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. Welcome to Exploring the Word.
Bert Harper We're in the book of Hosea. Hosea, chapter 13, the last part of verse four. Listen and you shall know no God but me, for there is no Savior besides me. Jesus Christ is the way, the truth and the life. And we're glad to proclaim it. This is Bert Harper along with Dr. Jon Moeller. Jon, back at it today, Brother,
John Boler let's go again.
Bert Harper Alex is traveling and, so pray for him and that everything would go well. But we got a special guest today. He's been on other programs, but we're always glad to have him on Exploring the Word because he's a preacher.
John Boler Amen.
Bert Harper And they're kind of special for us.
Jerry Lawson Shares How Christmas Buttons Support Evangelism
And our guest today is Brother Jerry Lawson. Brother Jerry, thank you for joining us.
Jeff Chamblee The joy is all mine.
Bert Harper Amen. And, we've been doing this for several years on Exploring the Word with Jerry Cumming. Now, the reason he is here, he loves afa, but a ministry that AFA has, he, he takes full advantage of it each year. AFA Resource center has some Christmas buttons. I'm wearing, one of those. Brother Jerry's wearing his. And I don't know if you can sit or not. They're new this year, look great and you can purchase those. And I'm going to tell you more about it. But I want you to hear Brother Jerry's story concerning how he uses them for, for the glory of God in evangelism. Help. Tell us about that, brother.
Jeff Chamblee Well, Bert, again, thank you for allowing me to be here today. I love coming up here to afa. Ah, it's family. And that's what God intended for us to be. And that's what Don, Wildmon's vision was all about, strengthening the family. back in 2000, Bill O'Reilly and others were talking about the war on Christmas and, so, so Don up with this ideal. I say Don came up with it. God gave him an inspiration to do the buttons and so he suggested it. Several people kind of shook their head and thought no. And, I mean, when God gives you an inspiration, follow through on it. Listen to God. And Don did. And I thought, lord, I'd like to be part of that. and so I got involved with him back there. In. In, 2000. And over the years, it's just been a joy. I've given out tens of thousands of these buttons. And, I have met so many people that are hurting, people that are lost, and the buttons are just. I, mean, it's an entrance to being a witness for Jesus Christ to people.
Bert Harper Amen.
Practical Ways To Wear Share Buttons And Introduce Jesus
Jon, the theme is wear and share them. That's a pretty good thought, isn't it?
John Boler Right? Brother Jerry, how do you. How I know there's many different ways to share the gospel. There's the verbal witness, but putting something in somebody's hand. I'm thinking of a gospel tract, but a button, it immediately makes that person look down and read it. How does that work as far as passing them out? Do they take it and are they still listening? Why are you giving me this? And it's an open door to continue to share the gospel of Jesus. How does that work as far as passing? I know sometimes it's just drop it off and move on. But tell us about how sometimes people. Why are you giving this to me?
Jeff Chamblee You know, When I was 14, God called me into the ministry. And, Jon, chapter four. Jesus breaking the ice with this woman at Jacob's. Well, he teaches us how to approach people. He was the one that broke the ice. he was the one that spoke to her. and I have a little acronym I call Speak how to Address People for the Lord. And, anyway, the Lord will point out people, people that are hurting. You can look at people and tell they're having a bad day. And I just like to go up and start talking to them. And, many people are scared to engage somebody else. I found that most people, they appreciate somebody coming up and, and talking with them. And, during the course of the conversation, inevitably the Lord will lead them around to say something. And I can say, let me tell you something. God intended for us to have this discussion today, and he's got something for you. And here is this button. And then I'll give them a button. I also have a track from the Billy Graham Crusade that you can open up. Y' all may have seen those. And, if it's a lost person, I'll give them that track. And I've had people from California call me up and say, thank you for that button and thank you for that track. I've been brought to Christ into my heart. Amen.
John Boler Amen.
Bert Harper There's, ah, Amen. Now, how do you get those buttons? Well, let me. You asked me, so let me tell you how you can go to resources.afa.net resources.afa.net you can look at them, and then you can order them. And they're in packages of 10, and you can. So you can't just order one. You got to get 10. So you gotta share. Gotta pass them out. And, and that's the theme. Wear them and share them all season long.
Mississippi Clergy Unite In Prayer And Community Fellowship
Right now, Hey, I have to admit, we've got Christmas tree up at our house. We knew we were going to be gone for a while, and Thanksgiving, so we got started early. And I, start listening to Christmas music and August anyway, so, you know, it fits at our house. But you can order these packages of sets of 10. It's free shipping. And they can come to your house, and they can. You can give them and share them with others, or you can call this number. This is a different number than calling us. So if you have it, you can write it down, and we'll try to remind you of it later on. It's 877-9274-9178-7792-7491. Seven sevens are wild, aren't they? On that one? But, you can order those and you can share them with others and, give them to the waitress that's waiting on the server that's waiting on you. or drive up window and say, man, thank you. Here. Here's the money, but I want to share this with you, too. So there's all kinds of ways to use them, aren't they?
Jeff Chamblee Oh, absolutely. and the other year, I told Tim, we're waiting till after Thanksgiving to start moving these buttons. And I said, I'm sorry, I'm going to get extra buttons at the end of the Christmas season. And when I see the box doors putting up the Christmas decoration, I'm going in, passing out Christmas. But September 15th in Ackerman, they started putting up Christmas decoration.
John Boler Yeah.
Bert Harper Now, if you don't know where Ackerman is, you find it on a mount. And, and been there. And he's a pastor down there. I've preached at the Baptist church down there. Buddy, Smith from Ackerman Methodist. So, man, y' all guys cover it down there. Presbyterian, Baptist, Methodist, y' all are just brothers in Christ down there, aren't you?
Jeff Chamblee I tell you what that's for. We have a unity among the clergy down there, and not just the white clergy, the black clergy. We all come together and. And pray for our community. The National Day of Prayer. It's a rainbow coalition of people in There, but
Bert Harper turning the rainbow into what it was meant to be. Amen. Don't let them steal. Don't. I'm just going to preach a minute. Yeah, go ahead. Don't let Satan and his tactics steal away that which God meant for good.
John Boler Yeah.
Jeff Chamblee I mean, and, and so especially the National Day of Prayer, we'll fill the courtroom up with people and all to pray for this. They come from different political backgrounds, but if Christ is in you, we're going to be unified.
Bert Harper Amen.
Pastors Reflect On Calling Salvation And Life Transformation
Well, brother, it's good to have. I told you he'd be refreshing,
John Boler telling you rather. Hey, keep up the good work. Appreciate what you're doing. As a fellow pastor and a fellow Mississippi pastor, I, appreciate what you're doing.
Jeff Chamblee God shaped and molded me in a rural community. I couldn't pastor in an urban area that I need to know everybody in the county. And he put me right where he wants me to be.
Bert Harper And that's the important place to be, is
John Boler where God wants you to be.
Bert Harper you know, I believe it because I've pastored missions, small rural churches, a church on the wrong side of town, as they say, and church, of significant size here for northeast Mississippi. And I want to tell you every one of them is important in the eyes of God. So, brother, I love you. Thank God for you.
Jeff Chamblee Well, Bert, we pray for you and AFA all the time, but you've got a special spirit in your heart and I've always appreciated you. And you asked me several years ago, you remembered my name. I remembered the spirit that was in you and the name that went with it. Well,
Bert Harper thank you, man. Listen, Jesus changed my life as a 12 year old boy.
John Boler That's right.
Bert Harper he really did. I was backwards, shy and far as language and God using me. I told him goober and gomer on from Mayberry. They had nothing on me. I could dance and gasp with the best of them and, God still got it. Still got it. But I want to communicate. Well,
Jeff Chamblee is there a person that will be in heaven that God didn't change?
Bert Harper Listen, salvation brings change in your life. Turning from and turning to. That's right. I don't care how you say it, what word you use, but it's turning from my way. There's a way that seems right to a man, but the ends thereof are the way through him. Absolutely. So we got to turn to the Lord. Jesus. Jerry. Thank you, brother.
Jeff Chamblee If I don't see you again down here, I'll see you up there.
Bert Harper Okay. We're going to pray for you before you go.
Jeff Chamblee All right, Jon, would
Bert Harper you mind praying?
John Boler Lord, I thank you for brother Jerry. Thank you for his ministry and Ackerman and so many other places as he's mentioned a testimony of an individual in California. Lord, it just reminds us there's no walls when it comes to the gospel. No. And, God, I pray that you would use just a simple tool of a Christmas button and a conversation starter to an individual that may lead to, as we're talking about new creation and change in people. That's the purpose of it. And I, thank you, Lord, that the meaning of Christmas is where God became man. Lord, you became flesh, and you came to die on the cross for our sins. So, Lord, use these buttons to draw people to you and use it in the hands of believers to be bold and to be faithful in and their witness for the gospel. In Jesus name. Amen.
Bert Harper Amen. Thank you, Brother Jerry. Appreciate you, brother. God bless you. Again. We're promoting, them today, these Christmas buttons. And I'm wearing one, so you can see it. It's a new one. It's beautiful. just awesome. And so you can get these in packages of 10 free shipping. Resources.aca.net resources.aca.net or you can call 877-927-4917. And again, and I found this out, the more you order, if you get to a certain level, the cheaper they are. So, good thing. So it means if you order five of them, which would be 50, probably cheaper than one. So we encourage everyone to do that. So praise the Lord. Told you Brother Jerry had a good spirit.
John Boler amen.
Bert Harper Don't you love being around people like that? I
John Boler do, I do. And I, little, just a fellow Mississippi pastor. I know we got pastors that listen all over the country, but, when you got one right in your own state, that's pretty nice.
Bert Harper It's good.
Hosts Introduce Hosea Chapter Thirteen And Its Vivid Similes
We're going to. Let's give an introduction to chapter 13 real quick. again, what you're going to hear two different times in this, Jon, are these similes likened to two different times. And Hosea does that about as much as any of the prophets. I've looked at it and said, I believe he does that more than any of the prophets.
John Boler I think so. And it makes it, it makes it not easy to read. But you're drawn into it because he uses words like a lion, like a bear, like an east wind. And you're like, I understand that. I understand that. And sometimes in our vocabulary, we talk like that we describe the weather and similes. this is really, really interesting to read. I even brought, I used NewSong King James. I brought the chronological Bible, which is new. L. Just to read it through that, through that lens. it draws you into it.
Bert Harper It does. people ask us what versions do y' all like? Well, I'm a new King James because I'm old enough to have memorized all my scriptures in the old King James or, you know, the King James will have. And, when you use it in NewSong King James, it just changed the worketh to work and everything helps me. Well, we're going to be back. We're going to continue in Hosea, chapter 13 and we're going to look at these similes about a lion and a bear. And you don't want to miss it. Here on Exploring the Word. Hello, I'm Bert Harper. Did you know that this content is listener supported? Without people like you, this podcast would not exist. That's why we need you. A generous monthly gift of any amount will sustain American Family Radio and specifically this podcast. Please consider becoming a monthly financial partner today by visiting afr.netgive that's afr. Uh.net
Dr. Jessica Peck gives
John Boler and welcome back to Exploring the Word. I am Jon Bowler filling in today for Alex McFarland as he is traveling and, ministering in Israel. Joined by Bert Harper.
Hosea Warns That Idolatry Leads To Spiritual And Moral Decline
Again, we are in Hosea 13 and let me read these first couple of verses. Brother Bert, it says, when Ephraim spoke, trembling, he exalted himself in Israel. But when he offended through BAAL worship, he died. My intention was to read all the way to verse three. That's a mouthful in verse one. So let me just stop because the way. And a lot of, a lot of scholars will break down these three verses, really in three different steps, three different, levels of spiritual death. But how it. And he starts off here in verse number one, when Ephraim spoke, trembling. Once again, he uses this term, Ephraim to refer to the Northern Kingdomnomics, the largest tribe in the Northern Kingdomnomics, the capital Samaria, located in Ephraim in that general range, trembling, he exalted himself in Israel, but he went to baal. And what's the next part?
Bert Harper He died.
John Boler He died.
Bert Harper What a statement. turning away from God at any point, at any time, at any level is a dangerous thing. People, ask, well, how far do you have to turn for him to desert and say no more? I don't know. you know, I just know that's reason in the NewSong Testament it says today's the day of salvation.
John Boler That's right.
Bert Harper Now, if God appears to you one time to draw you and doesn't convict you and draw you again, he's drawn you now. Praise God.
John Boler That's right. He has done
Bert Harper it again and again.
John Boler but we see here in verse one, I wrote down, nations die spiritually here in verse one. And of course, the context is certainly speaking to a nation, but it can speak to an individual, one who. One who maybe God is convicting and they're going a different direction. And we come down to verse two. Now they sin more and more. Could it be that because they are dying spiritually, they continue to sin? Do you think that's connected?
Bert Harper I, guarantee it is. You know, if you're not growing in Christ there. People talk about there's no such thing of just settledness. You're either going forward or you're going backward. Sin is that way. Now, they have that in common. You say sin, and it made me think of what it said concerning, you know, in Noah's day, they sinned continually. Every thought is evil. How did it start turning away from God? So the most dangerous thing that anyone can do is turn away from God. Romans 1:21. Neither were thankful. They turned away from God. They did not recognize God as God. Neither were thankful. And their foolish hearts became what? Darkened. Now, the word darkened means what? Continue. In other words, it was dark then, but it gets darker. And that's what that scripture is more and more.
John Boler That's right. You know, when you think there may be somebody listening that is struggling in sin, and maybe they're trying to find a remedy to help with maybe an addiction, something that is pulling them away from the Lord. I know as a pastor, sometimes there's been opportunities for counsel. You can't help but just go back to their spiritual life, and they say, I'm good there. But it's all connected. It's all connected. And they send more and more. And then the next thing it says, they have made for themselves molden images. So they've not just through baal, worship and continue to sin. Now they've making their own gods, idols of silver. According to the skill, all of it is the work of craftsmen. They say to them, let the men who sacrifice, let them kiss the calves. I wrote down, nations die spiritually, and then nations die internally. when a person is living a life of spiritual death, everything around them falls. Whether it's family, whether it's marriage, any choices that they make, it affects them because they're building gods. That is not the one true God. And that's exactly what's happening here in verse number two.
Hosea's Images Show Idolatry's Emptiness And Sin's Slow Fade
And let them. They make the image. I just can't help. But not the humor in the passage and the end of verse two. But like the men who sacrifice, let them kiss the calves. You build this beautiful idol and you kiss it. You worship it. Like it. This is mine.
Bert Harper Okay. Therefore they shall be like the morning cloud. What happens to the morning cloud?
John Boler Goes away.
Bert Harper Goes away. Like the early dew that passes away. Let's see if this is different. Like chaff blown off from a threshing floor and smoke from a chimney.
John Boler Yeah.
Bert Harper How long did that last?
John Boler Yeah.
Bert Harper And it's amazing. Go back to what they were trying to do earlier about the east wind. M. And what with shaft and smoke it. What blows it away. That's right. And it gets. So all of this idol worship. Turn away from God. leads to nothing, emptiness. Let's do it that way. Makes, It can't help but think about Ecclesiastes. He tried what education. He tried wine, women and song, as they say. And he said what all is vanity or emptiness. That's
John Boler right.
Bert Harper that's that divine vacuum in everybody's heart that only God can fill it, isn't it, Jon?
John Boler Well, I mean, all of this in verse three, that has gone away. Could you say all of that has died? And you've got spiritual. They die spiritually. They die internally. And then three, they die physically. And sin never stops. We heard Casting Crowns. We brought that up yesterday. And they sang a song. And I'm going back to probably the early 2000s. A slow fade. Yeah, I remember that. it's just a slow fade. And I want to encourage someone that may be struggling, struggling with that sin that you've got to get back to. The Lord. He's the only one. Go back to verse one. You can't take your eyes off the Lord. He is the only one. Number one, he's the only one who can forgive and praise God for that. But number two, he's the one who can help. And he is the one who can, get you back on your feet. But you've got to let go of it, and you've got to surrender. And you've got to keep your focus on the Lord through it all. He can certainly help.
God Reminds His People He Alone Can Save And Restore
Tell us about verse four.
Bert Harper Okay. First it says the verse I thought about what he can help. Come unto me all ye that are weak and heavy laden, and I'll give you rest. Listen, you need rest for your soul. and he's the only 1. Verse 4. Yet I am the Lord your God ever since the land of Egypt. And you shall know no God but me, for there is no Savior besides me. Right there in the middle of this judgment, he tells him, okay, here I am. Here I am. You know, Hosea can't help but do that.
John Boler That's right.
Bert Harper And God does that.
John Boler It's encouraging. I keep going back to the person that may listen, because sin is. Sin affects everybody. And maybe somebody is reading Hosea and they're like, man, this is my life. Idols. And, so many ways away from the Lord. Then you come to verse four. You're like, lord, I needed this verse today. This gives me hope. This gives me assurance to know that the Lord, he is God. He's been our God all the way from the beginning of Egypt. Which is very similar to 12,9. Here we are 24 hours later, and it's almost a repetition. It is. Let me just remind you who I am.
Bert Harper he's called the Hound of Heaven. And he wants you who are listening as Jon says, Verse 5. He goes back in history. Hosea does this. What he does, he'll tell the judgment, he'll tell the charge, tell the results, then have a pleading come to me. And then he'll go and remind them of history, of where they came from that is consistent all the way through Hosea.
Hosea Portrays Judgment Yet Holds Out God As Israel's Help
John Boler It is.
Bert Harper I knew you in the wilderness, in the land of great drought, when they had pasture, they were filled. They were filled and their heart was exalted. Therefore they. Some of the saddest words. They forgot me.
John Boler Yeah.
Bert Harper So I will be. Here it is again. Simile 7 and 8. Jon referred to them earlier. So I will be to them like a lion, like a leopard by the road. I will observe them. I will meet them like a bear deprived of her cubs. I will tear open their ribcage, and there I will devour them like a lion. The wild beast shall tear them. God's mercy is great. And let me say, his judgment is difficult and hard, but his mercy is greater.
John Boler It is.
Bert Harper That's the reason he says this. He gives that, and he reminds them what he had done. And he said, now listen. this is for their benefit, to be able to hear that, that this is God we're talking about. Justice and mercy can only be found in the Lord Jesus Christ for eternity.
John Boler That's right.
Bert Harper Only way.
John Boler It's hard truth when you read verse 7 and 8. but reading the idols and all. Psalm 115, 8 says those who make them are like them. so is everyone who trusts in them. the Lord's like, hey, I am the only God. Judgment is coming, but that's not the end. And that's what he talks about here towards the end. He says in verse nine, O Israel, you are destroyed, but your help is from me. You are destroyed, but your help is from. I had to underline this. I will be your king. Where is any other? It's not from that little calf that you just built and kissed, even though it's silver and gold. I will be your king. Where is any other What a message. It is
Bert Harper what he again. The other thing they were doing besides idols. If we remember, they were trying to make leagues with Assyria in Egypt and pacify them and try to. Let me say it. Buy them off. Yeah, I mean, and you can't buy sin off. the payment, the only payment that is sufficient for sin is Jesus Christ sacrifice on the cross, shedding his blood and his blood washes white as snow. I know it's old hymn, but it's so true. That's right. And here it is. But your help is from me. Isn't that a beautiful passage?
Israel's Demand For Kings Illustrates The Cost Of Rejecting God
John Boler I mean, this is, What is it? Psalm 21. I lift up mine eyes from the heaven. Our alma mater, Christian University. I lift up my eyes to the. From whence comes my help? My help comes from the Lord, maker of heaven and earth. And I just as soon as you said that, I was drawn to Psalm 121,
Bert Harper verse 10 and 11. I'll be your king. where is any other that he may save you in all your cities and your judges. To whom you said, give me a king and princes. I gave you a king in my anger and took him away in my wrath. They wanted to be like every other nation. God let them. Okay, here's Saul, you know, and then he took it away too. Now these kings that they've had in the northern kingdom, was it the last few years was about six. One right after another they were killed and then another one to take their place. And so, in my wrath. So anger in wrath. Anger is displayed. Wrath seems to linger. Is. That's my understanding of the difference in those lingering. Now we don't need to let anger linger. But God in his knowledge, providence, his sovereignty. M. It's always just. Our anger may never be just. Our wrath may never be just. His is always just. Jon.
John Boler That's right. Wrath is what I would say judgment. It's long term anger. anger Is but for the night. And joy comes in the morning. Don't go to sleep at the night. The joy comes in the morning. But anger is certainly something that is momentary, but then again wrath, is something that's more, more long term.
Stored Sin Brings Judgment While Hosea Teases Death's Defeat
Bert Harper Look at verse 12 and 13. The iniquity of Ephraim is bound up. His sin is stored up. The sorrows of a woman in childbirth shall come upon him. He is an unwise son, for he should not stay long where children are born. The iniquity of Ephraim is bound up. Over. They never turned away. Now let's do this real quickly. And then I want to hear. But in the south they had five different revivals, if I remember, eight good kings during that period of time. So what was happening in the Southern kingdom? Yeah, they would get off, but then they would have a revival and, and, and be right with God. But is, the Northern kingdom continually bound up, never turning away? I, think of a miracle real quickly. We started with the first Great Awakening before we even declared our independence from God. Set us up to have the spiritual awakening. The second Great Awakening, the prayer revival, the great prayer revival that swept across the northern parts of the United States didn't come south because we were steeped in the sin of slavery. And then in 1910, and some more, even the Jesus revolution that took place in the 60s. But we're longing for another revival. If you don't have these spiritual corrections. And it bounds up and continues to grow, doesn't it?
John Boler It does. You know, names mean something in the Bible. We talked about Jacob yesterday and, heel grabber. Ephraim means fruitfulness. Fruitfulness. It is supposed to be something that is fruitful. And the only thing that they have to bring in as if they're carrying a basket because they've stored it up, the Bible says is iniquity. It's their sin. The sorrows of a woman in childbirth shall come upon. He's an unwise son. In other words, the baby that can't even come out of the womb, he should stay there long. Where children are born, Children are supposed to be born, but the child is stored up. And what an imagery.
Bert Harper it is. Let's read verse 14 to finish off. And by the way, it's the day of prayer. If you have a prayer request, we want to hear about it. You can also go to Facebook and Brent will hear that. But here, verse 14. And, we'll probably come back tomorrow and finish it, but it's good to go through. I will ransom them from the power of the grave. I will redeem them from death. O death, I will be your plagues. O grave, I will be your destruction. Pity is hidden from my eyes. Now, I just want to say this. If you've heard O death, O graveware, we're going to hear it again and we'll refer to that. So that's a teaser. That's right. For tomorrow.
John Boler NewSong Testament.
Bert Harper NewSong Testament. Paul took that and kind of turned it upside down. cause. What is it? Death and grave man, they're our enemy. Yeah. But guess what? Praise the Lord. Amen. God turns it around.
Prayer Requests Begin After A Message About Christian Hope
John Boler Amen.
Bert Harper Well, you're listening to Exploring the word and it's the day of prayer. Jon and I want to pray for you. It may be your physical, it may be spiritual, it may be a, relationship we want you to. We, want to pray for, but we pray you'd call 888-58-5878, 98840. That's 888-589-8840. A recent Danish study reveals something heartbreaking. Just one year after an abortion, women were 50% more likely to need psychiatric treatment and 87% more likely to experience personality or behavioral disorders. That's not women's health care. That's trauma. But at preborn, women find the real kind of care, the kind that heals. When a woman walks into one of preborn's network clinics, she's welcomed with open arms. She's introduced to her baby through an ultrasound. And for the first time, she sees life, not loss. And she's offered hope filled choices. When she chooses life, PreBorn continues walking with her for up to two years, providing maternity clothes, diapers, counseling, and so much more. There are babies in their mother's wombs who need your help right now. As the year comes to a close, your tax deductible donation can be the difference between life and death. I'm calling for an army of people to begin giving $28 to PreBorn today. $28 can help provide one ultrasound that can rescue a life. But for some of you, I want to call you to a higher level. A leadership gift. You can do more than $28 today. Your gift of 5, 10 or 15,000 will be used to save countless babies for years to come. In fact, $15,000 helps provide an entire ultrasound machine to clinics who desperately need this equipment to save lives. Dial 250 and say the keyword baby. That's £250 baby. Or visit preborn.com afr that's preborn.com afr all gifts are tax deductible and PreBorn is a five star rated charity.
Jeff Chamblee We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure. This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves. 2 Corinthians 4, 7.
Dr. Jessica Peck 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.
Callers Seek Prayer For Anxiety Addiction And Spiritual Renewal
Bert Harper Welcome back to Exploring the Word. And it is the day of prayer, Tuesday. And that means we make prayer a priority for those who are calling in. If you have a question, you can call in, but, honestly, we take the prayer request first. That's just what we decided to do for Tuesdays because, amen. Prayer. Can anything effectively really have success in the Christian walk apart from prayer? Jon,
John Boler we say often there's power in prayer and you can't, it's not a loose statement, it's not a minimal statement. There is power in prayer. And, you know, I've seen it in my life. I've seen it this week. Praise God. I was going to tell you.
Bert Harper Can you put what y' all did in a capsule? You don't have to tell all the details, but the prayer. You got a big decision to make in your church.
John Boler We do, just the power of prayer. We just finished a 21 day prayer and fasting at our church. And then on Sunday, prior to that Saturday, we took 24 hours and had 30 minutes at a time. Somebody coming up to the church, praying all night. Saturday night, 2 o' clock in the morning, 3 o' clock in the morning, for some needs in our church and God certainly blessed, but to see, families who are praying for different things. And I'm just telling you, when you hear God doing work, it fires you up.
Bert Harper Amen. You was telling me about it and, man, it blessed me. So here's what we want to do. I do this, I write the prayer requests down and I pray for them. And we got prayer warriors out there and they do the same thing. So we appreciate that. with that in mind, let's go to Louisiana. Catherine, are you there? Thank you for calling.
Caroline I am. Thank you so much for answering my call.
Bert Harper Yeah, go ahead, Turn your radio. Make sure you're away from your radio. Catherine Renfro, as best you can. We. We're hearing an echo.
Caroline Okay. How about now?
Bert Harper That's better. Thank you. Way to go.
Caroline I tell you what, let me, let me just put you off of, my car and Put you on regular.
Bert Harper Okay.
Caroline Okay.
Bert Harper Yeah.
Caroline How about that?
Bert Harper That's better. Way to go.
Caroline Okay, so I'm having, a really big surgery coming up on November 30th. I've already had three neck surgeries, but this is going to be, a really big one to basically rebuild my neck from, kind of top to bottom from C2 all the way down to my thoracic spine. And it's a five and a half hour surgery. I'll be on a ventilator for a while after. And I'm just. I'm just. I guess this one's a little different for me. And I'm nervous, and, I guess having a lot of anxiety about kind of, you know, the possibilities afterwards and my recovery, because it's going to be a longer recovery and getting closer. And so now I'm starting to have a lot of anxiety. And I just need. I know I need to just have faith and know that God's, you know, got it. But, it just would be helpful to have all the prayer I can get.
Bert Harper Okay. You've got a whole thousands of people praying for you, and we're going to do that. We're going to pray. Jon, would you mind praying for Catherine right now? Catherine,
John Boler thank you. Thank you for sharing this request. Let's pray to the Lord. Father, we bow before you in the power name of Jesus. Lord, you are Jehovah Jireh, you are the God who provides. Lord, you are the God who. You're the God who heals. I pray for November 30th for Catherine Renfro, from Louisiana as she faces this surgery, a very technical surgery. I, pray, Lord, that, it would provide the, healing that she needs. I pray for the recovery, that it would go according to your plan. But, Lord, I pray even between now and November 30th, you would give her just a sense of peace, wrap your arms around her, give her the comfort that she needs, relieve, any type of anxiety that she may have in her life, and we give this surgery to you. May your will be done in Jesus name. Amen. Reverend,
Bert Harper Again, thank you, Catherine Renfro. And everybody pray for Katharine. Let's go to Kentucky. And Tony, thank you for calling. Go right ahead.
Caroline thank you all. I'm a new believer, standard believer. I'm a new person to you guys of listening, and I think you guys got a great broadcast. This is awesome. Thank
Bert Harper you, Tony. Listen, let me, Let me. I want to say something. Our president, Tim Wildmon. every program has a biblical base And a biblical worldview, but they're more issue driven. But he said, man, this time of day we need one that's just Bible. And it, we have other Bible teaching, but this one is produced and done by AFR saying this is what we think with this is the answer. So Tony, thank you. You've caught our, our mission, you've caught our, our desire. So go ahead, give us, give us your request, brother.
Caroline Well, one, I believe the timing was right because I had to get to a parking place and park my car and God opened that door for me to call you guys. So thank you all for giving me this opportunity to share. I've been dealing with some porn and I'm just going to be open and transparent in that, but I need some prayer for that. And as I was praying this morning, Hebrews 4:16, it was in our you, Bible today for the devotions today. And the Lord was showing me about breaking it down, being more humble, walking in humility and being more sorrowful and, and not trying to reason this thing out. And as you guys were talking about, justification. I mean there's our side of justification, but then there's God's justification. But it's one of those things of hurts and habits and hang ups and two other things that came into my mind that I don't want to deal with and that is reasoning and weariness because that's all nothing more but the enemy. But I was reading amplified, Hebrews 4:16 and if you would please just read that aloud. It ministered to me and maybe there's someone out there that's dealing with what I'm dealing with. But how we can come boldly to the throne of grace and not backing out, but. Amen. I will hang up and let you guys have your comments.
John Boler Tony, thank you so much for calling. Thank you for just sharing your heart. You mentioned Hebrews 4:16. What a powerful verse. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace that we may obtain, mercy. We just talked about that in Hosea. That we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. Brother Bert, you want to pray for brother Tony?
Bert Harper I do, Father. Praying for Tony. God do the work that only you can do. when it came time for Lazarus to be raised, Jesus told the other people to roll the stone away. He told the other people to loose him and let him go unwind that grave clothes. But the one thing Jesus did was deliver him from death. Father, we can do a lot of things and Discipline is one of them. changing our habits is one of them. But, Father, in the power of the Holy Spirit of God, I'm praying for Tony's deliverance concerning pornography. God, it is an evil addiction. It's not a, it's not an innocent sin. It affects everything. And so we're praying for that deliverance. And we're praying for him to not grow weary in walking with the Lord. May his spirit be renewed day by day and early. I pray that he would seek you early and at night he would meditate upon your word. And we can hear this, and he can report back a year from now and say, God did it. We're praying for that. In Jesus name, Amen. Amen. Amen. Tony. Thank you, brother.
John Boler Thank you, Brother Tony.
Listeners Request Church Guidance Family Healing And Closing Prayers
Bert Harper Let's go to Micah in Louisiana. Micah, go right ahead.
Caroline Thank you. Excuse me. I heard y' all talking about spiritual death, and struggling in an area and stuff. I'm just kind of concerned about my spiritual, where I'm at and
Bert Harper if I'm doomed right now. And I just
Caroline need
Bert Harper some
Caroline encouragement
Bert Harper as far
Caroline as,
Bert Harper making sure that I'm okay.
Caroline Okay. I just want to make sure I'm, you know,
Bert Harper well, Micah. Okay, don't just listen. I do have one or two questions. 1. Can you go back to a time when you turn from your way and you turn to Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord?
John Boler I have said the prayer, and I does that.
Bert Harper Okay, here's what it is. It's not our words. Honestly, I don't know how else to say it. It is a willful choice in your heart and your mind of saying God in your heart. There's nothing I can do. You've done it. I can't pay for my sin. I can't even do away with it. But God, Jesus, you paid the price on the cross. You overcame sin and death at the resurrection. And I'm putting my trust in you. The word, you know, it means trust him. it's an act of faith. Faith and in Christ. If you've not done that, would you do that right now? Micah?
Bert Harper Sure.
Bert Harper I think you need to. From hearing what you said, I'd say God. And would you pray along with me? Repeat my words, but you got to mean them in your heart. Heavenly Father, I am a sinner.
Jeff Chamblee I am a sinner.
Bert Harper I, There's nothing I can do to redeem myself.
Bert Harper There's nothing
Jeff Chamblee I can do to redeem myself.
Bert Harper But Jesus paid it all.
Bert Harper But Jesus paid it all.
Bert Harper In him going to the cross
Bert Harper and him going to the cross,
Bert Harper dying in my place of sin.
Caroline Don't, in my place.
Bert Harper Today I turn from my way.
Jeff Chamblee Today I turn from my way.
Bert Harper And I turn to you in faith.
Jeff Chamblee And I turn to you in faith,
Bert Harper trusting you as my Savior.
Jeff Chamblee Trusting in you as my Savior,
Bert Harper that, ah, you have brought me out of the pit of sin,
Jeff Chamblee that you will throw me out of the pit of sin
Bert Harper and deliver me into a new life. I, thank you for doing it.
Jeff Chamblee Thank you for doing it.
Bert Harper In Jesus name,
Jeff Chamblee Jesus name.
Bert Harper Amen. Micah, I just want to tell you what you, said in your heart. God. That's what God looks, let me give you evidence of that. When a, prophet Samuel, and you know, he was the prophet Judge, he went to find the new king that would take Saul's place. And he came out and he said, God does not look at the outward, which is also just words sometimes, but he looks at the inward, the heart. Did you really mean that, what you prayed, Micah? Amen. Well, brother, you're started on the path that God has for you right now. Because of that sin and death in your life has overcome. That means your sin is forgiven. And at the point of death that you are transported from where you are to his presence. And you need to have confidence in that. Let me share this. You need to find a local church, a Bible believing, local church there in Louisiana. And you can get on websites and you can find that and you may be a part of one. If you are, you need to go forward and share with the pastor and share with the congregation. Jesus Christ has saved me and now I'm ready to start this journey of discipleship with him and they'll share it with you. baptism, new training, and keep listening to exploring the Word. Jon, would you have something to say to Micah?
John Boler Micah, thank you, number one, for calling and thank you for an open heart and welcome, to the kingdom of God. I just want to encourage you, as brother Bert has said, find that, if you don't mind, a general area in Louisiana, north, south, east, west,
Caroline south.
John Boler In the south. Okay. Yeah, there's a lot of great churches there in south Louisiana and the Internet can be your friend to watch some of these services before maybe you go watch the live stream and find one that preaches the Word where they can disciple you and get you plugged into a small group. But thank you so much, Micah. I can call you my brother in Christ now.
Bert Harper Amen, Micah. Thank you, brother. And may God bless you and continue to Use you. Amen. Let's go to Virginia and talk to Greg. Greg, got a prayer request. Go right ahead, brother.
Caroline Yes, I thank you guys. I just want to tell you how much I appreciate your ministry. it's just a total blessing and thank God for,
Caroline For you guys in the whole
Caroline afr.
Jeff Chamblee our church is, Our, search committee is meeting this evening to pick a pastor, and they've been several months and they're bringing forward, gonna pick someone to bring m forward to the church. And we're just praying for, that guidance and that the Holy Spirit is in total control. And,
Bert Harper amen.
Caroline God's will
Jeff Chamblee will be done.
Bert Harper We'll do it. Greg, we're going to pray for you, but I'm going to get the next. So we can pray two in a row on this because of time. So we get. Hey, you need to pray for the pastor on the other end, right, Jon?
John Boler That's right. That's right.
Bert Harper While that committee's praying, that pastor and his wife and family pray for them as well. Are. Let's go to Virginia again. And it's Christine. Christine, what's your prayer request? Go right ahead, sister.
Caroline Oh, thank you. I just want to say thank you for being there. I actually have two prayer requests, and they're related. My daughter, Amanda has hurt her arm, and they don't know what's wrong with it, but she can't use it. And her son Nico, who is 3, was born with, 2. It makes him medically, medically fragile. so she has to care for him 24 hours a day. And it's going to be very hard to do this.
Bert Harper Well, we're going to. You got enough that you can pray, Jon? And looking ahead, we won't have time to go to Jacqueline. We love that lady. We can't go to you, Jacqueline, today, but we, we see that a friend is having surgery and we pray for you as well. So, so pray for all three of those. Let's do
John Boler that, Father. I pray for Greg. I pray for his church in Virginia, especially, Lord, tonight as they're meeting with the pastor church committee for a potential perspective new pastor, Lord. So I pray for the church. I pray for unity. I pray for the pastor if he has a family, Lord, I pray for them, that, God, if you're in it, that you would bring them together, Lord, that your will be done. I believe that you put shepherds in places to preach and to lead. We lift up that church, Virginia. May your will be done. Lord. I pray for Christine. I pray for her daughter Amanda. I pray for her son Nico. I pray for her arm. May you bring healing there. Lord, thank you for her heart, to tend to her child or three year old. And I pray, Lord, that you would give her the ability to continue to attend and take care during this time. in Jesus name, amen.
Bert Harper Thank you, Jon Mass, We've enjoyed being on the program with you who are out there. I hope you've been blessed. Jerry Lawson if you want that and you want those Christmas buttons and them to be a way of witnessing resources afa.net resources afa.net and you can order them and as it says here, wear them and share them and then let people know about Jesus. Well, we're going to continue in the book of Hosea tomorrow and you're going to hear that about grave and death. They don't have the victory you want to tune in for tomorrow on Exploit the Word.
Jeff Chamblee The views and opinions expressed in this broadcast may not necessarily reflect those of the American Family association or 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. Welcome to Exploring the Word.
Bert Harper We're in the book of Hosea. Hosea, chapter 13, the last part of verse four. Listen and you shall know no God but me, for there is no Savior besides me. Jesus Christ is the way, the truth and the life. And we're glad to proclaim it. This is Bert Harper along with Dr. Jon Moeller. Jon, back at it today, Brother,
John Boler let's go again.
Bert Harper Alex is traveling and, so pray for him and that everything would go well. But we got a special guest today. He's been on other programs, but we're always glad to have him on Exploring the Word because he's a preacher.
John Boler Amen.
Bert Harper And they're kind of special for us.
Jerry Lawson Shares How Christmas Buttons Support Evangelism
And our guest today is Brother Jerry Lawson. Brother Jerry, thank you for joining us.
Jeff Chamblee The joy is all mine.
Bert Harper Amen. And, we've been doing this for several years on Exploring the Word with Jerry Cumming. Now, the reason he is here, he loves afa, but a ministry that AFA has, he, he takes full advantage of it each year. AFA Resource center has some Christmas buttons. I'm wearing, one of those. Brother Jerry's wearing his. And I don't know if you can sit or not. They're new this year, look great and you can purchase those. And I'm going to tell you more about it. But I want you to hear Brother Jerry's story concerning how he uses them for, for the glory of God in evangelism. Help. Tell us about that, brother.
Jeff Chamblee Well, Bert, again, thank you for allowing me to be here today. I love coming up here to afa. Ah, it's family. And that's what God intended for us to be. And that's what Don, Wildmon's vision was all about, strengthening the family. back in 2000, Bill O'Reilly and others were talking about the war on Christmas and, so, so Don up with this ideal. I say Don came up with it. God gave him an inspiration to do the buttons and so he suggested it. Several people kind of shook their head and thought no. And, I mean, when God gives you an inspiration, follow through on it. Listen to God. And Don did. And I thought, lord, I'd like to be part of that. and so I got involved with him back there. In. In, 2000. And over the years, it's just been a joy. I've given out tens of thousands of these buttons. And, I have met so many people that are hurting, people that are lost, and the buttons are just. I, mean, it's an entrance to being a witness for Jesus Christ to people.
Bert Harper Amen.
Practical Ways To Wear Share Buttons And Introduce Jesus
Jon, the theme is wear and share them. That's a pretty good thought, isn't it?
John Boler Right? Brother Jerry, how do you. How I know there's many different ways to share the gospel. There's the verbal witness, but putting something in somebody's hand. I'm thinking of a gospel tract, but a button, it immediately makes that person look down and read it. How does that work as far as passing them out? Do they take it and are they still listening? Why are you giving me this? And it's an open door to continue to share the gospel of Jesus. How does that work as far as passing? I know sometimes it's just drop it off and move on. But tell us about how sometimes people. Why are you giving this to me?
Jeff Chamblee You know, When I was 14, God called me into the ministry. And, Jon, chapter four. Jesus breaking the ice with this woman at Jacob's. Well, he teaches us how to approach people. He was the one that broke the ice. he was the one that spoke to her. and I have a little acronym I call Speak how to Address People for the Lord. And, anyway, the Lord will point out people, people that are hurting. You can look at people and tell they're having a bad day. And I just like to go up and start talking to them. And, many people are scared to engage somebody else. I found that most people, they appreciate somebody coming up and, and talking with them. And, during the course of the conversation, inevitably the Lord will lead them around to say something. And I can say, let me tell you something. God intended for us to have this discussion today, and he's got something for you. And here is this button. And then I'll give them a button. I also have a track from the Billy Graham Crusade that you can open up. Y' all may have seen those. And, if it's a lost person, I'll give them that track. And I've had people from California call me up and say, thank you for that button and thank you for that track. I've been brought to Christ into my heart. Amen.
John Boler Amen.
Bert Harper There's, ah, Amen. Now, how do you get those buttons? Well, let me. You asked me, so let me tell you how you can go to resources.afa.net resources.afa.net you can look at them, and then you can order them. And they're in packages of 10, and you can. So you can't just order one. You got to get 10. So you gotta share. Gotta pass them out. And, and that's the theme. Wear them and share them all season long.
Mississippi Clergy Unite In Prayer And Community Fellowship
Right now, Hey, I have to admit, we've got Christmas tree up at our house. We knew we were going to be gone for a while, and Thanksgiving, so we got started early. And I, start listening to Christmas music and August anyway, so, you know, it fits at our house. But you can order these packages of sets of 10. It's free shipping. And they can come to your house, and they can. You can give them and share them with others, or you can call this number. This is a different number than calling us. So if you have it, you can write it down, and we'll try to remind you of it later on. It's 877-9274-9178-7792-7491. Seven sevens are wild, aren't they? On that one? But, you can order those and you can share them with others and, give them to the waitress that's waiting on the server that's waiting on you. or drive up window and say, man, thank you. Here. Here's the money, but I want to share this with you, too. So there's all kinds of ways to use them, aren't they?
Jeff Chamblee Oh, absolutely. and the other year, I told Tim, we're waiting till after Thanksgiving to start moving these buttons. And I said, I'm sorry, I'm going to get extra buttons at the end of the Christmas season. And when I see the box doors putting up the Christmas decoration, I'm going in, passing out Christmas. But September 15th in Ackerman, they started putting up Christmas decoration.
John Boler Yeah.
Bert Harper Now, if you don't know where Ackerman is, you find it on a mount. And, and been there. And he's a pastor down there. I've preached at the Baptist church down there. Buddy, Smith from Ackerman Methodist. So, man, y' all guys cover it down there. Presbyterian, Baptist, Methodist, y' all are just brothers in Christ down there, aren't you?
Jeff Chamblee I tell you what that's for. We have a unity among the clergy down there, and not just the white clergy, the black clergy. We all come together and. And pray for our community. The National Day of Prayer. It's a rainbow coalition of people in There, but
Bert Harper turning the rainbow into what it was meant to be. Amen. Don't let them steal. Don't. I'm just going to preach a minute. Yeah, go ahead. Don't let Satan and his tactics steal away that which God meant for good.
John Boler Yeah.
Jeff Chamblee I mean, and, and so especially the National Day of Prayer, we'll fill the courtroom up with people and all to pray for this. They come from different political backgrounds, but if Christ is in you, we're going to be unified.
Bert Harper Amen.
Pastors Reflect On Calling Salvation And Life Transformation
Well, brother, it's good to have. I told you he'd be refreshing,
John Boler telling you rather. Hey, keep up the good work. Appreciate what you're doing. As a fellow pastor and a fellow Mississippi pastor, I, appreciate what you're doing.
Jeff Chamblee God shaped and molded me in a rural community. I couldn't pastor in an urban area that I need to know everybody in the county. And he put me right where he wants me to be.
Bert Harper And that's the important place to be, is
John Boler where God wants you to be.
Bert Harper you know, I believe it because I've pastored missions, small rural churches, a church on the wrong side of town, as they say, and church, of significant size here for northeast Mississippi. And I want to tell you every one of them is important in the eyes of God. So, brother, I love you. Thank God for you.
Jeff Chamblee Well, Bert, we pray for you and AFA all the time, but you've got a special spirit in your heart and I've always appreciated you. And you asked me several years ago, you remembered my name. I remembered the spirit that was in you and the name that went with it. Well,
Bert Harper thank you, man. Listen, Jesus changed my life as a 12 year old boy.
John Boler That's right.
Bert Harper he really did. I was backwards, shy and far as language and God using me. I told him goober and gomer on from Mayberry. They had nothing on me. I could dance and gasp with the best of them and, God still got it. Still got it. But I want to communicate. Well,
Jeff Chamblee is there a person that will be in heaven that God didn't change?
Bert Harper Listen, salvation brings change in your life. Turning from and turning to. That's right. I don't care how you say it, what word you use, but it's turning from my way. There's a way that seems right to a man, but the ends thereof are the way through him. Absolutely. So we got to turn to the Lord. Jesus. Jerry. Thank you, brother.
Jeff Chamblee If I don't see you again down here, I'll see you up there.
Bert Harper Okay. We're going to pray for you before you go.
Jeff Chamblee All right, Jon, would
Bert Harper you mind praying?
John Boler Lord, I thank you for brother Jerry. Thank you for his ministry and Ackerman and so many other places as he's mentioned a testimony of an individual in California. Lord, it just reminds us there's no walls when it comes to the gospel. No. And, God, I pray that you would use just a simple tool of a Christmas button and a conversation starter to an individual that may lead to, as we're talking about new creation and change in people. That's the purpose of it. And I, thank you, Lord, that the meaning of Christmas is where God became man. Lord, you became flesh, and you came to die on the cross for our sins. So, Lord, use these buttons to draw people to you and use it in the hands of believers to be bold and to be faithful in and their witness for the gospel. In Jesus name. Amen.
Bert Harper Amen. Thank you, Brother Jerry. Appreciate you, brother. God bless you. Again. We're promoting, them today, these Christmas buttons. And I'm wearing one, so you can see it. It's a new one. It's beautiful. just awesome. And so you can get these in packages of 10 free shipping. Resources.aca.net resources.aca.net or you can call 877-927-4917. And again, and I found this out, the more you order, if you get to a certain level, the cheaper they are. So, good thing. So it means if you order five of them, which would be 50, probably cheaper than one. So we encourage everyone to do that. So praise the Lord. Told you Brother Jerry had a good spirit.
John Boler amen.
Bert Harper Don't you love being around people like that? I
John Boler do, I do. And I, little, just a fellow Mississippi pastor. I know we got pastors that listen all over the country, but, when you got one right in your own state, that's pretty nice.
Bert Harper It's good.
Hosts Introduce Hosea Chapter Thirteen And Its Vivid Similes
We're going to. Let's give an introduction to chapter 13 real quick. again, what you're going to hear two different times in this, Jon, are these similes likened to two different times. And Hosea does that about as much as any of the prophets. I've looked at it and said, I believe he does that more than any of the prophets.
John Boler I think so. And it makes it, it makes it not easy to read. But you're drawn into it because he uses words like a lion, like a bear, like an east wind. And you're like, I understand that. I understand that. And sometimes in our vocabulary, we talk like that we describe the weather and similes. this is really, really interesting to read. I even brought, I used NewSong King James. I brought the chronological Bible, which is new. L. Just to read it through that, through that lens. it draws you into it.
Bert Harper It does. people ask us what versions do y' all like? Well, I'm a new King James because I'm old enough to have memorized all my scriptures in the old King James or, you know, the King James will have. And, when you use it in NewSong King James, it just changed the worketh to work and everything helps me. Well, we're going to be back. We're going to continue in Hosea, chapter 13 and we're going to look at these similes about a lion and a bear. And you don't want to miss it. Here on Exploring the Word. Hello, I'm Bert Harper. Did you know that this content is listener supported? Without people like you, this podcast would not exist. That's why we need you. A generous monthly gift of any amount will sustain American Family Radio and specifically this podcast. Please consider becoming a monthly financial partner today by visiting afr.netgive that's afr. Uh.net
Dr. Jessica Peck gives
John Boler and welcome back to Exploring the Word. I am Jon Bowler filling in today for Alex McFarland as he is traveling and, ministering in Israel. Joined by Bert Harper.
Hosea Warns That Idolatry Leads To Spiritual And Moral Decline
Again, we are in Hosea 13 and let me read these first couple of verses. Brother Bert, it says, when Ephraim spoke, trembling, he exalted himself in Israel. But when he offended through BAAL worship, he died. My intention was to read all the way to verse three. That's a mouthful in verse one. So let me just stop because the way. And a lot of, a lot of scholars will break down these three verses, really in three different steps, three different, levels of spiritual death. But how it. And he starts off here in verse number one, when Ephraim spoke, trembling. Once again, he uses this term, Ephraim to refer to the Northern Kingdomnomics, the largest tribe in the Northern Kingdomnomics, the capital Samaria, located in Ephraim in that general range, trembling, he exalted himself in Israel, but he went to baal. And what's the next part?
Bert Harper He died.
John Boler He died.
Bert Harper What a statement. turning away from God at any point, at any time, at any level is a dangerous thing. People, ask, well, how far do you have to turn for him to desert and say no more? I don't know. you know, I just know that's reason in the NewSong Testament it says today's the day of salvation.
John Boler That's right.
Bert Harper Now, if God appears to you one time to draw you and doesn't convict you and draw you again, he's drawn you now. Praise God.
John Boler That's right. He has done
Bert Harper it again and again.
John Boler but we see here in verse one, I wrote down, nations die spiritually here in verse one. And of course, the context is certainly speaking to a nation, but it can speak to an individual, one who. One who maybe God is convicting and they're going a different direction. And we come down to verse two. Now they sin more and more. Could it be that because they are dying spiritually, they continue to sin? Do you think that's connected?
Bert Harper I, guarantee it is. You know, if you're not growing in Christ there. People talk about there's no such thing of just settledness. You're either going forward or you're going backward. Sin is that way. Now, they have that in common. You say sin, and it made me think of what it said concerning, you know, in Noah's day, they sinned continually. Every thought is evil. How did it start turning away from God? So the most dangerous thing that anyone can do is turn away from God. Romans 1:21. Neither were thankful. They turned away from God. They did not recognize God as God. Neither were thankful. And their foolish hearts became what? Darkened. Now, the word darkened means what? Continue. In other words, it was dark then, but it gets darker. And that's what that scripture is more and more.
John Boler That's right. You know, when you think there may be somebody listening that is struggling in sin, and maybe they're trying to find a remedy to help with maybe an addiction, something that is pulling them away from the Lord. I know as a pastor, sometimes there's been opportunities for counsel. You can't help but just go back to their spiritual life, and they say, I'm good there. But it's all connected. It's all connected. And they send more and more. And then the next thing it says, they have made for themselves molden images. So they've not just through baal, worship and continue to sin. Now they've making their own gods, idols of silver. According to the skill, all of it is the work of craftsmen. They say to them, let the men who sacrifice, let them kiss the calves. I wrote down, nations die spiritually, and then nations die internally. when a person is living a life of spiritual death, everything around them falls. Whether it's family, whether it's marriage, any choices that they make, it affects them because they're building gods. That is not the one true God. And that's exactly what's happening here in verse number two.
Hosea's Images Show Idolatry's Emptiness And Sin's Slow Fade
And let them. They make the image. I just can't help. But not the humor in the passage and the end of verse two. But like the men who sacrifice, let them kiss the calves. You build this beautiful idol and you kiss it. You worship it. Like it. This is mine.
Bert Harper Okay. Therefore they shall be like the morning cloud. What happens to the morning cloud?
John Boler Goes away.
Bert Harper Goes away. Like the early dew that passes away. Let's see if this is different. Like chaff blown off from a threshing floor and smoke from a chimney.
John Boler Yeah.
Bert Harper How long did that last?
John Boler Yeah.
Bert Harper And it's amazing. Go back to what they were trying to do earlier about the east wind. M. And what with shaft and smoke it. What blows it away. That's right. And it gets. So all of this idol worship. Turn away from God. leads to nothing, emptiness. Let's do it that way. Makes, It can't help but think about Ecclesiastes. He tried what education. He tried wine, women and song, as they say. And he said what all is vanity or emptiness. That's
John Boler right.
Bert Harper that's that divine vacuum in everybody's heart that only God can fill it, isn't it, Jon?
John Boler Well, I mean, all of this in verse three, that has gone away. Could you say all of that has died? And you've got spiritual. They die spiritually. They die internally. And then three, they die physically. And sin never stops. We heard Casting Crowns. We brought that up yesterday. And they sang a song. And I'm going back to probably the early 2000s. A slow fade. Yeah, I remember that. it's just a slow fade. And I want to encourage someone that may be struggling, struggling with that sin that you've got to get back to. The Lord. He's the only one. Go back to verse one. You can't take your eyes off the Lord. He is the only one. Number one, he's the only one who can forgive and praise God for that. But number two, he's the one who can help. And he is the one who can, get you back on your feet. But you've got to let go of it, and you've got to surrender. And you've got to keep your focus on the Lord through it all. He can certainly help.
God Reminds His People He Alone Can Save And Restore
Tell us about verse four.
Bert Harper Okay. First it says the verse I thought about what he can help. Come unto me all ye that are weak and heavy laden, and I'll give you rest. Listen, you need rest for your soul. and he's the only 1. Verse 4. Yet I am the Lord your God ever since the land of Egypt. And you shall know no God but me, for there is no Savior besides me. Right there in the middle of this judgment, he tells him, okay, here I am. Here I am. You know, Hosea can't help but do that.
John Boler That's right.
Bert Harper And God does that.
John Boler It's encouraging. I keep going back to the person that may listen, because sin is. Sin affects everybody. And maybe somebody is reading Hosea and they're like, man, this is my life. Idols. And, so many ways away from the Lord. Then you come to verse four. You're like, lord, I needed this verse today. This gives me hope. This gives me assurance to know that the Lord, he is God. He's been our God all the way from the beginning of Egypt. Which is very similar to 12,9. Here we are 24 hours later, and it's almost a repetition. It is. Let me just remind you who I am.
Bert Harper he's called the Hound of Heaven. And he wants you who are listening as Jon says, Verse 5. He goes back in history. Hosea does this. What he does, he'll tell the judgment, he'll tell the charge, tell the results, then have a pleading come to me. And then he'll go and remind them of history, of where they came from that is consistent all the way through Hosea.
Hosea Portrays Judgment Yet Holds Out God As Israel's Help
John Boler It is.
Bert Harper I knew you in the wilderness, in the land of great drought, when they had pasture, they were filled. They were filled and their heart was exalted. Therefore they. Some of the saddest words. They forgot me.
John Boler Yeah.
Bert Harper So I will be. Here it is again. Simile 7 and 8. Jon referred to them earlier. So I will be to them like a lion, like a leopard by the road. I will observe them. I will meet them like a bear deprived of her cubs. I will tear open their ribcage, and there I will devour them like a lion. The wild beast shall tear them. God's mercy is great. And let me say, his judgment is difficult and hard, but his mercy is greater.
John Boler It is.
Bert Harper That's the reason he says this. He gives that, and he reminds them what he had done. And he said, now listen. this is for their benefit, to be able to hear that, that this is God we're talking about. Justice and mercy can only be found in the Lord Jesus Christ for eternity.
John Boler That's right.
Bert Harper Only way.
John Boler It's hard truth when you read verse 7 and 8. but reading the idols and all. Psalm 115, 8 says those who make them are like them. so is everyone who trusts in them. the Lord's like, hey, I am the only God. Judgment is coming, but that's not the end. And that's what he talks about here towards the end. He says in verse nine, O Israel, you are destroyed, but your help is from me. You are destroyed, but your help is from. I had to underline this. I will be your king. Where is any other? It's not from that little calf that you just built and kissed, even though it's silver and gold. I will be your king. Where is any other What a message. It is
Bert Harper what he again. The other thing they were doing besides idols. If we remember, they were trying to make leagues with Assyria in Egypt and pacify them and try to. Let me say it. Buy them off. Yeah, I mean, and you can't buy sin off. the payment, the only payment that is sufficient for sin is Jesus Christ sacrifice on the cross, shedding his blood and his blood washes white as snow. I know it's old hymn, but it's so true. That's right. And here it is. But your help is from me. Isn't that a beautiful passage?
Israel's Demand For Kings Illustrates The Cost Of Rejecting God
John Boler I mean, this is, What is it? Psalm 21. I lift up mine eyes from the heaven. Our alma mater, Christian University. I lift up my eyes to the. From whence comes my help? My help comes from the Lord, maker of heaven and earth. And I just as soon as you said that, I was drawn to Psalm 121,
Bert Harper verse 10 and 11. I'll be your king. where is any other that he may save you in all your cities and your judges. To whom you said, give me a king and princes. I gave you a king in my anger and took him away in my wrath. They wanted to be like every other nation. God let them. Okay, here's Saul, you know, and then he took it away too. Now these kings that they've had in the northern kingdom, was it the last few years was about six. One right after another they were killed and then another one to take their place. And so, in my wrath. So anger in wrath. Anger is displayed. Wrath seems to linger. Is. That's my understanding of the difference in those lingering. Now we don't need to let anger linger. But God in his knowledge, providence, his sovereignty. M. It's always just. Our anger may never be just. Our wrath may never be just. His is always just. Jon.
John Boler That's right. Wrath is what I would say judgment. It's long term anger. anger Is but for the night. And joy comes in the morning. Don't go to sleep at the night. The joy comes in the morning. But anger is certainly something that is momentary, but then again wrath, is something that's more, more long term.
Stored Sin Brings Judgment While Hosea Teases Death's Defeat
Bert Harper Look at verse 12 and 13. The iniquity of Ephraim is bound up. His sin is stored up. The sorrows of a woman in childbirth shall come upon him. He is an unwise son, for he should not stay long where children are born. The iniquity of Ephraim is bound up. Over. They never turned away. Now let's do this real quickly. And then I want to hear. But in the south they had five different revivals, if I remember, eight good kings during that period of time. So what was happening in the Southern kingdom? Yeah, they would get off, but then they would have a revival and, and, and be right with God. But is, the Northern kingdom continually bound up, never turning away? I, think of a miracle real quickly. We started with the first Great Awakening before we even declared our independence from God. Set us up to have the spiritual awakening. The second Great Awakening, the prayer revival, the great prayer revival that swept across the northern parts of the United States didn't come south because we were steeped in the sin of slavery. And then in 1910, and some more, even the Jesus revolution that took place in the 60s. But we're longing for another revival. If you don't have these spiritual corrections. And it bounds up and continues to grow, doesn't it?
John Boler It does. You know, names mean something in the Bible. We talked about Jacob yesterday and, heel grabber. Ephraim means fruitfulness. Fruitfulness. It is supposed to be something that is fruitful. And the only thing that they have to bring in as if they're carrying a basket because they've stored it up, the Bible says is iniquity. It's their sin. The sorrows of a woman in childbirth shall come upon. He's an unwise son. In other words, the baby that can't even come out of the womb, he should stay there long. Where children are born, Children are supposed to be born, but the child is stored up. And what an imagery.
Bert Harper it is. Let's read verse 14 to finish off. And by the way, it's the day of prayer. If you have a prayer request, we want to hear about it. You can also go to Facebook and Brent will hear that. But here, verse 14. And, we'll probably come back tomorrow and finish it, but it's good to go through. I will ransom them from the power of the grave. I will redeem them from death. O death, I will be your plagues. O grave, I will be your destruction. Pity is hidden from my eyes. Now, I just want to say this. If you've heard O death, O graveware, we're going to hear it again and we'll refer to that. So that's a teaser. That's right. For tomorrow.
John Boler NewSong Testament.
Bert Harper NewSong Testament. Paul took that and kind of turned it upside down. cause. What is it? Death and grave man, they're our enemy. Yeah. But guess what? Praise the Lord. Amen. God turns it around.
Prayer Requests Begin After A Message About Christian Hope
John Boler Amen.
Bert Harper Well, you're listening to Exploring the word and it's the day of prayer. Jon and I want to pray for you. It may be your physical, it may be spiritual, it may be a, relationship we want you to. We, want to pray for, but we pray you'd call 888-58-5878, 98840. That's 888-589-8840. A recent Danish study reveals something heartbreaking. Just one year after an abortion, women were 50% more likely to need psychiatric treatment and 87% more likely to experience personality or behavioral disorders. That's not women's health care. That's trauma. But at preborn, women find the real kind of care, the kind that heals. When a woman walks into one of preborn's network clinics, she's welcomed with open arms. She's introduced to her baby through an ultrasound. And for the first time, she sees life, not loss. And she's offered hope filled choices. When she chooses life, PreBorn continues walking with her for up to two years, providing maternity clothes, diapers, counseling, and so much more. There are babies in their mother's wombs who need your help right now. As the year comes to a close, your tax deductible donation can be the difference between life and death. I'm calling for an army of people to begin giving $28 to PreBorn today. $28 can help provide one ultrasound that can rescue a life. But for some of you, I want to call you to a higher level. A leadership gift. You can do more than $28 today. Your gift of 5, 10 or 15,000 will be used to save countless babies for years to come. In fact, $15,000 helps provide an entire ultrasound machine to clinics who desperately need this equipment to save lives. Dial 250 and say the keyword baby. That's £250 baby. Or visit preborn.com afr that's preborn.com afr all gifts are tax deductible and PreBorn is a five star rated charity.
Jeff Chamblee We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure. This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves. 2 Corinthians 4, 7.
Dr. Jessica Peck 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.
Callers Seek Prayer For Anxiety Addiction And Spiritual Renewal
Bert Harper Welcome back to Exploring the Word. And it is the day of prayer, Tuesday. And that means we make prayer a priority for those who are calling in. If you have a question, you can call in, but, honestly, we take the prayer request first. That's just what we decided to do for Tuesdays because, amen. Prayer. Can anything effectively really have success in the Christian walk apart from prayer? Jon,
John Boler we say often there's power in prayer and you can't, it's not a loose statement, it's not a minimal statement. There is power in prayer. And, you know, I've seen it in my life. I've seen it this week. Praise God. I was going to tell you.
Bert Harper Can you put what y' all did in a capsule? You don't have to tell all the details, but the prayer. You got a big decision to make in your church.
John Boler We do, just the power of prayer. We just finished a 21 day prayer and fasting at our church. And then on Sunday, prior to that Saturday, we took 24 hours and had 30 minutes at a time. Somebody coming up to the church, praying all night. Saturday night, 2 o' clock in the morning, 3 o' clock in the morning, for some needs in our church and God certainly blessed, but to see, families who are praying for different things. And I'm just telling you, when you hear God doing work, it fires you up.
Bert Harper Amen. You was telling me about it and, man, it blessed me. So here's what we want to do. I do this, I write the prayer requests down and I pray for them. And we got prayer warriors out there and they do the same thing. So we appreciate that. with that in mind, let's go to Louisiana. Catherine, are you there? Thank you for calling.
Caroline I am. Thank you so much for answering my call.
Bert Harper Yeah, go ahead, Turn your radio. Make sure you're away from your radio. Catherine Renfro, as best you can. We. We're hearing an echo.
Caroline Okay. How about now?
Bert Harper That's better. Thank you. Way to go.
Caroline I tell you what, let me, let me just put you off of, my car and Put you on regular.
Bert Harper Okay.
Caroline Okay.
Bert Harper Yeah.
Caroline How about that?
Bert Harper That's better. Way to go.
Caroline Okay, so I'm having, a really big surgery coming up on November 30th. I've already had three neck surgeries, but this is going to be, a really big one to basically rebuild my neck from, kind of top to bottom from C2 all the way down to my thoracic spine. And it's a five and a half hour surgery. I'll be on a ventilator for a while after. And I'm just. I'm just. I guess this one's a little different for me. And I'm nervous, and, I guess having a lot of anxiety about kind of, you know, the possibilities afterwards and my recovery, because it's going to be a longer recovery and getting closer. And so now I'm starting to have a lot of anxiety. And I just need. I know I need to just have faith and know that God's, you know, got it. But, it just would be helpful to have all the prayer I can get.
Bert Harper Okay. You've got a whole thousands of people praying for you, and we're going to do that. We're going to pray. Jon, would you mind praying for Catherine right now? Catherine,
John Boler thank you. Thank you for sharing this request. Let's pray to the Lord. Father, we bow before you in the power name of Jesus. Lord, you are Jehovah Jireh, you are the God who provides. Lord, you are the God who. You're the God who heals. I pray for November 30th for Catherine Renfro, from Louisiana as she faces this surgery, a very technical surgery. I, pray, Lord, that, it would provide the, healing that she needs. I pray for the recovery, that it would go according to your plan. But, Lord, I pray even between now and November 30th, you would give her just a sense of peace, wrap your arms around her, give her the comfort that she needs, relieve, any type of anxiety that she may have in her life, and we give this surgery to you. May your will be done in Jesus name. Amen. Reverend,
Bert Harper Again, thank you, Catherine Renfro. And everybody pray for Katharine. Let's go to Kentucky. And Tony, thank you for calling. Go right ahead.
Caroline thank you all. I'm a new believer, standard believer. I'm a new person to you guys of listening, and I think you guys got a great broadcast. This is awesome. Thank
Bert Harper you, Tony. Listen, let me, Let me. I want to say something. Our president, Tim Wildmon. every program has a biblical base And a biblical worldview, but they're more issue driven. But he said, man, this time of day we need one that's just Bible. And it, we have other Bible teaching, but this one is produced and done by AFR saying this is what we think with this is the answer. So Tony, thank you. You've caught our, our mission, you've caught our, our desire. So go ahead, give us, give us your request, brother.
Caroline Well, one, I believe the timing was right because I had to get to a parking place and park my car and God opened that door for me to call you guys. So thank you all for giving me this opportunity to share. I've been dealing with some porn and I'm just going to be open and transparent in that, but I need some prayer for that. And as I was praying this morning, Hebrews 4:16, it was in our you, Bible today for the devotions today. And the Lord was showing me about breaking it down, being more humble, walking in humility and being more sorrowful and, and not trying to reason this thing out. And as you guys were talking about, justification. I mean there's our side of justification, but then there's God's justification. But it's one of those things of hurts and habits and hang ups and two other things that came into my mind that I don't want to deal with and that is reasoning and weariness because that's all nothing more but the enemy. But I was reading amplified, Hebrews 4:16 and if you would please just read that aloud. It ministered to me and maybe there's someone out there that's dealing with what I'm dealing with. But how we can come boldly to the throne of grace and not backing out, but. Amen. I will hang up and let you guys have your comments.
John Boler Tony, thank you so much for calling. Thank you for just sharing your heart. You mentioned Hebrews 4:16. What a powerful verse. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace that we may obtain, mercy. We just talked about that in Hosea. That we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. Brother Bert, you want to pray for brother Tony?
Bert Harper I do, Father. Praying for Tony. God do the work that only you can do. when it came time for Lazarus to be raised, Jesus told the other people to roll the stone away. He told the other people to loose him and let him go unwind that grave clothes. But the one thing Jesus did was deliver him from death. Father, we can do a lot of things and Discipline is one of them. changing our habits is one of them. But, Father, in the power of the Holy Spirit of God, I'm praying for Tony's deliverance concerning pornography. God, it is an evil addiction. It's not a, it's not an innocent sin. It affects everything. And so we're praying for that deliverance. And we're praying for him to not grow weary in walking with the Lord. May his spirit be renewed day by day and early. I pray that he would seek you early and at night he would meditate upon your word. And we can hear this, and he can report back a year from now and say, God did it. We're praying for that. In Jesus name, Amen. Amen. Amen. Tony. Thank you, brother.
John Boler Thank you, Brother Tony.
Listeners Request Church Guidance Family Healing And Closing Prayers
Bert Harper Let's go to Micah in Louisiana. Micah, go right ahead.
Caroline Thank you. Excuse me. I heard y' all talking about spiritual death, and struggling in an area and stuff. I'm just kind of concerned about my spiritual, where I'm at and
Bert Harper if I'm doomed right now. And I just
Caroline need
Bert Harper some
Caroline encouragement
Bert Harper as far
Caroline as,
Bert Harper making sure that I'm okay.
Caroline Okay. I just want to make sure I'm, you know,
Bert Harper well, Micah. Okay, don't just listen. I do have one or two questions. 1. Can you go back to a time when you turn from your way and you turn to Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord?
John Boler I have said the prayer, and I does that.
Bert Harper Okay, here's what it is. It's not our words. Honestly, I don't know how else to say it. It is a willful choice in your heart and your mind of saying God in your heart. There's nothing I can do. You've done it. I can't pay for my sin. I can't even do away with it. But God, Jesus, you paid the price on the cross. You overcame sin and death at the resurrection. And I'm putting my trust in you. The word, you know, it means trust him. it's an act of faith. Faith and in Christ. If you've not done that, would you do that right now? Micah?
Bert Harper Sure.
Bert Harper I think you need to. From hearing what you said, I'd say God. And would you pray along with me? Repeat my words, but you got to mean them in your heart. Heavenly Father, I am a sinner.
Jeff Chamblee I am a sinner.
Bert Harper I, There's nothing I can do to redeem myself.
Bert Harper There's nothing
Jeff Chamblee I can do to redeem myself.
Bert Harper But Jesus paid it all.
Bert Harper But Jesus paid it all.
Bert Harper In him going to the cross
Bert Harper and him going to the cross,
Bert Harper dying in my place of sin.
Caroline Don't, in my place.
Bert Harper Today I turn from my way.
Jeff Chamblee Today I turn from my way.
Bert Harper And I turn to you in faith.
Jeff Chamblee And I turn to you in faith,
Bert Harper trusting you as my Savior.
Jeff Chamblee Trusting in you as my Savior,
Bert Harper that, ah, you have brought me out of the pit of sin,
Jeff Chamblee that you will throw me out of the pit of sin
Bert Harper and deliver me into a new life. I, thank you for doing it.
Jeff Chamblee Thank you for doing it.
Bert Harper In Jesus name,
Jeff Chamblee Jesus name.
Bert Harper Amen. Micah, I just want to tell you what you, said in your heart. God. That's what God looks, let me give you evidence of that. When a, prophet Samuel, and you know, he was the prophet Judge, he went to find the new king that would take Saul's place. And he came out and he said, God does not look at the outward, which is also just words sometimes, but he looks at the inward, the heart. Did you really mean that, what you prayed, Micah? Amen. Well, brother, you're started on the path that God has for you right now. Because of that sin and death in your life has overcome. That means your sin is forgiven. And at the point of death that you are transported from where you are to his presence. And you need to have confidence in that. Let me share this. You need to find a local church, a Bible believing, local church there in Louisiana. And you can get on websites and you can find that and you may be a part of one. If you are, you need to go forward and share with the pastor and share with the congregation. Jesus Christ has saved me and now I'm ready to start this journey of discipleship with him and they'll share it with you. baptism, new training, and keep listening to exploring the Word. Jon, would you have something to say to Micah?
John Boler Micah, thank you, number one, for calling and thank you for an open heart and welcome, to the kingdom of God. I just want to encourage you, as brother Bert has said, find that, if you don't mind, a general area in Louisiana, north, south, east, west,
Caroline south.
John Boler In the south. Okay. Yeah, there's a lot of great churches there in south Louisiana and the Internet can be your friend to watch some of these services before maybe you go watch the live stream and find one that preaches the Word where they can disciple you and get you plugged into a small group. But thank you so much, Micah. I can call you my brother in Christ now.
Bert Harper Amen, Micah. Thank you, brother. And may God bless you and continue to Use you. Amen. Let's go to Virginia and talk to Greg. Greg, got a prayer request. Go right ahead, brother.
Caroline Yes, I thank you guys. I just want to tell you how much I appreciate your ministry. it's just a total blessing and thank God for,
Caroline For you guys in the whole
Caroline afr.
Jeff Chamblee our church is, Our, search committee is meeting this evening to pick a pastor, and they've been several months and they're bringing forward, gonna pick someone to bring m forward to the church. And we're just praying for, that guidance and that the Holy Spirit is in total control. And,
Bert Harper amen.
Caroline God's will
Jeff Chamblee will be done.
Bert Harper We'll do it. Greg, we're going to pray for you, but I'm going to get the next. So we can pray two in a row on this because of time. So we get. Hey, you need to pray for the pastor on the other end, right, Jon?
John Boler That's right. That's right.
Bert Harper While that committee's praying, that pastor and his wife and family pray for them as well. Are. Let's go to Virginia again. And it's Christine. Christine, what's your prayer request? Go right ahead, sister.
Caroline Oh, thank you. I just want to say thank you for being there. I actually have two prayer requests, and they're related. My daughter, Amanda has hurt her arm, and they don't know what's wrong with it, but she can't use it. And her son Nico, who is 3, was born with, 2. It makes him medically, medically fragile. so she has to care for him 24 hours a day. And it's going to be very hard to do this.
Bert Harper Well, we're going to. You got enough that you can pray, Jon? And looking ahead, we won't have time to go to Jacqueline. We love that lady. We can't go to you, Jacqueline, today, but we, we see that a friend is having surgery and we pray for you as well. So, so pray for all three of those. Let's do
John Boler that, Father. I pray for Greg. I pray for his church in Virginia, especially, Lord, tonight as they're meeting with the pastor church committee for a potential perspective new pastor, Lord. So I pray for the church. I pray for unity. I pray for the pastor if he has a family, Lord, I pray for them, that, God, if you're in it, that you would bring them together, Lord, that your will be done. I believe that you put shepherds in places to preach and to lead. We lift up that church, Virginia. May your will be done. Lord. I pray for Christine. I pray for her daughter Amanda. I pray for her son Nico. I pray for her arm. May you bring healing there. Lord, thank you for her heart, to tend to her child or three year old. And I pray, Lord, that you would give her the ability to continue to attend and take care during this time. in Jesus name, amen.
Bert Harper Thank you, Jon Mass, We've enjoyed being on the program with you who are out there. I hope you've been blessed. Jerry Lawson if you want that and you want those Christmas buttons and them to be a way of witnessing resources afa.net resources afa.net and you can order them and as it says here, wear them and share them and then let people know about Jesus. Well, we're going to continue in the book of Hosea tomorrow and you're going to hear that about grave and death. They don't have the victory you want to tune in for tomorrow on Exploit the Word.
Jeff Chamblee The views and opinions expressed in this broadcast may not necessarily reflect those of the American Family association or American Family Radio.
In this episode of Exploring the Word, Bert Harper and John Boler continue their study of Hosea 13, examining how turning away from God leads to spiritual emptiness and how God remains the only source of help, mercy, and salvation. They unpack Hosea’s vivid images of judgment, the danger of idols, and the hope found in the promise: “Your help is from me.”
Guest preacher Jerry Lawson also shares how he uses AFA’s Christmas buttons as conversation starters to share the gospel, describing the people he has met and encouraged through this simple act of outreach. Later, listeners call in with prayer requests and personal struggles, including anxiety before surgery, pornography, questions about salvation, and a church’s search for a pastor. The hosts offer encouragement, counsel, and prayer.
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