Will It All Work Out in the End?

Ever find yourself wondering if you're following God's will. That's just one of the questions will be answering on today's addition of core Christianity hi Bill Meyer along with Pastor Israel Sanchez and this is the radio program where we answer your questions about the Christian life every day.

You can call us right now with your question. At 833. The core that's 1-833-843-2673 course you can email us with your question at questions at core, Christianity.com now to start off this morning. Here is a story that brought a smile to my face, made really wanted to share this with you but you like it as well, a small town in the Texas Panhandle has found a unique way to keep their community together during the coronavirus the town of Dumas, Texas recently created its own drive-in movie theater by showing a movie on the side of the town's grain elevator.

The structures white cement walls stretch more than 100 feet above the town and it made the perfect screen so the folks in the town simply lined up their cars and they all watch the movie together hold that school has seen churches doing driving church these days. The only problem is here in San Diego.

I don't know that there's a parking lot or a space big enough for us to be able to do that but I think that's so cool the grade for a community to do something to him.

And obviously there still practicing social distancing right there in their cars, but they get they would do something as a town together.

I've actually been to the town of Dumas Texas and it's it's kind of a map.the just what yeah well it it's neat because I think you want to think that this is showing all of us is how much we long for community and relationships and what were looking for ways you know creative ways to still keep those relationships going. We've had my wife and I have had a couple zoo meetings just with members of our church know where you will put the kids down and then we'll have dinner over the computer on zoom with another family.

So that's been kinda cool to we did that last week with my small group and several of us brought our dogs to the meeting, which was yet. I'm sure they contributed a lot to me to stay. All right, let's jump into our first question and this one comes from Daniel, who posted on our Instagram page and he says hi. What was Moses intending to communicate to us in the account of bail him and the talking donkey yeah Dale, I mean if you're wondering, is this a true story did Bay limbs donkey really talk. I think that that is one of the things that Moses is wanting to communicate to us. To me this is obviously a miracle you'd usually have donkeys talk, but in this passage or something supernatural going on the text you're talking about first and if you're unfamiliar with that passage you are listening's numbers chapter 22 and bail him is sort of like this diviner we might call him a prophet.

He's hired by the Moabite king Bay like to curse the Israelites is there traveling into the promised land from Egypt and I think you know as we think about bail him what's helpful is going to the New Testament, in the few times were he's described in the New Testament because he is described positively second Peter chapter 2 verses 15 and 16. Listen to what Peter said there he says these speaking about false teachers in the church today and he says, forsaking the right way they have gone astray.

They have followed the way of bail of the son of Bay or who love to gain from wrongdoing but was rebuked for his own transgression is speechless. Donkey spoke with the human voice and restrained the prophets madness so this guy bail him is depicted as this false teacher who was in it for money.

A guy who had the kind of spirituality that was driven by greed and even sexual immorality. You get that in other places like you.

Chapter 1 verse 11 and then Jesus even refers to him in Revelation chapter 2 verses 14 and following is bail him Bailiff to put a stumbling block before the people of Israel teaching them to practice sexual immorality and so I think probably the take away that were supposed to for ourselves as believers, Christians under the new covenant to take from that account is just be like bail him not just that but the fact that here's this false teacher who is driven by greed and actually I think that this is something that we see all around us today is in it, Daniel. I mean it's really sad to see but even during coronavirus. I've I've seen so many quote unquote preachers and televangelists promised people safety, health, wellness, even in the midst of this great pandemic and I think one of the things that the coronavirus is doing is it's it's pulling the rug out beneath a lot of these false teachers. These people who were in it for money and who knows what else and it's showing them to be what they really are witches, fakes, you know, charlatans, and that's what bailable was then so we have to be on guard as Christians today. We have to watch out for the Bay limbs of the world who are teaching a false gospel essentially enter in it for themselves no lies are a new story recently about some church that was selling some kind of potion that supposedly would know keep people from getting coronavirus and so tragic. When people fall victim to this and so it's really behooves each of us to be discerning when we are listening to a Christian teacher televangelist whoever it might be to examine everything through the lens of Scripture that I hope you didn't buy the potion.

Did you buy the push I did not I had a smoothie instead listen yet if your pastor is selling potions you need to tell him to find another job because it just got me again. It just goes to show that that there are pastors and teachers out there and I would even call them pastors but who are peddling the word of God and twisting it in order to gain and boy it just it is heartbreaking, especially time like this will be in the middle of a crisis. What we need continually to do over and over again is point people back to Jesus and the gospel. That's the anchor for us right now in difficult times, and so Dale thank you for your question it.

You know an interesting passage read numbers 22 and and if you're not familiar with bailment in the story the donkey and then read second Peter two and Jude wanted Revelation 2 to see the New Testament perspective on this text. That's interesting because I didn't realize there were that many references in the New Testament to that particular story, but obviously Jesus and the other writers of the New Testament wanted us to understand the importance of that and learn from it half by the way our phone number if you like to call us with your question is 833-843-2673 or you can just spell it out on your phone, 833 the core and we have a call from Kenny struggle before I left Iraq first tour struggle and believe in God.

I believe in Jesus. I'm trying to find that feeling I know everything be okay. But I'm alright, I'm in the right place.

Having trouble trying to find Matt. Any advice would be helpful. Kenny God bless you and I think a lot of us are looking for that feeling right now. I mean I mention the coronavirus and how devastating it's been on the lives of so many people and Christians are wondering many people are wondering where do I turn right now and how can I find that that feeling of peace and when we first got the stay-at-home order here in Southern California and I was thinking about how to how to comfort my congregation will quicken a word can I bring to them in the midst of this difficult time.

When people are asking that the very question that you're asking Kenny that I couldn't help but think of Jesus's words to his disciples when they were troubled because they knew he was about to leave. That was in Jesus's upper room discourse. In John 13 through 17 a and I shared with them from John 16. In particular, Jesus says in John 16 verse 32 behold, the hour is coming. Indeed, it has come when you will be scattered each to his own home and will leave me alone, yet I am not alone, for the father is with me. I have said these things to you that in me you may have peace in the world you will have tribulation, but take heart I have overcome the world.

We are never promised that everything is going to be okay in this life.

I don't buy into the lie that God is never going to give you more than you can handle.

I don't know how many times I've heard that Kenny F heard Christians, well-meaning believers say that effort. Pastors teach that God is never going to give you more than you can handle. That's a misinterpretation of something that Paul says to the Corinthians. There are times in our lives what feels like everything is is out of whack where I just don't know how to handle this like this is too much for me and yet that's supposed to drive us to our knees and to cling to Jesus in the gospel. Here's what we are promised we serve the one who is conquered this world and that's exactly what Jesus tells the disciples here in this path uses look, I'm leaving, but you don't have to be troubled, and the reason you have to be troubled isn't because in this world you're going to have peace and you're always going to have you know that the answer to what you should do or what you should do.

Sometimes it's good to be really difficult, but you can cling to me and I have overcome the world and for you. Listening right now you're wondering where do I word why turn where do I find peace will listen to the words of Jesus in this world work on experience tribulation in Jesus we can have peace so brother that's the first thing that I would want to tell you can use turn to Jesus and rest in the peace that he gives you through his gospel. The second thing I would say is look more talking about turning to God and feeling close to God were not always good to feel close to the Lord. I remember I really struggle with.

This is a new believer because when I first started walking with Jesus and I had all the feelings it was so exciting was like the Holy Spirit was is right there tangible presence and then all of a sudden over time those feelings went away and I thought, oh boy, what have I done I send in some way, has God abandoned me, but I think the Lord was just teaching me to depend not on my feelings but on his word and you know that God is near to you through his word. I love what the apostle Paul says in second Timothy chapter 3 verse 16 all Scripture is God breathed 20 close to the Lord, open up the word. It's as if the very voice of God is breathing on you God speaking to you soon. We want to be close to the Lord. I think it's important for us to be grounded in the Scriptures, and that's what I would encourage you with Kenny's open up the Scriptures turn to Jesus. Let God minister to you through his gospel. As you read Scripture and don't be discouraged when you don't have the feelings keep trusting the Lord even when those aren't there, you know, it really gets so concerned when Christians come to fall into this trap of believing that that the way they feel that their motion at the moment somehow is a reflection of their relationship with God.

And yet there are even some churches that really kind of push that that whole feeling mantra is all about. You know what you're feeling right now me when I know heard Kenny's question. It reminds me of the danger of putting all of our faith in our feelings and not in God's word is you just pointed out yet.

You know, prior to the whole coronavirus sales preaching through the book of Galatians and I've been reading through Martin Luther's commentary on the book of Galatians so wonderful that one of the things he reinforces over and over again and that and that work is that faith in feeling, don't necessarily go hand-in-hand. Sometimes we have to turn away from how we feel and I feel like a miserable wretch I'm broken, I'm a sinner and yet I cling by faith to Jesus who forgives me and that's where my hope is this not in how I feel because the reality is I'm not always going to feel great, and neither are you. We have to look outside of ourselves to Jesus in his word I meant thanks so much for calling and we love to hear from you. If you have a question for us 833. The core is the number by the way, you can call 24 hours a day and you can leave your question on our answering machine 833-843-2673 and you can always email us at questions@corechristianity.com. Dr. Michael Horton joins us now with a special offer for core Christianity listeners as we reflect on the difficulties families, churches, businesses, our nation and basically all people around the world right now are facing having a sure confidence in the work of Jesus Christ on the cross and his resurrection on our behalf is absolutely critical. We aim to answer the hard unsettling questions of our times with both skeptics and committed Christians in mind when I give answers that not only show why Christianity is true but also why it's good and beautiful.

Your support alongside the work of our team is making a real difference in people's lives. A difference in helping others to live with hope, joy and confidence and that difference is eternal so please consider sending a gift right now to help us continue as a thank you gift for $20 or more will send you our brand-new core Christianity Bible study on Paul's letter to the Romans to make a gift and receive this study on Paul's letter to the Romans, head on over to core Christianity.com that's core Christianity.com on behalf of the entire team at core radio. Thanks for your support and if there be such a great resource. I know we just came out with a study through the gospel of John which I believe is still available. You can get your hands on that one as well, but it's so great to see these these studies through books of the Bible really helping to equip Christians understand what it is that they believe and live out their faith to get a hold of those resources.

By the way a doctor. Horton is going to be joining us later on this week. We appreciate so much his leadership at core Christianity and looking forward to that program.

Let's go back to another call, this one from Catherine and she has a question about marriage, although it would be out.

Catherine, what a great question and one let me just begin by saying I'm encouraged by the fact that you have these two non-Christian friends that care about you enough that they are asking you to do this for them. I think it a one of the things is the pastor that that I love to see is when believers are lovingly and faithfully engaging the people around them. Those who don't know the Lord. I found that so often we we as Christians, you know, we tend to huddle just with other believers and we can go a long time without even having conversations with were building relationships with nonbelievers and so I want to encourage you in that first. I think it's for the understand marriages is a common institution given to us by God. And so it's not just something that exists within the church. There are some who believe him. This is true the Roman Catholic Church that marriages is the sacrament of the church that I don't agree with that. I think of the sacraments are what Jesus immediately instituted in the Gospels, or those ordinances. You might call them baptism and the Lord's supper there. The signs of the salvation that God is given to us in his son Jesus marriage is something that exists outside the church, and inside the church and so I think if if you were approaching it just as a notary and you are helping out your friends. That would not be a problem that the question is what is it they are looking for is it that they know that you're a Christian and they're looking for some sort of blessing from God for their marriage on that case, I think I would encourage them to to go to a church and to sit down with the pastor and and maybe to learn a little bit about the biblical view of marriage and what actually marriages if they just want you to fulfill the sort of legal role and there isn't this sort of confusion about you know well is this a out like God sanctioning the marriage or's something like that you not. I think that I think it would be okay but really you're going to have to consult your conscience on this one. I think it's important if if you don't have a clear conscience about it will then don't do it. You don't want to sin against your conscience if this is just going to be some sort of secular service and you're helping your friends all and it's an opportunity for you maybe to share a little bit with them about Jesus, about what marriages maybe you can even get them a book on marriage within it seems to me like it's a neat opportunity and by the way, there are some excellent resources on marriage.

I love CS Lewis. His chapter on Christian marriage in mere Christianity. I just think it's so good is one of the most beautiful things I've I've read also retired pastor Timothy Keller has a book called the meaning of marriage which is a great book to give Christians and even non-Christians.

If they're willing to think about marriage, and so I would say look there there some freedom here that you have because marriage is not the sacrament of the church. I think it's it's also common institution. I don't think there's anything wrong with you helping your friends out. Maybe it's an opportunity for you to share more of Jesus with them. Thanks for your question Catherine. Great response a drill and you're right, they could be looking to Catherine as a Christian to somehow bless their marriage that's a great question that she probably should should posted them your listing to core Christianity with Bill Meyer and Pastor Israel Sanchez and enter we have this really cool brand-new offer for our listeners.

It has to do with the book of Romans yet. I mean talk about a book that you want to study as a Christian it's so important for us to understand this because it really gets to the core of what the gospel is and so this is a 10 week study. We also have a leader guides for a great resource for you to go through with other believers.

Maybe you could even recommend it to your pastor or Bible study leader I found that people who read the book of Romans and understand it. It really transforms their lives. A minute it's done that for me as I've gone through the book of Romans. Over the years and so really hope you get a hold of this study on the book of Romans, there is the PDF you can download. There's also a hard copy which is really nice and so the core Christianity.com/offers and you can get your hands on our brand-new study on the book of Romans for a donation of $20 or more.

Check that out. Great way for you to grow in your faith 10 weeks on the book of Romans again. Just go to core Christianity.com/offers what we have a question from Luke, who emailed us and he says at the end of Genesis, Jacob says a blessing over each of his sons before he dies. How was the original audience of the book of Genesis meant to understand and apply these words of blessing said over the patriarchs of their tribes and what as Christians are we meant to walk away with a it's a great question. Yeah, your you're talking about Genesis chapter 49 hour Jacob bless his sons a mission to read part of that text Genesis 49 verse two is a symbol of listener sons of Jacob, listen to Israel. Your father Ruben you are my firstborn, my might and the firstfruits of my strength, preeminent in dignity and preeminent in power. Unstable as water. You shall not have preeminence because you went up to your father's bed. Then you defiled it. He went up to my couch. Simeon and Levi are brothers weapons of violence or their swords, let my soul, come not into their counsel. Oh my glory be not joined to their company. For in their anger they killed men and their willfulness. They hamstrung oxen person be there. Anger, for it is fierce, and their wrath, for it is cruel. I will divide them in Jacob, and scatter them in Israel, Judah, your brothers shall praise you. Your hand shall be on the neck of your enemies, your father's sons shall bow down before you. Judah is a lion's cub from the prey, my son, you have gone up.

He stooped down. He crouched as a lion is a lioness who dares to rouse him, the scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor the ruler's staff from between his feet, until tribute comes to him and to him shall be the obedience of the people something to stop their cut dessert gives you a sense of what's happening here in this passage. These really are prophetic words almost like binding destiny you think about Jacob and Esau, and in Jacob receiving the blessing from his father instead of Esau, the power of the words you know when he saw one of the blessing it wasn't as if his father could just give it. He had already given it so these words are potent, powerful words almost words of prophecy that are there laying out the future, the destiny of the sons of Jacob and know in particular what the text says about Judah. Luke because you asked, you know, what are we supposed to gather from these things will one were just getting the history of our faith. These are our parents.

If you will like this is our family tree. As Christians we often miss this.

But no, Paul says in the New Testament that we are the children of Abraham by faith. When we read these Old Testament stories. The stories that we see in the book of Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, were reading Luke you are reading your family history. Boy that she just cause us to wonder and when you look at specifically.

What's that about Judah.

Here in verse 10, the scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor the ruler's staff from between his feet were introduced to this character, the lion of the tribe of Judah will Luke that that that title might be familiar to you. Who is the line of the tribe of Judah, what are we getting a glimpse of here were getting a glimpse of Jesus. John said in the book of Revelation chapter 5 verses five through six. One of the elders said to me, weep no more. Behold, the lion of the tribe of Judah, the root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals, and between the throne and the four living creatures, and among the elders. I saw a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain with seven horns and with seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. Think about this for a second look who who is Jacob talking about accuracy prophesies about this lion of the tribe of Judah that's going to come this ruler of the whole earth he's talking about the Lamb of God, Jesus, who takes away the sin of the world. What an amazing picture Jesus is the lion and the Lamb standing, as though he had been slain, you get all this and in that passage in Revelation 5526 Lukeville. This is just so awesome. You have this Lamb who was slain, but standing with seven horns, now in the ancient world. Porn was a symbol of power seven is the number of perfection severe is this slain, but standing Lamb that is all-powerful, that I think were supposed to take away from the text like this, Jesus. 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