How Should We Pray For Those Near the End of Life?

Is it okay to pray for those near the end of their life to die peacefully. That's is one of the questions will be answering on today's addition of core Christianity hi this is Bill Meyer along with Pastor Israel Sanchez and this is the radio program where we answer your questions about the Bible and the Christian life every day. You can call us right now with your question. At 833 the court our phone lines are open for the next 25 minutes and pastor, a drill would love to talk to you again that's 1-833-843-2673. You can also post your question on our Facebook, Instagram or twitter accounts. You can email us with your question at questions@corechristianity.com and by the way were on YouTube you can watch us live or you can watch us later in the day.

Let's go to Tim in Annapolis, Maryland Tim, welcome to the program on a drill appreciation.

So very encouraging and I have a question about we know that were saved by grace. However, I will reward you are saved by grace. I'd often thought that perhaps the parable he came to love the talents might refer to that.

But now I'm not sure yet. There are a few passages in the New Testament Tim that seem to indicate that there there is some level of reward and the parable of the talents in Matthew chapter 25 is one text that people will go to. There is also the language of Paul in first Corinthians chapter 3 is he's talking about is apostolic ministry going out and preaching the gospel, laying on the solid foundation. He says this first printing chapter 3, beginning in verse 10, according to the grace of God given to me like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and someone else is building upon it.

Let each one take care how he builds upon it, for no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, would Jesus draw each one's work will become manifest for that day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire and the fire will test what sort of work each one is done if the work that anyone is built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward.

If anyone's work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire and so there's another passage where you have this this language of rewards you think also of Paul's words in second Corinthians chapter 5 verse 10 where he talks about standing before God at the judgment in each person receiving what to do to them. You know for what they've done in the body, whether good or bad. And so you're actually right, were saved by grace through faith, not according to deeds done by us in righteousness. In Titus three, chapter 5 Chapter 3 verses five and six but it does seem like great that there's going to be some kind of commendation that we received from the Lord that we don't know entirely what that looks like and what those rewards mean exactly. You know where we just Bible doesn't speak to that but I think that we can say confidently on the basis of places like the parable of the talents in Matthew 25 and even that Texan first printing chapter 3 that yeah you know where you stand before the Lord. Our works are to be taken into account, not as a basis for our justification but we argue to be commended by the Lord for the things that we've done and there is an be some some kind of reward. What that looks like entire were not sure but I think that's as far as we can go brother thank you for your question. This is core Christianity with Pastor Israel Sanchez would love to hear from you. If you have a question about the Bible or the Christian life. It's 833. The core pick up your phone gives call 833-843-2673 let's go to a Deborah who called in with the question yesterday.

There is many places that have had the power of an out evening today, and God is given a the power to buying what's on our mind in heavenly slip on earth and heaven demons run because of Jesus's name. The name of Jesus must be able for us to do so much more. Why would it be not something given to us as believers to utilize because of the opposition that we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities and powers. Jesus is that now we can do greater things. So if you can expound on that understanding about why believers should have power to cast out the basis of thank you for that question. I'm guessing you're listening to yesterday's broadcast work.

Somebody asked a question. It has as God-given us the authority to cast out demons and do these kinds of things, as it will in the Gospels, you know, Jesus gave his disciples the apostles. This kind of authority. My concern was that we don't use Jesus's name, like a sort of magic talisman and that's exactly what was happening I was I was appealing to a passage in the book of acts in acts chapter 19 where you had a group of people who were doing that they knew that there was power in the name of Jesus. They saw the disciples casting out demons in the name of Jesus.

And so they thought that we could just use the name of Jesus and do this or to spiritual Ghostbusters thing and Jesus name is powerful for let's let's use it against the forces of the evil one, and we read is really actually pretty interesting. Acts chapter 19 beginning in verse 13 then some itinerant Jewish exorcists undertook to invoke the name of Jesus over those who had evil spirits saying I adjure you by the Jesus whom Paul proclaims seven sons of the Jewish high priest name. See what were doing this but the evil spirit answered them Jesus I know, and Paul, I recognize, but who are you and the man in whom was the evil spirit leaped on them and mastered all of them and overpowered them so that they fled out of the house naked and wounded, and so might my concern is that people don't use Jesus's name as the sort of this magic incantation. There is power in the name of Jesus Christ and ultimately God has the authority he's the one who's in absolute control over the evil one and in Christ, we belong to Jesus, the evil one can't touch us were called to pray to engage in spiritual for warfare. The apostle Paul talks about this in Ephesians were called to resist the evil one.

Peter says, but whether or not were supposed to go around as the sort of spiritual Ghostbusters trying to do that. The exorcists thing I'm not I'm not confident that cicada didn't seem like that's what the New Testament says yes there was a period of time where Jesus himself was going around casting out the devil binding the strongman the guy the Gospels talk about this.

It was it was really a part of him demonstrating that the kingdom of God was coming him back here and through his ministry and so that this was a really unique thing that was happening. Jesus was accomplishing it.

The apostles were doing this as well, but were not to be going around. I think again doing that the spiritual Ghostbusters thing that's not to say that we don't engage in in spiritual warfare.

And that's not to say that there isn't. The other reality of of things like demon possession today.

I just a week. We want to approach us with wisdom and according to the Scriptures, and not using Jesus's name as a magic formula to do spiritual warfare. So thanks for your question. Thank you for that Israel. This is core Christianity would love to hear from you mention one of the ways you can listen to this program or actually watch it is on YouTube and Annett is watching on YouTube live right now and here's a question from her.

She says was the flood of form of eternal judgment on those who were not in the ark. While the flood.

It definitely was a a form of judgment.

Yes, I mean it in Scripture that the flood is frequently appealed to as God's judgment on the world are referred to as God's judgment on the world both in the Old Testament and also in the in the New Testament. Baptism action is really interesting.

A lot of people don't make this connection, but baptism for Christians is a type of flood, Peter talks about this and you see this in the New Testament it's it's a sort of judgment that we experience now what was that flood judgment. Ultimately it was the death of Jesus Christ. He was buried through death. Paul talks about this in the book of Romans and were united to Jesus by faith such as if we share in that judgment. That's why were were saved by faith. We were in Christ, we belong to him.

And so, yes, the flood absolutely was a judgment. The judgment of God upon the wicked world at that time.

It's really also this picture for you have this picture judgment but also this picture of new creation because God brings his people know and his family through the judgment waters to repopulate the world is the really a lot of amazing pictures analogies there between the flood in baptism and and so it's his judgment through which the people of God are saved in a picture of new creation and it thinks that question is core Christianity by the way, we should mention that some of the radio stations that air our program.

Aaron on a delayed basis. So if you want to call and talk to pastor Israel live in the studio.

Here's the time you want to call. It's 11:30 AM Pacific, which translates into 1230 Mountain 130 Central or 230 Eastern time. That's when we take your calls here in the studio and if so if you hear the program at a later time. That means it's been recorded. You can also by the way, leave a voicemail anytime 24 hours a day by calling us at 833 the core that's 1-833-843-2673 let's go to Gaylene and Topeka Kansas scaling what your question for pastor.

Israel hello hello Gaylene, what's your question almost all silent saying I will catalog down with the Bible and in no reason were being attacked so much my own fears and and so I called to preach the gospel around the world with. I will try to see how that will give you the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit will nail you were how to come about the well absolutely week. We desperately need the help of the Holy Spirit for the sharing.

Preaching of the gospel and were not alone in this is it's it's really quite wonderful to see if you look at the book of acts. For example, in acts chapter 4 of Peter and the rest of the disciples that there there struggling because they are being persecuted for their faith because they had been preaching the gospel of meanness coming off the heels of the day of Pentecost. And there's this there's this wonderful prayer and is want to read some of this prayer to you a sovereign Lord.

This is acts chapter 4 for beginning in verse 24 who made heaven and earth and the sea, and everything in them who through the mouth of our father David, your servant said by the Holy Spirit. Why did the Gentiles rage and the peoples plot in vain. The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord and against his anointed then and he says this truly in this city there were gathered together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate along with the Gentiles and the people of Israel to do whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take place, and now Lord look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness, will you stretch out your hand to heal and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus, when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continue to speak the word of God with boldness. So here you have the disciples early on, crying out to God and sing Lord fill us with your spirit, for what purpose so that we might boldly proclaim your word. We share the gospel with others brothers and sisters. We desperately need the Holy Spirit we the spirit of God to grant us that boldness is let me just encourage you as you listen to this. Maybe never shared the gospel with anyone your life before. Pray pray that the Lord would open up doors for you to be able to share the message of salvation with the people that is brought into your life and pray that God would give you boldness so that when you have those opportunities, you take advantage of them and enter the Spirit would guide you only say another thing Gaylene because a lot of confusion today about what it looks like to actually share the gospel. I think too often Christians when they when they think about sharing the gospel with a what they really are sharing is their own for personal experience with Jesus Alito believe in Jesus because he's made my life so much better. Ever since I came to Jesus, you know, I just have this piece, that kind of thing we share a lot about our own personal testimony, but we never really get to the gospel. The gospel is not the message of how my life was changed per se. That's an implication of the gospel. The gospel is what God accomplished in history through his son Jesus Christ. It's the life of Christ, the death of Christ. The burial of Christ, the resurrection of Christ. And so when we share the gospel were praying for boldness for us to share that message. What Jesus is accomplishing the reason that so important is good to forge a sharing about our own personal experience on the response again to be from people. There is a that's great for you.

We live in a what we sometimes call a pluralistic society.

A society where you know you believe what you want to believe it in terms of religion you believe what you want to believe I'm in a believe it makes me feel good and it's great we can just agree to disagree. Did you know your truth for you in my truth for me, but that's not how the gospel is to be present in the gospel is not something that we should embrace because just sort of works for us.

The gospel is something that happened in history that God accomplished. It's what Jesus did, so that we might be forgiven. And now God commands all people everywhere to repent. On the basis of of that very truth and so may God bless you Gaylene and and everyone listening right now you are listening right now. May God bless you and fill you with his spirit to share the message of the gospel with the people around you. There's nothing wrong with with sharing your your own experiences with it as well. How how that message has shaped you and blessed you totally fine.

Make sure that your first and foremost focusing on what God did to reconcile sinners to himself. That's the gospel that's the good news. Thanks for calling a scaling man. Great word drill. Thank you so much.

You're listening to core Christianity with pastor Israel Sanchez and we have a brand-new Bible study.

We want to offer you when it's on the book of the Bible that challenges a lot of Christians because it's got a lot of symbolism and metaphors, and it's the book of Revelation, yet are Revelation Bible study is hot off the press, written by actually a professor that I had in seminary. Dennis Johnson is a godly man, an excellent writer and a New Testament scholar someone who spent a lot of time in the book of Revelation then and can really help you understand this book better and so this is the resource we we really thought was important because we get so many questions about the end times about the significance of the prophecies in the book of Revelation. This is to help you and so get a hold of this resource. It's yours for a gift of $20 or more and I know it's gonna bless you. We would love to send that to you.

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You are a true blessing. So grateful for your show.

I really appreciate it. I work at an assisted-living nursing home setting. And of course what I see mostly here is people suffering and dying and lacking someone in a terrible condition. I pray for them to die quickly.

I pray for God to please take your soul. Please take quickly and let them die and I wonder if it's wrong to pray that because I know that were supposed to pray for healing. I honestly don't believe that the people will be here.

I believe that it actually is. I mean they're in their 90 handout from hundred. I pray that they will die quickly and not suffer and I just wanted out. That was okay.

I just want to sit and take pain. I let Tricia thank you again. Hey, Sheila, God bless you in the work that you are doing and not just serving there but also praying for people. I know that the Lord hears your prayers and continue to do that with forcing OCC there is it that is a total difference between just praying that someone would would die, that they would perish and praying for someone because you don't want to see them suffer anymore and you're right there on the on the front lines and you you see it every day.

The suffering that the people are are going through that. I think a big question here is in a death is different for different people and what I mean by that is for the believer death has been transformed. It's entering into life. Jesus said when he when he was speaking to Mary and Martha in John chapter 11 verse 25 I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live in. Everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die.

You believe this and she said him. Yes, Lord, I believe that you are the Christ, the son of God was coming into the world and so for the believer death is an entrance into life.

You see this especially in John's writings, in particular for for the nonbeliever death is an entrance into judgment and I think that should factor into the way that you pray for people who were on on their deathbed maybe maybe still suffering outside of Christ. I would pray that God would cause the light of his glory to shine upon them that they might even there. Even there, apprehend the truth of the gospel. Maybe. Maybe they heard it years and years ago and now they're thinking about me you don't know what a person has gone through, knows what they've experienced, but praying that they would come to know the Lord and also you know you it it it is a totally legitimate pray. Prayer to pray that God would ease their pain.

These are some you don't want that for them, but I would say that has to factor into how your praying for that should factor into how your praying for these for these people who are approaching death, and so I think I think that's really really important and and I would also say again that there is a difference between just praying that someone would die and saying, Lord, take this person out of their suffering there is anything wrong with praying that way and I pray that the Lord gives you wisdom and grace to continue to minister to the people that you're working with and fills your heart sister with with his love and his strength to do the work that you're doing. Thank you for your question. While what a challenging job she has.

We should be praying for her for that.

Now daily encouragement that she attempts to give those patients there and that assisted living place tough tough situation. This is core Christianity with pastor Israel Sanchez. Let's go to glory in Modesto California glory what your question for pastor. Israel is regarding prayer and praying with a group. I am finding more that when I hear someone in the group make a lot of noise is. I know maybe they're intending to encourage the person saying the prayer out loud, but I find it's really distracting and a completely take me away from what the person saying the prayer is praying for. For example, you know, there yeah I'm sorry you feel that your risk for doing that.

Normal yeah well look, I think we've been there, right if your menu during a prayer circle and somebody's praying and everybody's chitosan. Yes, amen.

Then they get really can.

I think be distracting. I am the one thing right like one be so careful here because it really is easy to sit or stand and judge the prayers of another person to Frank, let me just say this, some prayers deserve to be judged by me something to think we are we when we pray we can do it in ways. In Jesus the refi for Jesus did this we do in ways that you know were trying to draw attention to ourselves or just asserting using vain repetitions mean Jesus in Matthew chapter 6, he said, when you pray, don't heap up empty phrases like the Gentiles and and don't do it to be seen by others is in that sense, Brighton, according to Jesus, there are some prayers that we should we should say okay, you shouldn't pray that way but a lot of times in these situations. I think sometimes people. I just pray differently than we do, or other people. Maybe they're engaged in the prayer process a little bit differently than we would be maybe like the ad in amen when this other person is praying. I think that can be distracting for us but I would. I would encourage you to try and as the prayer is taking place. Fix your eyes upon the Lord by faith. There are a lot of distractions that we experience in prayer and with with others and there are instances where I think maybe it can be appropriate to say to someone. Hey, that's really distracting to me, but I think sometimes maybe you know if it's just somebody saying a man or their they're doing the kind of a thing. I don't know that we need to say that he, I think for us in on the situation to just saying, Lord, help me to to focus on you.

Help me to focus on what is being prayed so that I too can say amen and pray with my brothers and sisters and maybe also being sensitive to the fact that maybe for some of these other people glory. This is just how they are entering into the the prayer how they are able to identify with the words that are being prayed, you know it, how they are participating and whether were participating in silence and in our hearts truly praying along with this other person or or whether there there praying and were saying amen is there praying you know I think both of those are okay and we have to search our own hearts, to say Lord help me to to focus on you not to be easily distracted.

Now nothing again that there aren't situations glory where things can be. People can be distracting and pray in ways maybe even that they should be praying we can have conversations about that as well and in its can be helpful maybe that the talk with that person to speak with them and just as a hate makes it really hard for me to be able to pray when you're making so many noises. I bet she had to do that before the context of a Bible study were, we would have group prayer and an individual in the Bible said would you start to sing while we were praying and nobody else was singing and it just was this rectified had that conversation with that individual.

But I would say just encouraging you sister continue to pray with the body of Christ try to work through the distractions fixing your eyes on Jesus by faith and being encouraged as you gather together with other believers to speak to the Lord and to pray to him. Thanks for listening to core Christianity request your copy of today's special offer.

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