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.
Alex McFarland You know, there's a question in Matthew 16 that Christ asked the disciples, but it's really a question every person, every person of every era needs to come to. Uh, an answer with. In M. Matthew 16, uh, 15, Jesus says, who do you say that I am? And Simon Peter answers and says, you are the Christ, the son of the living God. And Jesus says, blessed are you, Simon bar Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my father who is in heaven. Well, we welcome you to today's edition of Exploring the Word with that very famous scripture from Matthew 16. Who do you say that I am? And our prayer, our hope, is that regarding Jesus Christ, the Messiah, you will say, he is the one who died for me. Jesus is the one in whom I put all my faith and my trust. He's my forgiver, my leader, my Lord. Bert. Uh, for me, I was about 21 years old when that realization came into my heart in my life. And uh, Jesus is that faithful friend who sticks closer than a brother. And that, that was and remains the question, who, what have you done with Jesus? Who do you say Jesus is life's most important question, isn't it?
Bert Harper It really is. It does not get any more important than that. And listen, it's a decision that decides eternity for you. And uh, that, that's what this program is about. 3 o' clock central time each Monday through Friday. Um, our, our bosses Tim Wildmon and others said we need a Bible study program that just shares about Jesus Christ. Uh, the others, yes, they're biblical and they give uh, they do some Bible study, some, but said we want this hour dedicated to looking at the scriptures and lifting up Jesus. And so the question is, what have you done with Jesus? Those of you who are listening, we pray that you have trusted him. Alex. Chapter 16 is a transitional chapter. Uh, he's been as part of his withdrawal period, but he begins and he's this thing about what you just said. Who do men say that I am? Who do you say that I am? And then he begins to tell them what he is going to do. So it's a great transitional chapter, but in verse one, something significant is really there in the first line. The Pharisees and the Sadducees Came and there's not a word there, but I'm going to add it right now. Together. Okay?
Alex McFarland Yeah.
Bert Harper To test Jesus. Now, what was this you, uh, know we talk about the Republicans and Democrats ought to work together for good. Well, listen, here's the Pharisees and Sadducees. The Pharisees were considered more conservative. Got to go by the law. The Sadducees were liberals on the way. They didn't believe in the resurrection. They did not, uh, they did not believe in angels. They did not accept the prophets as the word of God. Theirs was just the first five books, but again, they didn't necessarily obey them, but they came together. Does this make you think of the enemy of my enemy is my friend?
Alex McFarland Yeah, we talked about that. Well, you know, there, there are a number of times where Jesus denounces the religious, the Pharisees and Sadducees and what's um, it's very disheartening, I think. You know, they had tried to trick him with theological questions. They had tried to conspire against Jesus people. Christ healed the, they demanded, don't tell anybody, you know. But now they come and they ask for a sign from heaven. Uh, you know, Jesus had more than proven himself right as the fulfillment of the prophecies, the Messiah. But now they come and they ask for a sign. Now could Jesus have done a miracle or a sign? Of course he could. I mean, he has all the power of God being God incarnate, but he knows their heart. And he says in verse four, a, uh, wicked and adulterous generation seeks after a sign. And no sign will be given except the sign of the prophet Jonah. Now that's a reference. And this is also in Matthew 12 where Jesus had talked about his resurrection. But before that, in 2 and 3, Jesus says, Look, you can look at the sky and tell what the weather's going to do. You're very worldly wise, but you don't have spiritual discernment.
Bert Harper That's it.
Alex McFarland Uh, I mean, you know, and we, we could go into that about the sky being red, uh, you know, uh, in the evening. They, they knew everything about this world, which is transient, but they did not understand the things that were eternal. And here, let me just say this. Um, people ask sometimes, why do you believe in Christianity? There are a lot of reasons. Um, but you've got creation that had to have a creator. You've got the moral law conscience that came from a moral law giver. You've got the Bible, fulfill prophecy, miraculous preservation, miraculous life changing power, the accurate history of the ancient world, the trustworthy prophecy about the present and future. Then you've got the greatest revelation of God ever, and that's the person of Jesus Christ. Born in a manger, fulfilled the prophecy, sinless life, miraculous deeds, rose from the grave. Uh, Bert, we have every reason to believe in. In the God of Christianity. I remember many years ago, uh, Woody Allen, the filmmaker, was on TV with Billy Graham. This is. You can find this online easily. And Billy Graham, of course, is gently and repeatedly sharing the gospel. And, uh, you know, Woody Allen says, well, I might believe in God, as if, oh, I'm going to do God a big favor. I might believe in him if he would give me a sign. And Billy Graham says, what kind of sign do you want? There's an empty tomb. What bigger sign than that could you ask for? And Woody Allen said, oh, millions of dollars in a Swiss bank account. Ha ha ha. And I thought, you know, that might get a laugh, but that's. You're rolling the dice with your soul. And anyway, these Pharisees and Sadducees, they're standing right there in front of truth incarnate, and they're asking for a magic trick to placate them. And Christ wasn't going to give it.
Bert Harper He was not. And he demonstrates that, calling them hypocrites. In other words, they are purposefully denying all that he had already done. He had already raised people from the dead, and they knew that he had already healed so many. They knew that the blind. See, you remember when he told Jon the Baptist, tell him all this? They already knew it. Uh, they already had enough information. They had what they needed. They were purposely denying what Jesus Christ. So, no, if. Listen, miracles do not prove. They affirm, uh, okay, Jesus was the very son of God. He was God in the flesh. The miracles did not make him that way. That demonstrated it, affirmed who he was. His teaching affirmed who he was. His knowledge of what they were thinking before they would even speak affirmed who he was. And so no miracle that they could do that he could do the same thing was true when he was on the cross. If you be the cross, uh, the Christ, you come down, you know. No, Jesus knew that it is by faith. So, Alex, he calls it a wicked and adulterous generation. That's what they were. But notice the last part of verse four. Pharisees and Sadducees. He left them and departed. We've talked about this departing. He. He was getting away from them because he's on his own timetable. He's not going to Let them, quote, stop him from doing what he needs to do with the 12. Because when you start in verse five and following, you'll see that Jesus is really concentrating on these 12 that have been with him all the time. Because, because again, when we get to the end in verse 21 and I'm looking ahead, but just note that doesn't mean we're skipping all this. From that time, Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem, suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed and be raised again the third day. Now, what happens after verse four? He left them and departed. He departed for a purpose, so he could be with the 12 and share with them and get them ready for what would take place on, um, Pentecost. And them turn the world upside down. So, Alex, it says in verse five, and when his disciples had come to the other side, they had forgotten to take bread. Well, Jesus is going to take care of that. He's taking. Have you noticed how many times, uh, uh, eating has been an issue here, hasn't it?
Alex McFarland Well, that's true. And, and also, you know, I think about this. It says they had forgotten to take bread. You know, if I were in the group and we're watching history unfold and the promised Savior is right there with us, I don't know that I could have thought straight either, you know, but
Bert Harper they had forgotten that bread. So he says he uses this as an opportunity. Again, what you're concentrating on in the rest of chapter 16 is these 12 and Jesus getting them ready. So what does he does? He warns them, take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the Sadducees. And they reasoned among themselves, saying, it is because we have taken no bread. You can see they still don't have the Holy Spirit indwelling them. That would take place after Pentecost. But when Jesus perceived it, he said to them, o you of little faith, why do you reason among yourselves? Because you have brought no bread? Do you not yet understand or remember the five loaves, the 5,000, how many baskets you took up?
Alex 12?
Bert Harper Nor the seven loaves of the 4,000? And how many large baskets you took up? How is it that you do not understand that I did not speak to you concerning bread, but you should beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the Sadducees? Then they understood that he did not tell them to beware of the leaven of bread. But the doctrine, the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees, Alex, uh, he took this opportunity to use this time and this illustration to let them know leaven is always that of not being good. Hear that doctrine? So he takes advantage of this, doesn't he?
Alex McFarland He does, without getting too far into the weeds. In the English Bible, the word leaven, L, E, a V, E, N. In the Greek, it's the word enzymes. Now, an enzyme 11 actually produces enzymes and organisms that help make dough rise. And a leavening agent, you know, it creates gas bubbles and it makes bread rise. Fascinating, uh, the word enzymes, but it's. It's something that's internal and it influences the entirety of the batch or the mix.
Bert Harper That's it.
Alex McFarland And leaven does represent sin. Now, what's. What's interesting is five, uh, one of the focuses of verse five is bread, and one of the foci or focuses of verse 6 is something bread related. Leaven. And this is just a very easily teachable moment. But leaven generally represents sin or something negative. And he says, look, the Pharisees have this thing inside of them that's influencing the totality of their person. The leaven of the Pharisees. And they reason among themselves, saying, is it because we have taken no bread there? It's precious. He's really upset with us because we forgot bread. And Jesus said, and he was aware of it, oh, uh, ye of little faith, why do you reason among yourselves because you have brought no bread? Do you not yet understand or remember the five loaves and 5,000 and how many baskets you took took up? Nor the seven loaves of the 4,000, how many large baskets you took up? Hey, by the way, there, some commentators say there was only one feeding of the multitudes here. Christ himself makes a difference between the two, doesn't he, Bert?
Bert Harper He really does. And I. I want to tell you it's not through yet because he, uh, Alex has already introduced that. The questions. We're going to get to those questions in just a moment when we come back. So you want to listen to this. Make sure you can hear it and answer correctly as well. We'll be right back, Friend.
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From beginning to the end. All my life is in your hands. This whole m world, uh, may hold me down, but it can never drown you out. I'm not merely flesh.
Bert Harper Welcome back to Exploring the Word. This is Bert and Alex, and we're in the book of Matthew, chapter 16, a great transitional chapter. When Jesus sets his face toward Jerusalem. He's been getting away from Jerusalem, but matter of fact, he'll get 120 miles north of Jerusalem when he does this. And then he sets his face and goes toward Jerusalem. You want to stay with us, but by the way, this is the day of prayer. Tuesday is the day of prayer. And in the last segment, we'll take your prayer request as you'll call in to the number, contacting-8840. It's not open yet, but it will be open right before we go to break. But you can send your prayer request on our Facebook page. Uh, that's exploring the word Facebook page. Brent Austin does that for us. You all co also can do [email protected] and we would love to hear your prayer request today. We want to pray for you. It's just not Alex and myself praying for you. It is a whole body of believers spread out all over the United States, even foreign countries that take time to pray for these prayer requests. So we're excited about that. So, Alex, we come to verse 13, which is really something. When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi. Now, I want to tell you, there's so much here. Um, this is a place where Pan, the God of Pan, they thought was from, uh, Caesar, had built a temple there. Uh, this is a place farther away from Jerusalem. And this is where he does ask these questions. Who do men say that I am? Uh, this is, I would call. This is Like a circle, the circumference. In other words, who does everybody around you say that I am? But he doesn't stay there, does he? So they said, some say Jon the Baptist, Elijah, others Jeremiah or one of the prophets. But then he gets right to what is called the epicenter. The epicenter is right in the middle. In other words, what everybody else is saying, oh, yeah, that's alright. But what do you say when you have an earthquake? They want to know where the epicenter was, where was it very centered. So Jesus says this, Others may say this. That's the circumference. But what do you say? Who. But who do you say that I am? Um, Alex, that is the question. But how? I love this. Jesus draws a man from the circumference to the very epicenter. That's what Jesus does with us. He wants to get right into the middle of our lives, doesn't he?
Alex McFarland Well, he really does. Uh, who do you say that I am? And this is the question. The gospel is personal. Billy Graham would always say, every person Jesus ever called, he called publicly for us to take a stand. Well, Peter says, I, uh, love the way the King James renders it. Thou art the Christ, the son of the living God, verse 16. And Jesus says, blessed are you, Simon, son of Jonah. In other words. Right answer. And you didn't learn this physically, intellectually, but the Father revealed it to you. Now, this is where much, uh, ink has been invested in commentating on verse 18. Jesus says, I say unto you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. We're going to come back to that. And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven. And whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven. And whatsoever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. Then he commanded his disciples that they should tell no one that he was Jesus the Christ. Let me say this for one thing, Peter's confession, which is really the confession of anybody who becomes a, uh, born again saved person. Jesus is the Son of God. Jesus is the designated savior. God, Christ is the one in whom I have believed. And all Christians. So this confession, this good news gospel that we affirm, we confess, this is the foundation of Christianity. But not only that, it's Christ himself in verse 18, where Jesus says, on, um, this rock. Well, Jesus is the rock. He is the rock of our salvation. And if you've ever listened to the show much, you know I revere the Apostle Peter M. One of My absolute most favorite Bible characters and probably my favorite NewSong Testament writer. But Peter is not the foundation of the church he preached at Pentecost, but the foundation of, uh, the rock on which we stand is Christ the Savior and the truth of his word, the gospel. Jesus, the Son of God, the gospel, the word of God. That is the foundation on which 2000 years of Christianity stands.
Bert Harper Amen. Now, words are important. You're the guy that does words. But this is so important. In 18 Peter, the Greek word is petros. It means a stone. And I believe there's hand motions. In other words, Jesus. I've had to learn to Bert, don't talk with your hands. With every syllable. But, you know, I believe Jesus may have used his hands. He said, I'll say to you, you are Peter. I think he's pointing at Peter, okay, In a nice way, not in a harsh way. Hey, you're Peter. And then he turns those hands around and says, and on this rock, I will build my church. I think he's referring to himself. That word is Petra, which means a large stone. Ah, I will build my church. I'm going to build my church upon Petra, the large stone. And, uh, that's Old Testament. I think all the people would know that if they know the old Testament. Deuteronomy 32, 4 talks about God. He is the rock. His work is perfect. Psalm 18:2. The Lord is my rock and my fortress. Psalm 18:31. For who is, who is God saved the Lord, or who he is is a rock, our God. So he is referring to him. And then in first Peter, Peter would pick up on this, I believe Alex, when he was writing First Peter, he talked about the church. He says we're living stones, not the foundation. But he says we are. He understood that Jesus was the rock, the foundation. He himself was building upon that foundation of Christ. And he said in 1st Peter 2. 5, we are living stones. So I think you did that exactly right. It all backed up according to the words, how they're used.
Alex McFarland Well, and verse 20, he commanded his disciples that they should tell no one that he was Jesus the Christ. Uh, before we get there, let's talk about this. The keys of the kingdom of heaven. You know, Bert, um, we don't want to deny verse 19, but we don't want to maybe take it farther than we could or should go with it. Um, whatever we verbally affirm, whatever we deny, it's got to line up with the word of God. Whatever we bind on earth, bound in heaven, whatever you loose on earth will Be loosed in heaven. Let me say that in a way, what power does a Christian have? Well, a lot of power, actually, as long as it's in the word of God and by the name of Jesus. Sometimes, if you've ever signed a document on behalf of a company. Uh, and I know when I was working for Focus on the Family, I signed a lot of contracts for Focus on the Family, which is a ministry. And I would always sign it like Alex McFarland, comma, for focus on the Family or something like that. Uh, I really didn't have any authority of my own, but as long as I was acting within my assignment and by the, you know, the ministry's purposes and under their authority, I could, you know, speak on behalf of even Dr. Dobson sometimes. Here's my point, Bert. We as Christians, in Matthew 28, we'll get to the point where Jesus says, all power in heaven and earth is given to me. We have been given authority in the name of Jesus, but it's got to be according to God's word. Can people be loosed from their sins? Yes, but not by any power we have by the power of the gospel. Can truth set boundaries to help order and structure a society? Of course. But it's by God's revelation and God's word, not any opinion, bias, or attitude of our own. It's all by Christ, for Christ, and according to his word.
Bert Harper Good word. The kingdom of heaven. It doesn't say the keys to heaven. Okay, the kingdom of heaven. How God operates in what he's bringing. And let me say this, uh, and I agree with whoever said it this way. In other words, we, they or, uh, we should do on earth whatever God has already willed in heaven. Okay, and you said it earlier, according to his word, according to the Lord Jesus Christ. We don't ask that out of his will. When I pray and I add on, lord, if it be your will. I'm not. That's not an out for me. I want God's will to be done regardless of my. What my requests may be. Alex, um, I'm going to refer to a country song. Thank God for an unanswered prayer. Okay, seriously, I've prayed for some things. Sometimes I didn't know it when I was praying for it, but I praise God that he did not bring it about. And all authority, that authority is through our relationship with Jesus Christ. It's not on our own. It's through him and him alone. And so, uh, okay, I'm going to speak it. Therefore it's going to happen. Well, hey, it may not. Um, we are desiring to have God's will in our life. And, uh, again, Alex, I don't. You may want to say more, but verse 21, those first three words in verse 21 are very important from that time. The focus, you know, he's been raising them up, but now he's getting them ready. For what? To go to Jerusalem. He's going. He's been going further and further away and to get to rest. Caesarea Philippi 120 miles north of Jerusalem, which was a long way in those days. And now he's setting his face toward Jerusalem, isn't he?
Alex McFarland Well, he is. We've kind of turned a corner here. And the, the narrative is going more and more and more toward the cross. I mean, really. Uh, and Jesus is telling his disciples that he'll suffer many things. Uh, he'll be killed, he'll be raised. Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, far be it from you, Lord, this shall not happen to you. Verse 22. I mean, you love his heart, but he's a little off base. He, Lord, is no way. If they're going to get to you, they're going to have to come through me, you know. And Peter was no doubt a very muscular, masculine, you know, person. Jesus says, no, get behind me, Satan. This is verse 23. You are an offense to me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men. In other words, this is not a physical battle that you've got to fight. Uh, in fact, if you're obstructing me, you're obstructing the plan of salvation, Peter. So get behind me because, uh, I've got to do this. Jesus says to his disciples, if anyone desires to come after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross and follow me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it. But whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. Bert, this is one of the many things that makes Christianity different from any other belief system. I mean, you look up, uh, look at Islam right now, um, killing in the name of Allah. Jon 16:2. Jesus said, the day will come when those that kill you think they do God service. But yet Christ says, here's how you show the nature of God and become great. Take up your cross and follow me. This is 180 degrees opposite of what false religion and the worldly mindset would be.
Bert Harper Amen. Alex, let me make this statement. This is worth writing down. If you keep notes after Jesus lets them Know and say who he is. That's what he said. Who do you say that I am? Then he lets them know what he's going to do. That's important, Alex, knowing him, this is what you want. And that's the reason we want the presence of God. We pray for the power of God in our life. Lord, we want to demonstrate your presence in my life. And then you will do your work through me. So here he is. He turns this focus and he says, what is a man profited if he gains the whole world and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? Listen, Jesus Christ is all the world to me. Isn't that a beautiful song? He is all the world to me. This is what we want. He finishes up here in verses 27 and 28. For the Son of man will come in glory of his Father, uh, with his angels, and then he'll reward each according to his works. Assuredly, I say to you, there are some standing here who shall not taste death till they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom. The transfiguration is coming up. They're going to be there. They're going to see him in all of his glory. He's going to come with the angels later. But, Alex, I could not help but contrast. I'm going to go to Jerusalem and die. But in verse 27, I'm coming again in power. That's our Lord, isn't it?
Alex McFarland Amen. Amen. And that's why Matthew 17 is so just amazing. Um, before you die, you're going to see, uh, the glory of the kingdom of heaven. And do you know, I had a pretty famous skeptic say to me one time that his whole journey toward atheism was based on this, that he believed in Matthew 16:28, that some of the disciples would live till the end of time. That's not at all what it means. Uh, I really think this promise, seeing the coming of the kingdom, in other words, the glory. Well, for a couple of things, Bert, I think Matthew 17 is a revelation that the kingdom of God was among them. I think the day of Pentecost, uh, and the coming of the Holy Spirit. 3,000 souls added to the church. And then, just within 37 years, the gospel had been taken to the whole wide world. I mean, the reality of Christ's victory and the certainty, the surety of God's coming kingdom. Yeah, they did see it.
Bert Harper Amen. Hey, it's the day of prayer. That phone number. Richard's ready to receive your phone calls. Is 888-589-8840. You can make a request on our Facebook page right now.
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M. And your father heard it a single word you're saying. So don't stop praying.
Alex McFarland Oh, that's right. Don't stop praying. Welcome back to Exploring the Word. By the way, Tuesdays, we call it our day of prayer and we would love to hear your prayer request. Now, you can call in with Bible questions too, if you'd like, but we just feel very honored. More and more and more people share prayer requests and we do pray. We get emails from people who say they lift up these requests. So if you want to call in, the number is triple 858-98840. That's 888-589-8840. And you can share prayer requests. You can email us too. And I want to get this email correct. Wordfa.net Brent, is that right? W O R D word fa.net and of course you can post prayer request on Facebook too.
Alex McFarland Also I checked and you if you end up putting afr.net it will correct to AFA and it'll, it'll come to
Alex McFarland us either way, as in American Family Association. So, uh, Bible questions are always welcome. But Tuesday. Um, and Bert, I believe all of us have things on our heart that we'd like prayer about. I got a few things. We, we're working on camps for next summer and uh, revival events across America. So I'm just going to start it out and I'm going to say pray for me. Just looking at the calendar for the next about 15 months and places to go preach the gospel. So I need prayer.
Bert Harper Amen. Alex, we do pray for you and I know our listeners pray for you. Uh, last night I'm preaching at Fairfield Presbyterian Church and I'll be there tonight 6:30. Looking forward to that. But people say, man, we pray for you and Alex, and we appreciate it so much and so keep on praying and pray for that as well. Well, Brent, I know you have some prayer requests. We'll do that. And, Susan, I know you're listening. We'll get to you. Right next.
Brent Yes. Um, as always, every Tuesday, you can send your prayer requests in on Facebook while we are live streaming there. You can email us or you can call us in the third segment. Uh, I've got two from Facebook. One is from Maryann, and she's asking prayer for healing. She just had her gallbladder removed yesterday. There were complications, and she's needing prayer. Nancy, uh, is asking for prayer for her. Her daughter and her grandson.
Bert Harper Daughter and grandson.
Right.
Bert Harper Okay. Alex is artifact. Pray real quickly, and then go to the phone lines.
Alex McFarland And may I put another one in?
Bert Harper Do that.
Alex McFarland Um, a dear man at our church named Steve, and he, um, has some breathing issues. They thought it was his heart, and it wasn't, so it's something with his lungs. He's otherwise in pretty good health. And frankly, we had hoped the heart examination would have revealed something, but just some very severe breathing issues. And the man's name is Steve. A, uh, dear brother in the Lord.
Bert Harper Let's go to the Lord in prayer. Father, I thank you for Marian. And I pray, God, that what she. The surgery she's had, the difficulties, the complications. I pray, Father, for healing. I pray you'd give wisdom to those who are caring for. Caring for her. What to do? We trust you, Father. We're praying for Nancy, her daughter, and her son, grandson. Father, we don't know all the needs, but, Father, you know the needs, and that's awesome that we know their names, but you know what their deepest need is. And, Father, I pray you'd meet it according to your riches in Christ. And, Father, we pray for Steve, uh, Alex's friend, and Angie's friend. I pray, God, that, uh, the breathing, whatever is causing this, uh, they would find this out, not knowing it causes a lot of difficulties in her life. And I pray, Father, that it would be corrected and he would, uh, begin to have that life of breathing deep and strong. And, Father, we do pray for the revival at Fairfield. God, do a work, give them a vision of what you want them to do, and, uh, become. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.
Alex McFarland Amen. Well, let's go to Virginia. Susan in Virginia. Welcome to Exploring the Word.
Alex McFarland Um, I do have a Bible question. If it's okay, I would. I didn't tell your caller this, but I thought, um, I would like to pray for, um, a Jewish man named Gerson who has advanced, um, prostate cancer. Unfortunately, they didn't find it until late, and he is receiving treatment. Um, but I Tell him I pray for him. And he says thank you. And I'm hoping maybe I can also send a card with something that some way that I could share the gospel. I'm still trying to figure that out. But anyway, um, my question, though. Um, I have a commentary that goes along with, um, Genesis one that I'm studying at cbs. And the commentary was saying never, you know, talking about how we refer to God as Father. And, um, it said that God is spirit. And that doesn't mean he has a physical body. He's not limited because he transcends characteristics of both male and female. And then, um, it does say that in the NewSong Testament, it's clear Jesus is male.
Alex McFarland But it kind of left me hanging thinking, oh, no. In our discussion tomorrow. I hope no one interprets that as a way to say he's non binary, which has been, as, you know, politically been in the arena lately. But how do I wrap my head around this? Um, thank you, Susan. Because sometimes they do give female things, like caring, you know, like a chicken with her hens. That's a female kind of thing.
Bert Harper That is true, Susan. Alex, go ahead. We got a lot of requests. So you answer and then we'll go to the next. Go ahead, brother.
Alex McFarland Well, God bless you, Susan, for being willing to tackle what shouldn't be difficult theological issues. But in our times, they kind of are. Um, the Bible refers to God in masculine terms because that's the way God has revealed himself to the human race. In Scripture and consistently throughout the Bible, God is described in masculine terms. Father, Son, Holy Spirit. Now, I know the Bible talks about, you know, could a mother forget her nursing child? Of course not. Well, God will not forget Israel. And so there are, you know, analogies or comparisons, uh, to the love of a mother and the nurturing, gentle love of a mother, the protective, providing love of a father. Uh, but clearly, uh, as CS Lewis said, gender goes far deeper than we humans think. And God has revealed himself in masculine terms. And I think that. But we've got to trust that God understands his own identity. And we take the Bible for what it says. We shouldn't infer or impose what is the current cultural mindset of the moment.
Bert Harper Let me just say this. As a father of three sons, my mother, uh, my wife was the mother of these boys, and she gave birth to them. I was the father. But, uh, sometimes she would leave those children with me. Uh, one or two times it didn't work as good. But I would nurture them. I would care for them, I would take care uh, of them. So God has that capacity as our heavenly father to relate and do that. Alex, it doesn't mean he's binary at all. Uh, but it does mean he's that caring. And I agree. God by himself is sufficient for each person. But in a family, to have the characteristics that are needed in a family, you need the male and the female, the mother and the father. Whereas God is able, because of who he is, to fill all those roles. Brother doesn't make him partially female and partially male. No, he is male. He is God.
Alex McFarland Amen. God bless you, Susan. Great work. Great question. Steve in Louisiana. Steve, welcome to Exploring the Word.
Hi, guys. Alex, Bert. I, uh, hope all is well. Uh, I was calling with a prayer request.
Bert Harper Go right ahead.
So it's for Janet Sheeran in, uh, Marshville, North Carolina, who passed yesterday. And I'm just praying that, uh, that our soul is received well into the kingdom and hoping for you guys to, uh, say some words.
Bert Harper Thank you, Steve. Listen, uh, is this your mother in law, Steve?
Yes, sir.
Bert Harper Amen. And, uh, man, praying for to have a mother in law that you love, that love the Lord, what a blessing it is, and thank you for sharing that. And we want to pray for the family, uh, because she's been ushered in in the very presence of the Lord, Alex, to be absent from the bodies, to be present with the Lord for believers, isn't it?
Alex McFarland Amen. Amen. Let me, let me pray. Father, thank you for Steve's call. And Lord, as the family says goodbye to Steve's mother in law, you know, uh, Lord, we pray for your peace, your comfort, your condolences to be very real. And Lord, let them take just, not just comfort, but absolute joy in the promises of your word that when a believer leaves this world, they are guaranteed according to the promises of God, to be in the presence of Jesus with him forever and bless and lift up this family at this time. In your name we ask it, Lord. Amen. Let's go to Rodney in Mississippi. Rodney, uh, welcome to Exploring the Word.
Bert Harper Oh, I just want to say thank you for all you do.
Very, very encouraging. Uh, my wife passed away two weeks ago, so I'm just asking you to pray for me.
Alex McFarland Blessings. And Rodney, um, may the Lord Jesus hold you up and strengthen you. Bert. Um, it's just amazing what everybody is facing and going through at these times.
Bert Harper It is, it is. Rodney, I will pray for you, brother. Father, I thank you that Rodney is able to call. I'm glad we have the day, uh, of prayer that people are free to say Man, I need God to comfort me, to sustain me, to help me. And Rodney's there right now, Father. Help him. May he look unto you, the author and finisher of our faith, and find comfort in you. You're the one that sticks closer than a brother. So, Father, thank you for Rodney, and I know others are praying for him right now. In Jesus name, Amen.
Amen.
Alex McFarland Uh, amen. Blessings on you, Rodney. Let's go to Texas. Chelsea. Chelsea in Texas. Hello? Chelsea? Chelsea in Texas. Are you there?
Hi, my name is Chelsea.
Alex McFarland Chelsea. I'm sorry. Okay, you're on now. Uh, welcome.
Hi. Yes, I'm here. I'm calling for prayer for myself. Um, and can you hear me?
Bert Harper Yes, go right ahead.
We're here for prayer. I'm calling for spiritual warfare prayer. I'm being attacked at my job and then also attacked by my spouse. And they're. They're forming in the same spirit. And, um, my husband, uh, proclaims to be a believer, and I'm a believer as well, but he's allowing the enemy me to use him to attack my faith. And, um, I had to leave work early today, um, because that's how overloaded I was. And, um, I just sat in the parking lot for four hours. And then I heard you guys, and you guys had national prayers. I'm just calling for prayer over my soul, my little babies that's witnessing everything in my mind in my marriage.
Amen.
Alex McFarland Amen. I'm Chelsea. This is Alex. I'm gonna ask Bert to pray, but, uh, bless you, sister. And Jesus is with you. The Lord Jesus is with you. And Bert, I know in this world, sometimes the. The devil just tries to burden us down and beat us down. Would you pray over Chelsea, Bert?
Bert Harper Father, I thank you for Chelsea. Uh, I think this day, you set it aside. She had to leave early. But there in the parking lot radio needing prayer, right where she is right now. Father, may your presence be realized, that you're there, you're strengthening her, you're helping her, and you go before her. And, Father, for those that are attacking at work, even at home, Father, I pray first that she would put on the armor of God, that she would be able to withstand all the fiery darts of the wicked one as he uses people to get behind him. Satan doesn't care who he uses, either a, uh, work associate or a husband. Because here was Satan using Peter, who had just said, you are the Christ, the son of the living God, to come against and rebuke Jesus. And Jesus said, get behind me, Satan. So, Father, I Pray you'd give Chelsea the victory that's hers in Christ Jesus. Amen.
Alex McFarland Amen. Thank you, Bert. And we're lifting you up, Chelsea, Go to Virginia. Uh, uh, the caller is Virginia in the state of Texas. Virginia, welcome.
Hello. Thank you. I listen to you all the time. I'm a Christian, but I'm going through a lot with my two boys. Offered to help them work, to move in with me, but now they just take advantage of me, and I want to sell my house. Told them to move, but they feel like. Like I. I'm doing them wrong. And they're not getting 151. The other one's 46. And I can't do it no more. I'm a Christian. Uh, um, I really believe that God will help me, but I need.
Bert Harper Okay, we're going to pray for you, Virginia. We're going. Hey, Brent, you got a request. We. Sharon, uh, from Kansas. We won't be able to get to you today. Time's running out. We got a prayer request, and we need to pray for this.
Alex McFarland And, Bert, I know time fleets away. A family that we're very close to was in a car wreck on 995. And by the grace of God, everybody's okay, but just. I want to praise God for this family. It could have been tragic, but God protected them.
Bert Harper Amen. Yeah, I've got three.
Brent I've got one from Sandy. Uh, her son Luke has, uh, left a Christian home and turned to the homosexual lifestyle. Uh, Debbie's friend Kristie Anyabwile has fallen and injured her back severely. Mary, um, is asking for prayers for a wildfire that started in South Arkansas. She's prayers for safety and for rain, of course.
Bert Harper This is a lot of thank you, God, for that family and difficulty. We're praying for Sandy and Luke and Debbie and Kristie Anyabwile and that wildfire. Father, put limits on it where it can go. And for Virginia and her two sons. The heartache, God. I'm praying that they'd wake up and give Virginia strength. Even in this hour. We pray for this and ask this in Jesus name. Amen.
Amen.
Alex McFarland Amen. In Virginia and Texas. We're lifting you up. Everybody rally around her in prayer and intercession. It's been a great day, hasn't it, Bert?
Yes.
Bert Harper Uh, thank you for listening. We'll be back for tomorrow in chowder. Chapter 17 of Matthew.
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.
Alex McFarland You know, there's a question in Matthew 16 that Christ asked the disciples, but it's really a question every person, every person of every era needs to come to. Uh, an answer with. In M. Matthew 16, uh, 15, Jesus says, who do you say that I am? And Simon Peter answers and says, you are the Christ, the son of the living God. And Jesus says, blessed are you, Simon bar Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my father who is in heaven. Well, we welcome you to today's edition of Exploring the Word with that very famous scripture from Matthew 16. Who do you say that I am? And our prayer, our hope, is that regarding Jesus Christ, the Messiah, you will say, he is the one who died for me. Jesus is the one in whom I put all my faith and my trust. He's my forgiver, my leader, my Lord. Bert. Uh, for me, I was about 21 years old when that realization came into my heart in my life. And uh, Jesus is that faithful friend who sticks closer than a brother. And that, that was and remains the question, who, what have you done with Jesus? Who do you say Jesus is life's most important question, isn't it?
Bert Harper It really is. It does not get any more important than that. And listen, it's a decision that decides eternity for you. And uh, that, that's what this program is about. 3 o' clock central time each Monday through Friday. Um, our, our bosses Tim Wildmon and others said we need a Bible study program that just shares about Jesus Christ. Uh, the others, yes, they're biblical and they give uh, they do some Bible study, some, but said we want this hour dedicated to looking at the scriptures and lifting up Jesus. And so the question is, what have you done with Jesus? Those of you who are listening, we pray that you have trusted him. Alex. Chapter 16 is a transitional chapter. Uh, he's been as part of his withdrawal period, but he begins and he's this thing about what you just said. Who do men say that I am? Who do you say that I am? And then he begins to tell them what he is going to do. So it's a great transitional chapter, but in verse one, something significant is really there in the first line. The Pharisees and the Sadducees Came and there's not a word there, but I'm going to add it right now. Together. Okay?
Alex McFarland Yeah.
Bert Harper To test Jesus. Now, what was this you, uh, know we talk about the Republicans and Democrats ought to work together for good. Well, listen, here's the Pharisees and Sadducees. The Pharisees were considered more conservative. Got to go by the law. The Sadducees were liberals on the way. They didn't believe in the resurrection. They did not, uh, they did not believe in angels. They did not accept the prophets as the word of God. Theirs was just the first five books, but again, they didn't necessarily obey them, but they came together. Does this make you think of the enemy of my enemy is my friend?
Alex McFarland Yeah, we talked about that. Well, you know, there, there are a number of times where Jesus denounces the religious, the Pharisees and Sadducees and what's um, it's very disheartening, I think. You know, they had tried to trick him with theological questions. They had tried to conspire against Jesus people. Christ healed the, they demanded, don't tell anybody, you know. But now they come and they ask for a sign from heaven. Uh, you know, Jesus had more than proven himself right as the fulfillment of the prophecies, the Messiah. But now they come and they ask for a sign. Now could Jesus have done a miracle or a sign? Of course he could. I mean, he has all the power of God being God incarnate, but he knows their heart. And he says in verse four, a, uh, wicked and adulterous generation seeks after a sign. And no sign will be given except the sign of the prophet Jonah. Now that's a reference. And this is also in Matthew 12 where Jesus had talked about his resurrection. But before that, in 2 and 3, Jesus says, Look, you can look at the sky and tell what the weather's going to do. You're very worldly wise, but you don't have spiritual discernment.
Bert Harper That's it.
Alex McFarland Uh, I mean, you know, and we, we could go into that about the sky being red, uh, you know, uh, in the evening. They, they knew everything about this world, which is transient, but they did not understand the things that were eternal. And here, let me just say this. Um, people ask sometimes, why do you believe in Christianity? There are a lot of reasons. Um, but you've got creation that had to have a creator. You've got the moral law conscience that came from a moral law giver. You've got the Bible, fulfill prophecy, miraculous preservation, miraculous life changing power, the accurate history of the ancient world, the trustworthy prophecy about the present and future. Then you've got the greatest revelation of God ever, and that's the person of Jesus Christ. Born in a manger, fulfilled the prophecy, sinless life, miraculous deeds, rose from the grave. Uh, Bert, we have every reason to believe in. In the God of Christianity. I remember many years ago, uh, Woody Allen, the filmmaker, was on TV with Billy Graham. This is. You can find this online easily. And Billy Graham, of course, is gently and repeatedly sharing the gospel. And, uh, you know, Woody Allen says, well, I might believe in God, as if, oh, I'm going to do God a big favor. I might believe in him if he would give me a sign. And Billy Graham says, what kind of sign do you want? There's an empty tomb. What bigger sign than that could you ask for? And Woody Allen said, oh, millions of dollars in a Swiss bank account. Ha ha ha. And I thought, you know, that might get a laugh, but that's. You're rolling the dice with your soul. And anyway, these Pharisees and Sadducees, they're standing right there in front of truth incarnate, and they're asking for a magic trick to placate them. And Christ wasn't going to give it.
Bert Harper He was not. And he demonstrates that, calling them hypocrites. In other words, they are purposefully denying all that he had already done. He had already raised people from the dead, and they knew that he had already healed so many. They knew that the blind. See, you remember when he told Jon the Baptist, tell him all this? They already knew it. Uh, they already had enough information. They had what they needed. They were purposely denying what Jesus Christ. So, no, if. Listen, miracles do not prove. They affirm, uh, okay, Jesus was the very son of God. He was God in the flesh. The miracles did not make him that way. That demonstrated it, affirmed who he was. His teaching affirmed who he was. His knowledge of what they were thinking before they would even speak affirmed who he was. And so no miracle that they could do that he could do the same thing was true when he was on the cross. If you be the cross, uh, the Christ, you come down, you know. No, Jesus knew that it is by faith. So, Alex, he calls it a wicked and adulterous generation. That's what they were. But notice the last part of verse four. Pharisees and Sadducees. He left them and departed. We've talked about this departing. He. He was getting away from them because he's on his own timetable. He's not going to Let them, quote, stop him from doing what he needs to do with the 12. Because when you start in verse five and following, you'll see that Jesus is really concentrating on these 12 that have been with him all the time. Because, because again, when we get to the end in verse 21 and I'm looking ahead, but just note that doesn't mean we're skipping all this. From that time, Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem, suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed and be raised again the third day. Now, what happens after verse four? He left them and departed. He departed for a purpose, so he could be with the 12 and share with them and get them ready for what would take place on, um, Pentecost. And them turn the world upside down. So, Alex, it says in verse five, and when his disciples had come to the other side, they had forgotten to take bread. Well, Jesus is going to take care of that. He's taking. Have you noticed how many times, uh, uh, eating has been an issue here, hasn't it?
Alex McFarland Well, that's true. And, and also, you know, I think about this. It says they had forgotten to take bread. You know, if I were in the group and we're watching history unfold and the promised Savior is right there with us, I don't know that I could have thought straight either, you know, but
Bert Harper they had forgotten that bread. So he says he uses this as an opportunity. Again, what you're concentrating on in the rest of chapter 16 is these 12 and Jesus getting them ready. So what does he does? He warns them, take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the Sadducees. And they reasoned among themselves, saying, it is because we have taken no bread. You can see they still don't have the Holy Spirit indwelling them. That would take place after Pentecost. But when Jesus perceived it, he said to them, o you of little faith, why do you reason among yourselves? Because you have brought no bread? Do you not yet understand or remember the five loaves, the 5,000, how many baskets you took up?
Alex 12?
Bert Harper Nor the seven loaves of the 4,000? And how many large baskets you took up? How is it that you do not understand that I did not speak to you concerning bread, but you should beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the Sadducees? Then they understood that he did not tell them to beware of the leaven of bread. But the doctrine, the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees, Alex, uh, he took this opportunity to use this time and this illustration to let them know leaven is always that of not being good. Hear that doctrine? So he takes advantage of this, doesn't he?
Alex McFarland He does, without getting too far into the weeds. In the English Bible, the word leaven, L, E, a V, E, N. In the Greek, it's the word enzymes. Now, an enzyme 11 actually produces enzymes and organisms that help make dough rise. And a leavening agent, you know, it creates gas bubbles and it makes bread rise. Fascinating, uh, the word enzymes, but it's. It's something that's internal and it influences the entirety of the batch or the mix.
Bert Harper That's it.
Alex McFarland And leaven does represent sin. Now, what's. What's interesting is five, uh, one of the focuses of verse five is bread, and one of the foci or focuses of verse 6 is something bread related. Leaven. And this is just a very easily teachable moment. But leaven generally represents sin or something negative. And he says, look, the Pharisees have this thing inside of them that's influencing the totality of their person. The leaven of the Pharisees. And they reason among themselves, saying, is it because we have taken no bread there? It's precious. He's really upset with us because we forgot bread. And Jesus said, and he was aware of it, oh, uh, ye of little faith, why do you reason among yourselves because you have brought no bread? Do you not yet understand or remember the five loaves and 5,000 and how many baskets you took took up? Nor the seven loaves of the 4,000, how many large baskets you took up? Hey, by the way, there, some commentators say there was only one feeding of the multitudes here. Christ himself makes a difference between the two, doesn't he, Bert?
Bert Harper He really does. And I. I want to tell you it's not through yet because he, uh, Alex has already introduced that. The questions. We're going to get to those questions in just a moment when we come back. So you want to listen to this. Make sure you can hear it and answer correctly as well. We'll be right back, Friend.
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From beginning to the end. All my life is in your hands. This whole m world, uh, may hold me down, but it can never drown you out. I'm not merely flesh.
Bert Harper Welcome back to Exploring the Word. This is Bert and Alex, and we're in the book of Matthew, chapter 16, a great transitional chapter. When Jesus sets his face toward Jerusalem. He's been getting away from Jerusalem, but matter of fact, he'll get 120 miles north of Jerusalem when he does this. And then he sets his face and goes toward Jerusalem. You want to stay with us, but by the way, this is the day of prayer. Tuesday is the day of prayer. And in the last segment, we'll take your prayer request as you'll call in to the number, contacting-8840. It's not open yet, but it will be open right before we go to break. But you can send your prayer request on our Facebook page. Uh, that's exploring the word Facebook page. Brent Austin does that for us. You all co also can do [email protected] and we would love to hear your prayer request today. We want to pray for you. It's just not Alex and myself praying for you. It is a whole body of believers spread out all over the United States, even foreign countries that take time to pray for these prayer requests. So we're excited about that. So, Alex, we come to verse 13, which is really something. When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi. Now, I want to tell you, there's so much here. Um, this is a place where Pan, the God of Pan, they thought was from, uh, Caesar, had built a temple there. Uh, this is a place farther away from Jerusalem. And this is where he does ask these questions. Who do men say that I am? Uh, this is, I would call. This is Like a circle, the circumference. In other words, who does everybody around you say that I am? But he doesn't stay there, does he? So they said, some say Jon the Baptist, Elijah, others Jeremiah or one of the prophets. But then he gets right to what is called the epicenter. The epicenter is right in the middle. In other words, what everybody else is saying, oh, yeah, that's alright. But what do you say when you have an earthquake? They want to know where the epicenter was, where was it very centered. So Jesus says this, Others may say this. That's the circumference. But what do you say? Who. But who do you say that I am? Um, Alex, that is the question. But how? I love this. Jesus draws a man from the circumference to the very epicenter. That's what Jesus does with us. He wants to get right into the middle of our lives, doesn't he?
Alex McFarland Well, he really does. Uh, who do you say that I am? And this is the question. The gospel is personal. Billy Graham would always say, every person Jesus ever called, he called publicly for us to take a stand. Well, Peter says, I, uh, love the way the King James renders it. Thou art the Christ, the son of the living God, verse 16. And Jesus says, blessed are you, Simon, son of Jonah. In other words. Right answer. And you didn't learn this physically, intellectually, but the Father revealed it to you. Now, this is where much, uh, ink has been invested in commentating on verse 18. Jesus says, I say unto you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. We're going to come back to that. And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven. And whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven. And whatsoever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. Then he commanded his disciples that they should tell no one that he was Jesus the Christ. Let me say this for one thing, Peter's confession, which is really the confession of anybody who becomes a, uh, born again saved person. Jesus is the Son of God. Jesus is the designated savior. God, Christ is the one in whom I have believed. And all Christians. So this confession, this good news gospel that we affirm, we confess, this is the foundation of Christianity. But not only that, it's Christ himself in verse 18, where Jesus says, on, um, this rock. Well, Jesus is the rock. He is the rock of our salvation. And if you've ever listened to the show much, you know I revere the Apostle Peter M. One of My absolute most favorite Bible characters and probably my favorite NewSong Testament writer. But Peter is not the foundation of the church he preached at Pentecost, but the foundation of, uh, the rock on which we stand is Christ the Savior and the truth of his word, the gospel. Jesus, the Son of God, the gospel, the word of God. That is the foundation on which 2000 years of Christianity stands.
Bert Harper Amen. Now, words are important. You're the guy that does words. But this is so important. In 18 Peter, the Greek word is petros. It means a stone. And I believe there's hand motions. In other words, Jesus. I've had to learn to Bert, don't talk with your hands. With every syllable. But, you know, I believe Jesus may have used his hands. He said, I'll say to you, you are Peter. I think he's pointing at Peter, okay, In a nice way, not in a harsh way. Hey, you're Peter. And then he turns those hands around and says, and on this rock, I will build my church. I think he's referring to himself. That word is Petra, which means a large stone. Ah, I will build my church. I'm going to build my church upon Petra, the large stone. And, uh, that's Old Testament. I think all the people would know that if they know the old Testament. Deuteronomy 32, 4 talks about God. He is the rock. His work is perfect. Psalm 18:2. The Lord is my rock and my fortress. Psalm 18:31. For who is, who is God saved the Lord, or who he is is a rock, our God. So he is referring to him. And then in first Peter, Peter would pick up on this, I believe Alex, when he was writing First Peter, he talked about the church. He says we're living stones, not the foundation. But he says we are. He understood that Jesus was the rock, the foundation. He himself was building upon that foundation of Christ. And he said in 1st Peter 2. 5, we are living stones. So I think you did that exactly right. It all backed up according to the words, how they're used.
Alex McFarland Well, and verse 20, he commanded his disciples that they should tell no one that he was Jesus the Christ. Uh, before we get there, let's talk about this. The keys of the kingdom of heaven. You know, Bert, um, we don't want to deny verse 19, but we don't want to maybe take it farther than we could or should go with it. Um, whatever we verbally affirm, whatever we deny, it's got to line up with the word of God. Whatever we bind on earth, bound in heaven, whatever you loose on earth will Be loosed in heaven. Let me say that in a way, what power does a Christian have? Well, a lot of power, actually, as long as it's in the word of God and by the name of Jesus. Sometimes, if you've ever signed a document on behalf of a company. Uh, and I know when I was working for Focus on the Family, I signed a lot of contracts for Focus on the Family, which is a ministry. And I would always sign it like Alex McFarland, comma, for focus on the Family or something like that. Uh, I really didn't have any authority of my own, but as long as I was acting within my assignment and by the, you know, the ministry's purposes and under their authority, I could, you know, speak on behalf of even Dr. Dobson sometimes. Here's my point, Bert. We as Christians, in Matthew 28, we'll get to the point where Jesus says, all power in heaven and earth is given to me. We have been given authority in the name of Jesus, but it's got to be according to God's word. Can people be loosed from their sins? Yes, but not by any power we have by the power of the gospel. Can truth set boundaries to help order and structure a society? Of course. But it's by God's revelation and God's word, not any opinion, bias, or attitude of our own. It's all by Christ, for Christ, and according to his word.
Bert Harper Good word. The kingdom of heaven. It doesn't say the keys to heaven. Okay, the kingdom of heaven. How God operates in what he's bringing. And let me say this, uh, and I agree with whoever said it this way. In other words, we, they or, uh, we should do on earth whatever God has already willed in heaven. Okay, and you said it earlier, according to his word, according to the Lord Jesus Christ. We don't ask that out of his will. When I pray and I add on, lord, if it be your will. I'm not. That's not an out for me. I want God's will to be done regardless of my. What my requests may be. Alex, um, I'm going to refer to a country song. Thank God for an unanswered prayer. Okay, seriously, I've prayed for some things. Sometimes I didn't know it when I was praying for it, but I praise God that he did not bring it about. And all authority, that authority is through our relationship with Jesus Christ. It's not on our own. It's through him and him alone. And so, uh, okay, I'm going to speak it. Therefore it's going to happen. Well, hey, it may not. Um, we are desiring to have God's will in our life. And, uh, again, Alex, I don't. You may want to say more, but verse 21, those first three words in verse 21 are very important from that time. The focus, you know, he's been raising them up, but now he's getting them ready. For what? To go to Jerusalem. He's going. He's been going further and further away and to get to rest. Caesarea Philippi 120 miles north of Jerusalem, which was a long way in those days. And now he's setting his face toward Jerusalem, isn't he?
Alex McFarland Well, he is. We've kind of turned a corner here. And the, the narrative is going more and more and more toward the cross. I mean, really. Uh, and Jesus is telling his disciples that he'll suffer many things. Uh, he'll be killed, he'll be raised. Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, far be it from you, Lord, this shall not happen to you. Verse 22. I mean, you love his heart, but he's a little off base. He, Lord, is no way. If they're going to get to you, they're going to have to come through me, you know. And Peter was no doubt a very muscular, masculine, you know, person. Jesus says, no, get behind me, Satan. This is verse 23. You are an offense to me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men. In other words, this is not a physical battle that you've got to fight. Uh, in fact, if you're obstructing me, you're obstructing the plan of salvation, Peter. So get behind me because, uh, I've got to do this. Jesus says to his disciples, if anyone desires to come after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross and follow me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it. But whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. Bert, this is one of the many things that makes Christianity different from any other belief system. I mean, you look up, uh, look at Islam right now, um, killing in the name of Allah. Jon 16:2. Jesus said, the day will come when those that kill you think they do God service. But yet Christ says, here's how you show the nature of God and become great. Take up your cross and follow me. This is 180 degrees opposite of what false religion and the worldly mindset would be.
Bert Harper Amen. Alex, let me make this statement. This is worth writing down. If you keep notes after Jesus lets them Know and say who he is. That's what he said. Who do you say that I am? Then he lets them know what he's going to do. That's important, Alex, knowing him, this is what you want. And that's the reason we want the presence of God. We pray for the power of God in our life. Lord, we want to demonstrate your presence in my life. And then you will do your work through me. So here he is. He turns this focus and he says, what is a man profited if he gains the whole world and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? Listen, Jesus Christ is all the world to me. Isn't that a beautiful song? He is all the world to me. This is what we want. He finishes up here in verses 27 and 28. For the Son of man will come in glory of his Father, uh, with his angels, and then he'll reward each according to his works. Assuredly, I say to you, there are some standing here who shall not taste death till they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom. The transfiguration is coming up. They're going to be there. They're going to see him in all of his glory. He's going to come with the angels later. But, Alex, I could not help but contrast. I'm going to go to Jerusalem and die. But in verse 27, I'm coming again in power. That's our Lord, isn't it?
Alex McFarland Amen. Amen. And that's why Matthew 17 is so just amazing. Um, before you die, you're going to see, uh, the glory of the kingdom of heaven. And do you know, I had a pretty famous skeptic say to me one time that his whole journey toward atheism was based on this, that he believed in Matthew 16:28, that some of the disciples would live till the end of time. That's not at all what it means. Uh, I really think this promise, seeing the coming of the kingdom, in other words, the glory. Well, for a couple of things, Bert, I think Matthew 17 is a revelation that the kingdom of God was among them. I think the day of Pentecost, uh, and the coming of the Holy Spirit. 3,000 souls added to the church. And then, just within 37 years, the gospel had been taken to the whole wide world. I mean, the reality of Christ's victory and the certainty, the surety of God's coming kingdom. Yeah, they did see it.
Bert Harper Amen. Hey, it's the day of prayer. That phone number. Richard's ready to receive your phone calls. Is 888-589-8840. You can make a request on our Facebook page right now.
Bert Harper More mothers need that moment of hope. Just $28 sponsors one ultrasound and $140 helps rescue five babies. Your generous tax deductible gift also helps provide mothers who choose life with love and support and care for up to two years. Please don't wait. Help surround mothers and babies with compassion, truth and hope today. To donate, dial 250 and say the key word baby.
Bert Harper That's 250baby.
Bert Harper Or visit preborn.com/bert Harper. That's preborn.com Bert Harper.
M. And your father heard it a single word you're saying. So don't stop praying.
Alex McFarland Oh, that's right. Don't stop praying. Welcome back to Exploring the Word. By the way, Tuesdays, we call it our day of prayer and we would love to hear your prayer request. Now, you can call in with Bible questions too, if you'd like, but we just feel very honored. More and more and more people share prayer requests and we do pray. We get emails from people who say they lift up these requests. So if you want to call in, the number is triple 858-98840. That's 888-589-8840. And you can share prayer requests. You can email us too. And I want to get this email correct. Wordfa.net Brent, is that right? W O R D word fa.net and of course you can post prayer request on Facebook too.
Alex McFarland Also I checked and you if you end up putting afr.net it will correct to AFA and it'll, it'll come to
Alex McFarland us either way, as in American Family Association. So, uh, Bible questions are always welcome. But Tuesday. Um, and Bert, I believe all of us have things on our heart that we'd like prayer about. I got a few things. We, we're working on camps for next summer and uh, revival events across America. So I'm just going to start it out and I'm going to say pray for me. Just looking at the calendar for the next about 15 months and places to go preach the gospel. So I need prayer.
Bert Harper Amen. Alex, we do pray for you and I know our listeners pray for you. Uh, last night I'm preaching at Fairfield Presbyterian Church and I'll be there tonight 6:30. Looking forward to that. But people say, man, we pray for you and Alex, and we appreciate it so much and so keep on praying and pray for that as well. Well, Brent, I know you have some prayer requests. We'll do that. And, Susan, I know you're listening. We'll get to you. Right next.
Brent Yes. Um, as always, every Tuesday, you can send your prayer requests in on Facebook while we are live streaming there. You can email us or you can call us in the third segment. Uh, I've got two from Facebook. One is from Maryann, and she's asking prayer for healing. She just had her gallbladder removed yesterday. There were complications, and she's needing prayer. Nancy, uh, is asking for prayer for her. Her daughter and her grandson.
Bert Harper Daughter and grandson.
Right.
Bert Harper Okay. Alex is artifact. Pray real quickly, and then go to the phone lines.
Alex McFarland And may I put another one in?
Bert Harper Do that.
Alex McFarland Um, a dear man at our church named Steve, and he, um, has some breathing issues. They thought it was his heart, and it wasn't, so it's something with his lungs. He's otherwise in pretty good health. And frankly, we had hoped the heart examination would have revealed something, but just some very severe breathing issues. And the man's name is Steve. A, uh, dear brother in the Lord.
Bert Harper Let's go to the Lord in prayer. Father, I thank you for Marian. And I pray, God, that what she. The surgery she's had, the difficulties, the complications. I pray, Father, for healing. I pray you'd give wisdom to those who are caring for. Caring for her. What to do? We trust you, Father. We're praying for Nancy, her daughter, and her son, grandson. Father, we don't know all the needs, but, Father, you know the needs, and that's awesome that we know their names, but you know what their deepest need is. And, Father, I pray you'd meet it according to your riches in Christ. And, Father, we pray for Steve, uh, Alex's friend, and Angie's friend. I pray, God, that, uh, the breathing, whatever is causing this, uh, they would find this out, not knowing it causes a lot of difficulties in her life. And I pray, Father, that it would be corrected and he would, uh, begin to have that life of breathing deep and strong. And, Father, we do pray for the revival at Fairfield. God, do a work, give them a vision of what you want them to do, and, uh, become. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.
Alex McFarland Amen. Well, let's go to Virginia. Susan in Virginia. Welcome to Exploring the Word.
Alex McFarland Um, I do have a Bible question. If it's okay, I would. I didn't tell your caller this, but I thought, um, I would like to pray for, um, a Jewish man named Gerson who has advanced, um, prostate cancer. Unfortunately, they didn't find it until late, and he is receiving treatment. Um, but I Tell him I pray for him. And he says thank you. And I'm hoping maybe I can also send a card with something that some way that I could share the gospel. I'm still trying to figure that out. But anyway, um, my question, though. Um, I have a commentary that goes along with, um, Genesis one that I'm studying at cbs. And the commentary was saying never, you know, talking about how we refer to God as Father. And, um, it said that God is spirit. And that doesn't mean he has a physical body. He's not limited because he transcends characteristics of both male and female. And then, um, it does say that in the NewSong Testament, it's clear Jesus is male.
Alex McFarland But it kind of left me hanging thinking, oh, no. In our discussion tomorrow. I hope no one interprets that as a way to say he's non binary, which has been, as, you know, politically been in the arena lately. But how do I wrap my head around this? Um, thank you, Susan. Because sometimes they do give female things, like caring, you know, like a chicken with her hens. That's a female kind of thing.
Bert Harper That is true, Susan. Alex, go ahead. We got a lot of requests. So you answer and then we'll go to the next. Go ahead, brother.
Alex McFarland Well, God bless you, Susan, for being willing to tackle what shouldn't be difficult theological issues. But in our times, they kind of are. Um, the Bible refers to God in masculine terms because that's the way God has revealed himself to the human race. In Scripture and consistently throughout the Bible, God is described in masculine terms. Father, Son, Holy Spirit. Now, I know the Bible talks about, you know, could a mother forget her nursing child? Of course not. Well, God will not forget Israel. And so there are, you know, analogies or comparisons, uh, to the love of a mother and the nurturing, gentle love of a mother, the protective, providing love of a father. Uh, but clearly, uh, as CS Lewis said, gender goes far deeper than we humans think. And God has revealed himself in masculine terms. And I think that. But we've got to trust that God understands his own identity. And we take the Bible for what it says. We shouldn't infer or impose what is the current cultural mindset of the moment.
Bert Harper Let me just say this. As a father of three sons, my mother, uh, my wife was the mother of these boys, and she gave birth to them. I was the father. But, uh, sometimes she would leave those children with me. Uh, one or two times it didn't work as good. But I would nurture them. I would care for them, I would take care uh, of them. So God has that capacity as our heavenly father to relate and do that. Alex, it doesn't mean he's binary at all. Uh, but it does mean he's that caring. And I agree. God by himself is sufficient for each person. But in a family, to have the characteristics that are needed in a family, you need the male and the female, the mother and the father. Whereas God is able, because of who he is, to fill all those roles. Brother doesn't make him partially female and partially male. No, he is male. He is God.
Alex McFarland Amen. God bless you, Susan. Great work. Great question. Steve in Louisiana. Steve, welcome to Exploring the Word.
Hi, guys. Alex, Bert. I, uh, hope all is well. Uh, I was calling with a prayer request.
Bert Harper Go right ahead.
So it's for Janet Sheeran in, uh, Marshville, North Carolina, who passed yesterday. And I'm just praying that, uh, that our soul is received well into the kingdom and hoping for you guys to, uh, say some words.
Bert Harper Thank you, Steve. Listen, uh, is this your mother in law, Steve?
Yes, sir.
Bert Harper Amen. And, uh, man, praying for to have a mother in law that you love, that love the Lord, what a blessing it is, and thank you for sharing that. And we want to pray for the family, uh, because she's been ushered in in the very presence of the Lord, Alex, to be absent from the bodies, to be present with the Lord for believers, isn't it?
Alex McFarland Amen. Amen. Let me, let me pray. Father, thank you for Steve's call. And Lord, as the family says goodbye to Steve's mother in law, you know, uh, Lord, we pray for your peace, your comfort, your condolences to be very real. And Lord, let them take just, not just comfort, but absolute joy in the promises of your word that when a believer leaves this world, they are guaranteed according to the promises of God, to be in the presence of Jesus with him forever and bless and lift up this family at this time. In your name we ask it, Lord. Amen. Let's go to Rodney in Mississippi. Rodney, uh, welcome to Exploring the Word.
Bert Harper Oh, I just want to say thank you for all you do.
Very, very encouraging. Uh, my wife passed away two weeks ago, so I'm just asking you to pray for me.
Alex McFarland Blessings. And Rodney, um, may the Lord Jesus hold you up and strengthen you. Bert. Um, it's just amazing what everybody is facing and going through at these times.
Bert Harper It is, it is. Rodney, I will pray for you, brother. Father, I thank you that Rodney is able to call. I'm glad we have the day, uh, of prayer that people are free to say Man, I need God to comfort me, to sustain me, to help me. And Rodney's there right now, Father. Help him. May he look unto you, the author and finisher of our faith, and find comfort in you. You're the one that sticks closer than a brother. So, Father, thank you for Rodney, and I know others are praying for him right now. In Jesus name, Amen.
Amen.
Alex McFarland Uh, amen. Blessings on you, Rodney. Let's go to Texas. Chelsea. Chelsea in Texas. Hello? Chelsea? Chelsea in Texas. Are you there?
Hi, my name is Chelsea.
Alex McFarland Chelsea. I'm sorry. Okay, you're on now. Uh, welcome.
Hi. Yes, I'm here. I'm calling for prayer for myself. Um, and can you hear me?
Bert Harper Yes, go right ahead.
We're here for prayer. I'm calling for spiritual warfare prayer. I'm being attacked at my job and then also attacked by my spouse. And they're. They're forming in the same spirit. And, um, my husband, uh, proclaims to be a believer, and I'm a believer as well, but he's allowing the enemy me to use him to attack my faith. And, um, I had to leave work early today, um, because that's how overloaded I was. And, um, I just sat in the parking lot for four hours. And then I heard you guys, and you guys had national prayers. I'm just calling for prayer over my soul, my little babies that's witnessing everything in my mind in my marriage.
Amen.
Alex McFarland Amen. I'm Chelsea. This is Alex. I'm gonna ask Bert to pray, but, uh, bless you, sister. And Jesus is with you. The Lord Jesus is with you. And Bert, I know in this world, sometimes the. The devil just tries to burden us down and beat us down. Would you pray over Chelsea, Bert?
Bert Harper Father, I thank you for Chelsea. Uh, I think this day, you set it aside. She had to leave early. But there in the parking lot radio needing prayer, right where she is right now. Father, may your presence be realized, that you're there, you're strengthening her, you're helping her, and you go before her. And, Father, for those that are attacking at work, even at home, Father, I pray first that she would put on the armor of God, that she would be able to withstand all the fiery darts of the wicked one as he uses people to get behind him. Satan doesn't care who he uses, either a, uh, work associate or a husband. Because here was Satan using Peter, who had just said, you are the Christ, the son of the living God, to come against and rebuke Jesus. And Jesus said, get behind me, Satan. So, Father, I Pray you'd give Chelsea the victory that's hers in Christ Jesus. Amen.
Alex McFarland Amen. Thank you, Bert. And we're lifting you up, Chelsea, Go to Virginia. Uh, uh, the caller is Virginia in the state of Texas. Virginia, welcome.
Hello. Thank you. I listen to you all the time. I'm a Christian, but I'm going through a lot with my two boys. Offered to help them work, to move in with me, but now they just take advantage of me, and I want to sell my house. Told them to move, but they feel like. Like I. I'm doing them wrong. And they're not getting 151. The other one's 46. And I can't do it no more. I'm a Christian. Uh, um, I really believe that God will help me, but I need.
Bert Harper Okay, we're going to pray for you, Virginia. We're going. Hey, Brent, you got a request. We. Sharon, uh, from Kansas. We won't be able to get to you today. Time's running out. We got a prayer request, and we need to pray for this.
Alex McFarland And, Bert, I know time fleets away. A family that we're very close to was in a car wreck on 995. And by the grace of God, everybody's okay, but just. I want to praise God for this family. It could have been tragic, but God protected them.
Bert Harper Amen. Yeah, I've got three.
Brent I've got one from Sandy. Uh, her son Luke has, uh, left a Christian home and turned to the homosexual lifestyle. Uh, Debbie's friend Kristie Anyabwile has fallen and injured her back severely. Mary, um, is asking for prayers for a wildfire that started in South Arkansas. She's prayers for safety and for rain, of course.
Bert Harper This is a lot of thank you, God, for that family and difficulty. We're praying for Sandy and Luke and Debbie and Kristie Anyabwile and that wildfire. Father, put limits on it where it can go. And for Virginia and her two sons. The heartache, God. I'm praying that they'd wake up and give Virginia strength. Even in this hour. We pray for this and ask this in Jesus name. Amen.
Amen.
Alex McFarland Amen. In Virginia and Texas. We're lifting you up. Everybody rally around her in prayer and intercession. It's been a great day, hasn't it, Bert?
Yes.
Bert Harper Uh, thank you for listening. We'll be back for tomorrow in chowder. Chapter 17 of Matthew.
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, we break down the profound question posed by Jesus in Matthew 16:15, 'Who do you say that I am?' Join us as we explore the significance of this inquiry and its implications for our faith and understanding of Christ . We discuss the importance of recognizing Jesus as our Savior and the foundation of our beliefs, while also examining the dynamics between the Pharisees and Sadducees and their demand for signs. This episode is a thoughtful journey into the heart of Christian doctrine and personal faith.
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