Join us as we study the Bible and take your Bible questions

>> Jeff Chamblee: The Bible. The Bible. It's the word of God, living and active, sharper than any two edged sword. It contains all we need for life and godliness and it reveals to us the mysteries of God. Join us for the next hour as we study the Bible and take your Bible questions.

This is Exploring the Word on American Family Radio

This is Exploring the Word on American Family Radio.

>> Bert Harper: On exploring the Word we want to equip saints not only to know the word but to do the word. There's a passage in the book of James that says don't just be hearers, but be doers. And today is really a good example of that. What we're studying. This is a pre recorded program so we'll not be taking calls at the end of the program. And we have our two pinch hitters in with me today when Alex can't do it or I can't do it. And the guys that take turns is Jim Stanley and Wesley Wildmon. And so today we've got both of you guys in the studio.

>> Wesley Wildmon: Well, you know, I think about our audience and when you, you said to tell them it's a prerecord, not to call in. We do have people that have us on speed dial. So you do have to put that out there because we have a great listening audience.

>> Bert Harper: We do. Let me do this. I love to do it when Jim is involved in the program. I hand the ball off and let him carry it as the quarterback the rest of the way. I enjoy doing that. You've been doing it for years and I had never done anything like radio except just be a guest and doing it rather than being the host of one. When I came on board about Believe it or not six years ago. Yeah, it's been that long since I've been doing Exploring the Word with Alex.

>> Jim Stanley: And every year gets better.

>> Bert Harper: Amen. But I enjoy it when you're in and I'm handing the ball off. Here's the ball, Jim. Take it.

>> Jim Stanley: We miss Alex today. And in fact we kind of had a little coup and in the office this morning as we were talking about what we wanted to do. Pardon me. As you are getting ready to celebrate your new year and have just concluded celebrating your Christmas. What we're going to do is we're going to take these three days and we're going to use this as a different time of different programming. Now today we're going to talk about Shape S H A P E and that's an acrostic that brother Bert came up with. We're going to talk about spiritual gifts, heart abilities, personality and experience. Those are going to be the things we cover today. Now, tomorrow, we're going to talk about restoration, and we're going to talk about the time, as Brother Burt likes to say, we look back in the Old Testament, and it talks about what the, locusts and the canker worm has devoured and then how that's been restored. Restored by God. And we are to be restored, people. Amen.

>> Bert Harper: That's good news.

>> Jim Stanley: That is good news. and then on Friday, we're going to kind of round the year out on the broadcast, talking about the conclusion of this year, but the beginning of the new year. And we're not going to go into a bunch of, NewSong Year's resolutions or anything like that. But we want to talk about, as we've talked about, being restored, as we've talked about getting into spiritual shape, as we will have talked about by Friday about being restored, and then on Friday, what that means and how we can walk that out. And the good news, Looking forward.

>> Bert Harper: Amen.

>> Jim Stanley: Looking forward.

>> Bert Harper: Don't. Do not live your life looking in the rearview mirror.

>> Jim Stanley: That's right. That's right. And there are a couple of topics that we want to cover in there. And one of those is going to be forgetting, and then the other is going to be moving forward as we've talked about striving. And there's a couple of things that we have to put behind us that we have to forget. We can't let anything become rooted in bitterness, because that will eat your soul.

>> Wesley Wildmon: It will. And you think about God, and when he talks about forgiving us of our sins, if he's, willing, after we've repented, to totally forget like it never happened.

>> Jim Stanley: Right.

>> Wesley Wildmon: We should do the same.

>> Jim Stanley: Not only is he willing to forget. We don't want to get into this today.

>> Wesley Wildmon: This is.

>> Jim Stanley: This is. This is going to be for.

>> Bert Harper: Pull it back. Pull it back.

>> Wesley Wildmon: That was a good call. You caught that quick.

>> Jim Stanley: Because if we go down this road, we won't have time to talk about shape. However, as Bert mentioned, first thing, our phone calls aren't open today. We won't be taking any calls. However, you can always send your questions to wordfr.net right now. Let's jump into shape. That's good. I wish. I wish I could do that. Jump into shape. Jump into shape. And we're going to talk about getting into it and what it means to us as Christians.

The Bible does teach that God has gifted us with spiritual gifts

And, Brother Bert, the first part of it is spiritual gifts.

>> Bert Harper: Spiritual gifts are so important. And what you do, though, there's a little bit more emphasis put on spiritual gifts sometimes than there should be. Because people say, well, I don't have that particular gift, so therefore I'm not participating.

>> Jim Stanley: Right.

>> Bert Harper: The Bible does not teach that. The Bible does teach that God has gifted us. In the book of Romans, chapter 12, it says that he's given us gifts.

>> Jim Stanley: Right.

>> Bert Harper: And matter of fact, in First Corinthians 12 and following, it says he's given to every Christian a spiritual gift.

>> Jim Stanley: Right.

>> Bert Harper: One more thing I want to say, then we'll look at it all together is I'm not 100% sure that you find all the spiritual gifts that are listed in the Bible. I don't think that is necessarily a limit. In other words, I go, oh, there's a spiritual gift. There's one. Okay, here's. We have. We have a list of 22. There's no more.

>> Jim Stanley: Right.

>> Wesley Wildmon: There's 18 you looked at. I'm just kidding. I'm just kidding.

>> Jim Stanley: He's using that message.

>> Bert Harper: I'm not so sure. It is a limited number. So we're not going to get into that. And we're not even going to discuss the gifts in individual. But we're looking at them collectively and how they cause you to serve. You're in spiritual shape to serve. Just like you get into physical shape to work and to do. You get into spiritual shape to serve.

>> Jim Stanley: Amen.

>> Wesley Wildmon: And the three primary spots for those that are, students here that are listening, the three primary spots, you can get the spiritual gifts or find them in scripture. There's Romans 12, Ephesians 4 and 1 Corinthians, chapter 12. And one of the things when you talk about spiritual gifts, you know, it's spiritual walk. At some point, we want to look and see which one's ours, which one's not. You want to pray about it, maybe do a test. You know, they have online tests. You can do all that. However, I think the most important part of the spiritual gifts is learning what's yours or not.

>> Jim Stanley: There's a lot of truth in that statement right there. because you don't want to try to do something that God's not anointing. Right. You don't want to get into that. You don't want to say, well, God has told me to do this.

>> Wesley Wildmon: When God or you feel some type of obligation based off an out, outward circumstance, you want to look guilt.

>> Bert Harper: It's called guilt. Preachers are great at guilt. We need somebody in the nursery, and we need them now.

>> Jim Stanley: And if you're not doing this, oh, man, Listen, let me tell you what. I love children, but after they get to about 3 to 25, I'm not your guy. If I can hold them, I don't mind changing the diapers or any of that. But man, when it gets to the talking back and the disrespect and some of the things.

>> Bert Harper: Well, I want to ask you something.

>> Wesley Wildmon: And they're your kids, so you can't really speak.

>> Bert Harper: How did you learn that?

>> Jim Stanley: By trying to learn that.

>> Bert Harper: Yeah, by trying.

>> Jim Stanley: You got three kids by the grace of God that are still alive.

>> Bert Harper: But a lot of times the way we find out is participating. check it out and see. You don't necessarily say, oh, I am ready to teach. But you go to a teacher and you say to one of the teachers that's in the children's department and you do through the leadership, you do it properly. Can I help you for a month? And get in there and see if you click or do not click.

>> Jim Stanley: That's right.

>> Bert Harper: Find those out. By participating, you can take all the tests you want to.

>> Jim Stanley: Sure.

>> Bert Harper: Exactly. And I want to tell you they're shaded no matter what, according to who the person is, that is given the test. But get in there and try and the Holy Spirit can guide you and let you know.

>> Jim Stanley: And let me tell you, I have found my wheelhouse to be those between 30 and 60m. And I really mean that because I feel like there I can contribute, I can have a conversation. Let me tell you what, you start messing with some of these silver haired saints and they'll let you know, hey.

>> Wesley Wildmon: Brother, that ain't going to work.

>> Jim Stanley: No, no, no. And, and when you feel like, and, and this is in respect, don't misunderstand what I'm saying. I want to honor those folks and I've taught those classes before and I've tried to do that to the best of my ability. But man, you sit in there with so really literally some silver haired saints of God and you want to talk about prayer? I'll tell you something, young whippersnapper. Yeah. You don't know anything about prayer because these folks have walk. They have been through the trials. They understand what that is and I thank God for them. Now here's the other part though. We need to keep those silver haired saints involved and we're going to. I want to talk about that in a minute when we start going down this list. But Bert, would you mind if I read the scripture from Romans 12?

>> Bert Harper: Read it, brother. That's where I wanted to go. Go.

>> Jim Stanley: Okay.

Wesley: Romans says each of us has gifts; exercise them accordingly

And I'm in the new American standard today. And verse 6 says, since we have gifts. Notice that present tense.

>> Bert Harper: We have.

>> Jim Stanley: Have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us. Each of us is to exercise them accordingly. If prophecy, if, according to propitiate. Pardon me, proportion. Thank you, Wesley. Of his faith. Yeah, of his faith. If service in his serving or he who teaches in his teaching, he who exhorts in his exhortation, he who gives with liberality. Liberally. It does say liberality, but we know it really means liberal. and that's a good time to be liberal, by the way. Amen.

>> Bert Harper: You don't go home and tell your wife, I love you conservatively.

>> Jim Stanley: That's right.

>> Bert Harper: You tell, I love you liberally. Amen.

>> Jim Stanley: He who leads with diligence, he who shows mercy with cheerfulness. Mark that. Guys, we want to come back to that. Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil, cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love.

>> Wesley Wildmon: That's Romans, right?

>> Jim Stanley: That's Romans, yes. And we are in romans, chapter 12, verses 6. And right now we're at verse 10. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Give preference to one another in honor. Mark that it is.

>> Bert Harper: Listen, he not only gives them, but he also tells us how to operate with them. There's no place for haughtiness and pride, when it comes to spiritual gifts or the amount of money. There's no, there's no room for that in God's kingdom, guys.

>> Jim Stanley: Yeah.

>> Bert Harper: And, for the pastor to get up and again, what gets most of the issues are the speaking gifts.

>> Jim Stanley: Right?

>> Bert Harper: Okay, the speaking gifts. If you're a teacher, a preacher, prophesying, they get a lot of face time.

>> Bert Harper: But I am telling you, after serving as a pastor Close to 40 years, give me those servants, give me those people that work behind the scenes. And I've used this before. The most vital organs in your body are those that are not seen. And it's called your brain, your heart, your lungs. Some others, they're not seen. But what in the world would we do? We'd be dead without them.

>> Jim Stanley: That's right.

>> Bert Harper: And I am telling you, you can preach all day, you can sing, you can teach. But I am telling, if you didn't have those people that are behind the scenes lifting you up, encouraging you, praying, it would be, when I said lifted up, that's spiritual talk. But how vital is that, guys?

>> Wesley Wildmon: It's very important. And, when you think about these Things and the spiritual gifts here as we transition, I don't know when we're going to get to the next thing in the heart and the passion. But all these things that we talk about today as it relates to shape and we walk through them, they all make up the. Make up who you are as a Christian and it makes up, you know, your history, what you were able to accomplish, and your, testimony.

>> Bert Harper: Yeah. In other words, Jim and I could have the same spiritual gift, but because of the other four things, your heart, your abilities, personalities and experiences, it makes it completely different.

>> Wesley Wildmon: Right.

>> Bert Harper: You know, so you can have the same gifts in so many small groups.

>> Bert Harper: Or in large groups. But they're all needed because they're different. Because nobody has the same experience, nobody has the same passion as you do. So it serves well, guys. So get that spiritual gift and the best way to do it. Yeah, go online, sure. But best way. Get in there and serve.

>> Wesley Wildmon: Serve, get in there and serve.

>> Jim Stanley: Well, folks, you're listening to Exploring the Word on American Family Radio. And we're going to continue to get in shape right after this.

>> Bert Harper: I want you to picture this. Her name is Kayla. She is 17, alone, terrified and pregnant. Sitting in a clinic, tears blurring, thinking abortion is her only option until she was offered a free ultrasound, paid for by a hero just like you. The moment Kayla heard her baby's heartbeat, the decision was made. And today, her little baby boy, Gabriel is thriving because her preborn walked with Kayla every step of the way. Now multiply that by 38,000. That's how many babies preborn has helped save just this year. How many mothers preborn has come alongside with practical and spiritual resources to make motherhood possible. But here's the most important thing you will hear today. Their goal is to save 70,000 by the end of the year. And they can't do it without us. Every $28 provides the ultrasound. The moment everything changes, will you be the reason the next Kayla chooses life? The reason Gabriel fulfills his destiny? To donate, dial £250 and say the key word baby. That's £250, baby. Or, donate [email protected] afr that's preborn.com.

>> Jeff Chamblee: Afr exploring the word on American Family Radio Connect with Alex and Bert on the Exploring the Word Facebook page, facebook.comexploringtheword or email wordfr.net Word is Alive.

Jim Stanley: Wesley Wildman is an incredible evangelist

>> Jim Stanley: Welcome back to Exploring the Word on American Family Radio. I'm Jim Stanley, sitting in for Dr. Alex McFarland. And because Alex isn't with us. It actually takes two of us to sit in for him. Wesley Wildmon is with us this afternoon. And then Brother Burt Harper, of course, whom you are used to being our leader here on Exploring the Word. By the way, if you'd like to find out how Alex can come to your church or come to your town and do a speaking engagement for you, he does. He does fantastic classes on apologetics. But that notwithstanding, he's also an incredible evangelist. As we talk about spiritual gifts.

>> Bert Harper: That's his calling.

>> Jim Stanley: It is. When we talk about spiritual gifts, he is an evangelist. He is a preacher. And let me tell you, not only is he. That he is an anointed preacher. Why? Because that brother spends time in prayer and spends time in the Word. I think he has most of the Word memorized at this point, and if not, at least the addresses.

>> Bert Harper: His recall is amazing. It is, fun working with him, isn't it?

>> Jim Stanley: Absolutely.

>> Bert Harper: You know.

>> Wesley Wildmon: Yeah. Because I can mess with him sometimes. I just throw something out there just to see if he knows it. He knows it every time.

>> Jim Stanley: He does. That's right. He would be a trivia king.

>> Wesley Wildmon: Yes.

>> Bert Harper: If he eversafe Beach Boys and Beatles.

>> Wesley Wildmon: Yes, Beach Boys and Beatles. Record Beatles and Bibles.

>> Jim Stanley: That's right. Let me tell you, if he ever goes on Jeopardy, I hope he remembers us who have struggled with him. He would bankrupt them.

Find your passion and your service with your heart and your passion

However, this afternoon we're talking about shape, and that means spiritual gifts. Your heart, your abilities, your personality, and your experience. And right now we're going to move to heart.

>> Bert Harper: Amen.

>> Jim Stanley: And Brother Burt, you mentioned. And Wesley, you mentioned as well. as we were off air, we were talking about this. And when you find your heart, when you find your passion, when you find something that you want to put your heart into and you want to serve as hard as you can, you may be the person that does the nursery. You may be the person that cuts the grass. You may be the person that sweeps the floor or vacuums. You may be the person who simply goes through the church, picking up the bulletins and the different things that have been left on the pews in between services. Because you want to present the house of the Lord in the best way possible. And so when you think about this, when you think about where your passion is, I like verse 11 here in Romans 12, it says, not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord, fervent on fire for it. That's your passion. That's something you want to do. When you find that passion, Bert And, Wesley, you guys talked about this, and that's how it helps you find what your spiritual gift may be.

>> Bert Harper: It is service. honestly, if you are not serving the Lord, you're out of the will of God. Now, what do I mean? Those that are physically unable, listen, most of them can pray.

>> Jim Stanley: Absolutely.

>> Bert Harper: I know people that. They have a phone ministry. They get on the phone. Some are because of technology, Internet, others, letter writing. And that's a lost art, literally. Letter. I'm not talking about emailing. I'm talking about snail mail. I am. And those you keep. I mean, you know, I've got those people sent to me. And so find that area of service with your heart and your passion. It could be something that you do, an age group. it could be something that is in the church, like you said, cleaning the church. I know some ladies, two of them in particular. Their passion is the front of the church. And I know it's a little bit according to what kind of church it is, but they're in more traditional churches, so they've got the Lord's Supper table at the front, and they're going to make sure there's fresh flowers there every week. And that is a passion for them. And the Lord is granting that. Now what happens? Let me give you a caution. Don't let your passion that you have and others not have it cause you to go into anger.

>> Jim Stanley: Right.

>> Bert Harper: That is a caution, because it can do passions. Don't you think just because you have it that everybody else has it, and.

>> Jim Stanley: You don't want your passion to, become an obsession?

>> Bert Harper: Exactly. Great, great, great words.

>> Jim Stanley: Yes, but go ahead.

>> Wesley Wildmon: No, you finished that. I had something else I was going to add.

>> Jim Stanley: Because if you let your passion become your obsession, then it leads to exactly what Brother Burt just said. You are so obsessed. You are so focused on. On the flowers at the front of the church. You're so focused about getting the paper up off the floor and being the one that gets the chewing gum out from underneath the songbook holders. That's. That's a real old church right there, Brother Byrd. If they still have song. You know what song books are, don't you, Wesley?

>> Wesley Wildmon: Yes, I do know something.

>> Jim Stanley: Wesley's.

>> Wesley Wildmon: I vaguely remember.

>> Jim Stanley: Well, you know, anyway, we won't go down that. But, I like teasing Wesley sometimes. He's a great sport.

>> Wesley Wildmon: I'm a young whippersnapper.

>> Jim Stanley: You are young. Absolutely. And some people still call me a young whippersnapper, so it's one of those things they don't call me that anymore. No, sir, you're one of our silver haired saints. But, when it becomes your obsession, when you become so obsessed with it, maybe somebody has a bottle of water, because sometimes folks have to take water into services with them and they don't get that top screwed on just right. Well, suddenly you've got a little water on the pew or on the chair and maybe a little water on the floor. If it has become an obsession, you lose your mind. and that's not your best Christian witness. However, I've also been in the churches where I've seen that water spilt and the person come up to clean it and their heart is totally different. Don't worry about that. I'll get that for you. Maybe you have a little one to contend with. Absolutely. And see, that really is the difference between passion, obsession, and then just an obsessive compulsive deal.

>> Wesley Wildmon: Exactly.

God can change your direction with your passion, right? Amen

The one thing I'll add to, this topic of passion and what got in your heart and what God's called you to do, is I have the privilege of meeting several of our financial supporters here for AFR and afa. And I know one person in particular because he texted me this morning. But he is so passionate about prayer. And his prayer list is so detailed that he has AFA and the Wildman family on a list that says are most attacked based off their views. So, he has specific ways in which he prays for us because he's so passionate about that. He's so detailed in what he does. And that's where you want to be. You want to be where God has given you, where you have the most passion, where you can, where you're in a position where it's so selfless of what you're doing. That's where there's a lot of passion and selflessness.

>> Jim Stanley: Amen.

>> Bert Harper: Let me give you some biblical ideas here. In Romans chapter 10, Paul said, Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they might be saved. Later he'd say, I would wish myself accursed if Israel could be saved.

>> Wesley Wildmon: Amen.

>> Bert Harper: That was his heart. He was sent. His heart was to go to the Jewish people and they rejected it. And then God switched it and says, I want you to be an, apostle to the Gentiles. So what God can do with your passion, you make it where it can be mobile.

>> Jim Stanley: Right?

>> Bert Harper: God can change your direction.

>> Jim Stanley: And isn't it interesting how God did that? He sent Paul, who would have been the most fervent Jew around Pharisee of the Pharisees. Absolutely. And he sent him to the Gentiles. And then Peter, the one who would take up for the Gentiles, his ministry wound up being to the body of Christ, the Jews there in Jerusalem and beyond. So think about that. God really can take what is your strongest suit. But isn't it great to know that he can tweak it to what he wants it to be?

>> Bert Harper: Amen.

>> Jim Stanley: And then it becomes you want to follow God. Like we just said here about serving the Lord. And you know, as we talk about that Acts 2019 says, serving the Lord with all humility, with tears, with trials which came upon me through the plots of the Jews. So we want to serve the Lord with all humility, regardless of the trials, regardless of the temptations, regardless of the hard times. That's the thing. And that goes back to it, not becoming obsessive and not becoming obsession. you know, when we serve in humility, when we want to seek God first, then we really are to. And God, you know what his joy is for us to worship him, our desire to serve him. Hm. And our desire to listen to him.

>> Bert Harper: Amen.

Find out what your passion is. After that, it's yours. So your passion may not be within the church

Jim, one more thing before we go on to the abilities. And this is Old Testament, and I said, lord, I want somebody that's kind of obscure, that has some of this passion.

>> Jim Stanley: Is that why you have me on.

>> Wesley Wildmon: The silver bearded sin?

>> Bert Harper: That's right, it is Isaac. I call him the quiet man. He is interposed between Abraham and Jacob.

>> Bert Harper: I mean Abraham, the faith of Abraham, Jacob the trickster that was changed and his name was changed to Israel. But the connection is Isaac. You know what his seemed to be, his passion was? Digging wells. Yeah, digging wells. Look at it and see in Genesis chapter 29, 17, 22, and the others, he would go and dig new ones and he would have the ones that the enemies had filled up and he would do it digging wells. Now why would I say that? Sometimes your passion, may be in the mission area and we have those that dig wells, literally they go to some of these third world countries who have no fresh water and their passion is digging wells. We've worked with them, here at AFR on that. So your passion may not be within the walls of the church.

>> Jim Stanley: Right.

>> Bert Harper: And some of the greatest passion, maybe.

>> Wesley Wildmon: You start your own ministry.

>> Bert Harper: Exactly. Is outside. So anyway, find out what your heart is.

>> Jim Stanley: What about a. Oh, sorry.

>> Bert Harper: Yeah, I threw the ball back.

>> Jim Stanley: Did you? I missed it. I was looking down at my screen and I completely missed it.

>> Wesley Wildmon: You were Doing something.

>> Jim Stanley: I was. You were serving.

>> Wesley Wildmon: You were doing something.

>> Jim Stanley: I was doing something. I was actually looking at a scripture to go along with the service part. And in doing so, I do what I always do when I'm too dependent upon technology. Instead of having my paper Bible out, I completely flipped away from the scripture we were in.

>> Wesley Wildmon: So something's not right about this. Our people can't see this because they're obviously listening. But I'm the one with the paper Bible. The young weapon snapper and the silver bearded bearded saint is behind the computer with the Bible. Is there something wrong? you see anything real?

>> Jim Stanley: Something? Yeah, let me tell you what. When I took my laptop in to teach the men's Sunday school class, they were kind of worried about me.

>> Wesley Wildmon: Sure, sure.

>> Jim Stanley: You know, and so, I was really glad when I got an iPad and could it up on the platform.

>> Wesley Wildmon: You can't see it.

>> Jim Stanley: But let me tell you, it only took one mistake on that to make sure every time after that, I did have my physical Bible and I had my outline written down on paper. Because here's the thing. You don't charge your technology. And I think there's a spiritual lesson in this. Okay? So if you're not plugged into God, you lose your ability to serve in any way.

>> Bert Harper: All right.

>> Jim Stanley: Do you like that?

>> Bert Harper: I do.

>> Jim Stanley: That was all free of charge there.

>> Bert Harper: I'll give you credit.

>> Jim Stanley: That's right. After that, it's yours. But, you know, when we look about that. And then in Romans, there in the 12th verse of the 12th chapter, it says, rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer. And let my eyes catch up with my screen. Contributing to the needs of the saints, Practicing hospitality. All right. Notice there, this is your gifts in action.

>> Bert Harper: Amen.

>> Jim Stanley: All right. These are your abilities put to the test. And when you think about that, when you are rejoicing in hope, what does that do? You know, you then know that goes back to being plugged into God, you.

>> Bert Harper: Know, and who do you catching, too? Let me share with you. Rejoicing in joy is catching. It's contagious. It is so serving the Lord with gladness. You know, that's another verse in a song, you know, it is contagious, really is. It draws others to you and draws others to the task.

>> Jim Stanley: And, you know, I think that's one of the reasons that we have to remember worship doesn't end when the song leader sits down.

Worship begins in the heart, says M.M.

M. All right. The announcements are part of worship. The offering is part of worship.

>> Wesley Wildmon: Amen.

>> Jim Stanley: The preaching of the word is part of worship. Worship begins in the heart. And I love the way that we express it through song. I mean, it can be standing on the promises or it can be it as well with my soul. When you look at the hymns of yesterday, it can be some of the songs from Chris Tomlin, who has done a great job. You think about Jesus, Messiah and you move into that worship. There are things to be found in the standards, the hymns of the church, and there are things to be found in what we call the worship choruses are the new songs. Look at Keith and Kristin Getty, modern day hymn writers. They take it back and they root that hope and rejoicing on the word of God.

>> Bert Harper: Amen. If you cut one of those out, you're cutting out some of the great, great truths of the word of God.

>> Jim Stanley: Absolutely.

>> Bert Harper: Abilities. Let me give you this. I love this. In the Old Testament, it's free of charge, right? Yes, it is. you know, when they were building the tabernacle, right? Listen to this. It's in Exodus, Exodus 31:2. See, I have called by name Beazel, the son of Uri, the son of Ur, of the tribe of Judah. And I have filled him with the spirit of God in wisdom, in understanding, in knowledge, in all manner of workmanship. Workmanship. Now listen to verse 4. To design artistic works, to work in gold and silver and bronze, and cutting jewels for setting and carving wood, and to work in all manner of working workmanship.

>> Jim Stanley: Abilities.

>> Bert Harper: M. Moses had gotten the information, but guess what? He couldn't do with information. he could not build those things.

>> Wesley Wildmon: Exactly.

>> Bert Harper: Do y' all see how this works together? It works together with the body of Christ. Remember when we've been talking about the spiritual gifts and everyone. It says it is many members, but what one body. And just as this spiritual shape works into it, it all works together. It also complements others, guys, because if.

>> Wesley Wildmon: You look at Moses, he had other things. He had, you know, the gift of administration and other gifts, but he didn't have that ability to do that particular thing. Exactly.

>> Bert Harper: Spread it out. You can look all through the book of Exodus and see that ability. But you also see it in the NewSong Testament. He was a tent maker. You know, you had fishermen and you had everyone. I mean, many of them had to become bi vocational at certain times, quote, and using it. So your abilities, God uses your abilities. if you're a person of numbers, we call it, you know, and you're an accountant, whatever it is, God can use those abilities. But what was the secret, guys? It says the spirit of the Lord coming upon him.

>> Jim Stanley: Amen.

>> Bert Harper: You don't want to get proud of your abilities. You need to let the Holy Spirit guide you.

>> Jim Stanley: It's interesting you said that, because in Galatians 5, 16, and we see that, as my technology fails me again. But I say, walk by the spirit and you will not carry out the desires of the flesh.

>> Bert Harper: Amen.

>> Jim Stanley: So when we look at that as a combination of our abilities, it has to be tied together with what we do in the Lord. And if it's not done in the Lord, this goes back to talking about anointing earlier. If it's not done in the Lord, then it's done, folks. You're listening to Exploring the Word on American Family Radio. We're going to continue to get in shape right after this.

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>> Jim Stanley: They do an ultrasound. And that's when everything changed. Because when I saw my baby and.

>> Wesley Wildmon: when I heard her heartbeat, that was it.

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Alex and Bert study personality in American Family Radio Bible study

>> Jeff Chamblee: Now back to the Bible study with Alex and Bert. You're listening to Exploring the Word on American Family Radio. American Family Radio. American Family Radio.

>> Jim Stanley: Let the power of your words dwell here, richly changing the ways that I see.

>> Bert Harper: Fill me with otherly wisdom.

>> Jim Stanley: Plant me deep like a. Thanks for listening this afternoon as we are talking about getting in shape. Spiritual gifts, your heart, your passion, your abilities, your personality and experience. And we are at personality now. And when we do this, when we look at this as we're looking there, In Romans, the 12th chapter, it says in verse 14 says, Bless those who persecute you. Bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep. Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not be haughty in mind. But associate with the lowly. Do not be wise in your own estimation. Now let's think about as you unpack personality, what is the hardest thing for us to deal with? And I say us collectively because we've all dealt with these people from time to time. You think about it, if the personality of someone is to serve, then they have the. And guys, you know me, you know my heart. They have less likely a time of being a horse's tail.

>> Jim Stanley: If they are truly looking to serve God in whatever they do. However, do not be haughty in mind, but associate with the lowly. Do not be wise in your own estimation. So when you think about people's personality and you think about those that really drive you nuts, it's the people who are so heavenly minded, they're of no earthly good and they put themselves way up here and they say, look at my education and in a minute look at my experience, look at all these things. And I'm so much more able to do that than you are or than you are or at least that's what, that's what it comes across as. And so when you see that, when you see that haughtiness, when you see that pridefulness, when you're treated with condensation, when someone treats you less than.

>> Wesley Wildmon: You should be, that's a bad personality.

>> Jim Stanley: That's a bad person. Exactly.

Every personality has strengths and weaknesses. And every temperament has weaknesses

Well done.

>> Bert Harper: Every personality has strengths and weaknesses.

>> Jim Stanley: Yes sir.

>> Bert Harper: when Jan and I do our family revivals and all the marriage conferences that we do, we use Gary Smalley's Lions Otter Gold Retriever in beaver.

>> Wesley Wildmon: Explain that a little bit for us.

>> Bert Harper: Okay. The lion is the person that takes charge. They just got that personality. if you get five people together and there's one lion in there, somebody else, maybe quote the chairman, but guess what will happen at the end of it. The lion not necessarily will take over, but he will have leadership. The otter is going to have fun no matter what they're going to do. Have you ever watched an otter at the zoo or out in the river? They're going to have fun. They're going to play all day and.

>> Wesley Wildmon: Help everybody else kind of have fun.

>> Bert Harper: They're the life of the party. Golden retrievers are just there to please. They want, and I know folks like that. They're just there to please. And then the beaver, he's a workaholic. Going to keep everything in line. You got to do it this way or that way. Every one of those has strengths and weaknesses. What is necessary is the spirit filled person.

>> Jim Stanley: Amen.

>> Bert Harper: Because what he does, he does it m. All strengths in every personality can become obnoxious. And that's what you were referring to, Jesus. That strength that you have, and you use it without the spirit of God, it can become obnoxious. And every temperament has weaknesses.

>> Jim Stanley: That's the word I was looking for a minute. Obnoxious.

>> Bert Harper: Every personality has weaknesses. And those weaknesses can cause you to downplay them, look down upon them. But the spirit of God makes those strengths, real spiritual strengths, and makes those weaknesses, smooth them out. Can I give real quickly, can I give examples of all four temperaments in the Bible? One lion. Paul was a lion. Paul was a lion. When it was time for Mark to go, he said to Barnabas, Barnabas was a golden retriever. Said, no, I'm not taking him. He was a lion. He was in charge. You remember when they left, it was Barnabas and Paul. When they came back, it was Paul and Barnabas. Lions just have that ability, even in the power of the Holy Spirit. Peter was probably more like an otter. He was always putting his foot in his mouth. He was the first one to speak, you remember, after they got through, he's the one that said, let's go fishing. You know, I'm tired of sitting around here. Let's have some fun. Let's go fishing. and then golden retriever. I've already mentioned that Barnabas was. But Abraham is the greatest example. Good old Abraham, he didn't want to cause any problems with anybody, so he would even lie. And sometimes that's the weaknesses of a golden retriever. Just to get along, they succumb to a little bit of. They lay down what's priority for them. And then the beaver. Thomas was the beaver, and David in the Old Testament was the beaver who lined everything up for the temple to be built before it was built. David, he could line up the soldiers. He could line up everything. Thomas was the guy who said, unless I put my hand into his hands and his sight, I will not believe. Beavers have to be proven. And so each one of those, and we got personalities or a combination of them. And so find out what your personality is. But more important than that is to be filled with the Holy Spirit.

>> Jim Stanley: Amen.

>> Bert Harper: That's what the book of Romans was talking about. In 12 minutes, guys.

>> Wesley Wildmon: Absolutely. That's me.

It's spiritual gifts, your heart, abilities, your personality and experiences

All right, well, we, let me reset here. You're listening to Exploring the Word and we're doing a prerecord because we have, we're going to be out this week, and so, we're looking at spiritual gifts. the acronym. Is it acronym? Is that the right word? It's called shape, and we're trying to get in shape here. It's spiritual gifts, your heart, abilities, your personality and experiences. And together, this helps shape who you are in Christ.

>> Bert Harper: Your personality, you're born with it, but you can cultivate it. You got to remember that you're born with you. You're either extrovert or introvert. And you can see it early on, guys in kids, in children, you can see it. And, in a marriage, since Janet and I do that, I just gotta pop in here, two lions married, you need the Holy Spirit.

>> Jim Stanley: Amen.

>> Wesley Wildmon: Right? Right.

>> Jim Stanley: Amen.

>> Bert Harper: You catch what I'm saying? The personalities let me make one thing. And it's good that they're different. And just like the spiritual gifts, even though you may have the same spiritual gift, all the other things makes it different. Your personality may be the same as someone, but because your experience and your abilities and your passion, it causes it to be different.

>> Wesley Wildmon: Well, that's exactly what I was thinking.

The last thing we'll talk about this afternoon is experience. Experience plays a huge role in shaping who we are

The last thing we'll talk about this afternoon is experience. And the experience part certainly can, grow the other four that we mentioned about earlier, because it's through experiences that we can really empathize or sympathize or really get the feeling what someone's going through or what we're going through. And we have an opportunity to learn a lot. And, in difficult times also, gives us an opportunity to trust the Lord even more than we would have otherwise. So experiences are huge in shaping who we are.

>> Bert Harper: This is good. On this radio broadcast today. Jim, you've been in radio for many years.

>> Jim Stanley: Many years. Wesley, how old are you?

>> Wesley Wildmon: I'm 28.

>> Jim Stanley: I have been in radio longer than our young brother has been alive.

>> Bert Harper: I came on board six years ago. I have some experience due to programs exploring missions as well as exploring the Word. So I've grown in that. Wesley, we've asked him to come along and help us on exploring the Word quite often, and he gets to be on one or two every once in a while. But here we're talking about experience. So when I'm doing the program with Jim, my automatic position is, I want Jim to become the driver of this program because of experience. Because if anything happens, he'll know, okay, this is what we do. And, I remember the first three or four months when, quote, I'd been trained. After two weeks of being a host, and I was coming, man, you talking about my prayer life.

>> Jim Stanley: Increasing.

>> Bert Harper: It did. Greatly. But experience does help you, and you cannot replace experience. One thing we need to know is the difference between wisdom and experience. Wisdom is what God gives. Wisdom lets you make decisions based upon what you've seen in others. Experience helps you make the decision on what you have experienced yourself.

>> Jim Stanley: That's true. And let me say this, and I'm not blowing smoke here. I'm not being false in what I'm about to say. But see, that's something that Wesley has, even at his age, is he's getting godly wisdom. He has some great stuff to share. And the reason he does that is because he's been rooted in the Scripture. And not only has he been raised in the way that he should be thinking about Proverbs, and when they're old, they won't depart from it, because I've watched this young man grow up here at the ministry, and I say that with sometimes envy. I wish my kids had been as rooted as you've been. They've been shown the way, but then they've made choices that aren't always good. But the reason I say that is because you are rooted in Scripture. I've seen you. You even talked about this during your time at Mississippi State and how important it was to you there when you were walking through the trials of being a young person at college. Yeah. And all the temptations that came along with that. And yet you persevered and you overcame by the blood of the lamb. So you've gained experience there that most kids kick to the curb. And so when we talk about wisdom and experience, sometimes it's good for those that have the experience to go back and see it through the eyes of wisdom, especially youth. And don't take this the wrong way, especially youthful wisdom, because, Wesley, you're going to reach people that I'm never going to be able to talk to. Right.

>> Bert Harper: That's the reason we started Engaged.

>> Jim Stanley: Yes, sir.

>> Bert Harper: We knew we were not reaching a demographic.

>> Bert Harper: And that was on many people's hearts before we started. But Wesley and some others, they came T.J. teddy, James, and they've done it. And now they have the radio program engaged on.

>> Jim Stanley: They do. And not only is he interested in getting to Millennials, he's also looking to the next generation. How do we reach Generation Z? you know, and so anyway, this comes. All of this comes from experience, the round table that we have here, just of the three folks. And then we look at the experience and wisdom combined that Alex has, and you know that it exudes. But here's the thing. Wesley's never going to come up and he's never going to say, you've got to listen to me. He doesn't do that. That's not his nature. That's not what he's been called to be. If I hear Wesley with an angry voice, something has happened. And during the time that he's been on staff, I've heard that twice. And both times it was the anger of righteous indignation, because someone was attacking the body of Christ.

>> Bert Harper: And it doesn't waste that. Let's get some scripture to it. And I'm going to throw it out, the one that everybody uses. But it's good. Romans 8:28. And we know that all things work together for good. Really, they don't. God things.

>> Jim Stanley: That's right.

>> Bert Harper: Your experiences that we've had put God in the middle of it, good or bad, and see what he does. And he will guide you. And notice it says, he will. We know he works all things to good for those who love God, to those who are called according to his purpose, for whom he foreknew. He also predestined. To do what, guys? To be conformed to the image of God.

>> Jim Stanley: Amen.

Our experiences should conform us to the image of Jesus Christ, says Wesley

>> Bert Harper: Our experiences, every one of them, good and bad, difficult and hard, easy and pleasant, every one of them should conform us to the image of Jesus Christ. That's the ultimate goal. Our experiences should make us more like Jesus.

>> Wesley Wildmon: Absolutely. I think about, growing up and I was an athlete, so I played several sports. Well, one of my. Had several, several good coaches growing up. There was a guy by the name of Richard Hill, and he coached me in little league baseball for several years. From time I could swing a bat till I went to high school. He just, he. There's a bunch of us. He coached regularly. And I, was really advanced in the sport of baseball for my age and the position I played. So I, So I was really hard on myself when I made a mistake. Well, he would also. He often used me as an example. Hey, do this dude like Wesley? Well, I remember making a mistake in a game before, and I never. And I never made a mistake. Well, I just beat myself up and it ruined the rest of my year. I mean, I just was like, yeah. And I remember about 10 games later, I was playing, I was playing terrible. And he came up to me, he said, wesley, did you really think you'd never make a mistake? And I thought for a second, I thought, well, for me, I did.

>> Jim Stanley: That was your goal.

>> Wesley Wildmon: That was my goal, yeah. And he said, Wesley, it's not about the mistake. Remember, I'm a 10 year old, 12 year old boy. He said, wesley, it's not about the mistakes that you make, it's about how you respond to the mistakes.

>> Jim Stanley: That's right.

>> Wesley Wildmon: And it like still gives me chill bumps a day thinking about that. Because, just because we talk about these experiences and we talked about. And I appreciate the kind words you said about me on the other side of my experiences. But to take you back, there were experiences and trials and difficulties that perseverance had overcome to get to, you know, where I am today.

>> Jim Stanley: Absolutely.

>> Wesley Wildmon: There were those times and so experiences and how we respond to the circumstances that we're in really helped shape who we are.

>> Bert Harper: Let me give one more passage and then, Jim, take it away. Second Corinthians, chapter, 1, verse 4 tells us what we're to do with those bad experiences. Because what Richard did for you was comfort. You listen to this chapter one of 2 Corinthians. It says, blessed be the God and father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, all mercies, and God of all comfort. Now listen, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble.

>> Jim Stanley: Amen.

>> Bert Harper: The experiences should not just be our experiences, it should be experiences where we learn what God does and we share it. That's the whole idea, guys.

>> Jim Stanley: Amen. Colossians 1:27 says, to whom God willed to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you the hope of glory. There is experience. Fellas, I want to look back at Romans 12, in verse 13, and I'm going to read it from the Amplified Bible, but it says, contribute to the needs of God's people, sharing in the necessities of the saints. Pursue the practice of hospitality. Guys, let me tell you something. You want to know if you're in the will of the Lord. You want to know if you're serving the way you should be serving. Notice that it says pursue or practice hospitality is what the King James says. All right. Be the person that goes and greets that stranger. Be the person that goes and tells that homeless guy it's okay to sit on the front row, not ask him to move to the back because you want them there. Be that guy that goes and greets the homosexual. Homosexual. And says, hey man, welcome to church. Or hey young lady, welcome to church. Just want you to know God loves you. M. Because he does the same Christ that died on the cross for Bert Harper, for Wesley Wildmon, for Jim Stanley died for the sinner.

>> Bert Harper: And we better have that heart.

>> Jim Stanley: Absolutely.

>> Bert Harper: So we're asking folks to get in shape now. How can they do it? Let me share with you three things. You do, you stay in the word of God, you serve the Lord and you surround yourself with people, that can contribute to your life.

>> Jim Stanley: Amen.

>> Bert Harper: That will, and I'm going to use the word, whip you into shape. Spiritual shape, spiritual gifts, heart, abilities, personalities, experiences.

>> Jim Stanley: Folks, reach out to us on exploring the word through wordfr.net and to whom God willed to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery and among the gentiles which is Christ in you the hope of glory. Join us tomorrow as we continue exploring the word on American Family Radio.

>> Bert Harper: The views and opinions expressed in this.

>> Wesley Wildmon: Broadcast do not necessarily reflect those of.

>> Bert Harper: The American Family association or American Family Radio.

The Best of Exploring the Word: Shape

 

✍️ Episode References

American Family Radio
https://www.afr.net 

Romans 12
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans%2012&version=NIV 

James 1:22
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=James%201%3A22&version=NIV 

Preborn
https://preborn.com 

Gary Smalley
https://www.garysmalley.com