If Singleness Is a Blessing, Why Does It Feel like a Curse?

I'm discontent with being single.

What should I do best is one of the questions will be answering on today's addition of core Christianity why there and happy Friday Abdul 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 core that's 1-833-843-2673 also post a question on one of our social media sites you can actually watch a drill live in the studio right now on our YouTube channel and messages that way course you can always email us a question at questions at core, Christianity.com first up today. Let's hear a question from one of our listeners named José I was raised Catholic and nondenominational church have a difficult T Dan Dean might have been raised as a Catholic, but I battle with the faith of idolizing when I have. I will Jesus cries or the Virgin Mary am I doing something wrong in the believer confused by traditional and today my holding myself back with the devil is in my mind that along with me is my belief in my faith. Thank you six is I think that for that call. And for that question you. There are different practices that people have in terms of you wanting to draw near to the Lord and there are things that God calls us to do that I think is is is important for us to be doing as Christians you think of prayer. How many times and in Scripture were exhorted to commanded to pray and to offer our hearts to the Lord in that way the study of God's word, the study of Scripture growing understanding of Scripture so so important gathering together with other believers to hear the word to fellowship with one another right that something that we see in the Bible in Scripture, but having statues and figurines and incorporating that into our piety. That's not really something that you see in the Bible fact that the earliest Christians were often accused of being atheists because they didn't have statues and images and all these things that the pagan nations had of course you mentioned that the prohibition that God gives us in his law pertaining to idolatry the people of God are not to make images that the second of that the second commandment debt to bow down before them and to worship them, and so it sounds to me. I'm not sure exactly you know how your incorporating the stuffer or or that the way in which your ear using this but it it's very clear to me according to the Scriptures that that's not really something were supposed to be doing effect.

God is very clear about that in the second commandment. And so I would say, but as you as you continue going to church focus on drawing near to the Lord and the ways that he's prescribed in his word and that is through the word growing in your understanding of Scripture growing in your relationship with others in the church around the word of God committing your your life to prayer. All you know coming before the Lord, every, every morning, every day praying to him as the Lord Jesus taught us to pray and and that's really that the kind of piety that the Lord blesses it does were growing in the word and for growing and prayers were drawing near to Jesus through the means that he's provided for us that we grow spiritually and it's easy to get distracted with our own sort of our own ideas and I think that we have to be really careful that were not were not trying to draw near to the Lord in a way that he doesn't call us to because I can that can confuse us that can confuse others and and often just is not pleasing to the Lord. If it's not in accordance with his word, and so grateful to hear that your you're going to church, and that your drawing near to Jesus and that way may the Lord continue to bless you José. This is core Christianity with Pastor Israel Sanchez would love to hear from you. If you have a question about the Bible, the Christian life Christian doctrine what's going on today's world and how your faith intersects with that. Here's the phone number it's 833 the core that's 1-833-843-2673 here's a question from Karen in St. Louis, Missouri had long been married and I love all my heart and 63 here couple weeks and is it wrong for me and not content in my single mess anyway, that's my question. Is it wrong for me to be discontent in my single anyway, that's my question that that question, but it's it's not wrong to desire a husband to desire to be married and so if that's what you mean you know is is it is it bad that I have this desire that I just can't seem to shake this desire will know it and I would see you take that desire to the Lord, you pray that the Lord provides a husband you you you know, meet people and in your church and spend time with others and just asked for the Lord's guidance to give anything wrong with that if by discontentment you mean you're growing bitter and maybe even angry at the Lord or or it's it's affecting your faith like that that can be an issue. Certainly no contentment is something that were called to as Christians in all circumstances that is trusting the Lord and continuing to walk with the Lord. Even when things don't go our way.

Often times, in the Christian life when when things don't go our way.

That's that's when were tempted to turn away from God and will be tempted to sin against the Lord because we feel like he's not giving us we want or what what we deserve that kind of thing will we have to continue to be faithful to the Lord and in seeking him and worshiping him, even when we don't have everything that we want and so I would say to get a cultivating that kind of contentment to contentment that says Jesus, I love you with, which is what she sent him to keep following you, but but this is a desire that I have Lord and I'm praying that you would provide for me in this way and in the meantime, you know, continuing to be faithful to the Lord took to fix your eyes upon him, that undivided attention that the apostle Paul talks about in first Corinthians chapter 7 that he's as you know, in particular when when an individual is single. We can give the Lord that undivided attention as you do that also praying and in seeking the Lord and asking him to provide a husband for you and and seeing what he does and so I would say that's that's the best part, but I do know if you want to add anything there. What is the question for you, Israel, following up on. I know we have a lot of older singles to listen to this program. How would you say how would you say God is calling us to strike a balance between on the one hand, trusting him that if he's going to deliver a mate bring someone to our lives at.

That's going to happen and then being proactive and and actually, as you said no get out there. I meet people find opportunities to meet other Christian singles it. It seems like that's the biggest challenge because some people might say I'm just going to sit here in my apartment and wait for God to know that the doorbell's mentoring and Prince charming's going to be at the door yeah where others on every dating site known to man looking for single you know for mate. What you think such a good question.

It's really applicable not just to do this been so many so many areas right like I remember when I was finishing up seminary and looking to to pursue pastoral ministry and thinking about getting getting a call to the ministry. You know what info I'm trusting you Lord to provide this, but also being proactive and networking and and serving the church and using my gifts, you know, in the context of the body of Christ, of that there would be opportunity so assertive about that. It sang with with something like this in in in seeking a relationship seeking marriage. It's I got outside I trust you and I'm going to follow you, but I'm also going to.

There's nothing wrong with with me. You mentioned that the dating website. Second, I think there's anything wrong with that.

I think Paul makes very clear in first Corinthians chapter 7 that if were going to be married. We need to marry someone who's in the Lord, you know nothing unequally yoked. As he says to the Corinthians, and so I think there's freedom there for us to be able to pursue those relationships with other believers who are let you know in love with Jesus and would make a good would make a good spouse and and exercising wisdom there enough before so consumed with it that that were not trusting God and were trying to force something or taking the whole thing into our hands.

Will that I think that could be a problem and that that requires wisdom to do it to discern that you know that Emma and my trying to force something that isn't meant to be, or am I not being proactive when I should be proactive in it and free to be proactive so there's there's a balance that needs to be struck, as you say, and at the heart of it is trusting God and continue to fix our eyes on Jesus, as we parked pursue a spouse I would say great counsel. This is core Christianity with pastor Israel Sanchez. Let's go to Charlie calling in from Illinois, saw Charlie on the line. Charlie what your question for pastor. Israel, can you hear me yes I can hear you. Charlie okay well my life versus Galatians 220 and it says I'm crucified with Christ.

Nevertheless is not but is Christ that now live it. Then the life I now live in the flesh I live by the faith is knowing God love me again. So for me, well, I always thought that I am crucified with Christ meant I went down in the waters of baptism, and then when I say yet is not but is Christ that live within me. Then I would always think that's what I came up out of the water, but this morning I heard when moods talking about that particular verse. He didn't talk a bit about baptism and I was actually in the roofing business for many years and I had the Maya scripture verse just abbreviated on the side of the truck out to 20 and people asked me now what do I count to 20 kn about my life.

First, and so what that well tells about how you know I will come crucified with Christ in atonement going down. What is the baptism that I come back up yet.

It's not but is Christ that now live within the I wasn't sure if I was explaining that right because I thought I told you about a few hundred people that many years have been in the roofing business so I don't know if I have that I don't add anything to the Bible me got really four tells us don't do that.

So I'm not sure I'm saying that right now you say you're a loser this morning. Thanks and think about what baptism is as though I have it right or wrong, Charlie.

I love well just a couple things. One, I love that you just put that verse right there on the side your truck and that you been able to have hundreds of conversations about the gospel about Jesus, about baptism with people because they were asking that question so II think that's really cool man got God bless you brother in that and I love that your your thinking about baptism. In this verse. I think a lot of people read Galatians chapter 2 verse 20 and their mind doesn't go to baptism, but when you when you read the book of Galatians, in its entire context and you think about everything that baptism signifies that really is. I think this this this baptismal imagery that were getting there in verse 20 mission to read it again. I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me and the life I die now live in the flesh I live by faith in the son of God who loved me and gave himself for me. Now just in the very next chapter, the apostle Paul is going to talk about baptized into Christ. Chapter 3 verse 27 for as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. Your your clothed with Christ in it and when were baptized. What we baptized into were baptized into the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. So for example, all in another book when he writes to the Romans. In Romans chapter 6 he says beginning in verse four 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 this of life. For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing for that we should no longer be enslaved to sin.

So I think you're 100% right and you're picking up on something that a lot of people miss and if we don't sorta have all Paul's theology in our mind is looking at that verse in the context of Galatians and the things that he says elsewhere like they are in Romans chapter 6 about about baptism and been crucified with Christ and putting on Christ that it be easy to miss but I think I think you're on the right track, but it really is this beautiful picture of the significance of baptism as well is not just you know that an outward sign of my inward faith. It it's in God the baptizer by faith and do the.

The waters of baptism.

Joining us to Jesus and his death and resurrection. This this image this sign and seal of death and resurrection in Christ. It really is.

It's amazing and so I think it's it's wonderful that you been able to have these conversations with people in and you're on the right track brother God bless you and Charlie, thanks so much were to send you a complimentary copy of our Galatians Bible study, which we think you will definitely enjoy it really digs and to this wonderful letter to the Galatians, so hang on the line will get your address from you and not send that off to you. This is core Christianity with pastor Israel Sanchez and here's a question that came in from Matt on YouTube.

He says in what ways can a congregation support their pastor, particularly in these times that we are currently living in. And I can't tell you how much I love this question. This is been and I can speak as a pastor, I like this is been the last two years, especially have been a really difficult time in ministry because so many things happening to some broader society and culture you think of everything that was happening with the pandemic and worship and try to organize worship services. It is just been a difficult time and I know that a lot of ministers are exhausted and and and there's a lot of criticism you know there's a lot of criticism that comes our way.

At times, and so I think one thing Matt that you can do is be an encourager.

I can't tell you I received from for members of our church emails or text message here and there and it just it, sometimes out of the blue, but it's just that encouragement may be related to the sermon that I just preached, or something that I wrote or something that I didn't get you, but just just an encouragement and sometimes those those text messages. Those email encouragements that come out of the blue they can be water in the desert you know you don't know what it is that your your pastor's is going through right now, and whether or not he has a lot of encouragement so I would say you know those things are are are huge just just making sure that you're articulating to your pastor, the ways in which I his ministry has been has blessed you and so I would say I would say encouraging in that way. Other ways being just on board with the mission of the church in terms of advancing the gospel supporting that that mission will realizing that you play a role in important role in the life of the church you are a member of the body of Christ, and so engaging with the body of Christ and using your gifts for the edification of the body that's huge.

That's a good one and one of the biggest ways I think that we can support the ministry that's that's taking place our pastors because you sometimes I think people can think of the church as a the pastor does everything he's up there were worse are going and what were spectators, but the pastor is just one member of the body of Christ to has a very important role in terms of equipping the saints and doing the work of the ministry, but all of us in our knitted together in love, as Paul says in Ephesians 4 and in the body is only healthy as each of us are using the gifts that God is given to us for the building up of the whole.

So, be engaged in the life of your church with the gifts that God has given to you. And that's a huge support for the body and for your pastor and the last thing I'll say is man gift cards to good restaurants. That's always, I will hide him. I let you know or get coffee shop that your pastor likes to frequent you know if there if there are ways that you can bless your pastor and in that in that way, if the Lord is provided free than then yeah you know do that and let's not forget friends about pastors wives. They also there a lot of pressures in ministry on on the pastor in particular.

As I mentioned, especially the last couple years it's been difficult for many pastors, but also that the pastor's wife. Ministry can be an isolating experience and so be praying for your pastor being pray be praying for your pastor's wife, encourage them with with emails with text messages and gift cards to nice restaurants and so on and so forth but but pray and I thank you for that question. That's a great question. Thanks so much for your willingness to support your your pastor and his ministry. That is, that is so cool this is core Christianity with pastor Israel Sanchez and if you are a parent or grandparent. We have a special resource want to tell you about today. It's a book from a friend of the show author and theologian Nancy Guthrie that she was on the broadcast.

Not too long ago, so make sure if if you weren't able to catch when we had Nancy on core Christianity that you you go back into the archives. If you will, and find that program because it was really good was such a blessing to have her and were offering her book what every child needs to know or should know about prayer to many biblical theology of prayer. If you have children or grandchildren you are wanting them to grow in their relationship with the Lord in in having a heart of prayer. Get a hold of this resource. It's just a wonderful book to pick up a copy of what every child should know about prayer just had over the core, Christianity.com/offers that's core Christianity.com/offers or you can call us for that resource or any one of our resources. Here's the phone number 833-843-2673. That's 833. The core let's go to a voicemail received from one of our callers last week about atrial said there is no indication in the Bible that Satan here is that I think that you know in the book of acts chapter 16: you know to place girls elicited by an evil spirit and then Paul commanded in the name of Jesus Christ and then the devil departed and also Mark 16 on the night end of that chapter. He just said that he had given the disciples on my guess as well. The authority to cast out the Nate and demons in the name of Jesus Christ, though, you know, I think you know Christians do you have an authority given by God to cast out demons and we can stick to the devil to cast out demons. So I'm wondering about your opinion on this.

Thank you, thank you for the great show site, they thank you for that question just for asking for clarification.

I do always appreciate it when we get phone calls and people want clarification on something that I've said it is helpful for me as well. So the question we received in particular was this Satan hear me if I talked to him and my concern. One was what we shouldn't be talking to Satan, so if you try to talk as I didn't have a conversation with him. Don't stop and so that that was one part of the other part was just Satan is. It is a created being. He's a finite creature, an angel no doubt that God created good, who turned evil, but he's not omnipresent he's not omniscient, as the Lord is and so Satan in particular know we did can just hear everything that he does have demons. There are no evil spirits, demons, fallen angels who are going to and fro throughout the earth. If you will, seeking to lead people astray. The spirit of the antichrist it's working in the world today and we as Christians right there. There is, you know, because the spirit of Christ lives in us that the evil one can't touch us and there is this authority that God is given to his church to the apostles in particular I for that's what you see what was taking place there like in acts 16 with Paul Cason the demon out of the. The servant girl that is spirit of divination or also that the passage of the end of March that you mention so there's no contradiction there might might my focus was on the fact that Satan as a created being is not omniscient, omnipresent, he can't hear you, in particular when you're when you're speaking so God bless. We actually have a great the little booklet on that is called, can the devil read my mind and you can find that by going to our website.

Core, Christianity.com/offers well as we wrap up the program today. Here's a question that came in from Rick via email. He says Luke being the careful historian that he was in knowing that Jesus was crucified a Roman form of execution by placing someone on the cross so why would Luc refer to Jesus being hung on a tree in acts 530 and 1039 is a great question. It will in particular that that text is alluding to a passage in the Old Testament, referring to to the curse. Essentially, the covenant curse on those who broke God's law.

And so Jesus in a week we could say in a very real sense was hung on a tree of the cross was made of wood and on the wood of that tree. The tree of the cross. Jesus hung and experience the curse that was due to us due to lawbreakers. Those who had broken God's covenant been unfaithful to his word so that we were unfaithful might receive the loving kindness and faithfulness of God, the forgiveness of our sins so your absolute right Luke. Luke, who wrote you know the gospel and is also the book of acts he is accusing careful historian in the way he he gives us that the events, but there's no there's no contradiction there in a real sense week we can and we we do say that Jesus was hung on a tree as he was hung there on the cross, crucified with the nails and why. Why did he do that again.

It was so that he might bear our curse.

And that's that's what some theologians have referred to as the great exchange.

Jesus takes our sin, our curse on the cross he gives to you his righteousness, his forgiveness, his mercy.

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