If God Doesn't Answer, Should I Keep Praying?

When God doesn't answer your prayer.

When should you quit praying for something 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 Israel Sanchez and this is the radio program where we answer your questions about the Bible and the Christian life every day. Would love to hear from you and our phone lines will be open for the next 25 minutes or so. If your question, here's the phone number it's 833 the core that's 1-833-843-2673, as always, you can post your question on one of our social media sites Facebook, Instagram or twitter. You can also watch us live on YouTube and you can email us with your question at questions at core, Christianity.com burst up today let's go to Josh in Granite city, Illinois Josh what your question for Pastor Israel. 24 verse 20.

Your flight may not be in winter or on the Sabbath. Why is Jesus looking winter with or on the Sabbath together what you mean by that.

Yeah, yeah, thanks for that question, Josh, and it's really important that we understand the context here in and in specific what it is that Jesus is trying to address.

If you go back to the beginning of Matthew chapter 24.

Jesus is speaking with his disciples that he answered them and he is referring to the that he stuck by the temple here.

He says you see all these things do you truly I say to you, there will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down to the disciples a good look at the temple. They were just marveling at how beautiful it was Jesus look this thing is to be torn down, and as he sat at the Mount of olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, tell us, when will these things be and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the eight so there's there's really two questions there.

You just told them this temple is to be torn down and they ask amicable win is that could happen and when is your your second coming, that the sign of your coming, so you have these two things here in Matthew chapter 24 that Jesus is addressing it, in particular when he's referring to, you know not not fling in winter on the Sabbath. Verse 20 what you are referring to at the keys talking about the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple it's gonna happen in 70 A.D. he's preparing his disciples for what would take place. Let me just read verse 20. Again, he says, pray that your flight may not be in winter or on the Sabbath. Now, why not in winter on the Sabbath. Well I don't know where it is the that you're at in particular Josh but here where I live in San Diego when we have bad weather.

Everyone does a really bad job driving them their car accidents everywhere is what when you get whether I travel is a lot more difficult, isn't it and Jesus is referring to this cataclysmic event.

It's going to happen this this siege of Jerusalem and he's telling his disciples get out of the city did out of Jerusalem and and pray that it's not in the winter because travel is very hard in the winter bread. It's not on the Sabbath because a lot of things are shut down during the Sabbath.

The gates are closed and so he he's telling his disciples to prepare for this coming destruction that the you know, not one stone being left upon another destruction of Jerusalem in 70 A.D. it's really this this amazing prophecy. Media shows that Jesus is the Lord that he knows all things and and he's preparing them for this and he sang look pray that pray that when it happens. It's not winter and it's not on the Sabbath, so that you can get out of the city. Thank you for your question Josh know historically what happened to Israel to Jerusalem and to the Jews in 70 idea that ID was horrible. I mean if you read some of the accounts of what occurred. Then it was just you said cataclysmic. I mean just the people were yeah it was torture.

I mean I was. It was terrible and we have some historical accounts given by Josephus, who was an ancient Jewish historian, and as he describes the siege of Jerusalem, coming terrible is is the only way but it was horrific. And so that's what Jesus was prophesying part of what Jesus prophesying about there in Matthew 24. This is core Christianity with Pastor Israel Sanchez.

If you have a question about the Bible or the Christian life.

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The core let's go to Paul in Johnston Rhode Island Paul what your question for Pastor Israel. I will pay Paul, and reported address week that we can you because I have iPAQ at night when I try to sleep and I know not anything, but evil yeah what line I'm sorry I'm sorry to hear that you know I think about sleep and the rest that God can give to his people, you know that the psalmist said in Psalm 127 verse two.

It is vain that you rise up early and go late to rest eating the bread of anxious toil, for he gives to his beloved sleep. In other words, the people of God can truly rest in him and he he gives us. Ultimately Jesus in Christ. In Jesus we find that the rest essentially God offers to people through the forgiveness of sins, but there's a deep that deep soul rest that were meant to find in the Lord now what about those those nights are those times we feel like were under a demonic attack may be a matter know exactly what it looks like for you and in particular, but it sounds like something really serious will, I would point you Paul to Ephesians chapter 6 beginning in verse 10, where St. Paul were the apostle Paul talks about putting on the armor of God, and maybe that's something that you will want to do next. Beginning today, but even at the at the end of the day.

As you prepare to go to sleep in your and you're saying your prayers and your coming before the Lord. Listen what the apostle Paul said in Ephesians 610 finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God and then Paul begins to describe that the various pieces of that armor. The breastplate of righteousness, the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, the shield of faith really noted that the that that the pieces are all gifts that God gives to us mean righteousness the righteousness of Christ. Faith in faith is a gift given to us by the Lord of the sword of the Spirit the word of God.

These are things Paul that God gives to you clothe yourself in them and maybe meditating on God's word and praying is as you prepare to go to sleep will be something that can can can help you in and so that's what I would encourage and so Ephesians chapter 6 also think of James for I believe it's verse seven were James that resist the devil and he will flee. Set your mind on God on his word on Christ, pray and may the Lord give you peace as you sleep rather thanks Paul.

We appreciate your question.

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Core, Christianity.com just look for the donate link and find out about becoming a member of the inner court go to Steve from Enid, Oklahoma Steve, what's your question for Pastor Israel hey Steve what your question rather 14 years, youth group is now why we didn't need to go about 11 years ago, but we were going to church together. Pastor left and you go out for the second after my question is not been going I'm at peace with and I want to know Christian coworkers and I want to know map and not just enjoy arm Sundays. I'm alarmed that I'm not that way guy I understand what you're saying and I hope I can be an encouragement to you.

Do you need to be in church on Sunday as a Christian.

He sounds like you're saying I have have Christian fellowship and friends and me and my wife. You know we we we sort and all that stuff and and we enjoy our Sunday mornings.

We really need to be in charge of the first thing I would say to you, Steve, is God is the one who calls us into his presence. When were united to Jesus Christ by faith were not disunited to to the Lord of the whole earth right took to God himself, by the gift of the Holy Spirit. He also unites us to his body and his other believers in it so important for us to have fellowship with local churches because it's it's through that through that the in that context that the Lord begins to continue to build us up in our own faith and strengthen us in God's gift and you Steve and your wife in ways for you guys to be a blessing. I think of what the apostle Paul said in first Corinthians chapter 1218 he talks about how the church is a body and in a body right you have these various parts. Not everybody is a hand. Not everybody is a foot not everybody is and I in the body is only healthy as all the parts are coming together and been working together as one and and when I talk to believers when I talk to Christians who aren't in local churches as it will get where you're sort of like a severed hand or eye out there on your own and that makes the spiritual life very difficult because God calls us one to worship him not to draw near to his bread is something you see from from the earliest days the disciples of Jesus Christ. Meeting on the first day of the week gathering together to break bread to hear the apostles teaching, but no individual you are not. I am not by myself. The body of Christ. I'm a part of the body.

If I'm a part of about of the body or a local church.

I need to be engaged in in that body I think of also the expectation that the author the Hebrews gave in the book of Hebrews Hebrews chapter 10 and keep in mind Steve that this this book. This letter of the New Testament was written to a group of Christians were being tempted to depart from church fellowship from from the local congregation from the gospel really, and in the other. The Hebrew says in Hebrews chapter 10 verse 23. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. Let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another all the more as you see the day drawing near. I want to encourage you. Don't neglect to meet together with other believers. The New Testament just of assumes that if you're Christian, you're in a local church where there's their structure. You know elders and deacons. Paul talks about this in first Timothy three Titus chapter 1 people who actually leading the elders case are going to have to give an account for you there called to watch over your soul. We need this. We need this you need this. I need this if you're Christian you ought to be a member of a local church gathering together with other believers to to be fed with the word of God.

Now II get that a lot of people says that you had a rough experience.

You know with the sort of transition of pastors. I understand that I know there are a lot of people who have been hurt by the church and feel like I just I just don't want to go back. I had this negative experience will look Jesus is still working in and through the church and faithful church is Steve that are committed to the word of God preaching the gospel submitted to the authority of Christ. We we should join ourselves to those churches to grow with other believers not always easy be how many times on a Sunday morning would rather just sleep in or you don't have brunch do that kind of thing. But God calls you, my friend, to worship him and he's gifted you to be a blessing to the body of Christ in his gifted others to be a blessing to you and your wife as well and so I hope hope that you'll hear that that encouragement and that expectation from Scripture from me and I really do thank you for forgiving us a call.

May the Lord bless your day today we have a couple of core questions for you that will be helpful if you go to our website.

One is called do I have to attend church to be a Christian and the other one is called how do I choose a church. If you decide you want to look for a different church in your community and you can find those by going to core Christianity.com/questions again. How to why choose a church and do I have to attend church to be a Christian couple, a great core questions.

This is core Christianity with Pastor April Sanchez and some are just around the corner and a lot of kids are going to be out of school for a few months just in time for summer. We have a great free resource for families. Yes, the resources called 10 verses to memorize as a family this summer and I was just going over the other 10 verses that are given again this morning really really helpful verses that focus on God's creator God as Redeemer help us understand the role of the word of God in our lives. Some of the fundamentals that we think it is just so important for you to understand. As a follower of Jesus, and to pass on to the people around you, in particular, if you have children and this is a great resource for you to to go through with your children, helping them grow in their understanding of the Christian faith who God is, so that they might love him and walk with him. This is a free resource and you can find it by going to core Christianity.com/offers again. It's called 10 verses to memorize as a family this summer and can also call us for that resource or any one of our resources at 833-843-2673. That number is 833, the court will go to a voicemail we received from one of our listeners named Stacy question wrong. Keep praying for something to happen and been paying for years now and wondering if I just want me to paying for the content of my current life circumstances or is it okay keep praying for nice things to happen. Stacy thank you for the question. I note that you're not the only one who has the questions I want to speak to you listening right now and you've been you've been praying for something for months, years may be, and you feel like the Lord has not answered you and your wondering with Stacy. Is it just time to quit was God it just not going to hear this spring.

Of course there are things that we can pray that go against God's word and are not in line with his will and in and that's as I would say will you were not went to pray those things of if it were praying for leads to our spiritual destruction you for asking God for something that that he knows will harm us. Will we have to be careful there but Jesus seems to to suggest in the New Testament that we should not and he does explicitly suggests that we should not lose heart and prayer. He tells a story in order to communicate this. He says in Luke chapter 18 verse 20 told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart to God knows. Jesus knows that our temptation is to lose heart and prayer.

When we don't get the answer that we want. Right away he said in a certain city. There was a judge who neither feared God nor respected man and there was a widow in that city who kept coming to him and saying give me justice against my adversary for a while. He refused.

But afterwards he said to himself, though I neither fear God nor respect man yet because this widow keeps bothering me. I will give her justice so that she will not beat me down by her continual coming. The Lord said with the unrighteous judge says, and will not, God give justice to his elect to cry to him day and night will he delay long over them. Jesus's point is, look if that unrighteous judge because of the persistence of this widow was willing to grant her request. How much more will God who is good, cares for you.

He cares for his children, how much more will he listen to you, he hears your prayers continue to seek to ask to knock now. Maybe there comes a point where he just says no were the answer is no, and it's very clear anything. Okay, maybe it's time to set this aside, if you haven't received that answer from the Lord in any clear sense. I would say continue to pray, and if and if what you're praying for something that is honoring to the Lord. I think of the salvation of family members or or your own sanctification. You know that kind of thing. We know that those things are God's will that God is for those things and so don't lose heart.

Continue to pray be like that persistent widow going before the Lord and saying do you hear me I'm back here again Lord, hear my prayer, and he does trust in him.

God bless you, thank you for the call Stacy, thanks so much for your voicemail.

You can always leave us a voicemail 24 hours a day by calling us at 833 the core.

You can also record your message at our website which is core Christianity.com just look the little microphone icon or click on that and leave your message again. You can do that anytime they are not. You can also email us a question at questions at core, Christianity.com there's one from David. He says have Old Testament promises that God made to the nation of Israel been fulfilled by the new covenant introduced by Jesus, or are there promises yet to be fulfilled to this group identified as God's chosen people. If so, what are some examples. That's a really good question. What were thinking about here how to how to understand this or the flow of redemptive history and in particular the promises that were made in the Old Testament who those promises apply to all personal says Jesus is the ultimate true Israelite. If you him. He came as the son of God, the true vine as he says in John chapter 15 the vine was with picture for Israel in the Old Testament and the promises of God, find their fulfillment, their fullness in him is Paul said in second Corinthians chapter 1 verse 24 all the promises of God, find their yes in him that is in Jesus. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory.

The promises of God of those promises were made to Israel. Jesus is the true Israel. Those promises are fulfilled in him effect. This is something the apostle Paul says specifically in the book of Galatians in Galatians chapter 3, beginning in verse 15 is really important lesson of this to give a human example brothers. Even with a man-made covenant. No one knows it or adds to it. Once it is been ratified. Now the promises were made to Abraham and to his offspring. It does not say and to offsprings referring to many but referring to one and to your offspring, who is Christ the Paul says right there very clearly.

Note the promises were made and the patriarchs of promises were made to Avery Abraham and to his offspring. You know where those find their their fullness, their fulfillment, and in Jesus. He is the offspring of the seed of the woman that you know from Genesis chapter 3 verse 15 would crush the head of the serpent and so he is the true Israelite and in him. If you are in Jesus Christ by faith you're a part of the family of God.

The promises of God, even those promises we see in the Old Testament apply to you and ultimately many of those promises were some of these these types these pictures of a greater and fuller reality of the promise of the land of Canaan.

In the Old Testament it was a picture of the heavenly rest, the heavenly Jerusalem. That's with the author. The Hebrew says in in in Hebrews chapter 11 is also important that we understand this, Christ received is the recipient of all those promises and in Jesus brothers and sisters. You and I are the heirs of those promises as well. Isn't that amazing when you read the Old Testament brothers and sisters your reading your family history we read about Abraham. Paul says later in Galatians, we are the children of Abraham by faith in Jesus Christ as our family. These are our promises and we receive them in Jesus Christ.

What a wonderful hope out and out are there still things more things to be fulfilled for the that the nation for the Hebrew people for that for the Israelites as a people point to Romans chapter 11 it that's a good text to go to where it talks about this great sort of roof revival among the ethnic Jews it didn't specifically referring to the time of the end as I think that that's something that we can look at but there is no hope for anyone, Jew or Gentile outside of Jesus Christ. All of the promises of God, find their yes in him metal pulses against ingredients one sows in Jesus that Jews and Gentiles experience that grace and receive all recipients of the great promises that God has given to his people.

This is core Christianity with pastor Israel Sanchez. Let's go to voicemail received from one of our callers yesterday Lord Outland that we were all in the garden like Lee yeah now great question.

So in the Old Testament the word Lord oftentimes translates either that the divine name in Hebrew, Yahweh, and infrequently it will be in all capitals.

When you see it in the English Bible in the Old Testament IS translating the divine name or that the Hebrew word Adonai, Lord, and often times in the New Testament that went when that word is applied to Jesus Lord it's quoting from the Old Testament so you yes Jesus is the Lord, the Lord God Almighty New Testament writers made that very clear and ends oftentimes referring to God. It's referring to God referring to Jesus there and that in terms of the we.

My position is in the book of Genesis.

In the early chapters of Genesis that refers to the divine counsel the Angels there with God as he created all things for his glory and for our good. Thanks that question. God bless.

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