Is Singleness an Affliction?

Singleness be an affliction for Christians who have the desire to be married. This 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.

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You can also email us your question at questions at core, Christianity.com first up today let's go to Demetri in Springfield, Missouri Dimitri what your question for Pastor Israel ADSL like question is I Chapter 37 verse 36 Isaiah, should I read of first yeah go ahead. Thank you.

Then the angel of the Lord went forth and smoke in the camp of the Assyrians hundred and four square fourscore and 5001. They arose early in the morning, behold, they were all dead corpse.

I think it's pretty obvious what part confuses me. The very last sentence okay it's, you know, sometimes I think it should be as as confusing as that will all it's being said here is that there's this great judgment. The angel of the Lord comes and strikes down the Assyrians were the people rose early in the morning they saw essentially discrete judgment that God had brought about, you know, defending his people and bring judgment upon the enemies of the Lord and so they were witnesses.

They saw the bodies lying there, that the angel of the Lord had had essentially come and and dealt with these people and so Demetri I think that that should clear it up it it's it's not that they were already dead. It's that the angel of the Lord came in and attack struck down were told there in Isaiah 3637 verse 36 struck down the camp of the Assyrians and the people of Israel got to see this great slaughter, at least the aftermath of the great slaughter, so thanks Demetri didn't want to mess with the angel of the Lord know it's never a good idea to mess with the Lord will do so and the Assyrians learned that here very quickly. Let's go to Laverne and St. Louis, Missouri Laverne, what's your question for Pastor Israel you know about him. There is no where she okay you like that will take a bird well to do that and everything will go for her. She ate many days but what my question you and not have a lot of to go.

With a satisfied me with the layer being what did God have to take straight to another level when her son Elijah had to go and ask God to bring light back to him because she had already obeyed and use her faith in me that Jacob Gray so that he was there another level of faith because I wanted for that and why you know what you know whether there have to happen there there so much going on in this passage are in first Kings 17.

One of the things were sings God's provision supernatural provision for his people, and in particular for this widow and it sounds like your question, Laverne is is God testing this widows face even more. I mean she's already gone through so much an Elvis Henderson. That's what's what's the big deal is he trying to to strengthen her faith.

I think I think really what's what's taking place here is God is putting his power on display his power and providing in these supernatural ways and in particular and in raising the widow's son. Actually, you do have the sort of theme of faith here in this chapter of the Bible in the New Testament in James chapter 5 verse 17 it says Elijah was a man with a nature like ours and he prayed fervently that it might not rain for three years and six months, and it did not rain the point.

There is Elijah's been put forward as a sort of example of faith were called to pray in faith with faith. James talks about that earlier in James chapter 1 he talks about praying for wisdom and so faith is here but really Elijah as a prophet someone use my mightily by the Lord and speaking on behalf of God's is pointing us forward to the greater Elijah, if you will. Jesus, who raises the dead who who actually in Jesus himself sort of identified himself with Elijah. In some regards as is this great prophet discrete end times prophet. I think of the book of Luke in Luke chapter 4 verse 25 he actually brings this very story up liver injury and Jesus said I look for 25. In truth I tell you, there were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah, when the heavens were shut up three years and six months and a great famine came over all the land.

Yet Elijah was not sent any of them, but to the widow of Sarah Pfaff in in that particular region.

And so, Jesus, and one since he's a lab, sort of like Elijah and that I've come to you. I'm working these great and powerful miracles.

It's a story I think it does show us the power of God. The importance of faith, the necessity of faith but also points us forward to Jesus, the ultimate prophet who raises the dead and who was himself raised from the dead for our salvation is delivering thanks to that question.

S this is core Christianity with Pastor Israel Sanchez.

If you have a question about the Bible or the Christian life would love to hear from you.

It's 833-843-2673. Our phone lines will be open for the next 15 minutes or so. So give us a call again 833 the core.

We should also mention that some of the radio stations that air our program error it on a delayed basis, which means if you want to call and talk to Pastor Israel live, you need to do warmer in the studio that's at 11:30 AM Pacific time, which translates into 1230 Mountain 130 Central or 230 Eastern time.

You can call for that half-hour and we would love to hear from you. Let's go to Adam in Pomona, California Adam, what's your question for Pastor Israel. 22 to 3 where it talks about the people coming into the house. I want to note that still applies to the mirror today.

Hey let me read this this passage of Scripture for those who are not familiar with Exodus 22 Exodus 22 beginning in verse one. If a man steals an ox or a sheep and kills it or sells it, he shall repay five oxen for Knox and for sheep for a sheep. If a thief is found breaking in and is struck so that he dies, there shall be no blood guilt for him. But if the sun is risen on him. There shall be blood guilt for him. He shall surely pay if he has nothing then he shall be sold for his theft, so, so here you have essentially the civil law of this release are we through laws that were associated with Israel as a political body and and Moses is here giving the people the sort of applications and in everyday life you something, something happens. Here's here's what you should do. Here's how the law you know delivers justice.

The question is, are those laws, though civil law, still binding for us today well know, because the church is not the sort of political kingdom in the same way that Israel was under the Old Testament we think about it. In the Old Testament, you know, for Israel is this political kingdom. If you're somebody committed adultery. They were to be put to death while Paul ate on the New Testament when he's writing the Corinthians. He says unit with the with the adulterous brother sister you don't don't stone them.

You excommunicate them if they're unrepented to see it.

We have to be careful with how were applying these laws. But as we think about now where we are as believers under the new covenant. Now, does that mean that there is no application no. I think I think just in terms of wisdom. There are things we can pull from passages like this and and certainly it in that sense I think we can see them as as applicable for us to have equates quite simply hear the ideas of semi breaks into your house and you you self-defense and they get injured or killed, is it isn't your fault will hear at least in Exodus 22 the idea was note, you know there's there's no blood guilt there. You have to feel guilty for defending your family. If somebody breaks into your house in the middle the night and are trying to harm you and I you defend your family and so I think there are some appliqu�s we just have to be very careful that we aren't trying to say the civil love is real, applies to the church to sort of disorder 100% today in the same way and in that the church is supposed to be dealing out these punishments because were under the new covenant, and in the church is not a nation state religious body like Israel was under the old covenant, and so thank you that question and was a great question and appreciate your call and we often talk on this program about the difference between the civil law the moral law. The ceremonial laws we see in the Old Testament. Unfortunately, a lot of people get those confused times and they think will this applies to us today, when in reality they have, you understand the context, absolutely. That's it.

That's a key's were open up the Scriptures's context is is going to help us you know unlock everything there and it really is an important point apologetically is were defending the Christian faith because there are people that will come in they'll say you guys are so inconsistent you you you reject one thing and then you accept another. But God's word forbids eating shellfish or you know that kind of thing that a try to apply the ceremonial law for today. Then there different taking it out of context. So we have to understand how the law of God relates to us today and and how we sort of think through the ceremonial law, the civil law the moral law which is given for all time, which were still under in order to be able to answer those questions. I think with with wisdom. This is core Christianity with Pastor Israel Sanchez. Let's go to glory in Modesto California glory what your question about Roman 13 verses one through four I read it many times but I just I guess I'm wondering are they talking about governing authorities would be like police officers or local law enforcement enforcers of the law or they talking about politicians and people who make the laws or those types of decisions. I think we can actually apply to both glory, to read Romans 13, 124 just just for a listeners let every person be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever risk resists the authorities resists what God is appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority then do what is good and you will receive his approval, for he is God's servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God's wrath on the wrongdoer. Sort of interesting. With that with the question we just got from the book of Exodus Exodus chapter 22 there at that time in in the history of God's people. The church really did have the sword and exercise the sort they were that the government authority. At that time. And so when somebody would break the law, they would they would apply the law, they would they would execute them at times of anyone with the crime was.

But here Paul says look the church doesn't bear the sword anymore that God is given governing officials, a sort of secular authority, the ability to to bring about and promote justice in its is legitimate authority that's in the world today. I doesn't have to be.

Got Christian authority per se. I mean it's is legitimate authority that God is instituted in the world today. It's provisional because ultimately we know that God's kingdom is the kingdom, it's in the last for all time. And so the earthly rulers and and kingdoms of this world are to be done away with the think of a text like Daniel chapter 2. For example, Philippians chapter 3 verse 20 talks about our citizenship in heaven. That's our primary citizenship. As believers, and it's a sort of this commenting is not it's not the church. They were talking about here. These these ministers are these these governing authorities. Just the sort of secular government that's that's out there and they are accountable to the Lord and that's another thing that I think we need to say is these these rulers are accountable to God are called to promote justice and and we know that earthly rulers don't always do that.

There can have to give an account to the Lord for that on their call to to recognize that which is right and wrong, good and evil and and sometimes they don't do that. But here were called glory, to be respectful to be submissive to governing authorities and so far as their calling us not to sin against God. There might be laws out there that we just don't like for whatever reason, you may not like the speed limit is 65 miles an hour, but what what what you know go further than that, but that's not a sin issue and so I think your posting would be be respectful to governing authorities be be obedient to have a good witness in the world today and strive to honor Christ and everything that you do and so glory. Thank you for that question is always good to hear from you sister and may the Lord richly bless you for we actually have a core question on that topic. Go to our website and find it. It's basically how does the church relate to the government and how do we as individual Christians relate to the government. You can find that ball drop by going to core Christianity.com/questions.

This is core Christianity with Pastor Israel Sanchez.

How does God want us to worship him, and how does the Bible define worship we actually have a free resource for you that answers those questions. This is an important question Bill. I was just preaching recently on Genesis chapter 4 where you have Cain and Abel bringing their offerings to the Lord and in the text says that God had regard for Abel's offering but he didn't have regard for Cain's offering had it.

One of the points I made for people that God is picky about worship both worshiping the Lord bringing these offerings and yet there's something about Cain's offering that causes God to reject it to reject his his worship at some point that we understand what right worship is that's pleasing to the Lord and that's what we have this resource to help you out told nine things you should know about worship. It's can it help clarify what the Bible says about worship what it is what it isn't, and why the world of worship in Scriptures is just so magnificent, so get a hold of this resource. It's absolutely free. You can downloaded by going to core Christianity.com/offers nine things you should know about worship. You can also call us for that resource or any one of our resources at 833-843-2673. That's 833. The core let's go to a voicemail from one of our listeners in Missouri really been enjoying your radio show listening to it much daily. I'm pretty involved in a really nice church community here in Joplin, Missouri.

However, there's just not a lot of single female in the church that my non-so first part is it okay to go to other churches speak out single group in the second part of my question is, is almost an affliction for those that have the desire to be married. Thank you brother appreciate your questions so the two parts. There line is it okay to go to the church to seek a single group or a singles group or maybe even go to begin attending another church where there are more people your age of the single so you might be able to meet. I think I think that it is the key question is right. What are the marks of the church. What are the marks of the true church. Are they faithfully preaching God's word are they administering the ordinances as Jesus commanded. You think baptism in the Lord's supper is there discipline is that fellowship that's that's taking place with the church is dealing with sin, encouraging the body of Christ. You know it are those things there.

I would say if you're going to another church where there are a lot of young cute singles but you don't have those things well know, don't compromise on on that issue.

But if you go to another church. That's faithful to the word of God and and is preaching the word of God faithfully and enter just tends to be no more people your age that you could connect with. I think that's okay. Maybe Talk to your pastor about this certainly is a conversation you want to have with the leadership in your church because you did say that you were pretty involved there and I generally tell people look if if you're in a good church and you're involved like that's a really important thing in that special.

Don't just you know compromise on that. Don't abandon that because it's something that at times is really hard to find but if you can find another church and if if that's you know you're knocking to be leaving the church that you're a part of in a difficult position. Maybe you're involved in leadership there and and you leaving would would do a lot of damage in some way.

If you're able to do that.

I think that that's okay and you could do that with a clear conscience.

Again, you want to have a conversation with with your pastor and and you don't go about it the right way, not just sort of up up and leaving, but don't compromise that the church that you're in the other thing they are the second partier question is, in itself, that you have the desire to be married, which is a good thing.

In Proverbs 18 says hee hee without finds a wife finds a good thing and obtains favor from the Lord.

And so that's a good desire. That's it. That's a godly desire and I think one of the dangers when you're in this place of avoiding right is it can sort of feel like this this affliction that I have like you know God is holding out on me and boy everyone around me is getting married but but the right person just doesn't come into my life.

There can be bitterness and I think those the things you need to be on guard for brother cultivating contentment. Patients trusting in the Lord in this time knowing that that he knows your needs.

He knows your desires being patient. So often I think I've talked to many many young adults as a pastor who struggle with this. You know they want to be with someone and that they either compromise the church situation or the compromise with her with a sale will this person they say they are Christian, you know they used to go to church. Many they were baptized many many years of them been back to church and that we just sort of credit make someone fit into into what we want Cooper looking for companionship looking for friendship are looking for relationship and so my encouragement to you is cultivate grow in contentment in patients trusting in the Lord being proactive in ways is totally fine.

Nothing wrong with that. You know pursuing pursuing a spouse, but not compromising. Find someone who loves Jesus who loves the church who wants to honor the Lord with her life and and ask her out on a date that would be be be proactive and in that regard. But in the meantime, don't let the bitterness or or that sense of you know God is holding out on me, which I know a lot of people can have. Don't let that grow because that's not true.

God loves you.

He knows what you need.

He has your best interest in mind and so wait on the Lord.

I trust in him. Continue to draw near to him in this time and and see what he does think it's a great response.

The other thing I think you can do while he's on that searcher while he's waiting patiently at the gym. That's what I was going to say you know grow in his own Christian walk apps and you know cultivate the fruit of the spirit in his life with. With God's help, so that he's ready when he meets the right person to be married so key yet. I really and the reality is, as you know, are we ever totally ready Mrs. to sinners coming together.

You know you like to think all get to a point where I'm so sanctified that God is then going to bring the person into my life, but often the that's it's not always how it works out. You know, and so it's I think like you said Bill focusing on the right things, cultivating the fruit of the spirit growing in grace, you know that's what God calls you to and then and then waiting to see you know what the Lord what the Lord does and so may the Lord bless you brother.

This is core Christianity with pastor Israel Sanchez. Let's go to Eric in St. Louis, Missouri Eric, what's your question for pastor. Israel call by on what to do when you're struggling with repeating the same no bank.

Eric this is a struggle for so many Christians and even to the point where they begin to question their their faith. Do I really believe in Jesus and if I if I was if I was truly a Christian, would I still struggle with the same sin and the reality is I think as followers of Jesus we are going to fight. Sometimes the same battle for years and years. I often point to Peter Eric Peter on the day that our Lord Jesus was being crucified, would he do, he denied the Lord, you know he is being questioned by by this group of people to this this young young girl even and he says I don't know Jesus was the fear of man that caused Peter to deny the Lord. Then of course you know our Lord restored Peter and Peter went to go preach on the day of Pentecost filled with the Holy Spirit. And yet, many years later Paul were told in the book of Galatians has to confront Peter because when certain Jews came around the Gentiles.

He stopped eating with the Gentiles was the fear of man again and Paul tells Peter that you're not walking in step with the gospel, and it just it, it strikes me that he still all these years later filled with the Holy Spirit post Pentecost struggling with the fear of man and as followers of Jesus. I think centers we don't realize we we we might struggle with the same thing and that doesn't mean that were not Christians. The question is what we do will practically Eric one. Do you have a place where you can go and be transparent about your sin, you can confess your sin.

The Bible talks about this in the book of James in first John confessing sin to a pastor to two brothers who we trust who can encourage us in the gospel is really important. It's a part of how we bring sin into the light. If were not doing that. I think it begins to grow and we struggle with more and more. You have to have that real accountability that the body of Christ gives to us on those kinds of relationships of transparency to God uses that to help put the sins to death and things you have to remember your identity in Jesus Christ.

You are by faith in Jesus justified. There's been a definitive break with sin. Now you're called to live in light of that reality. It's what the apostle Paul said in Romans chapter 6 what shall we say then are we to continue in sin that grace may abound by no means how can we who died to sin still live in it. Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death. We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the father, we too might walk in newness of life is writing to Christians anything. Look, you got a new identity through baptism, through faith you've been united to Jesus in his death and resurrection now present yourself to God is going to say, as one who is alive from the dead.

The instruments of your body as instruments for righteousness. I would say campout Eric in Romans six through eight. Read those passages over and over and meditate on those passages daily to help you know that yet. Even though you struggle you have a new identity and now you want to present yourself to the Lord as one who is been set free. Now that doesn't mean that it's in a be easy, that there isn't so that if you a struggle, but that's what as I say we we go we confess our sins, we trust in the Lord, we pray for the work of his spirits by the spirit that we put to death the deeds of the body. Bless you brother. 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 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