What Does Spiritual Warfare Look Like in Everyday Life?

What is spiritual warfare look like in everyday life.

That's just one of the questions will be answering on today's edition of core Christianity why this is Bill Meyer along with Pastor Israel Sanchez. We pray you have a great weekend. This is a radio program where we answer your questions about the Bible and the Christian life every day in our phone lines are open right now will be taking your calls for the next 25 minutes or so, here's the number jot this down 833. The core 833, the court or 1-833-843-2673 we should mention. We also have a YouTube channel. You can watch a drill live in the studio right now on YouTube and send him your question that way course you can always email us your question at questions at core, Christianity.com first up-to-date.

Here's a voicemail that came in from one of our listeners over the weekend I cried out in a relationship with the Lord and how can people in general, distraction got little clear crystal happened, glory and passion can draw near to God and more distraction cry I want to fellowship with them. I should almost be a monk like God relationship, how can I focus on God love him more time. I divided.

I don't know well will thank you sister for that question just for your honesty and there were several questions there. The very first one was two people actually help us grow in our relationship with the Lord and I would say that the Internet is absolutely yes we are part of the body of Christ when we are saved, we believe in Jesus Christ unites us to himself by the power the Holy Spirit, but also to his people to his body were called to grow together as a body is one church. You see this very clearly in places like Ephesians chapter 4 and verse 20 is chapter 12. Each of us being a different part of the body. The body is only healthy as each member comes together and contributes those gifts that God is given for the mutual edification of the whole body and so God intends for each of us to be a part of these kinds of communities. Now it sounds to me like maybe there's there's some confusion here in terms of just the way in which you relate to people in in the church. Perhaps you are developing an unhealthy codependency where you perhaps expect too much out of the relationship are out of the friendship and so that I think that something that you need to be aware of, you know, a lot of times table throw that word idle rents making an idol out of this or an idol out of that it's okay to enjoy friendships and in relationships and in if you feel like man I would II really am excited about Springtime with these people and I'm not as excited about sitting down by myself and reading my Bible you know my city, I get to feel like you're sitting it naturally.

I think you know being around people friends of ours made in the image of God encouraging each other to grumble and that those are all really good things and so you may be you may be saying will this is an idol when it really isn't an idol, but again that is where you have to exercise wisdom. If you're finding forcing that there unhealthy patterns of relating and that you're having a difficult time spending time with friends within the church without without becoming obsessive or something like that will that's that's something that I mean you take a step back and and think about you know why it is that your why it is that you're doing that in the solution. I would say is not going in becoming a monk or separating yourself from all people. It's understanding take God's place, these people in my life for four our mutual edification is you know these are good relationships, friendships, and we want to grow in the grace and the knowledge of Christ together in a way that's honoring the Lord not becoming obsessive about the relationship or whatnot. So I would see there's a balance it's not you know an over dependence upon people other people within the church friends per se, and it's also not just running away and and becoming a monk in a monastery or something like that it's it's learning to have healthy relationships within the body of Christ that are honoring to the Lord and I think that something that all of us are are growing in and so have conversations. I was a week with these people to be honest about about how you're feeling. From the things that you're struggling with. I think I think openness is a really good thing and then continue to pursue the relationship in a healthy way and delighted know if you would add anything you know your your perspective as a counselor here and thinking about these sorts of relationships would you say anything nor sister. I think you get some really good advice. I think the danger is you said codependency is like, what are we relying on most people about a really relying on them. So we feel good about ourselves so we feel that you know were worthy that we are no popular, talented, good looking, are we looking to others to prop us up then that can be a danger, but I'm a level you said you know, God said so clearly it is not good for man to be alone and he wasn't just talking about Adam and Eve about marriage. There he was talking about human relationships and is designed us for that. That's how we thrive best and that's how we grow as you said, that's a big part of the sanctification process. In my opinion it's the Holy Spirit using others in our lives to have come to burn off those those rough edges absolutely no and in one of the things we continually reiterate on this broadcast is the importance of Christian community. I think for many believers it just sort of feel like they can do the Christian life on their own isolation I got I got my personal relationship with Jesus in my Bible, but God intends for each of us to be a part of healthy Christian communities with the word of God is faithfully taught and so just another opportunity to to say that to our listeners and to encourage them and that you know I thought about trying that monk thing for a while there, but I couldn't deal with the valve silent to my eyes.

What he must've really got on everybody's nerves that in the monastery. I like you. They want to smite me, this is Cork Christianity with Bester Israel said to their phone lines are open.

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The core 833.core that's 1-833-843-2673. Give us a call right now. You know, one of the things that we are dealing with in our culture right now in our society and unfortunately it's become a huge issue for many people in that's depression and yes depression, even affects Christians, and today we want to offer you a brand-new free resource on the topic of depression and it's called three biblical ways to fight depression and bill. I'm glad that you said that that this is something that that plagues even believers in Jesus Christ, we want to make sure that we we emphasize the fact that people need real help, biblical help, but also professional help as well. At times, and so it's important that we understand depression and that were able to address it.

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It's a PDF download. You can find it by going to Cork Christianity.com/offers again. Cork Christianity.com/offers and download three biblical ways to fight depression course you can always call us for that resource for anyone of our resources at 833. The core we do receive emails here at Cork Christianity. You can email us anytime. Here's our address its questions@corkchristianity.com really wrote to us, and he says this this summer I heard a famous pastor say that the devil cannot attack our minds, but in the Gospels when Jesus was tempted by Satan. He was quote taken up to see visions about the kingdoms of men.

Doesn't this prove that the devil can attack and mentally manipulate us yeah I'm I'm not sure what this pastor was trying to communicate, but I do think that there is a battle. Our minds are battlefield really when it comes to the spiritual warfare and in in when when Satan tempts scene of the mind is a part of that now it in terms of preparation and being on guard I love. I think it was CS Lewis in his book the Screwtape letters and is all about spiritual warfare, really. He says he know it's not so much what Satan puts into our minds is the stuff that he tries to keep out of our minds that that's were that the spiritual battle takes place its own terms of being proactive I think and and using our minds for good. Philippians chapter 4 verses eight and following your talks about meditating on that which is good and true and just we need to focus on on the Lord on his word on filling our minds with those things that are honoring to God.

Mainly filling our minds with holy Scripture. So that will be equipped for the battle.

I mean that's the sort of the spirit but but our minds are very much a part of being on the spiritual war that's taking place and so I would say unite. Sounds to me like I would disagree with this with this pastor.

Whoever it was that you were were listening to, and I was it.

We need to fill our minds with with that which is true so that we can be engaged in the fight and victorious in that fight against the evil one when he comes against us twisting Scripture or seeking to tempt us and to lead us astray that we could respond rightly with the word of God, even as Jesus did when he was tempted there in the Gospels know I'm constantly reminded of how important it is to write Scripture on our hearts to commit it to memory. And I know in my own life either times were I really wish I had more Scripture memorized. I was talking to a Christian artist recently who she is pretty amazing she's she's memorized so much Scripture, that she brings it to mind every time she has any type of a struggle or issue in her life and she has that verse right there in the tip of her tongue. I thought I want to do that yeah know what it what encouragement I mean it's so important for us to know the word of God and to be able to use the word of God to apply it to the specific issues that are raised day-to-day in our lives. As I think that's wonderful Bill. Let's go back to the phones. Tracy is on the line from Minnesota, Tracy, what's your question for atrial morning call John in the first chapter and when John is baptizing. The Pharisees showed up on the scene and they say are you to be baptizing.

Are you alive, are you the prophet, and I'm wondering if there is some expectation from the Jews when Elijah return which they keep looking for for him to be baptizing.

Why did they ask him that question. There can you just really quickly. Tracy and John chapter. What are you talking about 25 chapter 1, I chimed driving so I'm not on the exact birth, the Pharisees show up and they start questioning him who he is. Are you Elijah and they came first, why are you baptizing, and I know that baptizing it is the Greek word which is first thing that Jesus is not yet accomplished.

Yet the baptism into Jesus is not happening yet. Okay, so I'm wondering what you were expecting did they have some expectation of Elijah to baptizing okay thank you yet so love to hear that you're studying the, the gospel of John. And yes, there was this expectation for Elijah to come in out what that meant and how that would look, there was a lot of confusion with that expectation came from the minor proffered minor prophets in particular Malachi in Malachi chapter 4 verses five and six and that's why you have the Pharisees and the religious leaders saying what they're saying here so I'm in or just read John chapter 1 verse 24.

Now they had been sent from the Pharisees and they asked him why are you baptizing if you are neither the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the prophet now course, John was a prophet. They don't they don't understand that many of them rejected him as a prophet, and John answered them, I baptize with water, but among you stands one you do not know even he who comes after me.

The strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie these Things Took Pl. in Bethany across the Jordan, where John was baptizing.

They also have another discussion Tracy in Matthew chapter 11, where Jesus himself brings us up in verse 11. Truly I say to you among those born of women there has arisen no one greater than John the Baptist. Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence and the violent take it by force. For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John. And if you are willing to accept it. He is Elijah who is to come. He who has ears to hear, let him hear. And that is John the Baptist came in in the spirit and power of Elijah. If you will. Elijah reincarnated but he is the fulfillment of those prophecies that we see in the Old Testament. Like in Malachi chapter 4 that already referenced the expectation that that the Hebrew people. The Pharisees there. In particular, had the problem was they missed it. They had misinterpreted those verses they were unwilling to receive John's testimony. They were unreal, unwilling to receive the testimony of Jesus Christ and so and so there's your answer. Sister appreciate that question, but you may want to look at that text in Malachi 4 and then that parallel passage in Matthew chapter 11 as well. Tracy, thanks so much for calling and we appreciate you. This is core Christianity with Pastor atrial Sanchez.

We still are taking your calls if you have a question about the Bible Christian life doctrine theology, you name it we would love to hear from you will be taking calls for about 10 minutes or so, here's the number 833. The core 833.

The core let's go to Becca calling in from Iowa back to what your question for atrial is how far is too far to be talking about the marriage factor talking about the book of Solomon had been in church on my life. I never heard a pastor be more descriptive time I last I felt like you kind of violated an area, you should not gone too far, their children and then they were children.

Aristotle it was a fully experimentally the first three. I don't want to set hearing, accused, and I understand that very important by marriage has not been marriage seminars laughing and recovered it to the extent that they broke it down. I thought it was very inappropriate.

I don't think the jokes are funny. Thank you for reaching out to me sounds like you had a really really difficult experience and I don't know exactly what what this pastor was saying or how he was approaching the book of the song of Solomon, but I know that there are ways that are unhelpful they can be very very effective, crass, and in the way in which they communicate leasing them that what we need to understand is that this book in particular is mean, it does contain erotic love poetry. It celebrates human love and I think it is okay and important for us within the church to be able to talk about these things in a manner that is God honoring him so not just you know joking about it or or treating it in a like the world treats it but but talking about it in a way that it that is that is pure and right and honoring to the Lord. And so in the in the song of Solomon. You do have discussions about marital intimacy again and again.

It's it's poetry. Some of the languages is very vivid, but I think that we have to be very careful as pastors. How we talk about these things you mentioned, you know that there were children in the room and I'm sure that raises a lot of questions. I know in my church. For example, there are a lot of young kids and so if I was can it talk about you know that the details of what's taking place in the song of Solomon. I probably wouldn't do it on a Sunday morning with all the children the men be more of a Sunday school or if I was preaching on it I would. I would be very careful with how I have. I approached some of the language in some of the the concepts because I think it's important for us to be able to talk to your kids about these things as well but maybe Jessica a couple of of things that one even though the song of Solomon does contain erotic poetry, meaning that many did you have that there it's not done in a way that our culture today treats sex and sexuality.

We we we we treated not in a way that's honoring to the Lord, we don't we don't treasure or cherish it it it's it's just unhelpful and that's not what the song of Solomon does and so anybody who takes this book and sort of uses it in that way talks about sexuality in a crass manner and just jokes about it. Ha ha. We gotta be, we gotta be really careful me that that would be a a misapplication of Scripture.

But at the same time I do want to say Becca that that and you mention this is an important part of healthy marriages.

So we do want to be able to have these kinds of conversations but in the appropriate place and in the appropriate way. We don't want to treat these topics like taboo like oh that's just yucky or evil or bad or or what not know, but the culture doesn't get to take sexuality and twist it and define it. We want we want God and his word to shape our thinking about marital intimacy and love. And so it sounds to me like maybe the approach that this pastor took was not the best in an and the most appropriate and I can understand why you would be frustrated and so maybe this is an opportunity for you as you as you reflect on on the series as you have conversations with your husband to have a conversation with with your pastor for your husband to have a conversation with the pastor and say hey look at as a family we didn't appreciate that the jokes that were being made.

We felt like that was not helpful before like that it was inappropriate. We felt like it didn't honor the marriage bed in and up in the way that it should be honored and so I think hopefully an opportunity there to to have a bigger discussion maybe to help him out a little bit as well. As he thinks about wisely approaching these these books of the Bible. At the end of the day that the song of Solomon isn't just erotic love poetry.

It is this picture of intimacy, marital intimacy, but I think even more broadly speaking, it ought to be a picture, a type if you will, a parable of the love God has for his people, that Christ Jesus has for his church and so if you're just stopping of your pastor, just stopping short of that is you preaching a sermon on on you know the these sort of erotic poems and that's the focus please not getting to really that the meat if you will, of what this book is about, which is the love that God has for his people then then there's another issue I would say and so back I just want to give you. Not because I can tell that this is something that that is weighing on your heart. Is that helpful. Do you want some more clarification somewhere no helpful agreement that you said I like a lot. David Dr. David Jeremiah just I think holiday is a patch of one thing and not just one thing that I want anything on the air when he said that that's probably not for me to know you went way too far.

That was this in the context of like a Sunday morning sermon class. It was a serious and he with interpretable land.

Maybe I understand what he was saying it was Lawrence H, I don't believe that something you bring up fitting and church. The way he did it in the jokes were not funny and not to mention, as I told the other guy. I just cannot had breast cancer. I had a lumpectomy. There is just nothing ever mentioned that there is time for restraint and understand people go through things that now dishonor more like a how to get more you bet, I'm so sorry.

Let me just take a moment to pray for you because and in the me just also say together. There are there are seasons and we were talking about this, this, in particular intimacy. We we we are wanting to serve each other. This is not about taking from your spouse. And so, so if that was what was was getting a coming across of them. That's another issue. But I do want to pray for you sister and and with this breast cancer diagnosis… Pray for Becca brothers and sisters Lord, we come before you. Right now we want to lift our sister up to you and we ask Jesus for your gracious hand of healing to be on her Lord, would you fill her with your Holy Spirit in these days would you give her a sense of your presence, a sense of your love. Would you be with with her family with her husband, would you give them all patients and strength and perseverance. Lord, as they as they deal with this diagnosis they seek to get the help that they need from Dr. since.

Pray for wisdom for for the doctors and we do, we do pray Lord God in heaven for your healing in her life. And Lord for for strength in her body. Would you be with her Lord and through this. Would you sanctify her more and more filling her with with your your love with your grace and molding her more and more into the image of Jesus your son whose name we pray. Amen. You know it really just my heart breaks for this. So this listener and I'm so saddened.

I mean, I know the pastors do their best to make their their sermons applicable and sometimes to make them entertaining. But when we when we depart from, you know God's intent and again we and I wasn't there in the service but I'm I'm troubled by by what I heard. Yeah yeah will will bill so mine it just goes to show mean is we have conversations just even as as believers and we talk about things you never know what what an individual is going to the kinds of suffering that they're experiencing.

And so we we want to be sensitive to that. We want to seek to be able to come alongside of those who are in need and straighten everybody thinking in a different place and so you know, you hear a sermon and it's gonna strike you one way depending on the me know where you're at in your life. The things that you're wrestling with the that the struggles that you have in your own body and this is where I think it's important for us to be able to have those follow-up conversations to make sure that we are as pastors and were preaching that were were being mindful of our congregation and things that people are wrestling through so that we can apply the word of God faithfully and so we pray that the Lord continues to be with Becca to bless her and to heal her. And so thank you, brothers and sisters.

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