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Alex McFarland The Bible. It's the word of God. Sharper than any two edged sword. This sacred book is living and active and contains all that's needed for life and godliness.
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Alex McFarland Next hour as we study God's word and take your Bible questions.
Bert Harper and Alex McFarland discuss Isaiah in Exploring the Word
Bert Harper Welcome to Exploring the Word. The first time that Isaiah the prophet was called of God, his response was, woe is me. Now after that he said, you know about who will go for us. And he said, here am I. Send me. We're studying the book of Isaiah, what a book it is. And we've had more comments about going through Isaiah than any book that I think I've remembered us going through. This is Bert Harper and Alex McFarland. And if you have your Bibles, turn to Isaiah 6 and we're going to look at Isaiah's call. Alex, I, I was thinking about this. The, the call that is the most significant, I think in the Old Testament is probably Isaiah. The most significant call in the New Testament, as I think was the apostle Paul. And they have a lot in common. They both saw the Lord. They one heard the Lord, the other one saw the Lord high and lifted up. when you get your call from God, it's a sacred thing, isn't it?
Alex McFarland Well, it really is. And there's a call, I believe there's a call on every Christian's Life. And Isaiah 6 is so powerful and Bert, I would dare say this is some of the most well known verbiage in the Old Testament. And let me begin reading here. And folks, if you're at a place you can get a copy of God's Word and turn to the Old Testament book of Isaiah, it says, in the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting upon the throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple like his robe. and it stood. Above it stood the seraphim. Each one had six wings. With twain he covered his face, and with twain or two he covered his feet, and with two he did fly, and one cried unto another. In other words, these seraphim are crying out, holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts. The whole earth is full of his glory. Now, Bert, this is a time Uzziah died. I think it was in 740 BC. Does that sound right?
Bert Harper That's exactly what I said. I looked at that and that was the time frame for my information. Yes.
Alex McFarland Well, Uzziah is a Hebrew name, a male name, and it means quote. The Lord is my strength or my power. It can also mean to be strong in the Lord. And it's kind of almost like Joshua. It's sort of a derivative of, God's holy name, the name Yahweh. But here's my point. When Uzziah died, this was a milestone in a lot of ways. And I think it's significant that the prophet Isaiah, marks a huge moment in his life as corresponding with the year that King Uzziah died. The golden age of Judah, just some of their best years, is really kind of slipping away because a powerful human, godly leader has passed off the scene. And Judah, is at a crossroads culturally, spiritually. And, Bert, I just. I think about our own nation right now. We really. We, know about America's Christian history. We know about, you know, what Tom Brokaw called the greatest generation. But, Bert, there are a lot of people, younger people, through no fault of their own, but they've never seen America at her best. And I don't know, I kind of think about just as, Judah was at a crossroads, our nation is at a crossroad. Will we return to the God of our founding and the principles of righteousness and godliness, or will we have a further slide into immorality and decay? we are at a milestone in our own lives, I would say.
Bert Harper I would think so. Now here. I think it's double significant myself, and I see if you can follow. I know this was a significant event in the life of the nation. Okay. But it's also a significant life in the life of Isaiah. When you have a compound event in your life that really, comes and challenges you, it. It makes you, examine things. What a time to see the Lord. And this is what happened to Isaiah. Get your eyes off of that king personally, and I would say governmental, and get your eyes on the one who's in control. I remember years ago when Dr. Adrian Rogers and we had, Bill. President. Bill Clinton was elected president, and it changed so many things. I remember the Sunday after that, Dr. Adrian Rogers got in the pulpit, pulpit at Bellevue Baptist Church. He said, guess what? God is still on the throne. So here in the year that King Uzziah died, in a year of transition of where we're going from here, he's still on the throne. And that's what we need to know. We need to mark that in our hearts and our lives. And he is not just sitting on the throne. Notice how it's compounded high and lifted up and his train of his robe filled the temple, his glory, and. And here in this vision, this is what Isaiah would see. And, you know, every time we preach, Alex, we want people to hear of the Lord. And if we can describe as best we can how awesome he is that they could see the Lord. And, Isaiah, man, what he does in writing this. You're the one that's the. The author, the. The great, wordsmith. You do a great job writing. You have so many books. But here, Isaiah really, through the power of the Holy Spirit. I know he puts this on parchment for us to hear for all these years. A beautiful picture of the throne of God. It's, been repeated in songs and in sermons again and again, hasn't it?
Alex McFarland Well, it really has. And, you know, Isaiah, six is not a long book. There's only like, 13 verses. One of my favorite songs growing up, as a kid, we'd be at church, and I would hear him sing, holy, Holy, holy.
Bert Harper Amen.
Alex McFarland that is a beautiful song. I mean, besides having really good biblical theology, it's just a beautiful, melody. And I would encourage people maybe go listen to that song, God in Three Persons, Blessed Trinity. And I always wondered if, the writer of that great hymn, holy, Holy, Holy maybe was Inspired by Isaiah 6.
In the last years of his life, King Uzziah had leprosy
But let me say something here. Just maybe this is an observation, and maybe it's, erroneous. Uzziah and Isaiah are kind of similar, you know? And I wonder if Isaiah, I've just wondered what's going through his mind. In the year that King Uzziah died, he. He has this vision, okay? The name Isaiah, the prophet Isaiah is a Hebrew word, and it's derived from the word for Yeshua. You know, God saves Isaiah. salvation is of the Lord or salvation is of God. Now, King Uzziah, his name means the Lord is my strength and my power. But here's the thing. In the last years of his life, King Uzziah had leprosy. and there's kind of two reasons, Bert, I wanted to study about, why he maybe got leprosy. Because very often leprosy was a sign of judgment. And in the golden age, and some of the great years were sort of slipping away, even before he died. But here's the thing. In 2 Kings 15, you get the impression that, Uzziah was stricken with leprosy because he really failed to rid the kingdom of idolatry. Now, also, he sinned by entering the temple and personally burning incense on the altar. That was something Saul did. Saul, intruded into the priesthood, and Uzziah really did as well. But in his last years of his life, he had leprosy. And, you know, he was not able to lead as he really should have led.
Bert Harper Yeah, one, one mistake can really cripple a ministry, a service, again, not your salvation. You can get forgiveness. But, mistake in leadership can really cost the individual. And as it did here. I agree with you. A nation.
Bert Feels says Isaiah's vision shows God's holiness
And so here it is. As he saw this happening, Isaiah has this vision, and we've talked about it, him on God on the throne. And verse two is interesting because it says above it stood seraphim. Now this is the only time in scripture that you'll find seraphim. It has the idea of fire. Whatever these, angelic beings, they, they're. There's something about fire, about that. And each one had six wings. And again, their face, their feet are covered in other. That. Listen, I think it has to do with Isaiah's call, what he saw, where he would go. And with two, they did fly. And one cried to another, holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts. The whole earth is full of his glory. Now, Alex, I think this is a picture. Okay. He's on his throne. The seraphim are flying all around. And no matter from what angle they are, guess what they see. Holy. They go to just a, few flaps of the wings. Okay, yes, they fly a little bit. Guess what they see. Holy. No matter where their angle is from, no matter of their position, God is holy. That's the holiness of God. And I don't know of any other passage that demonstrates this any greater. There's some that may be equal, you know, the Shekinah glory coming down. And I understand that in the temple, but here it is Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts. All the host of heaven at his command. All the whole earth is full of his glory. And Alex, the glory of God, guess what? That's what we're to serve him for, that he would get glory and honor. And so that was what they were doing in heaven. Guess what? It's what we need to do here on earth as well.
Alex McFarland You know, we've often said this. There is a certain three ness to the created world. You know, Psalm 19 says the heavens and earth bear witness to the glory of God. And there's, you know, people that are creative or artistic, you can note what they've created. I mean, a Frank Lloyd Wright house or building. You can tell his style of architecture. And, Ed Lowenstein was another mid century modern. And you can tell what they create? Well, you, you can tell this created world. And I want to connect this to holy, holy, holy. Okay. Father, Son, Holy Spirit, God is Trinity. One God, but three persons. And we've often talked about how we humans created in the image of God are spirit, soul and body. And the word is tripartite. But Bert, I think about the created world, past, present, future, length, width, height, liquid, solid, gas. There's eternity past, the present era, eternity, future. Just as the creation bears witness to the nature of the creator, these seraphim and the word there, seraphim means to burn, like you say, any direction, any part of reality. they say holy, holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts. The whole earth is full of his glory. Bert, I just think there's so much in verse three there, not only about the creation, the creator, but heaven and earth's response to it. Holy, holy, holy. Glory to God, the Maker, the Savior. We can't say it enough, can we?
Bert Harper We need to sing that song again and again. Holy, holy, holy. He is holy. And he says for us. Be you, be holy, for I am, holy. Let's serve him. Let's serve him with joy and gladness and do as the seraphim just praise him. He's full of glory. Preborn's whole mission is to rescue babies from abortion and lead their families to Christ. Last year, Preborn's network of clinics saw 8,900 mothers come to Christ. Please join us in this life saving mission. To donate, go to preborn.com afr.
Alex McFarland These days my heart's always on the run these days the world's spinning out of control.
Caroline These days are fast and the Furious.
Alex McFarland Feels like the worst is ahead of us.
Alex McFarland and Bert Harper discuss Isaiah in this podcast
Welcome back to Exploring the word. Alex McFarland here along with Bert Harper. We're so honored that you're listening. And we are in Isaiah, of course, as we always do. Later on we'll get to your Bible questions. If you have a Bible question, we'd love for you to call in, but, very famous scene. Isaiah has, this vision. And the glory of the Lord fills the temple. And these seraphim, these angelic beings with six wings each, they just can move any direction. And everywhere they look and everywhere they go, they say, holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts. Now, verse four, fascinating says. And the posts of the door moved or shook at the voice of him that cried. And the house was filled with smoke. Bert, have you ever maybe heard a thunderclap so loud that it just really rattled the windows. I mean, it's very unsettling if you hear some boom or thunderclap that is so loud the building. Shakespeare. And, that's what kind of was going on here.
Bert Harper It really is when you do. Don't even have one to say between the lightning and the sound, you know, it's closing and. And loud. And here it is, the post of the door. They were shaken. Now, that's the most power. You know, you want to have that place where you go in. And it was shaken by the voice of him just now think about the voice. This voice is that powerful, but it's also a voice that is so tender that a, still small voice, and that is our God, who is. Is just beyond description, but also tender and caring toward those that he loves. And the house was filled with the smoke. In other words, we talking about the vapor there. I believe I may be reading into this, and I bring this up quite often. There's some mysteriousness about God. You know, there's a mystery concerning him. And usually when smoke is involved in something like this, there's this mystery vapor, you know, seeing what's going on. And, so here it is, this great God revealing himself to Isaiah. And at this point in life, when it transitioned in a government and also a transition in his life, I think it says, these are the times when we are probably more vulnerable to want to know God. What do you want me to do now? I think that's where Isaiah is, Alex.
Alex McFarland Amen. Amen.
Isaiah says in verse five, I am undone, it means destroyed
You know, I don't want to read too much in here, but let me read, something. And I want to talk about a word in verse six. But in verse five, Isaiah says, woe is me, for I am undead because I'm a man of unclean lips. I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips, for my eyes have seen the king, the Lord of hosts, he says. And really the word there, when he says, I am undone, it means destroyed. You know, very distraught and destroyed. Here's the booming voice of an angel. The voice that made the building shake was really the voice of one of those seraphim. And, so imagine, the voice of the Lord. But, here's the thing. He admits very quickly, you know, I'm a sinful person, and I see the holiness of God. Then flew one of the seraphim unto me, having a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar. And he laid it upon my mouth and said, lo, this hath touched Thy lips, thine iniquity is taken away and thy sin is purged. Bert, let me say this. A live coal, for one thing. The Bible says our God is a consuming fire. And it's been said that when we accept Christ and we're clothed in his righteousness, that the righteousness of Christ is like a fireproof suit, or maybe a holy proof suit. Because before the holiness of God, a, sinful, fallen, carnal, reprobate, sinner cannot stand. And just like this coal, this burning coal is like the fire of God's righteousness. But also notice that seraphim has to grab it with tongs. You know, that's the grace of God. Whether it be the leaves that covered Adam and Eve in the garden, whether it be the. The fur of a lamb that covered them, whether it be the righteousness of Christ. Post resurrection, the righteousness of Christ, is imputed to us who believe, or these tongs, because the eternal power, holiness, righteousness of God, I don't think we could handle it without getting consumed.
Bert Harper You're right. Because you remember when the glory of God passed by Moses, he. He hid him in the cleft of the rock and put his hand up. It was so great.
Bert says chapter six of Isaiah speaks about cleansing and calling
Going back to verse five, Woe is me. This is really, I think, significant. If you remember chapter five, we covered that Thursday, there were six different woes concerning that message that he preached. Now this chapter six precedes that far as chronological order is concerned. Now, he waited to chapter six to tell you about it. Why? I think it's because he pronounced these woes and they would say, what? Who are you that would pronounce woes on us? And in his calling, I think he legitimized, I. Hey, I know what God can do, what he wants to do for you and clean you up. He's done for me and cleaned me up. This is a testimony of, of what God can do. So he said, woe is me. And that was his response. But before, in chapter five, as he had preached this message, he said he's relating to him. Now, while he had authority to preach, while he could say woe and say, listen, this is what you need to do to clean up your act. And so he does that with such beauty. And then the other thing I'd like to say is the touching your lips, I could not help but think of the prophet, Daniel. You remember, that same thing, not necessarily the coals, from the altar, but God would touch Daniel again and again in his messages. The Lord has touched me And I could not help but think of the Gaither song. He Touched me. We're. We're singing some songs, this time in Holy, Holy, Holy. And then he touched me. But. But he touched me. And when he touches us, Alex, I want to tell you we're never the same. And so Isaiah was never the same. And he. He heard the voice of God after the cleansing. After the cleansing, he heard the voice of God before that, as you said, the angel. And he responded, but now it's the voice of God. I think it says something about us. If we want to know God's will for our lives, we need to confess our sin. We need to get right with God, receive his forgiveness, and say, lord, here am I. I want to know what you want me to do. But if we're just living our lives and letting sin run rapid in our lives, and we're okay, I want to hear from God. I'm not sure you'll get a clear voice or a clear picture of what God wants you to do, Alex.
Alex McFarland Well, I know. I know. And, you know, it is a journey, and we are supposed to pursue that and respond. And we're going to see Isaiah does that in just a moment. By the way, if you were teaching through Isaiah 6, like I said, it's very brief, 13 verses. this is almost the way the book kind of naturally divides verses 1 through 4, verses 5 through 7, and verses 8 through 13. And, Bert, here's kind of how I see it is the vision, the cleansing, and the calling.
Bert Harper That's it, really.
Alex McFarland And by the way, let me encourage you. I know we have Sunday school teachers that listen, and we have some pastors, too. the Bible just seems to outline itself, really, and this is one of those examples. But, the seraphim takes the tongs, and you know what tongs are like. You know, you pick, up the salad tongs or the implements next to the fireplace. But that live coal, that burning coal, which I think represents the righteousness of God. you know, it's too hot to handle with their bare hands, but the angel lays it on his mouth and says, lo, this hath touched thy lips. Thine iniquity is taken away. Thy sin is purged. Do you know what? When we get saved and we turn to Jesus, that happens with us, that our iniquity is taken away and our sin is purged. when we put our faith in Christ. But verse 8 is a transition also. I heard the voice of the Lord saying, whom shall I send? And who will Go for us then, said I, here am I. Send me. Bert, let me just say that we've got trinitarian monotheism here.
Bert Harper You do? Yes.
Alex McFarland I is a singular. There's one God. Us, is a plural. There's three persons in the Godhead. And I want to be very clear. There is one God and one God only. That's called monotheism. M like Deuteronomy 6. Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God is one and yet eternally existent as Father, Son, Holy Spirit. I don't understand it. I absolutely believe it, because that's how God has presented himself in Scripture. But, Bert, I think that Isaiah 6, 8. There's a bit of a covert reference to the trinitarian nature of God in there.
Bert Harper I'm not so sure it's covert as much. It's plain. Because if you go back to Genesis when it talks, let us make us make God. And, man in our image. And he talks about the Father, he talks about the Spirit moving on the face of the deep. And you get to three, and you talk about that one that will bruise the serpent's head. You know, it's pretty clear.
Adrian Rogers: Somebody needs to start praying for revival
One thing I would say, I heard this early on in a sermon, and it was to youth. And so it, was talking about, is God calling you into ministry. Is God calling you to be a missionary, a pastor? And when God calls, you don't say, here am I. Send Jeremiah, you know, here am I.
Alex McFarland Send Bert.
Bert Harper Don't. Don't send me. Send anybody but me. No, Isaiah, after he saw the vision, he heard the voice. Yes, Lord, here am I. Send me. I pray that would be. I pray that would be everyone out there, Lord, anywhere, anytime, anything. I'm willing. that's what Isaiah did. Go right ahead.
Alex McFarland I've met a lot of people, but guess who I've never met somebody else. And here's my point. you know, I'm on the road a lot, and folks come up and they'll say, you know, oh, this world, you know, we need a revival. Somebody needs to start praying for revival. And all these unsaved people, you know, we need, evangelism all over again. Somebody needs to witness to these Muslims. And so, well, folks, that somebody is you. And all of us, really. And here am I. That needs to be our mindset. Here am I. Send me. Well, God says, verse 9 and following. Go tell this people. But it's very interesting. Hear but understand, not see, but perceive not. the most unusual calling. Make the heart of this people fat. Their Ears heavy, shut, their eyes that they'll see, but they're not going to understand. Now, before we go to 11 through 13, let me just say this. Sometimes we have the ministry of conviction and salvation. But do you know, sometimes in proclaiming the truth, it's almost a ministry of condemnation. That's why, look, we don't compromise because, ah, and I know there are so many issues and you know, to preach about the moral issues of our day. Here's the thing. We are to preach the gospel even if it appears nobody is listening. Bill Bright, my evangelism professor, the very famous founder of Campus Crusade, he said, preach the gospel, the Bible, proclaim it, but leave the results up to God.
Bert Harper Amen. Amen. Alex, the new King James. This in the King James Version, doesn't necessarily, bring it across. It says, keep on hearing, but do not understand. They keep on seeing, but do not perceive. In other words, he's doing this continually. And when you keep on doing it, it's like Pharaoh, you know, God. How does God harden a heart? I think it explains it here. In other words, if a person hardens their heart to begin with and they hear the message a second time, guess what? It's the. It moves either further away if you do not respond. That's why the Bible says today's the day of salvation. You don't want to put salvation off those of you who are here in this today and you're not right with God. You need to get right with God today. First of all, you're not assured of tomorrow. And the second time, the more you say no, the more you hear, the greater. Now it's still a responsibility of yours to, to turn. But listen, you need to do it. And do not let your heart grow hard. Verses 11 through 13. We got about two minutes here. And how long. How long should I keep on doing this, Alex, is what he asked, isn't it?
Alex McFarland Until the cities be wasted without inhabitant, the houses without man, and the land be utterly desolate. in other words, God is telling Isaiah your, ministry to a large degree is going to fall on deaf ears. And, sometimes I think that about what, Don Wildmon, Chuck Colson, James Dobson, Adrian Rogers. I mean, the last 50 years there have been some of the greatest thinkers and communicators, I think, in the entire church age.
Bert Harper I agree, I agree.
Alex McFarland And yet the western world is pretty sin sick. folks, I think we need to pray and seek a great revival, a great awakening. Will America repent? I don't know. But my job is to live it and proclaim it. I, need to get my own heart right. But we are even. Just like Isaiah. what if Isaiah said, well, no, Lord, I'm not going to do this. If there's not going to be a big visible return. No thanks. We are to proclaim truth and righteousness and then what people do with it is between them and God.
Bert Harper But it ends on a promise whose stump remains when it is cut down. So the holy seed shall be its stump. Guess what? It's that root out of the dry ground. Alex. Hallelujah. The remnant remains and God's purpose remains. We're going to take phone calls. That phone number is 8885-8988-4088-8589-8840. We would love to hear your Bible question today on Exploring the Word.
Documentary proves God is real and His Word is the ultimate authority
Alex McFarland As we watch world events unfold and fulfill scripture, it's hard to believe anyone could doubt God and his Word are real. And yet there are so many who either question or completely refuse to believe it. The God who speaks is a 90.
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Bert Harper Amen. Good song. Great work Brent. Appreciate the songs. And I love that one as well.
Alex: We now have six grandchildren, 8 pounds, 14 ounces
Well, Alex, I. I've got an announcement for, for something Jan and I have been waiting for a little while about this. We now have six grandchildren. Okay. we've had five for a while. But now we have a little girl and we're so thankful for her. 8 pounds, 14 ounces.
Alex McFarland Congratulations.
Bert Harper Yes, we're so thankful for her. We started with a granddaughter, then had four grandsons and now we got another granddaughter. So we're so thankful. Now those of you that go and shop and all you've done ever shop for boys, then you're shopping for a little girl. Get ready. There's this four times. Much to pick from for little girls. And there are little boys, I can just tell you that. So. But anyway, I just want to say congratulations to our son Matthew and praise God for his wife Billie. Little girl born and we're thankful.
Alex McFarland Well, congratulations to God be the glory. That is wonderful. That is wonderful. Hey, let me make a quick little announcement here. Next summer I'm going to be at the COVID the Billy Graham Training Center. What a great honor to be invited. July 17 through 19. I'll be there teaching Bible prophecy, the book that Bert and I just released. But then I'll be there another time as well, at the end of July, doing, an apologetic session with Gary Habermas. And the website is thecove.org, t h e c o v e thecove.org and, a trip to the COVID to do a deep dive into God's word and fellowship with people from all over the world, literally. Plus, eat good food and see good scenery. Make a good Christmas gift. So check out thecove.org and we'd love to see you next summer in the western mountains of North Carolina.
Bert Harper Amen. It would be a blessing. The COVID and Alex both. So, make your way there. Let's go to the phone lines and go to Speaking of North Carolina, Deborah from North Carolina. Welcome. Hi. Yes, go right ahead. Yes.
Caroline And I'll probably be at the cold with you because I live in North Carolina.
Alex McFarland Well, amen.
Caroline Praise the Lord. Look at God.
Alex: Where is the fine line in eternal security if we don't repent
All right, so my question is, if we're talking about eternal security, where is the fine line in eternal security if we don't repent? If I sin today and I don't repent, or, repentance is nowhere in my heart, my mind, my soul, but yet I'm eternally secure, my mind can't fathom that that is, that it's the way. Eternal security. I don't understand it. So could you explain eternal security me? And where did it come from? how did we get to that point that, this doctrine is being actually taught?
Bert Harper Okay, let me say our sins, past, present, and future. Deborah was taken care of on the cross where Jesus Christ prayed. Father, forgive them. They don't know what they do. Now, was he. He just forgiven those that were past or, were sinners, those that are present or those in the future because of Jesus sufficiency and his sacrifice, those of us who have trusted him by faith, our sins are forgiven. He's moved them as far as the east is from the west. Alex, take it away.
When we trust Christ, there's two aspects. There's regeneration and then there's sanctification
Alex McFarland Yeah, this really falls into the, topic of salvation or justification. And, you know, in the aftermath of, Protestantism coming all through Europe during the 1500s, and we're really, even to this very present day, riding on the ripple effect of the Protestant Reformation. I want to be on record and say I do believe in what is called eternal security. Because when we trust Christ, I mean, there's two aspects. There's, regeneration, and then there's sanctification. Now, regeneration, is that the moment you trust Jesus, your spirit is made alive. Your sins are washed away. Positionally, you are now and forevermore in Christ. Sanctification, though, is about our day by day walk. And every day we're supposed to be growing closer to the Lord. The verse, Hebrews 6:6, it says if it is impossible. Hebrews 6:4, 6. Really? for those who have tasted the heavenly gift, enlightened, if they fall away, to renew them again to repentance. Now, most scholars would say Hebrews 6:4:6 are people who knew about God. They knew all about Jesus. They knew they should turn to Christ, but they didn't. And so, Bert, I want to be very clear, and I'll throw it back to you. eternal security. Another verse. The color asks, where did it come from? Well, I think about John 10:28. Christ said, I give to them the believer. I give to them eternal life, and they will never perish. Nothing can pluck us out of his hand. But as Paul addresses in Romans, this is not a license to sin, is it?
Bert Harper It is not. Let me read this. And again, you know sin, we never come to the place where we are sinless. We may sin less and we can confess our sins. But listen to this. It says in all things, we're more than conquerors through him who loved us. Paul says, for I am persuaded that doesn't mean almost no, completely persuaded that neither death, nor life, angels, nor principalities, powers, nor things present, nor things to come, height, nor depth, nor any other created thing shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus, our Lord. Alex, the whole idea. We confess our sin as soon as we should, we better confess our sin. David did when he was pointed out by Nathan, we need to confess our sins, but. But if we die in unconfessed sin, that sin has been forgiven by the Lord Jesus Christ. His blood washes us white as snow. And that doesn't give us a license to sin, like you said in Romans 8, but it does give us the reality of, our salvation that's in Christ Jesus, and it's in him alone. Deborah, we hope that helps.
Michelle asks Alex how big you think God might be
Let's go to West Virginia. Myshel, thank you for calling. Go right ahead.
Caroline I was wanting to know when it talks about the road being as big as the church. I imagine my church, and then I imagined out all the material that would take to make a robe, and then the embroidery and everything and to fill it up. That probably be about £400. So I was just curious about how big you think God might Be.
Bert Harper How big is God, Alex? let me see. The scripture comes to my mind, I'll just give it to you and you probably tell me where it is that he can hold the water and scoop it out with his hands. M. You know.
Alex McFarland Oh, yes. Yeah. I mean, he is bigger than the universe. He is CS Lewis talking about Christmas. He said, in the Bethlehem manger was, something bigger than the universe itself. The babe in the manger was bigger than the universe itself. And so, you know, it really is amazing to think about the vastness of God and yet he wants a relationship with us. Do you remember Jesus said, the father seeketh such to worship him.
Bert Harper Yes.
Alex McFarland And I mean, that's how Bert, earlier I was on a call today and, we were talking about people who just don't feel like they know their identity or their purpose or do they have any worth or value. And people, sometimes they want to find like self worth in a lot of dead end streets. Folks understand this. You matter enough that almighty God wants to be a part of your life. And God demonstrated his love in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. None of us can comprehend the magnificence or the, you know, infinity of Almighty God. And yet he wants to live in our human heart.
Bert Harper It's amazing. Grace is amazing. God is amazing. I hope that helps.
John in Indiana has a prayer request for you on Tuesday
Myshel, let's go to John in Indiana. John, thank you for calling.
Caroline Yes, sir, I have a prayer request. I have a friend of mine, she's I believe 19 years old. She just had a baby. It'll be three weeks old coming up this Friday. Just got a call that they both have Covid. I would like you guys to pray for one.
Bert Harper Okay, we'll do it. John, thank you for calling in. That reminds me, tomorrow is prayer request day, so you guys get ready for that. We love Tuesdays. Father, I pray for John right now. Thank you. For a friend that would be a friend to ask people to pray for this, this young, this young mother, three week old child and father, they're probably struggling for breath and going through all the difficulties. Father, I pray that you would touch them. you are the great physician. That doesn't mean we don't get medical help or assistance. But Father, it does mean we trust you. And I pray you would use the physicians and the technicians and all of those to help them to be, healed again. We pray this and ask you this in Jesus name. Amen. Amen. John. Thank you.
Gene: Matthew 25 says they asked for oil because their lamps had gone out
Let's go to Texas. And it's Gene. Gene thank you for calling.
Caroline Hi there. my question is out of Matthew 25, where it talks about the 10 virgins.
Bert Harper Yes.
Caroline Okay. my question is, it says they asked for oil because their lamps had gone out. So to me, that's indicating that they did have oil in their lamp. Is that, wrong to think, that.
Bert Harper Okay, they'd ran out of lamps. And again, we're looking at a. This is a story, Alex. the ten virgins. And it's talking about looking and wedding and everything. And the Holy Spirit usually is represented by oil, isn't it? Is it He? I should say he, yes.
Alex McFarland You know, like in Psalm 133, it talks about the oil coming down Aaron's beard. And the oil does represent the indwelling Holy Spirit. Here's one of the key verses, verse 6 of Matthew 25. And at midnight there was a cry made. And behold, the bridegroom came. go ye, out to meet him. And all the virgins arose and trimmed their lamps, or tried to, in other words, showed the fire that was, there. And the foolish said of the wise, give us of your oil, for our lamps are gone out. And here's my point. It represents the preparedness of one's life. the ten foolish. I mean the five that were foolish and didn't have any oil and therefore could not demonstrate any fire or the presence of God. Maybe they knew about it. But the time to get the oil in your lamp is during the daylight hours.
Bert Harper Amen.
Alex McFarland The night cometh, and it's too late.
Bert Harper That's it, Gene.
Alex McFarland It represents saved and lost. And, nightfall is coming, folks. It, might be your own physical death. Might be the time Christ returns, but the daylight hours in which to seek the Lord. Find him. Be filled with his spirit. it's not forever, is it, Bert?
Bert Harper Satan is saying, wait till tomorrow.
Alex McFarland Wait till you got more time.
Bert Harper Yeah, you got more time. Listen, get right with God and do it now. Thank you, Gene. Let's go to Kentucky. Steve. Thank you for calling.
Caroline Yeah, good afternoon, Burton. Alex and I want to thank you for your steadfast support for Israel and the Jewish people.
Alex McFarland Amen.
Caroline thank you very much.
Bert Harper Praise God.
Is Isaiah 66:24 an Old Testament reference to hell
Caroline My question is Isaiah 66, verse 24. It's the last verse in the book of Isaiah. Is that an Old Testament reference to hell?
Bert Harper Okay, Alex, are you there already?
Alex McFarland I'm not there yet. I had turned over to the New Testament. do you have that Isaiah 66?
Bert Harper Here it is. I'll read it.
Alex McFarland Okay.
Bert Harper And they shall go forth and look upon the corpses of men who have transgressed against me. For their worm does not die and their fire is not quenched. They shall be as an abhorrence to all flesh. Again, we're talking about the new heavens and the new earth in verses 22. And. And then all of a sudden, it talks about all flesh shall come to worship before me. And then it talks about those others that I think that did not. Alex, go ahead.
Alex McFarland Yeah, I think so, because, it's quoted in Mark, chapter 944 and 46. And so, yes, I do think it is referenced to hell, because Mark 9:43:44 says, it is better to, go into heaven with a hand or a body part lost than with two hands to go into hell into the fire that is never quenched. Now, Mark 9:44, speaking of hell, quotes Isaiah 66:24, where their worm dieth not and the fire is not quenched. And then it's quoted again in Mark 9:46. So I think since the Lord Jesus in Mark 9 quotes Isaiah 66:24 in the context of some who go to hell. Yeah, I think that's what that's talking about.
Bert Harper Especially when it's in the context there. when you read it in Isaiah, it's in that context.
Benny from Pennsylvania says America in need of a great revival
We got time for one more call. Benny from Pennsylvania. Benny, we don't have a lot of time, but go right ahead, brother.
Caroline Well, brothers, I, thank the Lord for you all. And it's funny, I work at a mission here where I deal with a hundred broken and lost souls every day. And, the last several days, I' crying out and asking Lord, like the brother said earlier, we're in time of need of a great revival. The scripture I've been really pondering over is when Jesus says, if I'll be lifted up, I'll draw all men to you. And I just been asking the Lord, how do we, as believers, in a practical, applicable way, day in and day out, lift him up because he's the one who draws men. And that's what we want. For all to come to know Jesus as their Lord and Savior. So talking about this subject was an, encouraging word. And, I didn't think I would get through, but I did.
Bert Harper Thank you, Benny. Okay, listen. Live your life for an audience of one. Please him. If our life, everything we do, will it please the Father? Will it please the Father? If it doesn't please the Father? We need to lay it down, Alex. And then be ready to give an answer of the faith. That is in us still. Even in a revival, we're saved one at a time.
Alex McFarland Amen. you know, John 12:32, the caller mentioned Jesus said, if I be lifted up and so many things divide people nowadays, man, you can bring up any subject, but keep Jesus way out front. Jesus who loved the world, gave his life, and whosoever will may turn to him. Let's do that, folks. Every one of us. Let's at look. Lift up Jesus. Well, this is exploring the Word. We're going to resume again tomorrow, good Lord willing. So tell somebody about exploring the Word, if you would, American Family Radio. Most of all, though, tell everybody about Jesus. The views and opinions expressed in this.
Bert Harper Broadcast may not necessarily reflect those of.
Alex McFarland The American Family association or American Family Radio.
American Family Radio takes your Bible questions next hour
Alex McFarland The Bible. It's the word of God. Sharper than any two edged sword. This sacred book is living and active and contains all that's needed for life and godliness.
Bert Harper Stay with American Family Radio for the.
Alex McFarland Next hour as we study God's word and take your Bible questions.
Bert Harper and Alex McFarland discuss Isaiah in Exploring the Word
Bert Harper Welcome to Exploring the Word. The first time that Isaiah the prophet was called of God, his response was, woe is me. Now after that he said, you know about who will go for us. And he said, here am I. Send me. We're studying the book of Isaiah, what a book it is. And we've had more comments about going through Isaiah than any book that I think I've remembered us going through. This is Bert Harper and Alex McFarland. And if you have your Bibles, turn to Isaiah 6 and we're going to look at Isaiah's call. Alex, I, I was thinking about this. The, the call that is the most significant, I think in the Old Testament is probably Isaiah. The most significant call in the New Testament, as I think was the apostle Paul. And they have a lot in common. They both saw the Lord. They one heard the Lord, the other one saw the Lord high and lifted up. when you get your call from God, it's a sacred thing, isn't it?
Alex McFarland Well, it really is. And there's a call, I believe there's a call on every Christian's Life. And Isaiah 6 is so powerful and Bert, I would dare say this is some of the most well known verbiage in the Old Testament. And let me begin reading here. And folks, if you're at a place you can get a copy of God's Word and turn to the Old Testament book of Isaiah, it says, in the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting upon the throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple like his robe. and it stood. Above it stood the seraphim. Each one had six wings. With twain he covered his face, and with twain or two he covered his feet, and with two he did fly, and one cried unto another. In other words, these seraphim are crying out, holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts. The whole earth is full of his glory. Now, Bert, this is a time Uzziah died. I think it was in 740 BC. Does that sound right?
Bert Harper That's exactly what I said. I looked at that and that was the time frame for my information. Yes.
Alex McFarland Well, Uzziah is a Hebrew name, a male name, and it means quote. The Lord is my strength or my power. It can also mean to be strong in the Lord. And it's kind of almost like Joshua. It's sort of a derivative of, God's holy name, the name Yahweh. But here's my point. When Uzziah died, this was a milestone in a lot of ways. And I think it's significant that the prophet Isaiah, marks a huge moment in his life as corresponding with the year that King Uzziah died. The golden age of Judah, just some of their best years, is really kind of slipping away because a powerful human, godly leader has passed off the scene. And Judah, is at a crossroads culturally, spiritually. And, Bert, I just. I think about our own nation right now. We really. We, know about America's Christian history. We know about, you know, what Tom Brokaw called the greatest generation. But, Bert, there are a lot of people, younger people, through no fault of their own, but they've never seen America at her best. And I don't know, I kind of think about just as, Judah was at a crossroads, our nation is at a crossroad. Will we return to the God of our founding and the principles of righteousness and godliness, or will we have a further slide into immorality and decay? we are at a milestone in our own lives, I would say.
Bert Harper I would think so. Now here. I think it's double significant myself, and I see if you can follow. I know this was a significant event in the life of the nation. Okay. But it's also a significant life in the life of Isaiah. When you have a compound event in your life that really, comes and challenges you, it. It makes you, examine things. What a time to see the Lord. And this is what happened to Isaiah. Get your eyes off of that king personally, and I would say governmental, and get your eyes on the one who's in control. I remember years ago when Dr. Adrian Rogers and we had, Bill. President. Bill Clinton was elected president, and it changed so many things. I remember the Sunday after that, Dr. Adrian Rogers got in the pulpit, pulpit at Bellevue Baptist Church. He said, guess what? God is still on the throne. So here in the year that King Uzziah died, in a year of transition of where we're going from here, he's still on the throne. And that's what we need to know. We need to mark that in our hearts and our lives. And he is not just sitting on the throne. Notice how it's compounded high and lifted up and his train of his robe filled the temple, his glory, and. And here in this vision, this is what Isaiah would see. And, you know, every time we preach, Alex, we want people to hear of the Lord. And if we can describe as best we can how awesome he is that they could see the Lord. And, Isaiah, man, what he does in writing this. You're the one that's the. The author, the. The great, wordsmith. You do a great job writing. You have so many books. But here, Isaiah really, through the power of the Holy Spirit. I know he puts this on parchment for us to hear for all these years. A beautiful picture of the throne of God. It's, been repeated in songs and in sermons again and again, hasn't it?
Alex McFarland Well, it really has. And, you know, Isaiah, six is not a long book. There's only like, 13 verses. One of my favorite songs growing up, as a kid, we'd be at church, and I would hear him sing, holy, Holy, holy.
Bert Harper Amen.
Alex McFarland that is a beautiful song. I mean, besides having really good biblical theology, it's just a beautiful, melody. And I would encourage people maybe go listen to that song, God in Three Persons, Blessed Trinity. And I always wondered if, the writer of that great hymn, holy, Holy, Holy maybe was Inspired by Isaiah 6.
In the last years of his life, King Uzziah had leprosy
But let me say something here. Just maybe this is an observation, and maybe it's, erroneous. Uzziah and Isaiah are kind of similar, you know? And I wonder if Isaiah, I've just wondered what's going through his mind. In the year that King Uzziah died, he. He has this vision, okay? The name Isaiah, the prophet Isaiah is a Hebrew word, and it's derived from the word for Yeshua. You know, God saves Isaiah. salvation is of the Lord or salvation is of God. Now, King Uzziah, his name means the Lord is my strength and my power. But here's the thing. In the last years of his life, King Uzziah had leprosy. and there's kind of two reasons, Bert, I wanted to study about, why he maybe got leprosy. Because very often leprosy was a sign of judgment. And in the golden age, and some of the great years were sort of slipping away, even before he died. But here's the thing. In 2 Kings 15, you get the impression that, Uzziah was stricken with leprosy because he really failed to rid the kingdom of idolatry. Now, also, he sinned by entering the temple and personally burning incense on the altar. That was something Saul did. Saul, intruded into the priesthood, and Uzziah really did as well. But in his last years of his life, he had leprosy. And, you know, he was not able to lead as he really should have led.
Bert Harper Yeah, one, one mistake can really cripple a ministry, a service, again, not your salvation. You can get forgiveness. But, mistake in leadership can really cost the individual. And as it did here. I agree with you. A nation.
Bert Feels says Isaiah's vision shows God's holiness
And so here it is. As he saw this happening, Isaiah has this vision, and we've talked about it, him on God on the throne. And verse two is interesting because it says above it stood seraphim. Now this is the only time in scripture that you'll find seraphim. It has the idea of fire. Whatever these, angelic beings, they, they're. There's something about fire, about that. And each one had six wings. And again, their face, their feet are covered in other. That. Listen, I think it has to do with Isaiah's call, what he saw, where he would go. And with two, they did fly. And one cried to another, holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts. The whole earth is full of his glory. Now, Alex, I think this is a picture. Okay. He's on his throne. The seraphim are flying all around. And no matter from what angle they are, guess what they see. Holy. They go to just a, few flaps of the wings. Okay, yes, they fly a little bit. Guess what they see. Holy. No matter where their angle is from, no matter of their position, God is holy. That's the holiness of God. And I don't know of any other passage that demonstrates this any greater. There's some that may be equal, you know, the Shekinah glory coming down. And I understand that in the temple, but here it is Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts. All the host of heaven at his command. All the whole earth is full of his glory. And Alex, the glory of God, guess what? That's what we're to serve him for, that he would get glory and honor. And so that was what they were doing in heaven. Guess what? It's what we need to do here on earth as well.
Alex McFarland You know, we've often said this. There is a certain three ness to the created world. You know, Psalm 19 says the heavens and earth bear witness to the glory of God. And there's, you know, people that are creative or artistic, you can note what they've created. I mean, a Frank Lloyd Wright house or building. You can tell his style of architecture. And, Ed Lowenstein was another mid century modern. And you can tell what they create? Well, you, you can tell this created world. And I want to connect this to holy, holy, holy. Okay. Father, Son, Holy Spirit, God is Trinity. One God, but three persons. And we've often talked about how we humans created in the image of God are spirit, soul and body. And the word is tripartite. But Bert, I think about the created world, past, present, future, length, width, height, liquid, solid, gas. There's eternity past, the present era, eternity, future. Just as the creation bears witness to the nature of the creator, these seraphim and the word there, seraphim means to burn, like you say, any direction, any part of reality. they say holy, holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts. The whole earth is full of his glory. Bert, I just think there's so much in verse three there, not only about the creation, the creator, but heaven and earth's response to it. Holy, holy, holy. Glory to God, the Maker, the Savior. We can't say it enough, can we?
Bert Harper We need to sing that song again and again. Holy, holy, holy. He is holy. And he says for us. Be you, be holy, for I am, holy. Let's serve him. Let's serve him with joy and gladness and do as the seraphim just praise him. He's full of glory. Preborn's whole mission is to rescue babies from abortion and lead their families to Christ. Last year, Preborn's network of clinics saw 8,900 mothers come to Christ. Please join us in this life saving mission. To donate, go to preborn.com afr.
Alex McFarland These days my heart's always on the run these days the world's spinning out of control.
Caroline These days are fast and the Furious.
Alex McFarland Feels like the worst is ahead of us.
Alex McFarland and Bert Harper discuss Isaiah in this podcast
Welcome back to Exploring the word. Alex McFarland here along with Bert Harper. We're so honored that you're listening. And we are in Isaiah, of course, as we always do. Later on we'll get to your Bible questions. If you have a Bible question, we'd love for you to call in, but, very famous scene. Isaiah has, this vision. And the glory of the Lord fills the temple. And these seraphim, these angelic beings with six wings each, they just can move any direction. And everywhere they look and everywhere they go, they say, holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts. Now, verse four, fascinating says. And the posts of the door moved or shook at the voice of him that cried. And the house was filled with smoke. Bert, have you ever maybe heard a thunderclap so loud that it just really rattled the windows. I mean, it's very unsettling if you hear some boom or thunderclap that is so loud the building. Shakespeare. And, that's what kind of was going on here.
Bert Harper It really is when you do. Don't even have one to say between the lightning and the sound, you know, it's closing and. And loud. And here it is, the post of the door. They were shaken. Now, that's the most power. You know, you want to have that place where you go in. And it was shaken by the voice of him just now think about the voice. This voice is that powerful, but it's also a voice that is so tender that a, still small voice, and that is our God, who is. Is just beyond description, but also tender and caring toward those that he loves. And the house was filled with the smoke. In other words, we talking about the vapor there. I believe I may be reading into this, and I bring this up quite often. There's some mysteriousness about God. You know, there's a mystery concerning him. And usually when smoke is involved in something like this, there's this mystery vapor, you know, seeing what's going on. And, so here it is, this great God revealing himself to Isaiah. And at this point in life, when it transitioned in a government and also a transition in his life, I think it says, these are the times when we are probably more vulnerable to want to know God. What do you want me to do now? I think that's where Isaiah is, Alex.
Alex McFarland Amen. Amen.
Isaiah says in verse five, I am undone, it means destroyed
You know, I don't want to read too much in here, but let me read, something. And I want to talk about a word in verse six. But in verse five, Isaiah says, woe is me, for I am undead because I'm a man of unclean lips. I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips, for my eyes have seen the king, the Lord of hosts, he says. And really the word there, when he says, I am undone, it means destroyed. You know, very distraught and destroyed. Here's the booming voice of an angel. The voice that made the building shake was really the voice of one of those seraphim. And, so imagine, the voice of the Lord. But, here's the thing. He admits very quickly, you know, I'm a sinful person, and I see the holiness of God. Then flew one of the seraphim unto me, having a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar. And he laid it upon my mouth and said, lo, this hath touched Thy lips, thine iniquity is taken away and thy sin is purged. Bert, let me say this. A live coal, for one thing. The Bible says our God is a consuming fire. And it's been said that when we accept Christ and we're clothed in his righteousness, that the righteousness of Christ is like a fireproof suit, or maybe a holy proof suit. Because before the holiness of God, a, sinful, fallen, carnal, reprobate, sinner cannot stand. And just like this coal, this burning coal is like the fire of God's righteousness. But also notice that seraphim has to grab it with tongs. You know, that's the grace of God. Whether it be the leaves that covered Adam and Eve in the garden, whether it be the. The fur of a lamb that covered them, whether it be the righteousness of Christ. Post resurrection, the righteousness of Christ, is imputed to us who believe, or these tongs, because the eternal power, holiness, righteousness of God, I don't think we could handle it without getting consumed.
Bert Harper You're right. Because you remember when the glory of God passed by Moses, he. He hid him in the cleft of the rock and put his hand up. It was so great.
Bert says chapter six of Isaiah speaks about cleansing and calling
Going back to verse five, Woe is me. This is really, I think, significant. If you remember chapter five, we covered that Thursday, there were six different woes concerning that message that he preached. Now this chapter six precedes that far as chronological order is concerned. Now, he waited to chapter six to tell you about it. Why? I think it's because he pronounced these woes and they would say, what? Who are you that would pronounce woes on us? And in his calling, I think he legitimized, I. Hey, I know what God can do, what he wants to do for you and clean you up. He's done for me and cleaned me up. This is a testimony of, of what God can do. So he said, woe is me. And that was his response. But before, in chapter five, as he had preached this message, he said he's relating to him. Now, while he had authority to preach, while he could say woe and say, listen, this is what you need to do to clean up your act. And so he does that with such beauty. And then the other thing I'd like to say is the touching your lips, I could not help but think of the prophet, Daniel. You remember, that same thing, not necessarily the coals, from the altar, but God would touch Daniel again and again in his messages. The Lord has touched me And I could not help but think of the Gaither song. He Touched me. We're. We're singing some songs, this time in Holy, Holy, Holy. And then he touched me. But. But he touched me. And when he touches us, Alex, I want to tell you we're never the same. And so Isaiah was never the same. And he. He heard the voice of God after the cleansing. After the cleansing, he heard the voice of God before that, as you said, the angel. And he responded, but now it's the voice of God. I think it says something about us. If we want to know God's will for our lives, we need to confess our sin. We need to get right with God, receive his forgiveness, and say, lord, here am I. I want to know what you want me to do. But if we're just living our lives and letting sin run rapid in our lives, and we're okay, I want to hear from God. I'm not sure you'll get a clear voice or a clear picture of what God wants you to do, Alex.
Alex McFarland Well, I know. I know. And, you know, it is a journey, and we are supposed to pursue that and respond. And we're going to see Isaiah does that in just a moment. By the way, if you were teaching through Isaiah 6, like I said, it's very brief, 13 verses. this is almost the way the book kind of naturally divides verses 1 through 4, verses 5 through 7, and verses 8 through 13. And, Bert, here's kind of how I see it is the vision, the cleansing, and the calling.
Bert Harper That's it, really.
Alex McFarland And by the way, let me encourage you. I know we have Sunday school teachers that listen, and we have some pastors, too. the Bible just seems to outline itself, really, and this is one of those examples. But, the seraphim takes the tongs, and you know what tongs are like. You know, you pick, up the salad tongs or the implements next to the fireplace. But that live coal, that burning coal, which I think represents the righteousness of God. you know, it's too hot to handle with their bare hands, but the angel lays it on his mouth and says, lo, this hath touched thy lips. Thine iniquity is taken away. Thy sin is purged. Do you know what? When we get saved and we turn to Jesus, that happens with us, that our iniquity is taken away and our sin is purged. when we put our faith in Christ. But verse 8 is a transition also. I heard the voice of the Lord saying, whom shall I send? And who will Go for us then, said I, here am I. Send me. Bert, let me just say that we've got trinitarian monotheism here.
Bert Harper You do? Yes.
Alex McFarland I is a singular. There's one God. Us, is a plural. There's three persons in the Godhead. And I want to be very clear. There is one God and one God only. That's called monotheism. M like Deuteronomy 6. Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God is one and yet eternally existent as Father, Son, Holy Spirit. I don't understand it. I absolutely believe it, because that's how God has presented himself in Scripture. But, Bert, I think that Isaiah 6, 8. There's a bit of a covert reference to the trinitarian nature of God in there.
Bert Harper I'm not so sure it's covert as much. It's plain. Because if you go back to Genesis when it talks, let us make us make God. And, man in our image. And he talks about the Father, he talks about the Spirit moving on the face of the deep. And you get to three, and you talk about that one that will bruise the serpent's head. You know, it's pretty clear.
Adrian Rogers: Somebody needs to start praying for revival
One thing I would say, I heard this early on in a sermon, and it was to youth. And so it, was talking about, is God calling you into ministry. Is God calling you to be a missionary, a pastor? And when God calls, you don't say, here am I. Send Jeremiah, you know, here am I.
Alex McFarland Send Bert.
Bert Harper Don't. Don't send me. Send anybody but me. No, Isaiah, after he saw the vision, he heard the voice. Yes, Lord, here am I. Send me. I pray that would be. I pray that would be everyone out there, Lord, anywhere, anytime, anything. I'm willing. that's what Isaiah did. Go right ahead.
Alex McFarland I've met a lot of people, but guess who I've never met somebody else. And here's my point. you know, I'm on the road a lot, and folks come up and they'll say, you know, oh, this world, you know, we need a revival. Somebody needs to start praying for revival. And all these unsaved people, you know, we need, evangelism all over again. Somebody needs to witness to these Muslims. And so, well, folks, that somebody is you. And all of us, really. And here am I. That needs to be our mindset. Here am I. Send me. Well, God says, verse 9 and following. Go tell this people. But it's very interesting. Hear but understand, not see, but perceive not. the most unusual calling. Make the heart of this people fat. Their Ears heavy, shut, their eyes that they'll see, but they're not going to understand. Now, before we go to 11 through 13, let me just say this. Sometimes we have the ministry of conviction and salvation. But do you know, sometimes in proclaiming the truth, it's almost a ministry of condemnation. That's why, look, we don't compromise because, ah, and I know there are so many issues and you know, to preach about the moral issues of our day. Here's the thing. We are to preach the gospel even if it appears nobody is listening. Bill Bright, my evangelism professor, the very famous founder of Campus Crusade, he said, preach the gospel, the Bible, proclaim it, but leave the results up to God.
Bert Harper Amen. Amen. Alex, the new King James. This in the King James Version, doesn't necessarily, bring it across. It says, keep on hearing, but do not understand. They keep on seeing, but do not perceive. In other words, he's doing this continually. And when you keep on doing it, it's like Pharaoh, you know, God. How does God harden a heart? I think it explains it here. In other words, if a person hardens their heart to begin with and they hear the message a second time, guess what? It's the. It moves either further away if you do not respond. That's why the Bible says today's the day of salvation. You don't want to put salvation off those of you who are here in this today and you're not right with God. You need to get right with God today. First of all, you're not assured of tomorrow. And the second time, the more you say no, the more you hear, the greater. Now it's still a responsibility of yours to, to turn. But listen, you need to do it. And do not let your heart grow hard. Verses 11 through 13. We got about two minutes here. And how long. How long should I keep on doing this, Alex, is what he asked, isn't it?
Alex McFarland Until the cities be wasted without inhabitant, the houses without man, and the land be utterly desolate. in other words, God is telling Isaiah your, ministry to a large degree is going to fall on deaf ears. And, sometimes I think that about what, Don Wildmon, Chuck Colson, James Dobson, Adrian Rogers. I mean, the last 50 years there have been some of the greatest thinkers and communicators, I think, in the entire church age.
Bert Harper I agree, I agree.
Alex McFarland And yet the western world is pretty sin sick. folks, I think we need to pray and seek a great revival, a great awakening. Will America repent? I don't know. But my job is to live it and proclaim it. I, need to get my own heart right. But we are even. Just like Isaiah. what if Isaiah said, well, no, Lord, I'm not going to do this. If there's not going to be a big visible return. No thanks. We are to proclaim truth and righteousness and then what people do with it is between them and God.
Bert Harper But it ends on a promise whose stump remains when it is cut down. So the holy seed shall be its stump. Guess what? It's that root out of the dry ground. Alex. Hallelujah. The remnant remains and God's purpose remains. We're going to take phone calls. That phone number is 8885-8988-4088-8589-8840. We would love to hear your Bible question today on Exploring the Word.
Documentary proves God is real and His Word is the ultimate authority
Alex McFarland As we watch world events unfold and fulfill scripture, it's hard to believe anyone could doubt God and his Word are real. And yet there are so many who either question or completely refuse to believe it. The God who speaks is a 90.
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Alex McFarland On with evidence that proves God is real and His Word is the ultimate authority. Watch it anytime and invite others to watch with you. Just visit stream.afa.net that's stream.aca.net
Bert Harper Amen. Good song. Great work Brent. Appreciate the songs. And I love that one as well.
Alex: We now have six grandchildren, 8 pounds, 14 ounces
Well, Alex, I. I've got an announcement for, for something Jan and I have been waiting for a little while about this. We now have six grandchildren. Okay. we've had five for a while. But now we have a little girl and we're so thankful for her. 8 pounds, 14 ounces.
Alex McFarland Congratulations.
Bert Harper Yes, we're so thankful for her. We started with a granddaughter, then had four grandsons and now we got another granddaughter. So we're so thankful. Now those of you that go and shop and all you've done ever shop for boys, then you're shopping for a little girl. Get ready. There's this four times. Much to pick from for little girls. And there are little boys, I can just tell you that. So. But anyway, I just want to say congratulations to our son Matthew and praise God for his wife Billie. Little girl born and we're thankful.
Alex McFarland Well, congratulations to God be the glory. That is wonderful. That is wonderful. Hey, let me make a quick little announcement here. Next summer I'm going to be at the COVID the Billy Graham Training Center. What a great honor to be invited. July 17 through 19. I'll be there teaching Bible prophecy, the book that Bert and I just released. But then I'll be there another time as well, at the end of July, doing, an apologetic session with Gary Habermas. And the website is thecove.org, t h e c o v e thecove.org and, a trip to the COVID to do a deep dive into God's word and fellowship with people from all over the world, literally. Plus, eat good food and see good scenery. Make a good Christmas gift. So check out thecove.org and we'd love to see you next summer in the western mountains of North Carolina.
Bert Harper Amen. It would be a blessing. The COVID and Alex both. So, make your way there. Let's go to the phone lines and go to Speaking of North Carolina, Deborah from North Carolina. Welcome. Hi. Yes, go right ahead. Yes.
Caroline And I'll probably be at the cold with you because I live in North Carolina.
Alex McFarland Well, amen.
Caroline Praise the Lord. Look at God.
Alex: Where is the fine line in eternal security if we don't repent
All right, so my question is, if we're talking about eternal security, where is the fine line in eternal security if we don't repent? If I sin today and I don't repent, or, repentance is nowhere in my heart, my mind, my soul, but yet I'm eternally secure, my mind can't fathom that that is, that it's the way. Eternal security. I don't understand it. So could you explain eternal security me? And where did it come from? how did we get to that point that, this doctrine is being actually taught?
Bert Harper Okay, let me say our sins, past, present, and future. Deborah was taken care of on the cross where Jesus Christ prayed. Father, forgive them. They don't know what they do. Now, was he. He just forgiven those that were past or, were sinners, those that are present or those in the future because of Jesus sufficiency and his sacrifice, those of us who have trusted him by faith, our sins are forgiven. He's moved them as far as the east is from the west. Alex, take it away.
When we trust Christ, there's two aspects. There's regeneration and then there's sanctification
Alex McFarland Yeah, this really falls into the, topic of salvation or justification. And, you know, in the aftermath of, Protestantism coming all through Europe during the 1500s, and we're really, even to this very present day, riding on the ripple effect of the Protestant Reformation. I want to be on record and say I do believe in what is called eternal security. Because when we trust Christ, I mean, there's two aspects. There's, regeneration, and then there's sanctification. Now, regeneration, is that the moment you trust Jesus, your spirit is made alive. Your sins are washed away. Positionally, you are now and forevermore in Christ. Sanctification, though, is about our day by day walk. And every day we're supposed to be growing closer to the Lord. The verse, Hebrews 6:6, it says if it is impossible. Hebrews 6:4, 6. Really? for those who have tasted the heavenly gift, enlightened, if they fall away, to renew them again to repentance. Now, most scholars would say Hebrews 6:4:6 are people who knew about God. They knew all about Jesus. They knew they should turn to Christ, but they didn't. And so, Bert, I want to be very clear, and I'll throw it back to you. eternal security. Another verse. The color asks, where did it come from? Well, I think about John 10:28. Christ said, I give to them the believer. I give to them eternal life, and they will never perish. Nothing can pluck us out of his hand. But as Paul addresses in Romans, this is not a license to sin, is it?
Bert Harper It is not. Let me read this. And again, you know sin, we never come to the place where we are sinless. We may sin less and we can confess our sins. But listen to this. It says in all things, we're more than conquerors through him who loved us. Paul says, for I am persuaded that doesn't mean almost no, completely persuaded that neither death, nor life, angels, nor principalities, powers, nor things present, nor things to come, height, nor depth, nor any other created thing shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus, our Lord. Alex, the whole idea. We confess our sin as soon as we should, we better confess our sin. David did when he was pointed out by Nathan, we need to confess our sins, but. But if we die in unconfessed sin, that sin has been forgiven by the Lord Jesus Christ. His blood washes us white as snow. And that doesn't give us a license to sin, like you said in Romans 8, but it does give us the reality of, our salvation that's in Christ Jesus, and it's in him alone. Deborah, we hope that helps.
Michelle asks Alex how big you think God might be
Let's go to West Virginia. Myshel, thank you for calling. Go right ahead.
Caroline I was wanting to know when it talks about the road being as big as the church. I imagine my church, and then I imagined out all the material that would take to make a robe, and then the embroidery and everything and to fill it up. That probably be about £400. So I was just curious about how big you think God might Be.
Bert Harper How big is God, Alex? let me see. The scripture comes to my mind, I'll just give it to you and you probably tell me where it is that he can hold the water and scoop it out with his hands. M. You know.
Alex McFarland Oh, yes. Yeah. I mean, he is bigger than the universe. He is CS Lewis talking about Christmas. He said, in the Bethlehem manger was, something bigger than the universe itself. The babe in the manger was bigger than the universe itself. And so, you know, it really is amazing to think about the vastness of God and yet he wants a relationship with us. Do you remember Jesus said, the father seeketh such to worship him.
Bert Harper Yes.
Alex McFarland And I mean, that's how Bert, earlier I was on a call today and, we were talking about people who just don't feel like they know their identity or their purpose or do they have any worth or value. And people, sometimes they want to find like self worth in a lot of dead end streets. Folks understand this. You matter enough that almighty God wants to be a part of your life. And God demonstrated his love in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. None of us can comprehend the magnificence or the, you know, infinity of Almighty God. And yet he wants to live in our human heart.
Bert Harper It's amazing. Grace is amazing. God is amazing. I hope that helps.
John in Indiana has a prayer request for you on Tuesday
Myshel, let's go to John in Indiana. John, thank you for calling.
Caroline Yes, sir, I have a prayer request. I have a friend of mine, she's I believe 19 years old. She just had a baby. It'll be three weeks old coming up this Friday. Just got a call that they both have Covid. I would like you guys to pray for one.
Bert Harper Okay, we'll do it. John, thank you for calling in. That reminds me, tomorrow is prayer request day, so you guys get ready for that. We love Tuesdays. Father, I pray for John right now. Thank you. For a friend that would be a friend to ask people to pray for this, this young, this young mother, three week old child and father, they're probably struggling for breath and going through all the difficulties. Father, I pray that you would touch them. you are the great physician. That doesn't mean we don't get medical help or assistance. But Father, it does mean we trust you. And I pray you would use the physicians and the technicians and all of those to help them to be, healed again. We pray this and ask you this in Jesus name. Amen. Amen. John. Thank you.
Gene: Matthew 25 says they asked for oil because their lamps had gone out
Let's go to Texas. And it's Gene. Gene thank you for calling.
Caroline Hi there. my question is out of Matthew 25, where it talks about the 10 virgins.
Bert Harper Yes.
Caroline Okay. my question is, it says they asked for oil because their lamps had gone out. So to me, that's indicating that they did have oil in their lamp. Is that, wrong to think, that.
Bert Harper Okay, they'd ran out of lamps. And again, we're looking at a. This is a story, Alex. the ten virgins. And it's talking about looking and wedding and everything. And the Holy Spirit usually is represented by oil, isn't it? Is it He? I should say he, yes.
Alex McFarland You know, like in Psalm 133, it talks about the oil coming down Aaron's beard. And the oil does represent the indwelling Holy Spirit. Here's one of the key verses, verse 6 of Matthew 25. And at midnight there was a cry made. And behold, the bridegroom came. go ye, out to meet him. And all the virgins arose and trimmed their lamps, or tried to, in other words, showed the fire that was, there. And the foolish said of the wise, give us of your oil, for our lamps are gone out. And here's my point. It represents the preparedness of one's life. the ten foolish. I mean the five that were foolish and didn't have any oil and therefore could not demonstrate any fire or the presence of God. Maybe they knew about it. But the time to get the oil in your lamp is during the daylight hours.
Bert Harper Amen.
Alex McFarland The night cometh, and it's too late.
Bert Harper That's it, Gene.
Alex McFarland It represents saved and lost. And, nightfall is coming, folks. It, might be your own physical death. Might be the time Christ returns, but the daylight hours in which to seek the Lord. Find him. Be filled with his spirit. it's not forever, is it, Bert?
Bert Harper Satan is saying, wait till tomorrow.
Alex McFarland Wait till you got more time.
Bert Harper Yeah, you got more time. Listen, get right with God and do it now. Thank you, Gene. Let's go to Kentucky. Steve. Thank you for calling.
Caroline Yeah, good afternoon, Burton. Alex and I want to thank you for your steadfast support for Israel and the Jewish people.
Alex McFarland Amen.
Caroline thank you very much.
Bert Harper Praise God.
Is Isaiah 66:24 an Old Testament reference to hell
Caroline My question is Isaiah 66, verse 24. It's the last verse in the book of Isaiah. Is that an Old Testament reference to hell?
Bert Harper Okay, Alex, are you there already?
Alex McFarland I'm not there yet. I had turned over to the New Testament. do you have that Isaiah 66?
Bert Harper Here it is. I'll read it.
Alex McFarland Okay.
Bert Harper And they shall go forth and look upon the corpses of men who have transgressed against me. For their worm does not die and their fire is not quenched. They shall be as an abhorrence to all flesh. Again, we're talking about the new heavens and the new earth in verses 22. And. And then all of a sudden, it talks about all flesh shall come to worship before me. And then it talks about those others that I think that did not. Alex, go ahead.
Alex McFarland Yeah, I think so, because, it's quoted in Mark, chapter 944 and 46. And so, yes, I do think it is referenced to hell, because Mark 9:43:44 says, it is better to, go into heaven with a hand or a body part lost than with two hands to go into hell into the fire that is never quenched. Now, Mark 9:44, speaking of hell, quotes Isaiah 66:24, where their worm dieth not and the fire is not quenched. And then it's quoted again in Mark 9:46. So I think since the Lord Jesus in Mark 9 quotes Isaiah 66:24 in the context of some who go to hell. Yeah, I think that's what that's talking about.
Bert Harper Especially when it's in the context there. when you read it in Isaiah, it's in that context.
Benny from Pennsylvania says America in need of a great revival
We got time for one more call. Benny from Pennsylvania. Benny, we don't have a lot of time, but go right ahead, brother.
Caroline Well, brothers, I, thank the Lord for you all. And it's funny, I work at a mission here where I deal with a hundred broken and lost souls every day. And, the last several days, I' crying out and asking Lord, like the brother said earlier, we're in time of need of a great revival. The scripture I've been really pondering over is when Jesus says, if I'll be lifted up, I'll draw all men to you. And I just been asking the Lord, how do we, as believers, in a practical, applicable way, day in and day out, lift him up because he's the one who draws men. And that's what we want. For all to come to know Jesus as their Lord and Savior. So talking about this subject was an, encouraging word. And, I didn't think I would get through, but I did.
Bert Harper Thank you, Benny. Okay, listen. Live your life for an audience of one. Please him. If our life, everything we do, will it please the Father? Will it please the Father? If it doesn't please the Father? We need to lay it down, Alex. And then be ready to give an answer of the faith. That is in us still. Even in a revival, we're saved one at a time.
Alex McFarland Amen. you know, John 12:32, the caller mentioned Jesus said, if I be lifted up and so many things divide people nowadays, man, you can bring up any subject, but keep Jesus way out front. Jesus who loved the world, gave his life, and whosoever will may turn to him. Let's do that, folks. Every one of us. Let's at look. Lift up Jesus. Well, this is exploring the Word. We're going to resume again tomorrow, good Lord willing. So tell somebody about exploring the Word, if you would, American Family Radio. Most of all, though, tell everybody about Jesus. The views and opinions expressed in this.
Bert Harper Broadcast may not necessarily reflect those of.
Alex McFarland The American Family association or American Family Radio.
Isaiah 6:1-13: Isaiah's Call
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