How Do We Glorify God If We Are In Agony All The Time?

How can a person glorify God if they are in agony all the time 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 Pedro 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 court, that's 1-833-843-2673 and you can email us with your question at questions at core, Christianity.com. First up, today we have a positive story to share with you during this coronavirus crisis, it will have you taking your kids to the San Diego zoo before many many times Bill we love going there today have any llamas or alpacas.

There you know I imagine that they do.

I don't think that the kids usually go to see the llamas that mean that they always want to see the elephants and the Tigers I can say this that my dad not mention this to you before I grit my dad has a circus in Mexico and when I would go visit them at the circus. They had llamas and alpacas there so that was pretty cool. While here's a sweet story. It's about a couple of therapy alpacas who are visiting elderly residents of an assisted living home in California to cheer them up during the walked out the alpacas names are Cronk and Cusco. Those names were inspired by the Disney movie the Emperor's new groove classic last week, these two alpacas traveled by Van to the Boulder Creek postacute assisted living center to greet elderly residents from outside their dining room window. The staff said the alpacas brought joy and smiles to the residence at course at a socially safe distance. That's so funny. You know, so I mentioned to my dad. You know has the circus in Mexico and that growing up. They had llamas and alpacas. I don't remember them being very nice animals affect people spit at you. I do know if you knew that bill, but they asked itself.

So these ones must be trained. I get to be extra nice because usually I was always scared of them so they will llamas will Sieben spit up my llama before, so it is cooler to be traveling around to different convalescent homes in California with the old pocket so let's get to our first question of the day and this one comes from Stephen who emailed us and he said I'm having some trouble understanding how to read the book of Job, or how it bears witness to Christ, is Job actually blameless or is he a sinner that deserves God's judgment. Job seems to go back and forth between how he sees himself before God. I've also heard that Job's friends are giving him bad advice. Should we read the passages of Job's friends words about God's character as true what you thought they drill yeah will the book of Job. One of the oldest books of the Bible and a great mystery for many people. Job is a part of the wisdom literature in Scripture and in the Old Testament that consists of the book of Job, Psalms, Proverbs, the book of Ecclesiastes, and song of songs and I had a professor in seminary made a great point he sitting of the wisdom literature. We should read it together and in counterpoint what he meant by that was with so interesting is when you look at the wisdom literature in the Bible like the book of Proverbs in the book of Job.

It seems as if they they almost correct each other. For example in the book of Proverbs. You have all these principles and if you do this.

This is going to happen.

You walk in this way and you're going to be blessed.

But then you look at the book of Job, and you think well Job is depicted as this righteous man is this godly man is you as you say, Steven, and yet he experiences immense suffering one is not the wisdom literature is contradicting itself adjusted wisdom dictates that every instance is different. We have to take each case as it stands, and use wisdom to understand how to navigate the difficulties of life, so Job is depicted in the Scriptures as a godly man is a blameless manner. That doesn't mean that he's sinless. The only sinless one to ever live, was our Lord Jesus Christ, but from the perspective of the biblical writer here.

Job is being put forward is this person who sought to honor the Lord and to live for the Lord and yet he experiences horrible affliction to let me just say this should really teach us something because there are so many people today who think if I just walk with the Lord. If I'm faithful to Jesus.

Everything in my life is in a go well. I meant to be healthy and wealthy and and blessed and yet the story of Job tells us that, no, that's not necessarily the case of God is sovereign over our suffering.

That's another thing that I think we see in the book of Job, when the devil afflicts Job yes to get permission from the Lord God is the King of the whole earth and nothing happens outside of the Lord's sovereign decree. So that's where some of the mystery comes in it that what so interesting though is when Job comes to the Lord with all of his questions to remember how God responded to him in Job chapter 38 doesn't give them an answer to why he was suffering as they will Job. Here's what I was trying to teach you or this is you know the ultimate plan and all of your suffering and that's often the case in our own lives. God revealed to us that the reason behind why we might suffer in a particular way. But listen to how God responded to Job, Job, chapter 38 beginning in verse one God said who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge dress for action like a man. I will question you and you make it known to me.

Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth. Tell me if you have understanding who determined its measurements.

Surely you know or who stretched the line upon it on what were its bases sunk, or who laid its cornerstone, when the morning stars sang together and all the sons of God shouted for joy or who shut it in the sea with doors when it burst out from the womb.

When I made clouds its garment and thick darkness its swaddling band and prescribed limits for it, and set bars and doors and said thus far shall you come and no farther in here shall your proud waves be stayed.

In other words response to Job, who has indeed experience this horrible suffering. He says who you think you are or you there when I created the stars, the heavens, the earth, and it really it ought to humble us and that's another thing that I think the book of Job shows this is you have this righteous suffer. Suffering, according to God's will in line with God's sovereign decree and yet God doesn't give me answers to.

Here's why your suffering. He just says I'm the Lord and often times in our own suffering the difficult things that we experience. We don't have the answers but we can know that God is the Lord that he is sovereign and that he's good somehow he's able to work as Paul said in Romans chapter 8 all things together for the good of those who love him and are called according to his purpose.

And of course at the end of the book of Job, we do see some resolution, but the Lord never does to Job that that perfect answer that sort of cookie-cutter answer that we often want in the midst of our suffering.

Now how does Joe point us to Jesus will think about it. Here we have a righteous manner, at least one who is depicted as righteous, suffering intensely, Jesus is the only truly blameless, perfectly righteous one who suffered wide for our sakes for our salvation.

So one since I think Job this is a type of Christ for us, pointing us forward to the Messiah would bear our pain and Stephen with regard to Job's friends yet you know there often depicted as not very good friends because that they're trying to give Job the answers that you would expect to come from a book like the book of Proverbs, or the thing will Job you know if you would've done good. Good would've happened there must be from sin in your life, but I think one of the things that we learn from Job's friends is sometimes especially when someone is going through suffering. It's better to just be silent what someone is going through something that's very difficult.

You will not always have the answer and it can be harmful to use the sort of cliché.

You know, just trust God in everything will be better or you know what my cousin had that same issue and he's find those kinds of things and oftentimes are encouraging the way we want to encourage people is my weeping with those who weep. This is core Christianity and would love to get your question you can email us at questions at core, Christianity.com or you can call us at 833 the core that's 1-833-843-2673 and let's go to our first call of the day that you financially what God is where all my brother to know the Lord Scriptures again in always so older now. I know how it might thank you Charlie God bless you difficult situation. I'm sorry to hear about it, but I am grateful to hear that your brother has just come to the Lord and you know question week we begin walking with Jesus were baby Christians. We need that extra help and that extra encouragement sometimes. I mean, I think all of us when we come to the Lord. We have views about the Lord that are incorrect areas that we need to be encouraged and discipled and where it's important for us to gain a deeper understanding of the Scriptures and so maybe you can help your brother here know Paul said in second Thessalonians chapter 3 verses 10 through 12 for even when we are with you. We would give you this command. If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat, for we hear that some among you walk in idleness, not busy at work but busybodies now such persons we command and encourage in the Lord Jesus Christ to do their work quietly and to earn their own living. This is the command and encouragement in the Lord Jesus Christ and I think it's one that you can give to your brother. We have to be careful because people even family sometimes can manipulate us in the thinking of you don't help me you're not really loving me. How could you do this to me. How could you leave me out in the cold like that. But there are times Charlotte where helping someone actually isn't the loving thing to do. Where were encouraging a kind of idleness, the kind of laziness, which is the second bad behavior that causes a person to go deeper and deeper into this hole that therein, we want to encourage them with the word of God. We want to say look, here's a command from the Lord if if anyone is not willing to work let them not eat were called as Christians to be disciplined to contribute to the society in a way that honors the Lord.

Now that doesn't mean that there are instances where people really do need help and where we as believers should come alongside of them. I think for example of what Paul said in first Timothy chapter 5 related to widows in the church.

He gives this instruction to Timothy about how to care for widows, he says, who are truly widows, that is, those who don't have any way of getting any help they can't work with their hands.

There's no way for them to bring in an income is they need to be cared for first pulse is there in that passage by family members to family members can help them out. But then by the church. That's what the church needs to step in it and care for them. It seems to me that in the New Testament we have this encouragement to godly diligence and labor and that that is something that we need to exhort others to dissipate into do and I think it's something that you should encourage your brother and this is a serious thing. Laziness is a sin which one of those sins that we don't often think about sitting probably a lot of us struggle with this. Well, it's a sin.

God gives us hands to work with and time to redeem to honor him to serve him and to serve the people around us, not just the sort of wasted away and so I want to say to sister one patient with your brother is a new Christian, you know, some of these things are probably good to be new for him patterns that the Lord is sanctify and where he's going to need maybe some patient some extra encouragement, and certainly the teaching of the Scriptures, but also don't feel Charlotte like you are a horrible sister, horrible family member because you're encouraging them to work because you're not just giving him money. Sometimes the loving thing to do is to say no this kind of habit is actually not helping you. It's leading to destruction.

So I made encourage you to do what God calls you to do. I'm not just going to give you a way out is difficult. If that is something Charlotte.

That's the right decision.

Your listing the core Christianity with pastor Adm. Sanchez, Abdul Meyer and Indra.

We are really excited about a special resource that we have for our listeners today. Yeah, you know, one of the questions were always getting is in effect when we just answered earlier this week. What what's heaven going to be like people want to know. You know what I have to look forward to as a Christian. There's all sorts of confusion today about heaven and so we have a special resource over core, Christianity.com it's cold seven things you need to know about heaven. It's free when you sign up for a weekly newsletter.

One of the greatest, I think topics that we can meditate upon as Christians but as I said a lot of confusion in the church today about heaven, so over core, Christianity.com/offers to download seven things you need to know about heaven. I know that resource will encourage you can also call us for the resource 833-843-2673 or spell it out on your phone, 833, the court, 833 the core go to an email question that came in Israel, this one from Carl and he says were a young couple in our early 20s and my wife is suffering from a terrible chronic illness is often known as the most painful diagnosis known to medicine called CRPS sometimes it's been called the suicide disease. Her entire body is in searing pain through her nerves and skin and there's nothing that any doctors can do to alleviate the pain she is bedridden and in agonizing pain every hour, day and night. I feel like I'm going insane watching my bride burn up and call out in writing pain through this, our faith feels like it's in a very barren lonely desert. Why, why would God not extend his mercy to give even a small amount of relief.

Never mind healing and how do we glorify God in our life when she literally feels like she is dying and can't help but think of the next 50 or 60 years of her life when she hardly can make it through another day. Carl in May Christ have mercy upon you and your wife and I want to pray for you and I invite all of you listening right now.

Would you join me in praying for Karlyn and for his wife.

Heavenly father we lift Karlyn and his wife up to you.

In particular, Lord by his wife with the suffering that she experiences we ask a gracious God, that you would grant her relief and comfort you would give her a sense of your presence, a sense of your love Lord God. We know that, especially in the those moments of intense suffering.

It's hard to know and to feel your love at times and yet I pray that through everything that they experienced. The one thing that they would not doubt is the fact that you love them God that you have given your son for them that Jesus can sympathize with them, and that he is conquered death on the cross.

Would you be with Karlyn. Would you be with his wife, would you encourage them and raise them up and grant them your healing and your presence in Jesus name, amen Karlyn, we just talked about Job earlier in this episode, and his intense suffering both the loss of his children. The discouragement of his wife at the time you remember what she said to him curse God and die in the physical trial that he underwent by minutes almost unthinkable.

When you read the early chapters of the book of Job, and as much as we'd like to have a clear answer to the why question which is that the very same question that you're asking right now. God does not always open heaven, and tell us at this time. Why but let me tell you what God does give you Karlyn God does give you a way to glorify him. I think of the Psalms of lament throughout the book of Psalms there are these laments where the psalmist is crying out to God asking the very same question that you and your wife are asking because it's a valid question for the people of God to ask. Sometimes in Scripture. There just are no answers. Psalm 88, for example, is the darkest Psalm in the entire Bible and there's no resolution.

The last word of Psalm 88 is darkness.

And that's how the psalmist felt that the time it's just where sometimes the Lord has us as his people, and yet that cry of lament that question of why is itself an act of faith and when you come to the Lord. Karlyn and you cry out to God and you say why you say God have mercy that is the way in which you are actually glorifying the Lord because instead of turning your back on God, your sin, and broken. I need you, and you can know Karlyn and your wife can know that you're not alone and that cry that the people of God have uttered that same cry throughout the history of the world and you know who else lamented Jesus your Savior. May he quoted Psalm 22 on the cross, he said, my God, my God, why have you forsaken me, and then later in Psalm 22.

Listen to what the psalmist prayed, and I think Jesus himself had these words in his heart and on his lips. Verses 14 and 15.

I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint. My heart is like wax is melted within my breast.

My strength is dried up like a potsherd and my tongue sticks to my jaws. You you God laid me in the dust of death: God the son experienced the horrible pain of death, and he can sympathize with you and your wife, but he didn't just experience it so that he could sympathize with us in our suffering he experienced it so that he could conquer death, suffering and sin, and he has you may not know, and ever know this side of heaven. Why this particular cross was given to you and to your family. You can know that God is not allowed any suffering that he hasn't already conquered to his cross.

The cross of Jesus Christ and the resurrection of the dead, and that is a hope that you and your wife can have right now.

Not only that God loves you that Jesus can sympathize with you that he bore suffering and death for you, but that he gives you the hope of the resurrection of the dead in the life of the world to come. A new body, a restored body where there is no more writhing and there is no more pain and every tear is wiped away.

Karlyn may God bless you and be with you and we will remember you in our prayers brother that I would just encourage all of our core Christianity listeners to continue to pray for Karlyn and his wife on this very terrible situation that they're going through right now. Your listing the core Christianity with pastor Israel Sanchez and it really had a call come in here is our phone number again if you'd like to call us with question 8334. This call came in from Sophia hi how do you know what it should worship you have done cleaning when it being Sunday and found a claim in the data from the Bible. It seems like a lot of Scripture back to the point that so why is it that day.

Such discrepancy. Thank you for your time and for your help. Thank you Sophia for your question. I really appreciated and it's one that we've received on this program before the answer to your question is because of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. When Jesus rose again from the dead on the first day of the week. He was starting the dawn of a new era. Now the people of God.

Don't work and then rest we enter into the Sabbath rest of Jesus Christ.

Do you remember what Jesus said it, the end of Matthew chapter 11 beginning in verse 25 Jesus declared, I thank you father, Lord of heaven and earth that you hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to the little children you father, for such was your gracious will. All things have been handed over to me by my father and no one knows the son except the father and no one knows the father except the son and anyone to whom the son chooses to reveal him come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light. The true Sabbath rest.

Sophia is found in Jesus Christ point. This is something we all need right now is that it were so filled with anxiety these days with exhaustion in our society right to seems like everything is go go go all the time work work work. We need that Sabbath rest.

We need what Jesus offers to us and he says come to me all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you the true Sabbath rest in me, and that's what Jesus gives to his people.

That's what he gave to the church when he rose again from the dead, conquering death and sin. And that's why Christians from the earliest days began meeting on Sunday on the Lord's day the first day of the week.

You see this in acts chapter 20 verse seven in first Corinthians chapter 16 verses one and two just talks about how when the church would gather together to take an offering for the poor, to hear the preaching of the word to dissipate in the Lord's supper breaking bread they gathered together on the first day of the week. That is Sunday soap from the very earliest days of the Christian church there in the New Testament. This is what the apostles of Jesus Christ themselves were doing. That's what we should do it to every Sunday when the church gathers together were saying Christ is risen. Thanks for listening to core Christianity to request your copy of today's special offer. Visit us@corechristianity.com and click on offers in the menu bar or call us at 1-833-843-2673 that's a 33 core when you contact us. Please let us know how you been encouraged by this podcast and be sure to join us next time. As we explore the truth of God's word together