How Can Corrupt Political Leaders Still Be Servants of God?

Class of eighth graders in Pennsylvania asks how can corrupt political leaders still be servants of God. That is one of the questions will be answering on today's addition of core Christianity will 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. We look forward to hearing some of those questions from that classroom full of eighth-graders and you can call us with your question right now at 833 the core that's 1-833-843-2673, as always, you can post your question on one of our social media sites and you can always email us at questions at core, Christianity.com first up today let's go to James in Eldon Missouri. James what your question for atrial weight. They James and I have is the question. A lot of people asked me personally.

Now in my ministry here at Aaron Eldon.

What is the difference between there a difference between the baptism of the Holy Spirit and being built with. That's the question that people asked me how I know what I believe but I think I get in to see what may be your take is on that on that very question. James is a great question for a while I was taught as a newer believer that you you get saved you believe in Jesus you're filled with the Holy Spirit were sealed with the Holy Spirit, then you need to be baptized with the Holy Spirit. At some point later in in your Christian Christian walk and see you asked God to baptize you in the Holy Spirit and in some you know Christian churches will say it when that happens you speak in tongues or you have some some miraculous manifestation now. My view has changed on this as I continued to study the Scriptures.

I think the baptism of the Holy Spirit. I talked about by Jesus you that acts chapter 1 verse five and he's writing very speaking to his his disciples right before his ascension and he says John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now. Of course James are there.

He's referring to the day of Pentecost when the day of Pentecost arrived. Acts chapter 2, verse one. They were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind.

It filled the entire house where they were sitting and divided tongues as of fire appeared on them, and rested on each of them and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance now. Too often, I think we talk about the baptism the Holy Spirit.

We focus on the miraculous on the gift of tongues but hear what you have is this distinct moment in redemptive history and the history of salvation were God's is signaling to us that that there's something new that's happening we think of the new covenant.

The promise of the Holy Spirit. Now the presence of God isn't there in the Temple in Jerusalem. Now there's a new temple called the church to be a bit late this image of a fire fiery tongues over the disciples as they are praying you remember in the Old Testament God made his presence known in a particular place. Often it was associated with fire you think of the fire in the tabernacle of the fire. The pillar of fire that led the children of Israel through the wilderness as God is saying my presence is resting on the church is no longer there it in the temple in Jerusalem. This is that the new covenant.

The new temple the new creation if you will, that that's really what the baptism of the Holy Spirit is about and I would say every single Christian. If you are if you're saved, you belong to Jesus.

You have been baptized in the Holy Spirit. The apostle Paul. He says in verse 20 is chapter 12 verse 13 by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, and so we can even say Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit.

We need the spirit of God in our lives if we belong to Jesus. We've been baptized in the Holy Spirit now we are called as Christians every day to be filled with the Holy Spirit. So were sealed with the spirit, baptized with the Holy Spirit if you will. All of us as Christians but let each of us in our in our daily life are called to be filled with the Holy Spirit and this is what the apostle Paul said in Ephesians chapter 5 verse 18. He says don't get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the spirit.

This is an expectation a command be filled with the spirit addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ results it looks like to be filled with the Holy Spirit. It's it's addressing one another in psalms and hymns and praising the Lord a heart full of thanksgiving that the fruit of the spirit. Paul describes in Galatians chapter 5 I so I would say all of us as Christians, are baptized in the spirit and we are called every day to be filled with the Holy Spirit is the word of Christ dwells in us as we meditate on Scripture as we draw near to the Lord in prayer as we gather with other believers is the spirit of God is at work in our lives and we we continue to be filled with the Holy Spirit. And so James God bless you, thank you for the ministry that you do and I thanks for listening to the core. Thanks James appreciate you and you know we love hearing from our listeners here at core Christianity. We are so thankful for how they interact with the show and send us questions and Joseph is in eighth grade teacher at Faith Christian Academy in Quakertown, Pennsylvania. Every day he is eighth grade class listens to core Christianity, which is pretty amazing to us is students send us a list of questions and so for the rest of this week were to be answering one question a day from students in Joseph's class. Now these kids are really sharp, so good luck Israel on this one okay this question is from a student named Cole I am a Christian Academy in eighth grade and died. Leaders why did he choose leaders that do evil and how do we still obey them. Now of course we pray for them and call excellent question, and I just think one. I just want to say, Bill.

How cool is it that you got this. This class of eighth-graders listening to core Christian. I wish when I was in eighth grade that we listened to core Christianity, but that didn't exist at the time so call excellent question you not the only one with this question and the first night I just want to say is your you're right on.

You said it. God is the one who establishes leaders who chooses them. Even in one sense, according to his his sovereign purposes in the world and this is what the apostle Paul said in the book of Romans chapter 13 beginning in verse 20 says 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 resists the authorities resists what God has 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 an authority than 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 wrong doers. It is so interesting that here we know Paul is talking about secular authorities in oh rulers over the common kingdoms of this world. Anything there. God's servants, other gods, deacons, if you will in the world exercising the sword, even in terms of judgment you think of the law, and obedience to the law of the laws of the land and so Paul here is saying look be be submitted to these governing authorities. We know that that there is no authority except God is allowed and what's so interesting about the book of Romans: in Paul's expectation here is that it this time. Probably Nero is the one who is ruling and he wasn't the greatest ruler or Emperor if you will. And yet the apostle Paul still says be submitted to the governing authorities as it would we pray for them, this is something Paul told Timothy very clearly pray for those rulers that God has placed in our lives and pray for their salvation.

We pray for their well-being. We pray that they might govern justly in accordance with that which is good and true, and we submit to them, even, even when it its inconvenience to it an inconvenience to us so long as they're not calling us to disobey God's word. Now, for if a governing authority calls us to disobey the word of God. If there saying hey you need to break God's law, you're not allowed to preach in Jesus's name. For example, is something that we see in the book of acts will then it its an obligation of the church were called then to obey God's word. God's law rather than the, the, the laws of of man which contradict his law, but insofar as were able to recall this is something Paul says little bit later in Romans to live peaceably with all men to to to be submissive to governing authorities.

We might not like that the speed limit is 65 miles an hour you know something like that but but were still called to obey these these rules. These laws, insofar as as we can because it's it's the right thing to do and so you know he sometimes he will say it will wicked rulers or are just God's judgment on a wicked nation. You do see examples of that in in Scripture. I think of the book of Isaiah. For example, in Isaiah chapter 3 talks about God giving giving you no wicked rulers or incompetent rulers, and God can even use wicked rulers to accomplish his purposes in the world. Later in the book of Isaiah. In Isaiah chapter 10 God talks about how he's using the Assyrians the pagan Assyrians to bring judgment on Israel for for her sin. So this is another thing that that we can be comforted by coal is the fact that even though you know we don't understand why God does everything we know that he's he's in control and that he's able to bring a good and even out of the wicked decisions that that ungodly rulers make being asked chapter 8 for example, the church is experiencing extreme persecution right after Stephen was martyred and that persecution led to the spread of the gospel from Jerusalem to Judeo and Samaria.

God used the actions of wicked leaders to continue to advance his gospel, and so we we pray for the rulers that God is placed over us. We submit to them when they don't contradict God's word and then we submit to God's word. God's law. If there calling us to disobey it. God bless you and thanks for for that question.

And thanks to all the students who are listening there in that eighth grade class in Pennsylvania.

We really do appreciate you and part of our program every day. This is core Christianity with pastor Israel Sanchez Christmas just around the corner and we have a brand-new free resource to help you prepare for the Christmas season. Yeah, it's a 25 day Christmas devotional called the promised seed. Make sure you get a hold of this them in before we get the Decembers that you can start going through this devotional with your family on December 1 that the devotional starts with the fall in Genesis 3 and that is asserted traces. These promises of God throughout the Bible bring us to to the promised seed. Jesus, who came to to crush the serpent's head.

This is what Christmas is all about, and our new devotional highlights God's faithfulness in the Bible is faithfulness to us now even in the midst of the difficulties and uncertainties. We we face in life and so is a free resource for you over it. Core, Christianity.com you can find that at our website is a drill mention core, Christianity.com/Christmas that's core Christianity.com/Christmas. You can also call us for that resource or any one of our resources at 833 the core go to Kayla in Union, Missouri Kayla what your question for a drill and had problems with my biological mother.

She never let me or Ben Anthony in the past 30 years and I am an adoptive mother in the Bible and the commandment to save your mother and father, but she has never shown anything I made out what I be sinning against God and selling back towards my adopted mom for breaking things off with my biological mother's will. The first thing I want to just say detail is I'm so sorry to hear about that that the strained relationship.

There me saying that you, your mother was not was not there for you now. Of course, you think of the fifth Commandment were called to honor our father and our mother.

And that's true even even when they fail, even when they say no that that doesn't mean that we can't disagree.

That doesn't mean that you know if there's an abusive relationship or or they're hurting you in some way that that you shouldn't build barriers if you will, images, new ways to to protect yourself to make sure that that you are being healthy in the way you relate to your your mother but what were called to honor our parents and when they sin against us were called to forgive. That doesn't mean that you have to have in a great relationship with them. Oftentimes you know when people sin against us.

We forgive them, but there still is an reconciliation because they haven't owned up to what they've done. It sounds to me like the situation you're in right now is one where you want to forgive through the forgiveness that you received from Jesus because all of us have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God and yet God is been merciful to us.

He's been merciful to you in his son Jesus forgiving all your sins and that forgiveness that God is given to you is a forgiveness that you should extend to others, whether they they ask for it or not, you should say look, I'm not can hold a grudge in my heart.

I'm not can it foster bitterness and anger hatred even, God help me to forgive and if this person wants to reconcile if they're willing to own up to the fact that they've hurt me that they abandon me, or that they sinned against me in some way will then maybe there can be some some reconciliation in the relationship, but if not, will then it's really hard to have a good relationship with another person and so II think for you and a you need to to forgive us that there can be healing in your own life to what God calls you to do is that forgiveness and be open to reconciliation, not not shutting that door, not just me saying I'm through with you because of how you treated me.

I think there should be an openness.

I think that's a part of honoring your your your loved ones a part of honoring the Lord as well but but you're not responsible for her decision, and so I trusting in the Lord resting in him extending the forgiveness that is given to you and and may God give you strength to do that. Kayla was that was that both your questions or was there another question there as well that I'm missing for a while and my Dell player and myself at that risk of doing it again and that that's where things get really difficult. Right because, as you don't want to, you know, you put yourself out there and and then you risk the reality that you could be hurt all over again.

And this is where loving others can and so often is very painful, very, very difficult and sought the way I just just up on how you view talk about it right now. I would say again, not not shutting the door so you know have a clear conversation and say look, you hurt me this this was wrong. I forgive you because Jesus is been so gracious to me and God calls me to forgive and I want to forgive you. I want there to be healing. But if there is ever to to be any kind of relationship a real relationship, not just not just pretending that everything is fine when when it's not there can have to be some some genuine repentance and and forgiveness and restoration.

We don't always, we don't always get that sadly you know for for many people, especially if they don't believe in Christ and even believing in Jesus.

I think it's hard it's hard for us as Christians but for many people without that that sense of forgiveness without that sense of the gospel. It's so difficult, impossible even to own up to our sins and our failures and so I would say Kayla pray for her that she would experience the grace of God in her life realize we know that that the immense mercy that Jesus has and then from that come to a place of being able to say I am so sorry for what I've done and then again that doesn't mean that that you can have a perfect relationship that everything will will be just restored and and that there isn't this pain that you're you're going to experience still from the relationship but but I think it's what God calls us to in terms of loving in terms of forgiving in terms of honoring our parents even our parents who have failed us so may the Lord may the Lord bless you and give you wisdom in this sister Kayla thank you so much for your call will be praying for you and that very difficult situation.

This is core Christianity with pastor Israel Sanchez. Our phone lines will be open for another five minutes or so. If you have a question about the Bible or the Christian life about doctrine or theology, give us a call at 833. The core 833. The core let's go to Brendan and St. Louis Missouri. Brandon what your question for pastor. Israel, my question when someone comes in and how do I know your religion and how I know that you're not something that is like a gift from a different religion how I know to follow Jesus and no one knows what makes it what makes it the correct one is a great question, Brandon.

What sets Christianity apart and there a lot of different things we could point to receive the gospel and by the gospel and I'm referring to what took place in history, God sending his son into the world, born, suffered under Pontius Pilate means these are historical figures as injustices in just a myth or a story that there is historical attestation, not just that we see in the Gospels, but even even you know non-Christian sources Jewish sources testifying to the reality of of essentially what the Bible says concerning Jesus's life, death and resurrection as you have the testimony of the church that this this these things that took place in history which the early disciples of Jesus took and preached and were willing even to die for. For this message and so you know the people that we saw Jesus risen from the dead and and sometimes ran on if you've heard this, but people say what will there probably just making it up. You know they're trying to start a religion to get rich to get powerful that kind of a thing but but the early disciples of Jesus who claimed to see him risen from the dead, they lost everything for preaching the gospel in get rich they were stricken with poverty they didn't gain power. They gained weakness. Almost all of them were martyred. They were killed. Now they were just making it up. Would they stick to that message. If they if they were doing it to get power and as they preached. They only got persecution and imprisonment would they continue to proclaim that message will you be the judge of that.

II think that just outrageous know it's oh so this is something that took place in history that, and that's we cling to me. Paul says in in first Corinthians chapter 15 if if Jesus is risen from the dead, yet everything that that we believe it is doesn't doesn't matter it's it's hopeless were rooting our faith in historical reality.

There's a number of other things you can point me obviously print that it is the work of the Holy Spirit that open someone's heart to embrace the gospel but God is given us.

I think great reasons to believe that the very creation around us testifies to the fact that there is a God in heaven and God's word reveals to us who that God is God says in Isaiah 46 verses nine and 10. I am God and there is no other.

I am God and there is none like me, declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times, things that are not yet done nothing were to say look here's you know I'm God and not these other idle throughout there in the world. Here's how you know that I'm got a minute till the end from the beginning, and from ancient times, things are not yet done.

One of the things we have in Scripture. Is this prophetic testimony. God clearly telling us what's going to take place before it happens, especially in the prophets, and especially pertaining again to the gospel to the coming of the Messiah to his suffering to his death to his resurrection from the dead. So I think that there are plenty of reasons to say hey this is the true faith is not just is not just based on how I feel. It makes me feel good. I like it because of the moral principles that kind of the thing know were saying Jesus Christ really came as promised by the prophets really suffered really died and really rose again from the dead and because he is Rosie's at the right hand of the father alive right now and we trust in him and the earliest disciples stuck to that message been willing to go to the the the grave to suffer for what they were proclaiming and so there are number of other resources that I think I could point you to that might be helpful in answering this question. If you want to go deeper. One book that I I've recommended a number of times is Greg Koegel's the story of reality. That's an excellent book that just gets into some of that the evidence is if you will for what we believe in and why we can trust the word of God. Thanks, Brendan this is core Christianity with pastor Israel Sanchez. We are going to record a second episode today so if you have a question about the Bible of the Christian life.

You can still call us for the next 30 minutes or so at 833 the core. Here's an email question from Chris. He says I'm a born-again Christian I believe Jesus is the son of God. My question is, did God the father create Jesus the son or has Jesus the son always existed forever in eternity past when we think of parents and children. The parents always existed first. Yeah, yeah, that's what we have to be really careful when we apply this sort of creaturely analogies to God, the holy Trinity now we talk about Jesus as the eternal son of God were saying he never came to be her began to be. He always was eternally begotten of the father. That is, he didn't even begin to be the son of God. At some point in time that something that the ancient heretics taught guys like Arius. Arius was one of the earliest heretics who basically said there was a time when Jesus was not in other words, he began to be in the church responded by saying no, that's not the teaching of the Scriptures, the teaching of the Scriptures that he always was John chapter 1 verse one in the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God. And then down verse 14 and the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.

Jesus came to earth for us always existed as the eternal son of God. Thanks for listening to core Christianity 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