American Family Radio takes your Bible questions live on American Family Radio

>> Jeff Chamblee: 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. Stay with American Family Radio for the next hour as we study God's word and take your Bible questions.

Jeff Chambly looks at action words in Titus chapter three

Welcome to Exploring the Word.

>> Bert Harper: In Titus chapter three. There's four action words that I looked at and I thought, man, this is powerful and I want to share them with you. And then Jeff Chambly and I will discuss this as Alex McFarland's on the road again. And but he'll be back tomorrow, far as we know. And if he doesn't get a delay in the airport and all the connections are right, we'll be good. But the action words, verse one, remind. Then skip all the way down to verse nine. The rest of them are instructions about what to remind them or avoid. Don't go there. Don't do this yourself. Verse 10 is even more reject. I mean, don't receive it, don't just don't receive it, but reject it. And then verse 13, a little bit sinned. they were two men there that God was ready, Paul was ready to have them come to him and he said, send them. So we want to look at those action words and everything in between it today, Jeff. But, but those action words, what you do after teaching and preaching for m. Years, 50 some odd years, you find certain things that you look for. Everybody knows I look for repeated words and you look for conjunctions because they really do turn things. And then you look for action words. Those action words really precede information that we desperately need. Guess what? That's what good teaching is. Even today we have. You know, you should action points. A lot of times in sermons, different people do it different ways, but they'll, they'll preach a sermon and they'll say, okay, the action points are for you. In other words, you've worshiped, but worship's not complete until the work has commenced.

>> Jeff Chamblee: That's good.

>> Bert Harper: You know, we at church we worship the Lord, but Jesus was always sending them out right after that.

>> Jeff Chamblee: That's very good. Sort of ties the whole passage together.

>> Bert Harper: It really does. It really does.

Paul tells believers to be subject to rulers and authorities

Are you ready to dig into chapters?

>> Jeff Chamblee: Yeah, I'm excited about this.

>> Bert Harper: Okay. How about you? Doing a lot of the reading today. You want to read verses? I'd say one through three first.

>> Jeff Chamblee: Okay. Titus, chapter three, Titus writes. Paul, writes to Titus. Remind them to be subject to rulers and authorities, to obey, to be ready for every good work. To speak evil of no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing all humility to all men. For we ourselves were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hating and hating one another.

>> Bert Harper: Okay, the reason I had you to stop there, there's a conjunction. Next, we're going to save it for last.

>> Jeff Chamblee: That's good.

>> Bert Harper: But I know there's a lot of things that could grab you, but the one that grabs me, we also were once like them. you know.

>> Jeff Chamblee: Yeah, that's the reason.

>> Bert Harper: That's the reason. And is he. I think this is evangelistic. I think this is, you know, in other words, you need to show something different than those guys. And this is citizens, you know, obeying authorities over them. And he is saying, you need to be a different kind of citizen. Not one that is contrary, not one that's looking a way to avoid or, you know, avoid obeying the law, but do it right. You catch what.

>> Jeff Chamblee: He starts there with being subject to rulers and authorities. And as you think about the writings of Paul, actually, I mean, you're going to go back to Romans 13, where he gives a lot of time and space to this. It's important to obey the rulers and authorities. And Brother Byrd, at this time in Rome, they weren't good people in authority, but the believers were to be, honoring to them, to be subject to them as good citizens, as you've said, to give an example to the people.

>> Bert Harper: Who would look at the church and they were suspicious of Christians anyway. And he said, I don't want to give them any more reason to be suspicious. I want them to see that, to obey. Now, okay, that is a. I do believe that you got to look at that, obedience. That does not break obvious God's law. There. There are some areas, you know, it's like a wife being subject to her husband. A husband wants her to help him rob a bank. It's time for her to say, no, no, you catch. There's limitations on that. That area. It's also limitations on obeying the law. they told Peter and John, don't you speak anymore in the name of Jesus. That was the authority. That was the law. And Peter said, we can't help but speak and say the things that we've seen and heard. So, there's that you. And what it says, you don't look for it. You know, how can I. You know, how can I show them disrespect? How. No, you want to show disrespect until the time comes where, like Martin Luther, when he, you know, I can do no other. The authority over him, the Pope, the, you know, all the authority. But he said, I, you know, I can't, I can do no other. So there's that line. Would you call it a red line? You know that.

>> Jeff Chamblee: Yeah, I think so. Most of the times it's not a matter of the, the. Those in authority putting something on Christians that would make them go against their faith. That's rare actually. I mean we saw that in the COVID season with church churches being told do not meet. And obviously people chose to obey God rather than men. But most of the time it's Are you going to pay your taxes?

>> Bert Harper: Exactly.

>> Jeff Chamblee: Are you going to drive the speed limit? are you going to take something that doesn't belong to you?

>> Bert Harper: That's the whole idea.

>> Jeff Chamblee: Those are those small things. We call them small things, but those are the things that most of us are facing.

>> Bert Harper: Exactly. But it is that issue that sometimes we at American Family association, we look at. We, we share alerts which gives danger of certain laws going into effect that would affect the church, affect believers, affect the family and try to alert them. And so if they were passed there, there's that line of demarcation. But here you're exactly right. He's talking about being good citizen, paying your taxes, obeying the laws, of that God forth to be ready for every good work, that being ready. Look for the opportunity. That's what the high ideal was, Jeff. Look for the opportunity to do these good works. Don't just no, look for it.

>> Jeff Chamblee: That's good. The word works.

The Christian is to be about doing charitable deeds, Jeff says

You talked about words that stand out to you. The word works in this epistle. Stand out to me. It's used seven times in this epistle. I think four times in chapter three alone. And he differentiates between the works that we do out of being saved and the works that, that we don't perform to be saved. so he makes a distinction there. But, but the Christian is to be about doing, good charitable deeds. works as, as he says in.

>> Bert Harper: This chapter, look for the opportunity to help someone. Make sure you're helping them and not enabling them. Now I know I'm coming up and like the obedience and say okay, that's so far. And like helping people. A lot of times that help is enabling them to stay in their sin, to stay in their addiction. And I all I know two things. The. Well, three things. The word of God first, the Holy Spirit of giving you strength and Accountability and help from others to help you. Am I enabling or am I helping? And, sometimes when you're in a relationship, it's hard for that person to know the difference. Am I enabling them or I am I helping them? And, again, there's that red line that. Do you see why the Holy Spirit is so important in our lives, Jeff?

>> Jeff Chamblee: You know, we wouldn't be Christians without the Holy Spirit. There's a good reason.

>> Bert Harper: I don't know about you, but I'm desperate for him because I. Because I. My brain can go, okay, but. Okay, but, you know, so God help me, is my prayer. Help me to know and do and follow verse three, speak evil of no one. In other words, man, listen, it's going to get. Let me go ahead and look at this, and I got to bring it in. it talks about the kindness in verse four. But when the kindness and the love of God, our savior toward man appeared, that word kindness just got me m. So I reverted back. Speak evil of no man. Speak the truth in love. When you know, sure, you're to look at it, you're to know it, but speak the truth in love, find a way to say it. and again, that's hard to do. I'm desperate for the Holy Spirit again, Jeff.

>> Jeff Chamblee: And you look at this culture where, meekness was not valued. I mean, the Roman Empire didn't look favorably upon those who were kind and gentle. They were all about strength. Bert, I'm reminded of a lady that I go to church with, and we were in this conversation about how difficult it can be to work sometimes in a secular environment. She, works to collect debts on the phone. And so she's dealing with a confrontational situation and sometimes very angry people. But she always. She's a great believer, loves the Lord and tries to lower the temperature of the conversation, to speak kindly, to explain things. And I thought about her when I was reading this chapter because we have opportunities that we can speak kindly and softly and gently to people that will make all of the difference.

>> Bert Harper: That kindness, again, you don't find it. Oh, God didn't call us to be kind. Yeah, he did. He did, he did. And then he talks about, going on showing all humility to all men. James talks about that preferential treatment for certain people, you know, no humility for all. Put yourself in their positions. Put their. In all humility in all men. In the Roman Empire, you. Not quite as bad as India today to have all the caste system. Yeah, the caste system. But it Rome Wasn't far from that. They had, you know, you is here, this one is here. And according to. Well, you treat all men. The church would be made up of what? Male and female, rich and poor, slave, bond and free, you know. Yeah, it's amazing the church, it was a completely different idea even in that day, Jeff, that all these people from different everywhere else would come together.

>> Jeff Chamblee: Only Jesus, only, only in Christ can that happen.

>> Bert Harper: Amen. Amen. Let it happen.

Jeff: Romans chapter three talks about humble attitudes toward one another

Okay, verse. I think we'll get through a verse three here. For we ourselves were once foolish. Look at this list. Paul is famous for his list now. I don't like this one.

>> Jeff Chamblee: It's not what you want to have.

>> Bert Harper: Foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lust and pleasures given, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another. that's what we once were and we. Oh, I didn't act that way. As a man thinketh in his heart so easy. if, if you didn't act it out, I think the attitudes could be there, you know, even as a 12 year old boy, I got saved as a 12 year old boy. God really changed my life as a 12 year old boy and I, I could, I could see the difference in my actions. But man, I had to bring every thought subject under the power of the Holy Spirit. I'm glad God put that in there that we're to bring every thought under his power. Jeff.

>> Jeff Chamblee: That humble attitude that we're to have toward one another, speaking kindly and the basis of that is because you remember what you were, you know, it promotes humility toward the unsaved. It promotes long suffering and patience toward the unsaved. When we remember. Look, how long was God patient with me? How long did he bear with me? Now let me bear with somebody, let me be patient with somebody.

>> Bert Harper: So if you want to see, if you want to measure up, say has God done a work in my life and changed. Look at verse three and say okay, God that's, that's who I am in my natural sense. Has God intervened through the indwelling Holy Spirit to bring me out and do this now verse four. But when the kindness of the love of God, our Savior toward man appeared. But aren't you glad that conjunctions in there something happened and what was it according to verse five and we'll get back to this. The mercy of God, man, the mercy of God on us not to let us stay in that list of, in that list. That's the whole idea. That's what it was. But I am not anymore. Why? Because of Jesus Christ. But when? In other words, there was a time that Don't. Don't miss the win. That's. That's so important. When the kindness, and the love of God, our savior toward man appeared, it changed. It changed. Everything changed. Everything changed. And has that appearance? Is that what they see in your life? The Lord Jesus Christ? Well, Jeff, we're going to continue on in chapter three, and we're going to get to chapter three, verse five, and spend some time there. Is that all right with you? Sounds good. Hey, we'll be back in just a minute with Titus chapter three.

Preborn introduces mothers with unplanned pregnancies to their babies

You've heard a lot about saving babies on this show. That's because it's important to me personally. And let me just be frank with you. We need to save them. That is why we partnered with PreBorn, the nation's leader, in introducing mothers with unplanned pregnancies to their babies. And once she hears that heartbeat and sees that precious life growing inside of her, she is twice as likely to choose life. Now, that's a miracle. But quite honestly, if we don't save them, who will? Preborn receives no government funding, so their work is completely dependent on us. Preborn has rescued over 280,000 babies. And that's not all. They provide love, support, and counseling for up to two years for free. Saving lives and souls. One ultrasound is just $28. Or, $140 helps to rescue five babies. Abortion doesn't stop, so we can't. Together, you and I can save lives. Just call pound two five zero on your cell phone and say the key word baby. That's 250, baby. Or go to preborn.com, that's preborn.com right now.

>> Jeff Chamblee: Want that mountain to move right now.

>> Bert Harper: Want the ocean apart right now God, I'm looking for you and I'm wondering where you are. but why do I worry? God, I know you haven't failed me yet. Why do I worry? You prove it over and over again. Every, every, every time. Jesus.

American Family Radio Share a Thon is coming up next month

>> Jeff Chamblee: Exploring the Word on American Family Radio. I'm Jeff Shambley with Bert Harper. It is great to have you along with us this afternoon. We're having a great study and conversation on Titus, chapter three. But before we get back into our study, I want to remind you that our Share a Thon is coming up, next month, and in preparation for that, we're collecting stories. If American Family Radio has been a blessing in your life, we'd love to hear about it. We've set up A toll free number that you can call a brief minute or two testimonial and it could be that we would air that during shareathon. So let me give you the phone number. You can call that and leave a brief testimonial about ah, American Family Radio. The number is 877-876-8893. Once again, 877-876-88 93. We'd love to hear if American Family Radio has been a blessing to your life.

>> Bert Harper: Amen. Thank you, Jeff. Appreciate that. Verse four is still in the process of what he started out in, chapter, three, verse one. Remind, again, kindness, the love of God. Remind them m that when this change took place, we need to be. We be. I need to be mindful of that, that, that God. Now there's markers in my life. Over in the Old Testament you'll find out that they talked about the markers of the land, but also God put markers in our life, certain things happening, you know, and these markers usually demonstrate a change, something, you know, different. And so here it is M. And it talks about the kindness and love of God our Savior. And the change. What made the change from verse three to what they had experienced in the kindness and love of God, it wasn't works of righteousness, which we have done, but it was according to his mercy. He saved us through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit. Jeff, when I see that it wasn't. It wasn't my works, it wasn't my work, yes, I can do works of righteousness, but my heart doesn't change, you know, And God's work does, he does work complete within that works its way outward. And he says, but I love the word, but according to his mercy. Now I want to ask you this. How big is God's mercy?

>> Jeff Chamblee: It's infinite.

>> Bert Harper: So the change that he makes in our lives is what according to his mercy, according.

>> Jeff Chamblee: Is equally as big.

>> Bert Harper: It is.

>> Jeff Chamblee: Isn't that something?

>> Bert Harper: So that means he can take the person who's listening today and they. We have people that are incarcerated listening. A lot of them, man, they've done some difficult bad things. There's people that are listening and they know where they are and they're looking for help. According to his mercy, he can save us. Yeah, there is there sin, some sin so bad that God's love is not deeper still and stronger.

>> Jeff Chamblee: So good.

>> Bert Harper: It really according to.

>> Jeff Chamblee: A lot of people are afraid. They have, they have sinned too much to be saved.

>> Bert Harper: They really have.

>> Jeff Chamblee: And they they think, well, I need to keep the moral law. I need to keep the Ten Commandments. Well, God never intended for you to be saved by keeping the ten Commandments. You can't. As a matter of fact, it makes your sin worse if you try to do that. Paul says, but. But it's the coming to Christ in simple humility and saying, God, I'm condemned without you and I have to have your salvation, so please take me. I believe in Christ, I give my life to you. And God at the moment of regeneration, puts his Holy Spirit in you. And this deliverance from a life of bondage to sin, the master of sin, the realm and domain of sin is all taken away. And you are put in Christ so that you can bear fruit for God.

>> Bert Harper: He makes all things new. Yeah, that's exactly good.

>> Jeff Chamblee: It's that good.

>> Bert Harper: And notice after that, according to his mercy, he saved us. I'm not sure how Paul reacted when he was writing, but when I was reading. But according to his mercy, he saved us. you catch? That's the only way, the only way. It couldn't have been works of righteousness because Paul, I believe he went over that, you know, he was a Jew of the Jesus, he had the Hebrew, you know, you know, he had done all those things. But no, that wasn't salvation and, but God's mercy. According to that, he saved us through the washing of regeneration. The Holy Spirit again, the washing of regeneration and renewing. Both of those are what of the Holy Spirit? The Holy Spirit comes in, he indwells us. It's the cleansing power. what shall wash away my sin?

>> Jeff Chamblee: Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

>> Bert Harper: Nothing but the blood of Jesus. That song.

>> Jeff Chamblee: Nothing.

>> Bert Harper: only, Only Christ. And so the renewing of the Holy Spirit. we need to renew ourselves. Ourselves each, each day, each morning. you know that scripture in Psalms, it says, early will I seek the Again, the renewing of the Holy Spirit. He brought us into this relationship, but after he gets into this, after we get into this relationship with him. There go.

The Holy Spirit is everything, joining us to Christ and giving us that power

I want to bring up another song, a children's song. He's still working on me to make me what I ought to be. Okay, Jeff, I, I'm not going to bring up your age, but he's, he's still working on you.

>> Jeff Chamblee: Oh, listen, brother bird, you know, you look back, I'm 62. You look back at where you were, 20, 25, 30 years ago, and you think, well, how could I have even been saved? The things that I thought, the ways that I acted toward people and you think, you see. And that's one of the great comforts of being a believer. That's one of the great assurances. Because you say, I, know I'm not what I used to be. And that's what you know. I trust in what Christ did, in His Word. But I also know I am not what I used to be. And that's just. You can't doubt that. And that's why personal testimony is so powerful.

>> Bert Harper: It is. Those of you who are listening, if you've never been born again, you need to need to do it today. And you receive salvation. A friend that sticks closer than a brother. The Holy Spirit of God comes in you. I use this illustration. you know, I was a wannabe basketball player. I, played, but I didn't have the height nor the ability to do any further than high school. But in my brain I wanted to. And I thought, well, if somebody could have come along and given me lessons, well, I had a pretty good coach. I had others tell me, but God could do that. That's a guide. But if I had someone to come in, the ability to come into my body so that I could jump higher, you know, and have better vision over the basketball, the knowledge, man, I'd be. I could. I could make it. Isn't that what the Holy Spirit does in our life? He's not just outside, pointing the way. He's called the indwelling.

>> Jeff Chamblee: And he makes you want to keep the law.

>> Bert Harper: Yes, he does.

>> Jeff Chamblee: God, in Jeremiah 31, he speaks of the new Covenant. One of the things he does is write the law in our heart. Well, we would not want to obey the law apart from the Holy Spirit. But the Spirit of God makes us want to obey the law because we love the Lord. The Spirit of God also teaches us his word. He explains it to us. He seals us, he intercedes for us as we're praying, and we don't know what we should pray for. The Holy Spirit interprets those prayers before the Father. The Holy Spirit is everything, joining us to Christ and giving us that power to overcome sin.

>> Bert Harper: Jesus said, I'm going to go away. But he said, I'm going to send the comforter. I can say, have you ever heard somebody, oh, if I could have only walked with Jesus. And I said, okay, Jesus walked with them. What side beside. Oh, yes, that would be so great. And I say, well, what about the Holy Spirit in us? In us. I said, we haven't missed out on anything. We're going to See Jesus face to face one day. So we have it now. Notice this verse six. You ready to go to verse six? All right. Hm. Whom he poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior. Notice that he poured us out us abundantly. Okay, go. Look at those two words. Two a words. I look at them in verse five according to. And then in verse six, abundantly man. He. It wasn't a drip. Drip. I know. Showers of blessing, you know, for the showers of blessing I plead. You know, mercy drops are falling. But for the showers, the Holy Spirit is abundant. He, comes in. He comes in powerful. Now here's the whole idea. How much of him do we let him have? Control? You know, he. He's got my heart. okay. I need to bring every thought subject. That means that's a cooperation with him. God, I want you to have your indwelling spirit sin. But I want you to have every room of my life. Every area. A lot of folks have a junk drawer, even a junk room. And when visitors come, they'll show them everything. But they don't show them that room. Well, the Holy Spirit needs to be in every area of our life. There's no area of my life that needs to be excluded. That says off limits.

>> Jeff Chamblee: Yeah, and God will transform every area of your life. You know, he tells us to, to put off the old man with the corrupt nature and to put on the new man.

Hope is in Christ alone, man. Nothing else brings that hope

This whole idea of renewing our minds and washing our being washed in the Word. There's another word that, that is used for,

>> Bert Harper: What?

>> Jeff Chamblee: The power of the scripture in our hearts through the Holy Spirit, it washes us. And so there's this cleansing, there's this deliverance. I'm reminded what you said about the abounding. You know, Paul said where sin abounded, grace abounded. Much more. He uses that word much more. Whatever you have had in Adam, you've got a lot more in Christ.

>> Bert Harper: Amen. Amen. Read the book of Romans, those first few chapters much. And underline every time you come to the Word much more. There's some really stuff there. Okay. that having been justified by his grace, here we have it. Mercy and grace. Those two. We should become heirs. There's that word according to the hope of eternal life. Again, heirs of God join heirs. In other words, what Jesus has for us, we have. What God gave Jesus, we. We are heirs with him.

>> Jeff Chamblee: That's almost too big.

>> Bert Harper: That's beyond my comprehension. It is bigger than. That's my words.

>> Jeff Chamblee: It's almost, You don't say. Unbelievable, but it is. It stretches the imagination to think God would actually do that.

>> Bert Harper: Yeah, it does, but he does.

>> Jeff Chamblee: And it says it here that we are joint heirs with. We are heirs, according to the hope of eternal life. So you have something to live on now.

>> Bert Harper: Hope. Aren't you glad? You know, we look at first Corinthians, faith, hope and love. The greatest of these is love. We talk about love a lot. We talk about faith a lot. But right there in the middle is hope. Hope, man. The hope we have is in Christ alone. That's it. Nothing else brings that hope. And that hope is what it's now, but also it's eternal. And it's. It's that because of this relationship that we have with Christ, our hope is secure too.

>> Jeff Chamblee: And it's not a I hope so kind of hope. It is a confident assurance. Assurance of what God has said is going to happen. It's going to be true. It's an assurance. It's not wishful thinking, man.

>> Bert Harper: These a words are, according to. And you brought assurance in, you know, abundantly.

Those who believe in God should be careful to maintain good works

you know, you just noticed the Alphabet brewing. There is a sermon. Okay. Verse 8. Would you mind reading verses 8 through 11?

>> Jeff Chamblee: Yeah, here it is. This is a faithful saying. And these things I want you to affirm constantly that those who have believed in God should be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable to men. But avoid foolish disputes, genealogies, contentions and striving about the law, for they are unprofitable and useless. Reject a divisive man after the first and second admonition, knowing that such a person is warped and sinning, being self condemned.

>> Bert Harper: Wow. Okay. It is going through verse eight we find out be careful to maintain. And there's the. You talked about it started works. Maintain not our works of righteousness saves us, but we are to have good works that others would see Jesus in us. These things are good and profitable to me. And now who's it profitable and meaningful to? Everyone. It's good for me, it's good for those around me and it's for those that are watching me when I am, obeying the Lord, going back to that, being a good citizen, obeying the law, not acting like a was like he said, foolish meddling, you know, putting those things aside, you like I said, the old man, putting those aside and bringing on the new man who profits. Just everybody profits from that.

>> Jeff Chamblee: Jesus affirms, this in the Sermon on the Mount when he said, let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your father in heaven. So why. Why should you do that? Because other people are looking, and they can bring praise and worship to God when they see the good behavior of Christians.

>> Bert Harper: I got to go to wind it real quickly. Good Samaritan. Oh, man, those two guys passed down, when. When that guy was in the ditch, they had to go to church. I'm putting it in our vernacular, okay, Jeff. One of them had choir practice, and the other had a sermon preparation. That doesn't. That care, you know, that takes care of both of us. But the Samaritan stops and helps. Now, who was his neighbor? Jesus said so, doing good works. It may be, important to take that dish over to that grieving widow. It may important to volunteer to babysit for a mom that is going through difficulty. you know, I think that. Have you ever heard, a good action speaks louder than a good sermon sometimes, doesn't it?

>> Jeff Chamblee: You know, it sure drives the point of the sermon home when they see the work. Absolutely.

>> Bert Harper: Okay. Avoid foolish disputes, genealogies, contention, strivings about the law, for they are unprofitable. I think he's telling this for, as I could tell, verse nine, he said, titus, avoid these things. Don't you get caught up in them. Don't you be a part of it. Don't you promote it. Don't avoid it. Just, don't. Don't go there. So these are important things, and you can look at each one of them. Disputes. That's always the. But Genealogies, Okay. You don't know who I'm from. My, My grandfather started this church.

>> Jeff Chamblee: Charter members.

>> Bert Harper: Watch out, members.

>> Jeff Chamblee: You've been there before.

>> Bert Harper: Been there, heard it. I've not only been there, I've heard it. You know, I paid for every brick in this. In this building here. You know, contentions, strivings. But about the law. debating over things that really, you know, we better keep the main thing. The main thing. And not get sidetracked on these trails.

>> Jeff Chamblee: Yeah. The best evangelism is not to argue the minor points. It's to proclaim the truth.

>> Bert Harper: It is?

>> Jeff Chamblee: Yeah. We stay away from divisive things. And verse 10. Reject a divisive man. That word, divisive man is. Is the word that we get heretic from.

>> Bert Harper: We do. I was shocked at that.

>> Jeff Chamblee: Yeah, because you think of a heretic as someone that promotes false doctrine, but a heretic is someone that promotes division or sectarianism within the church.

>> Bert Harper: Wow. Notice it says admonish him two times, but after that, put him out. Yeah, don't put up with it. If he comes back. You got to do it. Hey, we're going to take phone calls. You ready?

>> Jeff Chamblee: Sounds good.

>> Bert Harper: That number, 888-589-8840.

American Family Association president Tim Wildman answers your Bible question today

We would love to have your Bible question today.

>> Tim Wildmon: Have you ever wanted to take a boat ride on the Sea of, Galilee? Raise your hand. Yeah, but in order to do that, you have to actually go to the Sea of Galilee. Hello, this is Tim Wildmon, president of American Family Association, American Family Radio. We are going to Israel and to the Sea of Galilee, the Jordan river, where we'll have a baptismal service. We're going to the Dead Sea. We're going to Jerusalem and Bethlehem and Nazareth. A lot of the places you read about in the Bible your whole life. We're going to be seeing on our annual trip of, Israel, the Holy Land. If you want more information on our tour, go to Wildmon Green W I L D M O N group dot com. we also have information there about the Footsteps of Paul Greece tour. That's back to back with the Israel tour. So it's also in March of 2026. We look forward to seeing you on one of our tours.

>> Bert Harper: The Lord is my savior so why should I doubt Ah, my victory why would I question the rod in the style?

Exploring the Word is returning to Pickwick Landing October 28-30

Welcome back to Exploring the Word. Bert and Jeff here. And we're glad you joined us. And we couldn't help but hear that promotion right before he came on about the fishbowl. And there are rooms that are available there. We're getting there, but still rooms are available. October 28th, 29th and 30th, Pickwick Landing. You can go to repairing the foundations.net and register. Do that and do it today. Now, what was laughter is Jan's voice being so pleasant, so, so kind, Kind. And then they finish it off with me. That, that's, that's. I'm not sure who put that together.

>> Jeff Chamblee: Well, they put the right voice first at least.

>> Bert Harper: So, yeah, they did. Okay, so I know my voice. I tell folks it may not be distinguished, but it is distinctive when you hear it. But it is.

Robert and Stephen finish up 12 through 15 of Paul's Ephesians

Hey, let's do this real quickly. Robert and Stephen, just give us a two minute, about two minute warning here. We want to finish up 12 through 15. And it's a typical, Paul conclusion. Although it's smaller than a lot of them, some of them. There's the whole chapter, you know, like Romans, it's The whole chapter of people here. But the names are. He's going to send Artemis, Antiocheus to come so that Titus can go to Nicopolis. And, that's what it is. And said you, when they get there, Tycheus is the guy that delivered the book of Ephesians. He also took the book of Colossians. And Philemon, man, he's a. He worked for me, say the Roman mail, carrier. I know he did not, but you know what I mean. He carried. Can you imagine this guy carrying those letters that are the word of God? Yeah. Water. What? Responsibility. Other thing. And here's the other action word that I send Zenas, the lawyer and Apollos on their journey with haste that they may lack nothing. These guys are with you, but send them. And let our people also learn to maintain good works, meet urgent needs that they may not be unfruitful. Okay, I'll read verse, 15. And I know you got one or two comments. All who were with me greet you. I couldn't help but think, those all who are with me greet you. Now listen to his comment in verse 15. Greet those who love us in the faith. In other words, those that don't love us, don't greet them. Because Paul had those that were contentious, and he knew that. He said, but those that have stuck with us, greet them. There's tenderness in that. Jeff, you catch what I'm saying?

>> Jeff Chamblee: I love this letter.

>> Bert Harper: I do too. Grace be with you all. Amen.

Robert AFA calls in about wife's cancer diagnosis

Now, you wanted to comment.

>> Jeff Chamblee: I just saw one word, and it's because I'm studying Romans 7 for a Sunday school teaching. And so that chapter seven, verse four, which is the key verse in that chapter, says that we've been married to Christ, that we might bear fruit to God. That's the purpose. And so Jesus said, you know, you did not choose me, but I chose you. That you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should remain. When you think about your Christian life, believer, you need to be think about bearing fruit for God. It's the Holy Spirit that brings that fruit about. But through your good works, through your testimony, through your love of God, those good fruits are going to be manifested. And it's God's will for us that we do that.

>> Bert Harper: Now, the examples that is used by Christ and by others is the vine, usually the great vine. Guess what has to happen for the vines to produce? They've got to be trimmed back. They, you know, and cut, off, pruned, so that you can bear much fruit. So for the Christian Life. Sometimes the pruning is. That's good, is. Is difficult. Part of the pruning was Paul being imprisoned. Look how many letters he wrote while he was in prison got, you know.

>> Jeff Chamblee: And people are listening and they're going through difficult times. As a believer, part of it may be a pruning to bear more fruit.

>> Bert Harper: Comfort one another with the same comfort you've been comforted with. In other words, when you get through with this, you're ready, I'm going to use you. I'm going to use you when you get through. Well, you ready to go to the phone, by the way? And we do have lines open. That number is triple 858-98-8840. Who's first there?

>> Jeff Chamblee: Let's go to Louisiana and welcome Robert to the program. Hi, Robert. Thanks for hanging on. You're on the air.

>> Caroline: Well, thank you, Martin. Good to hear from you. And, Jeff, it's always good to hear your voice. Hey, look, I called in about a week half ago about my wife Stacy, who was having surgery, and we had some, very tough news from the doctor. He said, this has got to be cancer. We prayed on the air and the AFA family with us, and her pathology came back non malignant.

>> Bert Harper: Amen.

>> Jeff Chamblee: Amen, brother. Thank you.

>> Bert Harper: Amen. Listen. Thank you, Robert. You've listened. we need that. Yeah. God is actually the thing that happened up in, Minnesota, and all the people from politicians and others talking about prayer, they were praying while they were shocked. You know, listen, God does change things. Even. Even when things are difficult, God is at work. Let's. Let's give a prayer of praise, Robert. We're going to praise God. Father, thank you for Robert calling. Thank you for Stacy, the clarity that she got, after the surgery and non malignant. We praise your holy name, God, and we'll praise you no matter what. But when it works out that way, it's just overflowing. And I could hear it in Robert's voice that his thankfulness is overflowing. And we join him in this overflowing. If I could sing, we'd start singing to God be the glory. Great things he has done. So, Father, we. We love you, thank you and praise you in Jesus name. Amen. Hey, whoa.

>> Jeff Chamblee: What a way to start them off.

>> Bert Harper: Jeff, you can sing. No, better not today. But I started saying, well, Jeff could sing to God be the glory. Well, we don't sing it as much as we ought to, you know.

>> Jeff Chamblee: It is Fanny Crosby.

Steven says once you're saved, you can't lose your salvation

>> Bert Harper: Hey, there it is again. Who's next?

>> Jeff Chamblee: Let's go to North Carolina. Steven, you're on Exploring the Word. Welcome.

>> Caroline: Hey, great to hear y'. All. Thank you for all you do. I've always been taught that once you're saved, you can't lose your salvation. And I've always loved Romans 8 because it begins. It begins with no condemnation.

>> Bert Harper: Yeah.

>> Caroline: And he knows separation. Can you lose it? Thank you.

>> Bert Harper: Okay, Stephen, thank you. Listen, the. The cliche is, once saved, always saved. I think that cliche could be, improved. Yeah. If you are saved, you will remain saved. Really? I, think that there's some scriptures that look at it, but if you look at the context, a lot of it is. Is in eschatology, about during the tribulation period, those that you know, remain faithful to the end. And again, that's Those. And Hebrews 6. I understand a little bit there. It's difficult. But the overwhelming majority of the scriptures is that security we have in Jesus Christ.

>> Jeff Chamblee: Yeah. I think part of that security is heeding those warnings not to fall away. That's part of our being held by continuing on. God is at work in the believer to bring to completion what he has started. If he justifies you, as Paul says in Romans 8, whom he justified, these he also glorified. Past tense. And so all of it is together. If you've been justified, you're going to be sanctified. How much? Well, that depends upon how much you give over to the Spirit. But you're going to be glorified and resurrected. And that's God's plan.

>> Bert Harper: Stephen. God does his work in us, being confident of this very thing. Philippians 1:6. He who began this work in you will what, Complete it under the day of Christ. Christ Jesus. if. I'm just going to talk this for a minute. If I did not know if I thought it was saved, and I. I was letting sin dominate my life, and I was questioning it. I. I just want to tell you I'd go to God afresh in you. I'd rather. Here's what's happened in a lot of folks pastoring as long as I have, Jeff. I've. I've seen a lot and talked to a lot of people. I've talked to people. They said, you know, I need to be saved. And man, we'd go. And, man, they had peace. And then they started examining what had happened to them earlier in life, and they can't, you know, I really believe I was saved then. But I got off track and let God, let God down. I didn't do it, but either, you know, but said if it hadn't been for that time where I was questioning, I don't think I'd have come to the realization. For me, I saved when I was 12, when I was around 16 years old, I remember laying in bed on a Sunday night, am I really saved? Lord, I'm not sure if I'm saved or not. Just doubts was flooding my soul, you know. And all of a sudden I said something that really, I don't know. And I said this out loud. If, I said, ah, God, if I go to hell, I'm going to go to hell believing in Jesus. And all of a sudden when I heard myself saying that, I understood. I said, bert, that word, you've trusted Christ. You're, you're secure in him now. Live like it. And I don't know how to say. I'm going to go ahead and say it. There's a greater change in my life after that than there was as a 12 year old boy. As a 12 year old boy, I was fearful and afraid and God did help me there. But, you know, as I got older and I started driving, started, you know, doing things that was responsible. I started doubting and. But that night God reaffirmed my salvation. And I have not doubted it, you know, since. Yeah, that's, that's what God does. Stephen, thank you for calling.

>> Jeff Chamblee: Thank you for calling, Steven.

Exploring the Word welcomes Patrick from Texas

Let's go to Patrick and, next, who's calling in from Texas? Welcome to Exploring the Word, Patrick. Hello? Patrick, are you there?

>> Caroline: All right, I'm sorry I had to add this crazy phone on me, partner. Hold on.

>> Bert Harper: Okay, go ahead.

>> Caroline: I got a real, real crummy phone. That's okay with me.

Patrick calls in with a prayer request for his brother Brian battling addictions

>> Jeff Chamblee: That's all right.

>> Caroline: I've got a quick. I've got a question for you. What in the world is Eckankar? I've got a friend that's suffering really bad from multiple sclerosis, partner. And I pray for her all the time. But when I, when I heard her she was studying an Eckankar, it just blew my mind and red flags went off all over the place. Can you tell me anything about it? Because I don't believe it.

>> Bert Harper: I have not heard.

>> Jeff Chamblee: I've heard the term and I think it's a false religion. I don't know the specifics of it. It doesn't matter, honestly. It's not the gospel. so what do you think is the question? That you should continue praying for her?

>> Caroline: Yes, sir.

>> Jeff Chamblee: Okay.

>> Bert Harper: Yeah, you need to pray for her in the name of Jesus and let her know. And again, sometimes it's difficult. But here's what I came to be in front of my family, in front of my friends. I was going to be who I am in Christ regardless, you know, regardless of their thoughts, regardless of what their religious affiliation was. I, you know, I've trusted Jesus Christ as my savior. So, Patrick, what you do, you pray for her. you, just say, lord, deliverance. And I believe God can do it. Now, I would do this, pray for someone else to come alongside her, another female to come alongside her that is a strong Christian, and let her see that. I. I've seen that work a lot. You know, it's just coming alongside them. And, so we're here. Yeah, I'm going to push, but there's somebody else that God has in mind, his agents out there that come alongside someone who is lost, who is going a different way, and pray that God would bring a strong godly believer beside them. I think that's kind of what we started studying today in Titus Chapter three. Jeff. Yeah, that's good, because we were talking about this is the way you once were, but you're not this way anymore. And they need to see these works and these things that's happened in your life that they might start examining themselves. And so that's what you do.

>> Jeff Chamblee: God can reach her. Patrick, thanks for calling in. The, number to call is 888-589-8840. For your prayer, for any prayer needs that you have, or for a question. Russell is calling in from North Carolina. Hi, Russell. You're on Exploring the Word.

>> Caroline: Good afternoon, gentlemen. I really want to thank you for the, program that you guys have. I listen to you on my phone, I have the app, and I listen to you on the radio as often as I can. I'm not calling you with a question, but I'm calling in for a prayer request from my younger brother. Brian has some addictions, alcohol and smoking and others. But I asked for prayer for him to overcome these addictions.

>> Bert Harper: Okay, Brian. Brian is his first name, Russell?

>> Caroline: Yes. Well, Charles. Charles. But Brian.

>> Bert Harper: Brian's what he goes by. Well, I go with my middle name as well, but I. We're going to do that. Everybody that's a prayer warrior that's listening. If you don't write it down, remember it. Unless. Bombard Heaven. for Russell's brother, Brian. listen. Addictions are. Listen there. I. I'm familiar with it. Been around it a lot. You know, I would, right now Know, someone dealing with it. And the two words have come up with Russell that I. But it's true with everyone. And I've used them. I used it yesterday. Is first is they've got to surrender. You know, come to the place. I'm, This, I surrender to you, God. No more. This, I surrender to you. Not alcohol, not drugs. I surrender to you. And then cooperate with God. Cooperate with him. That means obeying him. That means the area of praying, seeking God's word. It also may mean treatment. Cooperate with him, getting help. But those two words, I believe with all my heart, if we can do that in just about everything, surrender and then cooperate with God. I believe it makes the biggest difference in the world. Jeff, those two words and, I know they're a little different, but when it means trust, it means faith, it means sanctification, the whole. Whole thing.

Jeff: Would you mind praying for Brian? Father in heaven

So would you mind praying for Brian?

>> Jeff Chamblee: Father in heaven, thank you for your goodness, Lord. We've already celebrated your wonderful work in the life of an individual today. And we bring Brian before you now, Lord. And his brother Russell has called it, Lord, you know what's on his heart. You know the. The love that he has for his brother. And he's interceding. And now, Lord, we join with him and with our audience. And we pray, Lord God, that you would deliver Brian from all of these addictions, Lord, that he would walk in fellowship with you, that he would surrender and to cooperate with your spirit. And that you would do great and marvelous things in Jesus name. Amen.

>> Bert Harper: Jeff, thank you for being with us.

>> Jeff Chamblee: My joy.

Alex McFarland: Start living for the Lord Jesus

>> Bert Harper: Have you enjoyed Titus?

>> Jeff Chamblee: I loved it.

>> Bert Harper: Yeah, it did. I really did. Great work. Good study, good thoughts bringing it to us. Thank you, man, so much. Well, you've been listening to Exploring the word. Alex McFarland to be back tomorrow. And it will be Fire away Friday, where we take your questions the whole hour. And, so we're looking forward to that. But until then, just start living for the Lord Jesus. Surrender to him. Cooperate with him. Let him do his work in your life. That will just amaze so people can see your good work and glorify the Father who is in heaven. Tell someone about exploring the Word, but more importantly, tell them about Jesus.

>> Jeff Chamblee: M The views and opinions expressed in this broadcast may not necessarily reflect those of the American Family association or American Family Radio.

Titus 3: The Purpose of Good Works