Does Satan Tempt Us by Reading Our Thoughts?

Does Satan know our thoughts like God does. That's just 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 the radio program where we answer your questions about the Bible and the Christian life every day. Would love to hear from you right now our phone lines will be open for the next 25 minutes or so.

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That way, and you can email us your question at questions at core, Christianity.com a whole bunch of different ways to get in contact with us and we love to hear from you right now. Let's go to Ruth in media, Pennsylvania.

Ruth what is your question for pastor atrial talking about the church and what Stanley should take on politically. I think it went deeper than that. In terms of our culture.

There are things that they accepted at least by some churches, such as same-sex marriages. People living together without marrying things that I think in the Bible on the old and New Testament are clearly spoken against, wondering what time you passed around Sanchez what your take on that would be Ruth salami is absolutely devastating. I think one of the hallmarks of false prophets in the Old Testament, and false teachers in the New Testament was that they didn't call out sin. So, for example, throughout the book of Jeremiah.

When Jeremiah is talking about the false prophet is rebuking the false prophets in Israel over and over again. He says you you you guys say peace peace where there is no peace. You're essentially telling the people of God. Hey, there's no problem with the way that your living with your idolatry with these these practices that are important to God truly, but you're saying everything is fine.

God is knocking to judge you for these things and over and over again. It seems to me that it in the Bible. This is one of the one of the characteristics of false teachers, a false prophet. You see the same thing when Peter describes the false teachers in second Peter chapter 2, he talks about how there to just give into sensuality. They have eyes full of adultery. They cannot cease from from sinning and at that should really break our hearts when we see churches sort of go that way where where you know they they've stopped essentially being faithful to the teaching of the Bible to the to the teaching related to the Bible sexual ethic as well. Embracing things like same-sex marriage or homosexual relationships or any number of other things mean that there are also two things that we could list their it really is a sign of of the fact that the churches has fallen those churches in particular, I think you know can't can't claim to be faithful to the word of God and so I think it's it's absolutely lamentable. James says in James chapter 1 verse 27 religion that is pure and undefiled before God the father is this, to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world in a little bit later he's in a scene and don't you know that friendship with the world is enmity with God, and so churches are Christian ministries that are that are trying to befriend the world and yet we want to be accepted and siliceous embrace the sort of cultural definition on on some of these things. At the end of the day what ends up happening is is frankly those those ministries they become worthless because they don't preach the law the and they don't preach the gospel either. And so, and if you're asking for my personal opinion on this that I think again insisted that the false teachers that Peter described in second Peter chapter 2 are very much present in the church today and so we need to hold fast to God's word to what the Scripture teaches and and it's sad to see that there are many churches and ministries out there today that aren't doing that and so that's that's my perspective into we we we need to pray, we need to pray for our churches.

We need to pray for Christian leaders that God would give them just courage to be faithful to the word and and that the word would continue to go out and transform lives and and lead people more and more into holiness and into a faithful walk with the Lord. So thank you Ruth for your question. Great counsel.

Thanks for that. A drill by the way, we have a great core question.

If you are looking for a new church in your kind of wondering what is this particular church believe Hutto asked those questions how to widen decide which is a biblical center church. We have the so wonderful questions: how do I choose a church you can find that@corechristianity.com/questions especially if you've just moved to new area in your, deciding how do I know make sure I'm getting in a church that is solid like a little talking about check that out how to why choose good church. Let's go to Sue in St. Louis, Missouri Sue, what's a question for pastor atrial that my deteriorated greatly due to something that will not address it with me and I looking for restoration, and I think that he has a personality disorder possibly narcissistic entitlement control, superior, etc. Frank okay pray. I just need to know how to go forward.

Yet that's assuming that's a very difficult question to answer, but it sounds to me like your you're starting on the right foot in terms of praying because you know when somebody has been hurt in the ring with this. Maybe for good reason may be deferred, not so good of a reason we can't change their heart. It really takes the work of the Holy Spirit. Sue and so I would say you know continue to pray and to ask others to pray for your son and and to keep the door open as much as is possible. You know, reaching out to him extending your love to him about a know if there is another you know, personality disorder or maybe a mental health issue.

There is a book I read some time ago called when narcissism comes to church that healing your community from emotional and spiritual abuse was written by Chuck to grow and it's a really I think helpful Christian perspective on narcissism in the church in particular and and with regard to the leaders in the church, you might find that that resource to be a little bit by that resource to be helpful, but I would say get continuing to pray.

I mean, what were called as Christians and I don't know if if your son professes faith in Jesus Christ.

We are called Inc. as Christians to forgive one another and of course that forgiveness comes first and foremost from you recognizing how much God has forgiven us. And so I think a part of the healing processes is even your son fully understanding the mercy of God in Christ, the, the, the amount the mountain if you will, that God is forgiven of our own sins, and it's only as we grasp that as we realize how good and how merciful God was to us in his son Jesus freely not on the basis of anything that we had done that that were enabled. I think to extend that kind of forgiveness to others when we've been hurt, and so I think even even having those kinds of conversations about God and his goodness and forgiveness can be instrumental in terms of restoring the relationship between the two of you, but continue to pray to look to the Lord to soften his heart and also you know to pray that God might reveal to you. We are there other things, the you've done as well.

You know this is is is often the case with these kinds of situations where in a week. We also and in our relationships in a contribute in some way to some of the difficulty at times and I don't know your situation. Specifically, but just having an open heart before the Lord, saying, God is there anything that I need to confess that I need to ask my son for forgiveness for as I pursue restoration, reconciliation with him and so pray and ask others to pray and continue to pursue him as the Lord gives opportunity and let me just taken an opportunity right now to pray for you and for your son. Dear heavenly father God, our hearts break when there are these kinds of family situations. Lord loved ones with whom, from whom we are estranged because of some conflict and and I don't know the situation entirely, but you know the situation you know what's going on with with Sue and with her son and and what's going on in his heart and dear God, I pray that you would soften his heart that you would bring healing in their relationship restoration a great sense of forgiveness that your presence would be with them and that you would guide him.

Would you give Sue list in this well as she she thinks about the best way to approach her son and to and to seek the building once again of this relationship.

So would you. Would you be with them, Lord, and bless them. We ask in Jesus name, amen.

This is core Christianity with pastor Israel Sanchez. If you have a question about the Bible or the Christian life. We would love to hear from you right now our phone lines will be open for the next 15 minutes or so, so now's the time to call your cell phone number is 833. The core that's 1-833-843-2673 if you want to call to the studio right now with your question. What hears a voicemail we received from one of our listeners named Gabriel about eldership what outside of the altercation eldership and birthrate. Would you say okay I mean outside of the qualifications that are given in first Timothy three and Titus chapter when I'm time, the reality that I think the reason those are listed or because those are the most important things other things that we might look to you know, like how funny is this the communicator what they look like, you know, can they attract people by their personnel. Those kinds of things are often things that we value the Christians value in the church. The church is value but they're not listed in the Bible.

As you know what you're what you're, you know what you want to look for in an elder. In particular, in a pastor you don't win when Paul wrote to the Corinthians about his ministry to them in his preaching is United come to you with with wisdom of words, it wasn't. It wasn't this flowery proclamation that I gave to you. I was with you in weakness, fear and trembling that I once heard a guy say to imagine it church looking for a pastor and there there you know going through a number of candidates and one of them shows up and the other sale has your preaching what you're preaching like and in need of the responses.

Well, you know not not really doesn't doesn't sound very wise. Actually it's not with wisdom of words.

A lot of times when I'm behind the pulpit, you know, I just kinda look weak and is just overwhelmed by a sense of my own weakness, fear, even trembling. Sometimes I shake when I'm behind the pulpit would what would be that the church search committee say that's not really what we look for. We want to guy who is confident and funny and exciting and good fit of rile up the crowd and yet that's not what we get.

So often in the Scriptures. What is important are those qualifications.

Are you called is an individual really called and and that calling looks like two things it looks like an internal call right this desire to to serve in this capacity as an elder in the church as it is a teacher but then there's also an external call. The church is affirming those gifts.

I think too often today. Other individuals who think they're called because they have this desire to preach or to teach that kind of thing. But the church has and affirm that call. This would call themselves to the ministry but you need to have both. There is there is this internal call this external call given by the church and that the sign that God really is calling us to this to this task and I think that that's really really important. And then you have the competency piece you know they're able to teach us. First Timothy three says, are they able to preach the word they know God's word of the study did have they been trained that is important.

Oftentimes again that's that's one of the main things we look to with the biggest focus in first Timothy three and Titus chapter 1 is character.

How does this person leave their family are they above reproach can can people you know bring accusations against them. Are they known for being a drunkard of that kind of the thing character is is the most important thing, and frankly it's the thing that we oftentimes neglect even when looking for pastors today. Sadly, it is led to all sorts of problems in the church and so I would say rather than then trying to find you know we are saying those things is sides okay what are one of the other important things. I think we need to focus once again on the qualifications that we find first Timothy three and Titus chapter 1 answer to double down on those as a look. This is what we need in in leaders and elders in the church today week we can't settle for any less. Thanks for that question when you return to that passage and Titus in the Bible is a picture of federal right next to it which is critical bill.

There are no pictures in the Bible bill so all right, but we do appreciate you though you're in your character. I must say this is core Christianity with pastor Israel Sanchez always blushes when I complement let's let's go. Let's talk about something for moms and dads and grandparents for a moment.

We have a really cool resource we want to offer you. It's absolutely free and it really has to deal with our kids called seven things children teach us. We've been offering it now for a few days.

It's a free resources. Bill said I would love creating these resources and then just giving them to you because we want you to be blessed want you to be edified together with your family. You may have noticed of the last couple of weeks we've been focusing space this summer on resources for the family for me to the Bible memory thing from a couple weeks ago. Not today. You know I once again offering this resource. Seven things children teach us get a hold of it and Bill let you know how just go to core Christianity.com/offers and download seven things children teach us.

You can also call us for that resource or any one of our resources at 833-843-2673. That's 833 the core go to Cheryl in O'Fallon, Missouri sure what your question for pastor. Israel Michael I know what I mean to pray in the spirit. You know the disciples right in the spirit that feel like Cheryl well there are some people say you praying in the spirit is a reference to the gift of tongues and if you if you look in first Corinthians chapter 14 there I think is some evidence for that now. Not even bring up the question of whether or not tongues is a gift that is given in the church today. It does seem like in first Corinthian's 14. At least there.

In that context is Paul is having a discussion about spiritual gifts about the gift of prophecy about the gift of tongues does seem like praying in the spirit there is is a reference to praying in this unknown language, but there are other places like in the book of Ephesians and elsewhere where I think it's not referring to the gift of tongues. In particular, but just praying in a way that's that's in line with God's will.

Under the the influence and guidance of the Holy Spirit. Of course were called in Ephesians to be filled with the Holy Spirit speaking to each other in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in our hearts to the Lord to build up our ourselves up in our most holy faith, praying in the spirit were told elsewhere, and so I think it really is just a reference to the fact that we when we pray we come before the Lord.

We need to pray according to his will and by by by and through his word.

What is it that God calls us to focus on in prayer you think about what Jesus said in the Gospel of Matthew when he taught his disciples how to pray pray in this way, as I think spirit filled prayers or praying in the spirit are prayers that are in alignment with God's word and will, as revealed by the grace of the Holy Spirit. Thanks for your your question. This is core Christianity with pastor Israel Sanchez.

You can leave a voicemail anytime 24 hours a day on our line. It's 833 the core that's 1-833-843-2673. There's a voicemail we received earlier this week, my name is Maddie and I'm actually calling Novartis on it. Thank you so much for your show and also the booklet that I received from y'all called seeing Jesus Bennett with my kids and myself personally and I just really enjoyed it. Would love to know how to get more of them so that I can get them to some of my friends on the question know that I have really had to explain it but I know God can read our thoughts anything Jesus can read our thoughts that can Satan read her thoughts and is that how he can tempt us or cause us to stumble. I don't know if the Scripture speaks to that are not, but I am curious appreciate your show again, thank you.

Hey Maddie, thank you for that encouragement. I'm glad you enjoyed seeing Jesus to your question can can Satan read our thoughts and we have to remember that Satan is limited, he's not omniscient. He's not like God. He's a created being. And so while the Lord sees and knows all things. The devil Satan is his minions. They don't.

So no, I don't believe that Satan can read our thoughts, but it does seem to me like an in Scripture I can plant the sort of external ideas and temptations into our minds. Think about what we read in John chapter 13.

This is no right after Jesus.

It started to wash his disciples feet. We read in verse two. During supper, when the devil had already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon son, to betray him. In other words, it it's this is something that Judas is doing under the influence of the devil himself, the evil one. So these these temptations.

These influences these thoughts even can come from the outside, but I don't think that that means that Satan can can read our thoughts.

Now there isn't a supernatural power that the evil one has you see this all over the place and think of like Exodus in in the book of Exodus. In chapter 7 and eight we have Pharaoh's magicians to replicating the miracles that God was doing through Moses was probably some sort of supernatural demonic power or in acts chapter 16 there's a servant girl, a slave girl was possessed by a spirit of divination and were told their neck 16 that she brought her master much profit through fortune-telling mother. She had the sort of supernatural ability that was given to her by the evil one and so Satan is limited, but he does have this this power the supernatural power.

Although I don't think it's a power to read your mind or to look into your mind. We have to remember also what our call is in the midst of this, as Christians we are called very clearly to resist the devil, to stand firm against the devil to take up the armor of God. Ephesians chapter 6 talks about this and so that's our call in the midst of this it one comfort that we have is that Christ is the one who holds us first John chapter 5 makes it very clear. I think that bit of a true believer someone who's united to Jesus Christ by faith can be possessed by the devil or are filled with an evil spirit.

Now we might experience temptation, we might experience spiritual attacking oppression, but if you belong to Jesus. Your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit and Satan can get in and so that's that's good news for Christians and and I think a great comfort that we have that Christ is the one who keeps us.

Thank you for your question.

This is core Christianity with pastor Israel Sanchez.

Let's go to Phyllis calling in from Kansas. Phyllis what your question, I appreciate your history over the radio. But my question is a few years more often than not, Christians and non-Christians expressed themselves as being manic God. When a personal tragedy has affected their lives and change is no one mad at the devil holy God. But for me it is more art understandable, when non-Christians expressed themselves in this manner because they do not know God or been into out with this. However, I'm wondering when a Christian expresses himself in this way, do they really know God. If we say we learn through faith in the Scriptures that God is good and he loves us so much that all things work out for good. So how can we be mad at God.

That's not clear how God bless you sister thank you for that.

That common. The reality is there. People who have real experiences of God in his grace and yet still respond in ways that are not pleasing to the Lord like with angry with with anger. Think of for example the wilderness generation. I mean, they saw God's mighty hand at work. They were brought through the Red Sea, they were delivered from Egypt and yet time and time again in the wilderness, they were angry with God.

They were upset they grumbled against him. And of course God judge them for that.

Throughout the book of Psalms, Phyllis, we have what are known as the Psalms are full of lament, where the psalmist at a genuine believer is crying out to God, sometimes in fear. Sometimes I think even in anger and frustration wondering where are you God, why don't I experience or feel your presence and you know, especially when people are going through suffering. I think there is this natural temptation to did to be upset to get angry at God it and I think you're right we shouldn't.

We should have. I think more mature understanding about how God works in the world. For many, many even genuine believers.

They don't have that that understanding as I think we want to be patient and sensitive to those, especially those who are suffering and maybe it sounds to me Phyllis like you like you do have a good grasp on the Scripture so that when you're talking to a Christian, a brother or sister who struggling with this you can come alongside of them and encourage them and point them to the fact that God even in the midst of our suffering hasn't stopped loving us that as you said in Romans chapter 8.

He's able to make all things work together for the good of those who love him and are called according to his purpose. And so we can rest in his goodness.

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