Am I Suffering From a Generational Curse?

Does the Bible really teach that there are generational curses. That is one of the questions will be answering on today's edition of core Christianity hi this is Bill Meyer along with Pastor Israel Sanchez and this is a radio program where we answer your questions about the Bible and the Christian life every day. Our phone lines are open right now on if you want to call do in the next 25 minutes with your question.

Here's the phone number is 833 the core that's 1-833-843-2673. You can also post your question on her Facebook, Instagram or twitter account. You can watch us on YouTube and send us a question that way and you can email us your question at questions at core, Christianity.com first up today. Here's a voicemail we received from one of our listeners at an and the screaming and I and I want to hear anybody else assert your your assuming that when you're in heaven in the presence of the Lord, that you be able to be distracted by the sufferings of those who are not in heaven who are outside of Christ and outside of God's kingdom, but I don't think that we have any indication of them you think of that the image that were given of the new heavens and the new earth in the book of Revelation. In Revelation chapter 21 thinking. In particular, and its worship, its worship around the throne of God at work work work to be occupied with the adoration of the holy Trinity and so were not to be distracted by suffering. That's another beautiful picture that we have in the book of Revelation God wiping away all of our tears that we don't know if we've received questions. Other questions before related related to this, you know how my gonna be able to enjoy heaven if some of my loved ones aren't there. That kind of thing we don't we don't know entirely what it's gonna look like.

But we do know that it's good to be so glorious that were going to be there with the living God that were knocking to be distracted by the things and be pure joy and pure love. And so I think that your your understanding of heaven needs to be modified a little bit and I would say open up the book of Revelation. Go to chapter 21. Read chapters 21 and 22 and that's that's what you want to look at and that's what you want to put your confidence in terms of what heaven is going to be like so God bless no more crying and more tears, no more sorrow I mean it's a day that we all have to look forward to Linda and the whole issue of hell's a different different header entirely, but man, when we are with the Lord were to be celebrating right amen we are its enemy worship. This is core Christianity with Pastor Israel Sanchez. Here's the phone number if you have a question. Would love to hear from your phone lines are open right now.

Call us at 833, the court might want to make a note of that number 833.

The core 418-338-4326 73. Now we had a question that came in bought by voicemail about to list the media that we consume, particularly about television shows also some of that. My question is about learning that show Jesus and what the Bible teaches about if it's appropriate to watch the door if we should cue beating the Bible to see how he acts and things like that heard good things about release recently like the chosen and just running about your opinion. I always say the book is better. I mean as though they'll say and so you joking there but it is true.

If we want to understand who Jesus was weaned to go to the Scriptures. The early church and and many Christians throughout church history have been against that depicting God in images and there's a really good reason for that one. God's law, you think of the second commandment, but also just that the danger of misrepresenting God.

This is one of my biggest fears as as a minister of the gospel as someone who does this broadcast core Christianity, I tremble at the thought of misrepresenting God through his word and in it so we have to be really careful and and a danger with these depictions of Jesus are depictions of God is that were we can misrepresent the Lord is so it's always always point people back to the word of God. It seems to me like even the apostles who saw Jesus they didn't focus on his physical appearance that inflate what you know he was in a 5 foot 10 and and a light brown skin that can leave you don't get that anywhere in the New Testament what they focused on was the message of the gospel.

Think about this first John chapter 1 John begins that which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and have touched with our hands concerning the word of life. The life was made manifest, and we have seen it and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life which was with the father and was made manifest to us that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you so that you may have fellowship with us and indeed our fellowship is with the father and with his son Jesus Christ. It seems to me that the apostles who saw and heard Jesus first hand. They focused on proclaiming the apostolic message, the gospel, not on depictions of Jesus's physical appearance. Paul makes this very clear in Galatians chapter 3 he says I placarded Jesus before you. The word that he uses there in Galatians 31. It's a word that was used for ancient billboards that kind of the things I placated Jesus before you. How it was through the preaching, preaching God's Word gives us the clearest image if you will of Christ. And that's what God calls us to do is to proclaim the word and to receive the word, and so that's that's my focus just on the basis of God's word and I know that that might be controversial because a lot of the code just sort of harmless that kind of thing. But remember, we want to be so careful that we aren't misrepresenting the true and the living God. And that's why take the position that I do very important.

This is core Christianity with Pastor Israel Sanchez and we mention there is a variety of different ways to listen to our program that some of the radio stations that air core Christianity actually aired on a delayed basis later in the day so we should tell you if you want to call and talk to pastor a droll live in the studio. Here's the time you want to call. It's 11:30 AM Pacific time, which translates to 1230 Mountain 130 Central or 230 Eastern time for that half-hour. That's when you can call and reach us in the studio. Let's go to Rachel calling in for Massachusetts.

Rachel, what's your question for Pastor Israel all you want only you family member who are closest to you, including a son or daughter who is anti-Christianity who wants to engage in having a discussion about Christianity not purpose gain knowledge for the purpose of arguing or proving how the falsehood of Christianity on one holy.

Do you choose. I know a lot of people struggle with that and I haven't gotten a straight answer. Yeah, point you tell when it becomes only you know get-togethers or things of that nature only and especially for an apparent difficulty because you know I want to reach out every holiday I want to reach out. You know birthday, but when you become so disrespectful because of those discussions that what only parent make a decision that may be.

I guess what I'm really not sure. Well Rachel first yeah I you're right, this is something that a lot of people wrestle with loved ones with friends and the challenge here is a really isn't an easy answer because you're trying to gauge is this person wants to have a conversation with me about God really interested in, and I'm in a real conversation or did they just want to hear themselves talk. I've been in a lot of conversations were became very clear early on that this person actually didn't want to hear anything.

I had to say they'd already made up their mind and they were just happy. Basically speaking into the air they want to hear themselves talk.

And then I've been a part of other conversations where an individual might seem really combative, but you can tell they're searching there there trying to get to the bottom of the truth and it sounds to me like with this with the family member sister you know it. It sounds me like you're your sense is there more interested in just arguing that I think of the words of Titus in Titus chapter 3 verse nine Paul is writing any says avoid foolish controversies, genealogies, dissensions and quarrels about the law, for they are unprofitable and worthless. As for a person who stirs up division after warning him once and then twice have nothing more to do with them, knowing that such a person is warped and sinful.

He is self condemned. Yeah, you think of what Jesus said not casting your pearls before swine, but at the same time you never want to give up hope on an individual so I think one Rachel praying Frankfurt for your son begging God to show mercy to keeping the door open so you can say look, eight it sounds to me like you're really not interested in having this this discussion you actually want to talk about Christianity.

Why the gospel is true.

Let me give you some resources we be glad to help you with that, Rachel. We have so many resources that that are apologetic in nature that we encourage people to check out some classic works.

You can look at books like CS Lewis's mere Christianity but there's just so much so if if an individual is really interested hey, you could say there are resources there are reasons why we believe the things we believe you want to go deeper. Let's do that. If not, well then there's a warning and and that warning is true for every single one of us look at if we reject God's word. If we reject the gospel we will be judged by the Lord and so we love one another. We love our children, especially in so we crowd to the Lord and we say God have mercy open my sons heart open this family member's heart so that they might receive your word so that they might truly repent and God is able to do that sister so you don't have to be hopeless.

Go to the Lord in prayer continue to gauge the situation.

He sees Izzy open or is it just an argument and if it's just an argument avoided but be honest and say look, you're really not interested in having this this discussion.

When you are let's do it. But if you just want to hear self talk.

Then I'm knocking to waste my time I have I have better things to do and so that doesn't mean you don't continue to love your your son and spend time with each other and care for him and so on and so forth. All of those things Jesus calls you to love him, but you don't need to engage in those sort of foolish controversies that that always talking about when he wrote the Titus and so made may the Lord bless you and give you wisdom sister thank you for reaching out to us.

Rachel, thanks so much for your call, you know it or we often talk about the grade cocoa one of the authors that we recommend here on core Christianity great actually has a book called tactics a game plan for discussing your Christian convictions. I'm reading that book right now and it's very helpful for situations like oh she's discussing where you're actually asking questions to the skeptic, rather than arguing your point and that can be very effective as well. So let's get another question, this one from Julia in Bellevue, Illinois Julia, welcome to the program, I always love you so much fun you got a question about being in that you chapter 2819 Jesus said about being baptized in the name of the father and a little extra group backpacking Jesus name. I'm trying to understand you know what you mean, you know, I try to understand and know what it shows you how it have to be Jesus name, all is not so I'm just trying to understand that if you don't want it to get clarity on it.

Yeah well Julia. One, thank you for your encouragement for sister. I hope that we continue to be a blessing in your life and I would I would take a different position on on this that it sounds of the church that that you attend.

We baptize as Jesus said in Matthew 28 we gave the great commission in the name of the father and of the son of the Holy Spirit. These triune baptisms with the church is done since the very beginning and that of the book of acts you have instances where individuals are, or it said that there baptized in the name of Jesus. I think that there actually still been baptized in the name of the father and of the son of the Holy Spirit, but the reason Luke, who wrote the book of acts records it in this way is is because it really was his identification. Baptism is this identification with Jesus Christ in his death and resurrection. The apostle Paul talked about this in places like Galatians chapter 3 in Romans chapter 6 the beginning of Romans chapter 6 and so there's no contradiction.

You have to imagine, Peter was one of the apostles of our Lord Jesus. He'd heard from Jesus go into all the world and make disciples, baptizing them in the name of the father and of the son and of the Holy Spirit strange to think that on the day of Pentecost as his preaching and people are being baptized, he would do it in a different way, but that the reason why you have this language of being baptized in the name of Jesus.

Because of that that focus on identification with Christ as the Messiah.

There in the early days, they were still being baptized in the tri-you name I would say, but it but it really was helping these people in particular on the day of Pentecost Jews were converting to the faith recognize the identity of Jesus Christ there there being associated with him in and through baptism and so that's why you have that language. There answer your question, sister, and for calling us again your listing the core Christianity with pastor Israel Sanchez and if you or someone you know is struggling with depression. We actually have a free resource that we would love to tell you about today. Yes please get a hold of this resource is called nine things everyone should know about depression. It's yours.

As Bill set for free when you sign up for a weekly newsletter. This is just an area where I think the church could use a lot of help where we can grow in our understanding of mental illness and so we made this resource. It's it's meant to encourage you and to help you to be able to encourage others who are wrestling with depression battling with depression so get a hold of this resource over core, Christianity.com/offers to download nine things everyone needs to know about depression.

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Here's the phone number it's 833 the core that's 833-843-2673 let's go to a voicemail that we received yesterday about generational curses and generational Creek. My family and they cannot carry. I need to know more about generational Creek in any I love you shower. I'm thinking hey thanks for the encouragement. So light was the idea here. The idea here is that an individual or family is cursed with a particular propensity to sin. Maybe there is their spiritual warfare at play there.

That kind of thing in the Bible does say that sin brings with it a curse. The curse of the law read Deuteronomy chapter 28 and the second half of the chapter.

In particular, talks about the curses for disobedience know what you need to know what your family needs to know is is if you're a Christian. If you're in Jesus Christ. Christ has taken the curse of the law for you so that you might be justified forgiven cleared Galatians chapter 3 verse 13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written, cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree brothers and sisters. If you are in Jesus Christ, you are not cursed.

You don't have the curse of the law on you Christ took that curse for you so that you might stand justified in God's sight. Now sin in the family being exposed to sin, they think of things like sexual sin and alcoholism. I'm even being sinned against thinking of physical abuse or sexual abuse can have devastating effects on a person does things don't excuse our personal sins later in life, but we knew we do need to take account of them and and really I think seek out the help that we need in order to get healing our parents that their sins are not excuses for us, but sometimes they do reveal areas of our own lives were going to need extra help things we need to take to Jesus, the don't excuse and turn from it and get the support and accountability that you need, pastor, counselor or therapist, especially when wind you been exposed to center sinned against a very young age that kind of thing. It's really important that we that we get the help that we need the body of Christ, but no that you're not cursed because Jesus took your curse on the cross.

God bless you, MM, it's a great response and very helpful for those folks that maybe have experienced some of the pain of the past or some kind of a genetic predisposition toward something that could lead to temptation them only to sin. This is core Christianity with pastor Israel Sanchez. Let's go to Demetri in Springfield, Missouri Demetri what your question for pastor. Israel program is a wonderful program.

My question is always a heavy one because of this about abortion and is a horrible horrible thing. We will re-allow this coming to this country created you and it basically is.

Hide all that I do not believe I'm being too exaggerated in our two main remains. I'm not amazed her purse or by calling abortion what it is. I'm not ashamed to call it the murder of an unborn child, and I will say that the president, I will say that to anybody and it just burns my heart every day about abortion.

I want to know that I think nobody even believers, that it really hard to cavalier about about this agreement got so used to it that we think we begin to think of a test that is still horrible. It is it is and if your question is you know what is what is my take on abortion hi, I would agree with you brother. And we do and can sort of you know be desensitizing.

Think about all the things that are happening around us that the here over and over again. The let's call it what it is.

It is a heinous sin it's it's devastating. It destroys life you think of what the psalmist said in Psalm 139 verse 13, you formed my inward parts you need and me together in my mother's womb.

I praise you from fearfully and wonderfully made. It is a heinous sin, but it's not the unpardonable sin and there is a God in heaven who is gracious to sinners, even to people who have who have had abortions when we go to him. We say God forgive me for what I've done, he forgives us in the blood of Jesus Christ is able to wash away our sins so we have to have those two things I think together Demetri one. We have a high view of sin. We recognize what it is we call it what it is and we stand against it and we do with with abortion. We stand against it and at the same time, we recognize that there are families that have been devastated by this in individuals who have sinned in this way, and we hold out to them the grace of God and the promise of the gospel that there is forgiveness for them. There is forgiveness for you if you're listening right now, you had an abortion and your you're struggling with the guilt and the shame we just say turn to Jesus is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love in the blood of Jesus is able to cleanse you, and so we have to have those two things together.

Demetri thank you for forgiveness. A call this is core Christianity with pastor Israel Sanchez.

Let's go to Laverne in St. Louis, Missouri Laverne what your question is only God, you help me out once before with my friend with the blue light Jesus not accepting that and you let me know that God were would not go on, boy, and so that change my life and God always have me doing missions, but sometimes it don't come to. It takes so long to come to pass sometime: I want to do now is as you have the real word every day as I don't read.

I can't.

I can't really really function but what I will ask you right now is time, could you take me to of Scripture that I can put in my daily reading that will help me not lose hot on the weight of what God want me to do will sister, praise God. I thank you for for your encouragement Scripture for you not to lose heart and in terms of what God wants you to do well gosh, I think you specifically are talking about you know is your sharing the faith with others, and you talked about your friend that you are sharing with.

Let me tell you one passage of Scripture that really really encourages me.

It's found in the Gospel of Matthew. And in this one for me as a minister of the gospel is what gives me hope every day to continue doing the work that I do.

It's what Jesus said to Peter, he said in Matthew 16, verse 18. You are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it sister as you share Jesus with others.

The kingdom of God is advancing, and you can rest in the fact that Jesus, not you or me is building that kingdom, and the gates of hell will never prevail against it. Thanks for listening to core Christianity to request your copy of today's special offer. Visit us at core, Christianity.com and click on offers in the menu bar or call us at 1-833-843-2673.

That's 833 when you contact us. Please let us know how you been encouraged by this program and be sure to join us next time. As we explore the truth of God's word together