here in Colossians in the book of Romans.

In the book of Galatians, he can't be saying that he can't be telling us here that Jesus's sacrifice was insufficient for the body of Christ. So what does he mean by it by lacking it.

One thing that Paul frequently will talk about in his epistles is suffering with Christ that the fact that the things that he is experiencing. For the sake of the gospel are ways in which he is suffering with his Lord and Savior. You see this in places like Philippians chapter 3, and I think a lot of it goes back to his his own conversion experience. Do you remember when Jesus confronted Saul of Tarsus as he was writing to persecute Christians how that story when David acts chapter 9 beginning in verse one. What Saul still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord went to the high priest and asked for asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any, belonging to the way men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem now as he went on his way he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven shown around him and falling to the ground he heard a voice saying to him, Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me and he said who are you, Lord, and he said I am Jesus whom you are persecuting the very first words of our Lord Jesus to Saul of Tarsus, the great persecutor of the church emphasize the fact that there is such a unity between Christ and his body that to persecute the body of Christ is to persecute Jesus himself is so I think you possible mean he learned it right there at the outset, I think he saw his own sufferings as a minister of the gospel as an apostle as sharing in Christ's sufferings and in one senses as being experienced by the Lord Jesus in his body and so I think that's what's being focused on their it's not that he's trying to say to us that there was something about the work of Jesus that he had add to write in the sense of you know Jesus's sacrifice is once for all sacrifice for our sins being insufficient. It's it's him identifying himself as as a co-suffer if you will with Jesus is savior for the good of the body of Christ as he was advancing the gospel experiencing a lot of very difficult things, persecution, famine, nakedness, sword, as he was doing that for the good of the church he was doing it for his Lord for Jesus and and so I think that's the best way to understand and and here not appeal to that really important that principle of scriptural interpretation, we let the clear passages of Scripture interpret the less clear ones, and so Paul is absolutely clear in so many places at the work of Jesus alone is sufficient to forgive us all of our sins so he can't be calling that into question here really I think has to be that union and unity that he has with the Lord. He's talking about in terms of suffering with Jesus there. Margaret Carter thanks much for your call. By the way, how do you listen to core Christianity listen on the radio or online radio station online perfect will is so nice to have you and thanks for being one of the idlers I will now not skip over this matter will appreciate it. Anyway, thank you, Adriana. You're welcome that I appreciate so much, Margaret and all of our listeners who are committed to God's truth digging into the Bible and really asking those tough questions. I can really understand this. Yeah, absolutely. That's how we grow in our face and right, not just sort of setting those things aside, but really digging in and often times it's it's when we dig in that we begin to appreciate appreciate those verses so much more I need to be able to think about that close connection that Jesus has with his body to be able to save you know Saul, so why are you persecuting me.

Well, Jesus loves his church he so tied to his church that the persecute hers to persecute him. This is core Christianity with pastor Adm. Sanchez. Our phone lines are open right now and we would love to talk to you. If you have a question about the Bible or the Christian life. You can call us at this number. Write this down for future reference, if your brother questioned anything about the Christian faith. Here is 833 the core that's 1-833-843-2673 let's go to Lynn from San Diego, California hi Lynn how are you today great what your question for pastor.

Israel well I was wondering if you could go over a little bit of heaven is like and what the future awaits for believers in heaven kind of future waits for us.

Yeah Lynn.

I would love to do that. I mean, what a wonderful thing for us to be able to think about and I think there a lot of people right now are saying that I can't wait for heaven because they just feel like there are so many difficult things that are going on right now in society that we tend to look up in in days like these.

And that that the good news is right. God has promised us something that we can even begin to fully comprehend in Jesus Christ and him and I think about what the apostle Paul said, quoting, and in first Corinthians chapter 2 verse nine. What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man. Imagine what God has prepared for those who love him. Another words in one sense you know when were talking about heaven in the age to come, it's it's incomprehensible it's it's more than we could ever imagine. And yet, the Bible does give us some some pictures of what that's gonna be like a magic about what the apostle Paul said in Philippians chapter 1, I believe it's in verse 23, where he talked about wanting to depart and be with his Lord because that was far better than anything else that he was experiencing or could experience this side of heaven. He knew being with Jesus is the best music of Jesus's conversation with the thief on the cross and in Luke chapter 23 where he said the thief, today you're gonna be with me in paradise. And so heaven that period of time were separated from our bodies prior to the resurrection of the dead is described as paradise. Is this being in the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ and really I think it's good to be consumed with the worship of the triune God working to be gathered around the throne of God. And here's another thing Lynn that you have to look forward to that I think is just so wonderful the souls of believers are at their death made perfect in holiness, you know right now were were weighed down by the sins and struggles of this world.

We look forward to the day was like man I want to obey the Lord and love the Lord like I'm called to in his word, but II fail every day. Well, when we enter into the presence of the Lord were nothing to be weighed down by that scene anymore, but Hebrews chapter 12 talks about that the saints who are around the throne of God right now worshiping him that that the souls of the righteous, the author to the Hebrews said the souls of the righteous made perfect, and I know about you but that's one of the things I look forward to the most is just being able to be gathered around the throne of God with the people of God in perfect holiness singing praise to the Lord and experiencing his glory in a way that we can't even begin to fully imagine that even beyond that, the hope that we have. Lynn is the hope of the resurrection of the dead that one day our bodies too are going to be raised, glorified, and so we have just so much to look forward to.

And we ought to just praise the Lord this side of heaven because of all of him and as I was able you to look at some of those verses you know the one Philippians, one that I mentioned. Luke 23 departing to be with the Lord in paradise and and even those great pictures in the Old Testament and in the New Testament of that beast that the people of God are going to have to gather the sort of marriage supper of the Lamb were were worshiping and celebrating the goodness of God for us in his son Jesus.

When thanks so much for your call. We appreciate you being one of our regular listeners here core Christianity you have a wonderful day. By the way, if you have a question for us couple different ways to to ask if you can call us and speak to pastor a drill live at 1-833-843-2673. That's 833 the core. You can also go to our website at core, Christianity.com is little microphone icon there. If you click on that microphone. Then you can leave your question right there, in effect, we received a call from Ireland a drill.

This person caught one tour website and left a message and let's hear that question for you. Hi this is Nephi come from the Maryland and Kashmir. I believe I strongly hold to eternal security. I also believe that to redeem to loose their salvation. Now how do we explain believer who passes away, but they had ongoing sin and sake of argument, they did not repent of this particular sin do they lose any reward in heaven will be the you have these passages in the New Testament. Talk about being judged according to our works, and I know one of the temptations that we can have as believers in Jesus Christ. This is to look at other people and try to determine you was that person really saved and and especially in situations like this where you have may be an individual who may be secretly and it came out later was he was living a double life, and then they die and and people have all these questions I think it's helpful for us to look at the words of the apostle Paul in first Corinthians chapter 4 beginning in verse three. Listen to what he said think this is helpful advice for us when we fall into this sort of desire to try and figure out whether or not another person is truly born again of the really saved Oliver's previous chapter 4 verse three but with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by any human court.

In fact I don't even judge myself, for I am not aware of anything against myself but I am not thereby acquitted. It is the Lord who judges me. Therefore, verse five.

Do not pronounce judgment before the time before the Lord comes, who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart. Then each one will receive his commendation from God is impossible right there sadly got even judge myself and of the Lord is the judge and I think that there's some some wisdom here for us now individually is not my job to determine whether or not someone is truly saved. There really a believer.

God is going to handle that on on the day of judgment. But Jesus did give us steps for addressing sin and unrepentant sin in the church and I know a lot of times churches don't practice this but Jesus outlined a sort of course for church discipline. What do you do when a brother or sister is living in ways that are contrary to what the word of God teaches that in that situation, the church should act them. This is why you do. We talk about things like church discipline.

Matthew chapter 18 Jesus said there in verse 15.

If your brother sins against you going tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you've gained your brother. But if he doesn't listen, take one or two others along with you that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. If he refuses to listen to them tell it to the church and if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.

In other words, and at that stage of church discipline then and in an individual is excommunicated or removed from the fellowship of the church and are treated as a nonbeliever, not not in order to to punish them. But in order to help them see look there's there's this real spiritual issues or your soul is in jeopardy your your deceived you can't live in this way, and think that everything is fine in terms of your communion with Jesus Christ and so I think the church does take action in situations like this, but it's not up to us as individuals to try and judge her figure out whether or not this person was was truly a believer that I think the wisdom that Paul gives the stair in first Corinthians chapter 4 is really helpful and so brother that's what I would say Nephi and thank you for your question so great to hear from our listeners in other countries.

That's one of the cool things about being on the World Wide Web. Of course we're on a variety of social media channels. You can find us watch the video of this program live on our YouTube channel core Christianity YouTube channel. You can also correspond with us on Facebook or twitter or Instagram. Ask your questions there or call us again anytime at 833. The core now one of the things we want to mention here core Christianity is that our goal is to help you understand the core truths of the Christian faith and we want to make help as many people as possible really get a clear understanding of the gospel through the articles on our website.

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One of the things that it signaled was the reverse of the curse at babble him you think about what took place there in Genesis chapter 11 where the languages were confused. It was a sign of God's judgment and then here in the book of acts, and in first Corinthians 12 through 14. We have essentially that the reversal of that this is this is the curse now being transformed. How well do the work of God through the work of Christ and what he had accomplished for his people. Now, in particular the gift of tongues in the New Testament words were real languages and I think sometimes people today will talk about them is sort of angelic prayer languages and that that's not my position they were real languages that essentially were communicating that the truth of God's word. The truth of the gospel and went. When the disciples were speaking in tongues on the book of in the book of acts on the day of Pentecost. The crowds heard them in their own language they were amazed. They were amazed yeah and and what were they declared were told and ask chapter 2 that they were declaring the wonderful works of God and that in first Corinthians 12 to 14.

The apostle Paul makes it really clear and in chapter 14 that the gift of tongues. When it is used in the context of the church should be used with an interpreter so that others can say amen to that, to the giving of thanks.

That's what Paul says in first Corinthians chapter 14 and so that that's how it operated, at least in the New Testament church.

It was the sign of the reversal of the curse that had taken place there in babble. It was a way for the church to be edified, built up in Paul emphasizes that extensively in first Corinthians 12 through 14, but I think that back gift and in some of the other sign gifts. The more miraculous gifts of the Holy Spirit were especially for that first stage of the history of the church when the gospel was just immediately breaking out. It was a sign for the people they are to do essentially jumpstart the expansion of the gospel in these extraordinary ways. In these miraculous ways in actually in the book of Hebrews in Hebrews chapter 2 verse four, the author of Hebrews talks about how that was at one time the Lord was was working the signs and wonders various gifts of the Holy Spirit.

It seems like even even there you didn't have those things happening as frequently and throughout the history of the church we've we've seen you know these more miraculous signs, sort of fadeout and so that that's my position brother and I and I think you know that it is important for us to understand really what tongues was in the New Testament as were thinking about it for ourselves today. This is a core Christianity with pastor Adm. Sanchez time for one more question in this kind of deals with the signs and wonders as well.

Antonio asked this through her website. He says does God speak to us in dreams today. Yet, that sort of fits right well it's certainly the case that throughout the Bible, God did speak to people through dreams and visions MEI I mentioned that you have been reading through Genesis you think of Joseph. You think of Daniel. Even another summing up the birth of our Lord Jesus, and in the dreams that were associated with the birth of Christ. And so it seems like throughout redemptive history, especially when God was communicating a really important message related to Christ. This the Savior. He would sometimes speak to people through dreams meant Joel chapter 2 when it talks about Pentecost that that Pentecost prophecy is talks about the old men dream dreams and young men seeing visions and so I think there have been times where God has used him and I know that there have been times according the script is where God is used dreams to speak to his people. But again, I think we have to differentiate between how God ordinarily works in the lives of believers and how God works at times extraordinarily. I don't anticipate God to speak to me through my dreams. If we want God to speak to us clearly would go to holy Scripture to his word, that doesn't mean that God can't use things like dreams and you hear stories about Muslims or our people and in the Middle East.

Turning to Christ through dreams, but at the end of the day. What we need is the preaching of the gospel. Paul said in Romans 10. How will people here unless the gospel is preached in a house can be preached unless someone is sent and so we preach the word. Thanks for listening to core Christianity request your copy of today's special offer.

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