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Alex McFarland: Tuesday is Prayer Tuesday on Exploring the Word
>> Bert Harper: Welcome to Exploring the Word.
>> Alex McFarland: Well, not Only is Matthew 5 one of the most, well known parts of the Bible, it's also one of the most influential. And, and we'll get to Matthew 5 today and we'll begin what is very famously known as the Sermon on the mount. Hi, Alex McFarland here along with Bert Harper. And we are in the Gospel of Matthew. This is Exploring the Word. Tuesday is a very important day of the week because also this is a day in addition to Bible questions. We take prayer requests and we all have things that we, have on our heart and we would just be very honored if you would share. And later on in the program we'll open up the phones and we will share our requests and concerns and pray for each other. And Bert, it's always a good thing when people gather together to unite their voices and their hearts in prayer.
>> Bert Harper: I believe God had something to say about that. Where two or three are gathered together in there in my name. I will be right there in the middle of it. And, so we want Jesus Christ to be Lord and in the middle of everything we do here on Exploring the Word, that includes studying His Word, answering questions and prayer.
Alex: Matthew 5:1-3 is the beginning of Jesus sermon
So Alex, again, chapter five of the book of Matthew. Again, let me read. I know it, we get to verse three is when it really starts. But verse one and two I think helps us to get a little bit better understanding of how we're to look at this sermon. He says in Matthew 5:1 and seeing the multitudes, whole group, he went up on a mountain. And when he was seated with his disciples, when he was seated, his disciples came to him and he opened his mouth and taught them. He left the crowd to be with the few. Alex, sometimes that doesn't go really well with modern thought. The bigger it is, the better it is. Now, I understand that we want things to grow, but if we look at what Jesus did, many times he would leave the crowd so he could be alone, sometimes with the Father and sometimes with these men that he was leaving to take up the ministry of the preaching, the kingdom of God, the salvation. And here's one of those times. He leaves the multitudes. He went up into the mountain and. But his disciples came to him. so Alex, When we look at this, he's. He's sharing it with, I believe, his disciples. He's not telling them how to be saved. They're already following him. He's not talking about future events. But in the first four chapters, we've had, we've met the king, okay? we have his birth, we have his baptism, we have his temptation. And now, starting in chapter five, we kind of find how this kingdom operates. It's a different kind of kingdom than the world has ever known, isn't it?
>> Alex McFarland: Well, it really is the kingdom of God. And that's why, you know, to walk with Jesus and to do things biblically, it might seem counter to the world, but that's okay. First, Jon 2:15 says, this world is passing away, but the kingdom of God is forever, and Jesus will rule and reign forever. So it's in the best interest of all of us to follow God's ways that are righteous and eternal, not the ways of the world that are fallen and temporary.
Bert says this message proper begins in verse three
But let me read some of this. This is just so beautiful. And there's just a lot here to pick out. It's very rich, but it says, seeing the crowds, he, Jesus went up on the mountain. And when he sat down, his disciples and came to him, and he opened his mouth and taught them, saying. And you're right, it really kind of. This message proper begins in verse three. Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they should be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. In verse nine, Blessed are the peacemakers, for they should be called the sons of God. Bert, there's a lot to say here.
Let's talk for a little bit about the word Beatitude
Let's talk for a little bit about the word Beatitude. And believe it or not, you know how people number these varies. Some say they're, you know, eight or nine beatitudes, and, really ten, through twelve contains several and some number that as one. But, the Psalms use the word blessed. Matthew 5 here uses the word blessed. You may have heard of, the. The beatific vision, the joy that we'll see when we see Christ face to face. Well, these Beatitudes are the declarations of people that are blessed, blessed, or happy for. For some characteristics and qualities in their life. And it does as it is with God's economy, it's going to sound counterintuitive, you know, blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. Doesn't say weak, but humble and gentle. You know, Bert, very often the world says, you know, well, I remember a horrible saying I heard one time years ago. We reject this. But I heard somebody say, it doesn't matter who you step on on the way up. If you're not coming down again, see that that might be how the world thinks, but that arrogance and pride will be your own destruction. God talks about trusting in him. God talks about being righteous and truthful and godly. And so these things, they might seem counterintuitive to success as the world might define it, but this is righteousness and blessedness as Almighty God defines it.
>> Bert Harper: It really is. And it's different than any that they had ever heard. Again, we're talking about the kingdom. And a lot of those that would join Jesus, they were zealots. Simon the Zealot, he wanted to overthrow. there were some that may have been a little, ascenic. What I mean, Essenes, pull away and let's be different. And so there was a lot of things. But he says, no, you're to live in this world. We think of Romans. It says, be in the world, but not of the world. And this is the exact thing that I believe. He's, going over here now. He lists this one first. Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. I believe this is the place to start. What's another term for that? It could be humility. And it's not a false humility. It's not saying, oh, I can't do anything. I'm not worth anything. No, it is knowing that you're made in the image of God, accepting that for yourself and serving him as he has made you for the glory of God. This is the poor in spirit. We understand humility, that we are gods and we are not our own. So this is the starting place. It really is. If you're not humble before you start, I just want to tell you these are not necessarily. Okay, if you have this, you get this. If you have this. But I will say this. If you do not have that humility, none of these will be yours, Alex.
>> Alex McFarland: Amen.
>> Bert Harper: And it is a starting place.
Second Corinthians 7:10 says Godly sorrow works repentance to salvation
Let me go to number the second one, verse four. Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. This is sorrow. There is a natural sorrow. There is an unnatural sorrow, but there is a supernatural sorrow. And this is what it's referring to. Second Corinthians 7:10 says, Godly sorrow works repentance to salvation, not to be repented of. But the sorrow of the world works. Death. That's an unnatural sorrow. But, God, this is mourning. It doesn't mean you're sorrowing all the time. He was a man of sorrows, but has the idea that, listen, sin must be dealt with. we don't want to stay in our sin. We want to grow in the Lord. So, Alex, these first two, again, they're so important. The view of yourself and the view of sin. When you have those in balance and you're going for Christ, you're on the right path, brother.
>> Alex McFarland: Amen. Amen.
Bert: Jesus gives the Beatitudes on Mount Sinai
When you've been to Israel, did you. Were you taken to what they call the Mount of Beatitudes?
>> Bert Harper: one of the most beautiful sights I've ever seen. Over. Yes, I have. Looking over the sea, man, there close to Capernaum. It was beautiful.
>> Alex McFarland: We were there several years ago, and, good Lord, Will and Tim Wildmon and I, with some folks will be there in November. please pray for us in that regard. But, I remember walking over the hillside that has been the traditional site of where Jesus was when he gave this message. And I was just trying to imagine what it might have been like to be there on that wonderful day. But, Bert, have you ever heard commentators maybe compare, you know, Moses gave the law on Mount Sinai, and Jesus gives the Beatitudes here on a hillside. And Jesus is kind of the new Moses in a way. I mean, he is the Son of God, the promised Messiah. But there was the giving of the Mosaic Law and the moral code, but now there's the new covenant that we have a new heart, and we're really. The whole concept of being born again made alive through faith in Jesus because of what he does on the cross. All that is only possible because of Christ himself. Here's the thing that's amazing, and I want to get Back to Matthew 5. But not only, did Jesus give the message, but he himself is the message.
>> Bert Harper: Amen. Preach it, brother. I say this about, the Ten Commandments, comparing these to the Beatitudes. In the Commandments, there's only one that goes to the heart, and it's the last, Thou shalt not covet.
Covet.
>> Bert Harper: that's heart issue. Every one of these Beatitudes, they are a heart issue. So again with the law, you have it bringing you to the place where Jesus fulfilled the law. It's the heart of it. Now, who gets onto him all the Time. Are the Pharisees, the. They were a tiki tacky group. Oh, the law. They felt like their righteousness was if they tithed on the mint just right. If they prayed, and fasted just at the right time. At the right time, everything of their righteousness was outward. and that's the reason Jesus said, listen, you may be whited sepulchers, but on the inside, you're dead men's bones. Cause they were dead. Here Jesus goes straight to the heart. And the third one was the blessed are the meek. You shall inherit the earth. And as you said, meekness is not weakness. The word that it means is power under control. And the example, Alex, is a beautiful one. It's like a horse that has been broken. One of the most beautiful things that I've seen is those horses equestrian. When, it can be a small female, young female on that horse. And, and that horse has all the power in the world to go this way or that way. But her holding the reins, that horse jumps that gate, jumps those bushes, jumps that, water and goes right to that place. That's power under control.
>> Alex McFarland: Amen.
>> Bert Harper: That's what we're to be. We're to let God have power in our lives, don't we?
>> Alex McFarland: We are. We are. You know, you mentioned about the Pharisees and the outward rituals and formalities. And when we get to Matthew, 15, Jesus says, these people honor me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. And you're right, the. The outward. You know, I've met people that say, well, I keep the ten Commandments, and, you know, we should. But that. That does not produce a change of heart. You know, going through religion or ritual. Only faith in Christ and the new birth can produce a changed heart. And, let me encourage everybody to read Matthew 5. These words are so beautiful. You know, you mentioned the meek. For they shall inherit the earth, verse 6. And may the Lord grant that this be said of all of us. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness.
>> Bert Harper: Amen.
>> Alex McFarland: For they should be satisfied. I was reading a commentator. well, it was, Oh, I hear that music, don't you, Burr?
>> Bert Harper: Oh, it means that we're going to take a break.
>> Alex McFarland: Yes.
>> Bert Harper: But it also means we're going to get to come back and we're going to look at that hunger and thirst. And the question is, what are you hungering and thirsting for, when it comes to spiritual matters and your own attitude? Well, when we get back, we'll look at that and examine ourselves to see if we're hungering after righteousness.
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All glory and honor is yours.
>> Bert Harper: We want to give God all the glory, all the honor. He has all power. Let him rule in our lives. We're talking about the Beatitudes, Matthew, chapter five, the sermon on the mount, and this is Matthew's gospel. This is the longest textual sermon that you have in all four of the gospels. It's amazing. And, how Matthew led by the holy Spirit, but yet man involved in it. it's a phenomenal that man cannot completely understand, but he records and has this message and brings it to us. How beautiful it is. And this one is hungering and thirsting.
If you're hungering and thirsting for that which is good
So let me ask this question or, let me give this verse, really listen to Psalm 34. 8. O Taste and See that the Lord is good. I just want to tell you, if you're hungering and thirsting for that which is good, you will hunger and thirst for Christ. Alex, you remember the woman at the well? Jesus said, you know, if you really want some good water, I can give it to you. And she said, how can you do that? You don't have anything to draw it with. And he explains to her, says, it's a well of water springing up. Now, what did that woman do? God told Jesus told her everything, and she forgot her water. Pots. And she went into Zakar to tell those men, listen, I know a man that's told me everything that I've ever done. And they came out to hear it, because guess what? Even in Samaria, there were some people there thirsting for the. For truth. I believe there's still people thirsting for truth today, Alex.
>> Alex McFarland: Amen. Yeah, I read a devotional book commenting on the Matthew 5, 6, and it says, you know, those who hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they will be satisfied. Isn't that something? as much truth and righteousness as you desire, God will give it to you. So this commentator said, you can have as much of Jesus as you want, but in reality, you do have as much of Jesus as you want. Because if you want to grow deeper in the Lord, you want to know his word, you want to be closer to Christ, he will do that. And, you know, that's just an amazing prospect, isn't it? I mean, there. There are plenty of things in life that we could aspire to or maybe become strong in, but not reach all of our goals. You can grow as much in the Lord as you desire, and as we hunger and thirst for righteousness, we'll be satisfied. I love verse seven.
>> Bert Harper: Alex, let me make one more comment real quick. You don't mind hunger and thirst? If we look at it physically, it is a necessity. To be right with God is, its necessity to have his righteousness. And it's his imputed righteousness that happens at justification and then our sanctification. As we grow, we can be as he is. You know, we can become more like him, which is real righteousness. And then finally, praise God, when we get into his presence after death or at the Rapture, we'll have that glorification righteousness where all sin has been done away with. Alex. Hungering and thirsting after this righteousness, and you will be, and I love what you said, satisfied. There's nothing that satisfies like Jesus, is there?
>> Alex McFarland: Well, you know, the concept of hungering or thirsting. Do you remember Psalm 42, verse 1? As the deer pants for the water brooks, so my soul longs after Thee, O God. And. And so we should desire God. And, you know, I've. All my life, I've pondered on verse seven, because this is a promise. In a way, it's a bit of a warning, too. Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. I mean, we should be quick to show grace, because many, many days, it's us that needs grace. You know, blessed are the Pure in heart, for they shall see God. C.S. lewis very famously commented on this. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. CS Lewis said, only the pure in heart want to see God. I mean, really, when people shrink away and, recoil at the idea of an almighty holy God, it's because they have things in their life that need to be dealt with. But, blessed are the peacemakers. And I want to say I've seen in families, I've seen in the workplace, I've seen in neighborhoods and churches, the people that are the peacemakers. And if you want to be like Jesus, be a peacemaker, because he's the greatest peacemaker of all, isn't he?
>> Bert Harper: Hallelujah. He is. Going back to that. About, mercy.
There's a story about a man who was convicted of stealing a horse
Monday mornings here at afa, we start off with the devotion. And Tim Wildmon is always the one that shares that on Monday mornings, unless we have a special guest or someone. But, Monday, he was reading from a book that our founder and Tim's dad, Don Wildmon, wrote. And I'm going to get a synopsis on it. There's this guy that, stole a horse back in the day out west, where, you know, it was the penalty was. Was hanging, you know, and. But he was well liked. He had helped people. Everybody couldn't say a bad word about him. But the horse. The man that he stole the horse from was a guy that was a businessman, shrewd. He had just taken advantage of everybody. And so he was complaining about his horse being stolen. Okay, so they have a trial, and, the evidence is strong that this man did take that man's horse. So they turned it over to the 12 jurors, and they came back and the judge asked, have y' all reached the verdict? And says, we have, sir. Says, we find him not guilty if he'll return the horse. And, the judge said, I can't take that. You got to come back. that's not acceptable. And so they went back in deliberation, and they came back in an hour, and they. The judge said, have you reached, a verdict? He said, we have, sir. And they said, what is it? He said, we find him not guilty and he can keep the horse. Now, now, what's amazing here, it is merciful. This. These 12 men were being merciful because what that man had been merciful to them. The man who was complaining that his horse was stolen had taken advantage and was everything but merciful. Listen, in the day that you really need it, show mercy, Alex. Show mercy. Listen to this passage, it is in limitations 3, 22. It is the Lord's mercies that we're not consumed. Listen, God's mercy is real. We need to live in it. But we need to live with it as well, don't we?
We do. We do.
>> Alex McFarland: And let me say this. I know we're coming up on the one year anniversary of the shooting of Charlie Kirk. And ah, a lot of people talked about that last weekend as we had Rick Metaxas, on the, you know, one year anniversary of us having Charlie speak at our conference. I thought it was so powerful at his memorial service just days after having been assassinated and the whole wide world was watching. Erica Kirk got up and she said to the one who did this, I want to say I forgive you.
>> Bert Harper: Yeah, I remember that.
>> Alex McFarland: That I'm going to tell you that was a real witness for the gospel. I really do. verse 10 blessings.
>> Bert Harper: Alex, I hate to keep. I know we want, you want to go fast, but I just got to say something about pure in heart, if you don't mind. Okay. The word pure has two meanings. Clean and unmixed. And this one has both of them. His blood washes us white as snow. But a double minded man is unstable. It's unmixed. Our heart is turned toward God. And it says we'll see him. Moses in Exodus 33 said, I beseech you, show me your glory. And so God in the cleft of the rock, he put his hand there before him and then he passed by. We have only got a glimpse of God's glory even in the pure in heart. And if you remember at the mount of Transfiguration, Jesus and I say it, you know, Jesus let his nature God, deity shine through his humanity. And man that was glory. And they bowed down before him. So Alex, listen. Live pure in heart. Live that way with unmixed and be clean. Confess your sins, make them right and do not be double minded. Be unmixed. Have that biblical worldview. And I want to tell you in righteousness toward God. And m it does do what God wants us to do.
>> Alex McFarland: You know, I don't mean to go slowly.
>> Bert Harper: I'm the one that's dragging us today. Alex. Go ahead man.
2nd Corinthians 5:20 says we are ambassadors for Christ
>> Alex McFarland: Well, blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. And the word there I'm not going to try to. It looks like kind of whee us h u I o s And it, it does mean a son or an offspring. Right? So let's say that you know, you've trusted Christ, you're born again. You're a born again child of God. Right, but it also means an ambassador. All right. Blessed are the peacemakers. They shall be called a son or an ambassador of God. Well, I was thinking about this, Bert, in 2nd Corinthians 5:20, therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ M. God making his appeal through us. Isn't that something? So we are. Let's remember, as a Christian, we are his representatives, aren't we? You can say a witness, an ambassador, a, messenger of that gospel. And part of that is, you know, it's been said m Many people. D. James Kennedy wrote a book, what if Jesus had never been born? different ones, like Rodney Stark have. And Dinesh d' Souza have written about everywhere Christianity goes, there's the betterment of the human condition. There just is. Wherever Christianity has gone, first of all, Christians go. And with Christians comes the message of Christ. And as people are saved, there's, the biblical worldview permeating a culture. And when that's one of the outflows of revival. And folks, we need a revival, but cultural transformation. And so we are Christ ambassadors. And when the Gospel comes into a culture, yes, there is peace, there is stability, there is the betterment of the human condition. And on the flip, everywhere Christianity has gone away and in comes other things. There's. I mean, just look at the places where Christianity once thrived, but it's kind of died out. there's the, the lowering of the standard and the, the safety of everybody. There's so much here we could say.
>> Bert Harper: But, the peacemaker. Let me see. Get my.
>> Alex McFarland: Okay, the.
>> Bert Harper: You cannot be a peacemaker unless you're at peace with God. And you're not going to be a peacemaker if you don't have the peace of God reigning in your heart. Those are prerequisite. And Ephesians 2:14 talks about Jesus. He said, he is our peace. You know, he, is. We're at peace with him. He brings his peace into us. So what do we do? We live in that peace. And that brings about peace of heart. Now, again, there may be those. And I think it covers it in verse 10, concerning those that are persecuted. Those. Those that do not want that peace and their war against God himself. Go ahead, Alex. Verse 10.
>> Alex McFarland: Yeah, that's right. The persecution. blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. In other words, I mean, when you're a citizen of the kingdom of heaven, and you're living righteously and for righteousness and for truth, you're going to get persecuted.
Christian parents are being persecuted for standing for what God's word says
let me just say this about, I had a call earlier today of ah, a Christian family and the child has grown up, raised in a very, very godly home, goes away to college, becomes a skeptic, becomes more and more hostile to mom and dad. And one of the issues that has just been an absolute wedge between a formerly Christian young adult and the presently Christian parents issue over homosexuality and transgenderism and this poor mother who was just weeping. I had this phone call four hours ago, Bert said that our, our daughter now denies Christ, denies the Bible and is so hateful to us because we will not go along with what she says about homosexuality and said, you know, you pay and send them away to college and they turn into atheists. And so we, of course we prayed together and I said, well you know, you did train up your child in the way that they should go and let's pray they come back. But here's my point. These parents and many people listening I think might relate to what, what I'm saying. These parents are standing for what God's word says and they're being persecuted for it. By whom? By their child, even. that's, I'm sure in your ministry you've come across similar situations, haven't you?
>> Bert Harper: More than I want to remember, honestly. And listen, it is that way. Notice it's for righteousness sake. It's not for a bad decision. We're all, you know, it rains on the just and the unjust. So we're going to reap consequences of wrong choices, we're going to reap consequences of bad decisions and actions. But here it is for righteousness and what it's been talking about, hungering and thirsting after righteousness and then mercy, pure in heart. And because you're living for Christ and you stand with, with Christ on the issues of the day, the issues of the day you are receiving this persecution. And we've got brothers and sisters all over the world, that family that you were talking about. But we have brothers and sisters in Christ in Iran that are suffering beyond measure from that evil, evil regime. Yes, there's many believers, many of them have been killed. They're in heaven now. They were martyrs for their faith, but they were being persecuted for righteousness sake. And I want to tell you, theirs is the kingdom of heaven, isn't it?
>> Alex McFarland: Well, before this break, please read verse 11. Because if you've ever stood for truth and really taken some hits for it, verse 11 is for you.
>> Bert Harper: And verse 12 says, after this happens, rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you. Listen, this is temporary life, far as physical. We're going to be with the Lord eternally in glory. That Number Day of Prayer 888589 8840.
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Don't stop praying don't stop calling on Jesus name Keep on pounding on heaven's door Let your knees wear out the
floor don't stop believing cuz mountains move
with just a little faith and your father's heard every single word you're saying
>> Bert Harper: so don't stop praying.
Today is the day of prayer and if you have a prayer request, we would appreciate it
Welcome back to Exploring the Word. It's the day of prayer and if you have a prayer request, we would want to hear it. We want to pray with you. Matter of fact, m many of our people who listen, they're part of the prayer club. There was the holy club in England, George Whitfield and Charles and Jon Wesley and others. But we're the prayer club. We're going to pray for you. That number is 888-589-8840. And before we go to any phones, I know you had a prayer request you mentioned at the very last of the program yesterday, Alex.
>> Alex McFarland: Exactly. In the Richmond area, we have so many great listeners and just, the greater Richmond and northern Virginia areas, we've been up there to minister a lot of times. Well, we have a dear brother named Brad Howard. He's probably, probably listening right now. And he got a, Just a bad diagnosis about a tumor in his, his body that is going to get operated on. Of course they're going to do a biopsy and everything like that. But, it is very serious. And I just want to ask everybody, Brad in Richmond, he's a dear, dear Christian leader and a, listener who's probably listening right now. And so if everybody would remember him, I'd appreciate that.
>> Bert Harper: Okay. And Brent, I hear we have some, sent in to you on Word. That's right. Well, it's actually on Facebook. You can get those anytime, any show. during the show, you can send in your prayer request. put it. Put your questions there. If you don't want to call and if you don't want to email. I've got one from Marian. She's, asking for prayers for the folks in Ohio. There's a lot of storms there.
>> Alex McFarland: Okay.
>> Bert Harper: And, prayers for Nancy. She is looking for a job, in need of a job. Okay. And Rose is asking for prayer for her daughter Jesse. She has estranged herself from the family, and they're praying God will intervene and open her eyes. Okay. Marian, Nancy and Rose. Go ahead, Alex.
>> Alex McFarland: At one more. I got a text. We have a listener in Texas, a, young man. He's probably around 30, and he was injured, at work, and he lost his sight in one eye. And, he. He's just really, really down about this, as we could understand, but. And he has just cried out to God. He is a devout believer, but he's. He's really hurting. If you just think of this young man in Texas who lost his vision in one of his eyes. He's very sad.
>> Bert Harper: Okay. Father, I pray for these. I pray for Brad, Alex's friend. He listens to this program right where he is severe. I pray God, that you would intervene. I pray you'd give him what all he needs at this point in time, spiritually and physically in every way. Father, I pray for Marian, as, ah, she is talking about the storms in Ohio. They're been severe and that brings up all the suffering that's in Columbia because of the earthquake as well. There's believers down there as well, Father. Minister to them as they minister to others. We, we pray for Nancy for her job that, you would bring her to that point where you would match those together. Father, we pray for Rose as Jesse has estranged herself from the family. That's much like Alex was talking about what he was praying with that family this morning. We don't know with the issues, but Father, there it is there. And we pray for this young man there in Texas. The loss of his eye. Father, I know more than anything, I pray you would encourage him, God, encourage him where he is. And then, Father, we are praying restoration for that and we're asking it in Jesus name. Amen. Where to, Alex?
>> Alex McFarland: Amen. Amen.
Alex: Stephanie has been struggling with anxiety and panic recently
Well, we are going to begin in Mississippi with Stephanie. Welcome to Exploring the Word. Stephanie.
Hey, thanks for taking my call.
>> Bert Harper: Yeah, go right ahead.
I have, a long history of anxiety and panic recently. It has been going on for about 10 days and I can't get much of a break and I just feel like my prayers are hitting the ceiling.
>> Bert Harper: Okay, well, you remember that, the fellow that could not get to Jesus, paralytic, and he couldn't get through the crowd, so his four friends took him to the roof and let him down at Jesus feet and he was healed. So, Stephanie, what we're going to do, if you feel like your prayers are not getting through, you're going to have more than four friends right now praying for you that God would show you what to do. It may be something that is in your past May, but feast on the word of God. Get in the Psalms and read Psalms for you. Stephanie, I just want to tell you when I've had anxiety. I don't have anxiety attacks, but I've had anxiety over, over decisions. Alex, I feast upon the Psalms. I really do. Do you?
>> Alex McFarland: I do. The Book of Psalms, Psalm 34, 18. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are of a contrite or crushed spirit. And, I've mentioned many times Dr. Harold Wilmington, one of the great, great Bible scholars, and we were in a Q and A one time, and somebody said, do you have some scriptures for when I'm sad? And he said, the Book of Psalms. And, so, Stephanie, blessings to you. And you seek God and he'll lift you up. I know.
The only way to go to heaven is by putting your faith in Jesus Christ
Let's go to Timothy in North Carolina. Timothy, thanks for holding and welcome to Exploring the Word.
yes, can you still make
>> Bert Harper: it to heaven with zero, rewards?
>> Alex McFarland: Well, I'm glad you would ask that. Let's talk about the phrase making it to heaven, because, the only way to go to heaven is by putting your faith in Jesus Christ. Now, the rewards are going to be, gifts God essentially gives us for anything we do post salvation. But Timothy, have you, have you asked Christ to come into your life and be your Savior?
yes, sir.
>> Alex McFarland: Amen. Okay, well, and, and so if you were to die, you Know there's been that moment when you trusted Christ and you're, you're saved, right?
Yes.
>> Bert Harper: Okay.
>> Alex McFarland: Praise the Lord. Yeah, well, Bert explained, to him, Praise God. Timothy. That's the most important talk about rewards for everything post salvation. Bert first.
>> Bert Harper: Timothy, start where you are right now. Okay. there was this old song I remember as a kid. I never heard it. I haven't even looked it up. Wasted years. Oh, how foolish you have. May have blown years of discipleship and sanctification. Start where you are right now. Now, Timothy, listen. Our salvation is in Christ. We go. But I want to just tell you, I know you don't want to go empty handed. I hear you saying that. Listen, get into the word, serve others, look for his coming, and start, where you are. Timothy, don't. Don't. Okay, okay. I can. I'm in the past. No, start where you are. And Father, I pray for Timothy right now that he would say, God, forgive me of my shortcomings, of all the things I did. But right now, I want to serve you, Lord, if it's picking up paper, in the sanctuary after church is over, God, if it's. If it's just saying an encouraging word to people, God, I want you to use me. I pray for that. In Jesus name, for Timothy. Amen.
>> Alex McFarland: Hallelujah. Amen. Bless you, brother.
Nick asks for prayer for revival at Blue Springs Baptist Church in Union County
Let's go to Nick. Nick, in Mississippi, you're on Exploring the Word. Welcome.
Thank you, sir. Appreciate you. I was just calling to, ask for prayer for local church I'm attending right now, Blue Springs Baptist Church. we're having revival this week. tonight will be our third night in the revival. we've already had some pretty good church. Seeing God moved, asking, prepared to continue to see that for the rest of this week.
>> Bert Harper: Hey, Nick, I got asked. Is that Blue Springs in Union County?
Yes, sir, it is.
>> Bert Harper: You know where we know it is. We're praising God, man. Alex, you mind me praying for that? We need revival starting.
>> Alex McFarland: Amen. Nick, I'm so glad you called in. Yes, lead us, Bert.
>> Bert Harper: Father, I thank you for Nick, I thank you for his heart to want you to move in his life and in the lives of those people. People at Blue Springs. God, what an influence it would be for our area to see you invade their territory with the power of the Holy Spirit. And I'm praying, God, that when they enter in, I pray they would feel the presence of the Holy Spirit when they drive up on the parking lot tonight. I've been there. I've. I'VE seen that happen when. When God is so real and so thick that the Holy Spirit is there. I pray for the conviction of sin. Those that need to be saved, those that need to get right with you and God, may it spread. Thank you in Jesus name for what you're going to do. Amen.
>> Alex McFarland: Amen. Hey, before I take the next call, and by the way, the number is 888-589-8840. I want to say a big thank you to Pastor Paul Kohl's. I'm here in Warner Robbins, Georgia Friendship Baptist. We had a fantastic night last night. Great attendance. Bert. People came up to me, they were like, we're so glad you're here. Is Bert with you? And I said no, I wish he was, but. So, everybody in Warner Robbins is just fantastic. And Friendship Baptist. I'll be there at 6:30 tonight.
>> Bert Harper: Amen.
>> Alex McFarland: If you're in this region, so be
>> Bert Harper: praying for that too. Let revival. Wouldn't it be great? Blue Springs Friendship in Warner, Rotman. God, just show up and bring both places and do a great work. That's what we're praying for.
Amen.
We got a lot of people for prayer requests. Can we go to them and see how many
>> Alex McFarland: how about we go to Texas? Deborah in Texas. Welcome to Exploring the Word.
Thank you both so much. First of all, I want to encourage the young man whose eye was removed in an accident because my left eye was removed 15 years ago because of cancer. And once there was a shock. He can be a witness to others. No wonder. Well, because they asked me, how can you do this with one eye? Well, I'm the Christian. The Lord tells me to go forward. So go forward. I have a prayer request too. My niece Samantha is married M and they have a young child. And she has been involved in lesbianism. And there will be divorce, she and her husband. But it's adultery, of course, because doesn't matter if it's man or woman. You're involved with somebody else. That's adultery. she needs prayer. She was going to church, but in this other person. She's involved with this other woman. I don't know her name. They need salvation. First of all, I want protection for their daughter. She's a toddler. Yeah, it's just heartbreaking. Heartbreaking is not the word.
>> Bert Harper: Deborah, we're going to pray. We're going to pray for that. We've got that information. We hear your heart, Alex. We got a lot of people for prayer requests. Can we go to them and see how many and pray at the end? Would that be okay?
>> Alex McFarland: Let's do.
>> Bert Harper: Deborah, we hadn't forgot you. Deborah, We. I got. We got you down.
>> Alex McFarland: We're praying, Sarita in Louisiana. Sarita, are you there?
Hi, Yes, I would like to ask some friends for my sister. Her name is Lydia, and she, has, something called, Man. But it's an autoimmune disorder, and it causes. It causes ocd. It causes, You know, she's really been struggling with mental health problem. Problems and on all these meditation, and I don't think she knows the word she.
>> Bert Harper: We're going to pray for Serita. Listen, we are. We. We're getting the gist of it, and. And honest, the great thing about this, we pray to God who knows all of it. If we just get part of it. He knows it all, doesn't it?
>> Alex McFarland: Amen. Syrita's sister is gonna. We're gonna lift her up. Let's try to go to Ashley in Mississippi. Ashley, what is your comment, or prayer request?
Matthew 6:33 says seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness
Well, I have a question. the Bible verse that says, seek first the kingdom of God and all these things will be added to you. For some reason, I just cannot comprehend exactly what to do. Can you explain? Explain. What does that mean? Seeking the kingdom of God.
>> Alex McFarland: Yeah, that's in Matthew 6, verse 33. And, you know, this is a great. I'm sure we'll get to it before this week is out. You know, Matthew 5 begins with all of these, Beatitudes. But then in Matthew 6, there's going to be the Lord's Prayer, or sometimes called the model prayer. And, then it talks about laying up treasures in heaven, not on earth. Earth. But then verse 33, seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness. And all these things will be added to you. Bert, let me give a little context here. Going back, not to worry about what we're going to wear. Not to worry so much about what we're going to eat or what we're going to drink. Your heavenly Father knows what you need. And, Bert, I'll say this, and I'll throw it to you. I think what it means about our relationship with God, our salvation growing in the Lord. And God's going to meet the needs of our life.
>> Bert Harper: It is. It's the kingdom of God and His righteousness. Do not separate those two, because his kingdom is a righteous kingdom. Ashley. So you're saying, Lord, if you seek his kingdom, you're really seeking Him. That's the whole idea. Seeking to please the king of the kingdom. Let him be first place. Let him be the first love.
Let's get one more prayer request before we pray for everyone
Let's get one more prayer request before we pray for everyone. Alex. Where is that? Georgia?
>> Alex McFarland: Well, I don't have a lit up thing that I can click on.
>> Bert Harper: There we go.
>> Alex McFarland: There's Marie.
>> Bert Harper: Yeah, go ahead, Marie.
Please pray. we have prodigals in the family. I was not saved till late in life, so my example. Please pray for my, speech and understanding. But the prodigals and my children who are not saved and none of my grands are saved and the relationships, some have been totally broken off.
>> Bert Harper: Alex, we've had that. You brought it up. And now two or three times. Alex, we got these. Would you pray for them as we have about a minute left before we go off the air. Go ahead, brother, let's pray.
>> Alex McFarland: Heavenly Father, we just lift up Sarita, Sarita's sister Marie, and Marie's family, especially her grandkids, to come to know you. We lift up Deborah and Lord, so many children have, heard the words of the world, but not the words of the Savior. Holy Spirit of God, minister, call our nation back to you, spiritually, physically, by every way. Touch our lives and all these colors. In Christ's name we pray, Lord. Amen.
>> Bert Harper: The day of prayer, it's always special and today was no different. So if you got a prayer list, keep them before you pray for them. And, let's Bombard heaven next 24 hours. Alex. We'll continue in Matthew 5 tomorrow and we're looking forward and we're praying there'd be a great revival in Blue Springs and Warner Robinson, Georgia. Pray for that.
>> Alex McFarland: 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.
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Alex McFarland: Tuesday is Prayer Tuesday on Exploring the Word
>> Bert Harper: Welcome to Exploring the Word.
>> Alex McFarland: Well, not Only is Matthew 5 one of the most, well known parts of the Bible, it's also one of the most influential. And, and we'll get to Matthew 5 today and we'll begin what is very famously known as the Sermon on the mount. Hi, Alex McFarland here along with Bert Harper. And we are in the Gospel of Matthew. This is Exploring the Word. Tuesday is a very important day of the week because also this is a day in addition to Bible questions. We take prayer requests and we all have things that we, have on our heart and we would just be very honored if you would share. And later on in the program we'll open up the phones and we will share our requests and concerns and pray for each other. And Bert, it's always a good thing when people gather together to unite their voices and their hearts in prayer.
>> Bert Harper: I believe God had something to say about that. Where two or three are gathered together in there in my name. I will be right there in the middle of it. And, so we want Jesus Christ to be Lord and in the middle of everything we do here on Exploring the Word, that includes studying His Word, answering questions and prayer.
Alex: Matthew 5:1-3 is the beginning of Jesus sermon
So Alex, again, chapter five of the book of Matthew. Again, let me read. I know it, we get to verse three is when it really starts. But verse one and two I think helps us to get a little bit better understanding of how we're to look at this sermon. He says in Matthew 5:1 and seeing the multitudes, whole group, he went up on a mountain. And when he was seated with his disciples, when he was seated, his disciples came to him and he opened his mouth and taught them. He left the crowd to be with the few. Alex, sometimes that doesn't go really well with modern thought. The bigger it is, the better it is. Now, I understand that we want things to grow, but if we look at what Jesus did, many times he would leave the crowd so he could be alone, sometimes with the Father and sometimes with these men that he was leaving to take up the ministry of the preaching, the kingdom of God, the salvation. And here's one of those times. He leaves the multitudes. He went up into the mountain and. But his disciples came to him. so Alex, When we look at this, he's. He's sharing it with, I believe, his disciples. He's not telling them how to be saved. They're already following him. He's not talking about future events. But in the first four chapters, we've had, we've met the king, okay? we have his birth, we have his baptism, we have his temptation. And now, starting in chapter five, we kind of find how this kingdom operates. It's a different kind of kingdom than the world has ever known, isn't it?
>> Alex McFarland: Well, it really is the kingdom of God. And that's why, you know, to walk with Jesus and to do things biblically, it might seem counter to the world, but that's okay. First, Jon 2:15 says, this world is passing away, but the kingdom of God is forever, and Jesus will rule and reign forever. So it's in the best interest of all of us to follow God's ways that are righteous and eternal, not the ways of the world that are fallen and temporary.
Bert says this message proper begins in verse three
But let me read some of this. This is just so beautiful. And there's just a lot here to pick out. It's very rich, but it says, seeing the crowds, he, Jesus went up on the mountain. And when he sat down, his disciples and came to him, and he opened his mouth and taught them, saying. And you're right, it really kind of. This message proper begins in verse three. Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they should be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. In verse nine, Blessed are the peacemakers, for they should be called the sons of God. Bert, there's a lot to say here.
Let's talk for a little bit about the word Beatitude
Let's talk for a little bit about the word Beatitude. And believe it or not, you know how people number these varies. Some say they're, you know, eight or nine beatitudes, and, really ten, through twelve contains several and some number that as one. But, the Psalms use the word blessed. Matthew 5 here uses the word blessed. You may have heard of, the. The beatific vision, the joy that we'll see when we see Christ face to face. Well, these Beatitudes are the declarations of people that are blessed, blessed, or happy for. For some characteristics and qualities in their life. And it does as it is with God's economy, it's going to sound counterintuitive, you know, blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. Doesn't say weak, but humble and gentle. You know, Bert, very often the world says, you know, well, I remember a horrible saying I heard one time years ago. We reject this. But I heard somebody say, it doesn't matter who you step on on the way up. If you're not coming down again, see that that might be how the world thinks, but that arrogance and pride will be your own destruction. God talks about trusting in him. God talks about being righteous and truthful and godly. And so these things, they might seem counterintuitive to success as the world might define it, but this is righteousness and blessedness as Almighty God defines it.
>> Bert Harper: It really is. And it's different than any that they had ever heard. Again, we're talking about the kingdom. And a lot of those that would join Jesus, they were zealots. Simon the Zealot, he wanted to overthrow. there were some that may have been a little, ascenic. What I mean, Essenes, pull away and let's be different. And so there was a lot of things. But he says, no, you're to live in this world. We think of Romans. It says, be in the world, but not of the world. And this is the exact thing that I believe. He's, going over here now. He lists this one first. Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. I believe this is the place to start. What's another term for that? It could be humility. And it's not a false humility. It's not saying, oh, I can't do anything. I'm not worth anything. No, it is knowing that you're made in the image of God, accepting that for yourself and serving him as he has made you for the glory of God. This is the poor in spirit. We understand humility, that we are gods and we are not our own. So this is the starting place. It really is. If you're not humble before you start, I just want to tell you these are not necessarily. Okay, if you have this, you get this. If you have this. But I will say this. If you do not have that humility, none of these will be yours, Alex.
>> Alex McFarland: Amen.
>> Bert Harper: And it is a starting place.
Second Corinthians 7:10 says Godly sorrow works repentance to salvation
Let me go to number the second one, verse four. Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. This is sorrow. There is a natural sorrow. There is an unnatural sorrow, but there is a supernatural sorrow. And this is what it's referring to. Second Corinthians 7:10 says, Godly sorrow works repentance to salvation, not to be repented of. But the sorrow of the world works. Death. That's an unnatural sorrow. But, God, this is mourning. It doesn't mean you're sorrowing all the time. He was a man of sorrows, but has the idea that, listen, sin must be dealt with. we don't want to stay in our sin. We want to grow in the Lord. So, Alex, these first two, again, they're so important. The view of yourself and the view of sin. When you have those in balance and you're going for Christ, you're on the right path, brother.
>> Alex McFarland: Amen. Amen.
Bert: Jesus gives the Beatitudes on Mount Sinai
When you've been to Israel, did you. Were you taken to what they call the Mount of Beatitudes?
>> Bert Harper: one of the most beautiful sights I've ever seen. Over. Yes, I have. Looking over the sea, man, there close to Capernaum. It was beautiful.
>> Alex McFarland: We were there several years ago, and, good Lord, Will and Tim Wildmon and I, with some folks will be there in November. please pray for us in that regard. But, I remember walking over the hillside that has been the traditional site of where Jesus was when he gave this message. And I was just trying to imagine what it might have been like to be there on that wonderful day. But, Bert, have you ever heard commentators maybe compare, you know, Moses gave the law on Mount Sinai, and Jesus gives the Beatitudes here on a hillside. And Jesus is kind of the new Moses in a way. I mean, he is the Son of God, the promised Messiah. But there was the giving of the Mosaic Law and the moral code, but now there's the new covenant that we have a new heart, and we're really. The whole concept of being born again made alive through faith in Jesus because of what he does on the cross. All that is only possible because of Christ himself. Here's the thing that's amazing, and I want to get Back to Matthew 5. But not only, did Jesus give the message, but he himself is the message.
>> Bert Harper: Amen. Preach it, brother. I say this about, the Ten Commandments, comparing these to the Beatitudes. In the Commandments, there's only one that goes to the heart, and it's the last, Thou shalt not covet.
Covet.
>> Bert Harper: that's heart issue. Every one of these Beatitudes, they are a heart issue. So again with the law, you have it bringing you to the place where Jesus fulfilled the law. It's the heart of it. Now, who gets onto him all the Time. Are the Pharisees, the. They were a tiki tacky group. Oh, the law. They felt like their righteousness was if they tithed on the mint just right. If they prayed, and fasted just at the right time. At the right time, everything of their righteousness was outward. and that's the reason Jesus said, listen, you may be whited sepulchers, but on the inside, you're dead men's bones. Cause they were dead. Here Jesus goes straight to the heart. And the third one was the blessed are the meek. You shall inherit the earth. And as you said, meekness is not weakness. The word that it means is power under control. And the example, Alex, is a beautiful one. It's like a horse that has been broken. One of the most beautiful things that I've seen is those horses equestrian. When, it can be a small female, young female on that horse. And, and that horse has all the power in the world to go this way or that way. But her holding the reins, that horse jumps that gate, jumps those bushes, jumps that, water and goes right to that place. That's power under control.
>> Alex McFarland: Amen.
>> Bert Harper: That's what we're to be. We're to let God have power in our lives, don't we?
>> Alex McFarland: We are. We are. You know, you mentioned about the Pharisees and the outward rituals and formalities. And when we get to Matthew, 15, Jesus says, these people honor me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. And you're right, the. The outward. You know, I've met people that say, well, I keep the ten Commandments, and, you know, we should. But that. That does not produce a change of heart. You know, going through religion or ritual. Only faith in Christ and the new birth can produce a changed heart. And, let me encourage everybody to read Matthew 5. These words are so beautiful. You know, you mentioned the meek. For they shall inherit the earth, verse 6. And may the Lord grant that this be said of all of us. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness.
>> Bert Harper: Amen.
>> Alex McFarland: For they should be satisfied. I was reading a commentator. well, it was, Oh, I hear that music, don't you, Burr?
>> Bert Harper: Oh, it means that we're going to take a break.
>> Alex McFarland: Yes.
>> Bert Harper: But it also means we're going to get to come back and we're going to look at that hunger and thirst. And the question is, what are you hungering and thirsting for, when it comes to spiritual matters and your own attitude? Well, when we get back, we'll look at that and examine ourselves to see if we're hungering after righteousness.
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All glory and honor is yours.
>> Bert Harper: We want to give God all the glory, all the honor. He has all power. Let him rule in our lives. We're talking about the Beatitudes, Matthew, chapter five, the sermon on the mount, and this is Matthew's gospel. This is the longest textual sermon that you have in all four of the gospels. It's amazing. And, how Matthew led by the holy Spirit, but yet man involved in it. it's a phenomenal that man cannot completely understand, but he records and has this message and brings it to us. How beautiful it is. And this one is hungering and thirsting.
If you're hungering and thirsting for that which is good
So let me ask this question or, let me give this verse, really listen to Psalm 34. 8. O Taste and See that the Lord is good. I just want to tell you, if you're hungering and thirsting for that which is good, you will hunger and thirst for Christ. Alex, you remember the woman at the well? Jesus said, you know, if you really want some good water, I can give it to you. And she said, how can you do that? You don't have anything to draw it with. And he explains to her, says, it's a well of water springing up. Now, what did that woman do? God told Jesus told her everything, and she forgot her water. Pots. And she went into Zakar to tell those men, listen, I know a man that's told me everything that I've ever done. And they came out to hear it, because guess what? Even in Samaria, there were some people there thirsting for the. For truth. I believe there's still people thirsting for truth today, Alex.
>> Alex McFarland: Amen. Yeah, I read a devotional book commenting on the Matthew 5, 6, and it says, you know, those who hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they will be satisfied. Isn't that something? as much truth and righteousness as you desire, God will give it to you. So this commentator said, you can have as much of Jesus as you want, but in reality, you do have as much of Jesus as you want. Because if you want to grow deeper in the Lord, you want to know his word, you want to be closer to Christ, he will do that. And, you know, that's just an amazing prospect, isn't it? I mean, there. There are plenty of things in life that we could aspire to or maybe become strong in, but not reach all of our goals. You can grow as much in the Lord as you desire, and as we hunger and thirst for righteousness, we'll be satisfied. I love verse seven.
>> Bert Harper: Alex, let me make one more comment real quick. You don't mind hunger and thirst? If we look at it physically, it is a necessity. To be right with God is, its necessity to have his righteousness. And it's his imputed righteousness that happens at justification and then our sanctification. As we grow, we can be as he is. You know, we can become more like him, which is real righteousness. And then finally, praise God, when we get into his presence after death or at the Rapture, we'll have that glorification righteousness where all sin has been done away with. Alex. Hungering and thirsting after this righteousness, and you will be, and I love what you said, satisfied. There's nothing that satisfies like Jesus, is there?
>> Alex McFarland: Well, you know, the concept of hungering or thirsting. Do you remember Psalm 42, verse 1? As the deer pants for the water brooks, so my soul longs after Thee, O God. And. And so we should desire God. And, you know, I've. All my life, I've pondered on verse seven, because this is a promise. In a way, it's a bit of a warning, too. Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. I mean, we should be quick to show grace, because many, many days, it's us that needs grace. You know, blessed are the Pure in heart, for they shall see God. C.S. lewis very famously commented on this. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. CS Lewis said, only the pure in heart want to see God. I mean, really, when people shrink away and, recoil at the idea of an almighty holy God, it's because they have things in their life that need to be dealt with. But, blessed are the peacemakers. And I want to say I've seen in families, I've seen in the workplace, I've seen in neighborhoods and churches, the people that are the peacemakers. And if you want to be like Jesus, be a peacemaker, because he's the greatest peacemaker of all, isn't he?
>> Bert Harper: Hallelujah. He is. Going back to that. About, mercy.
There's a story about a man who was convicted of stealing a horse
Monday mornings here at afa, we start off with the devotion. And Tim Wildmon is always the one that shares that on Monday mornings, unless we have a special guest or someone. But, Monday, he was reading from a book that our founder and Tim's dad, Don Wildmon, wrote. And I'm going to get a synopsis on it. There's this guy that, stole a horse back in the day out west, where, you know, it was the penalty was. Was hanging, you know, and. But he was well liked. He had helped people. Everybody couldn't say a bad word about him. But the horse. The man that he stole the horse from was a guy that was a businessman, shrewd. He had just taken advantage of everybody. And so he was complaining about his horse being stolen. Okay, so they have a trial, and, the evidence is strong that this man did take that man's horse. So they turned it over to the 12 jurors, and they came back and the judge asked, have y' all reached the verdict? And says, we have, sir. Says, we find him not guilty if he'll return the horse. And, the judge said, I can't take that. You got to come back. that's not acceptable. And so they went back in deliberation, and they came back in an hour, and they. The judge said, have you reached, a verdict? He said, we have, sir. And they said, what is it? He said, we find him not guilty and he can keep the horse. Now, now, what's amazing here, it is merciful. This. These 12 men were being merciful because what that man had been merciful to them. The man who was complaining that his horse was stolen had taken advantage and was everything but merciful. Listen, in the day that you really need it, show mercy, Alex. Show mercy. Listen to this passage, it is in limitations 3, 22. It is the Lord's mercies that we're not consumed. Listen, God's mercy is real. We need to live in it. But we need to live with it as well, don't we?
We do. We do.
>> Alex McFarland: And let me say this. I know we're coming up on the one year anniversary of the shooting of Charlie Kirk. And ah, a lot of people talked about that last weekend as we had Rick Metaxas, on the, you know, one year anniversary of us having Charlie speak at our conference. I thought it was so powerful at his memorial service just days after having been assassinated and the whole wide world was watching. Erica Kirk got up and she said to the one who did this, I want to say I forgive you.
>> Bert Harper: Yeah, I remember that.
>> Alex McFarland: That I'm going to tell you that was a real witness for the gospel. I really do. verse 10 blessings.
>> Bert Harper: Alex, I hate to keep. I know we want, you want to go fast, but I just got to say something about pure in heart, if you don't mind. Okay. The word pure has two meanings. Clean and unmixed. And this one has both of them. His blood washes us white as snow. But a double minded man is unstable. It's unmixed. Our heart is turned toward God. And it says we'll see him. Moses in Exodus 33 said, I beseech you, show me your glory. And so God in the cleft of the rock, he put his hand there before him and then he passed by. We have only got a glimpse of God's glory even in the pure in heart. And if you remember at the mount of Transfiguration, Jesus and I say it, you know, Jesus let his nature God, deity shine through his humanity. And man that was glory. And they bowed down before him. So Alex, listen. Live pure in heart. Live that way with unmixed and be clean. Confess your sins, make them right and do not be double minded. Be unmixed. Have that biblical worldview. And I want to tell you in righteousness toward God. And m it does do what God wants us to do.
>> Alex McFarland: You know, I don't mean to go slowly.
>> Bert Harper: I'm the one that's dragging us today. Alex. Go ahead man.
2nd Corinthians 5:20 says we are ambassadors for Christ
>> Alex McFarland: Well, blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. And the word there I'm not going to try to. It looks like kind of whee us h u I o s And it, it does mean a son or an offspring. Right? So let's say that you know, you've trusted Christ, you're born again. You're a born again child of God. Right, but it also means an ambassador. All right. Blessed are the peacemakers. They shall be called a son or an ambassador of God. Well, I was thinking about this, Bert, in 2nd Corinthians 5:20, therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ M. God making his appeal through us. Isn't that something? So we are. Let's remember, as a Christian, we are his representatives, aren't we? You can say a witness, an ambassador, a, messenger of that gospel. And part of that is, you know, it's been said m Many people. D. James Kennedy wrote a book, what if Jesus had never been born? different ones, like Rodney Stark have. And Dinesh d' Souza have written about everywhere Christianity goes, there's the betterment of the human condition. There just is. Wherever Christianity has gone, first of all, Christians go. And with Christians comes the message of Christ. And as people are saved, there's, the biblical worldview permeating a culture. And when that's one of the outflows of revival. And folks, we need a revival, but cultural transformation. And so we are Christ ambassadors. And when the Gospel comes into a culture, yes, there is peace, there is stability, there is the betterment of the human condition. And on the flip, everywhere Christianity has gone away and in comes other things. There's. I mean, just look at the places where Christianity once thrived, but it's kind of died out. there's the, the lowering of the standard and the, the safety of everybody. There's so much here we could say.
>> Bert Harper: But, the peacemaker. Let me see. Get my.
>> Alex McFarland: Okay, the.
>> Bert Harper: You cannot be a peacemaker unless you're at peace with God. And you're not going to be a peacemaker if you don't have the peace of God reigning in your heart. Those are prerequisite. And Ephesians 2:14 talks about Jesus. He said, he is our peace. You know, he, is. We're at peace with him. He brings his peace into us. So what do we do? We live in that peace. And that brings about peace of heart. Now, again, there may be those. And I think it covers it in verse 10, concerning those that are persecuted. Those. Those that do not want that peace and their war against God himself. Go ahead, Alex. Verse 10.
>> Alex McFarland: Yeah, that's right. The persecution. blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. In other words, I mean, when you're a citizen of the kingdom of heaven, and you're living righteously and for righteousness and for truth, you're going to get persecuted.
Christian parents are being persecuted for standing for what God's word says
let me just say this about, I had a call earlier today of ah, a Christian family and the child has grown up, raised in a very, very godly home, goes away to college, becomes a skeptic, becomes more and more hostile to mom and dad. And one of the issues that has just been an absolute wedge between a formerly Christian young adult and the presently Christian parents issue over homosexuality and transgenderism and this poor mother who was just weeping. I had this phone call four hours ago, Bert said that our, our daughter now denies Christ, denies the Bible and is so hateful to us because we will not go along with what she says about homosexuality and said, you know, you pay and send them away to college and they turn into atheists. And so we, of course we prayed together and I said, well you know, you did train up your child in the way that they should go and let's pray they come back. But here's my point. These parents and many people listening I think might relate to what, what I'm saying. These parents are standing for what God's word says and they're being persecuted for it. By whom? By their child, even. that's, I'm sure in your ministry you've come across similar situations, haven't you?
>> Bert Harper: More than I want to remember, honestly. And listen, it is that way. Notice it's for righteousness sake. It's not for a bad decision. We're all, you know, it rains on the just and the unjust. So we're going to reap consequences of wrong choices, we're going to reap consequences of bad decisions and actions. But here it is for righteousness and what it's been talking about, hungering and thirsting after righteousness and then mercy, pure in heart. And because you're living for Christ and you stand with, with Christ on the issues of the day, the issues of the day you are receiving this persecution. And we've got brothers and sisters all over the world, that family that you were talking about. But we have brothers and sisters in Christ in Iran that are suffering beyond measure from that evil, evil regime. Yes, there's many believers, many of them have been killed. They're in heaven now. They were martyrs for their faith, but they were being persecuted for righteousness sake. And I want to tell you, theirs is the kingdom of heaven, isn't it?
>> Alex McFarland: Well, before this break, please read verse 11. Because if you've ever stood for truth and really taken some hits for it, verse 11 is for you.
>> Bert Harper: And verse 12 says, after this happens, rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you. Listen, this is temporary life, far as physical. We're going to be with the Lord eternally in glory. That Number Day of Prayer 888589 8840.
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>> Bert Harper: Just $28 sponsors one ultrasound. $140 helps rescue five babies. To donate, dial hashtag 250 and say baby that's hashtag 250 baby or visit preborn.com/bert Harper. That's preborn.com Bert Harper.
Don't stop praying don't stop calling on Jesus name Keep on pounding on heaven's door Let your knees wear out the
floor don't stop believing cuz mountains move
with just a little faith and your father's heard every single word you're saying
>> Bert Harper: so don't stop praying.
Today is the day of prayer and if you have a prayer request, we would appreciate it
Welcome back to Exploring the Word. It's the day of prayer and if you have a prayer request, we would want to hear it. We want to pray with you. Matter of fact, m many of our people who listen, they're part of the prayer club. There was the holy club in England, George Whitfield and Charles and Jon Wesley and others. But we're the prayer club. We're going to pray for you. That number is 888-589-8840. And before we go to any phones, I know you had a prayer request you mentioned at the very last of the program yesterday, Alex.
>> Alex McFarland: Exactly. In the Richmond area, we have so many great listeners and just, the greater Richmond and northern Virginia areas, we've been up there to minister a lot of times. Well, we have a dear brother named Brad Howard. He's probably, probably listening right now. And he got a, Just a bad diagnosis about a tumor in his, his body that is going to get operated on. Of course they're going to do a biopsy and everything like that. But, it is very serious. And I just want to ask everybody, Brad in Richmond, he's a dear, dear Christian leader and a, listener who's probably listening right now. And so if everybody would remember him, I'd appreciate that.
>> Bert Harper: Okay. And Brent, I hear we have some, sent in to you on Word. That's right. Well, it's actually on Facebook. You can get those anytime, any show. during the show, you can send in your prayer request. put it. Put your questions there. If you don't want to call and if you don't want to email. I've got one from Marian. She's, asking for prayers for the folks in Ohio. There's a lot of storms there.
>> Alex McFarland: Okay.
>> Bert Harper: And, prayers for Nancy. She is looking for a job, in need of a job. Okay. And Rose is asking for prayer for her daughter Jesse. She has estranged herself from the family, and they're praying God will intervene and open her eyes. Okay. Marian, Nancy and Rose. Go ahead, Alex.
>> Alex McFarland: At one more. I got a text. We have a listener in Texas, a, young man. He's probably around 30, and he was injured, at work, and he lost his sight in one eye. And, he. He's just really, really down about this, as we could understand, but. And he has just cried out to God. He is a devout believer, but he's. He's really hurting. If you just think of this young man in Texas who lost his vision in one of his eyes. He's very sad.
>> Bert Harper: Okay. Father, I pray for these. I pray for Brad, Alex's friend. He listens to this program right where he is severe. I pray God, that you would intervene. I pray you'd give him what all he needs at this point in time, spiritually and physically in every way. Father, I pray for Marian, as, ah, she is talking about the storms in Ohio. They're been severe and that brings up all the suffering that's in Columbia because of the earthquake as well. There's believers down there as well, Father. Minister to them as they minister to others. We, we pray for Nancy for her job that, you would bring her to that point where you would match those together. Father, we pray for Rose as Jesse has estranged herself from the family. That's much like Alex was talking about what he was praying with that family this morning. We don't know with the issues, but Father, there it is there. And we pray for this young man there in Texas. The loss of his eye. Father, I know more than anything, I pray you would encourage him, God, encourage him where he is. And then, Father, we are praying restoration for that and we're asking it in Jesus name. Amen. Where to, Alex?
>> Alex McFarland: Amen. Amen.
Alex: Stephanie has been struggling with anxiety and panic recently
Well, we are going to begin in Mississippi with Stephanie. Welcome to Exploring the Word. Stephanie.
Hey, thanks for taking my call.
>> Bert Harper: Yeah, go right ahead.
I have, a long history of anxiety and panic recently. It has been going on for about 10 days and I can't get much of a break and I just feel like my prayers are hitting the ceiling.
>> Bert Harper: Okay, well, you remember that, the fellow that could not get to Jesus, paralytic, and he couldn't get through the crowd, so his four friends took him to the roof and let him down at Jesus feet and he was healed. So, Stephanie, what we're going to do, if you feel like your prayers are not getting through, you're going to have more than four friends right now praying for you that God would show you what to do. It may be something that is in your past May, but feast on the word of God. Get in the Psalms and read Psalms for you. Stephanie, I just want to tell you when I've had anxiety. I don't have anxiety attacks, but I've had anxiety over, over decisions. Alex, I feast upon the Psalms. I really do. Do you?
>> Alex McFarland: I do. The Book of Psalms, Psalm 34, 18. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are of a contrite or crushed spirit. And, I've mentioned many times Dr. Harold Wilmington, one of the great, great Bible scholars, and we were in a Q and A one time, and somebody said, do you have some scriptures for when I'm sad? And he said, the Book of Psalms. And, so, Stephanie, blessings to you. And you seek God and he'll lift you up. I know.
The only way to go to heaven is by putting your faith in Jesus Christ
Let's go to Timothy in North Carolina. Timothy, thanks for holding and welcome to Exploring the Word.
yes, can you still make
>> Bert Harper: it to heaven with zero, rewards?
>> Alex McFarland: Well, I'm glad you would ask that. Let's talk about the phrase making it to heaven, because, the only way to go to heaven is by putting your faith in Jesus Christ. Now, the rewards are going to be, gifts God essentially gives us for anything we do post salvation. But Timothy, have you, have you asked Christ to come into your life and be your Savior?
yes, sir.
>> Alex McFarland: Amen. Okay, well, and, and so if you were to die, you Know there's been that moment when you trusted Christ and you're, you're saved, right?
Yes.
>> Bert Harper: Okay.
>> Alex McFarland: Praise the Lord. Yeah, well, Bert explained, to him, Praise God. Timothy. That's the most important talk about rewards for everything post salvation. Bert first.
>> Bert Harper: Timothy, start where you are right now. Okay. there was this old song I remember as a kid. I never heard it. I haven't even looked it up. Wasted years. Oh, how foolish you have. May have blown years of discipleship and sanctification. Start where you are right now. Now, Timothy, listen. Our salvation is in Christ. We go. But I want to just tell you, I know you don't want to go empty handed. I hear you saying that. Listen, get into the word, serve others, look for his coming, and start, where you are. Timothy, don't. Don't. Okay, okay. I can. I'm in the past. No, start where you are. And Father, I pray for Timothy right now that he would say, God, forgive me of my shortcomings, of all the things I did. But right now, I want to serve you, Lord, if it's picking up paper, in the sanctuary after church is over, God, if it's. If it's just saying an encouraging word to people, God, I want you to use me. I pray for that. In Jesus name, for Timothy. Amen.
>> Alex McFarland: Hallelujah. Amen. Bless you, brother.
Nick asks for prayer for revival at Blue Springs Baptist Church in Union County
Let's go to Nick. Nick, in Mississippi, you're on Exploring the Word. Welcome.
Thank you, sir. Appreciate you. I was just calling to, ask for prayer for local church I'm attending right now, Blue Springs Baptist Church. we're having revival this week. tonight will be our third night in the revival. we've already had some pretty good church. Seeing God moved, asking, prepared to continue to see that for the rest of this week.
>> Bert Harper: Hey, Nick, I got asked. Is that Blue Springs in Union County?
Yes, sir, it is.
>> Bert Harper: You know where we know it is. We're praising God, man. Alex, you mind me praying for that? We need revival starting.
>> Alex McFarland: Amen. Nick, I'm so glad you called in. Yes, lead us, Bert.
>> Bert Harper: Father, I thank you for Nick, I thank you for his heart to want you to move in his life and in the lives of those people. People at Blue Springs. God, what an influence it would be for our area to see you invade their territory with the power of the Holy Spirit. And I'm praying, God, that when they enter in, I pray they would feel the presence of the Holy Spirit when they drive up on the parking lot tonight. I've been there. I've. I'VE seen that happen when. When God is so real and so thick that the Holy Spirit is there. I pray for the conviction of sin. Those that need to be saved, those that need to get right with you and God, may it spread. Thank you in Jesus name for what you're going to do. Amen.
>> Alex McFarland: Amen. Hey, before I take the next call, and by the way, the number is 888-589-8840. I want to say a big thank you to Pastor Paul Kohl's. I'm here in Warner Robbins, Georgia Friendship Baptist. We had a fantastic night last night. Great attendance. Bert. People came up to me, they were like, we're so glad you're here. Is Bert with you? And I said no, I wish he was, but. So, everybody in Warner Robbins is just fantastic. And Friendship Baptist. I'll be there at 6:30 tonight.
>> Bert Harper: Amen.
>> Alex McFarland: If you're in this region, so be
>> Bert Harper: praying for that too. Let revival. Wouldn't it be great? Blue Springs Friendship in Warner, Rotman. God, just show up and bring both places and do a great work. That's what we're praying for.
Amen.
We got a lot of people for prayer requests. Can we go to them and see how many
>> Alex McFarland: how about we go to Texas? Deborah in Texas. Welcome to Exploring the Word.
Thank you both so much. First of all, I want to encourage the young man whose eye was removed in an accident because my left eye was removed 15 years ago because of cancer. And once there was a shock. He can be a witness to others. No wonder. Well, because they asked me, how can you do this with one eye? Well, I'm the Christian. The Lord tells me to go forward. So go forward. I have a prayer request too. My niece Samantha is married M and they have a young child. And she has been involved in lesbianism. And there will be divorce, she and her husband. But it's adultery, of course, because doesn't matter if it's man or woman. You're involved with somebody else. That's adultery. she needs prayer. She was going to church, but in this other person. She's involved with this other woman. I don't know her name. They need salvation. First of all, I want protection for their daughter. She's a toddler. Yeah, it's just heartbreaking. Heartbreaking is not the word.
>> Bert Harper: Deborah, we're going to pray. We're going to pray for that. We've got that information. We hear your heart, Alex. We got a lot of people for prayer requests. Can we go to them and see how many and pray at the end? Would that be okay?
>> Alex McFarland: Let's do.
>> Bert Harper: Deborah, we hadn't forgot you. Deborah, We. I got. We got you down.
>> Alex McFarland: We're praying, Sarita in Louisiana. Sarita, are you there?
Hi, Yes, I would like to ask some friends for my sister. Her name is Lydia, and she, has, something called, Man. But it's an autoimmune disorder, and it causes. It causes ocd. It causes, You know, she's really been struggling with mental health problem. Problems and on all these meditation, and I don't think she knows the word she.
>> Bert Harper: We're going to pray for Serita. Listen, we are. We. We're getting the gist of it, and. And honest, the great thing about this, we pray to God who knows all of it. If we just get part of it. He knows it all, doesn't it?
>> Alex McFarland: Amen. Syrita's sister is gonna. We're gonna lift her up. Let's try to go to Ashley in Mississippi. Ashley, what is your comment, or prayer request?
Matthew 6:33 says seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness
Well, I have a question. the Bible verse that says, seek first the kingdom of God and all these things will be added to you. For some reason, I just cannot comprehend exactly what to do. Can you explain? Explain. What does that mean? Seeking the kingdom of God.
>> Alex McFarland: Yeah, that's in Matthew 6, verse 33. And, you know, this is a great. I'm sure we'll get to it before this week is out. You know, Matthew 5 begins with all of these, Beatitudes. But then in Matthew 6, there's going to be the Lord's Prayer, or sometimes called the model prayer. And, then it talks about laying up treasures in heaven, not on earth. Earth. But then verse 33, seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness. And all these things will be added to you. Bert, let me give a little context here. Going back, not to worry about what we're going to wear. Not to worry so much about what we're going to eat or what we're going to drink. Your heavenly Father knows what you need. And, Bert, I'll say this, and I'll throw it to you. I think what it means about our relationship with God, our salvation growing in the Lord. And God's going to meet the needs of our life.
>> Bert Harper: It is. It's the kingdom of God and His righteousness. Do not separate those two, because his kingdom is a righteous kingdom. Ashley. So you're saying, Lord, if you seek his kingdom, you're really seeking Him. That's the whole idea. Seeking to please the king of the kingdom. Let him be first place. Let him be the first love.
Let's get one more prayer request before we pray for everyone
Let's get one more prayer request before we pray for everyone. Alex. Where is that? Georgia?
>> Alex McFarland: Well, I don't have a lit up thing that I can click on.
>> Bert Harper: There we go.
>> Alex McFarland: There's Marie.
>> Bert Harper: Yeah, go ahead, Marie.
Please pray. we have prodigals in the family. I was not saved till late in life, so my example. Please pray for my, speech and understanding. But the prodigals and my children who are not saved and none of my grands are saved and the relationships, some have been totally broken off.
>> Bert Harper: Alex, we've had that. You brought it up. And now two or three times. Alex, we got these. Would you pray for them as we have about a minute left before we go off the air. Go ahead, brother, let's pray.
>> Alex McFarland: Heavenly Father, we just lift up Sarita, Sarita's sister Marie, and Marie's family, especially her grandkids, to come to know you. We lift up Deborah and Lord, so many children have, heard the words of the world, but not the words of the Savior. Holy Spirit of God, minister, call our nation back to you, spiritually, physically, by every way. Touch our lives and all these colors. In Christ's name we pray, Lord. Amen.
>> Bert Harper: The day of prayer, it's always special and today was no different. So if you got a prayer list, keep them before you pray for them. And, let's Bombard heaven next 24 hours. Alex. We'll continue in Matthew 5 tomorrow and we're looking forward and we're praying there'd be a great revival in Blue Springs and Warner Robinson, Georgia. Pray for that.
>> Alex McFarland: 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.
Chapters:
(00:00) American Family Radio takes your Bible questions live on American Family Radio
(00:17) Alex McFarland: Tuesday is Prayer Tuesday on Exploring the Word
(01:34) Alex: Matthew 5:1-3 is the beginning of Jesus sermon
(04:04) Bert says this message proper begins in verse three
(04:57) Let's talk for a little bit about the word Beatitude
(08:17) Second Corinthians 7:10 says Godly sorrow works repentance to salvation
(09:14) Bert: Jesus gives the Beatitudes on Mount Sinai
(14:01) Preborn network clinics offer free ultrasounds to women facing unplanned pregnancies
(16:42) If you're hungering and thirsting for that which is good
(21:02) There's a story about a man who was convicted of stealing a horse
(25:34) 2nd Corinthians 5:20 says we are ambassadors for Christ
(29:04) Christian parents are being persecuted for standing for what God's word says
(32:32) Preborn Network offers free ultrasounds to women facing unplanned pregnancies
(34:22) Today is the day of prayer and if you have a prayer request, we would appreciate it
(38:16) Alex: Stephanie has been struggling with anxiety and panic recently
(40:03) The only way to go to heaven is by putting your faith in Jesus Christ
(42:23) Nick asks for prayer for revival at Blue Springs Baptist Church in Union County
(44:37) We got a lot of people for prayer requests. Can we go to them and see how many
(47:28) Matthew 6:33 says seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness
(49:06) Let's get one more prayer request before we pray for everyone
✍️ Episode References
American Family Radio
https://afr.net
The Bible
https://www.biblegateway.com
C.S. Lewis
https://www.cslewis.com
Preborn
https://preborn.com
Chapters:
(00:00) American Family Radio takes your Bible questions live on American Family Radio
(00:17) Alex McFarland: Tuesday is Prayer Tuesday on Exploring the Word
(01:34) Alex: Matthew 5:1-3 is the beginning of Jesus sermon
(04:04) Bert says this message proper begins in verse three
(04:57) Let's talk for a little bit about the word Beatitude
(08:17) Second Corinthians 7:10 says Godly sorrow works repentance to salvation
(09:14) Bert: Jesus gives the Beatitudes on Mount Sinai
(14:01) Preborn network clinics offer free ultrasounds to women facing unplanned pregnancies
(16:42) If you're hungering and thirsting for that which is good
(21:02) There's a story about a man who was convicted of stealing a horse
(25:34) 2nd Corinthians 5:20 says we are ambassadors for Christ
(29:04) Christian parents are being persecuted for standing for what God's word says
(32:32) Preborn Network offers free ultrasounds to women facing unplanned pregnancies
(34:22) Today is the day of prayer and if you have a prayer request, we would appreciate it
(38:16) Alex: Stephanie has been struggling with anxiety and panic recently
(40:03) The only way to go to heaven is by putting your faith in Jesus Christ
(42:23) Nick asks for prayer for revival at Blue Springs Baptist Church in Union County
(44:37) We got a lot of people for prayer requests. Can we go to them and see how many
(47:28) Matthew 6:33 says seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness
(49:06) Let's get one more prayer request before we pray for everyone
✍️ Episode References
American Family Radio
https://afr.net
The Bible
https://www.biblegateway.com
C.S. Lewis
https://www.cslewis.com
Preborn
https://preborn.com
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