How Can I Restore the Joy of My Salvation If I Feel Numb to God?

How can I restore the joy of my salvation if I feel not to God. That's just one of the questions will be answering on today's addition of core Christianity why I Bill Meyer along with Pastor Israel Sanchez.

This is the radio program where we answer your questions about the Bible and the Christian life every day. Our phone number it's 833 the core that's 1-833-843-2673. You can also feel free to leave us a voicemail anytime 24 hours a day course you can always email us your question at questions at core, Christianity.com first up today let's go to Jordan calling in from Independence, Missouri Jordan what your question for pastor atrial Lord.

We received the Holy Spirit and the same thing the Holy Ghost part of the Trinity. Recently, after talking with another gentleman about if you have not been baptized in the Holy Ghost and speaking tongue. You don't have the Holy Spirit, and I was combating clarification. Well Jordan yes happy provide some clarification for you every Christian, every believer has the Holy Spirit the baptism of the Holy Spirit.

Something was promised to the children of God to Jesus to Jesus is disciples prior to his ascension into heaven, he tells them. You can be baptized in the Holy Spirit not many days from now. In acts chapter 1 and then acts chapter 2 is all about the promise of the Spirit Christ from heaven ascended in Davenport's spirit out upon the church and there you have the baptism of the Holy Spirit.

Now the question is that baptism of the Holy Spirit.

Just for some people, or is it for all Christians, because there are some in any sound like this is the position that that the pastor of the church.

Cigarette has who teach that you can be a Christian and have the Holy Spirit you can you can be sealed by the spirit but you do you still need to at a later point in your Christian life be baptized in the Holy Spirit. Well, I don't think that that's that's the biblical position and I'll tell you why we go to be two passages I think that maybe you can bring to your pastor. Ephesians chapter 1 verse 13 confirms what you said earlier, I was all right in the Ephesians and he says in Jesus, you also, when you heard the word of the church of the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised holy spirit that is when you believed in Jesus, you heard of the gospel we believed in him you were at that moment sealed with the promised Holy Spirit. The same promised Holy Spirit that was given to the church in acts to the promise of the Holy Spirit is given to all those who believe we embrace the gospel. Now here's another passage I think that that you can go to when thinking about this. It's in first Corinthians chapter 12 verse 13, Paul says to the church in Corinth in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, Jews or Greeks, slaves or free, and all were made to drink of one Spirit. So everyone is a Christian has been baptized in the Holy Spirit, if you will, sealed with the promised Holy Spirit now were called as those who have been baptized in the spirit to be filled with the spirit that's that's I think something that's distinct and other the disciples next to her baptized in the Spirit are filled further with the spirit later on on places like acts chapter 4 were there praying for boldness and so your baptized in the Holy Spirit, but you and I can be more or less filled with the Holy Spirit and the filling of the Holy Spirit comes through the word of Christ is the word of Christ dwells in us richly as we grow in our understanding of what the Bible teaches were filled with the spirit in the sign of the filling of the spirit is not so much speaking in tongues. It's the fruit of the spirit. What Paul describes in Galatians 5, love, joy, peace, patience, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control and other offered to people who say II work wonders and I can speak in tongues is that they don't have a lot of love, a lot of patients, a lot of the fruit of the Spirit and of course I'm I'm I'm not try to paint with a broad brush there because there are a lot of people who don't say that they do love miraculous things and lack the fruit of the spirit. But if you want the sign of being filled with the spirit states that it's a the fruit of the holy spirit. And so I would say with regard to that the second part.

There were, you know, do you overheard this conversation in there is that the discussion what you have to speak in tongues. I in order to be filled with the spirit that's just not true at all. If there is a question of whether or not God is giving these miraculous gifts ordinarily in the church today don't open up that that can of worms right now but we can we can do that. Maybe another time. We talked about that specifically.

But let me just say this. Paul makes it absolutely clear that not everyone in the church when when the gift of tongues was been given in the apostolic age not administered had that gift. He says very clearly in first Corinthians again chapter 12 verse 27. You are the body of Christ, and individually members of it, and God is appointed in the church, first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, administrating various kinds of tongues and yes the question are all apostles are all prophets, are all teachers do all work miracles. Do all possess gifts of healing to all speak with tongues all interpret as a rhetorical question. Neatly, the answer is no, not everyone has the same gift and that's what makes the body of Christ beautiful his work, each bringing whatever gifts God is given to us this this diversity of gifts within the church for the good of the body for the building up the edification of the body and so someone who says you know you have to speak in tongues as a Christian or you're not filled with the Holy Spirit.

That's the just not true. For the reasons I mentioned and appreciate your your question Jordan. May God bless you as you continue to dig into the Scriptures.

Jordan, thanks so much for listening to core Christianity. We appreciate you. By the way, if you have a question about the Bible, the Christian life doctrine theology. You can always email us our email address is questions at core, Christianity.com and you can leave a voicemail at 833 the core that's 1-833-843-2673 want to say thank you to a very special group of people we call them our inner core and it's a group actually that you can join the people that really believe in what this ministry does. So much so that they've agreed to support us on a monthly basis.

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To learn more. Just go to core Christianity.com/inner core and that's core Christianity.com/inner core go back to the phones. David is on the line from Kansas City, Missouri David, what's your question for pastor.

Israel or cost a man thank you for that encouragement that God is no walls whatsoever so I know I must just not something along the lines now that she's right or whole grain salvation contradiction chapter 7 verse 20 I don't not look right. I don't know what exactly you know what to contact yeah really thankful you give us a call in happy to help clear this up I think so.

It seems to me like the conch contradiction of the seeming contradiction is it's you know Romans chapter 10 verse nine says if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, then you will be saved and believe in your heart that that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. But then in Matthew chapter 7, nine verse 21 Jesus says not everyone who says to me Lord, Lord, will enter the kingdom of heaven. But the one who does the will of my father who is in heaven.

On that day many will say to me Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name and do many mighty works in your name and I will declare to them, I never knew you.

Apart from me you workers of lawlessness. Now, specifically there in Matthew chapter 7 verses 21 through 23 Jesus is really calling out the.

The religious teachers, the scribes and the Pharisees and and and you know bye-bye extension others is one of the it's just them but I think specifically in the context of this section of the gospel of Matthew. It's it's them that Jesus has his his targets on and of course we know that they didn't believe Jesus said on another occasion, and in I believe it's John chapter 6 this is the will of God that you believe in him whom he sent the balloon on the father sent on that is that is God's will in these religious leaders for all of their prayers for all of their external piety didn't know Jesus and Jesus II didn't know you either not, you know, you accepted me into your heart. You believed you were saved and then I forgot about you kind of them. These people never had a vital relationship with Jesus Christ.

They were going through the motions, praying hypocritically, if you will, and actually a great example of this is just earlier in Matthew chapter 6 were Jesus when he is talking about prayer says don't don't be like the hypocrites, for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners that they may be seen by others. Truly I say to you they have received their reward. He's talking about hypocrites here.

People who go to the motion to say, Lord, Lord, but they they actually don't believe this is one thing to say that Jesus is Lord and units it did to mouth the words it's another thing to truly believe in the Lordship of Christ to really believe in the gospel of Christ. And that's with these people for all of their piety for all of their external religion. It did not do because the truth is we are saved by grace through faith. And that's of course Hope all is getting at in Romans chapter 10 as he's talking about the goodness of God through the gospel and how that gospel advances he's in a go on there. In verses 14 and following to talk about that mid missionaries were sent out to preach the gospel to share that truth with with those who need to hear it and he says in verse 15. How are they to preach unless they are sent as it is written, how beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news, but they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us, so faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ, the lives of the really is David, no contradiction. There are me. I think I think you have two different things that are being spoken of you have in Matthew seven.

The hypocrites were going through the motions is a say Lord, Lord, but they don't truly believe in Christ.

They haven't received Christ. They reject the law of Christ. All the things that you have people and in Romans chapter 10 were making a true confession of faith were calling on the name of the Lord and as a result, there say they receive the grace of God I think the question for all of us is do I believe in Jesus. I know Emma and MI. Just when I think of the Christian faith. You know and I and I Sam a Christian is. It just is it just you know something that I say this sort of this nominal reality, but I don't actually really know who Jesus is. I don't have a personal relationship with him. I haven't haven't really trusted in him for the forgiveness of my sins. Actually I'm just continue to live.

However I want and and don't think any differently about it. There is, I think a lot of people out there who are deceived, who who reject Christ with their lives. Even though they say yeah Jesus is Lord and so I think you know taking them to these passages in having these kinds of discussions is really important. I praise the Lord. David for you and the fact that you recently have come to faith and sides want to take a moment right now to pray for you brother that the Lord would bless you and keep you and strengthen you in his word as you continue to pursue him. Father, I give you thanks from my brother David and for the family. Lord, that you allow each of us to be a part of through your son Jesus Christ. I pray for David Lord, that as he continues to dig into the Scriptures that you would give him discernment that you would give him wisdom that you would continue to build him up Lord God in his faith, that you would help them to be a blessing Lord in the church where you have called him to be on that you would use him Lord mightily for your service. Thank you for him, Lord, we pray in Jesus name, amen David, thanks so much for your call and we are so encouraged about your confession of faith in the fact your trust in Christ. That is such great news.

This is core Christianity with pastor Israel Sanchez you can email us your questions at questions at core, Christianity.com that's questions at core, Christianity.com is one from Chad and he says should we reflect on the gospel every day with the hopes of finding a daily renewal of joy and thanksgiving. What about the times when were numb to it should be read Scripture and meditate on it until we feel grateful or is it wrong to try to stir ourselves up by our thoughts and attempt to feel something I want to clarify that I don't think faith is only feelings but isn't that a problem if were going days without really being filled with joy and hope because of Christ, and I love this question a little you put in is it wrong for us to try to stir up our hearts. If you will, the answer to your question is no, that's not wrong at all. In fact, that something that you see in Scripture. In particular, you see this throughout the book of Psalms.

You oftentimes have an in the Psalms is the Psalms of praise where the psalmist is praising God for for what God had had done either his work of creation of and sometimes just looking back to God.

Is this the, the, the creator of all things and inches being overwhelmed with the majesty of God but also thinking about God's work of redemption and of the psalmist would would stop and meditate upon how God had delivered his people throughout history how God had delivered. Maybe the psalmist even in in a time of need. And so what we have is examples of individuals reminding themselves of God who he is, his glory what he's done his mercy and and so I would say we we should. We need to actually because our hearts will grow cold. So often, and because it's so easy for us for to to forget. We do need those certain daily reminders and we certainly need to be reminded of these things we gather together for worship on Sunday on the Lord's day. This is white churches is so important.

I hope you're getting that in the local church but but even beyond that, I think this is something that that we should pursue and implement in our lives on a daily basis. I think just to give you an example of one of the Psalms of what David said in Psalm 103 he's talking to himself. We just listen. The word Jesus bless the Lord, O my soul, oftentimes utilities with the Psalms of praise. You know there's an invocation to praise God.

A call to praise God in the psalmist so you know, bless the Lord, you his angels are bless the Lord his creation of bless the Lord, all you his people is calling that let the created order, the Angels, the people of God to worship God. But here David is is calling who's a calling to praise God himself.

He sing bless the Lord, O my soul and all that is within me, bless his holy name.

That beautiful sync soul. Bless God everything in me. Bless God and then he gives himself the reasons that the good that the you know he needs to bless Gotti to bless God, O my soul and then he says bless the Lord, O my soul verse two and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's there is right there. What is he doing he stirring up his his affections. If you will. He's he stirring up his heart. He sang soul. Bless God and here's why. You can bless God and he begins to meditate on the things that God had done the forgiveness of the Lord the healing of the Lord, and you know what each one of us can do that to you can look back on your life and remind yourselves of the ways that God has blessed you delivered you, provided for you, but ultimately not you how we do that is weak. We do that by looking back to what God has done for us in his son Jesus air on the cross.

Yeah, you know, oftentimes you know we we forget we don't grasp the immensity of the love of God, of the cost of our forgiveness and so we meditate on it. We meditate on the ocean of God's mercy on the river of life that flowed from the heart of Christ for the forgiveness of our sins. And as we do through the Scriptures. Oftentimes we find is that our soul does begin to bless the Lord, as I want to encourage you to do that do that to the Psalms reading the Psalms and other reading the Scriptures the gospel's, however, you know, to singing to praying, but it it certainly is a good thing to do and not just a good thing to do something that so necessary for us because of how how fickle our hearts are in how quickly they grow cold.

We need to continually go back to the goodness of Christ for us in the gospel some great counsel. Thanks so much for that Israel. This is core Christianity with pastor Israel Sanchez.

You can leave us a voicemail 24 hours a day with your question.

At 833 the core. Here's a voicemail to come in for one of our listeners earlier this week when a Christian extra money and are not just making ends meet Christians in general will ignore the command of generosity will they get a conviction of guilt. The rest of their life. That's my question will thank you for that question is is a stewardship question really and let me just say this will.

Jesus said it right where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. What is it that we are investing in. Oftentimes you know the way we spend our money says a lot about us. It reveals something of our hearts to us. And that's precisely what Jesus said and Jesus had no problem talking about money and talking about possessions because he knew that for many people in this is one of the greatest idols and in the end because there's that that sort of close relationship is it's almost like that. The way we spend our resources gives us a window into our hearts into what it is that we really are passionate about what we really love and so and so in one sense you know it it's helpful as it is a set of diagnostic to to think about, you know what is my commitment to the gospel. What is it that I'm I'm committed to passionate about what we don't want to give out of this sense of obligation. We don't want to give because you know it.

It feels like somebody's twisting our arm.

Paul says in in second Corinthians that the Lord loves a cheerful giver. Sometimes, early on, I think what we were giving to things you need might be.

Might be a little bit harder for us in assertive sort of you know, releasing our grid if you will.

So it in situations like that, I would say yeah. I mean if if there is a real issue there with with greediness, which is a sin. By the way love of money right like if there's a real issue. There will, then there needs to be repentance and there needs to be us a serious change, but what God wants from us is he wants hearts that give generously and joyfully, and I think that as as we grow in Christ, as were discipled more and more that should be what what's happening that were growing, also in our generosity and in the end, so that that that's I think I want to look at it I wouldn't I wouldn't say well you know this person just doesn't doesn't give it all and so they're going to experience God's judgment.

No, I think they're missing out, you're missing out. I think that it would with with greediness of innocence. What were doing is robbing ourselves. I and and oftentimes are also robbing the people around us. If you will the people God is called us to be generous too and so we do not want to take all of those things into consideration. Search our hearts and think ultimately again about the words of Jesus brothers and sisters where your treasure is, there your heart will be also invest in God's kingdom and invest in God's people. Thanks for listening to core Christianity request your copy of today's special offer. Visit us at core, Christianity.com and click on offers and the menu or call us at 1-833-843-2673.

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